Chapter 54

54

I throw my arm over my face, blocking the morning sun from searing my eyelids. I sneak a look at Henry, and I'm pretty sure I ovulate right then and there. He looks like a statue carved from marble–all supple skin and mouth-watering muscle. His arms are stretched over his head, drawing my attention to his perfectly formed abs. I've never wanted to lick someone as much as I want to lick him. All the way from the hollow of his neck down to that magnificent cock.

"Can I help you?" he rasps, opening one eye and squinting at me like he knows exactly what I'm thinking.

"You can help me by fucking me," I say, not mincing my words.

"I'll make love to you tonight, Isla."

Hmph.

" Then I'll fuck this goddamned frustration out of both of us." My breath catches in my throat, and I choke, nearly coughing up a lung. "Is that what you want, Isla?" he asks, looking at me.

"I want everything you're willing to give me, Henry, and I want it hard." He bites his lip, his gaze slowly sliding down my body. My insides clench like I'm on the verge of a full-body orgasm. "You can't look at me like that. "

"Like what?" He pushes up on his elbow, the tip of his tongue poking out to moisten his lips. His eyes are glued to my tits, trying to coax my nipples to attention. And it fucking works. I close my eyes, breathing deeply, desperately trying to wrangle the need before it shreds my control. When I open my eyes, the first thing I see is Henry's cock nearly touching his stomach, and restraint flies out the window. Before he can protest, I'm straddling his torso, his cock snug against my ass crack.

"Don't you dare," he breathes, swallowing hard, his hands convulsing on my hips.

"I won't." I lie down on top of him, cradling his head between my arms, tucking my face into the crook of his neck. He wraps his arms around my waist, his breath ruffling my hair. And we just lie there with the salty breeze kissing our bare bodies. In all my years, this may be the most intimate thing I've done with a man I haven't slept with.

"Can we just lie here forever?" He presses his lips to my hair, his voice rough. "We can hide away from the world, just you and I."

"What about your brothers?"

"They don't have to know."

"Would you rather not share?" I ask, terrified to ask the question that's been in the back of my mind for a while now.

"That was never in the cards for us, Isla. I always knew this was going to happen."

"That wasn't my question," I whisper, my lips moving against the saltiness of his neck.

"The simple answer is yes."

"And the not simple answer?" I ask, holding my breath.

"I have certain appetites that involve watching you get absolutely ravished in the bedroom. And I'm not willing to do that outside of a committed relationship."

That's the only explanation I need to make that niggling sense of worry in the back of my head completely disappear. I push to my elbows, drowning in his baby blues, seeing the truth written there plain as day.

"Thank you for being honest with me. "

"While I'm being honest, I'm just a man, Isla, and your ass pressed against my cock is making me feral." He lifts me off his body, depositing me on my knees beside him, and pushes to his feet.

"What are your plans today?" he asks, helping me up and handing me my clothes.

"My sister Lorna wanted me to stop by today for lunch and a chat. Do you want to come with me?"

"Yes."

The lack of hesitation in his voice gives me the warm fuzzies, and I grin up at him, not even trying to hide how fucking happy I am. "You may regret that decision when you meet Daniel and Lorelei. They're absolute hellions."

"Try me. I've never met a kid I didn't like."

Fuck. This man. My insides are in a constant state of bonelessness with the way he talks.

"Tell me about Lorna."

Memories of my childhood flash through my head as I try to think about what to say. "She's kind. Brilliant. The most loyal person you'll ever meet. She loves with her entire heart."

"Is she married?"

"Her jackass of a husband left her when she was still pregnant with the twins."

"Jesus," Henry mutters, his jaw clenching. "What does she do? Hobbies? Work?"

"I actually think that's what she wants to talk to me about. She finally got her doctorate about six months ago and then took a bit of a break. She's been dabbling in gardening the last few years, and I have a feeling she's thinking about taking it full-time."

"Is that what her doctorate was in?"

I cough, my cheeks flushing. "I'll let you ask her about that." There's no way I'm having a conversation with Henry about how my sister is a literal doctor of orgasms.

Henry raises an eyebrow but doesn't press further. "I will. Should we go up and change and head that way? "

I nod, turning to head back up the path, but he grabs my hand and jerks me toward him, enveloping me in a gigantic bear hug.

