Free Hope Everlastin' Book 4 by Mickee Madden

jawline and down her neck. She quivered in his
hold. Her fingers kneaded his nape, sometimes roughly, urging him
on. On. On.
    "Oh God, Lachlan!" she
gasped, and squeezed her eyes shut. "Oh God. You feel
so... good."
    "Look at me."
    She did so
immediately.
    They stared into each
other's eyes as sensations built layer upon layer within their
heated bodies. Her eyes widened amidst an expression of sheer
wonder, while his were black with passion, his features taut, jaw
clenched. A sound of startlement escaped her. Lachlan growled deep
in his chest as his own orgasm coursed through him. They clung to
each other, riding the storm of sensations, shuddering, quaking,
gasping in the throes of their love-making's offerings.
    For long seconds afterward,
they remained embraced. Sweat mingled with the residual mud
clinging to their skin.
    Releasing a long breath,
Lachlan planted a brief kiss on her lips and peered adoringly into
her eyes. "You have spent me, lass. I've no' the strength to move,
let alone climb into the tub."
    "No?" She grinned as she
traced a finger along his lower lip. "If you're planning to sleep
beside me tonight, then I suggest you get into that tub with
me."
    He playfully arched his
eyebrows. "You do, eh?"
    She nodded, her eyes bright
with laughter.
    "Efter you," he said,
stepping back and giving her a partial bow at the waist.
    Beth lowered herself into
the water. It was still surprisingly hot, but not enough to be
uncomfortable. Deliah had added bubble bath. The remains of the
iridescent bubbles swirled around her as she settled frontward,
making room for Lachlan to sit behind her, his bent legs to each
side of her. When he rested his arms and the back of his head along
the porcelain rim, she nestled into him, her head using his chest
for a pillow.
    They were contentedly
silent for a time then Lachlan said, "Tis a sin to feel this bloody
good."
    Beth smiled and absently
caressed the back of his thighs. "I'll wash your hair if you wash
mine."
    "Right now?"
    It was almost a groan, and
she chuckled. "The sooner done, the sooner we can go to
bed."
    The muscles in his thighs
tightened. "Bed. Oh, aye. No' to sleep, I hope."
    "I thought you were
exhausted."
    "I'm resilient," he
chuckled. He turned her face to him and bent his head to kiss her
mouth. "Especially when it comes to lovin’ ma womon." He
straightened back. "Beth, we need to marry soon. For our sakes and
the babes."
    "Need to?" she asked
stiffly.
    "Aye."
    She turned enough to look
him in the eye. "We don't have to do anything. Lachlan, lovers
don't always marry, these days."
    He scowled. "No? Weel, I'm
an auld-farrant mon
wi' an auld-farrant attitude."
    "A what
attitude?"
    "Auld—" He frowned
thoughtfully then carefully pronounced, "Old-fashioned."
    "Ah."
    "Had I ma druthers, we
would have married afore I first made love to you."
    Beth locked her teeth then
dipped her hair into the water. She briskly scrubbed her scalp with
her fingertips and combed the strands with her fingers. Lachlan
watched her in silence, the scowl again intact, his thoughts grim.
She took an inordinately long time to rinse the muck out of her
hair, but he knew she was doing this to make him think over what
he'd said.
    She could take a week, but
he wouldn't change his mind. The more he learned about this decade,
the less he liked. What kind of society didn't encourage marriage?
Or was this merely her opinion of nuptials?
    She finally sat up and
flipped her hair behind her, spraying him in the
process.
    "Beth, are you no' willin’
to marry me? Is tha' it?"
    Without looking at him she
said, "I don't recall you asking me."
    He thought about this and
his scowl darkened. "Beth, will you marry me?"
    "Yes," she said simply,
scooping water into her hands and splashing it against her
face.
    "Aye?" he asked
hesitantly.
    She turned and shot him an
amused look. "Aye."
    His face broke out in a
broad grin. "You like to make me squirm, dinna you?"
    She grinned,
nodding.
    With a laugh, he wound his
arms