Echoes of Magic

by Donna Grant

  Adrianna lay still for several more moments before she rose and reached for her bag. She pulled out some dried leaves and had just set them aside when the chamber door opened and Grayson walked in.

  “I hope this is enough.”

  She accepted the cup and nodded. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

  “I’m going to see to the horses. Do you need anything before I go?”

  “Nay.”

  Only after he departed did Adrianna drop the leaves into the hot water. While the heat steeped the leaves, she set aside the cup and closed her eyes as she began to chant the spell to keep the evil from her.

  She was nearly done when she thought of Grayson and quickly added him into the chant as well. Precautions were precautions, and with Nigel they needed every weapon they had, even if one of those weapons was magic.

  When she opened her eyes, Grayson had his back against the wall watching her.

  “I never heard you enter.”

  “I was quiet,” he replied. “What were you doing?”

  She reached for the cup. “Casting an ancient spell. Does that bother you?”

  “Not at all.” He grinned and pushed off the wall to stand before her. “What did you do exactly? I don’t recognize the language.”

  She swallowed the bitter drink. “Just as with our origins, the name of the language has been lost to us. As for what I did, I was protecting us against the evil.”

  “How is that possible?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know if it is. The evil makes me ill, which is what the herbs and magic will combat.”

  He lifted a black brow. “But it doesn’t make me sick. I don’t sense it as you do.”

  “Nay, but it may aid you in other ways. In truth, I cannot guarantee that it’ll do anything for you at all, but I thought it worth a try.”

  “Thank you,” he said and pulled a strand of her hair through his fingers. “Will you be all right by yourself?”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Scout the area. I want a view of the castle before tomorrow.”

  Adrianna gripped the cup between her hands and rose to her feet. “Is that wise?”

  “I’ll be fine. I’ll return in time for supper. You have my word.”

  She watched him go, apprehension snaking down her spine.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Grayson paused in the small grove of trees and waited. It was only a few hours’ ride from the village to Hawksbridge castle at a walk, but he didn’t have that kind of time. His mount had been ready to stretch his legs as much as Grayson had been ready to feel the wind on his face. Now, as he stared at the castle, he understood what it was Adrianna felt.

  An evil, dark and pure, surrounded Hawksbridge. He remembered the castle alive with people and bright with laughter. There was nothing left of the castle he had known as a child.

  He longed for a closer view of the battlements and thick stone wall that surrounded the castle but didn’t dare ride closer. Even from a distance he could see the men patrolling the battlements, walking from tower to tower.

  Were they expecting someone? Someone they wanted no part of? He smiled. It was too bad he didn’t have an army at his disposal for he could make quick work of the men.

  Grayson narrowed his gaze as the massive gate was lifted and two knights rode from the castle. He knew them instantly. Had they discovered their dead comrades? If so, it wouldn’t take them long to find him.

  He and Adrianna had just enough time to get into Hawksbridge and discover what information they could before the men returned. Though he was willing to fight them again, he didn’t want Drina anywhere near them.

  With a flick of the reins, he turned his mount around and headed back to the village.

  * * * * *

  Adrianna finished brushing her hair and doused all but one of the candles. Their supper had already been brought to the chamber and laid out for them, though she had other things in mind first.

  After Grayson had left, Adrianna had come to the conclusion that she was a fool, for only a fool would allow someone as handsome and good as he to slip through her fingers because of a curse.

  She still feared the curse, but she refused to let it rule her life anymore. She might die of heartache, but she would enjoy Grayson while she had him.

  He should arrive any moment. She knew she was making the right decision, but that didn’t stop the nervousness from making her body tremble.

  * * * * *

  Grayson took a different route, deciding to stay off the main road. He had expected the worst, but found none of Nigel’s men anywhere near the village, which was odd. Were he a lord of a castle and expected trouble, the village would be the first place he put some of his men.

  He stabled his horse and returned to the inn, wanting only a good night’s sleep. It wouldn’t happen, not with Drina in the same room as he, yet he hadn’t been disappointed to learn they only had the one. It gave him the excuse he needed to spend more time with her.

  His steps quickened when he reached the stairs. He stepped inside their chamber to find only one candle lit. After he bolted the door, he turned toward the bed and halted.

  “Was your afternoon productive?”

  Unable to find his voice, Grayson nodded. He couldn’t take his eyes off the exquisite site before him.

  Adrianna stood beside the bed, her golden hair cascading to her hips and a blanket wrapped around her. His balls tightened instantly when glimpsed her bare leg in the opening of the blanket.

  She slowly walked toward him, her gaze locked with his. Grayson didn’t dare move for fear she would turn away from him.

  She stopped and lowered her gaze. “I fear the morrow.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you expect not to return.” Her gaze returned to him. “I cannot ignore what I feel for you anymore. It isn’t fair to me, nor you.”

  Grayson’s breath left him in a whoosh as she dropped the blanket, revealing her stunning body. He’d dreamed of looking his fill at her. His eyes devoured her firm, plump breasts. Her pink nipples hardened beneath his gaze making his cock jump in anticipation. He peeled his eyes from her breasts and glimpsed her trim waist, her lean legs, and the golden curls that hid her sex from him.

