by Carew, Opal
“The way you looked at me then, Shena ... I had hoped it was love.”
He pulled back and spiraled forward again. She clung to his shoulders, loving how he loved her body.
“I have a confession, too,” he said. “In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I love you, too.”
He drove into her, straight and hard. She felt the waves of pleasure starting.
He pressed his lips to her ear and blew lightly, whispered, “I love you, Shena,” and drove in again.
“Oh, Keern.” Waves washed over her, flooding her body with pleasure.
“Shena, will you marry me?”
He thrust forward
“Yes.”
Then again.
“Yes!”
Harder. Faster.
“Yes, oh, God, yes!”
She splintered into a million different pieces scattered on the wind as Keern tensed and released his seed inside her. She fell back on the bed and held him tight, loving the feel of him still buried inside her.
A warm fuzziness had spread throughout her entire body, and a broad smile spread across her lips. She whispered into his ear. “In case you didn’t get that, I said yes.”
He nuzzled her neck. “Yes, I think I did hear that.”
He nibbled her earlobe, then captured her lips in a passionate, tender kiss.
“I love you, my darling Shena, and I will never let anyone hurt you again.”
“Oh, Keern, I love you so much.”
Their lips met in a blaze of happiness and passion.
A knock sounded at the door.
They ignored it.
The knocking became louder.
“Keern, it’s Jakmerah.”
Keern released her lips and smiled. “I’d better let him in, or we’ll never get any peace.”
A feeling of emptiness nudged through her as his penis slipped out when he pulled away. She wanted to push him down on the bed and capture him again, keep him prisoner in her warm, feminine depths forever.
But she did have forever. He had asked her to marry him!
The knocking continued.
Keern kissed her lightly, then pulled the covers over their bodies. “Jak, stop that infernal knocking and come in,” Keern called.
The door opened and Jakmerah stepped inside.
His gaze swept over the two of them. “I take it you two worked things out.”
“Definitely.” Keern linked his hand with Shena’s. “She’s decided to let me keep her.”
“Really?” Jakmerah raised his eyebrows.
“We’re going to be married,” Keern continued.
Jakmerah leaned against the doorjamb and smiled. “I knew you’d finally figure it out, my friend.”
Epilogue
As Keern rode toward the gates of his home, with Shena by his side, he heard the horn sound and whoops from the guards. His name sounded on their lips, along with shouts and hurrahs.
It was good to be home.
As the gates opened and he rode through, people greeted him.
“Keern, you’ve finally arrived.”
“Jacob.”
As wonderful as it was to see his cousin again, sadness filled him at the memory of his last homecoming and being met by Will.
He dismounted his horse and helped Shena dismount hers, handing the reins to eager hands. He strode toward Jacob and dragged him into a bear hug, pounding his back for good measure.
“Jordan is here. He wanted to meet this new wife you wrote us about.”
Jacob glanced at Shena and smiled. Keern took her hand and led her toward the house, smiling inside at his cousin’s obvious interest in the newest member of their family. Keern hadn’t missed the fact that Jacob’s gaze had briefly settled on Shena’s rounded belly.
“Brother, here you are.” At Jordan’s voice, Keern spun around.
Jordan threw his arms around Keern. “So, my big brother returns, and with a wife in tow.” He smiled at Shena. “And a little one on the way, I see.”
Keern patted Shena affectionately on the belly. “Yes. I had a long journey to find this woman. Ironic, given she was our closest neighbor.”
Shena clung to Keern’s hand, uncertain how his family would accept her.
“Neighbor?” Jacob stared at her, his brow furrowed.
“Hello.” Shena spoke for the first time. “My name is Shena.”
“Shena? As in Shena Wakefield?”
Keern slid his arm around her shoulder, tucking her against his side. “But now Shena Herrington,” he responded.
“Keern,” Jordan said, “her father killed Will. How can you --?”
“She is not her father. She is not responsible for the sins of her father.”
“Of course, but --”
“No buts. She is my wife and a member of this family now.”
Tears welled in Shena’s eyes. Keern’s heart constricted at the sight.
“Keern, I’m sorry. I don’t want to cause strife between you and your family.” Shena’s quiet words set his protective urges on high.
He drew her closer. “You’re my wife and I love you. You will always come first.”
“What’s going on here?”
Jenna, Will’s widow, stood staring at the men. Jordan’s wife, Kristinna, and Jacob’s wife, Helena, stood beside her.
Keern gave each of the women a hug.
“I introduced my new wife, Shena, to Jacob and Jordan.”
“And why have they decided to upset such a lovely young woman?” Jenna asked. Her gaze crossed each man in turn.
“She is a Wakefield.” Jacob pointed out.
All gazes locked on Jenna.
“No, she is a Herrington.” Jenna opened her arms to Shena. Hesitantly, Shena stepped forward, and Jenna enveloped her in a warm embrace. “Welcome to the family, Shena.”
Jordan hesitated, then stiffly stepped toward her and offered his hand. Shena glanced at Keern. He knew she had never had a loving family and this whole situation unnerved her. At his reassuring nod, she shook Jordan’s hand. Jenna jabbed Jordan in the ribs, and he cracked a smile, then grabbed Shena and wrapped his arms around her, giving her a sturdy bear hug -- gentler than the one he’d given Keern, but solid. Once he released her, Jacob hugged her in kind. A shy smile spread across her face, and Keern’s heart swelled at the sight.
The other two women welcomed her with gentle hugs.
That evening, the women arranged a wonderful feast to welcome Keern and Shena. They spent the evening in the glow of warm family conversation. Shena had never experienced the warmth of family, and her heart swelled with the shared love all around her.
“I never thought a Wakefield would be sitting at our table. And such a lovely one at that,” Jacob mused. “Now, our lands will be joined.”
“And in love, not war,” Jenna added.
Keern smiled and kissed Shena tenderly.
“But more importantly,” Jordan mused, smiling warmly at Shena, “I never thought I’d ever see my brother so happy. You must be a very special woman, Shena.”
“Believe me, she is,” Keern responded, hugging her close to his side.
Shena had never felt so much love. She patted her stomach, joy swelling through her at the thought that her child would know the joy of belonging to such a warm, loving family, just as she now did.
###
About the Author
Opal Carew writes erotic romance. She was named "Fresh Face of Erotic Fiction 2009" and her books have won the Award of Excellence and the Golden Leaf Award, and been finalists for the National Readers' Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, Laurel Wreath Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and Passionate Plume Award.
Opal loves crystals, dragons, feathers, cats, pink hair, the occult, Manga artwork, and all that glitters. She earned a degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, and spent 15 years as a software analyst before turning to her passions as a writer. She lives in Canada with her husband, two sons and two cats.
To learn mo
re about Opal, visit her website at www.opalcarew.com, or contact her at [email protected].
Other books by Opal Carew
From St. Martin’s Press:
Total Abandon
Pleasure Bound
Bliss
Forbidden Heat
Secret Ties
Six
Blush
Swing
Twin Fantasies
From Samhain Publishing:
The King and I
(Celestial Soul-Mates series)
From Red Sage Publishing:
Crystal Genie
From Sinful Moments Press:
Christmas Angel
Through Smashwords:
Three
Connect with Opal online:
Website: http://www.OpalCarew.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/opalcarew
Facebook: http://facebook.com/OpalCarewRomanceAuthor
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/OpalCarew