by Maggie Ryan
“I love you,” Lucy whispered as the train pulled to a stop.
“I love you,” Emmie whispered back as their Papas joined them and took their hands to lead them off the train. Lucy was immeasurably relieved to see Emmie give her Papa a smile as he bent to kiss her softly. Understanding bloomed as she realized that just as she was forgiven and her slate cleaned after each punishment, Lord Northbridge extended the same love and forgiveness to Emmie.
Mr. Brannon began to unload their luggage onto a large cart that would also be used to transport their trunks. Lucas helped Lucy down the steps and placed her safely on the platform. He also helped Molly. Stefan shook Lucas’ hand once more, impressed with the younger man and his family. Emmie hugged Lucy hard, both fighting back tears.
“I hope you love Hunter’s Ridge,” Emmie said knowing her friend’s fears. “I just know everyone there will love you as I do.” Lucy thanked her and hugged Bertha as well though her face turned scarlet doing so. Bertha smiled and gave Lucy a kiss on her cheek, not needing to say a single word. When Stefan knelt before Lucy and opened his arms, she didn’t hesitate to give him a huge hug.
“Thank you for letting Emmie be my friend,” she said. Stefan gave her a kiss.
“Thank you for being my Emmie’s friend,” he said and hugged her again. “You make your Papa very happy, little one. Be proud to be exactly who you are. Don’t let anyone try to change you for I find you the most delightful, loving young woman and special little one, besides my own precious Emmaline, that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and the blessing of getting to know. I promise, we will have you visit soon and you and Emmie can always write to each other.” Lucy was deeply touched and smiled, standing with her hand in her husband’s as Stefan took Emmie’s hand and walked away. Lucas gave her hand a squeeze.
“Are you okay, Kitten? Are you ready to meet your new family?” he asked, knowing that though she had yet to truly be specific about why she was so anxious, he knew she was thinking about his sisters.
He had absolutely no doubt that his sisters would not only accept his wife but also embrace her and love her as a treasured member of their family. He had adored each of them from the moment they had been born and would protect them as fiercely as he would the woman he was now holding in his arms. They, in turn, not only loved him as their only brother; his actions and love had earned their trust and respect. Their need for his guidance and protection, as well as discipline, had become his responsibility after their parents’ death. Though he knew his family would have no qualms about Lucy, he also knew she would simply have to trust him to protect her until she actually had a chance to join the girls in their childhood home at Hunter’s Ridge as it became her own as well.
She felt a smile tug at her lips despite her unease. He had asked her almost the same question days earlier when she had left Louisa, Uncle Edward and Wintercrest Manor behind. Lucas watched as she took a deep breath and then lifted herself onto her toes to kiss his cheek and gave him an answer close to the one she had given then.
“Yes, Papa. Let’s go home to your family.” Lucas reached down to cup her cheeks between his palms, his heart full of love he would never take for granted. As he looked into her eyes, he saw the reflection of the love and trust she was giving him glowing within the violet depths and knew he would do anything necessary to make sure that light never dimmed.
“Our family, Kitten. You will have a family that loves you so very, very much. When you are frightened, just remember to come to me. I promise that I will always be there for you. Lucy, you are also my everything.” He kissed her with such a gentle passion that Lucy felt tears well, and her entire soul accepted his promise. As long as this man, this one man, was beside her, loving her, she would be home.
EPILOGUE
Lucas saw the wonder in Lucy’s eyes and smiled. “Welcome home, Lucy,” he said bending to brush his lips across her cheek.
“All this is just your home?” she asked, her eyes continuing to attempt to take it all in even though it became impossible to see it all as they drove closer.
“Our home,” Lucas corrected. “Don’t worry, Kitten, you will soon know your way around as well as I do.” Lucy found herself doubting his words but nodded as the carriage began to slow in front of the steps that led to two huge doors. Those doors were opening even as the horses pulled to a stop. Despite telling her Papa that she was ready to meet his family, her heart was pounding with anxiety. Hunter’s Ridge was massive. Her husband was responsible for everyone who lived on his estate and that meant he would be incredibly busy. What if he was so busy he would no longer have time for her? What if his responsibilities often called him away from home? If she were not to serve as mistress of this huge manor, if she had no responsibilities whatsoever, what would she do in his absence? Would he grow tired of her and simply tuck her away in a nursery far from his own chambers, visiting only occasionally? Good Lord, what if he no longer allowed her to share his bedchamber nightly? She wasn’t aware of the soft moans coming from her throat the closer the carriage got to the house.
