Lucan leaned against the tree and laughed.

"It's not funny, Lucan." Lillian's face was flushed with anger. "He's a drunk. Mister Dutton seemed like a very nice well-educated man. He has come all this way to pass on the benefits of insurance to the heathens who live here and that's the treatment he receives." She folded her arms, huffed and glared at him. "Your uncle would be one of the worse examples of small-town mindedness I have ever seen."

A surge of anger swept through Lucan at her words. He frowned and ground his teeth. "Lillian, I think you're being a bit harsh. Me uncle ain't that bad."

"It's my, Lucan. The word is my and isn't. How many times do I have to correct you? Sometimes I think you're worse than the six-year-olds I teach!"

Of late Lillian's constant corrections in his speech were getting on his nerves. Lucan set his jaw, clenched and unclenched his fists. Some days he wondered why he even bothered because she seemed so unhappy with him. She had recently tried to get him to oil his hair when they walked out together and wanted him to wear a suit and go to church. He was sure she was embarrassed to be seen with him.

Lillian looked up into his face, she could see his eye colour had darkened and knew this meant he was angry with her. She had said too much so she reached up to touch his cheek. "I'm sorry. You're so much better than that. I want you to be the best person you can be."

"Who for, Lillian?" Lucan jerked his face away. "You or me?"

She tilted her head at his rejection. Lillian had come to know this man and normally her touch could soothe him no matter what his mood.

"For you of course." She reached out and took hold of his hand, stepped closer so she stood in his shadow, and then put her other hand on his waist. "I'm sorry I corrected your speech. I get frustrated because we've worked so hard together and when you speak slang it makes you sound uneducated and you're not that person anymore, Lucan. You're better than that." She cocked her head in an appeasing manner and let go of his hand to move a wisp of hair from her face.

Lucan looked down at her, he softened.

Seeing his eyes weren't quite ready to forgive, Lillian stepped closer and put her hand on his chest. "It was you who wanted to learn to read, wanted to better yourself." When he shifted his weight on his feet, Lillian sensed he had nearly forgiven her. She whispered, "I'm sorry I said those things about your uncle but you know I don't like drink."

"Me uncle's who he is, Lillian. There's no changing him and there ain't no changing me." He knew he'd used the incorrect grammar but had done it on purpose to let her know he was who he was and she'd have to accept that or move on.

Lillian reached up and touched his face with her hand again. This time he didn't move away. "I'm sorry if it seems like I'm trying to change you but don't you think if I really meant something to you that you'd make an effort to please me occasionally by dressing better when we're out together. After all, I am a well-known and respected person in town. I haven't asked you to stop being who you are inside. It's just the outside I'm trying to tidy up." She tittered and added, "You must admit, Lucan, you do have that wild untidy look. Handsome and devilish. You make every woman's heart leap and they yearn to clean you up." She swept his hair away from his eyes. "I don't want to change you, just tidy you up a little." She reached up and touched his lips lightly with hers. Stayed there to see if he was going to respond and of course he did as she suspected he would, so she slid her hands around his neck.

Lucan wrapped his arms around her waist. There were things about her which made him feel their relationship wasn't right but when she touched him, he crumbled. He knew she played him very well, like now, but it was over, he had moved on and just wanted to touch her so he kissed her, lifted her completely off her feet and put her against the tree. Lucan pulled his lips away and sucked in a breath. He rested his forehead on hers. "Lillian, I want you so much."

"I know, Lucan." She touched the side of his face. "And I want you, but you know I can't, morally and in the eyes of God it's wrong."

He put his hand on her backside and drew her to him, pressed his erection against her so she could feel his need. "I don't see what God has to do with it and we'll get married. I can't keep doing this, touching you but not really touching you."

She tried to push him gently away. "Lucan, are you asking me to marry you?"

He had his lips on her neck and whispered against her ear, "Is it what you want, Lillian? If you want to get married, we'll get married." Lucan put his mouth on hers, and held the back of her head so she couldn't pull away. It had been three months since their first kiss and he hadn't got any further than touching her body through her clothes.

Lillian pushed firmer against his chest. The force made him release her. "Lucan, will you stop that! What if someone passes by?"

