Epilogue
Darkemore Manor
Between St. Austell and Bodmin
Cornwall, England
Why the hell did I let her do this to me?
Not that Michael minded, but the anticipation would surely kill him.
Over the past two years, he and his wife had often indulged in carnal games where one or the other of them were restrained or blindfolded.
A good bulk of the time it was Evvie who was at his mercy, and he liked nothing more than to keep her on the edge of the purest pleasure, but there were other times when she wanted that power, that control.
And he could deny her nothing.
“Did I tie them tight enough?”
He glanced over as she entered the bedchamber from the adjoining dressing room.
“Yes.” The word sailed out on a breathless push, for it was early afternoon with beams of sunlight coming in through the open windows, stirring the draperies and bringing with it the scents of salt and the sea.
That wasn’t what snagged his attention. It was Evvie herself.
As she came toward him, padding silently over the floor, she held a length of cravat silk in her hand, yet more to the point, she was completely and quite naked. They’d been married just over two years, but he had never grown tired of seeing her thusly.
“Fuck, but you are as amazing as the day I married you,” he managed to whisper as he roved his gaze up and down her body. Then he pulled on the ropes that restrained him to two of the stout bedposts.
She snorted. “There was no love lost between us on that day.”
“Perhaps, yet I still appreciated your form.”
“And took what I didn’t wish to give,” Evvie said with a grin as she reached the edge of the bed.
“That may well be so, but I’ll wager the whole of my fortune that you enjoyed each time I claimed your body.” The sight of her pebbled pink nipples made his mouth water. “Release me and let me show you.”
She ticked her tongue. “Not just yet, Darkemore. I want you at my mercy for a bit.” Then the dratted woman drew part of the silk over his shaft, which immediately hardened in a need to be employed inside her body.
“Besides, I want your undivided attention for the next hour or so, but if you behave, I might undo your bonds early.”
“Tease.”
“Perhaps, but I like giving you back everything you’ve given me.
Especially since you’ve only just returned home.
” As she spoke, she continued to caress various places on his person with the length of silk, resulting in clenched muscles and shivering awareness on his part.
“You do believe we have a good marriage, don’t you? ”
“Of course I do.” There was no doubt they’d had a rocky start to their union, but after he’d killed Echerson, things had changed. Starting with him being reinstated by the Regent shortly after he’d come to Cornwall.
That didn’t mean challenges hadn’t persisted for them both, but they refused to give up on each other.
Yes, he’d stumbled through the darkness, lost himself a few times, and in the midst of that—no doubt due to that mindset—he’d taken a mission for the Crown that required him to eliminate an enemy agent.
And he’d made it adamant to Prinny as well as the powers-that-be that he wouldn’t do any more missions. Younger men, unattached men, could play at heroics and shadows. He didn’t need that any longer in his life.
As for Evvie, she’d lost two pregnancies, but throughout that time, she’d found she was happiest either in Cornwall or at his parents’ cottage. She wasn’t suited for society life, and neither was he, frankly. They spent time with his friends but rarely made public appearances any longer.
He did his duty by his estates and to his title when required, but they’d both decided that time was precious and more well spent with friends, the family they chose, and in doing things that made them both happy or at least content. That was fine by him.
“Are you woolgathering, Darkemore?” Amusement wove through her voice as she crawled onto the bed to wait on her knees beside him.
“I didn’t mean to. Just remembering all the things we’ve overcome or conquered during our marriage so far.” When he met her gaze that was more green and brown, he shivered for there were secrets in her eyes he desperately wanted to discover. “I’m sorry we’ve had more than our fair share of trials.”
“It is life, my love.” The secrets turned to shadows as she straddled his waist.
There was something else there, something he hadn’t seen in a long time. “What is it? There is something you haven’t told me.”
“How do you always seem to know what I’m withholding?”
He flashed a grin. “I am that connected to you, I suppose.” With the slight buck of his hips, he jostled her enough that she slipped forward and fell over his upper body, her arse rubbing against his engorged shaft. “Tell me.”
Hope mixed with sadness in her expression. “I am increasing again.”
“What?” Chills swept over his body to cool his ardor slightly.
“How far along?” Between the two of them, they’d agreed that they wouldn’t come together in the express purpose of trying to reproduce.
Losing two pregnancies in two years had been quite difficult for them both.
Were they a product of abuse from her first husband or something else?
There was no way of knowing.
“Three months or so.” She rested a palm to the side of his face while peering into his eyes. “Almost the same length of time when I lost the others. It’s why I’ve waited so long to tell you in the hopes…”
Shock went through his chest. “I know.” He wished he could wrap his arms around her and hold her, but she hadn’t made a move to release him from the ropes. “What are you feeling?”
“Hope. Fear. A tiny bit of happiness, but also a bit of despair, because we both know what can—and might—happen.” A sheen of tears welled in her eyes. “But this one feels different.”
“How can you tell?”
Her shrug only lifted one shoulder, but called his attention to her breasts as she propped herself up with her palms on his chest. “I have been ill more with this pregnancy than the others. Have been sick to my stomach and have suffered megrims. When I told that to my midwife, she said it was a good sign that the babe was strong and that it was adhering well to the womb.”
“When will we know for certain?”
“Perhaps in the next few weeks. Once we pass that certain mark, we may be out of the danger period.” With a sigh, she let the length of cravat silk drop to the floor.
Then she moved up his body, and when her still flat belly brushed his face, he couldn’t help but whisper a prayer or a plea against that soft skin.
Seconds later, when she untied his bonds, Michael immediately hauled her into his arms, flipped them both onto their sides, and held her close.
“I can’t bear to hope, yet if I’ve learned one thing over the years with you, it is that a man needs to have exactly that.
” He pressed his lips to her temple. “Regardless of what happens, I love you, Evvie. We will continue to weather the storms if they come.”
She nodded and wrapped her arms around him, held him tight. “I love you too, Michael.” Her lips brushed his neck when she spoke. “But I won’t lie and tell you I am not holding onto that tiny little hope.”
“Good.” After he rolled her over onto her back, he settled himself between her legs. “All that being said, are you certain we should indulge in carnal play? I don’t want to do anything that might damage the pregnancy.”
“The midwife didn’t seem concerned, but if you are, and don’t want to, I understand.” She brushed her lips over his. “Or do it slowly and gently. I just want to be with you in the aftermath of this news.”
“Anything is good enough for me.” Over the next several moments, he kissed her thoroughly and completely. “For what it’s worth, I am holding onto that hope as well.” To have a child that was a part of both of them would be the greatest achievement of his life.
He’d learned by now to savor the little things and to accept help and companionship along the way. That was the best anyone could do while moving through the realities of life. And if one found acceptance and peace too? Well, even better.