Epilogue #2
Rather than being overwhelmed, Helena merely smiled softly. “I look forward to meeting all of them.”
Grinning, Gabby embraced Helena. “Welcome to the family, sister.”
Hunter’s heart melted at the way his new wife hugged her right back.
When the group decided to go sample some of the whisky varieties being tapped, Hunter snuck his arm around Helena once more. “Have I told ye today that I love ye?”
She pretended to think about it. “I cannot remember. Perhaps you should tell me again.”
“I love ye, Helena Lickfold Lindsay. Thank ye for accepting my mad family—there’s plenty of us.”
“Thank you for inviting me into your family. I went from having no one to having…”
“Me,” he murmured, bending to brush a kiss over her lips.
A new voice interrupted. “Perhaps we ought to return in a few minutes.”
“A few days, looks like. They are newlyweds,” came the amused reply, and with a sigh, Hunter lifted his head.
Still, he had to smile when he recognized the latest interrupters. “Merida! I didnae realize ye’d be coming! And ye brought…” He peered at the other man in the teal-blue waistcoat. “A flashy peacock? Wherever did ye find a peacock—”
“Shut up,” Bull growled, although he was grinning as he pulled Hunter into a hug. “Congratulations, ye two.” He grinned at Helena as he drew her into the embrace. “And yes, I take full credit for this match.”
“Credit? Credit?” Hunter hooted, pushing him away. “Ye told me she was hiring me because I was an idiot.”
His uncle-turned-friend nodded solemnly. “And I was right.”
Merida—her red hair piled sloppily atop her head and paint under her nails, reached for Helena. “I am Merida, these idiots’ cousin. Sort of cousin. It is complicated.”
Helena’s brows went up as she accepted the embrace. “The forger?”
“Yes, I am finding ever so many ways to put my artistic skills to use.” Merida winked as she straightened. “I can make a few tweaks to the one I did for you earlier, to make it all legal this time.”
“Nay, lassie,” Hunter interrupted, “We have a real marriage certificate now.”
“Well then, maybe you ought to hang on to the one I made for you,” she suggested impishly. “To confuse future generations doing genealogical research?” As Bull laughed, Merida turned back to Helena. “I believe you met my father, Fawkes.”
“Oh, the surgeon who saved Hunter’s life!” Helena cried, reaching for Merida’s hand in excitement. “Yes, I so appreciated his skills—”
“Oh, he will be delighted to be called a surgeon,” Merida interrupted. “Since he considers himself a chemist at best.”
“Better than a poisoner,” muttered Bull good-naturedly, but Helena’s confused glance proved she didn’t understand. Well, there was always plenty of life ahead of them for more stories. “Fawkes and Aunt Danielle are arriving late. I’d hoped with Danielle coming that Aunt Georgia might…”
When he glanced around, as if looking for someone, Hunter’s brows rose. Danielle was married to Fawkes, and her sister Georgia was married to Demon. But Demon’s family had sent their regrets, citing the distance…
Distance, my arse. Hunter knew Demon just didn’t like to leave his estate. There was a reason he was known as the Reclusive Duke of Lickwick.
So Hunter raised a brow at Merida, who wasn’t bothering to hide her smirk. “Dearest Bull seems quite interested in knowing the whereabouts of Cousin Rosie.”
Bull’s head whipped back around, a fierce frown tugging on his lips. “What the—lies! Nay I dinnae, I merely asked if they would be here—”
“You asked if she would be here,” Merida chuckled, then winked at Helena. “Which of course, I shall never let him hear the end of.”
“Of course,” murmured Helena seriously, “Nothing else for it.”
Hunter realized he was going to have to save his pseudo-uncle. “Thank ye for coming, whether or no’ this marriage was yer plan all along.”
Bull sniffed and tugged at his waistcoat, a little mollified. “I wouldnae have missed it. Islay is at the arse-end of Scotland, but it’s really quite nice. Damp round the edges, like ye.”
“And there’s whisky,” Hunter pointed out.
