Swearing aloud, Ian pulled the band of his bathrobe tighter, stormed into his bedroom and poured himself a large glass of alcohol. Of course Eden was ready for him - her body, at any rate, he'd seen! Eden had responded to his caresses with a sensuality that both surprised and delighted him. Then, all of a sudden, without warning, she’d gone stiff as a board and started whimpering. He uttered a few more heartfelt epithets and took a long swallow of cognac as if it were orange juice.Ian sensed that Eden was trying with all her might. Ivan’s hurtful words were etched in her memory, as if burned to a crisp, and yet Ian had practically forced himself on her and allowed himself to get angry with her. Called her Lady Hadleigh, with heavy irony. Goddammit! He'd made a fine mess of things, and it wasn't going to be easy to restore Eden’s trust.Ah, why hadn't he instead married a naive virgin omega who would have been easy to learn from, or an experienced widow who knew perfectly well wha
Eden could see he was amused, and Ian wasn't laughing at her. In front of the six-foot naked man, Eden wondered where she was supposed to start. The upper body was... safer. She could always kiss him.Eden stretched out to her right, ventured to put her hand on his shoulder and leaned in to kiss him on the mouth. It was unsettling to be like this, a little above Eden, to feel the warmth of his body beneath her own and the fine fleece of his chest caressing her nipples. It was also reassuring not to feel trapped under the weight of an alpha. Ian had kissed her neck, her shoulder, perhaps he'd like her to do the same?Eden ran her lips over Ian’s skin and discovered that it was as soft as satin and smelled delicious…Ian seemed to be enjoying what she was doing, until Eden accidentally touched one of his little nipples.Immediately, Ian stiffened under her palm.“Oh, I'm sorry," Eden murmured.“Don't be," he replied, returning the favor. “You see? You can also use your mouth…”Breath
Ian learned all he could from this revealing night. There were kisses when he caught Eden alone in a room: on the mouth, on the hand, on the nape of the neck. In the evenings, when he came to his room, Ian taught her to listen to her body and explore. But each time after, he left her alone in her bed. Eden would have liked him to stay a while, to talk with her in a relaxed, intimate way, to tell her how he felt. But a noble omega could not afford to cling to her alpha as if they were young lovebirds.Besides, it would have been unfair and ungrateful to expect more from Ian than he could give.“Yes, Milady?” " asked Gwen, brushing her hand, suspending her gesture when she saw her mistress' expression in the mirror.“Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about something I don't have the courage to do. I'm going to visit our farmers again today. So I need something comfortable and practical to wear.”The visits were about to begin. Eden sat next to Gwen in the little cabriolet. The groom h
“I thought you might like it if we took the convertible and a picnic basket and explored the estate today," said Ian over his coffee the next morning.Eden looked up at him in astonishment. Clearly, her breakfast strategy was paying off. On the day after their marriage, Eden had never expected to be able to drag her husband away from his work every morning to sit at a nicely laid table, but Ian seemed to have given in. At least he now starts his day with a balanced meal.On the carpet, the dogs framed the fireplace like statues. Toby was at her feet, begging for food. Eden glanced around the dining room with satisfaction: this was what a married couple's breakfast should be like. As for her, her morning sickness having now subsided, it was no longer too much of an effort to get down to this tasty food. At almost thirteen weeks... her back was a little sore, and she was sure that very soon her condition would become obvious to everyone.-A picnic? I'd love to, "she replied enthusias
Ian was pacing back and forth behind the door, cursing through his teeth. He hadn't expected to be in this situation for another six months, and here he was, pacing the carpet,kicked out of his wife’s room by Dr. Hamilton, just when Eden needed him most. The omega had put on a brave face, merely squeezing his arm as she waited for the doctor.“It doesn't really hurt," she repeated, as if Ian was the one who needed reassurance. I just don't know if it's normal or not. Hamilton had come quickly, fortunately. If anything happened to the baby, Eden would be devastated and…“Milord?”Dr. Hamilton came out of the room smiling.“Everything's normal, there's nothing to worry about. It's just a pity that Lady Hadleigh doesn't have an experienced friend to turn to for advice...“Yes, I'm just as ignorant in that aspect," sighed Ian. But I'm confident that she and Mrs. Westwood would make friends. I'm sorry to have bothered you for nothing, Doctor, and thank you for coming on such short notic
Now that the words were out of his mouth, Ian couldn't back down.“Do you think she might have run away? Maybe you've never thought about it since you were a child then, but you just said that there was a car outside your door when she left. If your aunt was inside, why didn't she go in to see her nieces and nephew? And why did she choose to leave when your father was gone and promised to pick you up? And why didn't your father, despite his grief, insist that she be buried near you?”“But she never sent for us,” Eden objected, even though she promised to.“Are you sure? Would your father have let you go with her and another Alpha? How old were you?”“Seven,” Eden mumbled. “No, you're right. If she'd wanted to contact us, my father would have kept her from us. Just like he did with Hannah and Selene since they left. I'm sure they wrote to us, but he destroyed the letters. He locked us up. For years, we were only allowed to go out with our cousin Erin, who lived with us until I was seve
