by Nikki Landis
An hour later I was exhausted but smiling. I leaned back against a tree. Sweaty and breathless I removed the cloak and folded it over my arm.
“You did well. You are an apt pupil. I’m proud of you. You’re a natural,” Baylor praised and smiled. “Come with me.”
He took my hand and led me through a narrow path in the trees. We walked for several minutes until a lake appeared in the moonlight. My heart rate picked up. Did he intend to go skinny dipping with me? I bit my lower lip.
At my expression he laughed. “I need to cool off and I do not wish to offend you with the smell of the day’s labor clinging to me. It’s hot and we have been practicing hard all day. The water is nice and warm and will relax your muscles. Come join me if you want. There’s no obligation Rhiannon…”
He started to undress in front of me. His vest and his boots. Then his loose white dress shirt. When I caught sight of his wide muscular chest, glistening in the blue moonlight, I could hardly swallow. He was beautiful. Just enough dark hair to be attractive and those abs. Oh my.
His pants hit the floor next and I averted my gaze from the lean hips and strong muscular thighs that dominated my vision. Even clothed in a pair of boxer shorts he was attractive beyond what I could imagine. He was all man. Large, well built, and masculine in every way.
He waded into the water and I realized I missed my chance to undress at the same time as him and perhaps avoid his direct gaze. No longer an option I froze. I felt his eyes on me. With shaky fingers I undid the laces on the leather vest and set it aside. Then I kicked off the boots and shimmied out of the tight riding pants.
Standing in the shirt I debated whether or not to wear it into the water. What would he say? After a moment I pulled it over my head and folded it with my other clothes. Clad in only a bra and panties I walked to the edge of the water.
I took a deep breath and then I raised my eyes and met his hungry gaze. Baylor was looking at me like I was yummy enough to eat. There was a dangerous and determined look in his eye. He was the hunter and I was the prey. He had every intention of capturing me. The question was, what did he intend to do once he did?
My heart lurched into my throat.
Had the temperature outside increased?
I could walk away right now. Or I could swim in the water and see what happened. A small smile twitched the corners of my mouth. When he saw that he grinned wickedly. I threw caution to the wind and waded into the water, diving below the surface, and swimming for a long length before surfacing behind him.
I rose and cleared the water without a sound. In my youth I had belonged to a girl’s swimming team and in high school for two years I had competed. I was an excellent swimmer. I saw Baylor’s back in front of me. He was looking all around, his brow furrowed in concern.
“Boo!” I yelled.
He nearly drowned and sputtered on a gulp of water. I laughed. With a quickness I splashed him in the face and then plunged below the surface again. I kicked and swam across the lake and cleared the water directly across from him. This time I heard his laugh.
“Come here,” he ordered.
I shook my head.
“Then I’ll have to come to you.”
I smiled and sank below the surface again. When I breached the water this time he was across the other side from me. A slight look of frustration entered his face. I laughed again in delight.
“You know, the point was supposed to be to relax…but I am getting more of a workout. How is that?” I teased him.
He began to stalk his way toward me, closing the distance. “I’m not sure.”
“Uh, uh,” I admonished. “You’re being less than honest.”
His eyes darkened. I slipped below the surface again. I had passed right beneath him when he caught my foot. I kicked and released his grip and swam with wide strokes back to the water’s edge. He caught me before I could reach the sandy coarse soil of solid ground.
I was yanked back against his chest. He turned me around and slid his arms around the curves of my body, hugging me close. “Not this time.”
We floated in the shallow water, gently rippling waves making slow lazy circles around us. Under the moonlight his features softened. I expected him to try to kiss me like he did this afternoon but he did not. He cupped my cheek with his hand. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
I raised an eyebrow. “How many women have you seen? Or should I say…admired?”
He threw back his head and laughed heartily. “A gentlemen never tells.”
“Or never gets caught,” I observed.
He squeezed me tighter. “You are entirely too smart for your own good, you know that?”
I raised my chin. “I’m exactly what I am supposed to be.”
“Indeed you are,” he lowered us in the water and began to swim toward the shore. We made it to the embankment and he held me against his chest as he crawled up the shoreline. Our feet still dangled in the water.
He lay me back against the wet sand and lowered his body close to mine, between my legs, anchored in the middle of my thighs. He leaned on one elbow. His other hand brushed the wet hair out of my face and rested against the hollow of my neck.
“I’m not going to make love to you tonight. But know this, I will. One day in the future, when we are together, I will hold you close in the moonlight and I will make you mine,” his voice was husky and full of promise, “but tonight, right now, this moment, I want to feel your lips pressed to mine. I want to hold you close. And I want you to feel safe and secure because I am here and nothing will harm you.”
Tears filled my eyes. I had no idea what to say. All I knew was that I was falling for this man. I was becoming attached to him, in a wildly fierce and unbreakable way, and I was afraid of how deeply my heart was already afflicted.
“Bae,” I whispered as the tears fell down my cheeks.
“Do not cry my darling,” he rubbed my cheek affectionately with his thumb, “there is only joy in our future.”
