hand to the naked flesh of his back.
It was only a touch, but it had him frozen to the spot. Fighting for
composure he kept his back to her. ' The servants would have plenty
to talk about if they were to find you in the lord's chambers, dressed in
that nightshift."
"Is it the servants you're worried about, Keane?"
He pulled away from her and crossed to the night table. Earlier he'd
tossed away his ale. Now he wanted, needed something to steady his
nerves.
"Nay, lass. It's your fine, upstanding reputation I'd like to preserve.
Believe me, you wouldn't like to have rumors about yourself and
Keane O'Mara filtering back to your fine family at Ballinarin." He
poured himself a tumbler of ale and lifted it to his lips.
But she stalked him, laying a hand on his chest, before looking up at
him from beneath her lashes. The mere touch of his flesh burned her
fingers like fire. "I thought we'd give them more than rumors to
whisper about, Keane."
He felt as if he'd taken a blow from a broadsword. All the air seemed
to leave his lungs.
"I've finally realized why you've been avoiding me." Her voice, low
and sultry, seemed to cloud his mind. "You made some sort of vow,
didn't you?"
He nodded, needing a moment to find his voice. To collect his
thoughts.
"But it wasn't a formal vow, made in church, before witnesses, was
it?"
He shook his head, struggling to clear his mind. He couldn't think
when she was so close, touching him like this.
Her smile bloomed. "There. You see? But such vows are not
binding."
"They aren't?"
"Nay. Mother Superior said most people make such bargains with
heaven, whenever they're feeling fearful. And afterward, they realize
the foolishness of their impulsive behavior."
"It wasn't foolish." His voice was stronger now. And tight with anger.
"A vow is a vow. And I vowed to return you to your father as I'd
found you."
"Aha. It's as I'd thought." She gave a low, throaty laugh. "And I
vowed that this night I would lie with you and love you." She gave a
meaningful pause before asking, with a knowing smile, "I wonder,
Keane, which of our vows is the stronger?"
Her smile, her laughter only made him more determined. Though he
was quickly losing his strength, he had to find a way to make her see
the danger in this course of action. He would do and say whatever it
took.
"I warned you before, lass." He kept his tone deliberately cutting.
"But I see that you'll accept nothing more than cold, hard facts. And
the fact is, I'm a man accustomed to much more worldly women. I
have no intention of indulging you, simply so you can amuse my
servants with something to whisper about."
He saw the hurt in her eyes as she took a step back. He cursed himself
for his cruelty. But she'd given him no choice. Somebody had to save
her.
"You'd best get back to your chambers before Cora finds you gone.
She and the others will have a fine laugh over their sweet innocent
lass pursuing the wicked lord of Carrick House." He lifted the glass to
his lips and took a long drink.
Briana felt as if a knife had pierced her heart. Damn him. How could
she have been foolish enough to open herself up to more humiliation?
Her chin came up in that familiar way. And then she noticed
something.
His hand was trembling. Some of the ale sloshed over the rim as he
brought it to his mouth.
Seeing it gave her a strange rush of exhilaration. She'd been right
about Keane. It was all an act. For her sake. Because he cared about
her. Truly cared. And she wasn't leaving here until she proved it.
"Run along now, Briana." Keane's voice sounded hoarse in his own
ears as he set the tumbler down on the night table and strode to the
balcony.
When he heard a light footfall, he breathed a sigh of relief, until he
realized she was heading toward him instead of toward the door.
He watched the way she moved, head high, hips undulating in the
way of beautiful women from the beginning of time. On her lips was
a mysterious, woman's smile.
He backed up all the way to the railing before he caught himself.
"What are you doing?"
She opened the first button of her nightshift. "I'm about to tempt fate."
"Stop that." He caught her hand, then realized his mistake. Despite
the cold night air, the touch of her had him burning for more.
"I didn't come to your chambers to stop, Keane." She reached a hand
to his cheek.
Though he wanted to resist, he couldn't help moving his face against
her hand as if starved for the touch of her.
"I came here to start something." Her words whispered over his
senses and wrapped themselves around his heart.
He caught her by the shoulders to hold her a little away. Instead she
boldly stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips over his. He felt all the
breath leave his lungs.
There was no way he could deny her anything while she stood here,
pressing that slender body to his, offering him everything he'd ever
wanted in this world.
Though he knew it was futile, he gave her one last chance to consider
what she was doing. "Once it's started, Briana, it's like being one of a
vast sea of warriors swept along in a field of battle. A battle not of
your choosing. But whether it's your war or someone else's, there's no
stopping it. No going back." His eyes were hot and fierce as they
stared into hers, trying vainly to hold her at bay. "Do you
understand?"