To Eden's surprise, the day passed very quickly. She stayed deep in thought all morning, trying to remember the events that had preceded her mother's departure. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Ian's interpretation might be right. Eden vaguely remembered hearing arguments and her mother sobbing at night. When she had come to kiss her children goodbye, her eyes had been very red. How sad she must have been to leave them, she thought, a protective hand resting on her stomach. And who was this mysterious man? Maybe Mom was still alive somewhere? But her instincts told her no. It was painful not knowing what had happened! Even more painful than living with the knowledge that she was dead.Of course, her death had been a terrible misfortune for Eden and her sisters, but now it was the Omega's tragic fate, her grief and despair that gripped her heart. If only she could talk to Hannah and Selene about it If only she could be sure that they were both alive a
When her husband returned, perfectly elegant in a silk tuxedo, Eden was almost disappointed. Her own feelings troubled her. She was married to Ian and tried to be an accomplished and honest wife... but what she felt for him was something else entirely and Eden wondered if it wasn't pure lust.Ian wanted her to enjoy the games of love, but should an Omega married to a Viscount experience so much? Certainly not with an Alpha she wasn't in love with... Would he stay in her room tonight? Eden wondered as the servants brought in a small table for Ian and a tray for her.They talked about the sawmill, improvements to the estate's farms, fabrics, colors, the Carter’s next visit and other things like the new coffee, which Ian thought was better than the old. Eden relaxed a little and expressed herself without fear, even if her interventions were often limited to asking questions and encouraging him to take over the estate. When she called for a servant to come and clear their trays, Eden
March 26th “These flowerbeds are going to look great this summer.”Eden leaned against Ian by the window of the large living room, above the flowerbeds that Johnson and his men, including young Trubshawe, were preparing, burying the flower bulbs.“Amara is growing, too. It's late March, spring is in the air.”Ian put his arm around his omega’s shoulders and drew her closer. It was still a shock for him to know she was his.“Do you think it's possible to be this happy?" asked Eden.“No, not usually," he replied, smiling. Then he leaned over to tickle Eden’s earlobe with his tongue, watching for her reaction. “But I know lots of ways to enhance the sensation.”“Oh, I know that.”Eden tried to react like a respectable viscountess and show a little reproach towards her rascal of a husband, but she hardly succeeded.“As it happens," Eden whispered to him in an engaging voice, "we have no obligations either this afternoon or this evening. I've kept us a few moments free, since we're packi
Ian made it his own, sensing that this was their real first time. The alpha forced himself to control his desire and keep an eye on Eden’s, which rose and rose, until the final conflagration, the simultaneous deflagration.“My love…”Ian gasped again. “Forever and ever. Forever and ever.” “My omega,” Ian whispered, stroking the back of her neck.Ian looked at his omega with such tenderness, as if he couldn't believe he had it all to himself.“You're mine, aren't you Eden?” The alpha asked, looking tall and majestic above her“All yours” Eden nodded vigorously, her breath catching as she felt Ian’s hands wrap around her ankles, caressing her calves before spreading them apart, making more room for between her thighs“Yes," Eeen murmured, "yes, all yours, mark me.”“Are you sure?”“Yes, I want to be yours, completely”Ian let out a tiger-like growl just before he bounced on his prey, before leaning in, his mouth hot and heavy as he rubbed his lips across Eden’s cheek, up to her chin,
“Sir”It was Philips' voice that brought Ian back to earth; he'd just lost the most important person in his life.“Sir." Philips insisted in the face of his master's silence. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but we await your orders. It's getting dark, the current is preventing us from crossing and continuing our search, so I think it's best to go back inside, get warm, regain your strength and start again tomorrow. Also, you'll have to prepare for the worst, sir, with the low temperatures and the cold.”“Are you mad?” Ian asked, his voice full of fatigue but above all full of bitterness. “Excuse me, sir?”“My wife has just been carried off, I don't know where she is or what state she's in, and all you can tell me is to go home, get warm and prepare for the worst. So I repeat, ARE YOU CRAZY?”“I'm sorry, I…”“Enough... Send Jem to tell my Aunt and Alexis to take care of Amara. Then gather all the men near the clearing with the best hunting dogs you can find. I want everyone to get to work,
