Forever My Love (Berkeley-Faulkner #2)(123)

“He’s coming back tonight. He’ll probably be with me all day tomorrow.”

“Then go and get it right now. I’ll wait here.”

She was in the middle of a nightmare. In a matter of seconds, years had dissolved into nothingness, and she was no longer Mira Falkner, she was Mireille Germain, helpless, frightened, afraid to stay, afraid to run. “Guillaume,” she begged, “after today, you plan to come back… I know you do. And there’ll never be an end, not until you’ve taken everything I have and destroyed my marriage… and that will kill me. Don’t come back again. Please.”

“Go fetch your jewelry, Mira.”

Guillaume had taken a large portion of her possessions, and she was already frantic with worry—how could the jewelry not be missed? Perhaps she could claim that it had been stolen—but no, then the blame might be unfairly cast upon one or more of the servants, and she could never allow that. She sat in the bedroom after returning from her meeting with Guillaume, and she refused to take supper, feeling ill and forlorn. As evening fell, faint sounds from outside attracted her attention, and she went to the window. They had returned. The door of a carriage opened, and Alec’s black head appeared. Running swiftly out of the keep and down a long flight of stairs, Mira reached the front entrance just as Carr and Alec walked in. She had never been so glad to see him… she had never needed his arms around her more than at this moment.

“Alec!” she cried out with gladness, and he laughed as she flew to him. He caught her in his arms and whirled her around once before letting her down to the ground and covering her mouth with his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and molded herslim body to his, and the kiss might have lasted several minutes more had it not been for Juliana’s harrumphing. “Ridiculous, these public displays. Mira, it only encourages him to neglect you when you let him go and then welcome him back without a fuss. You should chide him for leaving you, not scream and run to him as if you—”

“She doesn’t need to chide me for leaving her,” Alec interrupted his mother, his arms tightening around Mira as he smiled down at her. “I’ve been chiding myself for it every minute.”

“Did you have any luck concerning Holt’s—?” Mira began to ask, and he silenced her with a quick kiss.

“No, love. But it doesn’t matter… you were right, it’s better left in the past. I’m not going to look for the . answers any longer… the answer to every question of importance is right here in my arms.”

Oh, how she loved him! Right in front of Juliana, Carr, and anyone else who might have been watching, Mira pulled Alec’s head down to hers, her lips passionate and sweet. She touched the tip of her tongue to his in a secret promise, felt a slight tremor in his arms, and pulled away with a shy smile.

“Has either of you had any supper?” she asked Carr, who shook his head in an unusually bashful manner. “I’m going to tell the cook to prepare something for you this very moment,” she said. “I know how long the journey must have—”

“Thank you, but I’m too tired to eat,” Carr said, throwing her a grateful smile. “Several hours of sleep is what I need.”

“The only thing you can do for me,” Alec whispered in her ear, “is take me to bed—right now.”

They all retired to their rooms, and Mira acted as valet for her husband, helping him off with his boots and laying his clothes neatly across the back of a chair. He complicated the process, however, by insisting on removing her clothes at the same time, which resultedin a few tangles of arms and legs, several muffled laughs, and even a few popped buttons. Finally the task was done, and Alec fell onto the bed in a magnificent sprawl, tugging at Mira’s wrist until she collapsed on top of him with a giggle.

“I love you, Lady Falkner,” he murmured, straining his fingers through her sable hair as it cascaded over his chest.

“I love you, my lord.” Her lower lip curved into a smile as his thumb caressed it gently.

“Don’t call me your lord… call me your love, your husband, your—”

“My life,” she whispered, her eyes glowing. “My love… my joy…” She trailed kisses across his neck and shoulder. “...my heart… my strength…” She pressed a kiss to his chest and then rested her cheek against it. “... or perhaps I should simply call you mine.”

“Call me a fool for having left you,” he said huskily, turning onto his side and gathering her close. Her slender thighs intruded between his and her h*ps cradled the hot, pulsing length of his manhood. They were both aroused by the contact, but neither of them moved, merely remained in the intimate clasp until Mira shifted slightly, eager to hasten their joining. “Always so anxious,” Alec murmured, making no move to enter her.

“Always,” she admitted readily, urging her h*ps against his until she felt the hardness of him riding between her thighs, and she gasped with anticipation. Alec smiled and bent to kiss her br**sts, cupping them with his hands. Though his touch was far from rough, Mira couldn’t help wincing suddenly. Instantly Alec was aware of her discomfort, and his hands became so light on her skin that he was barely touching her.

“More sensitive than usual,” he said, a question in his voice, and she nodded breathlessly, trembling as he caressed her with incredible gentleness. His mouthmoved tenderly over the soft peaks of her br**sts until they hardened into rosy points. She moaned, lifting up to him, drawing closer to the source of her pleasure, drifting among blossoms of feeling… but then one of his hands moved down to her abdomen, and his palm pressed against the slight swell of her stomach. His hand was exploratory and curiously protective. Mira froze at the gesture, her eyes widening as they locked with his. His gaze was warm and searching, and he was touching her as if he thought…