Page 61

Chapter

“ D o you like it?”

Maisie had just come into the new stables.

The men who had helped Kieran quickly construct a new one after the other burnt to the ground had all left.

The sun had just set, and a chill settled into the air.

He’d been about to fetch the stableboy, whom Kieran thought should be elevated to stable master after all he’d done.

The boy had become invaluable to him, like Alice and Margaret were to Maisie.

On the cusp of manhood, he was quickly someone Kieran had relied on these past days.

“Very much,” she said. “‘Tis so much bigger than the last one.” She walked into his arms.

“Since we will add rooms to the inn on your new land, we’ll need the extra stalls. I had just been preparing to bring the horses inside.”

Maisie looked up to the loft. “I’d always wished for one to place guests when we run out of rooms.”

“I’ve slept many a night in such a loft as that.”

“Have you now?”

“Aye, lass, I have.”

“Slept? Or . . .”

He would not answer that particular question but supposed there was no need. In not answering, he’d inadvertently done so. Maisie’s eyes widened.

“I care little to think of you with other women.”

“As I do to think of you with other men.”

“But I’ve been with just one. And you know the kind of experience it was for me.”

“Ach, well, there’ve been no other women that could compare to you, Maisie.”

“So you’ve said.” With a glint in her eye, she glanced back up to the stable loft. “Perhaps we should be certain of it.”

If she was hinting . . .

“Maisie? Are you suggesting—”

“We should get rid of any memories of you with any woman but me making love in the loft of a stable? Aye. I am.”

Kieran did not have to be told twice that Maisie wished to be with him. But she was unlikely prepared for him to toss her over his shoulder as he’d done.

“Kieran,” she exclaimed. “Surely you do not mean to carry me up there this way?”

“Surely I do, my love.”

Ascending the ladder was easily done. Thankfully, Maisie wore a cloak, which he stripped off just as easily. After laying it down atop the hay, praying none came into the freshly finished stables, Kieran eased Maisie onto the cloak.

“I am fully clothed,” she said. “As are you.”

Fully clothed but still as enticing as ever. Reaching down, Kieran freed himself while keeping much of his clothing intact. Enjoying watching Maisie’s eyes widen—he was fully erect and ready for her—Kieran knelt below her.

When he lifted the hem of her gown, Maisie aided him by pulling it up toward her. The sight of her as such, lying in the hay, skirts up, her garter essentially welcoming him to play, was more than he could handle.

“I need you, Maisie,” he said, leaning into her. Though made a bit more difficult with the bulk of her gown between them, Kieran found his mark.

Guiding himself inside as Maisie held on to his shoulder, he groaned in sweet relief as he finally fully buried himself in her. As she’d been from the start, Maisie was not shy with him.

“I need you as well,” she said, thrusting her hips upward, her hands pulling him down.

They’d had many sweet moments between them. Soft kisses. Whispered words of affection. Lovemaking so slow and sensual, Kieran could not believe he’d ever lived without her. But this was not one of those moments.

He did not go slow. Or softly. And Maisie wanted more.

“Please,” she said. “Kieran, all of you.”

He gave her precisely that, thrusting into her as deeply as he possibly could.

“Yes.” She ground against him, her hips circling as he stilled. “Yes, Kieran. Yes. Please.”

She was close. He would push her over the edge. His hands beside them propping him up, Kieran was able to fully see her, and she him. He looked into her eyes and demanded, not asking.

“Come for me. Do it, Maisie. Come all over me.”

She did.

Screaming his name, a sweet, blessed sound he never again wished to go a day without hearing, Maisie came just before Kieran released everything he had into her. With a roar of pleasure, he collapsed against her.

Neither of them moved, or spoke, for some time.

But they were in the haylofts, and It was getting cold. So reluctantly, he pulled out, and, with a quick kiss, stood and righted himself. Helping Maisie up, he brushed off her cloak as she pushed her skirts back down.

Fully dressed, Kieran smiled at the spot where they’d just made love.

“Now when you think of making love in the hayloft of the stables, ‘twill be this night you will envision.”

“Indeed,” he said, fully agreeing. “And I’m sorry for not saying as much earlier, but there was never a danger of me thinking of making love to any woman but you.

” He took Maisie in his arms. “I know we agreed to wait until the stables were finished and we could afford to leave the inn to marry at my home, but I do not wish to wait. Let us do it here. My family can see the inn. We will have a banquet in the hall. More importantly, there will be no need to wait.”

She did not hesitate. “I would love that, truly.”

“And I love you. To think if I’d not learned of my birth in the manner in which I did, we’d not have met.”

“We were meant to meet,” she said. “As all things are meant to happen.”

“I believe you are right,” he said. And before she could correct him, Kieran added, “As you are most times.”

She laughed. “I am glad you remember it well.”

“I shall never forget it. Nor the moment we met or the first time we made love. Nor you, which will be easily done as you are not leaving my side, ever.”

“I have no desire to, Kieran. I am yours. Today and every day after.”