A Dark Guardian (24 page)

He lost control so easily while in her arms.

He looked into her blue-green eyes filled with desire and felt himself swell. He pulled out of her until on the tip of his rod remained, then he sank into her and heard her sigh with pleasure. He knew if he continued on this course he would climax in a matter of moments, and he wanted this time to last longer for her.

With a groan he withdrew and turned her onto her stomach. He placed kisses from her shoulders to her delectable behind. He urged her onto her hands and knees and reached around to fondle her sex. Moisture coated his fingers as he sunk them into her heat and smeared her juices around her sex.

She moaned and moved her hips back against him, seeking more. He gripped his rod and moved it to her sex. He pushed into her as he moved his fingers over her hips and behind. She tried to take more of him in, but he held her in place. Inch by inch he filled her as his finger caressed her plump cheeks and the hidden valley between them.

He timed it so when he filled her fully, his finger touched her tight bloom.

He didn’t push his finger into her, only wiggled it as he began to thrust. She cried out his name as he plunged in and out of her until she clenched around him. He followed close behind her and roared his release, finding a peace he had never imagined.

Her arms wrapped around him as he fell against her, his heart hammering rapidly while the euphoria of their lovemaking enveloped him.

She nuzzled his neck and kissed his face while her hands roamed over his back.

His last thought was that he wanted to make love to her when he woke.

Hugh woke and reached for Mina, but all he found was an empty bed. He opened his eyes and looked around the chamber to find it vacant as well. He ground his teeth and made a mental not to talk to her about leaving him in the mornings.

He wasn’t happy that he had slept soundly either. He looked out her window and saw the sun already up. A knock sounded on the door, and it only took a heartbeat to realize that Mina wouldn’t knock on her own door. He quickly rolled off the bed to land on the far side.

“Mina,” Theresa called.

From under the bed, he could see Theresa’s feet walk into the chamber. As quietly as he could, he moved under the bed. Just in time too, as Theresa walked to the bed. He heard what sounded like she moved her hands over the sheets.

“What are you doing?” Mina asked as she walked into her chamber.

“Who slept in your bed?”

“I did,” she answered.

Hugh held his breath.

“I don’t believe you,” Theresa said.

“Get out of my chamber.”

He longed to see Mina’s face. He could well imagine her eyes were shooting fire and her face was flushed with anger. She had changed quite a bit since his arrival.

His thoughts came to a stop when he heard the door slam. He peered from under the bed and found he was once again alone. With a sigh, he rolled from under the bed and hurriedly slipped into his clothes he had taken with him under the bed.

He didn’t know what prompted him to take them, but he was pleased he had listened to his instincts. They were what kept him alive.

When he was dressed, he walked to the door but stopped short of opening it. He could only hope that there was no one in the hallway. He took a deep breath and opened the door a crack. After a careful look, he thankfully found the hallway empty.

As quickly as he could, he slipped out of Mina’s chamber and hurried to his own to change clothes. When he opened his chamber door he found Gabriel and Cole waiting for him.

“Where have you been?” Gabriel asked crossly.

Cole laughed. “If I had to hazard a guess, I would say with a woman.” Hugh stood there while both men looked him over. He turned and went to the chest that held his clothes without bothering to answer Gabriel. He pulled out a black tunic and a pair of fawn colored trousers.

“Well?” Gabriel prompted. “Is Cole right? Have you been with a woman?” Hugh didn’t want to answer them, but he knew better than anyone that they wouldn’t let up unless he gave them what they wanted. “Aye,” he whispered.

Cole clapped him on the back. “About time.” Hugh rolled his eyes as he changed clothes and ran his fingers through his unruly hair. He splashed water on his face and had a thought that he might visit the bathing chamber later that day.

“By the heavens, he’s smiling,” Gabriel said.

Hugh looked in the mirror and found himself doing just that. He wiped the smile from his face. “Come, men. We need to see if we can track the creature.” When they walked into the great hall it was overcrowded with the villagers. The atmosphere was one of a party. Something was definitely wrong.

