United Eden (4 page)

I laughed, no lightness in it. Im sure that wil go over wel .

Giving me a final smile, he headed towards the slider door leading off the kitchen. Sliding it open, a gust of cool November air forced its way into the house, giving me a chil despite the Immortality perk to sunny and seventy forever. I knew he was going to say something else, Paul and I had shared enough life experience together for me to know that, I just wasnt sure what the nature of it would be.

When his face turned ful -on to mine with a grin starring in his impish expression, I knew we were past the heavy. Just in case youre looking for any male opinions as to honeymoon lingerie . . . he trailed on, his eyebrows doing an al out peak, that little bra and panty number you just modeled for me is bangin. His smile slid up higher to dimple ignition. Pun absolutely intended. See ya around, Bryn, he said, throwing himself out the door the next instant, leaving me behind with the chil night air and an ocean of guilt.

See you around, Paul, I whispered to no one.

CHAPTER THREE

A STALL FOR TWO

Id bul eted out of Joseph and Coras so quick you would have thought John Townsend had sicked every last one of his thugs on me. After Paul left, the house felt empty, hol ow, and a part of me did, too.

Not because I doubted my devotion to Wil iam, but because the feelings Paul had for me were stil very real and significant. Id blanketed myself with the warm fuzzy that, after Paul saw me back together with Wil iam, and once he became enamored by the al -too-impressive single women in our Al iance, Id be a distant memory.

That had been the easy way to look at it, but life was never easy.

The only thing I wanted to do was run straight into Wil iams arms and stay there until the cocktail of pain, hurt, and guilt I felt had been washed away. I was lucky enough I had someone to comfort me, but who did Paul have? He was hurting just as badly, if not worse, than I was and the person whose arms he wanted to have comfort him was running in the opposite direction of him to find solace in another mans arms.

How had I managed to make such a mess of things with Paul? Just thinking about al the wrong turns Id made with him brought on a new wave of tears, but the emotional overload couldnt have hit at a better time.

The barn was a few yards away and would be a welcome hide-out to recompose myself before I made my way back to Wil iam, who Id already left waiting too long on this should-have-been magical night . . . and darn it if I hadnt forgotten the dress that, if I hadnt gone searching for it in the first place, I wouldnt be feeling the way I was now.

If I wasnt convinced already, dresses were the devil.

Id promised to return as radiant as Bryn-possible and had returned a hot mess sporting mens pajamas and puffy red-rimmed eyes.

I grabbed a few apples from the barrel and made my way down to a stable that was the horse equivalent of the corner office. Wil iam indulged the fil y, almost as much as he did me, so much so shed turned her nose up if someone had the audacity to offer her an apple with even the smal est of bruises.

She greeted me with a courtesy neigh, although she made it a point of looking inconvenienced that her sleep was interrupted by the offering of a mere three apples.

Sorry to disturb your beauty sleep, your highness, I said, sliding an apple through the gate. She took it begrudgingly, chomping at it like it was the least impressive apple shed ever tasted.

Bryn, a concerned voice cal ed out from behind. What are you doing in here? Wil iam paused, perusing my attire with narrowed eyes. And should I be concerned that youre wearing my brothers underwear?

Sorry, Il be right there, I said, careful not to meet his eyes. I just need a minute.

Are you crying? he asked, coming towards me.

No, Im fine. I turned my back on him, swiping my sweatshirt sleeves across my eyes.

Yeah, Wil iam huffed, gripping my arms and spinning me back towards him. Heard that one before. He took one look at my face and his lined with worry. What happened? He drew me to him, surrounding me with the comfort that natural y exuded from him.

Its . . .”I didnt want to tel Wil iam I was crying over another guy on his first night home, but more than that, I didnt want to lie to him”Its Paul, I said, sighing into his shirt.

His body tensed. What did he do? he asked, almost snarling.
This
time?

Wil iams reaction had me doubting my decision to keep what was upsetting me to myself. Wil iam had the patience of a saint, but hearing one word from me about Paul Lowe had a way of extinguishing it. It seemed even a saint had their limits when it came to a guy relentlessly pursuing his woman.

