Love Beyond Time (Morna's Legacy Series) (19 page)

Eoin had known Bri had no reason to worry. Donal did not converse easily with women, and he’d have little to say to his daughter, despite his claims of how much he’d missed her.

Worry about Bri filled him. As Eoin glanced in her direction, he tried to cast a frown at the servant who was silently refilling her goblet for at least the sixth time. Bri’s eyes were visibly glazed, and she looked unsteady as she rested her chin against the hand she’d propped on top of the table. She’d said nothing throughout the meal, and with the amount she’d now drunk he greatly hoped she would continue to stay silent now.

He’d never seen her drink more than one cup-full during meals, but then again, Mary never allowed any of them more than that. Mary always said that Arran did a fine job of finding drink on his own. She wasn’t going to aid him in his task.

A large belch from Bri’s end of the table was enough to make him certain it was time for him to make his excuses and take her away to their shared bedchamber. He could only hope no one else had heard the location of the unladylike sound.

Raising his voice so that Donal would hear, Eoin stood from the table. “I find myself weary from the long day’s travel, Donal. If it pleases ye, I believe I will take my wife upstairs so that we may retire for the evening.”

His old friend stood and clasped him on the shoulders. “Aye, o’ course! It was wrong of me to keep ye so late after the long ride. We will talk more tomorrow. Would ye accompany me on a hunt?”

Eoin smiled and nodded as he walked to Bri’s side. “Aye! I shall look forward to it.”

He bent to place his hand under her arm and help steady her as he pulled her up out of her seat.

“Goodnight, daughter. I’m glad to have ye home, if only for a short time.” Donal stood waiting for Bri’s response, and Eoin bent to whisper in Bri’s ear.

“Tell him, goodnight. Doona say anything else.”

“Goodnight.” She smiled sloppily, and Eoin found himself glad that the old man’s sight wasn’t much better than his hearing as he watched him turn and leave the room.

“God, lass! What the hell do ye think ye’re doing? I’ve no had that much to drink since I was a young lad.” He took one step away from her, but quickly reached to grab her once more as she swayed on her feet.

“What are you talking . . . ?”

She left off the end of her sentence, but Eoin understood her meaning well enough. “Ye are mighty drunk, Bri. Ye have no stopped drinking since we sat down to eat!”

“I am not! I’ve only been sipping. What was I supposed to do while y’all were visiting?”

“Well, not drink them dry, Bri! If ye’re no drunk, why doona ye walk a few steps and show me, aye?” He stepped out of her way while she grasped onto the edge of the table to support herself.

“Fine.”

He watched as she took three or four wobbly steps in his direction before swaying widely and falling into his side. “Ye are no drunk, ye say?”

“Ok, fine. But I didn’t mean to. They just kept refilling it, over and over again, and this hasn’t been my most favorite day.”

“Aye, I saw them, lass, and I no suppose that it has.” He bent to scoop her up around her knees, cradling her against his chest as they made their way up the stairs to their guest bedchamber.

She was asleep by the time he lay her on the bed, and gently tucking the covers around her, he moved to find himself a spot on the floor.

As much as he wanted to cradle her in his arms all night long, he wouldn’t share her bed until she asked.

Chapter 27

Putting aside my monumental hangover, the trip to visit Donal MacChristy was an undisputable success. Over the two days that we’d spent there, Eoin had kept Donal so busy that I hardly ever saw either of them. I spent my time lounging around the castle, tenderly caring for my wicked bad headache.

We were now on our last day of riding to visit Ramsay Kinnaird, an ally according to Eoin, but a man I knew very little about from either Mary or history. It was a longer journey from MacChristy’s to Kinnaird’s, and we’d been forced to camp two nights along the way.

Eoin was slowly-but-surely chipping away at the rock wall fortress of my friend zone. The first night the weather had been warm enough for us to sleep on opposite sides of a fire he’d built in a small clearing.

On the second night the wind blew too roughly through the trees to start a fire, and we were forced to snuggle together to stay warm. It had started out as a necessity, with both of us covered by the same blankets and me curling into the nook of his arm with my head against his chest. But as the night progressed he turned his body so that our fronts were flush against each other, his warm breath wafting against my face, his breath shaky as he pressed himself against me, hard and ready, inviting me to accept him.

