Brynn held on tightly as bliss burst upon them in an explosion of convulsive pleasure, her cries mingling with his harsh groans. Lucian poured himself into her welcoming body before finally collapsing upon her, shaking with the force of their fierce mating.

They lay locked together, the delicious sweetness slowly ebbing with the frenzied echo of their heartbeats. When the turbulence stilled, Lucian eased his weight to his side and drew the blankets over their still-entwined limbs.

Limp and sated, Brynn nuzzled her cheek in the curve of his shoulder, her fingers splaying over his smooth-muscled chest.

“Warm enough now?” he asked, stroking her hair weakly.

“Yes.” Brynn’s breath escaped in a soft sigh. Lucian made her feel so cherished. She knew it was not the Gypsy’s curse driving his attraction, either. She could see the love in his eyes each time he looked at her, could feel it in every beat of his heart.

She felt his hand move to her lower abdomen to gently caress the place where their child lay quietly growing inside her, and she smiled. Her cup of happiness could not be much fuller. She would bear her husband a child. Grayson was safe in Scotland, and they had received word that his injury was healing. Theo was being covertly protected by two full-time bodyguards, while he and her other brothers were willingly keeping up the pretense of Gray’s disappearance…

The thought of that still-unresolved issue drew Brynn’s brows into a troubled frown. She never wanted this bliss to end, yet she knew that she and Lucian would have to return to London soon. Raven’s wedding was to be held shortly, for one thing. And Caliban was still at large, no doubt planning how to wreak further evil.

Brynn suspected Lucian would soon become restless to fulfill his duty; with her newly attuned instincts, she sensed that his failure to apprehend the traitor was already gnawing at his conscience. Yet she was reluctant for Lucian to face the threat again.

“I almost wish we didn’t have to return to London,” she murmured quietly. “I don’t like to think of the danger to you, or how Caliban wants you dead.”

He seemed to hesitate. “I intend to take precautions-for both of us. You may not care for it, love, but I plan to have you guarded day and night. I’m not about to lose something so precious tome.”

“I couldn’t bear to lose you, either, Lucian.”

Easing away from her, he lay on his side. Surprisingly there was a hint of laughter in his sapphire eyes. “I am the one who should be wary of returning. Doubtless I’ll have to fight to keep your beaux away from you, but I’m damned if I want to share you.”

She couldn’t help but smile at the jealous edge in his voice. “If the curse has ended, then I should no longer have to suffer their unwanted attentions.”

Lucian’s mouth curved wryly. “I don’t imagine you will ever be free from male attention, love. Certainly not mine. I expect to fawn over you till the day I die.”

Brynn’s smile faded as she remembered how close he had come to dying. “I beg you, don’t say that.”

His own expression remained light. “Never fear. I plan to live a very, very long time and beget countless sons and daughters on you.”

Her eyebrow rose. “Countless? And do I have any say in the matter, my arrogant lord?”

“I might consider allowing you an opinion if you’re extremely well-behaved and properly subservient for the next forty or fifty years.”

With a soft laugh, Brynn wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck. “I believe you have the wrong bride if you want subservience.”

Suddenly sober, Lucian shook his head, gazing deeply into her eyes. “No, love, I have the perfect bride. You’re my destiny, Brynn. I think I knew it the first moment we met. We were fated to be together. You’re my fate, and I am yours.”

Her own gaze softened, as did her heart. “I can think of no more wonderful fortune.”

His fingers rose to touch her lips. “For so long I thought there was something missing in myself. I know what it was now. You. I just hadn’t met you yet. You fill the hunger in my soul.”

Tears filling her eyes, she searched his beautiful features, his face so beloved it hurt her to look at him. “I love you so much, Lucian,” she answered, feeling the same magical completion that he did.

Lying back, he drew her close and pressed her head down on his shoulder. With a contented sigh Brynn shut her eyes, feeling her limbs grow warm and languid. She slept.


The sand was warm beneath her feet as she watched her family frolic in the surf, her heart so full she thought it might burst. They were playing a game of tag, a young boy with dark hair and blue eyes like Lucian’s, two beautiful little girls, both with vivid red hair like her own. As if of one mind, the children suddenly turned on their father and gleefully pelted him with seawater. With a ferocious mock growl, Lucian went on the attack, catching a daughter under each arm and making them squeal with laughter as he stalked after his son…

Brynn came awake abruptly, an incredible sense of serenity filling her. She lifted her head to stare down at Lucian, wondering if he had shared the same dream.

He stirred awake more slowly, but when he opened his eyes, she could see comprehension and joy in the blue depths.

His gaze locked with hers for an intense moment.

“A son,” she murmured.

“And two daughters,” he added, his voice rough with awe.

“Do you think that dream really was our future?”

Slowly Lucian smiled. “God, I hope so. I intend to do my damnedest to make it come true.”

When she smiled in return, Lucian’s gaze dropped to her mouth, his blue eyes darkening with sensual fire. “I can’t promise to know the future, Brynn,” he whispered, his mouth moving closer. “I can only promise to cherish you for all eternity.”

“That is more than enough, my love.” Her heart overflowing, Brynn lifted her face to his and gave herself up to his passionate kiss.