Lucas became aware of her distress. “Breathe, Kitten. Just breathe and remember I’ve got you. You are safe, little one,” he said calmly. Lucy finally gasped and took in several deep breaths.
“Promise? You…you won’t lose me in…in there?” she whispered and at his chuckle looked up to meet his eyes. He stopped laughing when he saw the look of panic in hers.
“Yes, Kitten. I promise.”
The End.
Note to my Readers
As always, I sincerely thank you for purchasing my book and allowing me to bring you along on this journey. I hope you have enjoyed the continuation of Lucy’s story as she and Lucas journey from Wintercrest to Hunter’s Ridge. Will his promise of not only finding her new family, but a new home at Hunter’s Ridge prove true? Despite Lucy’s deep love for her husband, will she be able to play the dual roles her vows demand when surrounded by strangers? Can Lucy embrace her deep-seated need to submit – to realize she is no longer merely playing a role but truly is her Papa’s little child-bride in her heart? I am working on the next book of the series, and it is my greatest hope that you are as anxious as I to discover the answers and continue reading about the characters I’ve come to love. Thank you for joining me on their journeys, and I look forward to continue to bring them to life for you.
Happy Reading!
Maggie Ryan
Maggie Ryan
Author for Blushing Books. I write both contemporary erotica and historical spanking romances. I enjoy writing about characters that enjoy the provocative D/S lifestyle of today’s times as well as taking a step back into the past to write stories that take place in the Victorian era with age-play as a theme.
I have always loved reading. Growing up in a family with four children, it was difficult finding a place to be alone. I was probably one of the squeakiest clean girls on the planet as I would spend hours in the tub so I could read without being bothered. It wasn’t long before I began to make up my own endings to the books I was reading. From there, it just seemed natural to begin writing my own stories. One of my fondest memories was when I came home crying from school because my English teacher had accused me of cheating when entering a creative story contest because she didn’t believe I had actually written it myself. My mother marched right up to the school and gave her a piece of her mind and said I had been making up fantasies with a great deal of embellishment as long as I’d been alive. Needless to say, that taught me two things – don’t take bad reviews too personally and never let anyone tell you what or how to write the stories in your heart.
I live in the great Lone Star State with my wonderfully supportive husband. We have four great children and have had all sorts of animals throughout the years – everything from a prehistoric looking iguana to a flop-eared bunny. My family loves the outdoors and we spend a lot of time camping and fishing. I also enjoy quilting, knitting and crocheting as I’m the type of woman who can’t seem
to just ever sit with my hands idle.
I never try to restrict myself to any one genre because there are just too many delicious possibilities out there and inside my head. I admit to being somewhat of a romantic though as my stories always must have a great deal of love, passion, corporal discipline and, of course, great, mind-blowing sex. I want my readers to be able to see, hear, feel and know the characters that I’m creating as well as I do when I bring them to life and find they tell me their stories and I simply put them down on paper. I want my women to be strong of character but also strong enough to know that submission given in love and trust to your partner does not make you weaker, it makes you far stronger. I want my men to be sexy, strong, demanding alpha males who know how to take what they want while acknowledging it is a gift they have been blessed with by the women that have chosen to submit to them. I want there to be no doubt that they truly would die for the other no matter how others might view their relationship.
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Maggie Ryan and Blushing Books!
Designed for Submission
Charming Isabella
Lucy Surrenders: Women of Wintercrest Book 4
Claimed: Women of Wintercrest Book 3
Summer Solace
Lord Edward’s Law: Women of Wintercrest Book 2
Louisa Revealed: Women of Wintercrest Book 1
Becoming His: The Teaching of Rebecca
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