by Unknown
Cain smiled coldly. "I do."
"What 'tis the problem, Falmer!" the Lord yelled from the window. Falmer scurried his short, round body over to the window. Cain heard him mumble something and then the Lord's hatted head poked through the window, quickly ducking back into the coach. Falmer was spoken to yet again, before scrambling back over to Cain.
"Wot's yer name," he snapped.
"Does it matter," Cain said plainly.
Falmer scrunched his face up. "Aye. It does if ye want a ride."
Cain's jaw ticked. "Cain. The name is Cain."
"Ah, weel ye see that's interesting," Falmer began, "because that's the one name me Lord said he wouldn't 'elp." Falmer began walking back to the restless horses. "Now, get yer arse out of the road!"
Cain narrowed his eyes at the coach. Whoever this Lord Langstrom was, knew Cain. But the name Langstrom remained unfamiliar to him. Cain gripped Gwen and strode forth, quickly catching up and passing Falmer.
Falmer stammered, clearly frustrated. "N-no! Get away from there," he yelled as Cain reached the coach door. Falmer, out of breath, ran up, but Cain eyed him, quickly making the little man change directions. Cain swung the coach door open, only to find a dirk pointing out toward his chest.
"I see ye still canna take nay for an answer," the Lord said from within the darkened coach.
Cain squinted. "Who are ye? How do ye ken me?"
The lord reached out with his dirk and edged the tartan back from Gwen's face with the tip of the blade. Cain could've sworn he heard the man suck in air.
The sword retreated back inside the coach. "Get in, or do ye wish to waste time and let the lass die?"
With no other choice, Cain stepped up, taking a seat across from Lord Langstrom. Cain peered over at the man's face, but the large, black hat hid him well. Lord Langstrom leaned over and yelled out the window.
"To the castle, Falmer! In all haste!" Muffled curses sounded outside. The coach bounced as the plump man climbed up to his station and within seconds, they lurched forward and began increasing with speed. "So, after I help ye," Lord Langstrom said, "will ye stab me in the back again?"
Cain gritted his teeth. "Very few men have spoken to me so rudely and lived."
"Ah, so ye would try to stab me then." Lord Langstrom leaned forward, taking off his hat. Cain's lip curled. "Let me warn ye Cain, I'm hard to kill."
"Ulrick," Cain sneered, "I should've known."
"Well now, dinna be too hard on yourself. I turned out all right. I'm wealthy beyond my years, in good health, and weel, pretty much do whatever I want. So ye see, ye didna ruin my life after all."
"I never tried to ruin your life," Cain snapped. "We were both in love with the same lass. Only I planned on winning the game."
Ulrick smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "She might have loved me."
"Weel we willna find out...ever!"
"And why not?" Ulrick drawled.
"Ye well ken what happened!"
"Interesting," he murmured. "Tell me Cain, who's the lass in your arms?"
"She's none of your concern, or have ye forgotten what I did to ye the last time ye tried to take something of mine."
Ulrick's lip curled. "She is my concern if ye want her to live," Ulrick said coldly.
Cain glanced down at Gwen. Her cheeks were flushed and sweat beaded on her forehead. "She's a friend's daughter."
Ulrick snickered. "Seems I ken more about her than ye."
Cain narrowed his eyes at Ulrick. If he hadn't been holding Gwen, he would've beaten Ulrick the moment he laid eyes on him. "Then by all means," he gritted out, "tell me what ye think ye ken about this lass that I dinna."
"I really shouldn't," he said letting out a sigh and leaning back in his seat, his finger resting across his mouth. "So...she never told ye?"
"Told me what?"
Ulrick chuckled. "So many things are remarkably clear, old friend. I always thought she loved ye more, but now, I'm afraid she loved neither of us." Ulrick slapped his knee. "Ah, the irony."
Cain's brow furrowed. "Ye have one bloody second to explain yourself."
"Gwendolyn."
"Ye mean Gwen," Cain gritted out. The name Gwendolyn seemed somewhat familiar in the depths of his mind.
"The lass we both loved back at Castle Knightly."
"So, that was the lass's name," Cain murmured to himself.
Ulrick leaned forward, searching Cain's face. "Ye still dinna remember her?"
After a slight pause, Cain answered. "Nay."