I’d feigned sleep, refusing to open my eyes and give myself away. Always a gentleman, he only tried a moment before giving up and kissing me lightly on the forehead, quickly rolling onto his back, shifting me into the crook of his arm once more.

I slept maybe half an hour the entire night.

* * *

The next day, I couldn’t keep from squirming in the saddle. Eion seemed concerned. “We are almost there, lass. Do ye need me to stop?”

“If it’s alright with you, I’d rather not. Don’t want to risk getting another sticker stuck in my bum.”

“Aye, it’s fine. I’m anxious to finish the ride, as well.”

When we arrived at Kinnaird Castle, we weren’t greeted by Ramsay at the entrance as we were Donal. Instead, we were escorted into a long study, and expected to wait until Ramsay chose to bless us with his presence. I’d never met the man, but I was already sure I wouldn’t like him.

After nearly two hours, he burst through the doors. “Ah, Eoin! What an unexpected surprise. I was verra sorry to hear about yer father’s death, but I’m sure ye will make a fine laird yerself.”

Eoin stepped almost protectively in front of me, and it did nothing to make me like the man more. “Thank ye, Ramsay. It’s been too long. I’d like ye to meet my wife. This is Blaire, Donal MacChristy’s daughter.”

“Aye, I’d heard that ye’d married, but I never imagined she’d be so beautiful. I bet it is lovely to have her warm yer bed at night. Would ye mind if I borrow her for a night, while ye are here?”

Surprising me, Eoin reached out and laced his hand with mine. If I’d been in reach of anything heavy and solid, I would’ve chunked it at the ugly bastard’s head.

“Ach, Eoin, doona fash yerself, I’m only fooling with ye. Come, join me for food and drink, and ye can tell me what has brought ye here. Sylva here will escort Blaire up to yer bedchamber and will have food brought to her.” Ramsay didn’t give Eoin a chance to reply before charging through the doors from which he’d come.

I whirled on him, jerking my hand free. “What? You don’t seriously expect me to eat dinner in my room like a punished child, right?”

He reached forward and grasped both of my hands and brought them to his lips. “I’m sorry, lass. Ramsay’s an arse, but we are guests. We must do as he bids. I need his men if we are to have adequate protection against the attack.

“Fine.” I pulled my hands free of his grasp and started moving toward the door. “Show me to my room, please. I’m a woman. I’m sure it’s too hard for me to find on my own.”

He laughed and rolled his eyes as he moved past me to direct me upstairs.

* * *

At first, Ramsay assumed that Eoin had found him out. Perhaps the man he’d sent to fool them had betrayed him, revealing the truth of his murderous plan to Eoin and his brother. But no, as he sat across from Eoin over their evening meal listening to what he requested of him, he knew his secret was safe.

Actually, it couldn’t have been better. Eoin inviting him to come and help protect them from an outside attack made his own plan even more easily accomplished. He wouldn’t have to gain entry to the castle; he’d already have it. And it would be that much more rewarding to see the look of shock at his betrayal as he plunged his sword through Eoin’s heart.

“Aye, ye know that you needn’t ask. The Conalls and Kinnairds have been allies for years. Ye have me word that we shall march to help defend ye.”

The young, foolish laird had just sealed his own fate.

* * *

Thankfully Eoin and Ramsay’s conversation was much shorter than Eoin and Donal’s, and I’d just finished my own food when I heard the bedchamber door open and close as Eoin walked in.

“How’d it go? Will he come?”

Eoin walked up behind me as I sat in a chair close to the room’s fireplace and placed both of his hands on my shoulders as he squeezed gently.

“Aye. He’ll come, but I’m no so glad that we have to ask him. He’s a wretched man. And I’ll never understand why my father kept him so close.” He continued to massage my shoulders, working his way up and down my back, as I released my neck and allowed my head to fall forward, relishing the feeling of his strong hands on my sore and tired muscles. Travelling in this century was hard work.

I unintentionally let out a small moan of delight, and I caught my slip as his hands stilled at the base of my throat.