His eyes roamed the hall until he spotted Mina. She sat surrounded by villagers laughing and smiling. He watched her for a moment, noting how well she belonged here despite what she thought.

He moved his eyes down the table and found Bernard staring fixatedly at Mina.

There was something odd in his gaze that made Hugh take notice. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he found himself wanting to rip Bernard’s head off.

He is her brother.

__

But that didn’t stop the anger rolling within him. His gaze traveled back to Mina, and he found her gaze on him. His anger dissipated in an instant with the smile that she gave him. He nodded and returned her smile before turning to his men.

“What is it?” Gabriel asked.

Hugh shook his head. “I don’t know. Go see what you can find. Cole,” he called.

“I’m off to find the shrew,” he said of Theresa.

Hugh turned back around and made his way toward Mina only to be stopped by Theresa.

“Come sit,” she beckoned. “I have saved a place just for you.” Not to take her invitation would be an insult and one he couldn’t afford. He sat beside her and glanced at Mina to see a frown marring her beautiful face. He would make it up to her later, he told himself.

Instead of a cheerful morning conversation with Mina, he had to listen to Theresa complain about everything from the food to the villagers crowding the castle. He was about to put a gag in her mouth when Bernard spoke.

“Enough,” the baron said. “Hugh’s eyes are glazed over from your ranting.” Out of the corner of Hugh’s eyes, he saw Theresa’s face red with anger. “You are insulting me now?” she hissed furiously.

Bernard shook his head. “I’m taking pity on our guest.”

“Bah,” Theresa said and rose to her feet. “You are treading on dangerous ground, brother. I would remember that the next time you think to go against me,” she said before she stormed out of the hall.

Hugh looked after her and just spotted the shadow that was Cole trail after her.

When he turned back, he found Bernard staring at Mina again.

“Something wrong?” Hugh asked as nonchalantly as he could.

Bernard sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Mina has changed.” “And

that’s

bad?”

“Not at all. I just worry about her. Theresa sees what everyone does. You should have seen the smile on Mina’s face when she came into the hall this morning. She lit up the entire hall.”

Hugh smiled inwardly. He had done that to her. “And you think Theresa will react to it.”

“I don’t think,” Bernard said as he looked at him. “I know it as surely as I breathe. We will have to watch Mina.”

“I had planned for us to try and find the creature today.”

“During the daylight? Do you think we can?” Bernard asked, hope shining in his blue eyes.

“’Tis possible. Gabriel saw the creature fly to the northwest.”

“The forest,” Bernard said.

“Exactly.”

The baron stood. “Then Mina must come with us. I dare not leave her here alone with Theresa.”

Hugh wasn’t about to tell Bernard nay. In fact, he wanted Mina with him just so he could have her by his side. “As you wish, my lord.” He watched as Bernard walked to Mina and told her the news. Her gaze jerked to him, and they shared a secret smile before she went up to her chamber to ready herself.

“The villagers think the creature is gone,” Gabriel said as he sat beside him.

Hugh couldn’t believe his ears. “Are you sure?”

“That’s what they are celebrating.”

“Didn’t anyone tell them that as long as the creature lived he would terrorize them?”

Gabriel nodded. “I tried. They think because he left last night that he is gone for good.”

Hugh wiped his hand down his face. “They will be massacred tonight.”

“Not if we find the creature today.”

Hugh looked into Gabriel’s silver eyes. “Find Cole. We’ll need him.”

Mina decided against her male attire. She wanted to be the lady that Hugh thought she was. She patted her two braids that hung across her shoulders and found herself giddy at the day ahead of her.

She opened the door to find Theresa waiting for her. “Do you need something?” she asked.

Theresa eyed her. “Who was in your bed?”

“I already told you. Me.”

“Who

else?”

Mina laughed. “You actually think a man would look at me?”

“You’re right, of course,” Theresa said and threw her long blonde braid over her shoulder narrowly missing Mina’s face. “No man would have you.” Even though Mina knew that there was man who wanted her, Theresa’s words still cut deep.

“Ready?” Cole asked as he walked toward her.

She waited until Theresa had turned the corner before she faced him. “Hugh let you off of guard duty?” she teased as she walked from her chamber.

