He smiled down at her. "You'll never have to find out," he promised. Playfully he used his hands to spread her fiery hair in a brilliant fan around her head.
Devon lifted off the blanket, eagerly rubbing her breasts against his chest. Their lips found each other in a searing kiss that burned white heat into his loins.
"Make me yours," she gasped.
Liam's scorching kisses traveled down over her breasts, teasing, suckling, hardening the tender tips in an erotic flaming passion. His mouth dropped lower, igniting the heart of her womanhood while his hands caressed her thighs. She tossed breathlessly under his intimate caress.
"Liam," she breathed. "Let me pleasure you."
With passion-glazed eyes, he stopped his sweet torture and rose up on his knees between her legs. Devon began own explorations. He moaned when she sat up and tasted the hardness of his member.
She felt him shaking with need and eased back onto the floor. With a deep thrust, he was inside her moving in the throbbing rhythm of the ages. Every rolling motion brought her closer to the brink of fulfillment. In one final ecstatic spasm, his body became part of hers—paradise in a burst of brilliant sensation. She was his.
They snuggled by the fire, cozily intertwined until Liam noticed Devon drifting into a light slumber. He eased from her side and lifted her gently, carrying her to the bed and dropping the curtain when he climbed in beside her. She rolled close to his chest and he pulled the blankets over them. Liam smiled and held her.
***
Elspeth washed the blood off her quivering flesh. Tossing a sheet over Garyth, she dragged him over to the bed and shoved his body under it. She let the heavy coverlet fall to the floor and conceal his presence. Grabbing a rag, she mopped the blood off the floor. Satisfied with the state of the room, she pulled on her clothes.
What was left? The answer came to her through the tunnel of dark memories. Devon, who had discovered they were sisters and never protected her from Fenella—Devon, who had hidden under a veil and a lie while Elspeth played whore to Bryce and his friends.
Malcolm had cared for her mother. He told her this very night. When he found out she was his daughter, he would embrace her and make her miserable life tolerable. With Devon dead, Malcolm might leave his estate to her, but then there was Liam. How much did he know?
Elspeth had tried to kill him twice and failed. Did he remember? Was there a way to make Devon appear responsible for all this?
Elspeth's mind was a muddle. Opening the door to the chamber, she peered both ways, and then stepped out into the hall. The castle was as quiet as a silent tomb. Her footsteps echoed when she made her way to the secret passage. She pushed the lever and the hidden door creaked open. A cold draft threatened to extinguish her candle, but she cupped her hand around it. The air grew still when she closed the door behind her. Reaching down she checked to make sure the dirk was in her waistband.
***
Devon tossed restlessly in the grip of the past, finally awakening with bitter visions troubling her. She gazed down at her sleeping husband and brushed his dark hair from his face. This was one walk she needed to take alone. She leaned over and kissed him ever so softly, then carefully eased out of the bed. Her clothes lay in a pile by the hearth. Stooping down, she picked them up and began dressing.
***
The secret door to the small room off the master's chamber opened with a clicking sound. Elspeth paused. Someone was moving around in the other room. Tiptoeing to the door, she opened it a crack and saw Devon standing by the fire donning her clothes. Elspeth glanced at the bed. Liam was still asleep. What was her sister up to?
Finished dressing, Devon snatched her plaid and wrapped it around her. She took one last look at her husband and left the room.
Elspeth bit her lip in indecision. Liam groaned and turned over, his back now facing the door. Creeping across the room, Elspeth followed Devon out the door, catching a glimpse of her at the end of the hall when she went toward the burned out wing. As Elspeth rounded the corner, the door to the portrait gallery was closing. She moved to stand beside the door and listened for sounds from within.
***
Devon's heart was pounding when she walked toward the doors at the far end of the room. She prayed for courage to face this final hurdle, to free herself forever from Frazer's grip. She had to know what happened that night and the only way was to try to remember. There was no doubt in her mind where she could do that—the room.
Gripping the doorknobs, she opened the doors to the burnt out wing. A chill swept over her when she took her first step forward. She stopped in momentary indecision. It would be easy to run back, to snuggle close to Liam and try to pretend that night a year ago had never happened. No, the way to be free was to know and there was no time like the present. Gathering all her courage, she proceeded down the hallway. Her hand shook when she opened the door to the room and stepped inside.
All the breath sucked from her body. She clung to the wall gasping for air and trying to control her jangled nerves. Closing her eyes, she slumped to the floor, tears streaking her face. The vivid memories of the scene—Frazer brutalizing Elspeth, began to flash before her. Suddenly she was there, the whole grizzly scene playing out in her mind.