In answer she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself
against him. "You know I love nothing more than a challenging
battle. What about you. Keane O'Mara? Are you up to the challenge?"
His voice was a low moan of pleasure and pain. "Oh, God help us,
Briana. God help us both. For I've no strength left to deny what I
want."
"What we both want," she whispered against his mouth.
For the space of several heartbeats, he merely stared down at her, his
fingers digging into the delicate flesh of her upper arms. Then he
dragged her close, and his mouth crushed hers with a fierceness that
left them both gasping.
"There's still time." He muttered the words inside her mouth as he
devoured her with kisses.
She knew he meant it as a warning. But for her there was no turning
back. Instead, she offered her lips to him, opening herself to all that
was to come.
The sweetness, the generosity of her gesture, had him feasting like a
man who had been starving for the taste of her.His kiss seemed to
drain her, then fill her, as he kissed her with a savageness that
surprised them. At last, struggling for breath, he lifted his head and
framed her face with his hands, staring deeply into her eyes. For the
space of several moments he studied her with an intensity that
stopped her heart. Then he slowly lowered his head and kissed her
again, with a slowness, a thoroughness that made her head swim.
&
nbsp; With his mouth on hers he drove her back against the railing of the
balcony and wrapped her legs around him.
Briana gave a gasp of surprise. She'd been prepared for sweet, tender
loving. For soft sighs and whispered promises. She hadn't been
prepared for this. This all- consuming hunger. This urgent mating.
What he wanted, what he demanded, was her complete and total
abandonment.
He'd called it a battle. It was, she realized, a war. Unlike any she'd
ever experienced. And she had been thrust into it without any
knowledge of the rules, or even what part she should be playing.
His mouth was avid, eager, searching out every sweet, hidden taste.
His tongue probed all the secret recesses of her mouth, challenging
hers to do the same. But just as she sighed in enjoyment, his mouth
suddenly left hers to roam her face, her neck, her throat. When .she
arched her neck to give him easier access, he gave a hiss of
impatience and tore aside the neckline of her nightshift. As his lips
closed over one erect nipple, she cried out with exquisite pleasure and
clutched his head. He gave her no time to recover before he moved to
the other breast, to nibble and suckle until she moaned and writhed
with need.
Feelings unlike any Briana had ever known seemed to take
possession of her. Her body felt more alive than at any time she could
recall. Alive with sensations that had completely taken over her mind,
her will. With a sigh she gave herself up to the pleasure. She knew not
what lay ahead. She knew only that she wanted him to go on like this
forever, touching, tasting, arousing.
With a muttered oath he pushed aside the billowing skirt of her
nightshift and found her, hot and moist and ready. He covered her
mouth in a savage kiss, swallowing her gasp of shock.
He was touching her in a way that no man ever had. And yet those
battle-roughened fingers were bringing her the most incredible
pleasure. Pleasure that bordered on pain. Before she could even form
a protest, he brought her to the first peak, leaving her dazed and
breathless. But while her head was still swimming, he took her on an
even faster ride, until she felt herself spinning out of control.
"Keane. Wait." She pressed a palm to his chest, hoping for a moment
of calm.
"It's too late, Briana." The words were torn from his lips.
She looked into his eyes, glazed with passion, and realized that this
thing they had set into motion was only beginning. And she knew, in
that moment, that she wanted to experience more of it. All of it. Now.
This minute. With this man.
"Changed your mind?" He caught her by the chin, forcing her head up
so that he could see her eyes.
Instead of an answer, she merely laughed.
His hand fisted in her hair, and he dragged her head back to feast on
her neck, her throat, her shoulder. With a sigh of impatience he tore
away her nightshift, feeling buttons pop and seams rip in his haste.
Next he shrugged out of his breeches and kicked them aside.
He dropped to his knees, dragging her with him. They faced each
other, their breathing ragged, their heartbeats labored, their bodies
glistening with sheen.
The world beyond no longer mattered. The footsteps of servants
along the darkened hallway went unheard. The threat of the English
invaders was forgotten. For now, the only thing they knew was the
dark, musky heat of passion that clogged their lungs, and the sweet,
seductive need that clouded their vision until they were half-mad with
it.
Keane wanted desperately to slow the madness. To give her time to
savor the moment. But he could feel himself slipping ever closer to
the edge. One more touch. One taste, and he would lose all control,
taking them both over the brink.
"Briana. Briana." He whispered her name like a prayer, as his mouth
moved over her temple, her cheek, her ear.
She had never before thought her name beautiful, until she heard it
from his lips, in this growl of pleasure against her ear. She caught his
face between her hands and brought her mouth to his.
