“They are both so exquisite, we wouldn’t want one jealous of the other,” Graham murmured.
A soft laugh escaped Charlotte’s lips but it quickly turned into a gasp as his lips moved lower. The pulsing need that had been building between her legs became unbearable and she pushed his head lower, unable to help herself.
She felt him smile against her abdomen but he obliged her and when his lips gently touch her small folds she went wild. She bucked against him and a moan escaped her lips. He continued his ministrations until she felt she could hardly stand it, the pleasure was so intense.
He stopped suddenly and she started to protest but his lips skimmed up her body and then he was between her legs. The pressure of his hips against hers felt amazing. With one quick thrust he was inside her. She let out a small cry of pain.
He stilled against her and softly kissed her lips. “It will feel better in a moment,” he said, continuing to kiss her as her body adjusted. Then Graham slowly began moving inside of her.
She tensed, waiting for the pain but instead waves of pleasure washed over her. They built higher and higher as the pace grew more intense. When she thought she couldn’t stand it another second, Graham let out an intense groan of pleasure as Charlotte tumbled over the edge of her desire.
He rolled onto his side, pulling her with him until they lay face to face. He wrapped his arms around her.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
He gave her a beautiful smile. Looking at him took her breath away.
“I should be asking you that.” Graham tenderly brushed a strand of hair from her cheek.
Charlotte hesitated. The moment had been so amazing she didn’t want to bring up his doubts now but she wanted reassurance that he didn’t regret what they had just done. “I just mean do you regret…”
He put a finger to her lips. “I will never regret it. I just hope you don’t.” Then he snuggled her close.
Charlotte kissed his shoulder. “How could I regret something so beautiful?” she murmured as she closed her eyes. Charlotte was relieved that he was happy. Another person’s happiness had never in her life been so important to her. After days of sleeping on the hard ground, the soft feather bed felt amazing. Warm, safe and satisfied, she could feel herself drifting off into sleep.
“Pray you always feel that way.” She heard Graham’s voice far away before she heard nothing.
* * * *
Graham lay in bed staring at his sleeping wife. His father was going to disown him. Her father was going to murder him.
It was worth it.
Her long lashes lay against her slightly flushed cheeks. Her full rosy lips pouted out as she softly breathed in and out. He brushed a few beautiful blond tresses away from her face. His fingers trailed down the curve of her back, her skin like silk under his fingertips.
He knew he should sleep. He would need his strength for the next few days but Graham wanted to drink her in for every second that he could. She was his. He had met beautiful women before but none had captured his heart the way she had.
It had taken every ounce of his strength to deny her in the woods. He only gave in now because he truly believed this was best for her. Graham had meant what he said under the bay willow. He would sacrifice his life to keep her safe. His life no longer mattered. Only Charlotte’s was important. He felt in his heart that this was fate. He was put on this Earth to save the woman he loved. He could admit that now that they were married. He loved her with all his heart.
His finger trailed down her cheek again. A nervous flutter rose in his chest. What if he didn’t succeed? He gritted his teeth. The path would become clear, it had to.
Graham snuggled Charlotte closer. He would protect her and, in the meantime, he would enjoy whatever time they had together.
The late morning sun peeked into the windows when Graham and Charlotte finally woke. She smiled at her husband, her heart shining through her eyes. “I love you.” The words slipped through her lips before she had a chance to stop them. She bit her bottom lip as he looked at her. She wished she could take the words back now that she had said them.
“Charlotte,” Graham began but she stopped him.
“I don’t think I want to hear what you are going to say.” She turned her face away, her cheeks flushing with color and tears pricking at her eyes.
He gathered her tighter in his arms and his lips grazed her ear. “I love you too. I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you sitting on that horse.”
Charlotte’s heart swelled in her chest. Tears of joy stung her eyes. She turned so that their lips met in a kiss. Their bodies were pressed together and Charlotte began rubbing her skin against his.
“Charlotte,” he groaned her name as his hand slid down to her buttocks and then pressed their hips together.
Charlotte could feel his manhood pressing into her. She hooked her leg around him and then he rolled her on top of him so that she was straddling his hips. He slipped into her. His hands were guiding her hips until she found the rhythm. Pleasure was building in her body as she moved against him and then Graham reached up and took her nipple into his mouth.
She bucked wildly against him. Charlotte heard Graham groan, “Oh sweetheart. My beautiful Charlotte.” Tension tightened his body in rhythm with her own.
They climaxed together and then Charlotte collapsed on top of him, certain she would never get enough. Her hand traced patterns on his chest, as her eyes drifted closed.
He smiled against the top of her head, his hand lightly stroking her back. “Don’t fall asleep on me now. We have big plans to make today.”
“Mmmm,” she replied sleepily. She wanted to spend the whole day in bed and enjoy the oasis they had found for as long as possible.
Just as she was about to fall back to sleep a loud knock sounded at the door.
“Yes,” Graham called.
“Get up little brother. We need you.” Will’s voice boomed through the door.