“And there’s whisky, that’s what I was about to say.” Bull’s expression softened. “I’m happy for ye both. Oh! Ye havenae told us how Lady Mistree’s magic rock saved the day!”
“Oh, yes!” Merida nodded eagerly to Helena. “Bull told me all about your inheritances, I am so curious.”
“Well, it was not a rock,” Helena confessed, glancing at Hunter, “but a spoon. I am not sure exactly how it was magical, but I suppose it did save the day.”
“Without it,” Hunter said solemnly, wrapping his arm around his new wife once more, “I wouldnae have a future here with Helena.”
“That is not true.” Scoffing, she poked him in the side. “You had confessed your love and proposed marriage before the spoon became relevant to your inheritance!”
“A relevant spoon!” Bull rocked back on his heels. “A double inheritance! I cannae wait to tell Lady Mistree all about this.”
Hunter grinned. “I’ll tell ye everything. Tomorrow. Tonight…”
“Tonight is for whisky,” Bull agreed.
Merida scoffed. “Tonight is for celebration, you idiot.”
“No.” Helena pressed her cheek against Hunter’s shoulder. “Tonight is for love.”
Love.
Helena stood before her husband—her true husband—her heart fluttering with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. The room was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, casting a warm, intimate ambiance over them. Hunter's eyes, gentle and loving, met hers as he reached out to cup her cheek.
"Ye're the most beautiful bride I've ever seen, Helena," he murmured, his thumb brushing against her already tingling skin. "I cannae believe ye’re finally mine.
She leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed briefly. "And you are mine, Hunter. Forever."
He smiled, his hands moving to the fastenings of her gown.
Slowly, reverently, he undressed her, placing the pink silk carefully down for future use and planting soft kisses on each inch of skin he exposed.
Helena shivered, not from the cold, but from the sheer tenderness of his touch.
She mirrored his actions, her fingers deftly unbuttoning his waistcoat and shirt, her palms sliding over his warm, firm chest.
Oh yes…
“I love that you have chosen to make your life here with me,” she whispered, bending to place a kiss on his skin, over the now-healed injury. Losing him…it had been too close. “I love how strong you are, I love that you are willing to work hard with me.”
“And I love that ye are so strong and brilliant and successful,” he told her, eyes twinkling. “I love that somehow I’ve convinced ye to love me.”
She smiled. It really hadn’t been that difficult, had it?
As the last of their clothing fell away, they stood bare before each other, bringing nothing to their bed but their affection. Hunter's gaze roved over her body, his eyes brimming with desire.
"Ye're perfect, Helena," he whispered, his hands cupping her breasts, his thumbs circling her impatient nipples. "Absolutely perfect."
Helena gasped, her head falling back as she arched into his touch. Hunter took advantage, leaning down to capture one taut peak in his mouth. He teased her, his tongue and teeth driving her wild with need. She clutched at his shoulders, her body already aflame with desire.
“Hunter,” she breathed.
“This is our wedding night, love, and I’m going to make certain we both remember it,” he vowed.
Gently, he laid her down on the bed, his body stretched alongside hers. His kisses were slow and deep, his hands exploring every curve and hollow of her body. Helena felt cherished, adored, running her hands over his back, shoulders, arms, loving the feel of his muscles beneath her fingertips.
Wedding night, indeed.
She had considered herself married to this intractable, gorgeous kindhearted man for so long, it was hard to remember that it was only from today that she could truly call him her own.
Hunter's hand trailed down her body, his fingers brushing against her inner thigh.
She shivered in anticipation, her legs willingly parting for him.
He touched her gently, his fingers sliding through her slick folds, the base of his palm pressing against her clitoris.
She gasped at the delicious pressure, her hips arching off the bed as pleasure coursed through her.
Yes, more, more—
Helena's breath hitched as Hunter's fingers explored her, his touch reverent and gentle. His fingertips slid through her wetness, drawing out a moan from deep within her.
"Ye're so wet for me, love," he murmured, his voice thick with desire. "So ready for me. Ye're perfect."
