Binding Vows (25 page)

His mouth gaped slightly when she started pulling on the strings of her dressing gown.

He sipped his wine and sat back, enjoying her show. Never had a woman stripped for him in such a fashion. Confident in her seduction, she gently tugged at her sleeves letting a glimpse of her shoulder come through. She turned away where he could only see her backside. Her gown slipped to her waist. Underneath, she wore something else but from where he sat, he couldn’t tell what.

Her tongue darted out and moistened her lips when she caught his eye. In silent warning, he set his goblet down and leaned forward to see what she wore. He saw more flesh than dress. He could see her holding her breath, her breasts pushed forward and scraping against only a scrap of material.

Her gown hit the floor with a silent whoosh.

Shock, passion and outright lust hit him hard. If he hadn’t put his goblet down it would have hit the floor, much like his chin.

The silk material she wore was unlike anything he had seen in the past. Small straps held it up where the material hugged her curves like a glove to a hand. Small bits of lace trimmed the edges and plunged low. But the center, Dear God, the center was nothing more than a V of material gathered at 214

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the apex of her thighs, her sex hardly concealed.

His smoldering eyes took her in and followed her hands as they traced her own form. Tara turned giving him another glimpse of her back end. His breath drew in when her hands molded to her buttocks.

“Do you like it?” she purred.

“Aye,” he choked out.

She came to him, stretched out one very long leg and slid her hand up its length, then placed her foot between his thighs. She bent forward to give him the full view of his present.

“I like it too,” she confided.

His hand stroked her thigh. Slowly he let his fingers journey to where the scrap of fabric met between her legs. He slipped a finger under the silk.

A sound of pleasure escaped from Tara. She trembled when he found the moisture already pooling, her desire evident on the tips of his fingers.

“I think ’tis time I repay you for all your teasing.”

Her fingers clenched.
Promise?

Aye!
In a single fluid motion he lifted her up, carried her to their waiting bed. There, she stretched out in a shameless display of legs and arms.

“What’s under that kilt?”

His smile teased. “Need.”

Only a clasp held his plaid in place. One quick tug and he showed her. He wore only the kilt and nothing else.

His
need
looked ready and wanting.

“Now, dear wife, how will I unwrap this present of mine?” he asked as he stretched out beside her.

His lips caught her throat. “Slowly, I think.”

His hands traveled the path hers had. The silk was cool in his hands. Under it, her nipples displayed her passion, pushing against the cloth.

He spread his fingers along her stomach, letting 215

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them dip lower.

She arched up, aching for more contact.

He stopped short of where she wanted his hand to go, and traveled back up to cup the fullness of her breast. He would tease her, and make her want before he possessed.

Her hands made their own journey across his naked back, detouring to make bold strokes over his hips and thighs.

Five long days, Duncan. I thought I would die.

Death could never be so sweet.

He peeled the silk from her shoulders. With her arms freed, he lowered it inch by painful inch, murmuring how much he loved his gift and how he would savor each layer
. Ah now, look at this. Such a
lovely navel.

His lips explored her abdomen, his beard scraped her skin. She bucked beneath his touch. The silk dipped lower, exposing the swatch of hair covering her sex.

“And this,” his accent thickened, “this I need to explore more thoroughly.”

Please.
He lowered the silk to her ankles. With a slight kick of her legs, the small piece of cloth sailed to the side of the bed.

His lips traced her hips, her thighs. An ocean of desire threatened to flood her before he finally found her center.

Tara wanted to tease him. Had done so shamelessly, but now he was the one in control, and his slow pace maddened her. He devoured her, lick by lick. He flooded her thoughts with images of his mouth covering her core, a pleasure she had yet to experience. “You’re driving me mad,” she told him.

“The longer I take, the more pleasure I will bring.”

Tantalizing kisses explored her thighs. Heart racing, she pleaded with him to find her. His mouth 216

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moved over her sex, breathing puffs of hot air onto her sensitive skin.

