“I think there is someone in the tower, watching us.” She pointed to the window.
He stepped back and peered into the darkness. “I think perhaps it is nothing more than a carving in stone.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Well, there is only one way.” He took her hand and tugged her through the open door and up a spiral stone staircase. Partway, he stopped, and in the pitch blackness, she felt him squeeze his body next to hers. His breath on her face alerted her to how close he stood.
“My name is Edmund. What is yours?”
“I am Cara. You are not Gael, are you?”
“Does it matter?” he asked.
Cara felt his hand brush through her hair. “If we are caught—”
His finger touched her lips, silencing her. “We won’t be.”
“You are a man sure of himself.”
“Have not I proved myself on that point, milady?” His teeth shone in the dark stairwell when he smiled. “Now I shall prove that no one is in this tower.”
He stepped around a wood door sagging on its hinges, and held her hand as she followed him.
“See, there is no one here.” A swathe of moonlight illuminated the small interior, revealing a plain chair, a small wood table and a pile of straw piled against one wall. A blanket most likely left behind by a traveler lay in a heap on the floor.
Edmund leaned out the window and Cara hurried to his side. He twisted his body, having no fear that he might lose his balance.
“Look here, just as I thought. It is but the carving of a face in stone. Come, see for yourself.” He pulled back inside and ushered her forward.
Cara didn’t want him to know she was skittish about heights, so she leaned on the window ledge and craned her neck as best she could to catch a glimpse of the carved face. She drew back in turn and closed her eyes, taking a breath before reopening them.
“Do you believe me then?”
“Aye, it is as you said.” She thought of the statue of the lovers below. “It is the Winter King looking down on the forbidden lovers.” She gazed out at the bonfires glowing on the horizon. Edmund came to her side and they shared the view together in silence.
“You mean the Green Man and the May Queen,” he said, brushing her hair over her shoulder. The simple, sweet gesture brought a tear to her eye, and she blinked it away.
“When the king discovered they’d betrayed him, he placed a curse on them, and every year the Green Man has to fight the king to bring the May Queen out of the darkness she is in. It is the legend of our Celtic seasons.”
“And you believe this legend is real?”
Cara looked at him then and saw something in his eyes that she’d never before seen—adoration. “We are like them. We should not be talking. You should not be here.” She touched his face. His expression was full of naive promise, just as she felt, deep inside. But the reality was that they couldn’t stay in this secret place forever.
He softly grazed her cheek with his knuckles. “Let me worry about the English king, who is far away from here and cannot order what my heart can and can’t feel.”
Cara looked out the window, leaning her hands on the ledge, wishing it were so easy to dismiss the English king. But she’d heard enough of her father and mother talking to know he was a man who always found a way to get what he wanted.
She felt Edmund’s arms encircle her waist.
“Do you suppose that your secret lovers wasted one moment of the time they had together?” he murmured, nuzzling the back of her neck.
She laid her head against his shoulder, bewildered that she should feel so at home in his embrace. “Nay, I would say they did not.”
He eased aside her hair, pressing his lips to the back of her neck. The now familiar signs of desire smoldered, her body heating to his touch. His nimble fingers stroked the curve of her throat, turning her face to meet his mouth. Cara marveled at how well he knew what her body craved—when to be gentle and when not to be. She smiled as he loosened the ribbons holding the back of her gown together, making adequate room to slip his hand beneath her bodice. His fingers caressed, weighing one and then the other breast, rolling her nipples between his fingers as he kissed her senseless. He turned her to face him and, checking for her response, slid the gown past her shoulders, until it hung at her elbows, her firm breasts exposed to him. Cara accepted another kiss, her breathing growing rapid as his mouth left hers and slid over the sensitive tip of one breast. Her fingers trembled as he caressed her, tormenting her with teeth and tongue. Every moment with him she learned more about herself, what gave her pleasure. She let out a shuddering gasp when he suckled her, sensing the wet heat trickling down her leg.
“That pleases you?” He glanced up at her with a raised brow and an ornery grin.
