Nicolette felt her cheeks grow warm, and he laughed again.
"Just one tiny kiss, Goddess," his deep, husky voice rumbled. His finger traced her lips, leisurely lowering his head, his gaze never leaving hers. A feathery touch caressed the softness, as he teased her for a moment. Then he kissed her deeply until she opened her mouth, tenderly brushing her tongue with his in an ancient ritual of love.
She could not find the strength to combat the desire she felt. As her resistance decreased, his caress intensified, plundering her lips, until she reveled in his touch and her tongue tentatively brushed his full lush lips.
His hand moved around her waist drawing her to him. Nicolette broke away momentarily, "Jamie, I cannot resist you."
Jamie laughed a low seductive sound, "Then why try, lass?"
He relentlessly sought her lips again, and once more, she felt as if she were drowning in a sea of desire. The strange passion she felt each time he touched her returned in force, and intensified with every caress. Butterflies were rampant in the pit of her stomach, and the now familiar, insatiable craving exploded into a thousand tiny sparkles of pleasure. Liquid fire flowed through her. Nicolette realized that Jamie had been right from the very beginning. She did not fear him. No, she feared herself. The uncontrollable passion she felt terrified her as nothing she had ever experienced.
Suddenly Nicolette panicked. If she did not run from him now she would be forever lost. Lost to herself and to the promise she made to her father. She could not resist his touch, and if it continued she would not wish him to stop, for the feelings were far too wonderful. Soon she would be pleading for him to do things that she had only imagined. She ran her hand along the ground and found a rock, after all it had worked before, perhaps it would again. Her arm swung upward toward his head.
Jamie grabbed her arm in mid-air, "So my little barbarian, once more you try to kill me." He spoke quietly but his anger was unmistakable. His hand tightened about her wrist until she thought it would break, and the rock fell.
"I did not wish to kill you. I only meant to escape!"
"Escape?" his voice echoed through the trees like a roar. "I told you to give way. I will have you, Nicolette. There is no other choice. Will you never understand? The next time you try such deception there will be retribution. I allow no one to defy me."
"I dare to disobey you and I am not afraid! I refuse to marry you. You cannot force me."
"Can I not?"
His voice was a mere whisper, "Vixen!" He pulled her wrists over her head and held them with one of his as he loomed over her.
"Voyeur!" She struggled uselessly against his strength.
"You are magnificent when you fight me," his lips brushed hers lightly. "You will be mine, body and soul. You are mine already." His lips sought hers, moving lightly back and forth, softly stirring, "Do you not you feel it? There has been something between us since the day we met that is far too powerful to be denied. Almost, like a charge of lightening that strikes the heart." Jamie held her hands to the ground and half covered her body with his. He kissed her again, his lips caressing hers, his tongue tracing the outline of her lips, and Nicolette shuddered.
"You see, lass, it is useless to fight. Your spirit may wish it but your body does not." He smiled. "Again I ask, why did you run from the music room?" Then his voice lowered to a husky whisper, "Why did you run today? It could have cost you your life when you were thrown. Is it so important?"
Jamie’s gaze never left hers, and she wondered if he could see her very thoughts.
"I did not hide and in the music room you were far to..." suddenly she feared speaking. How could she tell him what she only just now had admitted to herself?
"Tell me, why did you run today? What do you fear, Nicolette?" His hand moved to cup her chin. "Is this what frightens you so greatly?"
His thumb moved to caress her lower lip, and she shivered. "I fear nothing. I swear it!" her voice quivered with emotion.
Jamie’s head lowered slowly toward hers. Nicolette’s struggle ceased. She held her breath and gave way to the inevitable onslaught on her senses. His kiss was punishing, harsh and demanding, forcing her head down into the soft grass.
Slowly his kiss changed, becoming gentle as his hand stroked her face. Then his fingertips moved downward. His seductive determination weakened her resolve with every touch and she allowed the delicious warmth to spread to through her limbs.
