Hearts Across Time (The Knights of Berwyck: A Quest Through Time Novel ~ Books 1 & 2) (16 page)

The night was dark, but the light from the open door of the stables lit her path as she made her way across the grounds. Opening the door, it creaked loudly, and the sound echoed harshly into the darkness surrounding her. Her arm was grabbed and she was hauled roughly into the stable. Emily gulped in a large breath in order to scream when she was pushed against the hard wooden door. Her mouth was covered, preventing her outcry. She began to struggle, all the while wondering why this continued to happen to her.

“Ye have led me on a merry chase, lass, following ye across the countryside,” a voice whispered brusquely in her ear, as he lowered his hand slowly from her mouth. His voice, even though its harshness was evident, was like a sweet caress to her senses.

“Tiernan?” Emily asked softly.

Tiernan took the hood from his head, and she reached out her hands to feel his face beneath her fingertips. “Were ye expecting another?”

“No, but you have no idea what danger you’re in of being captured.”

“I have evaded worse and come out the better.”

“You don’t understand.”

Tiernan captured her hands and held them roughly. “So, why do ye not enlighten me, Emily? Why is it ye ride with me enemy? Do I even now have cause to fear ye have already alerted them I am here?” he said gruffly.

“I wouldn’t do that to you,” Emily said shrilly.

“Bah! Why should I trust ye? Ye barely know me,” he replied, just as hotly.

“I know you well enough to know you would never hurt me. Why are you so angry with me? I’ve done nothing but come to care for you.”

He pressed himself against her as his eyes bore into hers. “Who is he?”

Emily looked at him in bewilderment as her heart accelerated with his nearness. He made her forget what they were talking about, but she quickly came back to her senses to answer him. “Who?”

“Ye know of whom I speak, woman. The redhead who has been all but mauling ye these many miles as I’ve watched ye come to favor him,” Tiernan yelled.

A bitter laugh escaped her until she saw it only angered him more. He was jealous! “Trust me when I tell you, I feel nothing for Aiden other than that of a brother. Truly…He irritates the hell out of me.”

“I repeat…why should I trust ye?” he whispered, releasing her hands, as if all the fight went rushing out of him.

Emily reached up and caressed his face, moving a lock of his hair that had fallen over his eye. “Because of this,” she said softly and pressed her lips against his.

What started off as a tender kiss quickly turned to one completely out of her control. She was crushed against his solid body even while she attempted to clasp him to her more fully. Her heart sang with joy, knowing all this time he had been following her, despite his words he would have others do so. Surely, his kiss meant he had come to care for her.

Tiernan tore his lips from hers abruptly, as if he had come to realize his predicament of being captured. “Ye must go, Emily, afore they come looking for ye.”

“I would rather stay here with you,” she said, leaning in for another stolen kiss.

“Nay, lass, but ne’er fear. I willna be far from yer side,” Tiernan said, and he placed another quick kiss on her lips.

Her name was being called from outside the stables with enough urgency that Tiernan reached for her hand and led her out the back.

“Tell them ye went to the garderobe,” he insisted. He quickly ushered her out into the cool night and pulled her cloak around her to keep out the chilly evening air.

“Will I see you soon?” she asked, desperately wrapping her arms around him, not wanting him to leave.

“Soon enough, lass, soon enough.”

With another quick kiss, he turned her away from him. Emily looked back over her shoulder and saw him disappear into the night. Then she took flight at a fast pace. Rushing, she rounded the corner of the barn and ran smack dab into Aiden, who had an angry look plastered on his face.

“Where the hell have you been?” he admonished her with his hand still firmly planted on the hilt of his sword. He continued his assessment of the night to ensure there was no danger in sight.

Emily flipped her hair out of her face. “Taking care of business,” she huffed.

“What business?”

She nodded towards the outhouse and her answer seemingly satisfied his curiosity.

“Next time, let me know. I will accompany you to ensure your safe return,” Aiden ordered as he steered her back inside the inn.

“Can’t I ever have a bit of privacy?” she asked bitterly as she began climbing the stairs.

“Nay! Not on my watch,” Aiden declared and ushered her inside her room, closing the door behind him as he left.

The only light in the room came from the fire, and Emily saw Brie and Jewels were already in bed.

