Box Set - Knights of Passion (7 Novels)
Page 128
Unafraid of ghosts, for what were they but the souls of once living men who’d left the earthly realm, Mairi eased up in the high-sided bathing tub. Her heart knocked wildly, whether she was accepting of bogles or nae.
Encountering one wasn’t something that happened every day.
As if she understood, the spirit gave her a small, sad smile, and then glanced at the door.
Tell him… he is free.
Mairi didn’t see Lady Gwendolyn’s lips move, but she heard the words as surely as if the ghost had whispered them in her ear.
But then a strong gust of chill, wet wind shook the door’s hanging and the room’s light and shadows shifted, blurring the spirit’s image. Or perhaps Lady Gwendolyn simply chose to vanish, her quest met.
Either way, Mairi knew what she had to do.
She had two parting gifts for Gare, though one was as much a present to herself.
She hoped he’d accept both.
To that end, she gripped the sides of the cloth-lined tub and pushed to her feet. Before she could reach for the drying cloth, the door’s curtain was drawn back and Gare strode into the broch.
He froze, staring at her nakedness. “By thunder!” He clapped a hand to his eyes, shook his head. “I didnae mean…” The words hung between them, rough-edged and raw. “I was gone a while. I thought you’d be abed by now.”
“No harm done.” Mairi spoke calmly, hoped he’d think her shivering was from the night’s chill and not because of his gaze on her bared flesh. A perusal that stirred her blood, rousing her. “I am not shy, not ashamed of my nakedness.
“The warm water was soothing.” She took the drying cloth, began rubbing the wetness from her skin. “I stayed in the bath longer than intended.”
“I should’ve called out before coming inside.” He went to the shelf where she kept her uisge beatha, pouring two measures. He kept his back to her, clearly giving her privacy to don her night shift.
Mairi frowned, fighting the urge to go to him. She yearned to touch his broad-set shoulders, glide her fingers down his strong, hard-muscled arms. Above all, she ached to take his hand and lead him to her bed where she wanted to give him the gift she so hoped he’d accept.
One night entwined, intimately joined until the rising sun separated them.
Loving him would break her, shredding her soul.
Seeing him ride away from Kintail without having known his touch, would be a far worse fate to bear.
She needed such memories to sustain her.
So she left her night shift on its wall peg and pulled on her thin night robe instead. She tied the laces only loosely, aware that the front-opening robe did little to hide her most valuable assets.
She wanted him to see her bared curves, every enticement of her womanliness. Hoping he wouldn’t turn around before she was done, she took a small flagon of rose-scented oil from a niche in the wall. Quickly, she dabbed a few drops at the base of her neck, beneath her breasts, and – she didn’t care what such wantoness said about her – to the soft skin of her inner thighs and even the warm and needy place betwixt them.
Perhaps she really was wild and wicked, in need of taming as many folk at Drumbell often scolded. But she didn’t see love as wrong.
Tempting Gare was her only chance.
But first…
She took a deep breath and stood straighter, pushing aside all thought of her yearnings. Now wasn’t the moment to attempt seduction.
Even so, it was hard to resist as he came back to her, carrying two small cups of uisge beatha. He gave her one, his gaze steady on hers, as if he hadn’t noticed the almost opened state of her bed robe – or had and didn’t want to look at her.
“Drink, lady.” He pressed the cup into her hand, nodding when she took a sip. “It’s been a fraught night, but many of your cares can now be eased.”
“So can yours, my lord,” she spoke formally, the weight of what she was about to say heavy on her heart. “I believe I know why the gods led you here.”
He’d just drained his uisge beatha and dragged the back of his hand across his beard. “To slay dragons? Sweet lass, I would have fought an army of the winged beasties for you. All that matters is that you are safe.”
“So I am, and shall be – on the morrow, at my chief’s isle-girt home.” Mairi took another steadying breath. The light and shadow in the broch felt odd again, seeming to shift and swirl around them. It almost felt as if they’d entered another realm, the rest of the world falling away.
