“Your sister is well. The doctor visited her and gave her a sedative to help her sleep. She has a slight chill but will recover. She seems to be unharmed by Shears and not in the least frightened. The doctor thinks it would be best for her to stay here overnight.”
Maxwell agreed. While he knew he had a huge undertaking with a new sister, his thoughts would not stray from the woman he loved. He was deeply concerned for her. Her silence since Shears’s death terrified him. He only wanted to hold her in his arms. Hold her until her nightmares disappeared. For after tonight there would be no more.
“I will check on Skye for you.”
“Thank you,” he choked out.
The ladies retired from the room as Logan entered. Maxwell stood up straight and waited for the man’s attack. He couldn’t blame him. He risked Skye’s life tonight, by not warning her of Shears. While he thought he protected her, he only harmed her instead. When her brother stood face to face with him; neither of them wavered.
“I can’t decide whether to punch you or shake your hand.”
“You are welcome to do both.”
“Do you love her?”
“With all of my soul.”
Logan nodded his understanding. He left Skye in her bedroom and her only desire was this man before him. While he felt the loss of not being the man his sister depended on, he was grateful she found the love she deserved. He recalled his conversation with Skye as he measured the gentleman before him.
“How long have you known I loved him?” Skye asked Logan.
“Gregor dropped a few hints, Aggie cackled her glee, and Isobel filled in the rest.”
“Why did you not say anything?”
“I was waiting for you to confide in me like you always have before.”
“I couldn’t tell you, when I had not told him first.”
Logan wrapped her in his arms and gave her his blessing.
“May I see her?” Zane asked for permission.
“I think the morning will be sufficient. Then only with me present.”
Zane nodded. He could tell her brother acted fair and didn’t want to cause discord with the man who would be his brother-in-law before long. Zane thought there was no harm in letting him believe he would wait for tomorrow morning to see Skye. When Logan retired for the night, he glanced around the library to notice his two friends waiting to speak with him. He had a lot he needed to tell them. As he slid in a chair, he took the cigar and the glass of whiskey Thorn offered him.
He closed his eyes when he took a long drag on the cigar. He puffed out a cloud of smoke, inhaling as he breathed in the rich aroma. Then taking a long drink from the whiskey he relaxed as he had not in ages. For the first time in a long time, he felt content. As soon as he held Skye tonight, he would be whole. But for now, content felt good.
Opening his eyes to the silence, he addressed his two lifelong friends.
“I once again owe you both my deepest apologies for my actions this past year. Thank you for your help on bringing Shears to justice and helping me with Skye. I will be forever in your debt, during this time I hope we can mend our friendships.”
“We forgave you a long time ago, next time trust in us a little more,” Mallory told him.
He nodded and looked over at Thorn, knowing he failed him more. Thorn stared back at him, making him wait. Maxwell deserved to wait for as long as he could. He betrayed Thorn in the worst possible way. He made advances towards Ivy which were uncalled for.
“I suppose if Mallory forgives you, then I will too. But if you so much as ever kiss my wife again…” He left the threat hang in the air. Maxwell understood him completely without him finishing his thought. For he had no desire to kiss Ivy, the only woman he wanted to kiss was Skye.
“I suppose you want me to tell you how you can sneak into her room,” Thorn added as he rolled his eyes.
“Well that is what friends are for, to help one when they are in need,” Maxwell laughed.
Chapter Twenty-One
When Zane snuck into Skye’s room, he found her sleeping on the divan. She held the ruby he gifted her in her hand, with his letters scattered around her. He closed the door and leaned against it, taking in the sight of her. She was safe. When he strolled to her, he gathered the letters and stacked them on the floor. He kneeled before her, brushing the hair from her face. Her eyelids fluttered open.
“Hello,” he whispered.
“Hello,” she whispered back.
“Why are you reading my letters?”
“I missed you.”
This warmed his heart. He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
“I love you Skye.”
“I love you Zane.”
He reached into his pocket to pull out his mother’s ring and slid it onto her finger. The emerald and diamonds winked at them in the firelight.
“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Skye began to cry. Tears trailed along her cheeks, she wanted to answer him, but no sound came forth. He was such a romantic, proof laid scattered around her. His letters, his gifts, and his kneeling on the floor to propose. How she desired to tell him yes, but her emotions were on a ride of a lifetime. Every emotion she held poured out of her in tears.
Even though she didn’t answer yes, Zane felt her love. He gathered her close as she cried. She deserved to shed these tears. He gently kissed them from her cheeks. His lips found hers and he kissed the tears which wetted her lips. As he kissed her, he drank in her emotions kissing her more deeply. The kiss was soft and gentle and full of love. It was a kiss of longing, of loving, of belonging. They belonged together, and their kiss fused them as one.
He stood, picking her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. He slid under the covers with her and held her as she cried. Gently kissing her in between her tears. As her tears subsided, she drifted asleep in his arms. He embraced her through the night, near his heart. While she didn’t respond, he knew her answer to be yes. When she was ready to answer him, he would be there for her. Waiting.