He kissed me then, deep and passionate, long sweet kisses until I was dizzy. I felt his heat, his warmth, and an undeniable depth of emotion that, to be honest, was as close to love as you could possible get. I felt cherished. Desired. Needed. Wanted.
I pulled him closer against me. “Bae,” his name fell on my lips like a caress and I heard him sigh with happiness.
“I will never forget this last week, especially the last few days. I will hold the memories in my heart until I see you again,” he kissed me softly as he paused, “and I want you to keep them for me too, under lock and key, safely tucked away Rhiannon. Don’t let anyone take away what we have,” he placed his hand over my heart, “keep me close. Please.”
His voice broke and I wanted desperately to understand why he seemed so afraid, why his voice faltered, why he kept asking me not to forget him and these recent days we had spent together. Since that first moment I met him and he saved my life, everything had changed, in the space of only a few seconds, from the instant my eyes met his as the arrows zipped past my head.
“Won’t you tell me what is wrong?” I asked, searching his eyes.
“I don’t want to lose you,” he whispered, his head lowered to my neck before he raised it again, the naked emotion raw in his eyes and tangled together with a hint of fear, “never mind that. Don’t forget me my angel, please.”
I ran my hand through his tussled brown strands. “I promise you…I could never forget you Bae.”
He smiled, so sweet and adorable that I smiled too. When his lips found mine again, and he kissed me until the stars overhead began to fade, I knew that he had already found a special place inside my heart, and nothing would be able to change that, and no one, not even Kellen.
We dressed and walked through the moonlight, lacing our hands, his fingers holding mine tightly. As the dawn approached he left me to rest, kissing my hand, and lingering in the doorway as my eyes fluttered and closed.
Chapter Seventeen
The n
ext day he was reserved and unusually quiet at brunch. Was something wrong? I ate my eggs benedict and pushed the plate aside. I watched him as he moved the food around and barely touched it. His face was carefully blank, like he was hiding his feelings, and I frowned.
“What is the matter?”
“I must return you back today. You have to go home,” he informed me softly.
Awe. He was reluctant to say good bye. “Didn’t you tell me that this good bye was only temporary? You’re not doing a very good job of convincing me right now.”
He looked up and smiled but it did not extend to his eyes. “True, but I still don’t want to say good bye yet.”
“Well,” I stood and held out my hand, “surely we have a few hours to spare. Spend them with me, anyway you wish.”
Baylor grinned, placing his hand in mine, and pulling me from the house. We ran through the trees, carefree, young, and for the moment, unencumbered by the worries of life. I will never forget the way he looked at me, like I was the center of his world, the very anchor of his existence, and the source of all his joy. My heart leaped inside my chest.
I could get lost in his eyes. I would surely drown. It was certain suicide, in the middle of a glorious summer, and I was sunk, at the bottom of an ebony pool, struggling in the depths and unable to come up for air. And I cared not, not if I drowned, not if I survived, and not even if I could breathe. All I wanted, all I needed, was to keep my eyes chained to his, my lips next to his, for as long as it would last.
And so I did.
I would never forget Bae.
Never.
As the afternoon waned he pulled me close, cradling my head against his chest, holding me like we could forget the reality that awaited us. I had to leave. I had to return to my Guardian, to home, and to my Gran. I missed her. She was so far away and all alone…
Guardian.
I thought of Kellen. Did he miss me? Was he worried? Did he try to find me?
I remembered hearing his voice when Baylor rescued me from the inn. How did he just let me go, knowing I was injured, and about to be carried away by another man? A man who was not even a Guardian? What was going on?
“I want to ask what you are thinking about,” he finally spoke, “but I am hesitant.”
“I heard Kellen’s voice when we left the inn.” I knew he would not want to discuss it but I had to know.
“Yes,” he replied.
“Did he come after me?” I asked, a little uneasy. I needed to know if he even tried.
“No, he…did not follow us.”
“Why?” I leaned back and looked at his face. “Why Bae? That doesn’t make any sense. He’s my Guardian.”
“I’m afraid I cannot answer that for you. You will have to discuss this with him on your own. I can only speculate and since that is sure to put ideas in your head I will remain quiet,” he placed a kiss on my forehead, “I would rather not have you think something that is not true, about him…or me.”
I frowned. “What are you not telling me?”
He chuckled. “Always so astute and curious. Let it go Rhiannon. There is nothing to worry about right now.”
Nothing to worry about but plenty to consider. “Fine but I will ask him for answers.”
He laughed lightly. “I am sure you will,” he squeezed me tight, “it is time to leave.”
I looked up at him. “When will I see you again?”
He knew I was going to ask. His expression turned serious. “If I had my way it would be tomorrow but…I am unable to answer that question right now.”
I stepped back, cautious. “Was any of this real? Has any of what has passed between us meant anything to you?”
He reached for me but I took another step back. I wanted him to answer me truthfully.
“Yes, every second, every minute, all of it…always,” he told me as he pulled me close again, enveloping me within his large frame, “never doubt that. Remember, my angel, because I will remember and think of you every moment of the day until I have you in my arms again.”