I bit my lip, drawing Wil iamhome™s attention to them. His eyes flashed fire. Did he try to kiss you again? His voice was murderous.

What? No, I said, emphasizing the calm in my voice. Of course not. After the warning Id given Paul this past summer after hed mauled me mouth-first, I could say with certainty he feared my wrath more than Wil iams.

The fire dimmed the smal est amount in his eyes. Did he lay one unwanted finger on you?

Oh, men. It was like there was no sin more unforgivable than one man hitting on another mans woman. Testosterone was as irrational as it was incendiary.

No, I said, sounding more exasperated than Id intended. Wil iam, please calm down.

Because, so help me god, Il rip his arms off and beat him with the bloody stumps if he even thought about” Hes leaving, I whispered, silencing his outrage with three soft syl ables.

His eyes relaxed as he swept my hair behind my ears. I know.

You knew? I asked, leaning back from him. Why wouldnt you have told me?

His face formed around an expression that shouted,
Really?
For starters, because Ive had a whole five minutes with you since Ive returned and I didnt want to waste one second of those precious few discussing Paul Lowe. And second, because it was his place to tel you, not mine. The anger had leaked out of his voice, but in its place was concern. Are you upset with me?

I looked into his eyes, drowning in worry. Of course not, I answered honestly. Im upset at myself.

Now why in the world would you be upset with yourself over Paul leaving? he asked, loosening his tie with one hand, coming to terms that there was no recovering from the detour this night had taken.

We both know hes leaving because of me, I said, looking down. But one of us is thril ed and one of us is tortured.

Youre right, I am thril ed hes leaving. He didnt yield to my glare. Its better for you, for me, and for him if he leaves.

For him? I repeated, not convinced Paul going to some unknown location with unknown people was in his best interest.

Wil iam nodded. A man can only take so much before he breaks. Judging from the location I noticed Pauls head hanging, his breaking point is about one Betrothal Bal away. The affectionate tone Wil iam was delivering his words with couldnt soften the truth. And I was about one more once-over stare from him directed at you from reaching my breaking point. A smile curled up one side of his mouth, but it was forced. But if I might inquire into the source of your torture? Is it because you feel guilty he is leaving or . . .”he swal owed, eyes drifting to the side”or is it because you maybe . . .

might have . . . some kind of feelings for him? His voice neared a whisper by the end of it.

Stil the doubt in him. I didnt know how much more of my unfailing love it would take to convince him, but I wouldnt give up, no matter how long or how much it took. He was worthy of my best efforts”and then some.

Wil iam Hayward, you are the only person who doesnt see you for who you are, I said, shaking my head. The only person I have those kinds of feelings youre referring to,”I fit my hands around his face”is you. I placed a tender kiss on each of his cheeks. I feel tortured because Paul feels such pain because of me. I cant even begin to imagine how it would feel if”having the feelings I do for you”I had to watch you love another woman, knowing there was nothing I could do or say to change your mind. I felt the waterworks threatening to switch on again. Im not saying Paul has the kinds of feelings I have for you”of course he doesnt . . . he
couldnt
. I shuddered at the thought of how it would feel to have that kind of love unreciprocated. But if he even feels one-hundredth of what I feel for you, it must be unbearable to see us together.

His hand slid under my hair to massage my neck. Oh baby, I know you intended that to be sobering, but that might have been the most beautiful thing Ive heard.

If that was the most beautiful thing youve ever heard,”I rose an eyebrow”coming from the mouth of a woman sporting menswear in the middle of a stinky, hot barn”

Also known as the woman who wil have my last name soon, he interjected, like it was the proudest of things. Yes, I didnt have any doubt Id be a Hayward soon . . . just, please, to everything holy in the universe, not because of the pale-haired charmer who could never love anyone more than himself.

I kept going, not letting his condition or my paranoid critic sidetrack me. Love hasnt only blinded you, it has made you deaf as wel .

He shrugged, a familiar smile creeping into position. Maybe, but I dont need my ears to enjoy you. His hands slid from my neck down my back, pausing to grip my hips.

And what about your eyes? I played his game, finding it difficult to put together a simple sentence the way his fingers were dril ing into my skin.