***
With a deep sigh, Liam reached across the bed in search of his wife. Dimly it registered. He was alone. He forced his eyes open and glanced around the room. Where was she? The curtain was open and he was sure he had closed it when he brought Devon to bed. Jumping up, he hurriedly grabbed his clothes and jerked them on.
Every door in the place was ajar. He had no idea which way to go. Had someone gone through the secret passage? The thought froze his heart. Choosing the main hallway, he took the stairs two at a time, racing to Garyth's room.
Liam rapped softly at the closed door, listening for any sounds within, and then flung the door open. The room appeared empty. In frustration, he was turning to leave when his foot hit something wet and sticky on the floor. Lighting a candle from the dying embers in the hearth, he bent to examine it.
The red river flowing from under the bed left little doubt what he would find. Flinging back the blanket, he saw Garyth. A blood-soaked sheet covered his head and shoulders.
"Bloody hell!" He told Garyth to be careful. A terrible fear overtook Liam. He fled the room and headed for the charred ruin that held the key to all this misery. He had to find Devon and he was sure she was there. The change in her since her ordeal with Bryce told him so.
***
Devon was startled back to reality when the door pushed open. "Elspeth, what are you doing here?"
The girl stood in the doorway staring at Devon for a full minute before she responded. "Good evening, Sister. Coming back to the scene of the crime?"
Devon rose to her feet and stood looking Elspeth in the eye. "Tell me what happened that night. I remember only bits and pieces."
"That's convenient," Elspeth replied. "But you didna seem surprised when I called you sister."
Drawing in her breath, Devon sought to explain. "I remembered when Bryce forced me to try to relive that night, and now I know you are my sister. God, what you must think of me. Did you believe I hid the fact from my father to keep you from the family?" Tears filled Devon's eyes. "Please forgive me. My fragile mind wouldn't allow me to recall anything until recently."
"Lying bitch," Elspeth raged. "You knew and didna care. You watched and didna help! I hate you!"
"I swear, it wasn't like that," Devon sobbed.
"You were the one who set the fire," Elspeth accused. "You killed 'im, not me!"
"Oh," Devon gasped, tears springing fresh as a crystal clear picture of Frazer's death presented itself.
The knife flashed when Elspeth buried it to the hilt in Frazer's chest. He fell backward, hitting his head on the hearth. His body was still, blood seeping from his nose and mouth as well as his gaping wound. Elspeth knelt over him, stabbing him repeatedly while Devon tried to pull her away. They rolled ac
ross the floor, sobbing hysterically and clinging to each other in the aftermath of their ordeal.
Devon remembered calming Elspeth, then helping the girl dress. "What will we do?" Elspeth had sobbed.
It came to Devon then, like a perfect ending to the horror of her marriage. Frazer should burn for his sins, burn as she hoped he would burn in hell. She grabbed the candle and set his clothes on fire, backing toward the door while she watched the material begin to flame.
Frazer's body flinched, it seemed like he was reaching out for her—the flames consuming him.
Elspeth had run from the room in horror, but Devon stood transfixed by what she had done. She thought he was dead when she caught him on fire. Was he alive?
The fire raced across the floor toward her, catching her nightgown on fire, and still she could not move. She heard a voice calling her. It was Bryce.
He came through the doorway and grabbed her by the wrist, dragging her from the room while he tried to put out her gown. When she no longer flamed, Bryce pushed her further into the hallway and raced back to see if he could save his brother. Garyth and Archie had found her then, and hurried her to safety.
Devon ran her hand over the red scar on the back of her neck. Bryce saved her even though he knew what she had done to his brother. He saved her and never spoke to anyone about it. No wonder he was so sure she was guilty. She let out a tremulous sigh, turning her attention to Elspeth, who had silently watched her while the nightmare unfolded.
"Why didn't you tell them I killed him?" Devon asked.
"He was dead when I stabbed 'im," Elspeth said softly.
"But I saw him move."
"I do not know which of us finished 'im off, but he sure as hell deserved what he got." Elspeth studied Devon, fingering the knife in her waistband, and then frowned. "You really did not know what happened that night till jus' now did you?"
Devon shook her head. "No," she said quietly. "Did you kill Fenella?"
"I did it all," Elspeth boasted. "It's the thing I'm best at."
Devon placed her arm around Elspeth's shoulders. "It wasn't your fault anymore than it was mine," she said in sudden realization. "Frazer was a madman. It took Liam to show me that."
"Laird Liam is a fine gentleman," Elspeth said wistfully.
"You stabbed him too?"