When dawn rose, he slid himself out of the bed, being careful not to wake her. He gazed at her with her hair mussed and her gown wrinkled, smiling at the image of her. Before her brother caught him in her room, he needed to slip out. He didn’t want to marry her out of necessity. He wanted her to come to him with an open heart. Sighing he made himself leave her side, with one last glance across the room at her, he left her room smiling. He snuck down the servant’s staircase and out the door as he made his way home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When Skye awoke the room stood empty. She wondered if she dreamt Zane coming into her room. As she read his letters by the fire, she fell asleep. She ached from the loss of his embrace and knew he held her in his arms through the night. Skye stretched her arms out in front of her, her body aching from the previous evening. As she lowered her arms, she had to stretch them out again, for she caught sight of the ring that adorned her finger. As she brought her hand in closer, she saw the emerald and diamond jewels resting on her hand.
Then it returned to her in a rush of memories. Zane kneeling before her asking her to marry him and herself crying like a baby at his question. She never answered him. All she did was cry, cry in his arms. He held her through the night as she cried; gently kissing her. Never once asking for an answer. She remembered falling asleep in his arms feeling loved and secured. As she watched the sun rise, she felt the heat of him from her bed and knew he had not been gone long.
She didn’t answer him and now he left. Skye scrambled from the bed, ringing the bell. She needed to change and find him. She needed to give him her answer. Not waiting for a servant, she ran towards her wardrobe and dug through her clothes until she found the outfit she wanted. She dressed swiftly and pulled her hair back, securing it with a hair clip. She sat on the bench and pulled on her boots. Skye went over to the desk to write a quick note. She slipped from her room, running down the back staircase and out to the mews. She talked the groomsman into lending
her a horse. Skye saddled the mare herself and set off for Zane’s house. She remembered Ivy telling her Zane didn’t have many servants, she figured she could sneak inside his home.
Once she arrived at his townhome, she noticed the cook directing a delivery from the butcher. While the cook was distracted, Skye snuck inside Zane’s home. As she stood outside his bedroom, she overheard him inside. She silently walked into his room, as she listened to him in the bathroom, taking a bath. While she wouldn’t mind joining him, she wanted to surprise him. She laid the note on his bed and curled up in a chair hidden in the corner. As she sat in the chair, it let out a squeak as she settled to wait.
“Is that you Smith?”
Skye stilled, she hoped she hadn’t given herself away. So, she stayed silent, hoping he would forget the noise. She heard him splashing around in the water, then getting out of the bath. His footsteps grew closer to the room. She gazed as he came into the bedchamber wrapped in a robe, he was rubbing his hair dry with a towel. She smiled as she watched him, feeling like a wife admiring her husband alone. As he bent to grab the letter she saw his face held confusion. She waited for his reaction as he read the simple one-word letter, smiling to herself.
He stopped rubbing his hair and threw the towel across the floor when he saw the note lying on his bed. Maxwell could have sworn he heard somebody in his room, but with a quick glance around while he rubbed his hair dry, he didn't see anybody. When he spotted the letter on his bed, he knew he hadn’t been mistaken. When he reached for the letter, he glanced around again. It was then he noticed her sitting in the chair in the corner, he allowed his gaze to continue to roam around the room, pretending he hadn’t spotted her. Did she really think he wouldn’t realize she was in his bedchamber? He sensed her whenever she was near. He turned his back on her when he read the letter. Zane was confident of her answer, with her presence in his bedchamber.
He opened the letter and read the simplicity of it.
Yes
Zane spun as he advanced on her, trapping her as he rested his hands on the arms of the chair. He leaned over gazing into her love-filled eyes. Her eyes captured his, reading into his soul. This time he didn’t shut her out but opened himself to her for eternity.
“Did you think you could hide from me?”
“I wanted to see your reaction.”
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
Zane picked her up and swung her around, loving the sound of her laughter. He settled back on the chair, holding her in his lap. He rested his forehead against hers.
“How did you get here?”
“I stole a horse from Thornhill.”
“Your brother is going to kill me.”
“Nonsense.”
He threw back his head and laughed, “I need to get you back to him, before he sends out a search party for you.”
“I think we have a little bit of time,” she murmured as she slid her hand inside his robe. Tenderly stroking his chest, she kissed his neck. When she lowered her hand to his lap, her touch made him grow hard. She heard him growl deeply. Her hand began to stroke him faster.
“Skye,” he moaned.
She gazed at him with a look of innocence. He lowered his head and devoured her lips, kissing her hungrily. “Do you realize how wild you make me, dressed like this?” he asked as his hands ripped her shirt open. Her buttons flew across the room. “The first time I ever saw you, you made me hard.”
He worked her trousers down over her long legs and swung her on his lap. She guided him inside her. Slowly embracing around his cock. He moaned. She was amazing. She slowly rode him, sliding up and down. He grabbed her hips and helped to guide her, their passion growing out of control. His need for her was overwhelming. She cried out as he drove his hips into hers. He had no control left, he needed to possess her. He pulled her head to his for a kiss as he drove them over the edge. She collapsed against his chest, placing soft kisses on him. He held her to him tight while he tried to slow the beating of his heart. This was not how he wanted to celebrate their engagement. He wanted to take it slow. He laughed, he should have known better with Skye. Everything with her was a whirlwind. There would be time later for slow. They had a lifetime of slow.
