He growled low in his throat.
He leaned back, his eyes on hers, and reached for the closure of his trousers, the slight tremble in his hands easing any lingering doubts.
Then his cock sprang free.
Brighid couldn’t help but stare. Wyatt didn’t move, didn’t rush her, and she found herself curious. She reached out and touched him, trailing a finger down the length of his member, amazed at the heat and silky texture.
He hissed between his teeth, and she jerked away. Instead of letting her escape, he quickly grabbed her wrists. “Do that again.”
Pure lust darkened his eyes to a warm gray. Emboldened by his request, she wrapped her hand around his cock, marveling at the smooth hardness. She watched his reaction, noticing him tense in pleasure when she tightened her hold. Then she did it again.
He grabbed her wrist to halt her. “Enough. You can explore me later to your heart’s content…when I have more control. Right now, I want you too much.”
Her stomach pitched wildly at his confession. She gave him one more caress that made him inhale sharply before she relented.
Wyatt lifted her and pulled her close. The tip of him nudged her intimately, and she arched as wicked sensations bombarded her. The movement sent him deeper into her core, and her breath caught at the fullness. He flexed inside her, slowly letting her adjust. Brighid didn’t want slow, she wanted his out-of-control passion. She rocked against him until he was fully seated, ignoring his hiss of protest. The invasion was uncomfortable for a few seconds, and he distracted her by taking the tip of her breast into his mouth.
She gasped as desire thickened in her veins. Each time he flexed his hips, pleasure shot higher and higher. He was relentless, pushed her higher, until she went soaring. He grabbed her hips, moving in her so deeply she felt him swell and shout his release.
For the first time since he backed her against the tree, the fragrances of the greenery and flowers flowed over her, the scurrying and twitters of spring brought her back to her surrounds.
Wyatt kissed her temple, shocked by his actions. When he first saw her sitting on the bench, he was lured by her beauty. Dark red hair cascaded about her, a slight breeze tugging at the curls as if inviting him closer. He had to touch her. But one touch had led to another. Before he understood it, he was under her skirts.
He should feel ashamed for taking advantage and stealing her virginity in such a way, but all he felt was contentment.
She was his wife, and no one could refute it now.
And she had not objected.
Not once.
A fierce satisfaction surged through him.
It erased the last bit of guilt he harbored for taking her choices away, and he hugged her close, startled to feel himself harden inside her.
He wanted her again.
He lifted her off his lap and closed his trousers. He wouldn’t rut on her like a beast. She needed rest, she had to be sore. All he wanted to do was strip her bare, take her to bed and show her all the ways a man could love a woman.
The near irresistible impulse shocked him. He’d never reacted so quickly or so completely to anyone else. He cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably, wanting to speak but was afraid to ruin the accord between them.
“Wyatt? Brighid?” Beth’s voice carried in the garden.
Brighid jumped like a scalded cat, scrambling to button her dress, and Wyatt waved her off. “Go. I’ll distract her.”
Her eyes softened, as if she would speak, and he felt his heart thump in anticipation, sure she was about to tell him that she loved him. The click of the cane stopped her short, and she fled with a small, pleased smile that made him harden all over again. Wyatt stifled his disappointment and inhaled deeply, willing his arousal away, thanking God his mother hadn’t appeared even a minute earlier.
Chapter 23
Brighid dashed into the house without a backward glance, her face hot at the thought of being caught making love in public. She fled down the hall as if the Inquisition chased her, the warm glow of their lovemaking bringing a blush to her face, and she couldn’t help smiling at the way he lost control.
Over her.
A loud crash echoed in the house.
She recognized the sound of trouble, she’d caused enough of it in her life to know firsthand. Turning the corner, she saw pieces of what was once a full suit of armor littering the hallway, the trail ending in a large pile with Paul in the middle.
A smile tugged at her heart, and she leaned over to tweak his nose. “Couldn’t resist peeking inside, could you?”
He scrubbed the tears on his cheek and pointed at her.
“You want me to fix it with magic?” Brighid swallowed hard and struggled against the impulse to run.
He nodded enthusiastically and clapped. Hundreds of pieces seemed to multiply even as she watched. She would never be able to put it together by hand.
Indecision made her stomach churn. She couldn’t pretend her magic wasn’t an important part of her life anymore.
It was time to stop hiding.
She drew Paul a few feet away. “You cannot move from this spot. Do you understand?”
He nodded enthusiastically, and Brighid ruffled his hair. The power answered eagerly, as if waiting for her summons. Heat prickled along her feet as her gifts swelled. Every hair on her body stood to attention.
Wind burst through the corridor. The pieces vibrated and clanked while they began to re-form. She closed her eyes to focus on the picture in her mind. In less than a minute, the world fell silent as her power left her.
She cracked opened her eyes, afraid to find out what new disaster would strike.
The suit of armor stood at attention.
Brighid studied each detail, searched every angle.
Everything seemed…perfect.
“It worked.” She couldn’t prevent a large, pleased smile from forming. She flexed her hands to remove the lingering ache, and grunted when she felt a pinch of pain. A glance at her palm made her gasp. Seared in the center was her own personal rune.