  As much as he wanted her, hungered for her, he couldn’t allow her to do this. He closed the distance between them and cupped her face.

  “You have no idea how much I want you.”

  Instantly, her finger covered his lips. “Don’t tell me you don’t want me because of the curse. Tomorrow may be all we have. I’m not going to live with regret.”

  “And the heartache?” he asked after he moved her hand. “You’ve already lost one man and a child. You told me how that devastated you.”

  “It’s nothing compared to what I feel when I’m with you. For the first time in my entire life, I feel alive. You’ve done that for me.”

  Only a village idiot would turn away from someone like her. “Are you sure?”

  She smiled, her face glowing with happiness. “I’ve never been surer of anything.”

  It was all Grayson needed to hear. He pulled her against him and slanted his mouth over hers. He wanted more than just a quick taste this time. This time, he wanted it all.

  He sunk his hands into the silky strands of her hair as he slipped his tongue past her lips. The first touch of their tongues was like lightning through his body. His rod strained for release, eager to feel her hot, wet sex.

  His hands roamed over her back, cupping her bottom to bring her against his aching cock. She moaned, sending him over the edge. The need was too great. He wanted to go slow with her, to bring her to orgasm before he took her, but he couldn’t wait. He had to have her.

  He broke the kiss to jerk off his tunic. Her soft hands joined his as they removed his boots and wrenched his breeches down. A giggle escaped her as he jumped on one leg to keep from falling, and soon both erupted in laughter.

  Grayson gave a final kick to his breeches t
hat sent them flying across them chamber. He pulled her against him, skin on skin, as their smiles faded to be replaced by desire once more.

  “By the saints, Drina.”

  “I know,” she whispered as she rose up on her toes to kiss him.

  Adrianna sighed in contentment when he yanked her against his hard chest. She couldn’t get enough of his hard muscles bunching and shifting beneath her hands. She didn’t realize he had moved them to the bed until he smiled down at her and tossed her onto the bed.

  A small gasp tore from her throat but died quickly when she got to look her leisure at Grayson. He was a superb specimen with just the right combination of strength and power to make Adrianna weak in the knees.

  He grinned and lifted one black brow. “Find something you like?”

  “Most definitely.”

  She lay back as he crawled over her, his long black hair falling over his shoulder. Her heart thudded in her chest as excitement coursed through her veins. This was one decision she wasn’t going to regret.

  All thought fled as he captured her mouth, devouring her in his desire. Adrianna gripped his arms as he shifted and cupped her breasts. She moaned, arching her back. He tweaked her nipple before thumbing the tiny nub into a hard peak.

  Her need coiled within her, growing with each touch. His mouth left hers to trail down her neck and between her breasts. He settled his body between her legs and cupped her breasts. Hunger burned in his silver depths as he leaned down and flicked his tongue over one nipple. Adrianna gasped, silently begging for more.

  His mouth closed over one nipple while his hot tongue laved the tiny bud. Desire spiked through her to settle in her sex. She ground her hips against him, seeking release from the building pressure.

  Only he gave her none as he shifted to her other nipple. Adrianna cried out from the exquisite torture. And then his tongue left a hot trail down her stomach to lick her naval before nipping at her hipbones.

  She watched him, wondering what he would do to her next. When his fingers slipped through her damp curls to caress her sensitive sex, she moaned and raised her hips to his hand.

  Then his mouth was on her.

  Adrianna cried out, the pleasure too intense. The orgasm built rapidly, and then...she shattered.

  Grayson continued to lick her as Adrianna’s body convulsed with her climax. Her soft cries only spurred him on to give her more pleasure. When he could stand it no more, he raised over her, his cock sliding against her slick sex. She sighed and reached for him to guide him into her sheath.

  He closed his eyes as he entered her. She was hot, wet and incredibly tight. When he was buried to the root, he looked down at her. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And for tonight, she was his.

  She shifted beneath him, wringing a moan from him. And then he began to move, thrusting into her with a mounting tempo that had a fine sheen of sweat covering both of them. His orgasm could be held off no longer. He threw back his head and gave in to his release, spilling his seed.

  He pulled out of her and fell to the side. Then he brought her against him so that her head rested on his chest. He stared at the canopy, amazed to find it had been the best coupling he’d ever experienced.

  “Thank you,” Adrianna said and turned his head to kiss him.

  He grinned. “I’m the one who should be thanking you. What a gift you gave me.”

  “I shouldn’t have denied us this long.”

  “Are you having regrets?”

  She shook her head. “Never. This felt...right, Grayson. I don’t know how to explain it, other than once you touched me, I knew this was meant to be.”

  “I should have pulled out of you.”

  She rose up on her elbow and shook her head at him. “Stop. Please. If there’s a child, I’ll thank you and God for the bairn and raise it as best I can. We cannot deny our fate, regardless of how much we try.”

  Her words made him realize that he needed to take precautions. He couldn’t leave her without something. If he wasn’t there to take care of her and their babe, then he knew someone who would.

