There was a soft tremor in her body, and he held her close. Her pain reminded him of what he’d felt for Carice—of all the years of helplessness, wondering when she would die. And though his sister was now safe, he knew the illness could take her at any moment.
“Do you think your mother was right? Did Devlin cause your scars?” he asked.
“No.” Her answer held the quiet weight of a daughter’s love. “I don’t know why she said what she did. Maybe it was greed. Or maybe it was her own hatred. But I can’t believe my father would have done anything to hurt me.”
The whisper of her voice held years of pain and regret. He stroked back her hair, not knowing what to say. But the sudden intimacy between them was like nothing he’d known before. Here, in the dark, it seemed as if she was laying herself bare before him.
Taryn moved her hand over his chest. “I used to go out walking with him. He talked to me, and no matter what Mother said, he did care about me.” She paused a moment and added, “I know he had a terrible temper. My parents fought often, and I tried never to make him angry. He liked it when I obeyed him and remained quiet while he talked.”
Killian said nothing, but her remark sent a warning through him. “And what did your mother think about the time you spent with him?”
Taryn pulled back. “She hated it. I never could tell whether it was jealousy that he spent time talking with me or whether she was afraid of him. Maybe she thought he would set their marriage aside and send her away.”
Killian said nothing, but inwardly, he sensed that there was a threat toward Taryn. And whether it came from her father or hermother, he couldn’t be certain. But he remained guarded, not trusting either of her parents.
“I don’t know what will happen anymore,” she continued. “I don’t know if my father will live or die.” She paused for a long moment and touched her fingertips to his face. “And I don’t know if you’ll help me or leave. For you only want my kingdom...and that is not in my power to give.”
He wasn’t going to leave her. Though he cared nothing about King Devlin, he wasn’t going to walk away from Taryn Connelly. Although she now had the MacEgan soldiers, she needed someone who could intercede with the High King on her behalf.
“It is not only your kingdom that I want,” he said, moving his hand down her spine. The curves of her body pressed close to his, and the ties of her gown rested beneath his palm.
A tremor passed over her at his words. “I don’t need your pity, Killian.”
Deliberately, Killian caressed the puckered skin upon her cheek. “These do not define who you are.”
“Yes. They do.” She covered his hands with hers and pulled them back from the scars. “And I am well aware of it.”
His skin tightened with the knowledge that she had been hurt for so long. Selfishly, he wanted to push back all the years of pain, teaching her what it was to be admired.
“Don’t say it,” he commanded. He didn’t want her to be anything other than what she was. “You are beautiful, Taryn. Anyone who cannot see that is unworthy of you.”
He kissed her lips lightly, even knowing that it would not convince her. It was a kiss of invitation, a silent thanks. But this time, she did not kiss him back.
“I think you are only saying what I want to hear,” she said against his mouth. “This isn’t real.”
He understood that she was trying to distance herself, to prevent him from touching her. She was vulnerable this night,wanting him to stay away. Words would not convince her. But perhaps actions would.
“Then believe this is real.” He took her mouth again, not letting her catch her breath. He kissed her hard, tasting her and enjoying the rush of sensation that roared through him. It was reckless and unrelenting, in an attempt to show her how desirable she was. He slid his tongue inside her mouth, coaxing her response, before he pulled back.
“Did you think I liked watching Connor MacEgan kiss you the other night?” He captured her face between his hands, forcing her to look at him. “Does he make you feel this way?”
She rested her forehead against his. “No one makes me feel the way you do.” This time when he kissed her, she responded with her own kiss. Her tongue met his tentatively, and he never ceased his assault upon her senses. He wanted her to stop thinking about the past, to live only in this moment.
Her hands moved around his neck, drawing him closer. Her legs were twisted in her skirts, and she adjusted her position until she raised one knee, bringing him closer on top of her.
God above. No longer was he the conqueror, but instead, he was trying to learn what she wanted. Her hands moved beneath his tunic and the hauberk of chain mail, her fingers caressing his back. A surge of heat flooded through him. And if nothing else happened this night, he wanted her to know that she had a profound effect upon him.
“Whatever you want this night, Taryn, I will give.” He wanted to spend the hours pleasuring her, until there were no doubts that he desired her. He was so aroused, craving this woman in a way that went deeper than the need to breathe. “I will be a slave to what you need, if that is your wish.”
Taryn broke away, tracing the lines of his face. “You are not a slave and never will be, Killian MacDubh.”
Her words were an invisible touch upon him. When he was with her, she seemed to see the man he was instead of afuidir. He could not deny that he wanted her in a way he could never understand. She was his, and he would kill any man who dared to touch her.
“I am yours to command, Lady. So long as I have permission to touch you the way I’m needing to.” He loosened her laces, wanting her. Were it possible, he would rend the gown in half to bare what he desired.
She was quiet, giving no answer yet. “And what if my kingdom is taken from me? What if my father is killed and there is nothing left?”
“Your kingdom be damned,” he answered. The only thing he cared about was protecting Taryn.