She touched the Celtic knot in awe, lightly tracing the ridged lines.
It signaled her training was complete.
She was now a full Druid master.
She curled her fingers over the symbol in a protective gesture, finally understanding what her mother had been trying to teach her. Her gifts were a part of her, not something she could hide or separate herself from. She had always assumed her powers refused to accept her completely and had searched in vain for answers, when she had them all along.
“We should leave before the noise draws anyone’s attention.”
Paul nodded as the magic lady walked away but continued to stare at the suit of armor.
Metal screeched when the helmet turned, following the lady as she disappeared around the corner. Paul jumped and sprinted after her as fast as his legs could carry him.
Brighid opened the door to her room, more than ready to rest, a blush stealing into her cheeks as she recalled her wanton behavior with Wyatt. A shiver skated down her spine, tearing her away from her pleasant thoughts. It was a familiar sensation she had many times in the past. She released the knob and turned, looking both ways in the hall but saw nothing.
The feeling continued to grow.
Someone was watching her.
Then she understood.
She whirled. In two large steps, she stood before a scenic picture of Scotland that hung across from her very own room. Smoke curled out from the chimney’s cottage.
She leaned closer and felt a bit foolish as she whispered to the painting. “Wyatt?”
A curtain fluttered in the window, then the door opened, and a miniature Wyatt strode out onto the stoop.
“You have to go back to your own painting.” She infused power into her words, trying to make it a command.
Wyatt shook his head and rocked back on his heels. He blew her a kiss, waved and sauntered back inside, shutting the door behind him.
She
snorted in exasperation.
Some master.
Tracking the miniature Wyatt was a complete nuisance, but she couldn’t help being charmed by his antics. She glanced both ways down the hall, then unhooked the paining and hurried to her room. She couldn’t afford questions. It was crucial that she be allowed to stay and protect Wyatt and his family.
She placed it next to the other two paintings he’d been known to inhabit when raised voices caught her attention.
Wyatt.
She gave a guilty start, convinced she’d been caught in the act. When she peered out the door, the hall was empty.
Curiosity drew her down the stairs, and she found herself hovering outside the study, uncertain whether she was ready to see Wyatt again so soon. Not until she could sort out her feelings. She almost turned away when the argument grew heated. Unable to help herself, she crept forward and pressed her ear against the door.
“We will only get one chance to do this right.”
“You’re right.” Aaron kept his voice calm but firm. “Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to punish you. He’s determined to destroy what you hold most dear. Dangling yourself out there will gain us nothing. There is only one person he will go after, and you know it.”
“I won’t allow Brighid to be used as bait.”
Little cracks spread over her heart when things clicked into place.
The ball wasn’t for the purpose of proudly introducing her as his wife, it was to set a trap. Proof that though he might want to protect her, he didn’t love her. Raw hurt tightened her throat. While the logical side of her applauded the plan, a little bit of her heart crumbled at the deception.
And be damned if she still didn’t want to protect him.
Not willing to examine her feelings further, she straightened, pushed open the door and strode into the room. Everyone fell silent and turned toward her. She met Wyatt’s gaze squarely and lifted her chin. “I volunteer.”
“Volunteer for what, love?” Wyatt smiled and walked toward her, his arms outstretched as if to gather her close.
Brighid quickly sidestepped. One touch and she would forget everything but the way he made her feel. She needed a clear head if she wanted to discover what she actually meant to him.
“I’ll be your bait.”
His face hardened, and his arm dropped to his side. “No. Absolutely not. I forbid it.”
A small muscle twitched in his jaw, and her heart lurched in hope that she meant more to him than a helpless female he felt obligated to protect.
Aaron sensibly kept quiet and settled himself next to Beth to watch the show. Brighid studied Wyatt as his gray-green eyes changed to pure, icy gray as he gazed at her, turning him into the cold and impersonal lord of the manor. She swallowed hard, imagining everything that had happened between them had been a cruel act, and she lashed out, wanting him to react in some way. “It makes sense. The man wants revenge against you. Isn’t the whole point for the fair to draw him out? Who better than your wife?”
“No.” Wyatt marched forward until they stood nose to nose. “I will not put you in danger.”
Another sting of hurt slashed through her. He didn’t even bother to deny that the ball had been a sham.
He must have sensed her slipping away and grabbed her arms as if to shake her. “Don’t you understand? This is our best chance to catch him. You’ll finally be safe.”
“The best chance?” Her smile wasn’t at all nice, but she was too shattered to care. “No, the best chance is to use me. Isn’t that what you want? For your life to go back to normal, the way it was before you ever met me? I’m already a target. It makes more sense that I play the part.”
“No. You are my wife. Mine to protect.” He emphasized each word by crowding closer until he loomed over her.
She searched for even the smallest sign that he cared, but she couldn’t penetrate the wall he’d erected between them. “Fine,” she said. “Set your trap. Let’s see if he goes after me while you’re busy elsewhere.”
