**Ethan's POVI looked her in the eye, and repeated myself firmly. "I can't, not anymore."I glanced at the bump on her belly, and gestured at the swing hanging between the flower bushes. "Can we sit down somewhere?" I was sure she would get tired.She nodded. The two of us went over to the swing, a
As the clouds floated away to reveal a bright white beam of moonlight that illuminated her beautiful face, I couldn't help but reach up and touch her cheek.I pulled her into my arms and vowed to her and the Moon Goddess, "Rosalie, I'll do whatever it takes to be with you and our baby. Please, just
**Soren's POVThe sound of Rosalie's piano playing drifted into the foyer as I stood near the door, listening in.My hand was on the parlor door, my head leaning in, and my eyes closed, taking in the lovely sound of music that filled my home and made it seem alive with joy in a way it hadn't in year
I knew they were soaking wet with her want, but I needed to touch them, so I slid my hand between her thighs and rubbed her through the fabric until she bucked against my hand.I needed my pants out of the way.Rosalie grabbed hold of my waistband and yanked my pants and boxers down, freeing me. Whe
**Rosalie's POVMy necklace was beautiful, I couldn't help but stand and stare at it in the mirror. While I'd every reason in the world to pawn it the way that I had and try to get Ethan out of my life forever– after the confession he had made to me the night before, I knew the necklace was back whe
His eyes met mine. "And of course I was going to take care of you. We've been over this.""I know," I said, not wanting to hash it all out again. "It's just…""It's nothing, Ro," he said, waving his hand to brush me off as he took a drink of his lemonade."It's just, you're like a family to me now,
Later that afternoon, I was sitting in the nursery, finishing up the baby blanket I'd been working on, when I heard a bit of a commotion outside.Even though it sounded like it was coming from the garden out by the living room, I could hear it in the back of the cottage, in the nursery. But then, th
"That's terrible," I said, thinking about poor Mrs. Norman.Seraphine nodded. "And then there were the Wilsons. Mr. Wilson had a drinking problem, and he got angry and slapped his wife one time. He apologized profusely, said he'd never drink again. That didn't even last a week. He hit her again a fe
The entire family had gathered in the dining room and was chatting amiably over a very impressive spread that had been laid out by the kitchen–two prime rib roasts, a honeyed ham, and three roast ducks were the centerpieces of the table, all of which were being enjoyed liberally by everyone.George
RowanMom ran her fingers across Selene's head, admiring her fine white hair. She looked every ounce the doting grandmother instead of a ball of uncertainty, like Maeve. Maeve was pacing back and forth near the fall wall of my bedroom, her arms folded across her chest and her head bent as she tried
Kacidra joined in the conversation. "Maeve is right, Rowan. We need to know what's happening with you and Hanna, or else we'll never be able to help."Rosalie's voice was calm and supportive as she asked, "Is it Hanna that's troubling you, son? Is she doing all right?My first instinct was to tell t
Gemma and Ernest had flown down with my parents and their son George, who was just two months older than Maeve's sons.A moment later, the library door opened and more of our family members poured in, as if they were fully aware of the thoughts I'd just had and I'd summoned them. I pushed aside my n
RowanThe castle was abuzz with its usual day-to-day activities. Servants and maids passed me in the hallway carrying baskets of laundry and trays of tea. I could hear the clattering of cookware as I left my office and walked toward the grand staircase off the foyer, seeing the door to the servants'
"Who? What happens?""There's so much more out there," Mara said dreamily. "So, so much more.""Maeve!" Troy called from down the beach.I turned to look at him, and when I turned back to Mara, she had taken off. "Wait!" I called after her, but she had already made it out of earshot, her footsteps l
Best of all, Troy was happy. He was at peace and at home. But there was still much work to be done.We were spending several weeks jumping from island to island, taking stock of the wellbeing of the inhabitants, and making a list of what was needed. Most of the islands were in need of medicine, inf
Maeve–Four Months LaterSuntra was not what I was expecting. I had become accustomed to the seemingly endless white-sand beaches of Avondale, where the sand grit was so fine it felt like powdered sugar as you walked barefoot in the surf. Suntra's sand was coarse and golden and dappled with tidepool
I straightened up a bit, shifting Oliver's weight in my arms as I narrowed my eyes back at him, sizing him up. A man roughly my father's age came bounding out of their house, waving at me apologetically as he leaned to whisper harshly in the ear of the man I assumed was his father.Whatever his son