Fraser 02 - Highland Quest (9 page)

He moved up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. “You’re trembling. Come here.” He tugged her against a solid wall of muscle. “Talk to me, Fallon. Why are you so determined to push people away? Why do you feel the need to do things alone?”

“Because, I have always been alone.”

She turned in his arms and choked back a sob. “When I was a babe of four summers, I woke from a nightmare, a vision so powerful I could not stop shaking. I saw a banshee wailing outside the croft of our neighbor, my father’s closest friend. I will never forget her face or her ear-piercing cry. I saw the image of my father’s friend standing in the window, a shroud wrapped about his head and chest.” She paused and released a shuddered breath. “When I told my mam, she insisted my da go to check on him.”

“What did he find when he arrived?” Bryce asked softly.

“His friend was hail and hardy. He asked what possessed Da to visit him in the middle of the night and my father told him about my dream. The man laughed and said he dinna believe in superstition. The next day, my parents were told his heart gave out while he was milking his cows.”

She bowed her head and mumbled a brief prayer.

“From that moment on, people avoided me. Feared me. They were certain if they even spoke to me, their fate would be sealed and they would die in agony. When I was a wee bit older, the bairns in our village mocked me and threw stones. Some called me a witch, and they placed
Rudha-an
branches in my path or over their doors to ward off evil. Other called me demon or the daughter of Satan. Do you have any idea how it felt to watch the other bairns playing, to know I was not welcome? To walk down the street and have people cross to the other side to avoid contact?”

“Bairns can be cruel, Fallon. People often fear what they dinna understand. However, there is no excuse for their ignorance. You should never have listened to them.”

“I started to believe what they said about me was true,” she blurted out. “My mam told me I was special and had a gift. I saw it as a curse. All I ever wanted was to be accepted, to be normal. When my mother died and my father was killed in battle, I had no one. I saw their deaths before they happened, yet was powerless to stop them. I am destined to spend my life alone. No man will ever want me.” She chewed on her bottom lip and glanced away. She’d said too much.

“You were a bairn and canna believe you were responsible for your parents’ deaths, for anyone’s death.” He lifted her hand and pressed her palm to his lips. “Your mother was right. You are special for who you are and not what you see. Never doubt yourself.”

A rush of longing washed over her and she withdrew her hand. She didn’t want his pity. She didn’t want anything from him. Or did she? Yet when Bryce spread his plaid on the ground then lowered himself, taking her with him, she offered no resistance.

He enveloped her in his arms and cradled her at his side. “Fallon.” He whispered her name as if in prayer. “I want you. Heaven help me, but I’ve wanted you since the first time I laid eyes on you at the Scott’s stronghold.”

Before she could react, Bryce captured her mouth with a kiss that stormed her senses. He tasted of mint and fennel, his tongue teasing as he sampled her slightly parted lips. His roaming hands were strong, yet his caress was gentle. He stared at her with dark, passion-filled eyes, his wolfish grin melting what was left of her reserve.

“Do you want me to stop? Tell me before I lose control.”

The kisses he feathered across her nose and cheeks made it impossible for Fallon to think clearly. She steeled herself against his advances, but to no avail. To give in to temptation was wrong, but she couldn’t refute the ardency between them.

From the moment they’d met, there had been an unmistakable connection—like they were destined to be together. Something she had never experienced before and feared she might never find again. Bryce told her she was beautiful, desirable. While she’d heard those words before from other suitors, she believed him sincere. When they kissed, all thought and reason dissipated into a euphoric fog. Above all, Bryce accepted her for who she was and her gift of
dà shealladh
did not concern him. When she was with Bryce, her heart raced and her breath caught. When they were apart, he filled her thoughts, despite her effort to put him out of her mind.

Did she dare allow herself to dream of a future together?

“You take my breath away, Fallon. I’m a mortal man and can no longer endure the torture,” he groaned in her ear before nipping the sensitive lobe.