Ian first saw the shattered pillars of the bridge, then a wavering figure stepped out to meet him, a small dog barking frantically at his heels. Ian jumped down from his saddle and Toby leapt into his arms. A baby's cries could be clearly heard over the roar of the river.“Where's my omega, Philips?”“Still in the car, milord. With the maid and the baby. The footman's a little hurt, but he'll be alright. I sent him for help. It was the floodwater that caused the bridge pillars to collapse as we drove over...If we make any sudden movements, it'll cause the rest of the bridge to collapse.” Ian put the dog down and ran along the bank, the coachman on his heels. When he reached the carriage, Ian had to fight the urge to jump straight into the water to save his family.“We need ropes, horses and... Ah, thank God, there's Murrow!”The carpenter galloped down the hill, pulling his wagon team along. When he reached the bank, he braked with the reins. The men with him jumped down from th
We'll go down to the hotel, Mary," she announced to the maid, pulling from her bag the London guidebook she had taken from the library. Let's see which one is the most suitable..The horses slowed as they took the path that led to the bridge over the river. Eden glanced out the door at the fog-shrouded landscape, then back to her guide. “The Pulteney looks to be the most comfortable and central," she explained, trying to keep her tone light, "but it's certainly very expensive. Let's see.”The sedan lurched forward and, at the sound of hooves on logs, Jimin realized they had reached the bridge. There was a terrible creak. The coachman screamed and the sedan pitched sideways. Eden tried to grab hold of Amara, but her hands could only clasp Mary's dress as Icy water invaded the darkened cabin. They had fallen into the river.Ian waded to the edge of the torrent, the water almost completely submerging his high boots.“Too late," he announced. The dam's already broken. There's no way
Breakfast the next day was more tiring than Eden had imagined. Ian behaved with impeccable courtesy. He smiled at her, spoke to her politely, and when Eden sent the servants away so she could talk to him about what had happened the day before, Ian simply shook his head.“Let's not talk about it anymore, Eden. We've got to put it behind us. Your nerves were on edge after a few days at the reception.”Eden wanted to apologize, to explain why she had lost control of herself. If Ian pretended that nothing had happened, would she be obliged to leave for London and let this unspoken issue hang over them forever?There was a knock at the door, and Jackson entered. Behind him, several men in working clothes could be seen gathered in the corridor.“Lord and Milady will excuse me," he began, "the rains have caused the river to burst its banks. Turner sends word to the lord that he fears the mill dam may break.”“I'll be off then”Ian put down his napkin, stood up and walked into the corrido
What had happened? What had gone wrong? Ian contemplated in the deserted corridor, as stunned and shocked as if someone had just cut open his chest and ripped out his heart. He'd thought he'd made Eden happy and brought her security. But that had only been an illusion, which had now been shattered. He didn't know how he was going to make things right, or even if it was possible. No doubt Eden was in her room. Toby stood at the door, whimpering miserably. Ian knocked on the door, then turned the handle. To no avail. The bolt was pulled. Swearing muffledly, he tried to open the boudoir door. Locked too, as was the door to the baby's room. He knocked again.“Eden?”SilenceStriding to his own room, Ian tried to open the connecting door. It too was locked. Exasperated, he pounded his fist on the panel.“Eden, my angel, will you please open the door?”Through the wood paneling, he heard the child's startled cries, which put an end to his anger almost immediately. Amara must b
The day after the christening, it began to rain heavily, much to Eden’s dismay. With her brief experience as mistress of the house, she wondered what he was going to do with all her guests, on a rainy Saturday, after matins and lunch. But her worries proved futile. The bishop retired to his room to read his sermons, the older ladies took up their embroidery, telling each other the latest neighborhood gossip, while the younger ones obligingly kept the children occupied and did a thousand favors for Amara, as well as for Leon, Iris and Jasper’s baby. The alphas had disappeared. Some of them had withdrawn from the bishop's sight to play cards or billiards, while others had gone to visit the stables. As for Eden, she sat quietly, sometimes making sure the babies weren't too tired, sometimes simply enjoying the rain drumming on the windows and the crackling fire in the hearth. Jasper entered the room, his hair soaking wet, and leaned over to whisper something in Iris’s ear. She loo
——6th of January——— “Your Grace”Eden gave a deep curtsy like Alexis had taught her to do. Immediately her hands were grabbed, and one of the most handsome young men she had ever seen helped her to her feet.“Please, call me Alastor, " replied the Duke of Avery, kissing her on both cheeks. “Ian,” he exclaimed enthusiastically, “where did you find such a pretty omega?” “Just looking at her to know you don't deserve it.”“You can let go of her now, Alastor,” Ian said quietly, smiling. The look on his face, however, indicated that he was ready to slay any man who got too close to Eden, whether he was a duke or a prince.Eden felt overcome with excitement. She was a little apprehensive about this baptism reception, but, for the moment, everything was going wonderfully. The only downside in recent weeks was that Ian avoided sharing her bed, probably to let her rest a little after giving birth. Since Amara’s birth, however, the alpha seemed more distant than Eden would have liked. W