by Amy Tolnitch
“He is stubborn,” Piers said. “Consumed by duty. And too serious and judgmental.”
“Not exactly a list of favorable qualities,” Laila commented.
“But also passionate, deeply emotional, and terribly lonely,” Piers finished. “My brother hides himself well.”
Laila sighed. “He does not think Amice is good enough for him.”
Piers gave her a keen look. “Nay, it is the opposite. He fears he is not worthy of her.”
“Foolish boy,” Gifford muttered. “Should lock them both in a chamber until they talk about their past and resolve things.”
“Not a bad idea, Uncle. What think you, Laila?”
“I can guess one thing that would happen in those circumstances.”
Gifford took a drink and chuckled. “Mayhap that is the way to bring them together.”
“Perhaps the past is too much of an obstacle to overcome,” Laila mused.
“Do you know what happened?”
“Some.”
Piers lifted a brow.
“I swore to Amice that I would not speak of it. But I will tell you this. When Cain left her to marry Luce, it nearly destroyed her. And she is not the kind of woman who forgives easily.”
“Damn.”
“I must go. Amice and I are going to confront Muriel this eve, if we can.”
Gifford’s gaze brightened. “When?
“At dusk.”
“In the east tower again?” Gifford’s enthusiasm was apparent.
Laila laughed. “Aye, but in another chamber at the base. ‘Tis hidden.”
“A hidden chamber?”
“Where Muriel and Gerard met.” Laila giggled. “Have Cain show you Gerard’s drawings. Quite impressive.”
Gifford just blinked. “I pray this time you succeed in getting rid of that damned wraith.”
“We shall see.” Laila turned to go.
Gifford picked up a chunk of pink crystal and smashed it into bits.
Amice woke to a banging on the door. She rubbed her eyes and walked over to open it.
Cain stood in the doorway.
She wrapped cool reserve around herself. “What is it?”
“Will you show me the chamber you found? I have looked but I cannot locate it.”
It was a reasonable request. “Aye.” Amice drew on her shoes and followed Cain down the steps and across the bailey toward the east tower. Amice blinked when they entered the tower. “How odd.”
“What?”
“When we left, the door was open.” She pointed to the wall hanging. “Now, ‘tis back the way it was.”
Cain glanced around. “Meddlesome ghosts.” He took the wall hanging down, and Amice moved to press on the stone.
The door slowly swung open, and Amice followed Cain down into the chamber. As she stepped into the room, it hit her again, the utter joy and peace emitted by the place, as if the stones themselves had absorbed the emotions of the people within.
“I cannot believe no one ever found this chamber,” Cain murmured as he walked around.
“No one probably looked.”
Idly, Cain picked up an embroidered pillow and lifted it to his nose. He stiffened and said, “Lavender.”
Amice felt a chill roll down her spine. The same scent she wore.
Cain’s eyes locked with hers, and all at once the chamber became too small and far too hot. He dropped the pillow back onto the fur-covered pallet.
To Amice, it all seemed to happen slowly, as if she watched from within a heavy, languorous fog. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed a flash of movement. She stepped forward, intent on escaping the chamber.
The door was closed.
She pushed on it and nothing happened. Amice laid her forehead against the stone. “We are trapped.”
Cain moved beside her. “Let me try.” He pushed and shoved against the door to no avail. “Damned ghost,” he swore.
“I do not understand why Muriel would do this.”
With a frown, Cain shook his head. “Nor I. The last thing she appears to want is for you and I to be together.” He turned to stare at Amice.
And just like that, hunger slammed through her blood like thunder.
Amice’s mouth went dry.
“I suppose you are no longer betrothed.”
Amice gulped. “Nay, I suppose not.”
Cain’s eyes glittered like sapphires in a blazing fire. “There is no way out of here until Muriel tires of her game.”
“Nay,” Amice whispered.
“I want you,” Cain said, his face tense. He fisted his hands. “I do not want to, but there it is.”