“You are safe now, too.” She hoped he’d believe her. “By letting Sorcha go, you repaid the loss of Lady Gwendolyn. However unknowingly her life was taken.”
“What are you saying?” He stepped closer, gripping her arm.
Mairi lifted her chin, forging on. “A balance was struck when you allowed Sorcha to walk away. Your debt, the penance you’ve borne, is over. I know because the lady appeared to me there.” She flung out a hand, showing him where the spirit had hovered. “She wanted me to tell you that ‘you are free.’”
For a long moment, he looked at the empty space she’d indicated.
“Lady, I dinnae believe in bogles,” he finally said. But he was still gripping her arm and she could feel the tightness of his muscles easing, sensed that a tremendous burden was slipping from his shoulders.
“This broch is full of shifting light and shadow.” He glanced round, as if to prove it. “The rain is dwindling and the clouds are breaking. You saw a moonbeam through the door opening. Lady Gwendolyn is away and buried in England.”
She was here this night.
She cared enough to want you to live a good life.
Mairi didn’t say what she knew.
She suspected he’d believe in time and that was enough.
Now, this night…
“I would give you one more gift to carry away with you, if-” Her bravura began to crumple. She couldn’t bear it if he refused her. “I believe you’ve received everything you sought here, and that is good. In coming to the glen, you also brought something to me.
“Stirrings, feelings I’d never expected.” Not knowing what else to do, she undid the ties of her robe and let the garment drop to the floor.
She stood naked before him, bathed only in the broch’s dimness and fire glow, wholly unashamed, yet so frightened he’d shun her.
“Lady…” He clenched his hands, his gaze roaming over her, his eyes dark. “This is no good idea.”
But he didn’t snatch up her robe and swirl it around her as she’d expected. That gave her hope, as did the unmistakable swelling at his groin.
He clearly desired her.
And her heart sang to see his longing.
“I’ve been alone some time,” she rushed on, the night air chilling her skin even as her cheeks burned. She swept back her hair, freeing her breasts. Molten awareness poured through her, pooling low in her belly, deep between her thighs. “You’ve been without the comfort of a woman for longer than I have missed a man’s caress,” she said, scarce hearing her voice for the thunder of her pulse. “No lover has ever kindled such heat in me.”
“I know what you’re offering.” His expression was fierce, his entire warrior’s body looking as if he’d been cast to stone. “We shouldnae do this. The price for such pleasure could be steep.”
“Then you’re not refusing me?” You are worth any cost. She stepped closer, her breasts brushing his chest. The heat of him warmed her through his plaid. “We would hurt no one…”
“Only ourselves.” His eyes glinted, his words hinting at pain that was a distant blur in the future.
“I do not care – for myself.” It was all she could do not to twine her arms around his neck, drawing him to her for kisses. Her fingers itched to tear the plaid from him. She wanted to run her hands over his bared skin, learning and memorizing each muscled plane, glorying in his sandalwood scent, his potent virility. “I only ask these last few hours. Then we shall be no more.”
“By all the bleeding
gods!” He caught her to him, his mouth crashing down over hers in a deep, devouring kiss. He thrust one hand into her hair, gripping her nape as he kissed her hungrily. It was a bold, open-mouthed claiming that stole her breath and left her clinging to him. Her heart raced, the world around her beginning to tilt and spin as she clutched his powerful, plaid-draped shoulders, returning the kiss with all the passion she possessed.
He pulled her closer, releasing her hair and using his free hand to tear off his plaid. As quickly, he tossed it aside so that not even a sliver of air stood between their eager nakedness.
“Gare?” She drew back to look at him. “My bed of furs, shall we-”
“Aye!” He scooped her into his arms and carried her to her sleeping place where he laid her on the thick pelts, then knelt beside her. He trailed his fingers across her breasts, smoothed his hand down her side, along the curve of her hip. “I have ached for this, lady, even as I swore no’ to touch you.”