Taking it as a sign of my enjoyment, he slid his hands lower so that they dipped into the cleavage of my gown. He only left them there for a moment, quickly pulling them upward, swirling his hands over my neckline with light touches that sent tremors down my body and caused my breathing to speed up.

There was no chance I could pretend to be asleep now, and I was quickly losing any willpower I had to keep him away.

“Do ye like that, lass? I love the way yer skin feels.”

I didn’t answer him. Instead I leaned my head back so that my neck was elongated, allowing him more space from which to move his fingers.

He stopped abruptly and came around to kneel in front of me, taking both of my hands in his.

“I know that ye must return home once we find the ring, Bri. But would ye mind so much if we behaved as husband and wife just for now? I willna ask ye again, but it’s been too long since I’ve had the company of a woman, lass, and I want ye badly.”

It was much easier to be brave with him when I thought I was dreaming. Now, as his words sent my heart racing, I had a difficult time choking out any sort of response.

“Alright.”

I didn’t have to say more as his lips found mine instantly, his arms wrapping around my waist, lifting me out of the chair with ease.

We moved to the bed until he sat on its edge, holding me out in front of him as he gazed at the front of my gown.

“Turn around.”

I obeyed, and his hands instantly moved against the laces, loosening them with only a few quick strokes. As the dress fell to my feet I faced him, only to be pulled against him once more as he brought my breast toward him, sucking one of my nipples deep into his mouth.

I moaned loudly as the sensation caused my knees to weaken and the entry between my legs to grow slick.

As he continued to kiss and suckle on my breasts, one hand moved to my lower back, holding me in place as the fingers on his opposite hand sought entry in between my legs.

I gasped as he slipped two fingers inside me, my wetness giving away just how badly I wanted him, and he groaned as his fingers glided easily in and out of my center.

“Ach, Bri! Are ye ready for me, lass? ‘Cause I doona believe I can keep myself out of ye much longer.”

“Yes.” I moved away from him to climb atop the bed, lying backward and spreading my legs to welcome him to me.

He grinned and quickly removed his own clothing, and I was sure my eyes widened at the sight of him. My legs involuntarily closed, and he let out a deep chuckle.

“Doona worry, lass. I’ll be gentle with ye.”

He spread himself on top of me, his mouth meeting mine with a desperate hunger that I returned. He placed his fingers in between my legs once again, slowly readying me for entry with his fingers.

Just as I was on the brink of shattering beneath him, he would slow his rhythm, easing the torturous longing in between my thighs by nipping me gently at the base of my neck or drawing his tongue up from my navel and chest.

He continued his playful torture, bringing me to the cusp of release and then stopping until I could take no more. Finally I reached down to stop his hand from trailing upward and pleaded breathlessly in his ear, “Please. Please, don’t stop.”

He kissed me roughly and moved his fingers once more. “As ye wish, lass.” And I went flying over the edge, moaning and squirming underneath his hands as I trembled from the sensation.

Just as the shockwaves of pleasure subsided, he pulled back and positioned himself for entry, plunging into me at my nod of approval.

I screamed as he filled me, my insides shifting and stretching to make room for him as he began another devastating assault on my senses. With each thrust, I struggled to pull him closer, feeling empty each time he slid himself partially out of me. He was a selfless lover, and as each rock of his hips brought him closer to his own release, he worked hard to ensure that I climbed the peak with him.

It was instantaneous, the thrust that sent us both spiraling back down to earth together, and as we shuddered in each other’s arms, our lips met once more, silently worshiping one another.

Chapter 28

He needed to find the ring. It was his only chance at getting Blaire back, and he wasn’t going to let the time window close before they tried the spell.

Arran knew Bri had been searching for the ring since they’d learned it was needed for the spell. And while Eoin claimed to be helping in the search, Arran knew a part of his brother hoped they would never find it.

If the spell did work and Blaire returned to him, he wasn’t going to give her up again. She wasn’t actually married to Eoin. It was Bri who’d said the vows, and he’d be damned before he let her go again.

If he located the ring before Eoin and Bri returned from their trip, perhaps she would have no reason to stay any longer.

He’d searched everywhere: each bedchamber, each study, even Morna’s spell room he’d turned upside down in his desperate search for the ring.