The Demon of Éireann.
He’d earned that name.But despite the blood on his hands, he didn’t care what everyone else believed of him.He’d had his reasons for killing so many fighters, leaving them to rot.And if no one but him knew the truth about what had happened that day, so be it.He refused to stand aside and let innocents be threatened.He didn’t care if everyone believed he was a butcher.
All his life, Fergus had reminded Balor thathewas to blame for his mother’s misery.Orla had shrouded herself in grief, finding happiness in nothing.Certainly, she lived within her marriage as if she were a ghost.Her emotions towards her husband were empty, and the more she shied away from Fergus, the more the chieftain took out his rage on Balor.
Even though Kenneth had been kind, Balor couldn’t get close to his brother without being severely punished.
And when your own family—the ones who were supposed to love you—treated you as if you were nothing but a burden, it was easy to believe.
Balor was torn between wanting to help his brother and knowing that no one wanted him at Dunmalus.Then, too,there was another problem if he stayed here.He might see Mairead again, married to a nobleman.
A tightness caught in his gut at the thought of another man kissing her.Touching her.
Lord Lowell was a far better choice of a husband for Mairead—Balor could offer her nothing.Not a home and not the life she deserved.And yet, jealousy slid through his veins.Last night he’d barely slept, fully aware that the earl was here, under the same roof.He knew, full well, what the earl wanted.
But Balor wasn’t so certain about Mairead’s desires.He couldn’t understand why she had brought him here last night, demanding that he receive a chamber of his own.He wasn’t used to anyone taking care of him.
He ran his hand over the coverlet and sheets, marveling at such a thing.Even something as simple as having privacy to sleep alone.The only time he’d ever had that was when he’d slept out of doors within a tent.
And this room had been warmed by the brazier.Balor stood from the bed, feeling the slight chill when he went to get dressed.He walked towards the window and opened the shutters, staring outside at the serfs who were unloading supplies from a wagon while soldiers trained in the inner bailey.Others brought trays of food from the kitchens, and his stomach rumbled at the thought.
Mairead deserved to live in a place like Rionallís, with a bed of her own and a warm room.In his mind, he imagined laying her down on a bed such as this, skin to skin.
In England, several of the maids had flirted with him.He’d been startled by their attentions at first, but they had quickly taught him how to please a woman.And although he’d enjoyed it, he’d never fully taken advantage of them,not wanting to sire any bastards of his own.It wasn’t right or fair to the child.
But the thought of spending an entire night pleasuring Mairead brought an ache within him, a fierce craving to taste that sweet softness and drive her over the edge of fulfilment.
As if in answer to his daydream, a soft knock sounded at his door.Balor went to answer, not caring that he was only wearing trews.When he opened it, Mairead was standing before him in a dark green overdress andléinewith her hair half up.She blinked a moment at his state of undress, and her face flushed.But she didn’t turn away from him.
Her gaze was fixed upon his bare skin, and she let out a slow breath.‘Good morn to you.’
In answer, he opened the door wider, letting her come inside.She did, but instead of crossing the room, she remained next to him.‘I—I thought we could talk about what to do now.’
God, the scent of her skin reminded him of a field of fresh flowers.He wanted to bury his face in her hair, sliding his hands through that dark silk.
‘What is it you want?’he asked.
‘I don’t know whether we should stay here or look for my brother.’
Balor rested his hand on the back of the door, shadowing her body.He was so close, he could easily steal a kiss if he wanted to.
And by the gods, he wanted to.
‘What do you think we should do?’she said softly.
‘That choice is yours.’He rested a second hand against the door so she was almost in his embrace.
Mairead tilted her head.‘Are you trying to make me feel uncomfortable, Balor?’
Uncomfortable, no.Pushing against the invisible boundaries?Yes.
‘Is that what you feel?’
‘I don’t know what I feel.’Her gaze drifted downward, and she studied his bare chest a moment before she laid her hand upon his heart.‘Only what I want.’
The moment her soft fingers touched him, he went hard.He craved her beyond all reason, especially because she had sought him out.Shehad touched him first, and a wicked side of him wanted to seize everything, even as his brain warned him to grasp the last shred of honour he possessed.Which was almost nothing at the moment.
He reminded himself that she hadn’t come here for seduction.
