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The word acted like a whiplash. All carefulness was instantly forgotten. Encouraged by Johanna’s moans, Cadell started moving in earnest, gliding in and out of her with delicious ease.

“So beautiful,” he said, his gaze roaming over her body. She had wanted him to watch the place where they were joined but everything was perfect and worth his attention. Her lovely face, alight with pleasure, her firm breasts, bouncing with each of his thrusts, her tight sheath, swallowing his length as if it could not get enough.

“Watch me,” he ordered gruffly, the hold around her thighs tightening. “Watch me fuck you. You will see this every day for the rest of your life.”

“Yes. You and I were made for one another,” she rasped.

Soon, she lost the ability to talk but not, thank God, the ability to moan. That sound was the sweetest thing he’d ever heard. Now he needed her to scream. He would not be satisfied with less. One hand landed on her stomach and he started to press down, the pad of his thumb circling the tight bundle of flesh at the top of her thighs.

“Johanna. Yes. Come for me.”

She started to convulse around him, around the place holding him as tight as a fist. Everything exploded at the same time, his cock, spurting hot seed in long, decadent jets, his skull, fracturing with the blinding pleasure shooting through his body, his heart, shattering into a million pieces, expelling his last doubts.

This was where he was meant to be. Nothing or no one was going to keep the two of them apart now. She was his, she would be his forever.

Eventually, the storm quietened. Cadell collapsed onto the bed, almost senseless.

“I know I promised to pleasure you all night, my love,” he said, his words already slurred, “but I⁠—”

He never finished the sentence. As soon as his hand closed on the softest breast he had ever felt, he fell into oblivion.

Johanna spent a long, delicious moment looking at the strong, virile man by her side, who had been rendered senseless by their lovemaking. In truth, she too, felt overwhelmed and emotional. This reunion had been all she had hoped for, and more. She now knew for sure that she would not end her life alone, but with a man who would always put her first.

Night stole into the room, swallowing the last ray of light. The fire, which had been burning bright earlier, melted into a glowing mass of embers.

Finally, once the beating of her heart had slowed down to a satisfied thumping, she fell asleep herself, her head pillowed on the chest of the man she loved, her fingers locked with his.

They only woke when a pale, silvery shaft of sunlight flooded the room, heralding the fact that dawn had just broken.

Johanna rubbed her cheek against Cadell’s chest. Mmmm, so smooth… That chest was the part of him she preferred. Along with his eyes of course—and his hands. His arms. And his face as well. And his heart. Lord, she loved every part of him, even the fingernail on his little finger. How could she not? He was perfect.

They looked at one another while the coos of the pigeons filled the air, adding to the peace of the moment. Johanna smiled. Cadell smiled back.

And in that moment, everything was right in the world.

“Bore da.”

“Good morning,” she answered. They had already woken up side by side before, back in the summer, but never entwined together thus. “Are you thirsty? I know I am.”

He gave a deep, throaty laugh that sent sparks of delight all the way through her body. “I am as well. Parched. I wonder why that might be.”

“Our lovemaking, perhaps?”

Johanna reddened. She wouldn’t be surprised if everyone had heard her moan and shout her pleasure the evening before. But even if they had not, the people here would guess what the two of them had done. As soon as Cadell had arrived she had dragged him to her chamber and they had not come out again since. Too lost in each other, they had not even asked for food or drinks to be brought up. She should be ashamed of her brazenness but she was not. And the people at Bryn Glas had better get used to the idea that she and Cadell enjoyed one another’s bodies.

“Let me go get something,” she murmured, placing a quick kiss on his lips.

It was when she left the bed to go to the pitcher she always kept at hand that she remembered she was naked. Then she realized that she didn’t mind one bit. Why should she? If she had her way, Cadell would see her naked everyday for the rest of their lives. Feeling like a goddess, she walked over to the trestle table by the door and helped herself to a cup of ale, which she emptied in a few grateful gulps. When she turned around, she saw that, just as she had imagined, Cadell was watching her through heavy-lidded eyes, the back of his head cradled in his hands. A sensual smile was floating on his lips.

“Aren’t you cold?” he asked in a deep rumble. “The fire died out during the night.”

“No.” Not while he was looking at her with such hunger in his eyes.

“Aren’t you shy?”

“No. I should be, perhaps, but you’ve seen me already. And I think you liked what you saw.”

His nostrils flared. “I didn’t like it. I loved it. I’m loving it now.”