Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Six years later

Felkington Castle

"T ake me now, Julian," she breathed.

Julian's hand was on the door latch of their warm, comfortable chamber. It was dawn and he'd been trying to leave for the past half-hour, but Lista wouldn't let him. At seven months pregnant, she was like an animal in heat at this stage. For some reason, it had happened with every one of their children. Being that this was her fourth pregnancy, he ought to know. Not that he minded, because he didn't. Not in the least. But they'd already made love twice last night and once this morning as soon as they woke up. He was dressed now and trying to get out of the door, but Lista was on her side, nude, as the soft firelight illuminated her beautiful figure. Her gently swollen midsection drew his lust.

Rolling his eyes and surrendering to the inevitable, he began to strip off his clothing as he made his way back to the bed, but Lista didn't even let him get halfway undressed before she was on top of him.

"Wait," he said, trying to remove his boots as she straddled him and latched on to his mouth. "Sweetheart, give me a few moments to get my boots off."

Lista was already unfastening his breeches. "I do not care about your boots," she said. "Only your breeches. Remove them!"

She was kissing him passionately and he was succumbing like a weakling, but he started laughing because she was being so forceful. When her hands moved into his breeches, invading warm and intimate places, he was instantly aroused and the laughter stopped. Boots on, breeches down around his hips, he put his enormous arms around her and lay her on her back, covering her with his massive body.

"Take me, my angel," Lista said breathlessly, parting her legs for him as he wedged himself in between them. "Now, darling. Do not make me wait."

His mouth moved down her body, to her delicious breasts. "Not yet."

"Why not?"

Her demand was cut off when his lips descended on a swollen nipple. His hands massaged her, pulling at her breasts and pinching her nipples until she was writhing with passion. His massive hands still splayed on her breasts, his mouth blazed a trail down the center of her torso, losing himself in her scent and texture. Every curve was explored with his tongue, every inch of flesh touched or caressed.

He had to experience all of her.

Julian's mouth moved to her tender groin area, tasting and kissing. His hands left her breasts and he moved between her thighs, bringing up both of her legs and spreading them wide.

Lista's head came up. "What are you doing?"

He lowered his head to her throbbing core, a wolfish grin on his face. His gentle fingers delicately traced the dark curls, tenderly spreading the thick folds.

"You like this," he murmured.

Lista had her fingers in his hair. "I do not want your tongue there," she said. "I want your…"

She was cut off when his hot mouth descended on her sensitive core. A moan spilled forth from her lips and she arched her back with the force of her passion, staring up at the ceiling. Frozen in that position, legs spread and over her husband's shoulders, she felt every lap of his tongue, every suckle, as if nothing else in her world existed.

Julian's hands held her buttocks, trapping her against him as he continued his onslaught. Her sharp pants of passion excited him terribly, driving him mad for want of her. When she was hot and ready, he released her buttocks and stood up, thrusting his throbbing member into her slippery flesh.

Lista was already climaxing as he came into her, only enhanced by his enormous organ. His thrusts were firm and complete, prolonging her pleasure. The harder he pushed, the stronger her contractions until she began the inevitable downslide.

But Julian didn't let up. His arms were braced on either side of her, his body aloft from hers as he thrust into her again and again. When his release finally came, it was with the most powerful of blasts. He spilled deep, still moving, feeling her juices and his combine and making her unbelievably wet. Still, he continued to move, wanting to feel her around him, still wanting to be within her until out of sheer exhaustion, he came to a halt.

He lay atop her, gathering her into his arms, feeling her big belly between them. Not wanting to smash the child, he shifted so his weight was off her belly, but he was still wedged in between her legs, still joined to her. As he gently kissed her neck and shoulder, Lista took one of his hands and put it on her belly.

His head came up.

"He is kicking strongly," he said, grinning as he felt the baby move. "Soon, I will no longer be able to touch you until the child is born."

Lista made a face. "And then you will not be able to touch me for weeks afterward," she said. "I love giving birth to your children, Julian, but I do not like it when you are not permitted to touch me. That is the worst part about it."

He chuckled, feeling the baby roll around beneath his hand. "It is no joy for me, either, but as it was explained to me by four midwives and a physic, if we continue relations up until you give birth, it could harm both you and the child," he said patiently, considering he explained this same thing with every child they'd had. "And I am not to touch you afterwards because you must heal. Having a child wreaks havoc on a woman's body, especially in the area where a man gains his pleasure. You know this, sweetheart."

Lista did indeed know all of that, but she still didn't like it. Pregnancy had made her quite moody, too, and Julian lived in fear of her tears and rages. Four pregnancies in six years meant she had been with child a good deal of the time simply because they couldn't keep their hands off one another and were quite fertile together. They had three boys already and Julian was convinced the child she carried was the fourth. He was so in love with his family that there were times he would watch his boys sleep, tears in his eyes as he thought on how fortunate he really was.

More of that greatness his father had spoken of.

"I know all of this," Lista said, interrupting his thoughts. "I know that I must be allowed time to heal and, truthfully, I do not feel much like having you touch me right after the child is born. But still… I miss that time together. Our moments alone are few and far between sometimes."