“Where have you been, Em?” Brianna whispered frantically, in concern for her friend.

“Just out catching some air,” Emily replied with a smile. She took off her dress and, after carefully folding it, climbed into the bed. “Oh, my…” She let out a sigh of pure pleasure to feel the softness surround her being.

Juliana laughed softly from the middle of the bed. “I know how you feel. A feather bed! Have you ever felt anything more glorious than this?”

Emily turned on her side and watched the fire as it began to die out in the hearth. She had indeed felt something more glorious than what she would sleep on this night, and that very something had been found in Tiernan’s sweet and memorable kiss.

T
he low light
of the
fire cast glittering shadows on the walls surrounding them. He opened his eyes, and all he could see was the golden glow of her body as she lay atop him. She gave him a devilish smile, took his earlobe gently between her teeth, nibbling it, and began placing soft kisses down the length of his neck.

Her teasing did not stop there as she made a trail with her lips slowly down his chest. Her tongue flicked him here and there, causing him to gasp in the pleasure she sweetly gave him. Her fingers fanned out as she caressed his muscles, reaching ever lower down his taut stomach. She gave a seductive laugh and took special delight as she wrapped her hand around the hard pulsing length of him. She squeezed slightly and he felt as if he were about to crawl out of his skin if he did not make her his own in every way.

He flipped her over so she was at last beneath him. Taking hold of her hands, he brought them above her head afore she could extract any more of the exquisite torture she had in store for him. He looked his fill of her, marveling at the perfection beneath his gaze. Her tanned skin, kissed by the sun, was as smooth as porcelain. Her breasts were full and firm with their pink nipples, peaked from the coolness of the air, or was it from the passion and heat that seemed to radiate naturally between them? He leaned down and took one of those tempting buds gently into his mouth, teasing her now as much as she had him but moments afore.

Her moan reached his ears, and her back arched, begging him for more. He let go of her hands to cup both of her breasts in order to give each his undivided attention. She grasped at his hair ’til he at last looked up into her passion filled eyes, shining full of so much love. He never thought to ever see such an intense stare directed at him.

“I want you, Riorden,” she whispered urgently as she reached down to once more take hold of him, “and I can tell you want me, too. Please don’t make me wait any longer, my love.”

“’Tis my turn, Kat. Be patient…” he said, a bit harshly, trying to hold back the urge to plunge into her softness and take this woman who meant all to him. He returned the favor of tormenting her to see just how easily he could make her writhe beneath him. It did not, in truth, take long as his lips tasted his way lower and lower down the curve of her waist and her stomach.

Riorden twirled a length of her hair between his fingers whilst he continued his assault on her senses. It gave him satisfaction to hear the tiny whimpers and catlike purrs now coming from his lovely lady. He raised his head and glanced at the tendril winding its way around his hand as if taking possession of him.

He frowned, astounded when the blondish-brown tresses began to transform into the color as black as midnight. The golden skin he had been caressing with his rough, calloused hands turned to the color of ivory and became much too lean for his taste. He jerked back in surprise, for no longer was it his sweet Katherine lovingly calling out his name in the heat of passion. Nay! It was a face that had haunted him for most of his adult life. It was his father’s wife who now began to take command of his very soul.

“I knew you would come back to me, Riorden. You will always be mine,” she declared knowingly with an evil laugh.

She wound her arms up and around his neck whilst her hair took on a life of its own. The black locks wrapped themselves around him in a binding grip, much like a spider that had trapped its prey in its silvery, sticky web. Her lips touched his, and he felt the air rush out of his lungs as her hair began to squeeze him tighter and tighter. She frantically whispered words of a sorceress, laying claim to his heart, even as he gave one last gasp for breath. Suffocating him, she sucked the very life from his soul with her wicked and spiteful kiss of death.

R
iorden awoke
, sitting up with a jolt. A cold sweat clung to his trembling body. He tore away the light blanket that had become entangled around his neck. His eyes scanned the room until his vision came into focus and he got his bearings straight. With shaking hands, he raked his fingers through his hair and took a deep, soothing breath. What had started out as a dream worth remembering had turned into his worst nightmare. He was not sure once he arrived at Warkworth that the reality of the situation would not still hold true.