Elspeth nodded. "You had everythin'. He wouldna take me fer 'is mistress. He wanted you—they all wanted you. I was just the piece of meat on their table while they waited to be with you." Elspeth looked at Devon. "I hated you for it."
Liam burst through the door and Elspeth whirled away from Devon's sheltering arm.
"Elspeth, wait!" Devon cried, but the girl snatched the knife from her waist and brandished it when Liam came toward her. "Liam, don't hurt her."
"She's the one," Liam said. "Devon, she killed Garyth."
"No!" Devon sobbed.
Liam spun around to grab Devon and Elspeth brushed past him. Devon took Liam's hand. "We have to stop her!"
They ran after the fleeing girl, racing up the steps toward the north tower until they came to the small lookout on the top.
"Don't come any closer," Elspeth warned.
"Elspeth, let us help you," Devon pleaded.
"A dungeon cell, I don’t think so," the girl retorted. With one flying leap, she hurled herself into the air, catapulting downward until she hit the frozen ground with a sickening thud.
Liam and Devon rushed to the edge and gazed down at her poor, broken body. "She never had a chance," Devon murmured.
"I know," Liam said, holding his wife to his chest in a soft embrace.
Epilogue
"It's no use," Asilinn told Devon. "He won't leave."
Liam leaned closer to his wife and mopped the tiny beads of sweat off her brow. "I'm staying until our child is born."
Devon looked up at him, her fear showing in her eyes. "Are you so sure the baby will be all right?" she asked in a frantic whisper.
"Yes," he reassured, glancing at Asilinn to get his own bit of confidence.
Devon screamed as another contraction racked her body. Liam felt as if his heart would burst from seeing her in pain.
"Breathe Devon," Asilinn directed. "It won't be much longer.
The pain eased temporarily and Devon's head fell back on her pillow in exhaustion, but her rest was short lived. Another deeper pain swept over her.
She heard Asilinn yelling at her to push. Bearing down, she could feel the baby coming.
"One more time," Asilinn said.
With a final monumental effort, Devon forced the baby from her body, rising up to stare hopefully at Asilinn and Liam.
A cry rent the air as her daughter found her voice. Tears of joy streaked down her cheeks when Liam came to her with the tiny bundle.
"A healthy baby girl" Liam whispered, placing their red-haired daughter in her arms.
"I love you," Devon said. Liam smiled and kissed her.
###
Coming Soon
Dear Reader,
If you liked Liam and Devon’s story, try out ENCHANTED LOVER, and watch for more of my books. Go to https://www.facebook.com/ConnieCScharonAuthor to read some excerpts of upcoming releases.
EVIL SAVIOR is a suspense thriller with a medical twist. Convinced her vivid dream about her mother’s murder was a peek into the future. Sasha Valenska tries to unravel the truth about her mother’s death. Everyone around her believes her mother died from cancer, but some strange evidence at the scene suggests otherwise. The only person who seems to take Sasha seriously is the tall, dark stranger she hit with her car the night her mother died. Can she trust Devlin or is he the murderer?
FIRE ANGEL is another chapter or the MacLean saga. Spurned by the man she wants to marry, Skye MacLean runs farther from home than she ever anticipated. A near death experience sends her to meet the Archangel Gabriel, or so it seems. Is she in heaven, or has some wrinkle in time sent her into the future as her savior claims? She doesn’t know and when her angel follows her back to her own time, it only confounds the issue more.
VICTORIAN LACE is a paranormal adventure. Vintage clothier Nola Ryan tries on an antique wedding dress and catapults back in time to a murder scene. She seems to have become the 1890’s bride she knows hung for murdering her bridegroom on the night of their wedding. Accused of the murder, Nola struggles to prove her innocence and discover the truth about the century old murder.
BLOOD NEVER WASHES OUT is a taut thriller set against the backdrop of the drug trade. Shanghaied in Mexico, FBI agent Nick Mendenhall finds himself home two weeks later with no memory and missing a kidney. Against Bureau directives, he involves himself in the case of his missing organ while investigating a series of blatant murders ordered by his long-time nemesis, drug kingpin Cristos Silvano. Nick tracks down the mysterious woman who lured him into the trap and gets the surprise of his life.
Hope you enjoyed the read.
Connie
About the Author
Connie C. Scharon is a lifelong resident of Maryland. She is a graduate of Towson University and works in the medical field. Connie enjoys traveling and uses her medical background and the places she visits to enrich her writing.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
&n
bsp; Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
Coming Soon
About the Author
Connie C. Scharon - Highland Legends 02 Page 26
