Guttural groans emanated from his throat as he rode her harder and faster, taking them both to the next level.
She welcomed the hard length of him into her body, his slickness sliding in and out easily. She knew he needed her with intensity beyond his own comprehension. She needed no flowery prose, no words of love and admiration. She knew he would come around in time. She let him use her body again and again, taking out all his hidden frustrations on her.
Reaching forward, he cupped her breasts, squeezing the tender flesh, making her cry out in delight as he pinched her nipples hard. Again and again, he buried himself deeper into her as she reciprocated and dug her fingernails into his skin, screaming out in delight.
“That’s it,” he urged her onward, until she too was panting and covered with sweat. Back and forth she moved against him, gripping his muscular thighs.
With one last forceful thrust, he pulled himself out completely, groaning loudly and released himself onto her buttocks. The sticky wetness slid down onto the back of her leg. She turned to look at him, her body on fire, needing, wanting more. She wanted him to touch her, she needed her own release …she was so close. She turned toward him and ran her hands over his chest, the sweat dampening her palms as her hands slid them down further. Reaching out she grabbed his hands, guiding his them back to her body where she longed to be touched.
Darias disentangled his hands from hers, pulling them away and instead ran them through his hair, tossing it behind his shoulders before standing up.
Morrigan watched as he walked across the room, and unbarred the door, opening it up. Her brain was not functioning properly, her muscles tightened in anticipation of his return.
“I have to get some sleep,” he said callously, leaning on the door, letting out a huge yawn.
Morrigan looked at him, not fully understanding what he was saying. She smiled at him, shaking her hair out in an inviting gesture, but he did not move from the doorway.
“I have a battle to fight in the morn; I need sleep, woman. Put your clothes on; we are finished here,” he said absently, yawning again.
Morrigan crawled forward shakily, grabbing her gown from where it was tossed carelessly to the floor and gathered it in front of her naked body. She stood and his wetness slid further down her leg. A reminder of what happened only moments before. Her body shook as she walked forward, slipping her gown over her head quickly. It swooshed lightly against the stone floor, the only sound in the room except the crackle of the fire. She stopped in front of him, waiting for a kind word, hoping for some tenderness.
The door creaked loudly in protest as he pushed it open wider. He put his hand on her shoulder, and she turned her face towards it. The simple gesture almost became her undoing until he pushed her forward through the opening. She turned just in time to have the door shut firmly and loudly in her face. She listened as the bar was brought home, locking her out for the rest of the evening.
***
Morrigan’s mind came back to the present. She thought at the time he was only tired. Surely, he would make it up to her when he returned; at least, that is what she told herself. But that was not the case. Now he was back with another girl, one she had never laid eyes on before. He did not even look at her since his return, and she knew with a certainty, if not for the new girl, he surely would have called her to him by now.
She looked at Milford with all the hurt and anger she felt. She wanted to scream at him, but instead, forced her sweetest voice out of her mouth. “You must find it, Milford, else your master may find himself in dire straits,” she warned ominously, fire raging in her eyes.
Milford took a shaky step back. Even though she coated her voice with sweetness, the look in her eyes sent shivers of fear running down his spine. He backed up to the end of the hall. “I will,” he called out as he ran around the corner as fast and far away from her as possible.
“You better rodent,” Morrigan hissed under her breath, walking quickly away. She would simply have to take care of her little problem herself.
Second Guessing
THE AGE OF CHIVALRY * RAVENHURST
IT was too early to be awake and yet she was standing at the foot of the bed, watching him sleep. She pushed her hair from her eyes in aggravation. No. No. No.
Marguerite did not want to leave, not now, not ever. But what choice did she really have? She had already given him everything she had to give, not once, but twice, and still, she did not think it was enough. Leaning forward she trailed her fingers over his brow, trying to memorize each and every contour and nuance of his face. She wanted to remember the way his lips parted slightly as he slept. How his breath came out in shallow gasps. The way his long hair fanned out across the pillows and how his dark lashes rested on his high cheekbones. She rubbed her fingers across the slight growth of beard shadowing his jaw. She loved him so badly it hurt, making her sick to her stomach.
