“My beautiful, delightful Allegra. You take my breath away.”
Then his hands were on her, touching her, moving over her until she felt her legs grow weak and her knees begin to buckle.
At once he lowered her gently to his pallet, all the while kissing her until she could feel the breath backing up in her throat.
He leaned up on one elbow, studying the way she looked in the firelight. Flesh as pale and flawless as alabaster. Eyes gleaming like points of flame. That spill of fiery hair, inviting him to touch. And he did. Tangling his fingers in it while he ran hot, nibbling kisses over her face, her neck, her throat, then lower still, until she gasped and clung to him.
He brought his mouth to her earlobe, nibbling, tugging, until she chuckled at the unexpected sensations. But the laughter became a moan of pleasure when, with jagged thrusts of his tongue, he drove her slowly mad.
When his mouth returned to hers the heat between them grew, until their bodies were slick with sheen. And still he moved over her, kissing her breasts, then bringing his mouth lower, to the pale, white skin of her stomach, then lower still, until she moaned and writhed with need.
Sparks shot from the fire on the grate, though neither of them noticed. Outside the balcony a dove cooed to the moon, and its mate answered. The man and woman locked in an embrace neither saw nor heard. All they could see was each other. All they heard were soft sighs and whispered promises. And the uneven thundering of two hearts, lost in the wonder of newfound love.
The world had narrowed to this chamber, this pallet, this breathless moment.
Merrick could feel the change in her. No longer the shy maiden, she had become as caught up in the madness as he. Now at last he was free to do all the things that until now he’d only dreamed of.
With his mouth he took her over the first crest and gave her no time to recover before taking her up again on a wild, dizzying climb.
Allegra hadn’t known what to expect. Tender kisses, perhaps. The feel of his rough hands on her smooth skin. But this was beyond her wildest dreams. Her body was on fire. Her mind was filled with so many exotic images, all of them wildly erotic. She’d never known a need like this. A hard, driving need that had her reaching blindly for him, needing to touch him as he was touching her.
As her hands moved over him, she heard his moan of pleasure and was hungry for more. Drunk with need, she followed with her mouth until she felt him quivering. The knowledge that she was the one to bring him such pleasure was intoxicating.
This deeper, darker side of loving had her trembling. Her body was alive with needs. Desire as sharp, as vicious as the blade of a dirk had her hungry for more.
Her body arched toward him, her hands fisted in the furs beneath her. While she writhed and twisted beneath him, he slowly drove her closer and closer to the edge of madness. And still he held back, needing to draw out the pleasure. It was all he had to give her in return for the precious gift she’d offered him.
Against her mouth he whispered, “For so long I’ve dreamed of this. Of holding you. Of kissing you. Of lying with you. And now you’re here, my love.”
Love. The word wrapped itself around her heart, warming her as his kisses warmed her lips.
“Say the words, Allegra. Say that you’re mine. Only mine.”
She touched a hand to his cheek and stared into his eyes, fierce with desire. “I’m yours, my lord. Only yours.”
The need for her was too great. The desire too overpowering. He had to take her now, or explode from this terrible need ripping through him.
With his eyes steady on hers he entered her, then, at her sudden intake of breath, he went very still. “Sweet heaven, how could I forget that you’re a maiden? Forgive me, my love.”
“Nay.” She smiled then, and wrapped herself around him, drawing him in deeper. “I want this, too, my lord. I want you. Only you.”
“Oh, my sweet, beautiful Allegra.”
Sweat beaded his forehead as he gave in to the needs that were clawing to be free.
Though he struggled to be gentle, it was too late for tenderness. Needs so long denied swamped them both.
Lungs straining, hearts thundering, they began to move, to climb. Pleasure, bordering pain, began to build until at last, locked in a fiery embrace, they stepped off the very edge. And flew.
They lay, still joined, cushioned by the pallet of furs. Neither of them could find a reason to move. And so they remained, waiting for their world to slowly settle.
Merrick lifted his face from the hollow of her throat and saw the glitter of tears on her lashes.
Tears?
With a rush of remorse he levered himself above her. “Forgive me, Allegra. I’ve hurt you.”
“Nay.” Though it was an effort, she lifted a hand to his face. Stroked. “I’m just overwhelmed, my lord.”
He felt his heart begin to beat once more. ‘ ‘Truly? I didn’t hurt you?”
She shook her head from side to side before asking, “Is mating always like this?”
He pressed his lips to her temple. “It can be. When the two who share such things care deeply for each other.”
She traced the outline of his lips with her finger. “I care, my lord.”
His lips curved. “And for that I’m most grateful, my lady.”
“As am I.” She lay there, loving the feel of his warm, slick body on hers. If possible, she would stay this way all through the night.
But surely he would want her to leave, now that he was through with her. The thought was so disturbing, she bit her lip as she contemplated how she should take her leave.
As she started to scramble up, Merrick caught her, stilling her movements.
“Where are you going?”
She looked away. “I’m sure you would like me to go to my chambers now.”
“And why would I want that?”
“Because the... mating is over, my lord.”
“Is that what you think, Allegra? That I would use you, and then send you away?”