Ulrick shot back in his seat and ran a hand through his hair. "Bloody hell, Cain! How long has it been?"
"Ten years," he said coldly. Whatever joke Ulrick intended had better end.
"Ten years and ye still dinna have your memory of her back?" Ulrick grew serious as Cain's mouth tightened. "Ten bloody years," Ulrick said softly in disbelief.
"I take it ye have your memory back," Cain said quietly. "How many years did it last for ye?"
Ulrick looked down at his hat in his hands and played with the edges. "Only a sennight."
"A senni-." Cain half rose out of his seat, but quickly sat back down as the coach rounded a corner. "Why didn't ye-."
"What?" Ulrick yelled, "Find ye? Ye had already disappeared, Cain, and not at all on a friendly note," he said glaring. "I did, however, travel back to Castle Knightly after a fortnight, but it was a bloody ghost town. There wasn't one soul walking around. The castle was in shambles. I dinna ken about ye, but I take that as a sign of not being wanted anymore."
Cain stared down at the floor. "I planned to stop back, but...I couldn't bear to look at those walls...know what I did to her."
"And what did ye do to her, Cain? What did ye do to sweet Gwendolyn?"
Cain snarled at Ulrick. "Ye ken well and good what I did! I killed her!"
"Ye ken, I thought that, too. But when I went back...weel, things didna add up. And now...." Ulrick laughed. "I'm glad I didna have a broken heart over the lass."
"What are ye implying," Cain roared. "She would never hurt anyone!"
Ulrick let out a deep sigh. "Ah, Cain…aye, she would."
"Say it again and I'll kill ye," Cain said very calmly.
Ulrick placed his hands up in front of him. "All I'm saying, is ye might want to reconsider being so hard on yourself, then again…."
"I killed her. I took the life of the lass I wanted to spend my life with all because I wasn't keen enough in the arts of black magic. But I am now! I've worked with the magic every waking second. There's no one more skilled than me!"
"Cain," Ulrick said, sounding bored, "ye didna kill her."
"That's a lie and I-"
"-no, Cain. Gwendolyn lays in your verra arms."
* * * * *
CHAPTER NINE
Cain paced the space around the red tapestry sofa in Ulrick's library, where Gwendolyn lay. After he realized Ulrick had been telling the truth about who Gwen really was, a thousand little memories came fluttering back inside his head, ramming him like a bull. Once that little tid bit of information had been planted in his mind, the door to all his lost memories was open. Julianna, Gwen…both had deceived him.
Cain clenched his jaw as he glanced down at Gwendolyn once more. He had loved this woman, would have given her the world, and the lass had pulled it out from under him. A thousand thoughts raced through his head: Gwen had known…Gwen loved Ulrick…Gwen lost her memory, too…Gwen hated both of them…Gwen loathed him. Cain stopped pacing, pausing at the end of the couch. "Do ye ken what's wrong?" he snapped to Ulrick. Cain may be a master at the black arts, but Ulrick had always been very knowledgeable in potions and elixirs. It had always been his strong point when they had practiced magic with each other.
"Weel, you're right about it being a cheaply made potion that she drank. I think it's stuck in her stomach. 'Tis not spreading through her body like a typical elixir would." Ulrick ran a hand over his stubbled chin. "Definitely made by someone sorely lacking in the craft."
"D
o ye have any idea what the potion was for?" Cain asked. "The smell is familiar, but...not."
Ulrick tapped his mouth with his index finger. "I think it could be one of three potions. But one thing is for sure, no matter what spell 'tis, if we dinna get the concoction to fan out to her limbs, she'll die. There's only one thing we can do."
Cain glared at Ulrick. "Over my dead body," he said softly.
"Ye think I want to watch ye smother your mouth over hers!" Ulrick shouted. "As daft as it sounds, I'm still hoping she has a soft spot for me and not ye."
"I'm doing this," Cain gritted out, "and only me. I took her maidenhead all those years ago and I'm still the only one who will touch her."
"No, wait," Ulrick said quickly, "One person canna inhale as fast as we need to, to save her. This is good that there's the two of us."
"Ye just want to kiss her," Cain mumbled.
"And ye don't?" Ulrick glared at Cain. "Besides, 'tis not like I'll enjoy the kiss. Ye dinna feel like removing the hex by any chance?"
