“Lost in your thoughts?’
Lachlan swung around and grabbed Terese around the waist, drawing her near for a quick kiss. “I don’t like when you leave my bed before I wake.”
“I have chores and duties to attend to,” she said, hooking her arm in his to walk alongside him.
“Aren’t I chore enough for you?”
She leaned in to whisper in his ear, “You are no chore; you are a pleasure.”
His passion lit and flamed like a dry log whose heat spread rapidly throughout, though he attempted to contain it.
“Keep that up and I will drag you back to my cottage and keep you there the remainder of the day.”
“Promises. Promises,” she teased.
Thunder rumbled overhead and Lachlan glanced up at the gray sky that would undoubtedly shed rain soon. “The weather accommodates my need. Everyone will seek shelter from the storm. What else will there be to do then?…” He allowed her to imagine the rest.
“You tempt,” she said.
“I invite,” he corrected, thunder rumbling along with his words.
She let his arm go. “We shall see.”
He tried to reach out and grab her, but she laughed and took off insisting she had chores to do. He watched her disappear into the common shelter and once again glanced up at the darkening sky.
“Don’t fail me,” he warned and stumped off to find Evan.
Lachlan entered his cottage, shaking the rain off. He had been lucky to be nearby when the downpour started so he wasn’t soaked only damp along the shoulders and hair. A few minutes spent by the fire would take care of that.
He turned and stopped, staring at the small table spread with food, and was that a jug of ale he spied? He then looked to see that the bed was made with fresh linens and a fine green wool blanket folded down.
He sniffed the air. That was mutton stew, he was sure of it and then noticed the cauldron that hung over the flames. And there was a loaf of black bread on the table, not to mention tarts and sweet bread.
Lachlan looked around, not that Terese could hide anywhere; the room was too small. Was this a gift, a feast for him alone? He certainly hoped not.
The door suddenly opened and Terese popped in, rain dripping off her and holding a bunch of wild onions in her hand.
“I forgot these for the stew,” she said with a shiver.
Lachlan smiled and went to her. “You did this for us?”
“It’s raining,” she grinned. “What else is there to do?” She sneezed.
Lachlan reached out to her. “We need to get you out of those wet clothes.”
She skirted around him. “First I need to get the onions into the stew or the flavor will suffer.”
She went to the table and in seconds had the onions chopped and dumped in the stew. Then without thought she stripped off her clothes and hung them over a chair in front of the fire to dry.
Lachlan savored her every movement. Her body was exquisite, narrow waist, rounded hips that would surely serve her well when birthing. The thought startled him and grabbed at his heart. Was he really thinking of children with Terese? He grinned. Yes, he could easily see her rounded with his child, and he would love her even more.
Damn, but he did love her. How, when, where it had happened, he didn’t care. He only knew that he loved her down to his very soul and he’d let nothing, absolutely nothing stand in their way.
He stripped before he went to her and wrapped himself around her.
“I wondered how long it would take you to join me.” Her hand settled over his arms.
He nibbled at her neck and nipped teasingly at her ear. “Was I fast enough?”
“It’s slow and gentle I’m looking for, since the stew has time to cook yet and the storm looks as if it’s here to stay for a good while.”
“Then we have all the time in the world,” he said and believed it so, since he intended to spend the rest of his life with her.
He took hold of her hand and tugged her along to the bed. They settled beneath the folded blanket, though it was only their calves it covered. They lay on their sides facing each other. Their hands began to explore ever so gently and lovingly.
“I will never grow tired of touching you,” he said between nipping at her lips and then settling a kiss on her that turned more heated than he had planned.
Their passion took control and soon they were hungry and eager for each other. Their touches turned more demanding and their kisses more fiery. They both didn’t want to wait, couldn’t wait and they joined quickly; Lachlan slipping over and in her.
It was magical between them, but then it was always magical between them. Each time was special, different and more than satisfying. And he never wanted this to end between them. He wanted to love like this forever with her, and he knew it would be so. He knew their love was strong enough to make it so.