Page 81 of The Iron Earl

She let herself drop, sliding down him and it was all he needed, his shaft expanding within her, filling her core to the brim. His growl vibrated into the air, into her chest and she lifted. Three more quick strokes against the power of his throbbing member and it sent her over the precipice.

Her body clamped down hard onto itself, the force of it shocking her so fiercely she thought it was death—death there to steal her away. Like every time with Lachlan deep inside of her, her body reacted in savage ways to his touch—and not only her body—her soul.

Terrifying and addicting, all in one.

He yanked her hard into his chest, clutching her so tight to his body their breaths were one. Gasp after gasp, and it still took long moments for the air dragging into their lungs to return to normalcy.

Lachlan shifted backward slightly, bringing his hands up to capture her face and cup her cheeks. “Know it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do—extracting the promise from Dom, insuring you were taken care of.” He paused, swallowing hard. “Having to imagine you with another man.”

“I’ll say it again, since you don’t seem to be hearing it—I don’t want anyone but you, Lachlan.” Her look expectantly pinned him.

“Yes?” His brow furrowed, confused.

She chuckled. “This is where you tell me you don’t want anyone but me.”

A smile lifted his cheeks and he shook his head. “I don’t.” He tugged her face close to his, his breath caressing her cheek as his fingers ran along the sides of her jaw. A deep sigh and his voice escaped low, guttural. “I’m finding, against all my intentions…I need this, Eva. I need you.”

{ Chapter 18 }

Blast it all to hell.

He knew this would happen. He just didn’t think it would be so soon.

Lachlan’s heavy steps echoed along the stone corridor, even as he tried to lighten the thunking of his heels on the ancient worn limestone.

He stepped through the open door onto the gravel path leading into the conservatory.

Evalyn wasn’t on the bench in the far right nook of the room, though the book she was currently reading sat open on the adjoining side table. Secluded by the lemon-scented gum trees and with the sunlight streaming in, it had become her favorite spot at Vinehill.

He searched along the greenery of herbs, the rows of vegetables, and along the orange trees looking for her head. A brush of skirts rustled in the far left corner and he walked three-quarters of the way into the conservatory, stopping when he had full view of his wife.

Bent over, Evalyn twisted her body, her arm outstretched to pluck a tiny sprout of a weed from the plant bed where basil grew.

“Haagert is now letting you weed unsupervised?”

She jumped, a small gasp fluttering from her lips as she stood straight and found him. A smile, beaming with pride cut across her lips. “He is, can you believe it? And it only took eight days of pestering him straight for him to give me leave to do so.” Her head swiveling, she glanced around her as she dropped the weed into a pile by her feet. “Though I would not be surprised if Haagert’s hiding in here somewhere, watching my every move and ready to pounce and slap my hand should my fingers stray near a desirable plant.”

Lachlan chuckled, though the sound echoed hollow to his ears. Blast it, he didn’t want to have to pull her away from here. Away from the one room aside from their bedroom that she’d found solace in.

Evalyn wiped her fingers on the apron that wrapped her blue wool dress. A few alterations to the hems and his sister’s wardrobe had served Evalyn well. “I’d never had time to think much on the growing of anything at my stepfather’s estate, as I’d always been too busy being at his beck and call. But this is so much”—her head pulled back, her lips pulling to the side as she searched for the word—“fun, I guess is what I would call it. The little miracles of plants growing out of dirt.”

“I doubt Haagert would classify this as fun—more akin to his life’s work, I would think, for how possessive he is of this room. I’m impressed you managed to make him into a friend.”

“I don’t know if one could say friend just yet.” She shrugged. “Thorn in his side, a buzzing bee that will not let him free—that is more the looks he gives me. But I am determined to learn all I can from him.”

“You realize the likelihood of you ever having to pick berries for Rupe in the wild again are slim?”

She stepped toward him, her chin tilting up as she smiled at him. “Maybe, but one never knows and I am free to learn useful things here. I don’t intend to ever mistake my berries again. Learning to identify edible berries was the first topic I tackled during this last week. What if we were on a picnic next summer and I wanted to pick berries?”

“You’re already planning a picnic for next summer?”

“Of course. Picnics, day long rides.” Her eyes widened. “Oh and I want to visit every inch of your family’s lands. Meet the people, whether they want to meet me or not. I’m determined to put an end to the horrified suspicion in their eyes once they hear me talk and know I’m English.”

The optimistic glow in her gold-green eyes was so hopeful for the future that a pang ran across Lachlan’s chest. He knew he was about to destroy the spark of it.

At least for the time being.

Evalyn’s hand lifted, drifting out to the surrounding plant beds. “And all these crops Haagert grows for the kitchens in the winter are a wonder. Did you know he has a crop of blackberries that will be ready at yuletide? Planted and timed just for the festivities. A marvel. He won’t let me touch that plant bed just yet.”

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