She shrugged, keeping her gaze averted. “I know not, my lord.”
“Oh, Allegra. My sweet, wonderful Allegra.” He drew her into his arms and pressed his lips to her temple. “In this bed I’m not your lord.”
“You’re... not?” She pushed away to look at him.
“I’m simply the man who adores you.” He smiled at the startled look in her eyes. “And mating is not a single act.”
“It isn’t?”
“Nay.”
“What is it, then?”
“It’s wanting to touch each other. Often. Intimately. And whisper silly endearments, just to see the other smile.”
“You mean, saying you adore me?”
“Aye, my love.”
Again that startled look that had his smile growing. “You see? You can’t deny that you like it when I call you my love.”
She blushed. “I do. But it isn’t necessary to please me, my lor...” She swallowed. “It may take me some time to call you other than my lord.”
He drew her close, staring deeply into her eyes. “Call me by my name.”
She lifted her chin. “Merrick.”
“Again.”
“Merrick.” Her tone softened. “Merrick, my love.”
“Oh, Allegra.” He gathered her into his arms and pressed his mouth to a tangle of hair at her temple. “My Allegra. My very own sweet, delightful, adorable witch.”
As he drew her down, she gave a gasp of surprise. “Are we going to mate again?”
“Would you like that?”
She smiled. “I would. But I didn’t know such a thing was possible.”
He couldn’t help chuckling against her mouth. “I am lord of the land. I declare that this night, in your arms, my wonderful witch, anything is possible.”
And then there were no words necessary as he showed her, in the only way he could, that he was a man of his word.
Chapter Fifteen
“So many scars.” Allegra lay nestled in Merrick’
s arms, running her hands over his chest, down his thigh. “Are they all from battles?”
“Aye.” His voice was soft with contentment. After a night of loving, he was pleasantly sated. But as her hands moved over him, he could feel himself becoming aroused once more. How was this possible? It amazed him that this sweet innocent could be such a temptress. He would never have enough of her. She’d bewitched him, and he was too besotted to care.
She traced a thick line of knotted flesh that intersected another. “This must have hurt so.”
“Aye. It was a lance that nearly impaled me. But I survived, as you can see.”
“How can you bear to go back to battle, again and again, knowing you’ll be forced to endure such pain?”
“I’d rather endure the pain than see my son in bondage to some barbarian.”
She heard the thread of steel in his tone and understood his passion. “Does it not upset you that your own people call you the Sword of the Highlands?”
He shrugged. “I do what I must for the sake of my people. If they choose to think that I somehow enjoy the carnage, how can I stop them? I fight for their freedom, Allegra, as well as my own. And not just some freedom, but all. Even the freedom to think what they please about me.”
“My fierce warrior. If they but knew the goodness in your heart.” She touched a hand to his face and began tracing the curve of his brow with her finger.
He caught her hand and brought it to his lips. In the moonlight his eyes gleamed, hot and fierce. “How could I have known, when I stormed your kingdom and stole you away, what a treasure you would prove to be?”
She brushed her lips over his. “And if I’d known how my captor would steal my heart, I could have been spared some very frightening moments. I thought you would surely drown me in the Enchanted Loch.”
He chuckled, remembering. “I nearly got us both drowned.”
“You were a fearsome sight to behold. Covered with blood, and looking more like a giant than a mere man. How did you get past the dragon?”
“I slew him. But first I had to face that army of swordsmen who guard the loch.”
Allegra looked puzzled. “My family employs no army.”
“Perhaps it was arranged by your mother or grandmother, without your knowledge.”
“Nay, Merrick. What need had we of an army, when we had the dragon? No man would face such a danger unless driven by a passion as strong as yours.” She leaned over him, studying his eyes. “Describe this army of men to me.”
“Another time, my love.” He gathered her into his arms and pressed his mouth to her temple. “For there’s something far more important I must do right now.”
But even as he kissed her, he found himself mulling over her words. If the army hadn’t been hers, who had sent them? And for what purpose?
To distract her and himself, he began kissing the soft curve of her throat.
She shivered and gave a little laugh. “Careful, my lord. You know where this always leads.”
“Aye.” He held her a little away. “Are you complaining, my lady? Has a night of loving been too much for you?”
“On the contrary. I’m anticipating more of your clever ministrations.”
“You mean this?” He pressed moist kisses across her shoulder, down her collarbone, enjoying the little humming sounds that escaped her throat. “And this?” With his tongue he traced circles around one breast, then the other, until he heard her little gasp of pleasure as his lips closed around one erect nipple.
The heat between them grew. A low flame that was soon a blazing inferno.
And then there were no words as they took each other on another long, slow journey of love.
“Mordred believes I should accept the fact that Hamish might never be free of the fears that imprison his mind.” Merrick’s fingers played with a strand of Allegra’s hair. He loved the way it looked by moonlight, spilling over his arm.
The night was quickly fleeing. Already the first pink ribbons of dawn were curling across the sky. “Why would Mordred say such a cruel thing?”
“He meant no cruelty, for he loves the lad.” Merrick shrugged. “He merely said what others have said. That the blood of the lad’s mother flows through him, affecting his mind.”