Desperate Measures
THE AGE OF CHIVALRY * THE CONJURING ROOM
SMOLDERING hot air filled the dark chamber. Chains rattled from the ceiling, pulsing from the relentless heat, pushing its way from the room. Sweat trickled down the sides of Morrigan’s face, drenching her hair and clothing. She leaned closer to the roaring fire. Hot flames licked up the sides of the steely rod she jabbed into the molten coals under the large cauldron, stoking the blaze even higher as she conjured a spell.
Split in Two
THE AGE OF CHIVALRY * DARIAS’ CHAMBER
MARGUERITE looked longingly at the bed, knowing how warm it would be to snuggle against his hard, muscular form. She wanted to feel his body and remember forever how it felt to be in his arms. But she couldn’t. She did not belong here, really. She had to leave before she got in any deeper than she already was. She walked halfway across the room, her feet dragging slowly, making a loud scuffing noise on the floor. She guessed she was in her own way attempting to wake him up. If he woke up, she would have to stay a little longer. She was almost to the door when a searing burst of heat coursed through her body, stealing her breath from her lungs. She doubled over from the pain, her knees buckling beneath her as she fell forward. She tried to break her fall, but her arms would not move from her sides. A burst of white shot through her head as her face hit the floor, scraping against the rough stone, her body following behind. Darkness jumped from the shadows of her mind, taking her in its embrace, forcing consciousness from her body.
Desperation
THE AGE OF CHIVALRY * DARIAS’ CHAMBER
DARIAS jolted awake. He sat up, looking around the room, his breathing coming in short, ragged gasps. His heart hammered in his chest. The room was stifling. He ripped the furs from his body and stood up from the bed. The cold stones under his bare feet were a reminder of how cold it really was. He had no idea why his body felt so hot. He wondered if he had a fever. Flexing, his muscles responded immediately. He felt fine, but he was covered in sweat. His hair was damp as well. Walking over to the window he pulled back the tapestry. Light poured into the dim room. The cool air sent goose bumps over his sweat-dampened skin. Taking deep breaths of the chilled fresh morning air, his breathing finally returned to normal. There was a niggling in the back of his mind; he should remember something, but it eluded him. Instead, he enjoyed his moment of solitude, planning his day as he always did….
That was short-lived.
He suddenly remembered what he forgot. His spine stiffened and he felt a tightening in his chest as he turned slowly around. His little imp was lying on the floor. He did not think, but simply ran over to her side, and lifted her limp body into his arms, carrying her quickly back to the bed. Her face had a large red scrape on her chin and cheek from where she must have hit the floor. Pressing the back of his hand to her face, it instantly heated his cool hand. She was on fire.
Standing he removed her boots, hose, and cloak. He needed to cool her down. Turning from the bed, he raced quickly across the room, grabbed up the basin of water, and carried it back to the bed. Lifting a cloth from the basin, he gen
tly wiped her face, hands, and feet with the wet cloth. He remembered seeing the like done a long time ago when Jayce came down with a fever. It wasn’t helping. He didn’t know what to do. He left her side, crossing the room and wrenched open the heavy wood door. It slammed loudly against the wall, vibrating on its hinges.
“MORRIGAN!” he screamed through the open doorway.
Twisted
THE AGE OF CHIVALRY * RAVENHURST
MORRIGAN pushed her damp hair away from her face, walking back up the stairs from one of the hidden chambers. She needed a cool bath after being in the hot, enclosed space for so long but she had done what she set out to do. The bitch would be gone before another sunrise.
She heard him then. His deep voice echoing loudly through the keep, bouncing off the walls… her blood suddenly ran cold.
****
The adventure continues with …
DREAMS OF TOMORROW
A Ravenhurst Series Novel
BOOK FOUR
NOW AVAILABLE
KEEP READING TO TAKE A SNEAK PEEK NOW
THE winds howled outside the donjon walls as he brought the wrath of his fury against all in his path.