He quickly donned his hose and boots then laid kindling onto the fire to take the chill from the chamber afore Katherine arose from her slumber. He made his way to the bed and watched her sleeping with a half-smile gracing her lovely face. She was having the most pleasant of dreams, it appeared. She was laying on her side with her hands drawn together beneath her cheek, almost as if in prayer. His gaze traveled the length of her body, noticing every luscious curve beneath the coverings. Coverings! She might as well not have anything atop her, since the blanket hid nothing from his imagination. It only caused him further frustration that he was not laying abed next to her.

The strap from the shift she had slept in hung loose from her shoulder, allowing him to view the outline of one of her breasts. ’Twas just scarcely visible, along with its peak, almost taunting him to reach out and cup it. Riorden’s hand shuddered to feel the silkiness of her creamy smooth skin and the bared shoulder beneath his palm. He knew not how she could think herself undesirable to him, or doubt in any way that he wanted her. Aye! Want her he did, with every fiber of his being, and yet he still stood there, not giving into the temptation that was ripe for the taking.

His hands ached. His mouth became parched, desperately wishing to taste the sweetness of her kiss. His arousal was abundantly evident from the tightness of his hose. If he did not find some kind of release soon, he would be driven crazed from denying himself what he truly wanted. Katherine…in his arms…in his bed…but as his wife. Damn his code of chivalry to hell!

A groan escaped him, and her eyelids began to flutter open. She stretched herself, much like that of a feline cat upon rising from its slumber. ’Twas almost more than he could tolerate, seeing her completely uninhibited. Once recognition dawned on her that he stood hovering over her, she quickly threw the blanket from her body. Kneeling afore him, she hugged him with all her might. Every inch of her body seemed to mold itself to his own. He finally gave in to the pleasure of holding her and crushed her into his arms.

“Good morning, Riorden,” she said shyly. “Did you sleep well?”

“Good morn to you, my lady, and nay, my slumber was not restful,” he replied hoarsely, still feeling the effect of his dream. He inhaled deeply the scent of her hair. It smelled of flowers.

“I told you to get off the floor and sleep in the bed with me,” she reminded him playfully.

“Ha! ’Tis not sleeping we would have done, I assure you,
mademoiselle
.”

“I think that was the point, Riorden,” Katherine purred sweetly. “I was having the most delicious dream.” She began trailing a finger down his naked chest with a teasing gleam in her eye until she saw, he assumed, was his expression filled with remoteness.

“Is there something wrong?” she asked after several minutes of silence and perchance feeling the tension in the air surrounding them.

“Nay. Nothing that will not soon enough take care of itself, I suspect,” he said briskly. His gaze devoured the sight of her since her chemise had fallen even further. Trying to get a hold on the sexual tension she unleashed in him, Riorden stepped back and began donning the rest of his clothing, along with his sword.

She reached over and clutched the blanket to her breasts, almost in embarrassment she had displayed herself so. She swung her legs off the edge of the bed and stood, taking the coverlet with her as a drape.

“Have I done something to upset you, Riorden?” Her voice trembled in her uncertainty of what she could have possibly done wrong. Worry was clearly etched upon her beautiful face.

Stupid fool! ’Tis not her fault you must deal with your past once you arrive at Warkworth. He knew trouble would be afoot afore he ever placed one boot upon his land. Riorden went to her and placed a kiss on her lips. She smiled, even though ’twas a weak effort, at best. He had not meant to hurt her feelings.

“We must away, Katherine. The sun is up, and we must ride,” he announced as he strode towards the door. “You will want to say your farewells to Lady Juliana and Lady Brianna, will you not?”

“Yes, of course,” she whispered softly.

“Then come and meet us downstairs. We shall have food to eat along the way.”

Riorden watched her turn to dress, and he quietly closed the door. ’Twas either that, or break his vow to himself and go back inside, not letting her see the light of day until he ensured their passion for each other was completely sated.

S
everal hours later
, Katherine’s eyes were still red rimmed from the amount of tears she had shed. She had tried to persuade Riorden and Danior to not go forward with their plan to split the women up, but they had been relentless. The four women had clung to one another in a teary farewell until Riorden said they must hasten their departure.