“Wha—what if another wild animal or the enemy happens upon us?” She tried to remain strong, but her resolve was fading fast.

“We live in a time of uncertainty and walk a fine line between danger and desire. Nothing worth having is without risk.” He hovered over her, his arms supporting the bulk of his weight on either side. His chest muscles bunched, his square jaw tightened, and his neck veins bulged from the strain. The soft glow of moonlight highlighted handsome, rugged features and she caught the tantalizing scent of musk and man.

How could she refuse him . . . deny herself? While not the way she envisioned her first joining, it might be the only time they’d have together. Bryce was heading into battle and she’d had visions of his impending death.

Her mind reeled. Surrendering to her wanton needs was sinful, or so she’d been raised to believe. Her body craved completion, yearned to experience the sensation of him thrusting deep inside her aching core. But Bryce, a restless spirit and adventure seeker, never spoke to her of love or marriage.

Could she give herself freely, aware this night may be the first and last time they share an intimate moment?

“Shall I desist? Tell me now.” A possessive growl rumbled from deep in his chest. He slipped his hand beneath her skirt, grazing her inner thigh. Without hesitation, his fingers crept higher, the sensual path setting her ablaze and branding her as his own.

“I won’t force myself on you, Fallon. Our union must be something you crave as much as I do.”

She gave a hesitant nod. “I want to lie with you.”

“Even though I canna make you any promises beyond this night? I care for you, Fallon, but have no idea what the future holds.”

She petted his stubble-roughened cheek then buried her hands in his hair. “Aye, I’m certain.”

“I wish to please you, m’lady.” Bryce’s face lit up as he tugged at the laces of her gown then lay open the bodice.

Cool air licked her exposed flesh, but she wasn’t certain if the night’s chill or the play of his fingers along the valley between her breasts caused her to shiver.

“You’re even more ravishing than I imagined.” His voice was hoarse and rasping, his breath warm and moist against her skin.

Her breast grew heavy and she hungered for his touch. She moaned with delight when he stroked the nipple with the pad of his thumb, coaxing the sensitive nub to stand erect. He tugged the throbbing tip between his teeth, nipped, then began to suckle. A billowy cloud of pure rapture enveloped her. Desire curled low in her belly, moist heat erupting between her thighs. Her heart beat wildly and she thought she might faint. She longed for his strong hands to explore and caress every part of her body.

Bryce pushed up her skirt and his deft fingers resumed their exploration. She rocked her head and whimpered with delight. He knew exactly where to stroke, how to elicit the maximum level of pleasure. She never dreamed of being so physically possessed, and her body quickly became a slave to the erotic heat coursing through her veins. She writhed and bucked beneath his talented touch.

A sudden rush of moisture pooled between her thighs. In response, he increased the tempo and pressure. Amidst her moans of pleasure and pleas for mercy, he continued his ministrations, bringing her to places she’d never expected. He fondled and prodded until she was certain she could endure no more, then he dipped his head between her legs, and took her with his mouth.

“Oh . . . Oh, Bryce. Please . . .” She exhaled sharply as a dizzying coil of urgent need unfurled. Her skin heated, about to burst into flames, and her body jerked and quivered. When his gifted tongue encircled the bud of her arousal, her nails dug into his shoulders, and she called out his name. In that glorious moment, she came quickly. But he didn’t release her from the exquisite torture. He elevated her buttock, feasting on the honey of her excitement until the last glorious waves of sublime release subsided.

A vision of loveliness, Fallon’s cheeks flushed and her rose-colored lips were swollen from kissing. She languorously stretched, then opened her eyes, peering from beneath thick, dark lashes—a stark contrast to her flawless, ivory complexion. Bryce’s breath stalled as he admired her beauty.

“I had no idea something deemed immoral would be so wondrous.” Her words mingled with a breathy sigh.