“Cain—”
“I want to be inside you. I need to be inside you.” He moved forward and wrapped his hands around her waist. His whole body felt like a coil of energy ready to explode.
Amice could not move. “I—”
“Let me come inside you.” His voice was low and his eyes gleamed with dark knowledge.
“Nay,” she choked out.
His fingers tightened on her waist and his expression turned to torment. “Your being here is burning me alive. I cannot sleep for dreams of you,” he haltingly admitted.
“We should not.”
“True enough, but I am past caring.” He pulled her full against him. “Feel me. Feel how much I want you.”
Amice closed her eyes. She did feel him, a hard lance of heat against her belly. Her body convulsed deep inside, wet with wanting.
“Let me in, Amice.”
She licked her lips and opened her eyes to gaze into his. His ocean eyes had always undone her. She put her hands on his shoulders and pulled his head down for a kiss.
God, how she loved kissing him, loved the feel of his firm lips, the taste of him like the richest wine. She could kiss him forever just like this.
But it was not enough. Never enough.
In what seemed like too long a time, they finally shed their clothes and lay atop the furs. Cain leaned up on one elbow and looked down at her. “God, you are beautiful.”
“As are you.” Amice reached up and trailed her fingertips down his cheek.
Cain took her hand and kissed each finger, then her palm.
Amice’s heart hitched in her chest.
He kissed his way down her arm, across her shoulder and grazed her neck.
Then he moved lower and all Amice could do was to curl her hands into fists and hold on as he kissed, licked and sucked his way over her body. He moved leisurely, in an almost worshipful, slow exploration of her skin, as if he were committing her to memory. With every kiss, her body rippled in response. She thought she might go mad with the waiting.
And then he finally stroked her where her body burned, rubbing his thumb in slow, fluid circles against her. Amice arched into his hand as her body flooded with sharp pleasure. Again and again he coaxed her with gentle strokes, spreading molten fire into her veins. Amice writhed against his warm fingers, silently pleading with him to end her torment.
When he slid a finger into her, she came up off the furs and cried out. Desire rolled in waves through her blood.
“Cain,” she cried.
So quickly she could barely react, Cain raised her hips and plunged deep into her body.
What blessed relief. Amice met his thrusts, arching up off the bed and clinging to his shoulders. How she loved him inside her, his thick length filling her, completing her.
“Oh, God, yes,” she moaned.
She gazed into his eyes, deep blue with passion, and tightened around him.
He let out a groan.
“I am only alive when you are inside me,” Amice whispered.
With that, Cain froze for a moment, then slowed his thrusts. He drew back and slid his hands beneath her buttocks, lifting her up onto his sinewy thighs. Amice glanced down to where their bodies joined and stared, transfixed.
Slowly, Cain pushed deep, then withdrew, again and again and again.
The sight of it sent a jagged bolt of cravi
ng straight to her center, and Amice felt herself begin to come apart. Helplessly, she gazed up at him but there was no mercy in his piercing eyes.
“Cain, please,” she gasped, teetering on the edge, her body desperate for release.
He only gazed at her intently and said, “Nay,” through gritted teeth.
Amice whimpered. Her legs trembled and turned to melted butter, shaking uncontrollably and falling open in silent supplication Cain let out a low hiss of satisfaction. A drop of sweat ran down his face. “Amice.”
She reached for him.
He swore a curse and slid into her inch by agonizing inch until he was in deep, then stopped.
“I never want this to end,” he rasped.
Tears burned the backs of Amice’s eyes. She drew his head down and kissed him, telling him with her body what she could not say in words.
With that, Cain took her hands and changed the pace, finally giving Amice what she so desperately needed, driving into her faster and faster until it seemed he was always there, sending her into a spiraling wave of desire.
The intensity of her release shocked her. Amice screamed as it ripped through her body and clenched around Cain’s sex, convulsing in harsh, rapid beats.