He circled her entrance, teasing her, before sliding two fingers inside. She whimpered, her body clenching around him, wanting more, needing more as her grip tightened on his shoulders and her hips gyrated beneath his ministrations.
"Hunter," she breathed, her voice a desperate plea. His thumb found her clitoris, pressing gently, moving in small, delicious circles that drove her wild but kept her torturously on the edge.
"Ye feel so good, Helena," he praised, his voice a husky growl. "I want to make ye come. I want to feel ye come on my fingers, love."
She was close, so close—her body tensed, her breath nothing but short, sharp gasps. But as the pleasure built, so did her desperation. She wanted him, needed him inside her. A few fingers—well, that simply wasn’t enough.
Helena grabbed his wrist, stilling his movements. "Husband," she demanded, her voice firm despite her panting breaths. "I need you. Inside me. Now."
Hunter chuckled, a low, sultry sound that sent a shiver down her spine. He withdrew his fingers, bringing them to his mouth, tasting her. His eyes sparked with lust as he growled, "As ye wish, love. Ye’re the one in charge."
He positioned himself between her legs, the head of his cock poised at her entrance. They both gasped as he slid into her, inch by delicious inch. Her legs swiftly wrapped around him, holding him to her as his hips began to move, his thrusts slow and firm.
“Fooking magnificent," Hunter groaned, his voice strained. "Ye're so tight, so wet…so perfect."
Each thrust was long and deep, brushing against all the spots inside her that drove her wild. Loving that he was taking his time and yet hating it in the same breath, Helena arched her back, her breasts pressing against his chest, as she met his every movement.
"Yer cunny is heaven, love," he murmured against her lips, his voice rough with passion. "I could stay inside ye forever."
His words, the crudeness filled with adoration, were just what she needed. This tone was so quintessentially Hunter, so quintessentially them.
“Yes,” she moaned, trying to pull him closer, closer. “Please, Hunter—”
With a dark chuckle, he gathered her against him, taking his weight on his elbows. His thrusts grew more insistent, the gentle rhythm giving way to a desperate urgency. She could feel the tension coiling within her, a spring tightening with each drive of his hips, and she still wasn’t there.
"Hunter, I am so close, please," she whispered, her voice trembling with need.
"Let go, sweet Helena," he urged, his hand slipping between their bodies to find her swollen clitoris. "Let go and come for me."
The touch of his callused thumb against her most sensitive spot sent her spiraling over the edge. She cried out, her body convulsing as her inner muscles spasmed around his cock, each wave of pleasure sending her higher and higher toward ecstasy.
Hunter's control shattered at the sound of her cries. With a final, powerful thrust, he let go with a wordless roar and spilled against her womb. She felt a rush of warmth deep within her, and knew—despite everything they’d shared already—they were now fully joined in every possible way.
Together.
Claimed. The way they should be.
They lay there, entwined, their hearts beating in unison as the aftershocks of their passion subsided. Only when their breathing started to settle and the stars had ceased sparkling in the corners of her eyes did Hunter roll to his side, taking her with him, their bodies still intimately connected.
"I love ye, Helena," he murmured, his voice filled with awe and tenderness. "More than life itself."
Her eyes met his, and she saw the truth of his words reflected in his gaze. "And I love you, Hunter," she replied, her voice soft but steady. "With all my heart."
They held each other, their bodies cooling but their souls alight. In that moment, nothing else mattered—only the two of them, bound together by the sacred vows they had just exchanged.
Helena’s eyelids grew heavy as she smiled against Hunter’s shoulder. She was exactly where she belonged…and so was he.
“What has ye grinnin’ so?” he murmured, his fingers stroking comfortably up and down her spine. “Ye’re contemplating our future?”
“Aye,” she drawled tiredly, trying to mimic his way of speaking. “I was just thinkin’.”
He brushed a kiss against her forehead. “Thinking about what, hmm?”
Her eyes closed and she snuggled closer. “How glad I am that I hired you.”