He smiled and kissed her, his hand on her belly when something crashed into the chamber door. Had it not been bolted, it most certainly would have swung open. In fact, Julian bolted it with a purpose because his sons couldn't seem to remember to knock at their parents' door. To them, a closed door was simply a vague suggestion that those on the other side might need or want privacy.

The de Velt stampede had begun.

"Mam!" Someone was pounding on the door. "Mam, open the door!"

Lista sighed faintly, looking to Julian, who started laughing. He disengaged from his wife and rolled off the bed, pulling his clothing together again as Lista struggled to sit up. Julian saw her efforts and he paused in redressing, pulling her into a sitting position.

"Stop pounding on the door," he called to the hooligans in on the other side of the panel. "We shall open it in a moment."

Lista was on her feet, pulling a heavy shift over her head. Julian quickly finished dressing and helped her don a heavy robe and slippers. When she was completely dressed and hastily braiding her hair, Julian went to the door and released the bolt. The door flew open and three young boys spilled into the chamber.

Boys with their father's two-colored eyes.

"Mam!" the biggest one went to Lista, pulling on her sleeve. "Mama! Mam!"

Lista stopped mid-braid and put her hand over her eldest's mouth. "Quinton, please," she said. "I can hear you perfectly well without shouting. What is it?"

Quinton de Velt, or Quin as he was called, was the image of his late grandfather. He had Jax's eyes, his dark hair, and his dark eyebrows. There was nothing about the boy that didn't scream of Jax de Velt.

He also had his grandfather's legendary impatience.

"He's here!" Quinton said. "Louis is here! He's brought the small ponies! Mam, he promised me for my day of birth and he came! He really came!"

Lista looked at Julian in surprise. Now, she knew what the chaos was about. Louis, who had become a good and true friend to both Julian and Lista over the years, had promised Quinton a dog-sized pony for his day of birth and now he'd evidently shown up with the goods. Julian met his wife's surprised expression, with two boys crawling on him and demanding their own tiny ponies. In fact, Julian had the youngest boy, Simon, in his arms as his middle son, Tybalt "Ty" de Velt, tugged on him.

"Where is Louis?" Julian asked his eldest.

Quinton was pointing to the door, out in the general direction of the courtyard. "In the stables," he said excitedly. "Come and see, Papa!"

Quinton bolted from the chamber, followed by Tybalt. Simon pushed himself out of Julian's arms, ramming a little hand into his throat and causing his father to cough. All three boys charged out, excited, as Julian and Lista brought up the rear.

"I hope he's brought three little ponies or there is going to be a battle," Lista muttered. "Why would Louis do this? Did you not tell him no ponies for Quin?"

Julian fought off a grin as he took Lista's arm and carefully helped her down the stairs. "My dearest darling, I know you still look at them as babies, but Quin and Ty are old enough to ride," he said. "Simon is still a little young, but they are de Velts. They are born to ride and bear arms. Besides, these ponies aren't for riding. They're pets."

The statement displeased Lista immensely. They reached the third level, the one with the great hall, and they could hear the boys in the hall as they clamored around Meadow, who had evidently demanded they break their fast before going outside to see the ponies. Simon seemed particularly upset and his wailing could be heard echoing off the walls.

Lista shook her head in resignation.

"Go to the stables and tell Louis that if he has not brought three ponies with him, then he had better flee for his life," she said. "I am going to make sure my mother does not take a stick to the boys. She's been known to do that when they argue with her."

Julian's grin broke through. "Your mother was born to tend a gaggle of young lads," he said. "She's happier than I've ever seen her."

Lista had to concede the point. "She is," she said. "All she needed was some children to love to give her a reason to stay away from the wine and live again. I can hardly remember that drunkard she used to be when Flora was around."

"Have you heard from her lately?"

Lista shook her head. "Nay," she said. "She's gone back to The Filey and she evidently has a new companion to drink her days away with, so she has no more need of us."

"Not even our social connections?"

It was a sarcastic question and Lista grinned. "Not even our social connections," she said. "Now, go. Tell Louis that I am greatly displeased. And also ask him what he has done about the de Chevington lass. We met her during the summer when we visited Sunderland at his invitation. Remember?"

Julian nodded. "I remember," he said. "She seemed very keen on him."

Lista nodded. "The man needs to get married. He's not getting any younger." A scream rose up, catching her attention. "I must go save my children from my mother. Or would you rather do it and let me see to Louis?"

Julian shook his head firmly, pulling her close for a tender kiss. "I'll take the knight," he said. "You take the wild animals. And then later tonight, I will take you ."

Lista giggled, kissing him again, gazing into those eyes she loved so well. Six years of bliss with a man she loved with every fiber of her being, a man who was the most perfect father and husband imaginable. A man she thought she'd lost once, but a man who had learned from his mistake. Their love had healed that weakness inside of him, the lack of confidence that had taken a chunk out of his soul. Everything about their love had been healing and glorious, timeless with wonder.

Theirs was the stuff that dreams were made of.

It was the greatness Julian had finally found.

And Jax would have been proud.

* THE END *