Determined to cover more ground, Danior and Gavin had taken Juliana and Brianna and headed further inland to scour the area to the west before turning back to Berwyck. This left the remaining party continuing northeast. It was likely they would make Berwyck by nightfall, if not sooner.

It was well into the late afternoon when Riorden had at last called a halt to their frantic galloping across the countryside. He left Aiden and Patrick to keep guard of the women while he went to scout the area around them. Katherine had never been more grateful to at last sit on something that wasn’t moving beneath her. She now only waited patiently for Riorden’s return. She was becoming concerned while she listened intently to the quietness of the forest. He had been gone quite a while.

Katherine had just stood to stretch her weary body when shouting reached her ears along with the distinct, loud sound of metal clanking against metal. There was no mistaking the sound of one sword smashing against another. She was on her feet, running in the direction of the raised, hostile voices before she even realized she had done so. Aiden’s voice rang out calling her name as he, along with the rest of their company, rushed after her.

They came to an abrupt halt. Then Emily hurled herself forward into the scene before them. She was easily taken hold of in Aiden’s steely grip. Tears began coursing down her cheeks.

Riorden stood next to Tiernan, his sword pointed at him. Tiernan’s hands were raised in surrender. His sword lay just out of reach on the ground. Katherine watched as the man’s gaze crossed the distance to Emily, who still struggled to get to him. His eyes flashed to the man beside him, and he gave a look of extreme disgust.

“’Tis not the first time we have met, is it Cavanaugh?” Riorden taunted, flicking a loose strand of Tiernan’s hair with the tip of his sword.

“Cavanaugh?” Emily asked in confusion.

Katherine had never learned Tiernan’s last name, but when Riorden said it, she realized who he was. As she recalled pieces of history, the reasons for these men’s animosity towards one another began to fall into place. Tiernan was the leader of the Irish rebels. He was a famous soldier and fighter, celebrated by the Irish, who refused to yield to English rule. Standing tall and strong, he made an effort to quell his defiance as his gaze continually went to her friend. He had eyes only for Emily, who thrashed about to wriggle free of Aiden’s grasp, without prevail.

“And now for your insolence, you shall suffer the consequences of not yielding to your king,” Riorden announced.

“He is no king o’ mine,” Tiernan replied, distain dripping with each word.

Riorden pulled his sword back to strike, but was interrupted by Emily’s plea.

“No!” she screamed. Pulling her elbow back, she forcefully jabbed it into Aiden’s stomach, leaving him only able to exhale a loud “oaf.” Free from his grip, she ran toward the clash of wills in front of her, using herself as a shield for Tiernan. She stood face to face with him, her lips trembling with fear.

“Back away, you foolish girl,” Riorden spit out still in full battle mode. Emily only tightened her grip around Tiernan’s neck and peeked at Katherine with frightened eyes.

“Do something,” Emily mouthed to her. Emily turned back to Tiernan, who searched her face with a nervous smile and wrapped his arms securely around her.

“I love you,” she said softly.

“And, I you,” he said, just as tenderly.

Riorden’s head jerked up upon hearing their declarations, and he swiveled in Katherine’s direction. He looked almost as if she had struck him. A sense of
déjà vu
sadly overcame her. With a heavy sigh, she knew what was about to happen. She attempted to take a calm breath, but failed when it rushed out as she all but suffocated from remorse.

“You knew of her feelings for him?” he asked sternly, almost choking on his words. He did not lower his sword.

“I suspected, but didn’t know for sure,” she replied honestly, not taking her eyes from his.

“And you did not think it important enough to tell me?” he bellowed, standing there struggling, it seemed, with some inner demon.

“Riorden,” Katherine said as steadily as possible, trying her best to defuse the situation. “Please, don’t do this.”

“Keep your distance, woman! Do not interfere in matters that do not concern you,” Riorden roared.

She ignored him, coming close enough to place her hand upon his arm. She nudged it gently. His muscles were tense beneath her fingers. But he slowly lowered his sword while he listened intently to her soothing voice. “I am a firm believer that everything in our lives happens for a reason,” Katherine declared gently, hoping her words would appease him. “We all have a purpose in this life. My purpose was to find you. You
were
and
are
my reason for being here, Riorden, just as surely as that man there is Emily’s.”