Chapter 22

They talked a little more over dinner, trying to lighten their spirits, but it was of very little use. There was a somber mood in the dining hall generally, though Ivy wasnt sure if she was imagining it — from what she gathered from scraps of overheard conversation, there had been a lot of arguing between the Laird and Chieftain Brian earlier that day about what exactly was to be done about the issue of the so-called Changeling child in their midst. Once theyd eaten, Edward offered to walk her back to her room… but when they were saying their goodnights, she felt unexpected tears prickling hotly at the back of her eyes.

Ivy, Edward said softly, his expression pained… and that was enough to undo her completely. She sobbed against his chest as he held her, feeling a lot of bottled-up grief coming loose, not just the frustration and worry about Colin. As Edward gently guided her into her room and sat her down on the bed, she wept not just for the innocent child in danger, but for everything that had brought her here… for the loss of her familiar home, her old life, her old friends, her family back home, all of her clients, the work shed been so passionate about, and so good at when she had the resources that she needed at her disposal…

Its alright, love, Edward kept murmuring.

She knew he was only trying to make her feel better, but it was hard to believe him. But finally, her grief began to ease up, and she wiped her face, suddenly a little embarrassed about the vulnerability shed shown him.

Thats twice Ive cried on your in one day, she said, trying to sound flippant and failing miserably. Sorry, I just… its all so damned hard, thats all. Heres me wanting to help, and instead Im just making things worse.

What do you mean?

All that. Mary calling me a stranger, saying Ive been too nosy… Im the reason they were shouting at you.

Ivy, no. Its not your fault. He shook her by the shoulders a little, just hard enough to jolt her out of her miserable train of thought. You cant blame yourself for Mary Gilroys machinations. For whatever reason, shes made up her mind about what she wants to happen to Colin. Shed use anything as a justification to make that happen — you just happened to be the first thing she laid eyes on.

Ivy exhaled. Youre right, of course, she said resentfully, wiping her eyes again. I just… I really hoped Id be of more help to you, Edward. Its been so good spending this time with you?—

Ivy Jones, dont you dare. Youve been an immense help. And even if you hadnt been… His eyes darted away for a moment, and she caught the hint of a blush on his face. Well, Id have wanted to spend this time with you, regardless.

She almost burst into tears again at that, for entirely different reasons… and instead of letting that happen, instead she kissed him. Shed only intended it as a brief kiss… but she hadnt counted on how good it felt to actually have time to linger, not to have to break away from each other in case they were seen. As the kiss deepened, she snuck a glance at the door, feeling a thrill run down her spine when she realized it had closed behind them. They were completely alone here… no prying eyes, no nosy passersby to intervene… and before she knew it, she was in his arms, kissing him deep and urgent as the heat between them rose.

Before she knew it, she was half-sitting in his lap, their breathing quickening as his hands began to stray, carefully but meaningfully, down from her neck, across her back, the touch of his fingertips frustratingly distant through the layers upon layers of fabric that she was clothed in. She hesitated, though, at the thought of unlacing her corset, feeling an unfamiliar wave of uncertainty wash through her. What if he got the wrong idea about her? What if hed already gotten the wrong idea about her? Shed invited him up to her room, hadnt she — allowed herself to be alone with him, like this? She had no idea what kind of old-fashioned sexual ideas she was dealing with here… and she cursed herself for not asking one of her friends about it sooner. Hadnt they all negotiated relationships a lot like this one? Who better to ask for advice than the women whod been through exactly what she was going through?

But while her mind was racing, her body had had other ideas — most of them concerned with getting Edwards troublesome clothes out of the way as quickly as humanly possible. And with the sensation of his skin under her fingertips, the firm, densely packed muscle of his chest and shoulders, she gave up on rationalizing what was happening. She needed this… needed him, needed the heat of his body and his lips against hers. If that meant she was some kind of scarlet woman later, well then, shed deal with the consequences then.

And so she threw herself with full abandon into his arms, winning a surprised huff of laughter from him as he shifted back to accommodate her. Theyd both kicked their boots off at some point, and she yanked back the quilt and buried them both beneath it, her kisses growing demanding and possessive as her pulse quickened at his touch. Seeming to get the idea, Edwards hands roamed more provocatively across her body, seeming to linger over the laces that held the corset of her gown cinched tightly… and she kissed him in wordless encouragement as he began, cautiously and then more quickly, to unlace them.

Piece by piece, her gown was thrown across the room to join Edwards shirt and trousers… and finally, the two of them could finally hold each other, skin against skin. It was overwhelming, how good it felt to have him here with her, his arms tight around her, even the scent of his body intoxicating her. The brush of his beard as he kissed her lips, her cheek, her throat… she moaned and threw back her head as she felt his hands ghost across her hip and slide up her ribcage to caress her breasts, alive with sensation she couldnt remember feeling in a very long time… if at all. Sure, shed had her dalliances in the past, a few more than satisfactory partners back when shed had time for that kind of thing… but that all seemed to fade into the background in contrast with what was happening here and now.

Still, for a moment she worried, when their breathing grew ragged and she could feel his manhood pressing urgently against her leg. It had been such a long time since shed been with a man, and from what a few stolen caresses had told her, he was well endowed in that department… what if he was rough with her? Hed certainly grown more possessive as their passion grew, holding her more firmly, his hands growing rougher, though always in a way that she relished rather than flinched from. But she neednt have worried. Edward, the patient, slow-moving man shed come to adore over these last few weeks, didnt rush anything — least of all this. By the time he finally began to ease himself inside of her, she was so ready she almost wanted to demand that he move faster… but he made her wait, torturous and exquisite, for him to ease their pace up gradually. She could feel the pleasure building in her much faster, every slow, steady thrust of his hips sending fresh ecstasy through her, and it wasnt long before she was clutching tightly to his back and whimpering his name, her nails digging hard into his skin as her climax neared — he was breathing hard, too, his rhythm growing frantic as the edge approached for both of them, and Ivy couldnt have held off if shed tried when one final thrust of his hips sent her orgasm rushing through her like a great wave.

She came down from that giddy high slowly, breathing hard, feeling Edward quietly rearranging them to lie more comfortably in a tangle of sweaty limbs. Her legs were wrapped around his and his arms were holding her closely against his chest, and she pressed a kiss to the expanse of hot skin there, smiling at the soft hum of contentment the gesture drew from him. She really should say something, she thought drowsily as she felt him tug the quilt up over the two of them. Something romantic, something coy and witty and clever… shed think of it in just a moment, once shed caught her breath…

And that was the last thought she remembered before a deep, blissful sleep took her into its darkness for the night.