His hand settled over the nest of raven curls at the apex of her thighs. He parted the lush pink lips and dipped his fingers past the glistening feminine folds. She moaned and arched her back, giving him better access. His thumb brushed the hard nub of arousal and her body wept for him. “There is so much more a woman and man can share. You are wet and ready to learn. Will you have me?”

Fallon chewed on her bottom lip—a gesture he noticed she used when nervous or hiding something.

“You appear troubled. Have you changed your mind? If so, you dinna have to do this.” He pulled back, but she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“This is my first bedding. I am not sure what to do. I’ve heard women speak of both pain and pleasure.” She failed to hide the tremor in her voice.

He swept a silken loch of hair from her brow then traced her cheek with the tip of his finger. “That makes it all the sweeter,
Leannan
. I promise to be gentle. There will be one brief moment of pain when I break through your maidenhead, but after that, I’m told it never happens again. I will do my utmost to pleasure you.” He pressed his lips to hers, hoping to allay her fears and to distract her as he positioned himself between her thighs. “Do you trust me?”

Fallon smiled. “Aye.”

Bryce nudged her legs apart and her hips softened. He entered her slowly, pausing at the barrier of her innocence. Despite the overpowering urge to complete their joining, he lay very still, affording her time to adjust to the fullness. But she raised her hips, and he pushed through, buried to the hilt in her hot, lush sheath.

He witnessed a grimace of pain and a tear running down her cheek, but she didn’t utter a sound. Instead, her movements matched his tempo, increasing the glorious friction between them.

The tension in his groin intensified and he quickened the pace. Bombarded by divine sensations and captivated by the wonder of the moment, he rocked into her with wild abandon. He was largely endowed by most standards, but she accommodated his size, encasing his erection like a falconer’s glove. He pressed deeper, his pleasure mirrored in her expression of rapture and moans of delight.

Fallon’s writhing and purrs of enjoyment spurred him on. Her head lolled from side-to-side, and she muttered his name in her delirium as her legs began to shake.

Aware she was close to completion, he slid his hand between them, stroking and fondling until she tossed her head back and her inner muscles rhythmically contracted around him.

On the precipice of his own release, Bryce maintained the momentum. Trapped in a realm of earth-shattering euphoria, the pressure mounted until his loins tightened and he shouted out a war cry then emptied his seed before collapsing on top of her.

When his erratic breaths slowed and heart resumed a normal rhythm, he rolled to one side, taking her with him.

Guilt tugged at his gut and the consequences of his actions weighed on his mind. He’d bedded many women and harbored no regrets. Love and commitment were not an issue. He’d made certain of that. The instant he’d entered Fallon, everything had changed. He’d never felt so possessive, the level of pleasure unfathomable. He knew he could never get enough.

In the past, once his partner found her womanly pleasure, he’d complete the mating ritual by releasing his seed into the bedclothes, eliminating the risk of conception. To his knowledge, he had never fathered a bairn.

He glanced at Fallon, resting quietly at his side. The notion she might harbor his babe in her belly didn’t unnerve him the way he’d anticipated. The conjured image of her round with his child, a strapping son to carry on the Fraser legacy or a spirited wee lass with her mother’s sapphire eyes, caused his heart to soar.

He considered himself blessed to spend one night with Fallon, and he wished it would never end. The only thing to outshine her physical beauty was her inner radiance and gentle spirit.

Fallon stirred and he pressed a kiss to her brow. He couldn’t take his eyes of her, afraid if he did, she’d vanish.

Why should Connor be the only one to experience such bliss?

He cursed beneath his breath. While they may be brothers, he and Connor were different. There’d be no wife and bairns in his future. The fact he’d bedded Fallon on the floor of a cave, with no more regard or consideration than a randy scoundrel shows a tavern wench who lifts her skirt for coin infuriated him. She deserved better.

“Is it morning?” She brought her hand up to stifle a yawn and glanced around the cave.