Mairi reached up to stroke his beard. “I am feeling more a wench than a lady.”
“You are my lady, and e’er shall be.” His gaze swept her, so heatedly that she almost felt the breath of flames everywhere he looked. When his gaze paused at the vee of her thighs and he skimmed his fingertips across the dark curls there, she melted.
The hot pulsing in that most intimate place was nigh unbearable, her desire so great she could scarce breathe.
She wouldn’t think about him calling her his lady.
She was wench enough to know men say many things in the throes of passion.
“All I want is this night.” And then a thousand more, again and again for all our days. She trailed her fingers across his chest, admiring his sculpted muscles, the scattering of dark hair that arrowed from his chest to his belly and lower. “I would give you ease to carry with you when you go.”
Moments I’ll wrap in every beat of my heart, to treasure forever.
“Sweet lass.” He stretched out beside her, reached to palm her breasts, plumping and caressing them. Cherishing her as if she were a great and precious prize. “You give me too much. But I am captivated and cannae resist,” he said, his voice gruff as he leaned in to rain kisses across the swells of her breasts, then swirl his tongue around one peak and then the other.
Mairi’s entire body warmed, tingly bliss spooling through her. Around them, light and shadow merged until nothing remained but a shimmer of silver that shielded them from the outside world as he closed his mouth over one tight nipple and drew hard, the intimacy almost pushing her over the edge.
“I didnae want this.” He lifted his head to look at her as he slid his hand from her breasts to her waist, stroking lower to slip his fingers between her legs. He caressed the soft, sensitive insides of her upper thighs, then the sleek, damp place that tingled so desperately.
“I cannae naesay you.” His fingers lit over her again and again, each touch bringing ribbons of pleasure.
The sensations were heady, making her rock her hips into his hand. She didn’t want him to stop. She let her knees fall wider apart, opening her to his bliss-spending fingers as he sought and circled the sweetest part of her, heightening her pleasure. Yet she still craved more, was sure she’d shatter if he lifted his hand from her.
“I can take no more.” She could hardly speak. “No man has ever touched me this way…”
“Nor will any ever again. You are mine, Mairi MacKenzie. I willnae let you go.” His voice was low, the words again claims she knew men made when pleasuring women.
They meant nothing.
Not for a supposed wonder healer who’d been raised on an onion farm.
Her heart pounded anyway.
And she let herself hope as she looked down to watch his fingers stroke her.
“You are beautiful, more dear than a King’s ransom.” He used one finger to rub the tiny seat of her greatest pleasure. “I could touch and kiss you all night, ravishing every inch of you.
“Especially this part.” He splayed his hand over her, cupping the whole of her.
Mairi shivered, her blood racing. “You may have anything you desire. I am yours, this night.” Don’t leave me on the morrow.
I can’t watch you go.
“I would have you, aye,” he vowed, his gaze on the place he was still gripping so firmly. “So sure as a man cannae hold back the tide.”
Then he was nudging her knees even wider and settled himself between her thighs, leaning down until his breath warmed her skin. He eased her legs over his shoulders, his gaze lifting to hers as he lowered his head and flicked his tongue over the delicate flesh where his fingers had plied such mastery. He circled and probed, then simply began licking her. Long, slow drags of his tongue across the whole of her, again and again, so that the sweetest, most intense pleasure speared through her. Beautiful sensations she’d never known and that she couldn’t bear to relinquish.
“Gare…” She lifted her hips, threaded her fingers in his hair as she rubbed against him, already feeling the crest of her release. “I can take no more.”
“You can, and shall.” He opened his mouth over her, drawing deeply, causing her hips to arch at the intimacy. “I willnae stop until we are both replete. You are nowhere near sated enough. We have hours before the sun rises.”
Mairi’s heart broke, the reminder of the morrow piercing her soul.
“Then take me now and let us love well.” She smoothed her hands over his head, cradled his face. “I would have you at least three times before the morn’s light.”