  “If something happens to me, go to Wolfglynn. Drogan and Serena will see to you and the babe.”

  Adrianna sighed and lowered herself once more on his chest. “Grayson, everything will be fine. Besides, I can take care of myself.”

  “I’ve no doubt, but I thought you might like to be around two more of your kind if there is a child. Serena’s babe is just over a year old now.”

  Her hand stroked in chest in leisurely circles. “It is something to consider.”

  “I need to know that if something happens, you’ll be all right. There are the gypsies as well.”

  “Nay. Though the life was fine for me, I would want to raise my child in a home, not a cart. Besides, you’re assuming you got me with child already. You don’t know that for sure.”

  She might not be carrying his child now, but after one taste of her, he had to have more. If he couldn’t keep his hands off her, he would have to control himself and make sure he didn’t spill his seed inside her.

  Because his hunger hadn’t lessened, if he didn’t do something, she would most certainly end up with child.

  Their child.

  A strange sensation filled Grayson. The thought of seeing Drina’s belly swell with their child made him long for a family for the first time in his life.

  Chapter Twenty

  Grayson woke a few hours later, amazed he had slept without even a hint of his normal nightmares. Adrianna slumbered on his chest, her soft body snuggled against his. Instantly, his cock roared to life, and all thought of sleep vanished.

  He gently rolled Adrianna to her back and smiled as her head turned away from him, her lips parted. She was so stunningly beautiful he could look at her all day and never tire. With a small movement of his hand, he tugged the blanket down. A pink nipple, already hard, peeked out from beneath the covers. Soon, the other nipple was bared. Unable to stop the surge of lust that rose up in him, Grayson pulled the blanket off her.

  She sighed and tried to turn on her side, but he held her still. His hands moved up and down her legs, spreading them wider so he could feast his gaze on her sex hidden by her golden curls. He parted her curls and caressed her sex before sliding a finger into her heat. A smile pulled at his lips when she moaned in her sleep.

  His finger pushed farther into her, stroking her slowly until her hips began to move. Only then did he allow his thumb to find her pearl and began to move over it back and forth. Her chest began to rise and fall quickly, her fingers digging into the mattress. A breathy moan passed through her lips, sending a shot of desire straight to his rod. The overwhelming hunger to slide into her wet heat was too much. He had wanted to wake her slowly, but the lust wouldn’t be held back.

  Grayson added a second finger to the first as he continued to stroke her. He leaned forward and clamped his lips over a pert nipple and suckled it deep into his mouth. Adrianna gasped, her arms coming around his neck. Her body stiffened, letting him know she was close to peaking.

  He lightly grazed her nipple with his teeth before he rose over her. Her eyes were open, showing him the raw desire that matched his own.

  No words were needed.

  He flipped her onto her stomach and raised her to her hands and knees. His hands fondled her luscious bottom before he filled her.

  Long waves of her golden hair cascaded over her to puddle on the bed. She looked over her shoulder at him, sending him a sexy smile.

  It snapped his control.

  Grayson gripped her hips and plunged into her. She was slick, and her deep, satisfied moan made his balls tighten. He began to move with short, slow thrusts, her groans turning to soft cries of pleasure.

  Adrianna closed her eyes as the delicious yearning only increased with each stroke of Grayson’s rod. His teasing of her body only made her want him more and, after waking to find him caressing her, her need was growing with each beat of her heart.

  She bega
n to move her hips against him, forcing him deeper until he increased his rhythm. His long, fast thrusts left her mindless with desire. Suddenly, his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her still as he pumped into her with a ferocity that could have frightened her if he hadn’t excited her.

  “Drina,” he moaned.

  That was all it took to make her peak. She screamed, fingers fisting into the blanket as waves upon waves of bliss rolled over her. Yet, Grayson continued to thrust, prolonging her orgasm until she was so weak she could barely hold herself up.

  His teeth nipped her shoulder in a love bite a heartbeat before he withdrew from her, and he threw back his head as he pulled out of her. As Adrianna felt his seed spill onto her back, she couldn’t help but regret that he hadn’t stayed inside her. She didn’t want to be left with a baby alone, but the thought of having Grayson’s child filled her with a warmth she couldn’t explain.

  She smiled at Grayson after he wiped her clean. Adrianna lifted the blanket and waited for him to join her once more. They lay on their sides facing each other.

  “I have to admit I’ve never been woken so wonderfully before.”

  He chuckled. “I couldn’t help myself. I woke and felt your body against me, and mine demanded another taste of you.”

  “You can have as much as you want.”

  Though she wouldn’t tell him, Adrianna had plans of her own when it came to Grayson. He’d stroked and caressed her body to his contentment. It was her turn. She wanted to know every inch of his luscious body.

  “I can?” he asked with a wicked grin.

  Unable to help herself, she caressed his jaw littered with a day’s growth of whiskers. She wasn’t sure if it was Grayson’s need to discover what happened to his mother or the loneliness she saw in his silver eyes that shattered her heart the most.

  “We are a pair, aren’t we?” she asked softly. “You’re searching for answers and ready to face death while I’m getting through life one day at a time. Neither of us is truly living.”