Before Lucy could speak, his mouth covered hers. She nearly sank under the pleasure reawakened in her as his tongue burst through her lips even as his hardness again brushed against her still tingling skin.
“Nay,” she groaned into his mouth, but her hands started to slide up his arms. Surely a few moments would not kill him? Surely just this once...?
While Tearlach had spoken of his family and home, they’d not spoken much on his being a vampire, or what his kind could and could not do. For some reason they’d avoided the topic since Wymon had made known the fact Tearlach was one. But she had never yet seen Tearlach in daylight. He always insisted they keep to caves and other shelters in the day, traveling only at night despite the urgent need to get to his cousin.
Lucy had heard many tales and rumors about his kind and the sun. They were said to abhor daylight. It was said they could not bear sunlight, and even that it could kill them.
She blinked her eyes open and peered down his naked back as her hands slid over it, and immediately moaned in horror. His flesh was turning bright red. It looked like a sunburn, but was happening much too quickly.
Just as Tearlach started to push his way into her, Lucy broke their kiss and shoved with all her might. “Nay, Tearlach! The sun.”
She suspected it was more her words than her own puny efforts that made him stop. Stiffening, he suddenly pulled back and glanced skyward. Lucy saw the fear and realization slide over his face, followed by pain, and wondered if he’d really been so distracted he hadn’t noticed it ere this, or if it had only just set in.
Tearlach’s eyes shot back to her, sharp and piercing, and then he began to move. He levered himself off her, stood, and then caught her arm to help her to her feet, but Lucy’s legs were still weak and trembling from the pleasure he’d given her. She wasn’t at all sure they would carry her to the cave just then. Even if they did, she knew it wouldn’t be quickly. She would simply slow him down.
“Go. I shall follow with our clothes and Trinket,” she said, sitting up.
Tearlach hesitated, but really had no choice. Giving a quick nod, he turned and hurried across the clearing to disappear through a pair of bushes. Lucy watched, making note of the spot, knowing it must be the entrance to the cave, then drew her legs against her chest, resting her head briefly on her knees as she waited to recover enough to be able to follow.
Six
“Rosscurrach?”
The whispered question drew Tearlach’s gaze away from the dark outline of the castle in the distance and down to the woman cradled in his arms. He’d thought she was still sleeping. Lucy had slept through most of this last night of their journey.
Much to his relief.
Unfortunately, Tearlach found her presence and nearness trying since that episode in the clearing the night before. The memories of her feel and taste and her little gasps and moans of pleasure—not to mention her outright shouts—had driven him wild all through their ride that night. It had been hardest when she was awake and shifting restlessly about in his lap, her bottom unintentionally rubbing against him as her soft voice caressed his ears. But it hadn’t been much better when she was asleep, curled cozily against his chest.
Tearlach had spent most of that night fighting to keep himself from slipping his hands around her waist and up to cup her soft full breasts, or dip into the braies she wore to find her warm, damp core. While he’d managed to control his hands and make them behave, his mind had run rampant. In his imagination he’d done all of that and more at least twenty times that evening. He’d even found himself imagining stopping the horse, taking her to the ground beside it, and claiming her in all ways, even marking her with his bite and mating with her as his people did.
That’s when Tearlach had realized just how much trouble he was in. He had liked the woman from the start, wanted her just as long, but had become more enthralled by her with every passing moment they’d spent together. He was already so attached he found it difficult thinking of the time when he would have to leave her behind, and though he wouldn’t even think the word in his mind, he feared what he was experiencing for the woman was love.
Tearlach had spent what little time he hadn’t been ravishing her in his thoughts, struggling with what to do about his feelings for her. If it had just been a matter of liking and wanting her, there wouldn’t have been a problem. He would have taken her in the cave when she’d finally come in from the clearing and cuddled up next to him...but it was more than that. Caring for her as he did, Tearlach was reluctant to claim her when doing so would be so dangerous for her. How could he drag her into the battle now raging around his family? It was just small skirmishes so far, the kidnapping of himself and his cousin and various other attacks, but he feared soon it would be all-out war. Their enemies would try to wipe out his clan out of fear. Tearlach wouldn’t claim Lucy simply to see her die. She would be better off without him, meeting and falling in love with a normal mortal man and living a peace-filled life.
That had been his decision on the matter. So, he had managed to keep from touching and kissing her anywhere but in his own mind. But it had been damned trying and made him irritable and short tempered. He feared he may have hurt her tender feelings a time or two with his snappishness and attempts to keep her at a distance as much as possible, and while he regretted that, it was probably for the best, too.
“Tearlach?”
He glanced down as she twisted in the saddle to peer at him, and—dark as it was—he could see her scowl at his inattention.
“Is that Rosscurrach?” she asked, gesturing toward the distant castle.
“Aye.” He turned the horse to the west and set it moving again. “‘Tis too late to do aught tonight. We’ll take shelter until dusk. Then ye can explain how I can be unlocking his chains and I’ll go find me cousin.”
Much to his relief, she didn’t argue the point, but simply leaned back against him. Tearlach urged the horse in the direction of the old abandoned bothy he knew was nearby.