“No’ near enough.” He rolled on top of her and she felt the hard, thick length of him against her inner thigh, nudging her needy flesh, seeking entry.
He braced himself above her and lowered his head, slanting his mouth over hers and kissing her deeply as he eased inside her. Slowly at first, but then she wrapped her legs around him, drawing him deeper. She gripped his shoulders, urging him into a harder, faster rhythm that took her breath and made her heart pound.
She clung to him, the pleasure so intense, more exquisite than she would’ve believed. And all around them the strange and beautiful silvery light danced and shone, intensifying when he reached down between them to rub and circle her most sensitive spot until the sensations spiraled and broke. Her body quivered and then stilled, waves of completion washing over her.
From somewhere, she thought she heard him call her name. She wasn’t sure, for the wind was rising again, its howl louder than ever.
But then he slowed and heaved a great, shuddering breath as he pulled out of her. He rolled onto his back, drawing her close against his side. She rested her head on his shoulder, slid one leg over his hip.
“Sweet lass.” He smoothed back her hair, kissed her brow. “I would ne’er hurt you.”
You already have – by leaving. “You have only brought me joy.” Mairi allowed herself the half-truth, not wanting to speak of the sorrow to come. “I did not know such pleasure existed. Not as with you.”
“You deserve so much more.” He pushed up on an elbow just as the door curtain moved and Troll entered the broch.
“He left us alone, didn’t he?” Mairi watched the dog walk without a limp to his food bowl, polishing his evening meal and then drinking deeply from his water.
Troll knew there was no more reason to feign ailments or achy bones.
He’d accepted defeat, sensed they were leaving.
“He’s a smart lad.” Gare took her hand, lacing their fingers. “He’ll be at the door when the first hint of gray lightens the sky.”
“And you?” She held her breath.
“I shall be there before him.” He gave her the answer she’d dreaded.
Mairi turned her face to the side and drew a long, tight breath. She needed to steel herself against the memories they’d just made.
How could she have believed they’d be enough?
THE TAMING OF MAIRI MACKENZIE
CHAPTER TEN
Early the next morning, high in the most barren region of Kint
ail’s greatest peaks, Gare sent a prayer to the gods. He thanked them that he’d wakened with Mairi beside him. Whatever the day brought, he’d have the memory of her wrapped in arms, her warmth pressed to him, her silky black hair streaming across his chest.
She’d even rested her hand atop his heart, as if she knew it beat only for her.
Remembering, his chest tightened, so he pushed the images from his mind. What he needed to do was keep putting one foot before the other as they trudged across yet another bleak, wind-bitten ridge.
They’d set off early and the Glen of Winds was now far behind them as they made their way across the stony, mist-drenched heights of Kintail toward Duncan MacKenzie’s stronghold, the isle-girt castle, Eilean Creag.
Gare frowned, dreading what would happen there.
But Mairi’s safety and happiness were at stake. And he didn’t want her damned.
Above all, he didn’t want to lose her.
The need to keep her at his side was powerful, a driving force that could destroy them both.
He glanced over his shoulder at the way they’d come. His gaze couldn’t pierce the wall of mist swirling everywhere, but he felt Dunwynde behind him, its peat-hazed warmth and solace. How he wished they could’ve stayed there, hidden away in Mairi’s bed of furs. The haven where he’d learned how much he loved her, how fiercely he wanted to keep her.
“Are you sure this is the way?” She touched his arm, looking at him with worry in her great blue eyes. “I’m not concerned for myself,” she said, glancing at Troll. “But Troll will need a rest before we go much farther.”
“Then we’ll pause here for a bit.” Gare didn’t like how she’d set a hand on her hip, drawing in long, deep breaths of the chill autumn air.
She looked exhausted and that only heaped more worry and guilt on his shoulders.
Especially as he knew she hadn’t slept, a lacking that was his fault entirely – much as he couldn’t deny she’d been equally ravenous.
Mairi MacKenzie was insatiable.
She was incomparable. Wild, uninhibited, and more passionate than any woman he’d ever known.