Mistletoe and Mayhem - Cheryl Bolen Page 0,279

sex. She lifted her legs and took him deeper, hooking her ankles together. Her efforts were immediately rewarded as Rhys let out an intense groan of pleasure and picked up the pace of their encounter.

He stroked hard into her with a strong rhythm that kept her climax rolling on and on. Every nerve in her body tingled with pleasure.

And just when Wister was beginning to wonder how much longer he could keep going, Rhys suddenly slammed into her with a series of short, frenzied thrusts which shook the bed. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and groaned, “I love you. I will never let you go.”

Wister wrapped her arms around him as Rhys collapsed on top of her in a sweaty, panting, and clearly sated heap.

He was hers. And she was going to hold on to him forever.

Epilogue

“Hurry up, woman. I want to be on the road before dark.”

Wister ignored Rhys’s protests. Her husband was one for wasting the time of other people, but he was not so patient when it came to his own.

“I am coming,” she replied.

Heavy footsteps pounded up the grand central staircase of the house, stopping just outside their bedroom door. She chuckled at the silence, knowing full well that Rhys would be nodding his approval of the new set of stairs before coming in to nag her to finish packing.

She closed up her travel bag as Rhys stepped into the room.

“I was just giving you time to admire the staircase once more,” she said.

He wagged his finger at her. “Don’t be impertinent. It was money well spent.”

Wister bit down on her bottom lip. If he kept trying to play lord of the manor with her, the only place they would be going before nightfall was bed.

“But you like me being impertinent, Baron Carno,” she purred.

Rhys leaned over and picked up the bag, stealing a kiss as he did. The wicked glint in his eyes betrayed him. She knew that stormy look only too well. It would take only a touch of her fingers on his cheek and he would have her on her back.

“We need to leave soon if we are going to make it to Newtown before dark.” He took hold of the edge of her cloak and pulled her to him, slipping his hand around her waist. She loved it when Rhys handled her firmly. It was usually the precursor to an hour or so of lovemaking.

Wister brushed a hand over Rhys’s freshly shaven face. His new valet was a man of many skills, but on occasion she had slipped him a coin and told him to make himself scarce so she could give her husband a close shave.

The work at Kington House had kept them busy for many months after their wedding—repairs and new crops the priority. With the money that flowed once more into the English estate, attention had now turned to Wales.

Wister was eager to visit Carno once more. To see the local inhabitants and admire the new village hall Rhys had commissioned. While Baron Carno was now based permanently at Kington, she was proud that he was still determined to fulfil his role of landlord and protector of his Welsh tenants.

“I can’t wait to see the castle again. To share in the Morgan family heritage.”

The castle would never be rebuilt. Instead its ruins and gatehouse were to be preserved for future generations.

Rhys’s hand moved over the swell of Wister’s belly and their gazes met. “My heart and soul will always be in the lush green valleys of Wales, in the ancient legends of my homeland. With this baby, the Morgan family, our family, continues.”

Tears pricked at her eyes. At times it seemed like Rhys had appeared from out of the mists of the ageless past and stepped into her life. Her very own Welsh warrior who had saved her.

“I love you,” she whispered.

There could be no greater gift in her life than to be wedded to the Welsh baron.

The End

About Sasha Cottman

USA Today bestseller Sasha Cottman was born in England but raised in Australia. Having her heart in two places has created a love for travel, which at last count was to over 55 countries. A travel guide is always on her pile of new books to read.

Sasha lives with her husband, daughter and a cat who demands a starring role in the next book. She is always seeking new hiding spots for her secret chocolate stash.

Sasha’s novels are set around the Regency period in