“In exchange for what, Isabelle?”
She turned her head, escaping him as best as she could. “There is a woman, a lady in his mother’s court. He believes himself to be in love with her, but she is resistant to him. He rejected her many years ago and she still holds it against him. He is confused about his feelings for her as well. Though he loves her he does not think he is worthy of her. I try to give him some advice,” she told him.
In a rush, Faolan stepped back, his dark eyes wide with surprise.
Swallowing thickly, Isabelle met his gaze. She gently reached for him, stroking her fingers along the back of his hand. “I don’t care for Zorin like you think,” she whispered. He nodded, his dark eyes closing before she could get a better look at the water that pooled in them. “I care for you and only you in that way, never anyone else. I know it is not the same for you, but I wanted you to know.”
He breathed deeply and his eyes opened, his gaze locking on the wall behind her. “Never?” he asked again, his voice rough with emotion.
She shook her head no. “Only you.”
“Isabelle…I…If what you say is true, then I was a fool,” he nervously ran a hand through his hair. In an instant he took her in his arms. It was much too fast for her to anticipate his movements, but she soon found herself nestled against him, her body fitting easily against his. His hands stroked her hair and ran down her back, his fingers seeking all the soft places along her sides that they remembered.
“You were jealous,” she said, nuzzling his shoulder.
“Yes. But now…tomorrow…” his voice broke off into a miserable sigh.
“It’s for the best,” she told him. A soft smile played on her lips.
He reluctantly returned it for the briefest of moments.
“I’m human. We can’t change what we are, sire.”
“Faolan,” he breathed into her hair, pulling her even closer. “You are in my arms. Use my name.”
She nodded and breathed in deeply, letting his familiar scent warm her very core.
His fingers stroked along the curve of her hips. “Being pregnant changed you.”
She blushed prettily, instantly understanding his meaning. “Yes, I suppose it has. I’ve forgotten how long it’s been since you’ve held me like this.” She frowned down at herself before meeting his eyes. “The added curves must seem strange to you,” she said self-consciously.
He smiled at her. This time it was real, the first one she had seen on him in quite a while.
“May I see you, Isabelle?” he asked thickly, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Instead of answering him, she brought her mouth to his, her lips parted in an open invitation. He met her kiss softly before moving onto the bed with her.
He took his time undressing her, knowing that this would be the last time. The feel of his calloused fingertips and the warmth of his palms sent shivers through her. She allowed herself to forget the woman she was sure waited for him, the one he would be going back to in the morning. Perhaps she waited even now, sitting in Faolan’s bedchamber just as Isabelle had done once in what seemed like a lifetime ago. But in that instant, with Faolan in her arms, none of it mattered. For a few blissful hours they gave into their desires, reveling in their pleasure of each other on what they were both sure would be their last night together.
Chapter Seventeen
Isabelle?
Her eyes opened slowly and she saw Zorin crouched beside the window, his large black wings spread out behind him. She motioned to Faolan, still asleep next to her and he nodded. He would not wake him up as they left. Zorin turned around as she crept silently out of bed, quickly donning a light dress. She pulled a note from under her pillow, written the day before when she was sure that she would never see him again. And yet he had come to visit her in her last hours there. Her body still hummed for his and she felt more alive than she had in months. She looked at Faolan briefly before pressing the folded paper to her lips and placing it on the pillow next to him. She wiped her eyes before walking into Zorin’s outstretched arms, his gray wings stretched out far behind him and nearly blocking out the early morning sun.
“You spent the night with him,” Zorin said once they had landed on the ground and he had helped her into the waiting carriage. She listened for any trace of accusation in his morning rough voice, and finding none, turned away from him to press her face against the window.
“Yes, I did,” she replied, wiggling into the plush seat to get more comfortable.
“Why?” He sounded curious, like her brother might if he had found her wearing a particularly ugly dress one day.
She smiled sadly. “I wanted a moment for myself,” she replied as if that made all the sense in the world.
Zorin scowled but said nothing more as he shut the door. Moments later the carriage tilted as he climbed up to take the reins.
Isabelle closed her eyes and listened to the soft hoof beats of the horses as he urged them forward.
* * * *
Faolan woke with a wide smile over his face. He looked around, sure Isabelle was in the chamber somewhere. After checking the bath and not finding her, he frowned. He walked around the room, looking for any sign of where she might have run off to so early when Zorin’s scent was carried to him from the window on a light breeze. His nostrils flared angrily at the thought of the man ever coming near his Isabelle again. He turned back to the bed and began pulling on his clothes in order to go after Zorin when he caught sight of a folded piece of parchment on the pillow where Isabelle had slept. He sank onto the bed and, with trembling fingers, opened the letter, hot tears pooling in his eyes as he began to read.
Dearest Faolan,
I am sorry for leaving you like this. I wanted to tell you goodbye in person. Forgive me.
Take care of yourself. And your son. You will be fine. You are going to be a wonderful father to him. Of that I have no doubts.
I want you to find happiness and love. You deserve at least that much. If she makes you happy, then so be it. I know you’ll choose a good mother for your son.
You’ll always be in my thoughts and in my heart. I’ll keep the memories of our time together safe there.
Love Always,
Isabelle Falcone
About the Author
Caitlin was fortunate growing up to be surrounded by family and teachers that encouraged her love of reading. She has always been a voracious reader and that love of the written word easily morphed into a passion for writing. If she isn't writing, she can usually be found studying as she works toward her counseling degree. She comes from a military family and the men and women of the armed forces are close to her heart. She also enjoys gardening and horseback riding in the Colorado Rockies where she calls home with her wonderful fiancé and their dog. Her belief that there is no one true path to happily ever after runs deeply through all of her stories.
www.CaitlinRicci.com
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