“Go away, Will,” Charlotte scolded her brother-in-law.
“Sorry Charlotte, but it’s important. Meet us downstairs in ten minutes.” Charlotte and Graham heard his muffled footsteps down the hall.
Charlotte scowled at Graham, her breath coming out in a huff. “This is our honeymoon. Why can’t we have a day?”
Graham cocked one eyebrow. He chuckled. “Actually, this is a rescue mission. The marriage is a happy side benefit. We must try to get you back to England as soon as possible.”
Charlotte bit her bottom lip. He was right of course. “Where will we go?”
“Harlington Manor first. Then onto your father’s home. The marquess has never attempted to kidnap you from there so I can only assume there is some protection that is provided in your family home.”
“And what if there isn’t?” Charlotte’s eyebrows drew together in worry.
“We sail for America,” Graham stated without reservation.
Charlotte burst out laughing but then realized he was completely serious. She kissed him hard on the lips. “You would move to America for me?”
“I would battle hell itself for you,” he claimed as he returned the kiss and then picked her up and climbed out of bed. “Now we need to head downstairs. Keeping you safe is a full time position.” Graham winked at her as he set her down.
Charlotte sighed but began washing herself and getting dressed. She had a sinking feeling that once they left this room the honeymoon was over.
The couple descended the stairs, with all eyes on them. Lord MacPherson stepped to the front of the group.
“Welcome back.” Ewan eyes twinkled as he spoke.
Heat traveled up her entire body. She inched closer to Graham. Everyone in the room knew what had happened between them last night.
“I am sorry to interrupt the honeymoon but we must decide what happens next.” Ewan patted Charlotte on the shoulder.
Graham agreed. “You mentioned yesterday that you thought we should leave today.”
Ewan gav
e a single nod. “It would be tempting to stay here and rely on the protection my home provides but it will leave the marquess too much time to plan. When we do finally leave, he will attack.”
“He will attack no matter what,” Will interjected.
“You are probably right, huntsman, but if we do this now, he will have little help and very little time to come up with a strategy. We will make a break for it while he is disorganized.” Ewan waved over his son.
“Yes father,” the boy said.
“I am going to go with them. They need my help. You must promise to stay in the castle walls. You can’t go beyond the bay willows.” Ewan hugged his son.
“I have to go with them too, father.” The boy looked into his father’s eyes.
“No. It is too dangerous for you. Without the protection of the trees, I don’t know what might happen to you.” Ewan held his son tighter.
The boy shook his head. “I am supposed to go with them. I told you father, that I needed to get Charlotte. You didn’t want me to leave then either. The fates have spoken. This is the path. We have to go with them.”
Ewan began to protest but the boy looked at Graham. “Would you please get your sword?”
Graham started in surprise. How could this boy know about his sword? He hadn’t unsheathed it. It should have looked like any other weapon. He started to ask the question but then wordlessly got up and returned to his room to retrieve the weapon.
It was a plain sword, not encrusted with jewels, or fancy designs but the copper was the purest he had ever worked with and the sword had seemed to form itself. Even the master swordsmith had admired his work. Graham was extremely proud of it.
“I have seen this sword, it is the one that kills the Marquess of Huntly.” The boy gently touched the hilt.
“Graham defeats the marquess?” A grin split Charlotte’s face.
The boy shook his head. “I don’t know. I cannot see who gives the final thrust and if they live or die.”
A sob rose in Charlotte’s throat. She covered her mouth with her hand. It was too risky, she couldn’t let Graham do this. “We will stay here. We will wait it out...”
“No, my love,” Graham cajoled as he wrapped her in his arms. His voice was soft. “The second I left my father’s house, I knew I may very well being giving my life for yours. There is nothing to be done for it.”
“That’s mad. We can make another plan, we can sail for America…” Charlotte’s voice tightened in fear as she pulled away from the embrace.
“If my sword kills the marquess and frees the north, then it is here I stay. It is your life that matters not mine.” Graham patted his wife’s hand but she pulled it away.
“But it could be Will or Nick that wields the sword.” Charlotte’s voice grew more hysterical. She wanted an assurance that her husband would be all right.
“Charlotte. I would not abandon my brothers to fight without me. As long as you live…”
“Stop saying that. We will live our lives together.” Her hands clasped his shirt front.
Graham looked at Ewan. Charlotte turned to her cousin. “Tell him he doesn’t need to be here for this fight. Tell him…”
“Lass, I have known since the second you came up my drive that this was Graham’s fight. It was why it had to be him that married you.” Regret laced Ewan’s voice.
Charlotte choked back a sob as she ran upstairs.
Laying on her bed, she could hear the preparations for the journey happening. She wiped the tears from her eyes for the hundredth time. She didn’t know when they were leaving, who was coming, or where they were heading. She cursed herself once again for running away.
A soft knock sounded at the door. Graham opened the door and walked halfway into the room. “It’s almost time to leave.”
She didn’t look at him. “I’ll be down in one minute.”