When he pressed his mouth forward and found her nub of pleasure, his tongue and teeth drove circles around her.

Cries of pleasure at the intimacy of such a caress wailed from her lungs. Her hands clenched the sheets balling them in desperation. Currents of pleasure coursed through her blood.

With every moan, he moved faster.

She thrashed, lust pouring through her limbs.

When she thought she could take it no longer she begged him to take her. “Please, Duncan, I need you in me. All of you.”

He pulled up and in one swift motion drove himself home. The waiting did have its advantages.

“Heaven,” he murmured, sheathing himself to the hilt in her warmth. With each thrust he branded her his.

Mine.
He chanted in his head.

Tara heard him and smiled. He possessed her mind, body, and soul, and she would have it no other way. Love poured out of her when they crested together.

Love floated over them as they fell asleep still joined.

****

Several times during the celebrations, Duncan and Tara rode off together for a few hours of alone time. They often returned to heckling.

Settling into a routine once the Keep was rid of its guests had a calming effect on Tara. She worked in the gardens tending the vegetables and herbs.

“I’m telling you, malnutrition is the death of so many people in this century. We need every vitamin 217

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and mineral we can grow.” She dug into the soil with the help of a small wooden hand tool. Duncan stood over her with a scowl.

“We have servants to do this, lass. I don’t want to see you covered in dirt.”

Tara glanced up, sent him a chaste smile. “You didn’t mind a few days ago.”

She referred to the day when they didn’t make it all the way into the cabin where they had first made love. It was a good thing the cabin was sheltered by a grouping of trees. Otherwise, anyone could have seen the future Laird of Coinnich rolling around in the grass with his wife. She didn’t even try and explain the dirt stains on her dress when they came back to the Keep.

“Still...” Duncan bent down and stopped her from digging.

“Try to understand. I’m not good at needle point and every time I go to the kitchens someone chases me away. At least out here I can do something useful.”

“But...”

“And I like it, I really do. Just look at this.” She stood and walked him to a plant with huge green leaves and a bright yellow flower. “It’s my first Zucchini. I never had time to do this before, now I have more time than I know what to do with.”

“I don’t know.”

She saw a crack in his resolve, and drove her point further. “If I can have a little help from my big powerful husband, and his special gift, I’ll be able to keep this garden going all winter. Or at least most of it.” “What kind of help?” he asked.

“Oh, just a little heating of the soil.” Tara had learned Duncan’s most powerful Druid gift was fire.

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wanted hot water for tea he merely placed a finger in the glass and bingo. Hot water. Just as Myra could move the wind without any external sign from her, Duncan could burn anything with barely a thought.

“You want me to heat the soil?”

“Yes, and maybe a quick little dehydrating of a few seeds.”

“Tara...”

“I’ll make it worth your while.” She moved closer, until she felt her breasts push up against his chest. “Very worth your while.” She nibbled a sexy little spot on his neck.

You’re wicked.

And you love it!

By the time Duncan walked away, a small section of Tara’s garden had a lovely warm temperature that would germinate the seeds placed under a layer of rich soil.

Tara talked to the plants while she finished up her work for the day. “Now you be sure and grow quickly. I have an appetite for a rich tomato sauce, and the garlic is almost ready.” She picked a wayward weed and tossed it aside. She added a splash of water before brushing off her hands for the last time. “There.” She looked down at her handiwork. “Not bad for a day’s labor.”

Several rows of newly planted seeds waited for a bit of sun to peak into the courtyard. “Hmmm.” She clapped her hands together as the idea formed in her head, then went in search for her father-in-law.

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Fall closed in, bringing the bite of winter to the morning hours. The family gathered around the fire after Amber and Cian had gone to bed.

“Your mother has had another vision,” Ian said with dread in his voice.

Lora’s greatest Druid gift was one of premonition. It was one of the ways the Ancients spoke to them, and how they knew of Grainna’s threat so far into the future.

