Epilogue
“Shouldn’t we go down? Everyone must be wondering what happened to us,” Willow murmured.
Ambrose twisted a golden lock of his wife’s hair around his finger, kissing the tip of her nose. He loved her so much it damned hurt his heart. The emotion flooded him, wholly consumed every part of him.
“Everyone knows what we are up to,” he drawled, rolling onto his back so that she sprawled over his chest.
“They cannot possibly suspect!”
“That your husband ravaged you after confessing his undying love, hauling your pretty behind up the stairs, and disappearing for hours?”
“It hardly happened that way.”
“I recall it happening exactly that way.”
“Except for the confession ofundyinglove part.”
His hands moved over her back, cupping her buttocks. He whispered into her ear, “Did I not use the word undying?”
She shook her head. “You mentioned something about falling in love, and affections, that is all.”
He rolled her over so that she was beneath him, his mouth crashing down on hers in a deep, stirring kiss before he said, “I told you there is no place where you could go that I could not find you, but the truth is there is no place where you could go that I would not follow. I’m at your mercy Willow, and I love you, un-bloody-dyingly.”
She giggled. “That’s not a word.” There was a short pause. “But I’d rather stay right here in your arms than go anywhere on earth without you.”
Emotion clogged his throat. “Are you going to answer my damn question or not?”
“And what question would that be?”
“The one where you tell me that you love me back, that I am the most irresistible man on earth, and that you cannot possibly live without me.”
“Oh,thatquestion.” She traced a finger over his lips, and he shuddered. “I do.”
“You dowhat?”
“Find you irresistible.” Her lashes fluttered provocatively.
“Willow,” he growled.
“Oh, fine!” She stretched her mouth into a half-smile. “I cannot possibly live without you—I’ve grown quite fond of Cook.”
“Damnation, woman! Do you love me or not?”
Laughter poured from her lips. “I confess, I confess! I do. I love you, quite madly, in fact.”
The breath left his body. “You make me the bloody happiest man ever.”
Her hands skimmed over his chest, lowering until her fingers curled around his throbbing erection. “I can make you even happier.” She squeezed.
Ambrose dropped his head to her neck in a low groan, his lips already trailing kisses along the slope of her breast. “If we keep this up, we might as well take up residence.”
“And fill my cousin’s hall with babies.”
He rose up to lightly drop a soft kiss on her lips before grinning down at her. “Fair-haired little creatures with sky blue eyes.”
She blinked, stunned that he’d imagined their family, that he was of same mind as she. At last, his mask had fallen away and in his eyes Willow found nothing but love. Joy swelled inside her. All of her dreams were coming true.
“I’m rather partial to dark eyes.” There was an odd tremble in her voice.