“Aye, and you are wearing far too many clothes.” She tugged the gown from each arm and let it pool around her feet.
She watched him take her in as she stood in the moonlight. Cara had never been naked in front of anyone but her ma and her sister. She was unprepared for how deliciously wicked it made her feel to have this man’s heated gaze on her.
She stepped forward and, licking her lips, helped to draw his shirt over his head. She pressed her body to his, hugging him tight, lifting her face for another of his blistering kisses.
“Do not move.” He quickly fluffed up the straw and covered it with the old blanket, then turned and eased his brocs down his muscular legs. He stepped from them and looked at her.
He was beautifully built, his body young, muscular, solid as stone. And his enlarged cock…here in the bright moonlight, she could see it jutting proud from his finely honed body. He held his hand to her and she went willingly, unashamed of their nakedness, taking what he offered in his tender kisses, his whispered words. He held her hand and she lay back on the blanket, looking up at him, her heart full of how Mother Earth had smiled on her tonight. He dropped to his knees, covering her body with his, and Cara melted into him. Fervent sighs, hot wet kisses… Cara grew dizzy, unable to get enough of him. She rolled him to his back and knelt over him. He grinned, capturing her breast with one hand, and with the other found the spot between her legs that nearly left her undone. She looked at him with a fierce need, feeling his velvet tip near her entrance, and held his hardened length, sliding him into her heat until he filled her entirely. Cara pressed her palms to his chest, the gooseflesh of anticipation rising on her bare skin. The sensation was glorious, freeing, and she cupped his face, kissing him soundly, and then straightened, drawing her arms over her head, delighted yet again in being with him.
“You are more beautiful than any May Queen,” he said, caressing her thighs. His hands guided her hips, moving them forward and then back until she captured the natural gait. Reality blurred. Her throat dry, she looked down at him watching her, and smiled as another tear escaped from her eye.
“My beautiful Cara,” he sighed. His brow crinkled and he closed his eyes, lifting his hips, slowly pushing deep. “My sweet, beautiful Cara.”
Frosty and pale was the moonlight washing over their bodies. Cara did not know what the dawn would bring, only that the gods and goddesses had given them this moment. With a soft cry, her body surrendered to her release, and soon after, Edmund followed.
She lay exhausted across him, hearing the beat of his heart. He stroked her hair, her back, and kissed the top of her head. Neither of them spoke. Finally, Cara rested her arms on his chest and looked into the eyes she swore the universe had fashioned just for her pleasure. She took note of his face up close, the gentle look in his gaze, the scar that creased his brow. She’d never felt this way in her life, so whole, so complete.
“Edmund? Edmund, are you in there?” A loud voice boomed from down below. “There was an old man out here, though for the life of me, I cannot find him now. He described you and said you’d been here, along with a young woman. Well done, Edmund. That is, if you’re not cowering in there alone.” Raucous laughter followed.
<
br /> Edmund shifted, lifting Cara from him, and began to put on his clothes. “He’s drunk. I better go to him before he makes a scene and gets us all killed.” He pulled on his brocs. “He can be a bit of an ass, but it’s his nature to be slightly pompous.”
“This is your friend that you came with?” she asked, searching for her other slipper. Edmund reached down and plucked her shoe from the shadows, dangling it from his fingers as he offered it to her. He pulled it back just as she reached for it, and leaned down, placing a tender kiss on her mouth swollen from his kisses.
“Time to go home, my friend. Dawn is not far off and the guards will be changing soon,” Gregory called out quietly.
In haste, Edmund helped to tighten the lacing of Cara’s gown. She sensed his concern. “Do you regret what has happened between us, milord?” she asked, her stomach beginning to knot with worry. Could she have misread the look in his eyes?
“Not one moment.” He turned her to face him, and clamped his hands around hers. “Do you?”
“Nay, Edmund.”
“I like hearing you say my name.” He kissed her again.
She pulled her hands from his. “But in truth, what future do we have? You know as well as I do the English law put in place to keep our people apart.”
