Page 115 of Love Me Forever

“See, it is not always easy to remain silent.”

His grin was more of a challenge than his words, and her hand swept down to cup him in her hand.

It was his turn to gasp, and he did louder than she had.

Her victory laugh was gentle; however, it still irritated him.

“I forget how tenacious you are.”

“Determined, dear husband, determined.”

His hand slowly moved away from her bottom, caressing her soft flesh as his fingers searched out the heat between her legs. “Aye, but then so am I.”

She bit at her bottom lip, preventing the long, heavy sigh that begged to escape when his fingers began to tease her. She kept enough wits about her to slide her hand over him and pleasurably torment him as he did her.

His mouth moved to hers, nudging her teeth away from her lip so that he could kiss her senseless, and he did. It did not take long before she completely surrendered to his touch. Her body grew impatient for more intimate contact, and she ached with the want of him.

Her moan was barely audible at first, but as he continued to caress, tease, and taste, it grew until the sound filled the bedchamber.

He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. It was only moments before he entered her, and they joined as only eager lovers could. Their combined moans filled the room, and for a brief second Brianna wondered if the guards heard them, and then she realized she did not care.

They lingered in their loving, enjoying every kiss, every touch, every moment of intimacy. He was gentle and caring with her, making certain she was comfortable in any position he placed her in until finally they shared a powerful climax that left them breathless.

They each lay on their backs, their bodies damp and their breathing heavy.

“We need practice,” Brianna said when her breathing calmed.

“Aye, we should practice as often as possible,” Royce agreed, his breath still heavy.

“I am available whenever you are.”

He turned on his side with a laugh. “Be careful what you say, for I will see that we practice night and day.”

She turned on her side, her protruding stomach resting against his. “Is that all? I thought more practice time would be required.”

He laughed again and rested his hand over her soft belly, where his child laid comfortably nestled. “You are tenacious.”

“Nay,” she said softly, her hand covering his. “I love you and love making love with you. I sometimes think I want you too much, and I do not tell you of my desire for fear of being too demanding.”

“Never think that, for I want you with as much tenacity and I love you with the same tenacity. And do not fear discussing anything with me. I wish us to talk of everything. There will be no secrets between us.”

“Then you will tell me what it is that you will discuss with my brother tomorrow?”

He did not hesitate to answer. “Arran’s options and possible tactics.”

“You wish to know your opponent.”

“I know that he is a coward, for only a coward treats a woman the way he treated you. And a coward also attacks the way he did this evening. He foolishly alerted me to his presence; now what does he do?”

Brianna shivered. “I do not know. I only know that he had a way of appearing when I least expected him to. After a while I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder or around me, for I feared he would appear out of thin air.”

“He was on familiar ground, his own home. That would be easy for him.”

Brianna shook her head. “Nay, he did it wherever we went. My brother’s keep, the woods, the village. He always lurked in the shadows.”

He slipped his arm around her. “He cannot lurk here.”

“I tell myself that I am well protected—” She hesitated.