Love's Call (41 page)

“No.”
Miserable
couldn’t be farther from his current truth. “I don’t want to talk right now.”

“Then shut up and show me what you’d rather be doing.” Ansley braced herself on his chest and sat up.

His retort dissolved on his tongue as she tilted her hips and impaled herself on him.

She wiggled, making them both gasp.

Leargan pulled her down for a kiss and thrust upward to meet her first downward stoke, proving he’d be happy to do just that.

Epilogue

Ansley looked down at the two perfect little forms. Brogan slept with his tiny face buried against her breast, his red hair tickling her bare arm as it stood out in several directions.

Brynn faced the opposite of her brother, her linen padded rump against Ansley’s stomach and her cheek on Ansley’s forearm as she too, slept. Her dark hair curled at the ends.

Her father was proud his grandson was a redhead, going around proclaiming himself
world’s-greatest
-
Grandfa
already. Prattling on and on about what he would teach Brogan, much to Leargan’s amused chagrin.

Ansley’s daughter wouldn’t be slighted by Sir Murdoch in the least. One look from the tiny girl, and Brynn already had the huge man wrapped around her little pinky finger. Ansley could only imagine what it would be like when her children were walking and talking.

Leargan and Ansley had been honest with her father the morning after they had righted things between them. Admitted she was carrying Leargan’s child—children—and that they intended to marry.

Sir Murdoch had ranted and raved, but King Nathal had calmed him, and they’d had a very nice wedding a few days later.

Her father had vehemently refused the delay, but Cera had insisted she be given time to arrange a nice ceremony and celebration feast.

Although he’d grumbled, her father had walked Ansley down the aisle in Castle Aldern’s chapel with a smile on his face. He’d never admit it, but his eyes were misty as he’d handed her over to Leargan.

Cera had surprised Ansley with a lavish wedding gown. The pale green of Greenwald, intricately embroidered as was her friend’s favorite style. Ansley had cried—of course. Cera had planned the gown sevendays before, and had her dressmaker working on it for almost the same period of time. It was gorgeous and perfect, and Ansley would cherish it always.

Her wedding had been equally perfect.

The day almost nine months ago was like yesterday. Just as loving and sweet.

Brynn made a sound in her sleep, and Ansley rocked her daughter, careful not to disturb her napping husband or their son on her other arm. She smiled as the baby girl settled, her little chest rising and falling in a deep rhythm.

Of course, Cera already had Fallon betrothed to Brynn. Tristan and Aimil had also had a baby girl, Aislinn. In turn, the duchess now had her paired with Brogan. When Ansley reminded her friend they’d all married for love and would expect no less for their children, Cera would smile and insist it wouldn’t be a problem.

Ansley almost asked if the duchess had Gamel draw up marriage contracts.

Two babies were more of a challenge than one. They’d been a surprise. Even Tristan hadn’t known Ansley had carried twins until he’d delivered Brynn, and the healer realized she wasn’t yet done giving birth. About ten minutes later, Brogan had graced them with his presence, screaming louder than his sister had.

Leargan joked his son was offended they hadn’t known he was there.

The healer speculated Brynn had magic. Her brother did not—or it was much less than hers—so when he’d used his healing touch to track her health and the health of the babies during Ansley’s pregnancy, Brynn’s magic called to his and effective masked Brogan.

Raising children with magic might be difficult, but they already sensed magic within little Fallon, so at least Ansley wouldn’t be alone.

Ansley loved the twins so much, and even though they were only three sevendays old, she couldn’t have imagined her life without them, or their father.

It was like Cera had said; her husband and these children were her
life.

Leargan shifted in his sleep, and she glanced at him, a warm smile curving her lips. Since the night of the babies’ birth, her husband had insisted on getting up when she had to nurse during the night, so he was just as exhausted as Ansley, but it was a good kind of exhausted. It only made her love him more.

Dark eyes fluttering, he sighed as he came around, giving a loud yawn.

“Hi there,” Ansley whispered.

His mouth curved in a smile that made her heart skip as he sat up, pressing a tender kiss to her mouth. “Hello, love.”

Leargan leaned over, kissing his son’s little hand and caressing Brynn’s downy dark hair before pressing his lips to her tiny cheek, since she was closer.

Ansley smiled. She couldn’t get enough of seeing him with their children. “Did you get enough sleep?”

“Aye, what time is it?”

“Late afternoon.”

Dark brow drawn tight, concern clouded his expression. “Did
you
sleep?”

“Aye.” Ansley nodded. “The twins woke me not long ago. I fed them and got a bite to eat. Morag brought a tray and fussed at me, of course.”

Leargan chuckled, his shoulders relaxing. “What about?”

“Oh, I’m to let Daicy take them to the wet nurse and take a long hot bath. I’m so exhausted because I’m not caring for myself.”

Her husband cupped her cheeks and studied her face. “She’s got a point, love.”

“She does not. I can care for our children.”

“
We
can care for our children,” Leargan said. “But we do have people to help us. People that want to help because they care for us as well.”

Ansley smiled and leaned over to kiss him. “I love you,” she whispered against his lips.

“Good thing. Because I love you, too.” He pressed a lingering kiss to her mouth, then gently took their daughter into his arms. Brynn snuggled into his broad chest as if she’d not switched parents. “I love them, too. More than I ever thought possible, Ans.”

Grinning, she leaned into him, nestling their son higher against her. She loved when Leargan called her by Cera’s nickname for her.

“I can’t believe Brynn looks so much like me,” Leargan mused as he stared into the sleeping little girl’s face, running fingertips over her dark hair.

“And Brogan resembles me.” Ansley smoothed the tiny lad’s wild red locks. No matter what she did, her son’s hair preferred to stick out in all directions.

When she looked up, her gaze locked with Leargan’s. Her heart sped up. Like it always would.

His dark eyes were intense, and she melted instantly. “I need to thank King Nathal for his meddling ways.”

“My father, too.”

“He gave me you,” they whispered at the same time.

Leargan flashed a smile and pulled her to him gently with one arm, caressing his son’s cheek and kissing Ansley’s lips tenderly. “Scroll or not, you and the twins are mine forever,” her husband whispered against her mouth.

“Forever,” Ansley echoed.

THE END

About the Author

C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She is married and has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She works with kids when she’s not writing. She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.

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