Wyatt dropped his hands away, as if he couldn’t bear to touch her any longer, roughly raking the fingers of both hands through his hair. If she had to sacrifice herself to save him, she would do it in a heartbeat. She was more than capable of taking care of herself. Sensing him cracking, Brighid ruthlessly shoved home her point. “Wouldn’t you be able to keep me safe better with a plan in place and you there to protect me?”
Wyatt clenched his jaw and refused to speak.
Beth broke the stalemate. “I don’t want her in danger any more than you, but she has a point.”
“It could work.” Aaron spoke blandly and took a sip of his drink.
Wyatt growled and advanced on his friend, looking ready to trounce him. “She’s my wife. You’re asking me to risk her life.”
“It’s the last thing I would suggest…normally, but she’s a target whether you want to admit it or not.” Aaron stood and didn’t back down. “It’s our best chance to keep her safe and catch the killer before he actually makes good his threat.”
Wyatt clenched his fists, not even bothering to acknowledge her as he stormed out of the room. The dismissal smarted, but his violent reaction to putting her at risk told her one thing.
He cared.
At least a little.
It gave her an opening.
If she wanted a life with him, if she wanted his love, she’d have to fight for it.
Silence lengthened until Beth spoke. “That went well.”
Aaron snorted. “He’s angry because he knows we’re right. I don’t envy him his choices. I’d best go after him and keep him out of trouble.” With a nod, Aaron left at a more relaxed pace.
“Did you find Wyatt’s double?”
Completely exasperated, Brighid flopped down in the vacated chair. “Yes, but he refused to leave. He is living in the cottage…ah, the painting in the hall opposite my room.”
“It seems neither version of my son can stay away from you.”
Brighid blushed and traced the partially healed burn on her palm. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Why don’t you ring for tea while we wait for the men to return? We can finish discussing the plans for the fair.” Her voice gentled. “He’ll come to see reason. He cares for you.”
Brighid didn’t know what to think anymore. Everything had become so muddled since Wyatt forced himself into her life.
Despite her best intentions, she was falling in love with her husband.
What would happen when he discovered the whole truth about her past?
Chapter 24
“Wyatt, wait!” At Angelica’s hail, Wyatt hunched his shoulders and stifled a groan, but obediently slowed Crusader to allow the infuriating woman to catch up. His impatience transferred to the horse, and the beast sidestepped.
They rode side by side for a while before she spoke. “How are you?”
Wyatt studied her. Her light blue riding habit matched her eyes. In the sunlight, her hair shone like a halo around her head. He tried to imagine being married to a biddable girl like her.
He’d be bored out of his mind within a week. “Married life suits me.”
A scowl crossed her pretty face. “She’s tricked you into marriage. She’ll never make you happy. You can stop the license, and we—”
“I’m happily married.” Wyatt reiterated through clenched teeth, completely exasperated as he drew his horse to a stop. “I will never set her aside.”
“You don’t mean that.” Angelica pulled up alongside him and placed her hand on his arm.
Wyatt flinched at the touch and immediately pulled away. “Don’t.”
“She’s turned you against me.” A snarl curled her lips. “I knew she wouldn’t keep her word.”
An ugly suspicion brewed in the back of his mind. “You were the one who locked her in the church.”
Angelica bit her lip, but quickly laughed it off. “It was a silly prank.”
“It was no longer a prank when you refuse to rel
ease her. It wasn’t a prank when you hid the keys then refused to come forward and admit your fault.” Wyatt clenched the reins to keep from lunging for the woman’s throat. He wasn’t as forgiving as Brighid. Had he known, he would have tossed her out of his house that night.
She narrowed her eyes, the calculation in them chilling. “I was trying to protect you.”
“Don’t lie. You were trying to eliminate what you perceived as competition. Unfortunately, you forgot to take one small thing into consideration.” He ran a hand over his head in exasperation. “We would never suit. You’re like a sister to me.”
“You don’t mean that.” Tears pooled in her eyes, revealing honest emotions for the first time.
Compassion for the young girl he once knew stirred in him, but he carefully maintained his distance, not willing to be pulled into her shenanigans again. “You don’t love me. You love the idea of marrying me. After five years trapped in the country, you’d come to hate me.
“But we could live in town—”
“I’ve spent enough time away from home. I’m ready to raise a family and settle down to a mundane country life.”
Her blank stare revealed her incomprehension.
“No balls. No crowds. No shopping. Just family.”
Her nose wrinkled. “But town has so much more to offer.”
Wyatt shook his head. “Not for me. All I want is at Graystone Manor.”
Her shoulders slumped. “Because of her.”
Wyatt smiled at the thought of his wife and having her all to himself. “Yes.”
She recoiled at his brisk words and played with her reins for a minute. “I should be heading back.”
Wyatt knew she wanted him to protest. She batted her lashes, casting him a soulful glance, which he pretended not to see. It made him appreciate Brighid’s subtle allure and guilelessness all the more. When he didn’t fall at her feet like some lovesick calf, Angelica sawed on the reins, wheeled her horse around, and took off in a snit.
Druid Surrender (A Druid Quest Novel Book 1) Page 25