"Thank you for coming down and eating breakfast with me," he murmurs into my hair.

"Thank you for cooking breakfast for me and for making this morning so romantic."

"This is only the beginning. Just wait till tonight."

My heart jumps. I'm sure I'm going to love every single thing about tonight, but most of all, it will be the moment he slides inside me, and we make that connection I've been yearning for. I help Henry pack up the breakfast things and then watch as he slings the huge pack over his shoulders like it weighs nothing. I wish I could say I'm being discreet as I flatten my palm to his shoulder and drag my hand over his ridiculously large bicep, tracing the veins riding down his lower arm before I lace my fingers with his. He's so goddamn sexy it hurts.

"You okay?" he asks, chuckling.

"Not at all," I whisper, practically salivating.

We take the motorcycle to Lorna's, and I'm not going to lie, wrapping my arms around his torso and feeling him between my thighs does things to me that I'm not proud of. Lorna lives on a beautiful farm at the very far end of the Isle of Lewis, right on the water. Jack and I have both begged her to move back to the castle, but I can't blame her for not wanting to leave her little slice of heaven. Plus, the kids love their school and their friends. But I miss my sister.

I can't help but laugh as we turn into her driveaway. There are flowers and animals everywhere . To our left, a family of short, hairy pigs tries to keep up with us, lumbering through the tall grass, their babies squealing. Lorelei pops out of the woods on the right, holding a duck under one arm, waving so hard I'm scared she may dislocate her shoulder. She sets the duck down as we pass and runs behind us, the duck taking flight and beating us all to the house.

Lorna is waiting for us just outside the front door, Daniel on her hip, both framed by thick, glossy jasmine that has taken it upon itself to absolutely cover the front of the house. A thick brunette braid hangs over one of Lorna's shoulders, loose pieces of hair framing high cheekbones. Her peaches and cream complexion sets off navy blue eyes and rosebud lips. I may be biased, but she is truly the most beautiful woman in the world. I nearly trip as I'm getting off the motorcycle, tossing Henry my helmet as I run to her. She sets Daniel down just in time for me to barrel into her, and I squeeze her as tightly as I can.

"God, I missed you," I whisper, breathing her in. She's been using the same perfume since I can remember, and I inhale the peppery, salty scent and feel like I'm home.

"First, let me see that ring," she says, kissing me on the cheek before pulling back to grab my hand. "Oh, Isla. It's perfect!" She admires it, turning my hand side to side to see all the colors in the stone.

"And you must be Henry," she says, putting her hands on her hips as she cranes her neck to look up at him. "What are your intentions with my sister?"

"To marry her and knock her up," Henry says without preamble.

Lorna snorts. "I was joking, but damn. Good for you." She grins up at him, studying his face before giving him a quick hug. "If you're a friend–or more–of my sister's, you're a friend of mine. Just don't hurt her, or I'll have to kill you." She drags her thumb across her throat, winks at him, then turns away from us both, extending her arm toward the beauty she's created. "Welcome to Misty Meadows Farm."

"It was quite the welcome," Henry chuckles. "I would love a tour if you have the time. Growing up, I was one of those kids who always wanted animals but never had any. This seems like heaven to me."

Daniel tugs at the hem of my shirt, and I haul him into my arms, kissing his chubby cheeks. He immediately tries to push a sticky finger into my mouth.

"Of course! I made a light lunch. I can give you a tour after we eat," she says, ushering all of us inside the house.

She leads us into the dining room, where she has a table set with beautiful china and a huge bouquet of gorgeous flowers in the center. "It's nothing fancy, just some sandwiches and a fruit salad. There's ham salad, egg salad, and tuna salad. White and whole wheat bread."

"You didn't need to do this, Lorna," I protest, my mouth watering at the spread.

"You know I like to spoil you," she says, winking, motioning for us to sit.

"Isla says I should ask you about your doctorate," Henry says, eating his sandwich in two bites.

"She did, did she?" Lorna asks, giving me a look I know well–one that means she'll get me back later. I can't help the grin that pulls at my lips, and I try to hide it with a huge bite of ham salad sandwich. This is going to be fun to watch.