“The sun has yet to rise and won’t for a few more hours. Try to rest.” He tucked her securely in the crook of his arm and secured his plaid around her shoulders. Her head and hand rested over his thundering heart.

“I’ve often wondered about the intimacies between a woman and a man.” Her splayed fingers curled in his chest hair before journeying across his abdomen and coming to rest on his manhood.

“How so?” He forced the words despite the sudden dryness in his throat.

Her questioning eyes widened. “My mother died long before she had the chance to explain such things.” She skimmed her hand along the length of his burgeoning shaft. “Is it always like this? Does it hurt?”

“Only when I am near you.” Overwhelmed with renewed desire, he almost choked on the response. Elated by the promise of another joining, he damned the consequences. But first, he wanted to rid her of her cumbersome gown.

“May I help you with this?” Bryce grasped the hem and slowly raised it to her waist. When she smiled and lifted her arms to assist him, Bryce swiftly peeled the fabric over her head then pulled her onto his lap.

His breath caught as he took in every line and curve of her slender figure in the moonlight. Fallon straddled his abdomen, his arousal pulsing against the soft cheeks of her firm, round buttocks. His hand slip between her thighs and he smiled. Slick and swollen, she was ready to love. Again.

“In the heat of passion, we joined in haste, not how I intended your first time to be.” He cupped her breasts and toyed with her nipples as he spoke, causing her to moan and giggle with delight.

“Allow me to enter you again. I promise to show you the wonders you seek.” He dropped one hand into her lap and allowed his knuckles to glide along her thigh. Her entire body trembled in response. He wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her enough to slide his manhood beneath the entrance to her core.

She settled over his engorged flesh. As if trained in erotic pleasures, she slowly lowered herself, enveloping his throbbing rod. He groaned when she began to roll and sway her bottom, sliding up and down in a rhythm that matched his own.

He fought the urge to take control, allowing her to set the pace. But when she raised herself high, rotated her hips, and began to ride him hard and fast, he grasped her buttocks, securing her in place.

He withdrew until only the very top of his manhood remained embedded. He voraciously rubbed the hard nub of her desire with the tip of his shaft, before sinking to the base. Encased in the purest form of ecstasy, a volcano-like pressure filled his core. Ready to erupt, he thrust deep and quickened the pace, encouraging her toward completion once again.

She tossed her head back when her body convulsed and joined him in an orgasm. Sobbing with pleasure, she slumped forward, her forehead resting on his heaving chest, her raven tresses covering her face.

Bryce wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her closer. Her heart clamored against his chest as she fought to catch her breath. They lay together, legs entwined, basking in the afterglow.

Fallon’s eyes fluttered open and she gazed up at Bryce. “Will we be leaving soon?”

“The hour is late and the forest is impassable now that night has settled in. It was by sheer luck that you didn’t run off the path and fall to your death from any one of dozen cliffs. Best we wait and return at daybreak.”

Fallon placed her hands over her mouth and gasped. “We’re not returning tonight?” She could not hide the trepidation in her voice as she sat and peered into the darkness. “We canna stay here. What will the men think?” In truth, she was afraid if they spend the entire night together, she might not be able to let him go.

“Men usually think what suits them, regardless of the truth. Try to get some more rest. I’m sure you must be cold. I’ll start a fire.” Bryce rose, crossed to the far side of the cave and disappeared into the shadows. He returned a moment later with a small pile of twigs, a few dry logs, and a pelt. He squatted and arranged the tinder on the floor.

“I was surprised you knew about this place. But how did you know where to find those things? Have you been here before?”

“Robert scouted out the entire area before deciding on the perfect location to set up camp and brief all the men as to his findings. The cave has been used for a lookout point in the past. Supplies are often left behind in case the place is needed for a refuge or used again to scout for the enemy.”

