Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“What do you mean?” Raynor asked.
Aliss watched her brother grow tall in his seat, his shoulders drawn back as if he were on the defensive. She wanted no altercation between them, but her husband’s remark also had her inquisitive.
“I will leave if that is Aliss’s choice, but I will remain her husband until death separates us. There will be no dissolution of our vows.”
Chapter 28
Dusk had settled when Raynor went to join his men, who had set up camp just outside the village.
Aliss had grown weary from the tension that had been palpable between the two men, and while she looked forward to her brother’s visit, she could do without the animosity between the two.
Then there was the startling news that Rogan had claimed the isle as his rightful inheritance. She wanted to know more and waited for him to come to bed.
Her eyes were drifting shut when he finally entered their bedchamber. He was exceptionally quiet, attempting not to make a sound. Was it his intention to avoid her?
She would have none of that. As soon as he slipped gently beneath the covers she asked, “You mentioned that you inherited this isle from your parents.”
He jumped. “I thought you were asleep.”
“I waited for you. Which parent had it belonged to?”
He rustled uncomfortably in the bed. “It doesn’t matter. The isle is rightfully mine and will be passed on to our children.”
“Until this is settled between us, you yourself felt a child would only be an interference.”
He turned on his side to face her. “Don’t you want a child, Aliss?”
“We made a bargain,” she snapped, her own doubt annoying her. “A child would keep us together.”
“I love you and I want us to spend the rest of our lives together. I want to raise a family.” He rested his hand on her flat stomach. “I want to watch you round with my child. Watch our children grow, a fiery redheaded daughter with your smile and a son with my handsome face.”
She couldn’t help but laugh softly and her mind conjured up the picture he painted.
“I want to grow old together for I know age will never diminish your beauty. Your smile will always light my heart, your green eyes will always entice me. It couldn’t be any other way. I love you that much.”
His declaration warmed her heart. Someone to laugh with and someone to cry with, someone to love you through the good and the bad times. Someone you can always count on being there for you even if you haven’t done the same for him.
Rogan.
His name reverberated through her mind. He had been there for her even before they had wed. She had never had to seek his help. He offered it generously and genuinely.
“Take your time to answer. That tells me there is hope.”
She had a lot to consider.
“I want to hold you, let me hold you.”
Did she dare move closer to him? Would he think she forgave him?
“I love you,” he said again. “And I plan on telling you that every day for the rest of our lives.”
She stared at him.
“You still find it difficult to believe?”
“If you had been truthful with me from the beginning I would not have difficulty now. You told me once you loved me and I believed you with my whole heart, only to discover it was a ruse for you to benefit by.”
She shook her head. “Why? Why couldn’t you have told me the truth from the start?”
“I did what I thought was best.”
“For whom?”
“For all.”
“You were wrong,” she said.
“No I wasn’t. I planned for everything except—”
She waited.
He finally rolled over. He braced his body against her side and took hold of her chin, squeezing lightly. “I never planned to fall in love with you, but I thank God every day that I did.”
He leaned over her, bracing his hands on the sides of her head, and lowered his mouth to hers. He brushed his lips with hers and sighed.
“Tasting you is like dusting fire with sweet wine. It fuels the flames. One kiss isn’t enough, one touch isn’t enough, one coupling will never do.”
He made her passion soar, teasing her lips with promised kisses, never tasting deeply, only skimming the surface and causing her to ache with need for him.
She groaned and tossed her head to the side, a mistake. He nibbled along her neck, sending gooseflesh trembling over her entire body before traveling down to suckle at her nipples through the linen night shift until they were so hard they pulsed.
“Tell me to stop, Aliss.”
She couldn’t find the words. They refused to leave her throat.
He moved down, kissing her midriff, while working her night shift up along her body and exposing her stomach, which he nipped and nibbled on until she squirmed.
“Tell me to stop,” he warned again.
“No.” She breathed a heavy sigh.