"Now it is you who sings the siren’s song," her whisper tortured, as his body played a primitive melody that she could not resist. Her inhibitions slowly dissolved, and delicious sensations shook her, fueling her desire far beyond her control.
When his fingers moved slowly down the length of her neck, Nicolette gasped from sheer pleasure. He freed her hands, and one of hers moved to his chest for a slight caress. She wrapped her fingers around the back of his neck to pull him even closer, then trailed down to his shoulders, lightly caressing a large scar, lingering for a moment before moving back.
Jamie raised his head, gazed into her eyes, and she felt bereft, empty from the loss of his kiss. More than anything she had ever wanted before, she wanted his caress to continue.
Nicolette could see a reflection of her own desire in the blue fire of his eyes. She took a deep breath, awed by the feelings the sight provoked.
"Now tell me lass, why did you run from me? Is it because of this?" his lips brushed hers.
She shook her head slowly back and forth.
"Or this?"
His lips moved to hers once more then nibbled her neck. His fingers deftly opened one button of her jacket, then the next, as his lips moved to the pulse at the base of her throat.
Nicolette wanted to deny her response, but became lost in the delightful sensations of his caress. His fingers touched her bare skin, moving slowly back and forth beneath the collar of her jacket. Shivers ran up and down her arms, "Oh...no..."
"No? Do you really mean no? Do you think to deny the passion we feel? Don’t you really mean yes?"
He waited a moment, "Answer me, my love. The tiny sounds you make are driving me wild. Never have I felt such desire."
Nicolette smiled at his words and watched as his gaze drifted from hers, to her lips, then lower to her breasts. She found it exciting, tempting her to complete abandon, as if he added kindling to the raging fires burning within.
She was beyond the limits of what she could endure. Yet, Jamie waited patiently for her reply. Suddenly Nicolette put her hand behind his head and drew him downward. "Please." She did not understand completely, but she wanted something more. She refused to allow the delicious feelings to cease.
His kiss was more passionate than anything she had ever experienced, ravishing her lips, then each ear, and slowly moving down her neck.
She heard herself gasp. He stopped and she felt a keen disappointment, until his lips moved to the other side and the pleasure began again.
"Please what, my Goddess?"
His mouth once more moved to her lips, teasing her, before his hand moved lower to her abdomen. He rolled her toward him, and for a moment he caressed her derriere, then his hand slid to her waist to the ties of her riding skirt.
Suddenly Nicolette gasped. Her eyes flew open, as she realized where the passion seemed to lead. "Please Jamie, you must stop!" she pushed against him.
He laughed but his hand remained on her waist, "Tell me my beautiful Goddess, why did you run?" When she did not reply his hand moved a little lower. His voice was a husky whisper, "Yes, I think I need you to say it. I wish to hear it."
Nicolette squirmed, trying to move her body away from him, "You are a savage! You think to torture me!"
"I am convinced that you enjoy barbarians, and this is such sweet torment. Tell me if I’m wrong." He gave her a charming smile as his hand inched lower.
"I will tell you why, if you will remove your hand."
"Very well," his hand moved upward, slowly over her abdomen. "You are so very beautiful, no man could ask for
more." His head dipped once more to her lips, "Your skin is like white velvet, so soft and tempting."
Nicolette tried to wiggle away, "Will you remove your hand?" Suddenly, his head moved downward. She could not determine the greatest threat, his mouth at her neck or his hand at her abdomen.
Jamie’s deep, whisper soft voice continued his assault, "Will you answer my question?"
"All right!" she could no longer resist his touch, or him, and with the hope of a reprieve answered. "The night in the music room and even yesterday you frightened me. I am afraid of what you do to me. Today, I simply did not want to face you, so I chose to run."
Nicolette grasped his hand to keep it from moving lower.
"I frightened you then and this does not? You must explain yourself."
Nicolette could see the surprise written on his face and hear it in his voice.
"It terrified me. I was beginning to...trust you, to..."
"To what?"
His whisper tickled her ear. When Nicolette hesitated, Jamie moved his hand upward once more and cupped her chin, then gazed deep into her eyes.