His eyelids dropped, his hands fol owing their lead. His smile crept higher. I think I can make do.

Tingles ran the ful length of my body.

Case in point? he whispered, his mouth finding mine with no amount of searching needed, despite his temporary blindness. His mouthed sucked at mine gently, right to the heart palpitation point, before he released me.

I half-sighed, half-moaned. Point proven. Who needs sight and sound when theyve got hands and lips that can do that? I was stil feeling the aftershocks tingling down my body from them.

He laughed, deep and slow. I dont
need
them, he said, his lids lifting to reveal the pale colored eyes that would one day soon be forever changed if fate decided to cut us a break. They took me in, from very top to very bottom, right back up to my eyes. But Im certainly glad I have them.

Excuse me, sir, an assured voice cal ed out from the barn doors, a loud clearing of the throat fol owing.

And our bubble of privacy wed conjured up was popped. Nothing like a dark-suited, buzz-cut guard to kil the mood.

Wil iam didnt hide his look of extreme annoyance when he turned to him, but he left both arms twisted around me. Yes?

I thought I should let you know we had to take down your, eh . . .
picnic
? He said it like he had no clue what to cal it.

Why? Wil iam asked, making a one syl able reply sound like a threat.

The guard shifted. A few members of the Council arrived this evening and, wel . . . the poor man looked like he would have been more comfortable if he was on fire. Eyebrows were raised . . .

Wil iam cut him off with the raising of his hand. No need for further explanations, James. Al you had to say was the Council. I can fil in the blanks. Storm clouds rol ed through Wil iams eyes, but it passed quickly. Shrugging it off, he said, Thats alright, I can play their game one more night. Once were Betrothed tomorrow, they cant tel us we cant have a candlelight dinner for al to see if we desire so.

James nodded his head. Good evening then, sir. Wel be outside waiting.

Theyl be waiting awhile, Wil iam breathed in my ear as I felt the smile lift up the corners of his mouth. Have you met my soon-to-be Betrothed, James? Wil iam cal ed out to the guard making as fast of a retreat as he could without looking rude.

Sir? he paused, swal owing.

Wil iam motioned at me, standing tal er. This is Bryn Dawson. Wel , save for a few formalities, Bryn Hayward.

I gave James a smile, pul ed wider than was introduction-customary due to the man beside me verbalizing my upcoming name change. The awkward look James gave me confirmed he wasnt ignorant of the rumors swirling about regarding my upcoming Betrothal. Pleasure to meet you, maam. Best of luck to you tomorrow night. There was something purposeful about his words, tel ing that it wasnt just Wil iam and me who wanted to see us end up together tomorrow night.

You too, James, I said softly, trying to send my silent appreciation. And thanks. Were going to need it.

James smile was sad as he ducked out of the barn.

Ive always liked to think of myself as a man who creates my own luck, Wil iam said softly, picking up right where we left off, pre-James. His eyes gazed at my neck, his mouth taking their place.

My eyes closed, James a distant memory. I hope youve been creating an extra big batch, because you know as wel as I do things never go the way we hope they wil .

This wil , his words hummed across my neck, igniting a new set of chil s.

Wil iam was so confident, so assured, that his and my name were sitting side by side on that list of Betrothals. There wasnt a hint of doubt I could find in his words or his voice or his demeanor. If it were up to Wil iam, wed be promised forever tomorrow night.

But it wasnt up to Wil iam. It was up to seven men, his father included, who were as cold, unyielding, and ancient as a glacier. If Wil iam and I being together didnt align with their plan, then tough; I didnt put it past them that theyd pair Patrick and me without raising a single brow.

So whats the plan for the rest of the night? I asked as I leaned back from him, sure Id explode into a flaming bal of sexual frustration if his lips slid against my skin one more mil imeter. Since you know the Council wil be watching us wherever we go from here.

Then maybe we should stay right here, he suggested, dead serious.

I took a purposeful look around the hay bales, feed bags, and dirt floor. I curled my nose to bring home the point. Here?

A moment. He raised his index finger for me to stay and jogged to a vacant stal in the front of the barn. There was an explosion of sounds, shifting, moving, bursting, and scraping and then it fel silent.