“Yes,” she breathed softly, as he stroked the place throbbing for his touch.
“But it is night now, Ivana. There are no stars in here and yet I so desperately want to be deep inside you.” His nimble fingers mimicked the action he spoke of. “Does that mean we must wait until morning?”
Shamelessly, she pressed against his wicked hand. Her body ached for him. “No,” she said, her mind becoming hazy, “but you must be quick before someone finds us.”
She did not have to repeat the request. Within a few seconds, he’d unbuttoned his breeches and had anchored her to his hard body. With her palms placed flat on the wall behind his head, she rode him to completion.
“Now you’re a widow, I suggest we marry,” he said as his hands settled on her hips to hold her in place. He was still buried inside her, and she was reluctant to move.
“Are you suggesting it, or are you asking me?” She’d had every intention of broaching th
e subject, had even considered asking him. Besides, she was not a widow. According to Nikolai they had never married.
He held onto her while he raised his hips and pushed deeper inside. The sensation caused a ripple of desire. “Marry me, Ivana. Say you will be my wife.”
She smiled, bent her head and kissed him. “I love you. I can barely breathe when I think of a life without you. Of course I’ll marry you. It would be an honour to take your name, Leo.”
“Perhaps we should mark the occasion with a toast.” By the glint in his eye, she knew he had salacious thoughts. His gaze fell to her neck. “Perhaps you should lock the door as we wouldn’t want anyone to witness the event.”
The thought of drinking from him caused the muscles in her core to grip his growing manhood. “I would love to quench my thirst but may not stop at just a mouthful.”
He raised an arrogant brow. “You won’t hear me complain.”
After a blissful, lust-fuelled hour spent in the crypt, Ivana and Leo joined the rest of the party in the Great Hall. Ivana was interested to hear the stories of how both brothers had met their wives. Understanding the nature of Grace’s sister’s plight explained why she had readily accepted Elliot’s illegitimate son. Ivana did not tell them about the night Nikolai robbed her of her innocence. She had no desire to speak of him again. Instead, she listened to Leo tell of the night they had stood opposite each other in the rain, when he had threatened her with his mighty sword to avenge his friends.
As soon as the sun peeked up above the horizon, Elliot ventured outside. Based on the quantity of food he had eaten at dinner, Ivana had no doubt the cure had worked. Indeed, Julia informed her that the lord was lying sprawled out on the cobblestoned courtyard, staring up at the blue sky and wearing a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
While Elliot, Alexander, and their wives took the children to play outside, Ivana and Leo hid themselves away in their chamber and played a few games of their own that lasted until sunset.
For obvious reasons, the party chose to depart for England in the evening. Herr Bruhn came out wave them off.
“I cannot feel sad this night,” he said to Ivana. “They all look so happy and will have the security of a loving family.”
Ivana put her arm around his shoulder as she watched Leo hug his brothers. “It is all we ever wanted for them. I have spoken to Leo, and we would like you to think about coming to live in the castle.” It meant she would have to compel them to forget certain things. Julia and Sylvester would care for the old couple during the day, and she could spend time with them in the evening.
“Well, I do not know what to say. Surely when you are married, you will not want to be lumbered with guests.”
“You are like family, and you would have a wing of the castle to yourselves. Julia and Sylvester would relish the company. Oh, say you will consider it.”
The old man nodded numerous times. “Of course, of course.”
After they had all hugged each other too many times to count, Leo came to stand at Ivana’s side. “Now, look after Chambers,” Leo said to Alexander in reference to his coachman. “He is not used to taking instruction from a grumpy lord.”
Alexander smirked. “Have no fear. I am far more content of late and not nearly as irritable.” He inclined his head, but his cheerful countenance became more sorrowful. “We will find a way to be together soon. That is if I can stand to spend another three weeks confined to a carriage.”
Ivana could feel Leo’s pain as they watched the carriages rumble out of the village. She took his hand and held it tight.
Leo gave a heavy sigh. “We shall escort you home, Herr Bruhn.”
Ivana glanced up as she felt the first drop of rain land on her skin. “Quick. You must get inside before you get wet and catch a chill.”
Herr Bruhn’s eyes widened. “But what of you? You cannot walk back to the castle in this terrible weather.”
Leo glanced at her, a sinful smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “We enjoy walking out at night. Come. We will see you inside and then be on our way.”
Herr Bruhn did not object. Perhaps he sensed their need to be alone. By the time they had reached the path leading up through the forest, their clothes were soaked through.
Leo held her hand tight. “Walking home like this rouses similar feelings of a night spent together.”