He roared her name and filled her with wet warmth.
When they finally found the energy to try the door, it was open.
After his appalling loss of control with Amice, Cain hid himself in his solar and pretended to go over Nyle’s records. What had possessed him to take her like that? It was as if she had cast a spell on him. When Amice was near, his will turned to water. Boiling water.
He tapped the quill against the table and frowned at the listing of supplies and costs. Maybe he should just accept Muriel’s presence and ship Amice back to Wareham with ownership of Villa Delphino. At least he would not continue to make a fool of himself.
The door swung open and Piers ambled in. He took one look at Cain and stopped short. His eyes grew wide and his mouth dropped open.
“What?” Cain snapped.
“You were right.”
“About what?”
“This place is going mad. ‘Tis most aggrieving.” Piers took a stool.
Cain rubbed the back of his neck. “What in Hades are you talking about?”
His brother gave him a discerning stare. “Sex.”
Oh, Lord. Cain looked down at himself and briefly closed his eyes in dismay. His tunic was on backwards.
“Aye, ‘tis madness, indeed.”
“Am I to assume you spoke to Agatha and that huge Scot she has apparently taken a liking to?”
Piers laughed and slapped his knee. “By God, I never thought I would see the day when our dour sister found a mate. And Lugh MacKeir. Hah!”
“You should have seen them coming out of the bathhouse,” Cain said with a grin. “I have never seen such a look on Agatha’s face.”
“Amazing. And then, I venture to the stable to check on Pagan’s leg splints and find our fair cousin and one of the grooms making so much noise even the horses were riled up.”
“Morganna was in the stable?”
“Aye. She was so busy screaming, ‘Faster, faster,’ she did not even know I was there.” Piers shook his head. “Damned fine set of tits, though.”
Cain frowned. “She put some kind of drug in my wine the other night and tried to get me to bed her.”
Piers blinked. “What kind of drug?”
“I do not know. Morganna claimed not to know either.”
“Where did she get it?”
Cain shook his head. “I did not wait to ask. I needed to get her out of my chamber fast.”
“Oh.”
“Aye. Whatever it was, I was hard as iron and damned near desperate enough to take even Morganna.”
“I shall have to ask her about that.” Piers raised his eyebrows. “Might be a useful substance to have around.”
Cain rolled his eyes. “Best make sure you have an energetic companion.”
“Which brings me to you.”
“Piers.”
His brother waved a hand. “’Tis not my affair, I know, but Cain,” he fixed him with a serious look, “what in the hell are you doing with Amice?”
For a moment, Cain just stared at Piers. “A fair question. The problem is I have no idea.”
“What do you mean?”
“I feel… great desire for her, I cannot deny that.”
“Desire?”
“Lust. Powerful, undeniable, uncontrollable lust.” Cain shifted uncomfortably on his chair.
“A woman who can make you lose control is admirable, indeed.”
Cain scowled.
“Is that all?”
Cain’s scowl deepened. “I do not know.”
“He who lies to himself shall never know his true soul.”
Instead of responding to Pier’s ridiculous statement, Cain pushed the box across the table toward him. “Amice and Laila found this in a secret chamber in the east tower.”
Piers took the box and opened it. He stared for a moment, then raised gleaming eyes to Cain. “’Tis a treasure.”
“Aye. But Amice is of the opinion I should bury it with Muriel, who owned it.”
“Bury this? Nay.”
“I agree.”
Piers took out the necklace and laid it on the table. “What kind of secret chamber?”
Cain tossed the roll of parchment at his brother. “This may even give you an idea or two.”
The expression on his brother’s face was so comical Cain had to laugh.
“Damn.” Piers looked at the drawings one by one, tilting his head this way and that. “Done that. That one too. Definitely that one.” Then he stopped and looked at Cain with a grin. “Inventive man, our ancestor.”
“Aye. And very handsome, do you not agree?”