At times Lora’s visions were heavy in detail while others were cryptic and vague. Each brought a strong emotion none of them could ignore.

Tara watched as Lora surveyed the faces of her children.

Everyone grew quiet.

“Winter solstice is coming,” she said.

“With it, the need to keep Grainna from regaining her powers,” Fin stated.

“Only this time, it will be different. I no longer believe the solstice has anything to do with Grainna.” Lora glanced at her children and took Ian’s hand.

The gesture wasn’t lost on Tara. Lora was worried.

Fin agreed with his mother. “I don’t think Grainna would wait for the solstice if she found another virgin.”

“I agree,” Duncan said.

“Our stay in the future might be longer.” Fin concluded, while looking toward his brother.

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Tara’s heart tore a fraction. “Duncan can’t go.”

She tightened her grip on Duncan’s hand. “First of all, we’re married. And although I understand the situation, I think it’s a bit much to expect me to allow my husband to be with another woman.”

“True,” Ian said.

“And second, I don’t think it would be safe for him to go back. The authorities would be looking for him. Cassy would have gone to the police by now.

He’d be put in jail.” The thought frazzled her, panic pushed goose bumps to her arms. She often worried about how her friend and sister would handle her disappearance. Now, her fears turned to how her husband would survive the future.

“Duncan is not to return,” Lora announced, bringing peace to Tara’s mind.

“Well then,” Fin sighed. “Since Duncan and I look so much alike, I will have to disguise myself when I return.”

Tara shook her head. “I don’t know, Fin. The law would look for you, too. You don’t know how easily you would be picked up in my time. It isn’t like here. Every cop will have a picture of both of you. If they think I’m dead, they’ll keep you in jail.

We’ll have to come up with a very good disguise.

Have you ever wanted to be a blond?”

He arched his brow and gave a disapproving scowl. “No.”

“Nay,” Lora’s voice rose above the others, interrupting their debate. “Finlay will not be returning either.”

“What?” Myra, Fin, Duncan and Tara all said at once.

“Then who?” Myra asked.

Lora took a deep breath. “My vision was clear, more so than ever before. I’ve searched for a better interpretation for it, but there is none.” She lifted her head, leveled her eyes to her daughter. “’Tis you 221

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who must go.”

Both Duncan and Fin came to their feet in protest. “You must be mistaken. Sending Myra isn’t an option.”

“She would be put directly in harm’s way,”

Duncan said.

“There is no mistake. My vision was clear. If Myra stays here during the next solstice, she would die.” Eyes shifted around the room. No one spoke as gnawing fear crept into everyone.

Myra broke the silence. “What else did your vision tell?”

“The threat to you is here, now. I couldn’t tell by who or what.”

“Do you think Grainna’s here?” Tara asked.

“I don’t know.”

“Is there another Druid like her out there?”

Ian nodded to his eldest son. “I only know of the legends.”

“Didn’t you tell me she converted Druids to her ways?” Tara asked Duncan.

“Aye.”

“Then it must be one of them.” Myra walked to the fireplace deep in thought.

“But why, Myra?” Tara asked. “Any virgin blood will break Grainna’s curse. Or am I missing something?”

“Virgin blood is powerful to anyone in the wrong hands.” Ian told her.

“Any Druid who wants to do harm.”

“Oh.”

A collective sigh went through the room. They all kept their thoughts to themselves. Each of them watched Myra beneath lowered lids.

“When can I return?” Myra gazed into the fire.

“After the solstice?”

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unshed tears.

Silence came over them like the heavy down of a comforter. The fire cracked, sending sparks above it.

The smoke lifted weightless and silent, up and out of the Keep.

Tara asked what no one else dared. “When will she go?”

“On the next full moon,” Lora stated as if it was nothing more than a flight to Vegas.

Forcing a smile, Tara spoke with a confidence she only half felt. “Well, that doesn’t give us much time now, does it?” She kissed Duncan’s hand, let it go, and stood.