“And what does that imply?”
Merrick’s lips thinned. “It is well-known that Catherine was mad. I’ve been told that such a thing can carry over into the progeny.”
At his admission, Allegra sat up, hair spilling across her breast. “Is this why no one speaks of Hamish’s mother? They believe her mad?”
His tone lowered with passion. “Why else would a woman do the things she did? Almost from the day we wed, she changed from the sweet village lass I’d loved, into someone I hardly recognized. I can’t count the number of times she seemed lost somewhere inside her mind, unable to find her way back.” He was reminded once again of the pain he’d suffered, watching the disintegration of his wife’s health, both in body and mind. “Despite all the changes in her, I wasn’t prepared for the end. No sane person would climb to the very edge of the balcony and leap to her death.”
“Had she seemed unduly frightened earlier in the night?”
Merrick looked away, his eyes narrowed in thought. “How can I judge? She seemed always frightened of something. A noise in the night could leave her trembling for hours. She saw things no one else saw. Heard things none of us heard. All the signs of madness were there, but I refused to see until it was too late.”
Allegra laid a hand over his. “And now you blame yourself for what happened?”
“Aye. I’d been warned to lock her away before she harmed herself or others, but I thought it too cruel. Now my son is without the comfort of his mother.”
“He remembers her as a good, loving mother.” He gave a grudging nod of his head. “Though she was often too weary to leave her pallet and tend his needs, she was devoted to the lad.”
“And what about her devotion to her husband?”
Merrick flung a hand over his eyes. “Shortly after we wed, she turned away from me. She considered me a barbarian for leaving her alone and going to war. In truth, I was. And still am. But I’ll not apologize for driving the invaders from our land.”
“Nor should you, Merrick.” Allegra caught his hand in hers and lifted it to her lips. “What you do is brave and noble.”
He couldn’t help smiling at the fierce look in her eyes. “What’s this? Are you daring to defend the Sword of the Highlands?”
“Someone must. How can you bear to be so misunderstood?”
“Oh, my little witch.” With a chuckle he gathered her into his arms and kissed her long and slow and deep. “Perhaps I should have you ride about the countryside, singing the praises of the lord to his people.”
“I would if you but asked, Merrick.”
He sat back and studied her through narrowed eyes. “I believe you would, Allegra.”
With a sigh he drew her close and kissed her again. This time with a thoroughness that had them both moaning in pleasure. Against her mouth he whispered, “How have I lived for so long without you in my world?”
“And I without you.”
He shook his head in amazement. “I believe you mean it.”
“I do.”
“I don’t deserve you, Allegra.” He kissed her again, almost reverently. “But I haven’t the will to refuse what you offer so freely.”
With soft kisses and whispered sighs they led each other into a place where no pain existed. A place that had, from the beginning of time, offered shelter to lovers.
“Good morrow, m’lord.” Without warning Mistress MacDonald entered the lord’s chambers, trailed by several servants bearing armloads of logs for the fire.
As the fire was stoked and the logs added, Merrick lay on his pallet, one arm beneath his head. Beside him, the furs seemed alive as, with a gasp, Allegra burrowed in and pulled them over her head.
“I checked our Hamish.” The old woman walked around t
he room, picking up the lord’s tunic and cloak and retrieving his boots, which lay against the far wall. “The lad’s still sound asleep, m’lord.”
“That’s good news, Mistress.”
Merrick watched as she bent to a second pile of clothing. When she straightened, she was holding a delicate chemise and petticoat, as well as the torn remnants of a gown.
As a serving wench poured fresh water into a basin, the old woman turned to the lord. “Will ye be breaking ye’r fast below stairs this morrow, m’lord? Or would ye prefer to sup here in ye’r chambers?”
“I’ll join Hamish and my cousins in the great hall, Mistress.”
“Aye, m’lord.” She glanced at the mound of furs beside him. “And the healer?”
“I believe she’ll join me below stairs.”
“As ye wish, m’lord. I’ll have Mara prepare the lady’s wardrobe... in her chambers.” The housekeeper carefully folded the feminine clothes and set them atop a chest before following the servants from the room.
When the door was closed Merrick composed his features before pulling down the furs. “We’re alone at last, my lady.”
Allegra sat up, shoving hair from her eyes. “Do you think she suspected?”
“Suspected?” He was nearly shaking with the laughter that threatened. “Whatever are you talking about?”
She shot him a chilling look. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Merrick. Do you think Mistress MacDonald suspects that I shared your pallet?”
“I doubt that suspect is the correct term.” He nodded toward the neat pile of clothing. “The poor dear practically tripped over your chemise and petticoat, which were lying directly in her path.”
“Oh, no.” Allegra lifted her hands to her cheeks, which were as hot as the fire. “And what of the servants? Did they see, as well?”
“It would have been impossible not to see a lady’s intimate garments lying beside the bed. But fear not. I am lord. Though they may whisper, they will say not a word in your presence.”
“Oh, don’t you see?” She stood and started pacing, too distraught to care that she was naked. “That only makes it worse. Everyone in the fortress will be whispering about us, and laughing behind our backs.”