11. Epilogue

Epilogue

Two Months Later

E liza couldn’t believe how happy she was after spending the last few years in a continual state of pain and heartbreak. She smiled so much every day that sometimes her face hurt. She woke up every morning and fell asleep every evening in Nick’s arms, just as it always should have been.

She settled into running their household, and Nick handled the estate matters as needed, but they spent much of their time together. They went for walks around their estate, he laid his head in her lap while she read, and they christened just about every room and piece of furniture in the house. He kept his word to ensure they made up for lost time and that he filled their days with love and joy.

After they left the house party, they purchased a special license and married that same day. Then they retired to their county home, adjacent to her father’s estate.

Eliza waited for two weeks before she wrote to her father. She needed to calm her ire over the situation and she didn’t want to mar their newly wedded bliss with thinking about what to write to the man. When she finally did, she informed him that she had married Nick and that if he ever wanted a chance to know her or her children, he would not only sign over her dowry but would sign a contract stating that the stream belonged to her and Nick. It was the location where they had first met, and too much had already been lost from the ongoing feud. Her father didn’t deserve to claim it after what he had done.

She also didn’t hesitate to remind him that they possessed many influential friends and would ensure that he received the cut direct from everyone they knew if he didn’t comply.

Her father didn’t reply to her demands right away, but after a couple of weeks, they were surprised to find that he complied with all of her requests. She couldn’t be certain how much influence her mother might have played in that decision, but she was glad to have the matter finally done.

She hadn’t quite been ready to forgive him, but she and Nick both agreed to try. Eliza missed her mother and would like to have a relationship with her. They would attend dinner at her parents’ home the very next week, in an attempt to begin working on things.

Eliza kicked her dangling feet against the side of his desk as she sat on the edge of it and watched him reply to his correspondence. She often sat with him while he worked as they still struggled to be apart from each other.

“Am I supposed to take that as a hint that you are ready for me to be finished?” Nick asked.

“I wish to go for a ride,” she replied, faking a pout.

He dropped his quill. “Well, why didn’t you say so?” he asked, leaning back in his chair. “I am right here.”

She swatted at his arm. “A ride to the hunting cabin, you vexing man.”

“Well, lead the way, wife,” he replied, faking his own pout.

“You’ll enjoy it,” she said. “I promise.” She hopped off his desk and grabbed his hand to pull him with her to the stables. Their horses were saddled and ready, just as she had requested.

They raced each other to the hunting cabin, and when they arrived, he hopped to the ground and then lifted her down. It wasn’t lost on her how he intentionally set her down so that she slid against his body. She pressed up on her toes to reward his efforts with a quick kiss.

She clasped his hand and pulled him with her into the cabin.

“What is all of this?” he asked, looking around the room in amazement.

A fire had already been set in the main room. Roses and candles had been placed around the room. Eliza proceeded to light each of the candles. A light supper had been set up for them on the sideboard, just as she had requested.

Nick came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You didn’t answer me, my love.”

She turned in his arms to face him. “We have so many fond memories here, and I wish to make more.”

He responded by pulling her against him and kissing her, sweeping his tongue into her mouth to massage it with hers. She kissed him with all the love and desire she felt in her heart, edging him backward towards the settee before the fire. Pushing him back on it, she straddled him.

“I have a surprise for you, my love,” she said, placing a sweet kiss on his neck. Followed by several more kisses.

He shifted her skirts so he could get his hand underneath them and released a low growl when his fingers rubbed against her already wet folds. “Is it that you aren’t wearing your stays?” he asked. “Because I quite like that surprise.”

She shook her head.

“Hmmm,” he murmured, thinking. He slipped two fingers inside of her and her head fell back. “Is it that you are very ready for me?” he asked. “Because I like that surprise even better.”

She looked into his eyes and shook her head again.

Nick unbuttoned his falls, his large shaft protruding between them. She stroked him a few times before he lifted her hips so she could guide him inside of her.

She rocked on him, both of them panting in need.

“Is this my surprise?” he asked. “Because this is the best of all.”

She shook her head again, moaning.

He gripped her hips and helped her to ride him. Eliza wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close as he thrust upwards inside of her, entering her so deeply she released a steady stream of moans. She sucked and licked his neck and jaw while she rode him with such intensity that drove them both towards the edge of ecstasy. After several more thrusts, she cried out against his lips when she shattered in his arms. He bucked and thrust beneath her until he released himself deep inside of her. She fell against him and he wrapped his arms around her, stroking her hair, his cock half-erect still inside of her .

“I am out of guesses,” he said. “What is my surprise?”

She sat up and clasped his cheeks with her hands. “I’m carrying our sweet babe.”

“What?” he exclaimed. “Are you certain?”

She nodded, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

He placed his hand on her stomach. Her heart pounded with more love than she could have imagined when his own eyes welled with tears. She kissed the corner of his right eye, tasting his salty tear on her lips.

“I love you so much, Eliza,” he said.

“I love you, Nick,” she said, shedding a few happy tears down her own cheeks.

“I hope you know you have made me the happiest man in the entire world. Again,” he said, wiping her tears and turning more serious. “But I don’t want you going for rides any longer. I won’t take any chances with either of you.” He tenderly rubbed her stomach again.

She rocked on his lap and gave him a wicked smile when she could feel the intensity of his reaction inside of her as he grew hard again.

“As long as you are only speaking of horseback riding, I shall agree,” she said, “because this”—she rode him harder—“I won’t give this up.”