"Tell me. I want to hear you say it."
The unmistakable command in his voice and the piercing look in his eyes told her he would accept nothing less than the truth.
Nicolette sighed, "I will do anything, just stop!"
Jamie smiled.
"I am afraid that I will fall in love with you and I cannot!" her gaze moved back into the bottomless blue depths of his. "Don’t you see? I thought you were only a fantasy, someone I had dreamed of all of my life, but you are not an illusion." Nicolette took a deep breath, "I do not trust my feelings. You are everything I ever wanted and yet I cannot marry you. I will not neglect my obligations, nor leave my home, or Laurent!"
Jamie kissed her ever so gently, "And you my Goddess are everything I ever hoped for, or dreamed of, and one day I will win your love so completely that you will accept our marriage. Aye, even follow me to the ends of the earth."
He was silent a moment, then began to draw intricate circles in the velvet covering her abdomen, "There is something that you have not considered. If you truly love your brother then give him the gift of peace. He is worried for you, and wants you to be safe, to be cared for and treasured. He knew that I could fulfill those hopes, and that I would protect you from harm. You are his main concern, but there is no question that he cares for the people who live here as well," he sighed. "Nicolette, he is here to take care of them. It is his duty, not yours."
She put her hands on his chest and tried to push him away. Her eyes filled with tears, "You refuse to listen!"
"No, I understand and even sympathize, but I do agree with Laurent. You need a protector. You and I will suit very well. I have decided to have you lass, you and no other. Nothing will stand in my way, not a promise to your father, not your fear."
"And I have decided not to have you!"
Jamie laughed again then leaned over and kissed her. "Have you?" his deep voice rumbled.
A moment later his kiss intensified, rekindling her desire. Nicolette felt herself once more slipping into the raging, passionate desire for the unknown so she pulled away, "You must stop, I can no longer control what happens to me at your touch."
Jamie whispered, "Exactly." The deep blue orbs sparkled wickedly, "And when will you learn not to command the Laird of the MacQueen’s?"
His lips lowered slowly to hers. Her mouth opened and his tongue plunged within to mate with her own. His hand moved languidly downward, and shivers moved like a river over her arms as she clung to him. She abandoned herself to the passion of the moment, completely lost to any world except theirs. Distantly Nicolette heard Jamie sigh.
Her hand moved to his back, gently touching the myriad of scars, caressing them as her fingertips stroked, trailing downward to the top of his belt. Finally, she opened her eyes, "Mon Dieu, what have they done to you?"
"My back? It is nothing, something that when I am with you is forgotten, and healed."
"And what have you done to me?"
A slightly wistful smile lit his features, "You see my darling, there is something very special between us, and I have so much yet to teach you. Give over! Admit that you want me, that you already love me." Jamie’s gaze swept over her, his deep voice a whisper, "This is a moment that I shall never forget. You’re as beautiful as any Goddess. The woods, the stream, the birds above, the perfection of this day, and of you."
She smiled. His words were so lovely that she felt no embarrassment, "You truly make me feel like a Goddess."
"God’s teeth, how I want you, yet I must fight my desire to have you. I care too deeply to take you any other way except in marriage."
Nicolette took his hand, kissing his palm, "I will treasure your words, always. I too, will never forget this moment."
Jamie’s eyebrow rose and she could see the question in his gaze.
"You must know that I fight my desire for you as well. Today I have lost that battle. I never realized the possibility of wanting someone as much as I want you. I must be very wicked." she looked up, but found his eyes wandering over her body once more and she flushed to the tips of her toes. She tried to re-button her jacket herself, but he held her hands.
"Jamie, tell me of your back, of the scars."
He kissed her fingertips, "No lass, why ruin a beautiful morning?" His hand moved slowly upward for one final butterfly touch.
"I would have you always thus," he laughed. "I want you for my own, sweet Goddess. I will fight for your hand in marriage every day for the rest of my life if need be, and how delightful it will be. Do not forget for one moment this is a war that I intend to win."
