Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Never would I harm you, Olivia, and never would I stop loving you.”
She gasped when he slipped into her and then all was lost. His thrusts held strength, and she found herself locking her legs around him, gripping him tightly, refusing to let him go as her passion soared out of control. Nothing mattered but remaining locked together with him and feeling the might and pleasure of their mating.
Her climax built to such strength that she roared like never before when it hit, and he joined her, though his roar was far more powerful, and she thought it had to have echoed through the castle.
He lay beside her in silent repose afterward as breathless as she was, though he reached to take hold of her hand and lay it on his chest, and she felt the mighty rise and fall of his breaths.
As her breath began to calm, reality returned, and the pleasing warmth left her body leaving her chilled, and she shivered.
Tiernan was quick to spread the blanket over them both and to tuck her against him, his body still heated.
Enjoy this moment, the consequences will come soon enough, she silently cautioned herself.
“You worry needlessly,” he said and kissed her brow.
She lifted her head from where it lay on his chest to look at him.
“I can feel your worry along with the intense pleasure that continues to radiate in you. Don’t spoil this moment with worry. All will be well.”
“I want to believe that.”
“Figure out the puzzle and you’ll worry no more.”
“Why not just tell me?”
“Because you will never accept what you must see for yourself.”
“Do I get any clues?”
“You’ve had countless clues.”
Her stomach chose to protest in hunger at that moment.
Tiernan chuckled. “You need to eat and so do I.”
“You didn’t eat either?”
“I had no appetite. Now I am ravenous.”
They got out of bed, Olivia hurrying to collect her clothes as he slipped on sweats and a knit shirt. Wanting more comfortable attire to put on, she rushed out of the room and down the hall.
Tiernan quickly followed, calling out, “That is the best view I’ve had in quite a while.”
She dashed into her bedroom to toss her clothes on the bed and grab for her flannel pajamas, but Tiernan grabbed her first, swinging her around to land snug in his arms.
“You have a luscious body, mo ghràdh,” he said as he nuzzled her neck.
“You’re not going to eat me, are you?” she asked jokingly.
He laughed. “Nay, I’m going to feast on you every chance I get, and you are going to enjoy every minute of it.”
“Promise?” she asked playfully, snuggling into his embrace.
“You have my word on it,” he assured her. “Now hurry and dress warm, I can feel your hunger.”
Once dressed in flannel pajamas and thick socks, Tiernan took her hand, and they hurried to the kitchen together. They raided the fridge and pantry, gathering an array of foods and enjoyed endless cups of tea as they ate, talked, and laughed over funny stories they shared about their life.
They shared several memorable times in their lives, but one such time captured Olivia’s attention.
“So, this woman, this Lady Dawn, could not speak at all and yet you understood her?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Aye. She was a remarkable woman for her time and easy for a wolf to understand and communicate with. If she hadn’t had a husband, a powerful one at that, I would have pursued her for a wife. My pack admired her strength and courage, and they feared her husband, Lord Cree. The man was a fierce and mighty warrior.”
“Did his wife fear him?”
Tiernan laughed as he shook his head. “Nay, she loved him beyond measure as he did her. A love as strong as theirs is rare. Actually, a decedent of theirs, the current Lord Cree is a generous supporter of the preserve, and he is married to a woman named Dawn, who is unable to speak, though communicates easily through sign language. I often wonder if their love transcended death and followed them through the years.”
“That would be an exceptionally strong and rare love.”
“Aye,” he said and leaned across the table to reach out and faintly brush his finger across her lips. “But not impossible to find.”
A ripple of pleasure raced through her from his touch or words or both, she wasn’t sure. Was he suggesting that they could have such a strong love?
They continued talking until Olivia began to yawn. They worked together to clean up after their meal, then headed to bed.
Olivia stopped at her bedroom door, ready to say good night when to her surprise he scooped her up into his arms.
“You sleep in my lair, beside me from now on,” he announced as if she had no choice in the matter as he walked down the hall.
She stuck her chin up. “What if I don’t want to?”