Anger gripped him again. He stepped away and swung his hands behind his head with a growl of frustration. "You don't like me touching you."

"Not like that, no. I don't like it." She folded her arms across her chest. "It's not very gentlemanly."

Lucan squatted down in front of her and ran his hands through his hair, he sighed. "I'm sorry. It's been a long while since I've been with a woman and when I touch you, I want it so badly. Sometimes I lose control." He stood up and touched her face. "So do you want to get married?"

"Are you sure you're not asking me because you want... well..." Lillian frowned. "You know what I mean. Because even if I say yes, you'll have to wait and I'll want a long engagement. A year at least."

"A year!" He let out a heavy sigh. "But we'd be engaged."

"That will make no difference to me. I don't want to be a woman who's pregnant when she gets married. I want to marry for the right reasons." She paused, and then pointed her finger at him. "You ask me again in two months. I'll give you my answer then."

Lucan put his hands behind his head once more, released his breath and nodded. He wasn't sure why he had asked her to marry him. He thought maybe it was to do with wanting to have sex with her. He was glad she hadn't said yes. Marriage wasn't high on his list of things to do and he knew he didn't feel about her the way he had felt about Kat.

"I better get back to the lads," he said as he kissed her on the cheek. "I'll see you next week."

Lillian touched his face thinking he was disappointed with her answer. "I haven't said no, Lucan. I want to be asked for the right reasons and there are the boys to think about. I don't want to give up teaching. If we married, would you expect that?"

Shrugging, Lucan said, "I haven't thought that far ahead."

"See. We'd have to talk about all of those things before I said yes. Do you understand?"

"Yeah." He hated it when she spoke to him like he was a child and unable to come to his own conclusions. "I've got to go." Lucan shoved his hands into his pockets and headed back to the cottage.

*****

"What's your problem?" Thaiter studied Lucan's face as he walked into the room.

"I don't really know." Lucan felt the tea pot, it was hot so he poured himself a cup and sat down.

"What do ya mean ya don't know? You and Lillian have another fight or somethin'?"

Lucan grinned and nodded. "Or something."

"So, what's the or something?" Thaiter asked.

Lucan took a sip of the tea and said, "I asked her to marry me."

"Ah... what the fuck, Lucan? You're thinking with your dick. She's not right for you." Thaiter was shocked to see Lucan burst into laughter.

"Yeah." Lucan roared. "I was thinking with my dick. She didn't say yes. I'm pretty sure she knows I was thinking with my dick. At least I think she did."

Thaiter chuckled and said, "Thank fuck for that. You need a trip ta Cairns so you can fix that dick problem."

*****

Lucan met up with Lillian the following week. She seemed more yielding this time and insisted they take a stroll along the road that led past the cemetery and towards Gibbs Creek. She had her blanket, some mugs, a bottle of water and two apples in her basket. Lucan offered to carry it for her.

When they got to the privacy of the trees, she took hold of his hand. "I hope you're not still disappointed with my answer."

"No... not disappointed." He smiled down at her. "I was probably being a bit hasty. We do have a lot to talk about. Me having the two lads and you teaching."

Lillian seemed happy with this. She walked closer and held onto his forearm with her other hand, and then ran her fingers up and down his skin.

Lucan's body reacted. He wondered if she had any idea how this slight touch affected him.

When they got to the creek Lillian spread the blanket on the ground. She sat down and patted the spot beside her. "Do you remember the first time you kissed me?"

"You thought you were a harlot," Lucan said chuckling at the memory.

Lillian laughed and started to unbuckle her shoe.

"What are you doing?"

She smirked. "I'm going to get my feet wet."

Raising his eyebrows, Lucan said, "The water's going ta be cold."

"You better take your shoes off too." Lillian gave him a little shove on the arm. "I'll probably need to hold onto you so I don't slip."

"You sure you want to do this?" He tilted his head to one side wondering what was going on with her.

"I'm trying to be free spirited so don't spoil it for me," she said.

Lucan shrugged, took his boots off and rolled up the ends of his trousers. He stood up and held his hand out to her. She was definitely different today but he wasn't going to complain. Lillian lifted her skirt until her calves were showing. Lucan wasn't quite sure whether to look or not but decided if she was showing them then he would look. She squealed as the water lapped against her skin.