“It is a ridiculous law,” Edmund fumed.
He hurriedly drew his tunic over his head. “I will think of a way to make this work, Cara. Until then, promise me that you will wait for my return.”
She looked at his pleading eyes. “Edmund.”
He held her face, kissing her and then drawing her so close she could scarcely breathe.
“There is no question now. I will speak to my father. I will make him understand. Things have changed, Cara. They will have to listen to me. I am a man now. I can make my own choices.”
She knew what it would be like in her family were she to her approach her father in a similar fashion. There would be no discussions, no compromises. Was his father any different?
“We will make an oath, one to another. If you feel as I do, Cara, then let this be our private handfasting.”
She knew that he wanted things to be different, but the truth was that he would have to leave her on this side of the barricade, leave her here in the private world they’d created. Edmund rested his cheek on the top of her head. “You’ll wait for me then? By your oath?”
He did not pause for her answer. “Come, I want you to meet the one man who will have no quarrel about us being together.” He tugged on her hand.
She held her ground, pulling her hand from his. “I have not given you my word, Edmund. Besides, what is he talking about? What does he mean about the guards?”
Edmund turned back, clamping his hands on her shoulders. “There is nothing fret over. It’s only a few villagers placed along the barricade. They nap most of the time.”
“Perhaps it is not wise that your friend know we’ve been together—at least for now.”
Edmund grinned. “Gregory can be trusted. I want you to meet him. He is my dearest friend.” He grabbed her hand, pressing his lips to her palm. “If you can see past his drunken state, he is a good man.”
She followed him out of the tower to the garden gate. When he yanked it open the mask rocked precariously on its narrow peg.
His friend, Gregory, stood on the other side, dangling a wineskin over his face, aiming for his mouth. The red liquid ran in rivulets down his chin. With a bleary-eyed start, he lowered the skin and wiped his jaw with his sleeve. He gave them a slobbery grin.
“So it is true. There you are, with your lady fair, Sir Edmund. I trust the two of you have been discussing politics?” His eyes roamed over Cara, visually feasting on her from head to toe. Edmund drew her protectively to his side.
“It is true we should be getting back, but if Ed mund…”
Gregory reached out, brushing his hand over Cara’s arm. “I might be persuaded to find time for one more frivolous rite before taking our leave. The name is Gregory, milady.” He bowed, stumbling awkwardly toward them. Edmund caught his shoulder and righted him, with a gentle nudge pushing him away from Cara. Gregory eyed the two, his mouth lifting in a smug grin.
“Perhaps, Edmund, we should let the lady decide what she prefers?”
“Now you’ve gone too far, Gregory.” Edmund lowered his head and drove it into his best friend’s gut with full force, knocking them both to the ground in a tangle of limbs.
Cara watched in horror as the two men flailed their fists blindly at one another, now and again making contact with a loud smack. “Stop it, please, before one of you gets hurt.” She grabbed Edmund’s tunic, tugging with all her might. Finally, he pushed to his feet, bringing a weary Gregory with him, then took one last swipe across Gregory’s jaw, sending him to his backside.
“Have you gone mad?” the man shouted angrily, rubbing his jaw.
Edmund grabbed Cara’s hand and dragged her through the trees to the open glen. The labyrinth was covered in a fine morning mist; the silvery gray dawn was beginning to light the sky. He pulled her close, wrapping her in a warm embrace. She wanted to tend to his wounds, to check his eye, which was beginning to swell now from contact with Gregory’s fist. He shook his head as she ran her fingers delicately over his face.
“I must take my leave. But I promise you this—I will return.”
He cupped her cheek, kissing her with such certainty that she almost believed him. She fisted his shirt in her hands, memorizing his taste, his scent.
“Come on, then,” a voice stated. It was Gregory, a sullen expression on his bruised face. Blood trickled from his nose. Cara backed away from Edmund, hugging herself, averting her eyes from Gregory’s dark, piercing gaze. He made her uncomfortable despite what Edmund wanted her to believe. She glanced at Edmund, finding him studying her, the struggle between leaving and staying evident in his stormy eyes.