“What is so funny?” she asked.
“We are my dear.”
“Mmm, I think you may be correct on that.”
She rose from him and continued to his closet. When she wandered inside, she found a shirt to her liking. As she returned to him, she was sliding the buttons through their holes.
“Are you raiding my closet?”
She arched her eyebrow at him, “Did you not, just ruin my shirt?”
“I suppose I did, but do you have to take my best one?”
She winked at him, “Of course, it shall be returned to you in time.”
Together they dressed and headed to Hillston House. When they arrived, it was to find her brother pacing the parlor floor, threatening to murder him. Skye laughed at him and urged the two men to talk. She left them, to change her clothes. On her way back to the parlor, she stopped by Lizzy’s bedroom to look in on her. When she walked in, she found Zane talking to her. While he explained to Lizzy the nature of their relationship, Skye stood by his side with her hand on his shoulder.
“Where are you sending me to live?”
“You will live with me,” Zane replied.
“With us,” Skye emphasized.
“With us,” Zane seconded squeezing Skye’s hand.
“Like a family?”
“Exactly like a family,” Zane confirmed.
They stayed and talked with the young girl awhile longer, assuring Lizzy of her place in their lives. When they noticed her tiring, they left her to rest. As they walked downstairs, they decided to take a stroll around the garden. Zane didn’t want to leave either one of them. The sooner he could get them to his home the happier he would be.
“Do you want one of those big fancy weddings Skye?”
“Who, me?”
“Yes, you. Because if you do, I can wait.”
“And if I do not?”
“Then I will pull out the special license I am carrying and ask you to marry me tomorrow.”
“Well?”
“Well what, my dear?”
“Ask me to marry you tomorrow.
“Skye, love of my life, will you marry me tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
Zane couldn’t wipe the smile from his face even if he tried. She made him the happiest man on earth. His existence was complete in this moment.
“Zane?”
“Yes, my dear.”
“I love you.”
“And, I love you.”
And so, it was tomorrow afternoon, they became man and wife. Skye’s brother offered his consent and gave the bride away, in front of their family and friends. He had family now. Skye and Lizzy. Now his family would grow, he couldn’t wait to have children with Skye. Thorn and Ivy agreed to keep Lizzy while he whisked Skye away on a small honeymoon. They deserved to have a few days to themselves. He knew he was asking a lot of Skye to take on an already made family. They were taking in a girl which neither of them knew. But together they would prosper, they were stronger as a couple. The girl was a quiet, mild-mannered young lady. Skye had a lot of love to give her. They already bonded, the two were always together with their heads close whispering. Skye would be a wonderful mother and wife.
After the wedding he took Skye away to his townhome, where he surprised her with the trip. She was excited to travel for their honeymoon and showed him her appreciation under the covers. When he made love to her on their wedding night, it was the image for his next picture he painted of her, resting in its new home. In their bedchamber.
Epilogue
SKYE WANDERED TO THE creek, she came from spending time with Isobel and the babe. Skye enjoyed holding a new baby in her arms. She wished to hold her own. Lizzy played with Lachlan in the courtyard. Lizzy blossomed during the time they spent in Scotland. She
loved to run and play in the wild, just as Skye used to do when she was her age. Maybe they could continue their stay here awhile longer. The girl appeared shyer in London, but Skye herself felt out of place in the big open city. While she had her friends Ivy and Raina, it wasn’t the same as being at home with her clan. After they leave here, they would move on to visit Maxwell’s estate. He promised her they would love it there too. As long as she lived under the open country sky and had her mare to ride, then Skye could be content anywhere. In truth, she would only be happy wherever Maxwell lived.
She stopped by the big oak tree and watched as Zane painted. His paintings developed a new edge here in the open wilderness, they became more defined. Skye convinced him to hold a showing when they returned to London; his work deserved recognition. His landscapes made one imagine they were wandering the countryside with him. He agreed only if she would share some of her drawings with him. He explained how he admired her sketches while he was held captive in her office. While she didn’t hold the same level of talent as her husband, she did enjoy their time they spent together doing what they both loved. Her favorite portrait was still the one he painted of her in the green dress. It made her smile secretly to herself every time she gazed upon it.
Maxwell turned, sensing her nearby. She watched him from afar. She still thought she could sneak up on him and catch him unaware. But every time she was near, he sensed her. Even when she wasn’t, he craved her and searched her out. He never desired them to be apart, and he knew she held the same need. When he arched his eyebrow at her, she smiled and sauntered over to him. He waited for her opinion of the picture he was painting. He started it this morning, hoping he was correct.
Skye examined the drawing. She wondered how he had known. She could keep no secrets from him.
“How did you know?”
“I know everything about you Skye, you are my other half. There is nothing that can be hidden between us.”
“Are you happy?”
“What do you think?” he nodded to the picture.
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