"I told you it'd be cold." He took hold of her upper arm so she wouldn't slip.

Lillian looked so happy he had a huge urge to kiss her so he let go of her arm and held her face with both of his hands. Lucan made a conscience effort to be restrained. He moved his lips gently; pulled away just a little then kissed her again. She responded and when he pulled away once more her lips sought his. Lillian kissed him like she did that first day. Lucan had to pull away to take in a breath.

"You're not being fair," she whispered.

He frowned and cocked his head.

Lillian giggled. "I have to hold up my skirts so they don't get wet. I'm virtually helpless."

"Does this mean I could do anything and you'd still stand there holding up your skirt?" He chuckled and kissed her again.

She gave him a, you wouldn't dare look, and said, "No. It means you need to help me to the bank so I can let my skirts down."

Lucan stepped back, folded his arms across his chest and looked at her legs. "I might just be happy to stand here looking at your legs."

"Lucan, you're not being a gentleman." Lillian laughed.

He stepped forward and kissed her again. "I thought you liked my wild side."

"Oh, I never said I didn't." She fluttered her eyelids and blushed.

Lucan chuckled. He liked the Lillian he was with today so he said, "Good." Then he lifted her up.

Lillian squealed and put her arms around his neck while he carried her back to the blanket. He kissed her before laying her down, and then lay beside her. His body thrummed with desire as he caressed her face and kissed her again. She clung to his neck. He reached for the bottom of her skirt and drew it up so he could run his hand over her skin. She didn't push him away. Lucan's breathing quickened. He didn't want to hesitate in case she stopped him. With his hand under her skirt and on her backside, he pulled her under him.

Panicked, Lillian put her hands on his chest. "Lucan!"

"It's all right. I just want to touch you, to feel your skin."

She swallowed nervously as he placed his lips gently on hers. Lucan moved his hand, found the top of her drawers and slipped his fingers under the fabric. The warmth of her skin urged him on. He kissed her hungrily.

Pulling her mouth away, Lillian gasped. "Lucan!"

He breathed heavily against her hair and pulled his hand out from under her skirt. "Will you touch me, Lillian?"

She put her hand on his face.

Realising she didn't know what he meant, Lucan took her hand and pushed it up under his shirt. She gasped at the feel of his smooth muscled stomach but she didn't remove it. Lucan kissed her again, moved higher and rested his weight to one side so it was easier for her to touch him.

Lillian moved her hand over his stomach and up to his chest.

Groaning at her touch, Lucan took her hand in his. He looked at her face and watched as he moved her hand lower towards the waistband of his trousers. "I want you to touch me. To feel how much I want you." Her eyes opened wider at his words and he could see she was nervous but he pushed her hand under the waistband of his pants. Lucan felt her tense when he placed her hand on his penis. She didn't remove it so he left her hand there and kissed her again. "Touch me, Lillian," he whispered against her mouth. When she did, he kissed her tenderly and raised his body so she had more room. Lucan's breathing quickened as the sensations he felt quickened.

Lillian jerked her hand away. "Lucan!"

He heard the panic in her voice and groaning, rolled off her and lay on his back. He covered his eyes with his forearm and breathed steadily in and out trying to control his frustration. When he was settled, he removed his arm to see her sitting up and looking worriedly down at him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"It's all right." He smiled up at her and touched her face.

"You're not angry?" she queried.

Lucan rolled his head from side to side in answer and said, "Are you angry with me?"

"No." She gave him a sheepish look. "I'm sorry if it's my fault you're like that." She looked at his groin.

"I'm like this every time I'm with you."

"Oh." Lillian blushed.

"We better go back," Lucan said as he sat up and kissed her quickly on the lips.

*****

Thaiter was at the tank as Lucan rounded the corner. "You look happier today. Tell me ya didn't ask her ta marry you again."

"No, not today." Lucan grinned.

"Why so happy?"

"She was different today." Lucan shrugged. "Easier to get along with."

"So, you got ya dick problem fixed, did you?" Thaiter raised his eyebrows in question.

"Nae, not yet, but I'm working on it." Lucan grinned and slapped Thaiter on the shoulder before bounding up the stairs two at a time.

How do we feel about Lillian?

Is she the right woman for Lucan?

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