I relaxed. “I will.” So many memories have been made with him in such a short time. How did I go on from here, living a normal life, and return to my home across the portal like none of this ever happened?
He tilted my chin up, staring into my eyes. “No matter what the future brings in the days or weeks ahead, never doubt the sincerity of my affection or the intensity of my feelings for you Rhiannon.”
He kissed me then, sweet and gentle, full of warmth, and a promise of even sweeter days to come...
Later on horseback, after an hour’s ride, I turned to Baylor. “Where are you taking me? This doesn’t look like the way to Cornell.”
“No, where does your Guardian reside? In Karmelo of course, with the Guardian army. It is the most logical place to return you, with your permission, of course,” he chuckled as if something were humorous and I raised an eyebrow. “I think your…Guardian will not expect me to bring you to his home.”
He really did not care for Guardians, especially Kellen. I wondered what had created such a distinct dislike. I was curious, again, if they knew each other.
“I have no idea what he will think. He must be worried about me though,” I turned away from his gaze, “I doubt he will be happy when I return to his door, and not alone.”
“He will welcome you back, of that I have no doubt.”
I expected him to elaborate on that statement but he did not. We rode up to the gates of Karmelo, accompanied by thirty of Baylor’s men, as the sun was close to setting, low on the horizon. The Guardians at the gates all bowed to me as we rode through, some kneeling in respect, and many of them watchful of Baylor’s armed soldiers. He was cheered on by local villagers as we passed through. The tournament would not leave the people’s memory for a long time.
Kellen was practicing in the front yard with his sword, hacking away at Seasnan, as both of them seemed more than a little frustrated. Once they recognized it was me galloping toward them, both men glanced up, surprised. Kellen took the reins of my mare as I slowed her to a stop.
“Rhiannon,” he glanced at me and my heart wrenched at his expression, “glad to have you back…where you belong.” The flash of pain, of truth, was quick to leave his eyes, replaced with a look of assured confidence, like he had no doubts I would return to him, freely.
I sighed. Did the games never end? The posturing? The fight over who was the bravest, strongest, and most deserving of my affection? I was quickly becoming agitated and bored with the constant competition for my attention. I was not an object, I was a person.
I let Kellen help me down from the horse. His hand wound possessively around my waist. Baylor chuckled lightly, as if he was just as amused and irritated by it all as I was, and perhaps that was true. A real man did not have to behave that way. A real man was confident and sure, no need to prove himself. No need to verbalize the obvious.
I realized at that moment that Baylor was definitely all man.
He was mature, confident, and undeniably sexy. Everything about him screamed danger and passion, and I only wanted him to swoop over and pick me up, holding me tight against his wide muscular chest, and carry me off into the sunset.
Such a fantasy.
But oh, a really good one.
As he sat straight and tall in the saddle, he winked at me, not a care in the world, convinced that nothing Kellen could say or do would be able to alter or diminish what we had shared together.
And he was right.
“Good bye my dear Rhiannon,” he spoke with his deeply sultry and alluring voice, “I shall remember our time together, and look forward to seeing you again milady, very soon.” He dipped his head briefly in a bow and turned his horse, riding for the gates of Karmelo and out of my sight.
I did not turn away until he was long out of my line of vision. For some small reason I wanted to call to him to come back, to return to me, and whisper those words of devotion and longing that remained buried deep in my chest. Someh
ow, he had taken root, and I did not realize until now that I had no desire to get rid of him.
I would miss Bae. There was no doubt of that. Only a couple of years older than Kellen, they were like night and day. I could not help but compare them. The noticeable differences were so striking, so obvious, that it caused me to pause and stare, for long minutes, into the fading light.
“Where have you been?”
I felt Kellen behind me, just inches away. I did not need to turn around to know that he was angry and frustrated with me, or that we would argue. He was spoiling for a disagreement, daring me to deny him any longer. I took my time on purpose. He might be my Guardian, but he was not my parent.
“Safe,” I answered, “which is more than my Guardian did for me.”
I heard his sharp intake of breath. Perhaps that was insulting but it was true. Where had he been? Wasn’t his job to protect me, at all times, no matter what?
“Rhiannon,” he said my name like I was going to forget he was not there. I would not.
“Where were you? Why were you away from the room?” I demanded.
When he did not answer I turned around, hands on my hips, determined to make him cooperate.
“I had another obligation,” he told me, through clenched teeth.
“Another obligation?” I screeched.
That was absolutely the wrong thing to say to me. Coming back here was a bad idea. I should have asked Baylor to take me home.
“Did you know about the attack?”
He shook his head. “No, do you think I would have left you alone if I knew of another attack against you?”
“Oh, so it was so farfetched to believe another attack could happen after I was almost speared to death by arrows?” I narrowed my eyes. “You left me unprotected Kellen.”
He clenched his hands in anger. “I had something important to take care of.”
“In the middle of the night? Yeah, sure, I bet it was super important. Tell me, did you leave me without protection for just an hour or was it most of the night?”