Cole laughed. “For the day. It could all end today if we get lucky.” She stumbled at his words and his hands reached out to steady her. “Lady Mina?

Are you all right?”

“Aye,” she managed to say around the lump in her throat. She was so distraught at the thought of Hugh leaving that she didn’t see Cole watching her.

She still hadn’t recovered when they reached the bailey, but she put a smile on her face for Hugh and her brother. Bernard helped her mount her mare to her surprise.

Hugh fisted his hands and silently cursed. He hadn’t thought of helping Mina mount, she had always done it herself. But a gentleman would help her.

He turned to find Gabriel and Cole staring at him. “What?”

“Nothing,” Cole said and turned away.

But Hugh wasn’t fooled. He looked at Gabriel. “What is going on with you two?”

“We have never seen you like this.”

Hugh swung up in the saddle. “Like what?”

“You’re

happy.”

Hugh started to snort until he realized Gabriel was right. “What makes you think I’m happy?”

“The way you look at Mina. That’s who you were with last night, wasn’t it?” Hugh leaned down. “I don’t ask who shared your bed, Gabriel. Don’t ask who shared mine.”

“Even if that woman got nervous when I said we might kill the creature today?” Cole asked.

Hugh straightened and sighed. It wouldn’t leave him. The evidence that said Mina controlled the creature. “Are you sure?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Damn,” he said and nudged his horse forward needing to think through his thoughts.

He led the small band of men, which included Bernard, Cole, Gabriel, and two of Bernard’s knights as well as Mina, into the forest.

Many times he felt Mina’s eyes on him, but he couldn’t allow himself to look at her, not yet. But when they stopped just inside the forest, his gaze went to her on their own accord. Her expression was one of uncertainty, and it tore at his gut.

Could she be so great an actress that she had fooled even him?

“Hugh?”

Her soft voice called to him. She had whispered his name, but to his ears it was a shout. He gave her a brief smile before he turned to the men.

“This is a large forest. We have no idea where the creature is, so it would be best if we split up,” he said.

“Good idea,” Bernard said. “Mina, you come with me.” Hugh fought his anger and jealousy as Bernard helped her dismount. “Cole, you go north. Gabriel, head south. I’ll head farther west.” Bernard nodded and turned to his men to give them direction. “Mina and I will head northwest.”

“If you find anything give a shout.”

“What happens if we find it?” Mina asked.

“I’ll tell you when we find it.”

Mina saw the suspicion in Hugh’s eyes, and she couldn’t blame him. She had no idea what had happened. One minute he was smiling at her and the next he could barely stand to look at her. She needed to speak with him.

She had awoken and went down to get some food for them, but Bernard had stopped her. When she returned to her chamber it was to find Theresa inside and Hugh gone. Since then, she had not a moment alone with him.

“Come,” Bernard said and took her hand.

She stared down at their hands as he pulled her after him. She looked over her shoulder and saw Hugh watching them. Bernard set out on a fast pace, and she could barely keep up with her skirts getting tangled in the underbrush.

“Slow down,” she called out to him.

He immediately let go of her hand, and she took that time to sit and rest for a moment. “Why are you in such a hurry?

“I want to find that creature first.”

“You don’t even know what to do with it if we do find it.” He shrugged and looked around the forest. “Hugh said it flew this way last night.”

“That’s why you chose this direction?”

He nodded and reached for her hand. “You’ve rested enough. I want to keep moving.”

She jumped to her feet to keep from falling on her face. Bernard was acting so strangely, yet she couldn’t figure out why. If she knew him better she might be able to explain it, but as it was, she was left guessing.

They walked for hours looking in caves and underbrush for any signs of the creature, but there was none.

“’Tis like he only exists at night,” she said.

“He has to live somewhere.”

She smiled at her brother. “That’s true. But where?”

“Maybe

the

monastery?

‘Tis just up ahead.”

Something told her not to tell him she had already looked there with Gabriel and Hugh. He started walking without her, and she hurried to catch up. Many times she had to yank her skirts free from the underbrush.