Within minutes smoke billowed from the wood, followed by flames. He added the logs and some peat to the blaze. “This will take the chill out of the air and provide us with a bit more light.” He rocked back on his heels and peered down at her. “You look spent.” He spread out the fur and patted the ground beside him. “Move closer. This will be warmer and more comfortable.”

Fallon remained sitting, keeping some distance between them. The heat of passion that had brought them together had cooled. While Bryce remained attentive, something was different. Did he regret what happened between them? Did he think her a whore? She wanted to ask, but instead she changed the subject.

“I noticed you were limping when you went to get the wood. Did the beast injure you?”

Bryce shook his head. “He tried his best to gore me, but only caught my shin. I have but a scratch and there is no need to
fash
.”

Fallon rose to her knees and pointed to his leg. “Show me.”

“There is no need. I’m fine.”

“Please dinna dispute with me, Bryce.” She leaned forward to get a better view.

Bryce turned so she could examine the wound. He stood before her, his body a finely honed masterpiece. He was truly magnificent. Determined to ignore his nakedness and curb her sinful thoughts, she bit her bottom lip and concentrated her attention on his injury. After tearing a strip of cloth from the hem of her kirtle, she wiped away the clotted blood. “You were very lucky. The tusk broke the skin, but the wound is not deep and should heal quickly.” When she realized her fingers rested on his calf, she snatched her hand away and placed it in her lap.

“I told you, the cut is nothing to
fash
over.” He stretched out on the pelt and motioned for her to join him. “Come before you catch your death of cold. We still have a few hours to rest before dawn.”

Fallon joined him on the pelt, suddenly very aware of her own lack of clothing. She crossed her arms over her chest.

He covered her with his plaid and settled in behind her, her back resting against his chest, her buttocks against his thigh. “Sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day.”

Fallon tossed in a fitful sleep. She called out Bryce’s name, but he didn’t answer. She tried desperately to open her eyes, but the lids were so heavy. When she managed the task, she sat up with her hand clutched to her throat. Her heart pounded in her chest, her pulse racing. She glanced around at her surroundings and began to shiver. The fire had burned down to ashes and a heavy morning mist made everything damp.

“Bryce?” His name rode on a strangled breath. She’d had a nightmare. In truth, it was another vision of Bryce’s demise.

She grabbed her gown, tugged it over her head, and fumbled with the laces of the bodice. Her entire body ached, and she was shockingly aware of intimate areas she’d seldom thought about until now.

What have I done?

“Good morning.” Bryce spoke to her from the entrance of the cave.

Fallon turned to face him. “Where were you? I was concerned.”

“You were sleeping so soundly, I dinna want to wake you. I went to gut the boar and secured it to a tree. I’ll send some men to fetch it later. While away, I also gathered some berries. Are you hungry?” He held up a leather pouch.

She studied his stern expression and rigid posture. They’d connected on so many levels when they made love, but something had changed. Along with her gift of second sight, she was cursed with the ability of knowing what people were feeling.

Bryce closed the space between them and offered Fallon a wine skin. “There is a stream nearby and I thought you might be in need of a drink.”

She brought the vessel to her lips and drank greedily. Her thirst quenched, she wiped her mouth. “Thank you.”

Bryce gave her the fruit. “Once you’ve broken your fast, we’ll be off.” Rather than join her, he backed away.

Fallon dumped some berries into her hand and popped them in her mouth. She closed her eyes, savoring the flavor exploding on her tongue.

“Take as long as you need. I’ll wait for you outside,” Bryce called over his shoulder as he walked toward the entrance of the cave.

“Will you not have something to eat with me?”

“Nay. I ate while picking and am no longer hungry.” He didn’t turn around.

Fallon climbed to her feet and followed behind him. When he didn’t slow his pace, she grasped his upper arm, halting his retreat. “Did I do something to displease you?”

His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not a fool, Bryce. Your attitude has turned cold and distant.”

“You’re mistaken. We have been gone a long time and need to return to the Bruce’s camp. If you are finished eating, we must make haste.”