We fall back into the bed together, her clasped in my arms, and I press my forehead to hers, trying to catch my breath.
“You didn’t tell me how your appointment went,” Ana says softly after a little while has passed, still curled against me.
“You didn’t exactly give me a chance,” I tease her, pushing a strand of blonde hair out of her face. “I was a little distracted.”
“Good.” Ana smiles up at me, her fingers toying with one of the buttons on my shirt. “I tried.”
“You succeeded.” I lean down to kiss her softly, then push myself up against the pillows, holding her against my chest as I lean back. “It was good news. I have a few scars, but I’m fully healed. The doctor said I could return to–regular exertions.”
“Oh, good.” Ana laughs. “We can do it again, then?”
“Just as soon as I have a minute to recover,” I promise her, but her hands are already on my pants, pushing them down, undoing the buttons of my shirt.
I roll over as she strips me naked, turning her onto her back again as I look down at her in the pink and white lingerie. I run one hand down her stockinged leg and pull it up around my hip, my cock already hardening again as I look down at her. “You’re so very beautiful,” I whisper.
“Are you still glad you married me?” Ana asks, her voice half-teasing, but I can hear the note of worry in it. “After everything, now that you’re healed–was it worth it?”
“Yes,” I promise her, and I nudge forward, my cock once again rigid enough to pierce her instantly. “Always, Ana.” Another inch, and another, until I’m buried inside of her, and she gasps, tightening around me as she looks up and I hold myself there. “Always and forever. I love you, and you have made me the happiest man in the world. No matter what happens next, that will always be true.”
“And you’ve made me the happiest woman.” She pulls me close, tilting her chin up for a kiss. “I love you too, Liam McGregor.”
“And I love you, Anastasia McGregor.” I kiss her deeply, tangling my tongue with hers as I begin to thrust, the pleasure of it sweeping over me once again, mingled with the emotion that wells up inside of me. “Tonight,” I tell her firmly as I slide into her, “I plan to make love to you all night long, until we’re both exhausted. I’ve been waiting for this night far too long.”
“Oh god, yes.” Ana leans up to kiss me, her back arching. “And tomorrow?” she whispers, and I can hear the hint of fear in her voice, even now.
“Tomorrow, we’ll face whatever comes together,” I promise her. Then I bend down to kiss her again, all words swallowed up in the fierce kiss and the tangled moans of our pleasure that come after.
But later, as we’re lying together, sweaty and satisfied once again, I feel Ana press her lips against my chest. “Are you sure we’ll be safe?” she asks. “From Graham and everyone else who wants to replace you? They won’t find Connor?”
I want to lie to her at that moment, to tell her that nothing will ever hurt us again, that nothing will change. “I have a plan,” I tell her instead. “They might find Connor, but I’m going to do all I can to keep him from coming back.”
Ana tilts her chin up to look at me, her blue eyes still full of worry. “But he’s your brother,” she says softly, biting her lower lip. “Won’t it hurt you to not see him again? To know he’s alive but not be able to have him come home?”
I touch her face gently, my arm around her tightening so that I can hold her close. “What would hurt me more,” I tell her firmly, “is losing you. Whatever they do, Ana, whatever they throw at us, whatever happens–I’m going to fight. I'll fight to the bitter end for my empire, my place at the head of the table, for you and our child. I promise you that.”
“I know,” she says softly. “But more than anything, I need you safe, Liam. And here with me.”
I feel her head against my chest again, and a little later, her rhythmic breathing as she falls asleep. But as satisfied and exhausted as I am, sleep doesn’t come to me for a long time. Instead, I lie there looking at the ceiling, with my wife cradled in my arms and one thought repeating over and over in my head.
Try to come and take it from me, brother.
For Ana and my family, for everything I love and everything I have, I’ll fight you to the end.
Whatever it takes.