by Hannah West
Everything fell dead silent.
She turned partway toward King William and Lord Cesare.
“It would please me if you would grant me the hand of Lord Cesare in marriage,” Evelyn asked with a sly smile.
Before she could say anything else she was gathered in a pair of strong arms and kissed senseless in front of king and country.
Dazed as she was Evelyn noticed Emma had gone to be beside Laird Douglas. She wished her friend happy but knew in the end it might not matter.
“You are finally mine. All mine,” Cesare growled softly in her ear.
“As you are mine, my northern warlord,” Evelyn said softly with a smile as he led her back to the castle, hand in hand.
Chapter Thirty Eight
Evelyn watched the happenings going on around her with eyes glazed over with contentment. She and Cesare had been the last to wed and her family had been loud and boisterous. The Buchanan men had proclaimed her a member of their clan and if anything should befall her then the wrath of the Buchanans' would follow.
However she did feel pity for Lord Jackson. Lady Elizabeth was already making him miserable. At first she had refused to wed him until King William offered to send her to a convent instead of marriage.
She had eaten, danced and made merry herself until Cesare had left to speak with some of the other lords a while ago.
Evelyn’s mother sat down next to her and took her hand.
“Are you truly happy, my dear one,” her mother asked.
Evelyn smiled sweetly. “Very much so.”
“Well if you ever need to come home to me I will come fetch you,” she said seriously.
“Thank you, Mama.” Evelyn pulled her close for a hug. “I am truly glad you are in my life.”
As she pulled back a firm, warm hand covered her shoulder. She looked up to see Cesare, his expression curios with a hint of desire. Her heart sped up.
“It’s time for us to go above stairs. If we don’t now then they will be clamoring for a bedding ceremony,” he added with an amused grin.
She grinned back. “Then we must hurry.”
Evelyn looked to her left but her mother was already gone.
Cesare gently pulled her up out of her seat and she followed him upstairs.
Her heart hammered against her ribs and she was suddenly nervous when she had never been before. She wasn’t completely sure of what was going to happen but she trusted him. He was an excellent teacher.
Suddenly she found herself against the stonewall and warm firm lips pressed against hers.
A swell of desire crashed into her and made her knees weak. Unable to control herself she kissed him back demanding more to make up for what she had been denied.
She drank him in like she was dying of thirst and he gave her all that she asked for and more.
Suddenly it was all too much. The intensity of his passionate kiss, the press of his body to hers and her knees gave out. Unable to support weight she slid towards the floor.
Cesare’s stormy arms caught her and she looked up dazedly at his suddenly worried expression.
“Are you well,” he demanded.
“I think,” Evelyn said clearing her passion fogged mind, “that was too much for me.” She grinned up at him.
“Well you best prepare for a long night, my lady,” Cesare said huskily.
He followed behind her, holding her hand until they got to his door. He moved in front of her and opened the door.
Evelyn pulled him into the room and kissed him once on the lips before winding her arms around his neck.
“I truly love you, Cesare, you stubborn man,” she whispered.
“As you know I love you, Evelyn,” he vowed.
He kicked the door shut behind them and then took his wife, finally to his bed.