Cain narrowed his eyes in answer. "I'm going first."
"Remember," Ulrick began, "we need to inhale her breath slowly and deeply to get the potion fumes circulating within her, and get them to spread throughout her body."
Cain glared at him out the corner of his eye. "I do ken how to do this," he said tightly. "I believe Julianna taught us both."
"Then by all means," Ulrick said, moving off to the side so Cain could get a better access to Gwendolyn's mouth, "go ahead."
Cain kneeled down over Gwendolyn, brushing her hair off her forehead. Her cheeks were so red. Too red. Cain bent down, covering her mouth, inhaling deeply. A hint of the sweet potion drifted up his nose, making him dizzy. He stumbled aside as Ulrick bent down, taking his turn, trying to get clearheaded again before the next rotation.
"Look!" Ulrick said, sitting back after his fifth turn of helping her. A pink puff of smoke drifted out of her mouth.
Cain leaned over her, lifting up her eyelid. Both pupils had normal dilation. Her cheeks began looking better, too. He brushed her hair off her forehead, leaving his hand on her brow. Sweat no longer beaded her head. Her hand suddenly twitched and then her arm lifted. She began stroking Cain's arm with her eyes still closed.
"Gwendolyn, are ye all right?" Cain asked as she stroked harder, moving up his arm, and then down across his chest. Cain quickly glanced at Ulrick. Ulrick shrugged. Cain jumped back. "Gwen!" Cain choked out as she reached down between his legs, grabbing his manhood.
"This isn't good," Ulrick said. "I now know what potion she drank. 'Tis the Touches of Sin."
"So she wants to be touched? Like when I cast the spell of Loving?"
Ulrick stood and placed his hands on his hips. "'Tis similar to Loving," he said raising a brow at Cain, "but with Touches of Sin, she willna stop until she gets one thing, and even then I have no idea how many times she'll need to copulate before 'tis out of her system. She willna be able to stop herself. Any person that comes near her is game to being bedded by her. Mon, woman…Marsel."
Cain gritted his teeth. "That bastard. I want to kill him over and over for what he had planned for her."
"Good thing she's with us then."
Cain glared at Ulrick. "Good thing she's with me."
* * * * *
Gwen tried with all her might to relax, but her skin seemed to crave and ache for the touch of a man. She writhed on the couch, knowing Cain and Ulrick debated with each other over her. She didn't care. Reaching out for Ulrick's hand that hung by his side, she grabbed hold and caressed it. She noticed the brief tick in Cain's jaw off to the side. Why wasn't either of them joining her on the couch? She wanted to shout out what she wanted them to do to her, and scream in shame at the same time, but she couldn't make a sound, not a whisper, mutter, or scream. Her own body held her prisoner.
Her core grew hot and wet and Gwen reached down, pulling up her skirts to mid-thigh. God she needed someone to touch her...fill her. Why were they torturing her so?
She pleaded with herself to stay clear headed, but vivid thoughts of nakedness and the pleasure she could get from the caressing that would follow made her sweat and pant with anticipation. When she reached out for Cain and Ulrick, she wanted to slap herself. What a fool she must have looked like, but the need of their skin on hers.... The thought of naked skin-to-skin contact pushed all other logic reasoning from her mind. The knowing that one of them, or both, could satiate her appetite plagued her.
She wished Cain would lay down with her, encompass her with his body. Why wouldn't he move! He stood so near, but just talked to Ulrick hardly glancing her way. As every second passed, her body grew more, and more restless, until finally she didn’t care who touched her, if only it meant her release.
* * * * *
Cain clenched his fists at his sides after Ulrick's latest suggestion. What the bloody hell did the bastard think? Even though Gwendolyn had a lot of explaining to do, and the fact that he was rather livid with her at the moment, Ulrick would still not be "relieving" her of the spell.
He glanced down at Gwen, who now rolled over on the couch, crawling the length of it, moaning and writhing as she went. She stretched, thrusting her breasts into the air, and laid down on her back as she ran her hands up over her body. Her head dropped backwards, down over the edge, and for the first time since awakening, she made eye contact with Cain.