Lucy woke abruptly, her eyes opening on the dark outline of the man curled beside her in the small space. Tearlach was sound asleep if she were to judge by his breathing. However, while she wasn’t sure how long she’d slept since their arrival, she’d slept through most of their journey that night and was now wide awake. She was not going to sleep any more.
Sighing, she turned onto her back and peered up at the splinters of light creeping in from overhead. There wasn’t much, not enough to harm Tearlach, or even light up the area much more than to make his outline visible, but she was grateful for what little bit of light managed to make its way through the cracks in the wooden trapdoor above.
Lucy didn’t like it here. The caves had been one thing, but this small six foot by six foot cell carved out of the dirt beneath the bothy was awful. She felt like she was in a dirt-lined coffin.
Grimacing at the thought, Lucy sat up on the hard packed dirt and moved to lean against the wall, hoping the change of position would make her feel less claustrophobic. It didn’t help much and she stayed there for only a few moments before getting to her feet. Moving as silently as she could, she stepped around Tearlach to the rickety ladder that leaned against the wall by the trapdoor. While Lucy already knew Tearlach was a heavy sleeper, she had no interest in learning just how deep a sleeper he was by waking him.
Movements slow and cautious, she climbed up the ladder until her head bumped lightly against the wooden covering above. Lucy then reached up and pressed lightly on the closed trapdoor. It immediately started to lift under the gentle pressure and she continued upward, until she could crawl out into the small stone building atop the hole in the ground. She then eased the rickety trapdoor back into place and sat back to peer about.
Dawn had been streaking the sky by the time they’d reached the bothy, but it had still been dark enough that she hadn’t been able to make out much when they’d entered the small stone hut the night before. Tearlach had left her on Trinket’s back as he’d led the mare insi
de, then had been forced to lead her down the ladder into the hole as if she were blind. Now she reached out and ran a hand over Trinket’s leg as she peered about the shelter.
With daylight creeping through the door, she could see that it was small and appeared very old. She thought it must be a hut shepherds had once slept in while watching over their sheep, but doubted it had been used for much of late. It certainly showed no signs of recent habitation.
Tearlach had told her as he’d led her down the ladder that one of his people had dug the pit where he presently slept beneath this bothy. Apparently there were no caves in the area where they might take cover and in such areas his people had made their own provisions for rest stops while traveling.
It suddenly occurred to Lucy that while his people were said to be stronger and faster and fearsome in battle, they were really more fragile than non-vampires in some ways, at least in their need to avoid sunlight. Though, when she’d asked him about the effect of sunlight on his kind during the first part of that night’s ride, he’d said some of his kind could stand the sun. However, it hadn’t sounded like many could, or for long. He had also mentioned that there were mortals among their clan to guard them during daylight.
Trinket shifted restlessly and eased a little closer to her, seeming to want attention. Lucy ran her hand affectionately over the beast again, then got to her feet and moved to the hole where at one time there would have been a door. She stood slightly to the side of the entrance to peer out at the grassy hill and be sure there was no one around, and then eased forward to stand in the sun.
Breathing deeply of the fresh air, Lucy peered over the area, but was unable to see the river she was sure they’d traveled past shortly before arriving here. That was probably for the best, she supposed. Tearlach would no doubt be furious if he woke to find she’d slipped out to bathe. The man had been testy and cranky since the incident in the clearing.
Lucy bit her lip and peered back toward the trapdoor. Tearlach’s behavior since those heated moments in the clearing was causing her both confusion and hurt. While he’d been passionate and loving in the clearing, in the few short minutes it had taken her to join him, he’d seemed to have done an abrupt about-face.
Tearlach hadn’t said a word on her entering other than to give a grunt to help her find him in the dark when she’d whispered his name. And while he’d reached out and pulled her down against his chest to sleep for the day, he hadn’t continued with what they’d started in the clearing, or even given her a peck on the cheek to wish her good night, he’d simply pressed her head to his chest and muttered, “Sleep.”
Thinking that he may be sore from the burn the sun had given him, Lucy hadn’t worried too much at that point, but she had when his gruff and surly behavior had continued the next night when they’d broken camp. It would have been hard to miss the fact that he was suddenly touching her as little as possible, and went as stiff as a board in the saddle when she brushed against him. He also hadn’t offered her a kiss, or even a reassuring touch since then. Worse still, the long intimate talks they’d previously shared in the dungeon and on their journey here had died out completely. He hadn’t spoken at all except in response to her questions and then his answers had been mostly grunts or short, surly replies that had not encouraged conversation. Lucy had got the message and given up trying to talk to him.
She didn’t understand what had caused this sudden change in him, but feared perhaps her wanton behavior had turned him from her. Perhaps he had decided she was not worth his trouble. For her, that idea had turned what had been a beautiful and exciting experience into a cheap, dirty encounter that made her cringe with shame.
Unfortunately, even her shame didn’t stop Lucy from wanting to repeat the experience. She still yearned for his kisses, her very flesh aching for his touch and that had made the ride torment. She’d suffered his body behind her, his smell enveloping her, his breath on the back of her neck and her ear, and had craved a repeat of the experience. It had been unbearable, untenable, and had made her incredibly tense and unhappy until she felt emotionally drained and had fallen asleep before him.