“You’d best be on your way, then. My father will be looking for me and my sister soon.”
“There’s another one like you at home? Younger or older?” Gregory asked with a cocky grin that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Soon to be married,” she answered quickly.
Edmund stepped forward, taking her hands in his. “You remember what I said?”
Cara’s gaze slammed into Gregory’s dark orbs just beyond Edmund’s shoulder. His moody friend stormed past them, heading in the direction of the woods. “I hope your friend is not angry.”
“Not to worry, my love. We’ve had other scuffles, far worse. It will pass. It always does.” He leaned down, leaving a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. “Wait for me, Cara,” he whispered. “It may take some time to convince them, but I will.”
She smiled at him, wishing she could remember where she’d left her shawl, for she felt a sudden chill that seeped deep into her bones.
3
“YOU TOLD HER WHAT?” GREGORY RUBBED his jaw and stared at Edmund in disbelief. “Have you gone mad? Take my word for it, Edmund. Stop thinking with your cock and start thinking with your brain, unless perhaps they are one and the same.” He continued to walk, reaching down to yank a shaft of long grass to chew on. Safe now across the barricade that separated them from the Gaels, they walked a little slower toward home.
Edmund looked at the pinkish hue of the sun creeping over the hillside. The world suddenly looked different. He saw things with greater clarity.
“Regardless of what you think, I am going to go back for her. I cannot help the feelings I have for her. Feelings that well may be love, Gregory.” Edmund smiled, hearing the words aloud.
“As your friend, it is my duty to remind you that you would be throwing your life away on that girl. It goes against the king’s edict even to be uttering such ideas out loud,” Gregory stated, pointing an emphatic finger at him. “Your family, I’m quite certain, will not favor this idea. Your life is set, Edmund. You leave for Rome in a few days. Did you forget?” Edmund followed slowly behind, pondering Gregory’s words. He could not
refute the truth of them, and yet part of him wondered if his friend’s lack of support stemmed from honor to the crown or jealousy. Gregory had never before been a model for keeping rules.
“This is because she would not give in to your wishes, isn’t it?” He hurried to Gregory’s side, slamming his hand down on his shoulder.
The friend he’d known since childhood whirled to face him, his eyes ablaze with a fiery hatred. Edmund stared at him in shock. He’d never seen him so angry.
“You think I care about bedding your Gaelic wench? I had my fill, Edmund—more than enough, thank you—and I assure you none of them was any less special than your Cara. What makes you think she is any different? How many others were there before you? Did you bother to ask?”
“I did not have to ask,” he retorted without thinking.
Gregory’s expression went from anger to puzzlement, then to shock. “She was a virgin? Good God, Edmund! What have you done?”
Edmund stormed ahead, entirely uncomfortable talking with Gregory about this any longer. His stomach roiled with the potential consequences of his actions. “Swear on our friendship you will not breathe a word to anyone of this.” He tossed his friend a side glance, and when Gregory gave no response, Edmund grabbed his arm, stopping him again.
Gregory stared at Edmund’s grasp, and then pried loose his fingers, shoving his hand aside. “Very well, if you promise me that you will go on with your life, Edmund. Do what you are destined to do. You owe your allegiance to your family, your country and your king.” Gregory’s eyes bored into his, waiting for his answer.
Edmund’s heart raced, thrumming hard in his chest, caught in a stranglehold between what he wanted and what was right. He squeezed shut his eyes and nodded. “I will consider all sides before I make a decision. Until then, swear to me that you will speak to no one.”
Gregory turned away, and for a moment Edmund was not sure he would agree to his request. “Swear on our friendship, Gregory.” He punched his shoulder.
Those dark eyes turned back to him slowly. “Do not ask me to lie, Edmund. You think only of yourself, but you forget that you place me in danger as well for harboring your secret.”
The Pleasure Garden: Sacred VowsPerfumed PleasuresRites of Passions Page 3
