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Will came for her in the night. Though they’d been given separate rooms, he’d come for her every night as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

But this night was different. This night she knew would be their last.

She lay there, silently, wondering if he’d know she was really awake. She feigned sleep, but her anger she didn’t have to pretend.

But she needed him. She loved Will, more desperately than ever. She needed him near, and so she lay still, listening as he unlatched the door, slowly pushed it open, walked to her bed.

She heard the shuffle and light tap of his cane, and the sounds seared her. Ran her through. He was gorgeous and noble. Thoughtful, brilliant, kind, and brave. But it was Will’s vulnerability that she loved most of all.

She heard him pause. He stood by her bed, not making a sound. She was terrified he’d leave. Terrified Will might turn and go, forever.

Felicity considered saying something, but stayed mute. She’d already said it all. There was nothing left to say.

There was the heavy sound of wool falling to the floor. His plaid. Relief burst through her, a tingling cascade across her chest. She realized she’d been holding her breath.

She felt the skim of bed linens against her skin, and moved just the slightest fraction over, making room.

Felicity lay on her side, her back to him. Still she pretended sleep, but wondered who she was kidding. She was naked. Waiting.

She felt the mattress give with his weight. It was stuffed with dried heather and made a light crunching sound as he lay next to her.

Did he think she was asleep? Surely he could tell from her breathing that she wasn’t. She wondered what he would do. Would he wake her? How much did he want her?

“Speak to me, love,” he whispered into the darkness.

She lay still, listening to the rasp of his breathing. Though he wasn’t touching her, his body radiated warmth along her back.

He pulled the bed linens up, sliding them carefully over her shoulder. Tucking his finger under her hair, he slid the mass of it from where it had tangled at her neck. There was another rustle, a hit of chill air, and warmth again as she sensed his arm under the covers.

“We part tomorrow.” He reached for her, and his fingers scorched her like a burn. “It will be the end of my world.” His hand stroked along her side, tracking a slow curve from hip, sloping to waist, up along her ribs, and back again. “I will be as a dead man, Felicity. A man without his heart.”

Her breath hitched and she struggled not to speak. Bottled-up emotion clutched at her throat, aching with her unshed tears.

“I want you.” The husky tremble in his voice made her shiver.

She wanted him too. Had never stopped wanting him.

He stroked up and down the side of her body.

Is this it?

Would this be the last time they’d ever be together? Felicity thought maybe she should turn around. Grab him, and shout, and make it memorable. But she could only lie there, stricken by her pain.

“Say something,” he whispered.

But there was too much to say. Nothing more she could say.

She thought for a moment, maybe if she didn’t have sex with him . . . Maybe it wouldn’t be good-bye until they did.

But she couldn’t play those games. She had to be with him, one more time. Will was so perfect, it was impossible for her to resist when offered.

“I feel as though you’ve left me already.”

She couldn’t stop herself. Her breath hiccupped, and she curled in more tightly on herself. It was unbearable. Leaving him.

“Och, love.” His whisper was unsteady, unbearably tender. “Do you cry?”

His body melded to hers. Hot flesh along her back. Muscle, the light bristle of hair, his hardness. “Please.” She felt his mouth at her shoulder. “Say something.”

Will’s touch was tentative, reaching around to cup her breast. She nudged her hips back, letting him know it was all right.

His hand stroked to her thigh. She shifted her leg, resting it over his.

He slipped into her from behind.

The last time.

He didn’t move at first. She wasn’t sure when he’d started to move. He went so slowly. Every motion, quiet tenderness. Every moment to be savored.

The last time I’ll feel him.

She’d truly believed she was his. Til this very last moment, she’d held out hope. But hope had faded to despair. She’d thought Will was the one, and yet Gormshuil had told her, if she left, she’d never return.

Looking back now, she wondered, had they always been saying good-bye? Somehow, from the start, their time together had never fully been their own. Always anchored in place and time, they’d never been free to be lovers, carefree and easy.

“My love,” he murmured simply.

She felt her body coiling. Building. She wouldn’t cry out.

My last time.

Felicity gasped as her climax slammed into her. She wanted to scream, to moan and shout. To shout at Will, at the fates conspiring against them. But she stayed silent, biting her lips to swallow her cries.

Will held her tight. She felt a tear in the corner of her eye. It spilled to her nose, hovered there, and then drifted down. She shut her eyes tight, willing sleep to take her.

This last sleep by Will’s side.