Fortunately, their arrival at Rosscurrach meant she could avoid another night of such hellish tension...at least until they freed his cousin, Heming, and fled the area. Perhaps even then she might be able to avoid it since there were now three of them and they would need another horse. If Heming was in a bad way as Tearlach had been the night they’d escaped, he would be unable to ride alone and Tearlach would have to ride with him, leaving her free of being so close yet unable to touch him.
Shifting restlessly, Lucy glanced back toward the trapdoor again, wanting to return to the hole to cuddle up next to him and just listen to him breathe. A yearning filled her at the idea, but she forced herself impatiently back to peer out of the hut. The hillside looked the same as it had the last time she’d looked and the same way it would the next time, she was sure. She was going to drive herself mad bouncing her gaze between the trapdoor and the empty hillside. She needed to get out. To do something.
Raising her head rebelliously, Lucy moved out of the hut and started down the slope toward the woods below. She would go for a walk to help pass the time. She would search for the river, perhaps take a swim, and hopefully find some berries to eat along the way. It was better than standing there in the hut, yearning for someone who so obviously did not want her in return.
Pausing at the edge of the woods, Lucy turned in a slow circle until her gaze found the distant Rosscurrach castle. She stared silently at the imposing structure where Tearlach’s cousin was being held prisoner.
Once they had rescued Heming, Tearlach intended to see her to court to have the king tend to Carbonnel. No doubt he would leave her then and she could stop twisting herself up over a man who so obviously didn’t care for her. Mind you, that was only if they managed to save Heming and Tearlach didn’t allow his foolish pride to get himself recaptured.
Grimacing to herself, Lucy turned and continued into the woods. Her eyes were automatically scanning the area for edible berries or something else that might ease her empty stomach, but her thoughts were on her fears for Tearlach. He seemed to think that she could describe how to unlock the chains and he would march merrily into Rosscurrach and be able to do it.
Foolish man. He probably wouldn’t even make it to the dungeons or wherever it was that they were holding Heming. While Tearlach was wearing Carbonnel colors, he spoke with a Scottish burr. She was sure he wouldn’t even make it past the gate. She on the other hand...
Lucy bit her lip and raised her head, peering through the trees toward the castle again.
So long as she didn’t speak and give away her English accent, everyone would just assume she was a maid. A big strong man might be noticed no matter the garb he wore, but a puny woman wouldn’t draw more than a passing glance. As such, she could probably slip into the castle and have Heming out and back to the cave before Tearlach woke up.
Well, Lucy acknowledged, at least not long after that. Heming was probably no more capable of going about in daylight than Tearlach was and they would have to wait until night fell before attempting an escape. At any rate, she could have him back here shortly after sunset. Shortly enough that she felt sure Tearlach would still be in the hut, probably cursing her for disappearing.
Her thoughts and footsteps halted as she became aware of the distant sound of someone singing. The voice was a woman’s, high and clear, and she wondered suddenly just how close the bothy was to the village. The castle had looked a good distance off, perhaps an hour’s walk, but the village may have been nearer.
Tilting her head, Lucy turned slowly until she located where the song was coming from, then moved cautiously in that direction. A few moments later she was peering over a bush at a small clearing by the river she’d been looking for in the hopes of bathing. It appeared she would not be doing so today; the water was already occupied. A woman stood, naked and hip deep in the water, singing as she bathed.
Sighing with disappointment, Lucy had started to back away from the bush when her gaze suddenly landed on the gown lying on the ground near the water’s edge. She stared at that dress for a very long time as she realized the one thing she’d not taken into consideration. She was not dressed as a woman, but wore the clothing of a Carbonnel soldier and that was one thing sure to draw attention her way.
While Lucy knew Rosscurrach and Carbonnel were in league together, she doubted very much if Carbonnel men were wandering freely around Rosscurrach bailey or castle. However, in a gown such as the one laying just a few feet away, she would definitely be able to slip into the castle unnoticed.
Hoping that God would take her need into consideration and forgive her for stealing the dress, Lucy began to make her way around the clearing to the spot closest to where it lay discarded.
She’d reached the point closest to the gown and was trying to decide whether to crawl out on her hands and knees to collect it or risk running out to snatch it up when the singing suddenly stopped. Lucy froze and glanced anxiously toward the water, afraid she’d been spotted, but relaxed when she saw that the other woman was now missing, only a growing, round ripple marking the surface of the river where she’d been a moment ago. The music had stopped because the woman had submerged herself in the water.
Taking the opportunity presented, Lucy rushed out of the trees, nearly tripping over her own feet in her hurry. Reaching the dress, she bent to snatch it up and then bolted back into the woods. Lucy ducked behind the first tree large enough to hide her, heart racing as she peered back to the river. The swimmer had resurfaced and was pushing her wet hair back from her face.
When the woman burst back into song, Lucy relaxed, knowing that neither her foray, nor the fact that the dress was missing, had been noticed...yet. Fingers tightening around the dress, Lucy turned and slipped back through the woods to the bothy.
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