Page 34 of A Two-Faced Laird
“I have never felt happier,” she answered, with a beatific smile. “I never knew anything could feel like that. It was heaven.”
Aidan stroked her cheek and planted a soft kiss on her lips.
“Good,” he whispered. “I don’t think I could have stayed away from you a moment longer.”
“I am so glad you came to me.” She smiled at him tenderly. “Before we met again, I had never been attracted to any other man, but when I saw you, I knew this had to happen.”
“So did I.” He smiled at her and sighed. “But now, I must go, Edina.”
“No, stay just a little while longer,” Edina begged. “This is all so new to me. I want to enjoy it for as long as we can. Who knows if we will ever get the chance to be like this again?”
Aidan pulled her into his arms and draped his thigh over hers, then felt Edina’s arm go around his waist as she put her head on his shoulder. For the moment, they were sated, all passion spent, and Aidan felt utterly and completely at peace for the first time in his life. He knew that being with a new lover was always a different and interesting experience, but this time had been unlike anything he had ever known before, and he realised that he did not want to let Edina go—ever.
They lay for a long time, their bodies tangled together in a peaceful, almost sacred silence, but it had to end eventually.
“Edina, this time I really have to go, or my father will miss me. God knows, I would much rather be here, wrapped around you like this, but I have other duties.”
He stood up and began to put his shirt on, and once more Edina was treated to the sight of his magnificent body.
“Do you think we will be together again?” she asked. Now that Edina had tasted his lovemaking, she could not imagine ever doing without it.
“I honestly do not know,” Aidan admitted. “We were fortunate that no one found us today, but we may not always be so lucky.”
He was dressing as he spoke, and soon he was fully clad. He put his arms around her waist and looked down at her tenderly.
“I wish it could always be like this,” he said, “but my father and mother have other plans for me, and I am sure your parents have too.”
Edina nodded sadly, then hugged him. He kissed the top of her head, then, before he could change his mind, Aidan turned on his heel and left without looking back.
13
Aidan found himself in his father’s study again just before dinner, but as he sat down wearily, he could not help but look back at his experience with Edina and feel a sense of deep well-being spread through him. He hoped it would carry him through what he knew was going to be quite an ordeal.
However, he was jerked back to reality again when his father said, “I have news for you, son.”
His tone was ominous.
A lump of dread suddenly settled into the pit of his stomach.
“Yes, Father?” he asked inquiringly, trying not to look the way he felt.
This was the moment he was going to find out his fate.
The Laird steepled his hands in front of him and looked his son squarely in the eye.
“I have found you a bride,” he said in a flat, no-argument tone. “A very suitable young woman, Fenella Anderson. She comes from a good, respectable family, brings a sizable dowry, and is reasonably good to look at. The wedding will take place in three months, which should give both of our families plenty of time to prepare. It will also give you time to court the young ladyand get to know her. I know you have met socially many times, but that is not quite enough.”
Aidan was seething with fury, but with a great effort of will he managed to assume a perfectly neutral expression.
“Father, I told you before that I am not marrying anyone unless she is my own choice.” His voice was firm and certain. “You may have a wedding if you wish, but you will be having it without me. I refuse to marry any woman while my brother is absent. I want to make up my own mind about my wife. I am the one who will be living with her for the rest of my life, after all. What if we hate each other?”
“Your mother and I hardly knew each other on our wedding day,” Laird Findlay pointed out, “and we have been happy together for twenty eight-years. Many other couples are the same.”
“And many are not,” Aidan growled.
“Anyway, I’m afraid there is no turning back now,” his father said smugly. “The contract has already been signed.”
“Really?” Aidan stood up, and so did Laird Findlay.