“Not bad.” Piers shook his head. “I suppose now we know why Muriel hates you so much. You look just like the man who rejected her.” He peered at Cain over the drawings. “This eve, Amice is going to try to reach Muriel.”
“Piers, this is not entertainment, for God’s sake.”
His brother just grinned at him. “Cain, will you at least try not to be so damn sober. After all, I am the one who has not lain with a woman for a fortnight.”
“Why not? Are you ill?”
Piers chuckled and shook his head. “Have not had a taste for it. Strange.” He stood and stopped at the door. “You know, that gives me an idea.”
“What now?”
“Well, you claim that the Lady Amice could not be true to you, aye?”
Cain stiffened, his mind suddenly flooded with images. Images of what had just occurred between Amice and him. Then, images of her body entwined with another, faceless man. He gritted his teeth. “Nay.”
“Why not put it to the test?” Piers’s tone was light but he watched Cain carefully.
“What are you blathering about?”
Piers shrugged. “I have enjoyed a certain amount of success with women.”
Cain stood and walked toward his brother. Sudden anger bubbled up inside him. As he neared Piers, his brother gave him a smug smile.
“Mayhap I should try my hand at seducing the fair Lady Amice. ‘Twill not be hard duty. I can tell that beneath her bliaut she possesses a lush body, full breasts, long legs. And her mouth—”
Cain punched him so hard Piers went flying into the wall. Stunned at his action, Cain stared down at him.
Piers was laughing. “Simply lust?”
Cain glowered at him. “You shall not aim your sights on Amice.”
“I like her,” Piers said, his laughter fading in an instant. He stood back up and crossed his arms. “I think you delude yourself about her failings.”
“Stay. Away. From. Amice.” Cain fisted his hands.
“Why, Cain? Why?”
She is mine, he wanted to bellow, but he swallowed the words.
“Why, Cain?” Piers asked again softly. He smoothed down his tunic. “As y
ou so oft point out, I have few responsibilities. I could accompany her to Villa Delphino, see to her welfare. Her comfort.”
Cain bared his teeth. “You are taunting me. You have no intentions toward Amice.”
“Mayhap not. Or,” Piers shot Cain a challenging look, “mayhap I see the treasure my brother refuses to.” He winked and sprang out of the chamber before Cain could reply.
Piers is just trying to provoke me, Cain told himself.
The saints save me, he thought. ’Tis working.
Cain was drawing on a new tunic to wear for supper when he felt cold air brush his face. He snapped a look toward the window but the shutters were closed.
Then he turned back and faced an older version of himself.
“Gerard Veuxfort, I presume,” he managed to say calmly.
“Aye.”
“Tell me there are no more of you lurking about.”
Gerard grinned. “Nay, just the two of us.”
Cain glanced around him. “Where is she?”
“In her usual place.”
“The east tower?”
Gerard nodded. “Never go there, myself.” He floated across the chamber and appeared to sit on a trunk and cross his legs.
“Why not?”
The spirit blinked. “Woman hates me. And for good reason.”
Cain rubbed the back of his neck. “Have you tried to explain why you did whatever you did? Ask her forgiveness?”
Gerard just looked at him and smiled. “Is it that easy?”
Damn these ghosts and their perceptiveness. “She is wreaking havoc with my life simply because I happen to resemble you.”
“And I am sorry for that.”
“Have you at least attempted to talk to her?”
“Oh, yes. For the first ten or so years, I was too embarrassed, too filled with guilt to even think about it. Later, I tried, but every time I approached her, she cursed me and I ended up in some strange, dark place for a long while.”
Cain swallowed. “What kind of place?”
“The kind I do not wish to return to. Ever.”
“So you gave up.”
“Aye.” He straightened and came close to Cain. “Now, I hide from her. But you know all about that yourself.”
“I have responsibilities,” Cain bit out. “When Father died, Falcon’s Craig was on the edge of ruin. The King’s amercement would have taken everything from us if I had not married well and brought the estate back into profit.”