A pang of torture ran through him. Her body might want one thing, but the look in her eyes begged for her freedom. The real, modest Gwen peered out from the inside, terrified. Cain wanted to reassure her, but how, the only way to end the torture was to bed her, and by God if he wasn't ready! Cain glowered at Ulrick, painfully taking his gaze off of Gwen.
Ulrick smiled. “It seems we both still have a liking for her. Ye think we'd learn our lesson." Ulrick walked over to Gwen, standing just out of her reach as she pawed for him.
Cain took a menacingly step forward. “Ah,” Ulrick said, “I see ye dinna want anyone to touch her but ye.” Ulrick stared at Gwen a moment as she ran her head against his hand like a feline. He talked to Cain as his attention stayed on Gwen. "I'll let ye be the one to cure her," he said, finally glancing over his shoulder at him, "but I want one moment with her in private first." He quickly raised his hands. "I willna do anything, I just need a word with her." His expression grew on the border of embarrassed.
Cain narrowed his eyes at Ulrick, unmoving. Finally, he strode to the large double doors. "Ye have but a moment," he furiously yelled over his shoulder.
Ulrick glanced down to Gwen. It was just the two of them. Silence filled the room except for her panting and moaning. She reached out for him as he sat on the edge of the sofa and then crawled onto his lap. He gently brushed the side of her cheek. "I ken ye canna answer me, that's probably why I can say this. Ye hurt me all those years ago, sweet Gwendolyn," he said softly. "Why'd ye just up and leave? I was your friend. Ye could have told me anything."
Ulrick leaned in, inhaling the scent of her. A smile curved on his mouth as his lips met her cheek. He swept his thumb across her bottom lip, eyeing it. He stared down at her wide eyes...saw the fear behind the lust. He held her writhing hands away from his body as he studied her. Leaning forward, he softly kissed her forehead, and then abruptly stood, leaving her all alone on the couch. He strode from the room.
Cain stared at Ulrick's receding back as he strode silently down the corridor from him. Ulrick had burst through the doors and had not said a word. Cain narrowed his eyes and walked into the library, closing the doors behind him.
He turned toward the sofa, only to freeze in his tracks as he saw Gwen's naked leg bob above the top of the couch. Slowly, he walked over. He knelt down and watched her run her hands over her body. Her eyes were shut as she quickly panted.
Cain blew out an unsteady breath. How long would she stay like this if he didn't touch her? Gwen's eyes suddenly opened, instantly discovering him. Immediately, she reached out and ran her hands up and down his chest, r
aking her nails over his tunic as she went.
Cain stilled her hands. He wouldn’t have her like this. He knew she would regret it as soon as her head cleared. She quickly moaned in protest, pulling her hands away, trying to touch him again.
“Gwendolyn, nay!” he yelled, swearing he saw her flinch from using her real name. Her hands stilled in his and she glanced up pleadingly at him. Cain cursed. If he didn't know any better, he could have sworn the real Gwen just gave a slight nod of acquiescence. At that moment, all the memories and emotions from a hundred years ago rushed to the forefront.
It was her, or was it? His manhood throbbed. Who she was didn't matter. He had wanted to sink himself inside Gwen ever since he had first seen her standing over him in the twenty-first century. Wasn’t this what he dreamt of, her eagerness? He could help the torment raging through her body with a few solid caresses. Cain quickly squeezed his eyes shut and stopped her hands from roaming once more. “I canna do this to ye. Not like this,” he whispered. He had to make sure she knew he didn't want to hurt her.
“Please,” Gwen formed with her mouth, her eyes watering.
Cain gritted his teeth. If only he knew what Marsel had put in the potion! The careless bastard had thrown together an elixir with probably any scrap of magic refuse he could find. Cain could do more harm than good if he gave her something to try and reverse the toxic cocktail. There were only two ways to help her. One, let her wait it out, hoping the spell would wear off, or two, sink himself deep inside her like he desired and feel her body unite with his.
He studied Gwen, by holding her chin between his forefinger and thumb. Large, fearful, eyes stared up at him. “Forgive me, Gwen….” Cain lent down and softly kissed her forehead. His lips lingered. Her skin felt so right under his mouth. He pulled back. "But I canna do this to ye."
Gwen’s arms reached up, seizing his neck, pulling him closer. She kissed the side of his cheek, his neck, his chest, and lower.