He didn’t respond but Charlotte refused to turn her head and see if he was still there. The pause continued to stretch out and she was about to look when she felt his weight sinking on the bed.
He lay down next to her. Graham gathered her up against his body, his face in her hair. “We have only known each for a few days. How can that even be possible?”
A smile touched her face and she finally turned to look at him. “We were meant to be together.”
His fingertips trailed along her cheek and down her neck. “Fate is surely at work. I knew from the second that they carried you off that I was meant to rescue you.”
“If fate is at work than why shouldn’t we get our happy ending?” She touched his cheek with her hand.
“Maybe we will. But please try to understand that I cannot run away from this fight. There have to be men who stand up for what is right. If I were one of those men who ran away, I wouldn’t have come for you to begin with.”
She nodded her head. “This morning you said we could leave for America.”
“I know. But that was before I understood that it had to come down to a final confrontation. As soon as little Ewan said it, I felt in my heart that it was supposed to be this way.”
“I love you,” Charlotte’s voice pleaded one last time.
“I love you too. More than I could ever tell you.” Sadness filled every nook of Graham’s face. “We have to go.”
STEALING A LADY’S HEART
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The five Fairfields, three MacPhersons and an entourage of servants left for the coast. It would only take them a few hours to reach the water but much of the day would be gone. Very few inns could accommodate such a large group so they would most likely camp.
Will and Ewan were in the front of the group. Charlotte and Graham rode together on a massive steed. The horse’s muscles rippled under them, waiting to be unleashed and ride faster than the wind itself. Ewan’s wife Clarissa and his son were behind them while Tom and Nick brought up the rear. Several wagons made up the back of the group.
Charlotte noticed that one wagon was full of supplies such as food and tents. Another held weapons and the last was full to the brim with bay willow cuttings.
As the horse loped along, Charlotte was continually pressed up against Graham. Her bottom was tucked between his powerful legs. Her back pressed against his strong chest. His arm came around her like a band of protective iron. She wanted to be angry at him but with the contact all she could feel was desire coursing through her body. She cursed herself and tried to straighten away from Graham.
“This would be a lot more comfortable if you would relax,” Graham whispered in her ear.
She cocked one eyebrow. “It would be a lot more comfortable if my husband planned to live through the week.”
Graham sighed heavily. “I don’t know how much time we have, must we spend it fighting?” He touched her golden hair.
Charlotte’s chest constricted. “We could have more time if you would leave with me.”
She felt Graham’s body slump. “I explained this already. I’m not a man who runs. Lord Bard is terrorizing our lands. I won’t leave all of the north to face the consequences of my actions.”
Charlotte said nothing. She knew he was right.
“Charlotte, I know this hurts but you will find someone else. Someone more fitting for your station. Someone who can give you the life you deserve.” His voice cracked over the last words.
“You keep saying that. Now it is time for you to learn something about me. When all the other girls swooned over every handsome man, I never did. Not once. I waited until I found the perfect man for me. Even when I first met you, I didn’t want to give you my heart. But you have stolen it from me. It is yours now, forever. Even if you die, my heart will die with you. I will go on living but I will never love again.” Charlotte spoke softly but sincerely.
“I can’t believe—” Graham started.
“Will you love another?” she cut him off.
A grin split his face, “Never.”
“Then why is it hard to believe that neither will I?” She stra
ightened her shoulders.
He kissed her cheek. “Because I don’t deserve your love,” Graham said softly.
“You have battled an army of men. You have sailed the sea and climbed towers to keep me safe. You carried me across Scotland. How can you think you don’t deserve my love?” She sighed with exasperation.
He looked at her for a long moment. He seemed to try to speak, stopped, and then started again. Finally he spoke. “I have known that I loved you almost since the first moment that I saw you. But, before that even, I knew you could never be mine. I have repeated it in my head over and over. It is difficult to overcome…”
“Graham,” Charlotte stopped him. “I am yours.” She turned on the horse and kissed him hard. “And you are mine. Whatever else happens, we do it together.”
“Together.” He kissed her hair and squeezed her tight.
The caravan made it to the sea but the tide was low and would not be high enough to sail until two in the morning. Instead of risking attack on the open sea at night, the group decided to camp out and sail early the next afternoon.
Tents were erected and bay willow branches were placed on top of each structure. A quick dinner was had and then Ewan and Will left to find a ship to carry them south.
Graham and Charlotte took a walk along a river that fed into the ocean. They followed inland until it ceased to be brackish and the river grew smaller. Up ahead, they could see a patch of bay willows. Charlotte skipped ahead and, parting its branches, she lay herself down in the soft grass underneath the tree. The last light of day was filtering through the branches, giving the tree a magical glow.
Graham followed his wife at a more leisurely pace. Slowly he parted the branches and assessed her lying in the grass. His eyes ran up and down her body. His hands clenched at his sides. The emotion of the day had taken its toll. He looked the way she felt. She wanted to be close to him. Charlotte smiled up at her husband. “Come lie with me.”
Once Upon A Regency Page 96
