Page 149 of Fall of a Kingdom

Duncan crumpled on top of me, his breathing harsh and labored in my ear. Finally, he rolled off and settled next to me.

I curled into his embrace and placed my cheek on his chest.

“That didn’t solve our problems,” Duncan said. “Despite how good it was.”

“Why not?” I asked, lifting myself up and staring into his eyes. “Why can’t that have solved all of our problems? I’m sick of talking, Duncan. That’s all any of us do. Why can’t we just start fresh, wipe the slate clean, and move forward?”

He grasped my chin with his thumb and forefinger and brought me to his lips for a kiss. “I’d like nothing more, lass.”

“Then let it be,” I said. “From this moment on, the past doesn’t exist. When we fight in the future, neither one of us will bring up old resentments.”

“I have no resentments.”

I paused for a moment and then smiled. “Neither do I.”

“Swear it.”

“I swear it.”

He grinned. “Kiss me again, woman. And let me show you how much I adore you.”

Epilogue #2

QUINN

I fingeredthe gold wedding band as I sat by the bay window in the master bedroom of the home Sasha and I had bought in Scotland.

It was dreary and cold, and I nuzzled deeper into the blue silk robe.

The door to the bedroom opened and Sasha came in. He was dressed in a pair of black trousers and a burgundy sweater.

I smiled up at him. “Good morning, husband of leisure.”

“Good morning, wife of leisure,” he quipped, leaning down and kissing my forehead. “You’re still in your robe. Everything all right?”

I nodded. “Just sitting here. Thinking.”

“About?”

“When are we telling people?”

“Telling people,” he repeated.

“That we got married in the hospital chapel a week ago?” I asked.

He gently nudged me away from the wall, but only so he could take a seat behind me and then wrap me in his arms. His hands settled on my belly.

“We should probably tell them before you start showing,da?”

“Da.” I smiled up at him. “Are we allowed to be this happy?”

“Allowed?” he snorted. “Don’t you think we’ve sacrificed enough to get here? To this moment?”

“Yes, sacrifice.” I shook my head. “You want a boy.”

“A girl would be fine, too. Just as long as you both are healthy, I don’t care.”

“Liar.”