"Do you know how long I've wanted you?" His words were issued on
a groan as he took the kiss deeper:.
"How long?" She could barely manage the words over the hunger that
was driving her. A hunger that had her wrapping herself around him,
opening herself to him: eager to give and take. To feed. To feast.
Until they were both sated.
Instead of a reply, he dragged her down until they were both lying on
the floor, cushioned only by their discarded clothes. As he levered
himself above her, she saw his eyes. Hot and fierce. Dark and
dangerous. And filled with such need, it took her breath away.
She knew that she would give him anything, as long as she could
always see that look. In Keane's eyes she felt beautiful. She felt loved.
She felt...safe.
"Dear heaven, Briana. I want you. I need you."
"And I need you, Keane. Oh, I love you so."
Love. The word pierced his heart, shattering all his control. It was
more than he'd ever hoped for. All that he'd ever dreamed of. And it
was his. She was his. This incredible, magnificent woman owned
him. Heart and soul.
He took her with the force of a warrior in the heat of combat. He
heard her cry of surprise. Felt her stiffen. Knew that he was hurting
her and hated himself for- it. Sweet heaven, she was a maiden. An
innocent. And he was taking her like a barbarian.
He went very still, struggling to hold to a last tenuous thread of
sanity. His voice was a strangled whisper. "Briana, I'm such a brute.
I'm sorry...."
"Shhh." She touched a finger to his mouth to silence his protest.
He stared down into her eyes and was shocked by the intensity of
passion he could see in them. An intensity that matched his own.
"Don't stop, Keane. Just love me."
He felt the last of his fears vanish. "Ah, Briana. I do, I will. Now and
for all time."
He covered her mouth with his and began to move with her and she
with him. Moving with a strength neither of them had known they
possessed. Faster, then faster still, until they felt themselves soaring,
shattering, drifting. It was the most incredible journey of their lives.
Chapter Sixteen
"Sweet God in heaven." Still joined, Keane rested his forehead
against Briana's and sucked in deep draughts of cool night air to fill
his starving lungs.
She lay very still, grateful for the calm after the storm. She had feared
for a few moments, that her heart would leap clear out of her chest.
Even now, as she felt her racing pulse slowly return to normal, she
marveled at what they had just shared. "That was..." She struggled for
words, "...truly amazing. I never expected...I had no idea..."
Much to her embarrassment, she found herself suddenly weeping. For
no reason.
Seeing it, Keane felt his heart stop. "Ah, Briana. Now look what I've
done." Alarmed, he shifted himself above her and started to roll aside.
"Forgi
ve me, my lady. I'm so sorry...."
"Nay. That isn't why I'm weeping." She laid a hand on his cheek. "It
isn't you. It's us. And this wonderful thing we did."
"You think it...was wonderful?" The vise that had begun to crush his
chest disappeared. He felt his heart begin to beat once more.
She nodded. "It's like nothing I've ever known. It was...breathtaking.
Is it always that way between a man and woman?"
"Not always. But it can be so beautiful, when there's love between
them." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, her cheek, the tip of her
nose, before rolling to one side and drawing her into the curve of his
arms.
As she snuggled close, he thought how perfectly she fit. As though
made for him alone.
She touched a hand to the mat of dark hair at his chest. ' 'When were
you going to admit your feelings for me?"
He frowned, shivering at the feelings that pulsed through him at her
simple touch. "Never."
' 'Never?' She sat up, brushing aside the tumble of red curls that
spilled over into her eyes. "But you just told me that you'd long
wanted me."
"Aye. It's the truth." He reached up, letting his hand play with her
hair. It was deceptively soft. Like her. "But I felt honor-bound to keep
my feelings secret."
"How long have you wanted me?"
Though he kept a straight face, his voice was tinged with laughter.
"The truth?"
She nodded.
He tugged on a curl, then wrapped it around his finger. "Since that
first night, when I watched you fighting for every breath. I knew you
were a brave little scrapper, Briana. And though at the time I thought
you were a woman pledged to the church, I can't deny it. I wanted
you."
She seemed clearly delighted with his admission. "The jaded, worldly
lord of the manor wanted a sheltered woman of the church. You
probably hated yourself for your thoughts."
"Aye." He seemed distracted by the silken texture of her hair as his
fingers played with the strands. "It seemed just one more in the long
list of sins for which I'll probably do penance for eternity. But this
was one temptation I was not about to give in to."
"Then I'm glad I told that little lie." As the words slipped out, she
clapped a hand over her mouth. But it was too late.
His hand stilled its movements. "What little lie?"
When she didn't respond, he caught her by the chin and forced her to
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