He kissed her long and slow, and as he pushed back inside her, pleasure pulsed through her, radiating out from her core. “I’ll care for you always, love.”
“I know you will,” she answered. Her every need would be met, of that she was certain. It was more beautiful than she’d ever hoped for.
They started moving in a slow regular rhythm that made her insides sizzle with passion until she was gasping for breath.
How could she feel this good again so soon?
She’d only just shattered in his arms in the tub and now her insides were tightening again.
“Noah,” she gasped, her fingers digging into his back.
“I know.” He held her tighter. “Me too.”
They hadn’t said much of anything, and yet, they’d said everything. He was right there with her, their bodies perfectly in tune as they kept moving together.
The tension built until she was sure she couldn’t stand another second of it, and then she shattered, crying out her pleasure.
Which seemed to send him careening over the edge and he growled out his own pleasure, his body spasming as he held her tight.
Avery wasn’t certain how long they lay locked together, but finally, he rolled to the side and she realized that she’d fallen asleep even as he settled her against his side. “Don’t leave in the morning,” she murmured.
“Don’t worry.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll be right here when you wake.”
“Good,” she said as she snuggled closer, her head in his chest. This was her favorite spot in the entire world, and, in another bright revelation, she’d never have to give it up.
Noah held her close, marveling at the way Avery fit against him.
Their lovemaking had been the most beautiful thing he’d ever experienced, and he had every intention of doing so again.
But he’d also noted that when he’d brought up the future…she’d closed herself again and it had taken some coaxing to get her to open back up.
He sighed and she stirred in her sleep.
He started lightly stroking her back to help her settle once again.
The problem was that now he realized what he had. He had love, he had a woman whom he cherished and who’d managed to effortlessly soothe the hurts of this world.
But she needed something from him and every time he brought up the future, he reminded her that he wasn’t giving it to her.
She wanted some measure of control.
His eyes squeezed shut. He knew what she needed, and when he really thought about it, he knew how to give it to her.
With Lily, he had taken her choices away and he lived with the regret of his decisions. It didn’t matter if he thought what he’d done was for the best, she hadn’t wanted that surgery. He’d taken her choice away and he hated himself for it.
He couldn’t, he wouldn’t, do that again.
He knew that in giving Avery a choice he risked losing her. She could decide her future shouldn’t be with him. But to bind her to him…he could lose her just the same. In fact, it might be far worse to have her at his side but have her close off her heart.
With a shake of his head, he closed his eyes. He might as well try and sleep. He had her next to him tonight.
By the next morning, a gentle rain fell, making the sky dark outside, but he woke to the feel of Avery stirring against him, soft and warm and making sleepy noises that made him come wide awake instantly.
“Morning,” her raspy voice tickled his ear. “How did you sleep?”
“Wonderfully. You?”
“Mhmm,” she answered, stretching against him.
He caressed the small of her back and over her behind, tracing the shape of her. Perhaps he could make love to her one more time…
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
Avery stilled, her brows drawing together.
It sounded again. “Mrs. Everly?”
“Yes?” she answered, turning toward the door.
“There is a Duke of Devonhall here to see Lord Ivinhart.”
Noah groaned under his breath.
“All right,” Avery said, her eyes going wide.
“The only problem is that we can’t seem to locate his lordship.”
Avery nibbled at her lip while he kissed the tip of her nose. “Ewan’s returned and he’s brought backup. Bash is with him”
“Indeed.” She pushed back the covers and directed her voice toward the door. “Let me dress and I’ll help you find him.”
It took close to half an hour, but they dressed and started downstairs. They found Ewan, Bash, and Isabella in the front salon. Only Isabella smiled as she ran to her cousin to give her a hug.
Avery returned the gesture as Noah looked at the two men. “Good to see you, Bash.”
Bash gave a single nod. “And you, my friend. I see you and Avery made it safely from the city.”
Noah grimaced. “It was close. You were correct. Your house was being watched.”
Isabella gasped. “Were you attacked?”
“No,” Avery said with a smile. “But I did get my first lesson on scaling garden walls.”
Somehow everyone relaxed at those words.
“And the rest of the journey?” Bash stood straighter as he looked between the two of them.
“Uneventful, more or less,” Noah replied. Though it was a lie. He’d fallen in love. It was one of the greatest events of his life.
Bash gave a nod. “And wedding plans?”
Avery stepped forward. “There aren’t any. Yet.”
Bash straightened, a frown marring his face. “So I’ve heard.”
Avery notched her chin higher as she stared at the other man. “How could you make an agreement without me?”
A flicker of something flashed in Bash’s eyes. “There wasn’t time.”
“Why didn’t you send Ewan for me then?”
Bash winced. “I’d already made arrangements with Noah when I found Ewan at the docks. At that point, I didn’t even know you were still in the city.”
“But you knew where Noah was taking me. Obviously.” Her arms crossed. “Since he met us here. You could have sent Ewan after us so that I needn’t be forced into a match that