“FIX HER!” he roared, dashing an angry arm through the air, pointing at the bed.
Morrigan braced herself against the force of his rage as she entered the room fully. It was stifling; she found it hard to take a breath. Her gaze drifted to the bed. The girl that was the crux of all her problems lay out in the middle.
She looked over at him, his dark eyes filled with desperation and something deeper, etched on his face, marring his perfect brow. Her body began to shake uncontrollably; she was shivering even though it was smoldering in the chamber. “Open the windows,” she yelled back, fear making her voice harsh.
Darias strode across the room, ripped the tapestries from the wall, and threw them to the floor. A frigid breeze wafted through the opening, cooling the room.
Morrigan took a shaky breath, welcoming the crisp air into her lungs. She had never seen Darias react with such unbridled emotion. It made her tremble even more.
“Can you fix her?” he asked again, this time his voice quieter, almost begging as he turned towards her.
Morrigan stumbled forward. The deep concern he had for the girl was unnerving. It made her want to vomit. How did one battle against this kind of devotion? She instantly hated the helpless girl even more. “I need my herbs and salves,” she answered and then turned to walk back out of the chamber.
“What has gotten hold of her?”
Morrigan stopped in mid step, her shoulders tensing, “I do not know.”
Darias crossed the room, reaching her in two strides. He looked down into her face. “You are a healer aren’t you?” he asked through gritted teeth, his face mere inches from hers.
Morrigan took a deliberate step back. “Yes milord, I am a healer, but not a mind reader. How do I know what has befallen this girl”…she gestured to the bed. “I don’t even know where she came from? You should hope she did not bring a sickness upon this donjon. I know you do not need me to tell you what effect it will have on the occupants. I am no sorcerer. I only have so many remedies at my disposal.”
“Well, we can find a sorcerer, can’t we? You know of one, don’t you?” he prodded, gazing down at her, his eyes piercing.
Morrigan schooled her features, not wanting to admit to an association with Merlin. He was a proverbial thorn in her side and he did not need to know what she had done. Of course, he would know too. A simple glance at the girl and he would know she had been spelled. “I will look into it.”
“You will do more than that. Find him.” He demanded.
Morrigan gulped, her throat constricting, “Of course.” She bowed her head, not able to look at him any longer, as she backed slowly out of the room, her shoes scuffing loudly on the stone floor. She stole a quick glance over at Milford. He stood off to the side of the chamber, religiously crossing himself, mumbling some kind of prayer. Like that would help. She would have laughed at the fool if it were not for the terror coursing through her from her own handiwork. If Darias found out she was the one who did this to the girl he seemed so taken with, she knew without a doubt her head would be loosened from her shoulders before another sunrise.
****
Special Thanks
To my Readers:
I know, I know. Here I go again with another round of thanks, but I can’t help it. I truly appreciate every reader I have. I only wish I could send out a personal thank you to each and every one of you but am afraid I would never get around to writing the next book in my series.
So in light of my lack of time here is one more THANK YOU! It may look small and lack luster but please know it is truly heartfelt and full of the greatest amount of appreciation for all of you.
To be kept up to date on my latest releases, happenings, and giveaways simply drop me a line at [email protected] and will gladly add you to my mailing list. And for those of you who have a specific question or just want to say hello, please do not hesitate to contact me. I love chatting with all my readers!
Lorraine Beaumont
www.lbeaumont.blogspot.com
A lso by Lorraine Beaumont
THE RAVENHURST SERIES
FORGOTTEN TIME
SHADOWS OF YESTERDAY
TIME TO REMEMBER
DREAMS OF TOMORROW
NOW & FOREVER
(COMING 2014)
THE BRIARCLIFF SERIES
BRIARCLIFF: A NEW BEGINNING: ELYOGRAG
BRIARCLIFF: A REAWAKENING: GARGOYLE
BRIARCLIFF: A RECKONING: DEGARE’
(COMING 2014)
TIME TO REMEMBER: A NEW ADULT TIME TRAVELING ROMANCE (RAVENHURST SERIES) Page 12