Nicolette smiled. "I wish I could allow you that victory, today more than any other, yet I must keep my promise."
Jamie stood and held out his hand to help her rise. When she accepted, he pulled her to him again, "Whether you wish to acknowledge it or not, for you and I it is our destiny to be bound together forever. You will be my wife. I desire your love, Goddess, but I will have you without it." He hesitated, his commanding demeanor unmistakable, "One last thing, I will not fail your brother in my vow. Never forget that!" Then he kissed her again.
"How could you possibly wish to force me into marriage?" a single tear slid down her cheek. If she married him she would lose all that she wished to hold, and if she refused she would lose everything she had ever dreamed of for the future.
Jamie wiped the tear away with the back of his finger, "Would it truly be force? After all, a part of you longs for our union."
Nicolette broke away as the truth of what he said suddenly confused her. She grew angry and turned to leave, only to find that impossible as her ankle gave way.
Jamie whisked her into his arms before she fell. "Why did you not say something, lass?"
"I forgot...the pain disappeared," she looked up to see him smiling. "I had other things on my mind!"
Jamie’s booming laughter rang out. He put her down on a fallen log. "Well let’s take a look." He carefully removed her boot, "Beautiful ankles too, I see! The bargain gets better and better." After a moment he stood, "I believe nothing is broken, but you will have to spend a few days in bed. I’m afraid it looks like a bad sprain."
Nicolette smiled, It would be a relief to stay safely tucked away in her room. "If you say so, of course," she laughed when his eyes grew round.
"You are going to obey me?" he grinned. "Finally, you learn your place."
"My place?" She asked then laughed again, for he had much to learn.
Soon they were ready, and he lifted her into the saddle. Gigi followed docilely behind. Reveling in his strength, she leaned back, and closed her eyes enjoying the feeling of being cared for and protected. Yet she realized that she would soon be lost to him, to his touch, and everything about him. He is the man I have dreamed of, and yet I will never again know a love such as this if I marry Philippe! She sighed.
"Tonight at dinner I will ask Laurent to formall
y announce our betrothal, and have the banns read."
Nicolette closed her eyes as regret washed through her, "I have agreed to nothing, and what happened today will not change the fact that I am betrothed to another."
"I will not allow you to marry de Berges," Jamie’s harsh voice rose loudly. "You are betrothed to me, and remember I enjoy persuading you. I would be more than happy to spend every waking hour in pursuit of my goal. We can ride every day, finding delightful little glades in which to dally, dine every evening, walk in the garden in the moonlight, and spend every moment in between together. I shall change your mind."
"I can withstand the onslaught of battle with you."
"Indeed?" Jamie smiled.
His deep voice sent shivers down her back. She didn’t reply, because in truth she knew she could resist him no longer. She loved the feel of his rippling muscles against her arms, and looked back to see his handsome profile. She wondered how long she could fight her own wanton thoughts. Her body felt like molten lava every moment when he was near.
"You are very good at persuasion, but I will resist you."
Jamie’s infectious laughter rang out, and Nicolette smiled. She was beginning to enjoy their battles because they always had such delicious endings.
~ * ~
Jamie entered the library, poured himself a brandy, walked to the window then crumpled Nicolette’s letter to Philippe in his fist.
"God’s teeth." he whispered when he thought of her stubbornness. He didn’t want to force her into to this marriage, yet how could he convince her to change her mind? Jamie grinned. He had already won her body, but now that was not good enough, now he wanted her soul. Anger suddenly erupted when he thought of the man she wanted to marry.
"That pompous ass. If he thinks I will allow him to take her from me he will have quite a surprise."
"And what are you grumbling about?"
Jamie jumped. He hadn’t realized that he was not alone.
Laurent smiled then walked to the sideboard and poured himself a brandy, "What pompous ass?"
"Philippe de Berges."
"Philippe? What has he to do with any of this?"
"Remember? A few days ago I said I needed to know more about the man? Now I think you should know why, but you must give me your word that you will not speak of this to Nicolette."
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