“I am ready with the clothes on my back. Can we leave tonight?”
“I believe so. But I must get St. Alban and The Sirens to safety before I take you. Aubrey’s wrath would more than likely fall on them when you and I are discovered missing.”
“Of course,” she said as she touched his face, running her fingers along his stubble. “Where is Lake? We must take her with us.”
“She is with my mother, in the little village just south of here,” he said. “We will indeed take her.”
Avalyn looked up at him. “Your mother is here, too?”
He smiled wanly. “Everyone who cares about us has come with me. I brought quite a troop.”
She returned his smile, still touching his face. “How will your mother get back to London, then? Or will we take her with us?”
He shook his head, his body growing increasingly warm from her tender touch. “St. Alban will escort her and The Sirens back to London. All will be well. You mustn’t worry.”
She was trying not to, but there were so many people involved that she had to make sure no one was left behind to suffer when she and Brogan made their move. As she nodded her head compliantly, Brogan swooped down and slanted his lips over hers, suckling fiercely. Passion flared in her slender body and she allowed herself to be upswept in his power and virility. They’d had so little time together; she’d never truly enjoyed or explored the man. Every moment like this was more precious than the last.
In a fused pair, they sank back into the stall where the bay colt chewed lazily on his feed. And in the shadows outside the stable, the sergeant who had fought the Battle of Wakefield with the man they called ‘The Monster’ had heard everything.
He went running for the keep.
*
It was softand dark and quiet in the stables as Brogan pinned Avalyn against the stable wall. His mouth worked her furiously, against her mouth, her jaw, her neck. His passion was almost frenzied, having been denied the woman so long and being unsure of their future; his tenderness knew a hint of roughness. But Avalyn didn’t care; she, too, felt the frenzy and the passion as much as he did. It had been pent up since the day they had met. All she knew was that she wanted the man, in spirit and soul and body, and she had to have him or die.
The straw beneath them was clean and dry. Brogan lay her down on her cloak, untying the fastens as his lips suckled her neck and collarbone. When the ties fell away, she was in a yellow brocade with a plunging neckline and he took advantage of theexposed white swell of her breasts. The rabbit fur got in his nose, however, and he sneezed more than once. Avalyn laughed softly, as did he. But it did not stop him. Pulling Avalyn tight against his hard chest, his fingers went to work on the laced stays that held her surcoat in place.
Avalyn would not wait to be disrobed. She helped him. In between removing her surcoat, she unlaced the stays on his tunic and pulled it over his head. She paused a moment in the weak light, studying his magnificent torso for a moment; his muscles were bulky and defined, the tanned skin covered with a matting of soft dark hair. She ran her fingers over his chest lightly, acquainting herself with it, feeling him shudder when she drew a finger over a dark puckered nipple.
He captured her mouth in his again, his tongue pushing sensually into her pink recesses. Now that her surcoat was off, he went to work on the corset, leaving her only in her shift and pantalets. His massive hand fondled her round breast through the soft wool, feeling her nipple harden against his palm. When he could take no more, he tore her shift from her shoulder with a growl, exposing her left breast. His mouth hungrily descended on it.
Avalyn gasped softly, feeling his wet heat on her nipple. Soon her other breast was exposed and he suckled her madly. Before long, the shift was pulled off completely and she lay nude beneath him. Quickly, Brogan lowered his hose, rubbing his enormous erection against her thigh.
Avalyn felt his hardness, torn between lust and curiosity and apprehension. She loved the man, she was determined to be his wife, and she saw no wrong with what they were about to do. She wanted it as badly as he did. As his mouth moved across her chest again, he shifted and settled between her slender legs. Avalyn lifted her knees, accommodating his bulk, excitement and apprehension running side by side in her mind.
His fingers moved down her belly to the dark curls between her legs. She started unsteadily at first, but his kisses soothed her as his fingers stroked the moist, tender folds. When he felt her relax, he slipped a finger into her wet heat and listened to her soft grunts of pleasure, of anxiety. His lips claimed her mouth again.
“I love you more than my life,” he murmured against her. “You must always remember that.”
She opened her eyes, gazing into his dark blue orbs. There was such warmth and passion there. As they lost themselves in the tenderness of the gaze, Brogan slid his manhood into her waiting body.
She was wet and hot and slick. As she gasped with surprise, he slanted his mouth over hers again and continued his steady thrust. One more thrust saw him seated to the hilt, ridding her of her virginity and claiming her completely. Avalyn groaned and gasped, but her discomfort was momentary. She had never in her life felt more close to someone, or so completely whole. He filled her like nothing she had ever known to exist. It was a magical moment for them both.
Brogan gave her a moment to become accustomed to his body embedded within her. When his thrusts began, they were gentle and slow. Avalyn moved with him, relishing the new sensations, feeling his hands upon her and his body within her. She’d never felt so womanly, so loved. When his thrusts increased, a spark started in her loins that grew in intensity. Brogan’s hot, rapid breath in her ear only seemed to increase the sensation. His hands were on her breasts, in her hair, snaking around her back and holding her close. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding him fast as the pace quickened.
She could feel him grinding his pelvis against her Venus Mound, every contact bringing a shock of sensation. His mouth was on her lips again, suckling her, and she suddenly felt a burstof sensation from within her groin. It was enough to bring a loud gasp to her lips, one of pure pleasure and exhilaration. Brogan swallowed up her cries in his mouth, giving one last, hard thrust, his entire body shuddering. Still, he continued to move, not wanting the magic to fade but knowing it must. His kisses softened until they stopped completely. When Avalyn opened her eyes, he was gazing softly at her.
“Did I hurt you?” he whispered.
She shook her head. “Not at all.” She touched his cheek, watching him kiss her palm as it moved by his mouth. “You consume me, Brogan. I wish I could tell you everything that is in my heart, everything that I am feeling.”
He smiled faintly. “If it is anything close to what I am feeling, then I understand it well. I never truly loved a woman until I met you, Avalyn. Now I understand why life is worth living.”
They exchanged smiles, touches. The straw poked at her back but Avalyn did not want to move. She wished she could stay with him, like this, forever. But the reality was that they must leave, and quickly. The longer they stayed, the more chance there was for discovery. She tilted her head up and kissed him.
“I love you, my darling,” she murmured. “But we must get dressed.”
He sighed heavily. “I know.”
