Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (17 page)

Brendan
walked to her, took her hand, and pulled her to the edge of the cliff. She dug
her heals into the ground.

“There
is no way you can make me go near the rim. Please, release me.”

Her
fear was evident in her tone, but he didn’t pay it any mind. He scooped her
into his arms and carried her to the threshold. Her eyes squeezed shut.

“Are
you going to throw me over the edge?”

Brendan
laughed, shaking his head. “Now why would I do that, Katie?”

She
stiffened, as unbending as a plank, and he sighed loudly. He sat and arranged
her on his lap, setting his arms around her waist.

“Please,
I’m quite alarmed, Brendan, let me move back. I promise, I shan’t call you by
another name again, only let me return to the horse.” She hid her face in the
crook of his neck.

“Katie,
I have you.”

“We’re
going to fall. I don’t like being so high. Please, let me up.” Her arms
tightened around him. She wasn’t pleased with her undisciplined reaction.

“You’re
afraid of heights? I’ll have to remember that. It could come in handy, later.”
He laughed when she tensed. He rubbed his hand in a circular motion over her
back, calming her. “I won’t let you fall, I promise. Look at the sight.” He
pointed outward.

Kate
gripped his shoulders and opened her eyes, hesitantly looking around her. Her
eyes widened and her breath caught at the sight. Brendan loved the view of his
beloved Highlands. Several mountain peaks towered into the sky. Clouds of mist
settled in the valley between the crests, and the sun reflected a rainbow in a
high arc, from one mountain to another. The land was spellbinding. Her breath
hitched when she noticed the sheer drop and she gripped his arm.

“This
is my favorite place, where I come to relax and think, and to be alone. There’s
many people in our clan and it can sometimes be hard to find time to be by
yourself. That view is why we call this fairy land.”

“I
can see why. I’ve never seen such land before. Are you sure it’s real?”

He
chuckled low in her ear. “Aye, it’s real. How are you finding your stay?”

“It’s
been fine, everyone is so kind. Your land is beautiful, and I enjoy being with
Bonnie. I will miss her so when I leave. I haven’t seen you lately.”

“I’ve
been busy, that’s not exactly true, but I kept my distance to give you time to
get over your anger. It’s been difficult. Aye, Katie, each night I would find
myself outside your cottage. I’d wait around all night with your warm kisses on
my mind.”

“You
shouldn’t speak so.” She tensed when he moved. “Don’t move, I’m afraid we’re
going to fall over the edge.” Her arms surrounded him, which made him grin.

“Don’t
worry, I have you.” Why did that statement make him smile?

He
liked the way she held him. Brendan gripped her waist, feeling her softness.
Being close to her did things to him, things that he didn’t want to control.
She was the complete opposite of him: she, light and fair, soft and sweet—he,
hard and dark, stern and obstinate. Everything about her reeked of femininity,
her scent, the attire she wore, her mannerisms, and soft spoken words. He
wanted her to touch him, to kiss him, and to desire him as much as he desired
her. Guilt chased away his selfish longings.

“I
want to know everything about you, tell me about your childhood.”

She
lifted her face and looked into his eyes, trying to read his sincerity.
“There’s very little to tell, Brendan.”

He
smiled then squeezed her arm. “Don’t leave anything out.”

She
relaxed against him. “My father raised me. We have a small fief in Cheshire. It
is not as large as some of the other lords’ properties, but my father was more
of a soldier and trained men for the king’s service. We were happy until my
mother died. Her name was Jocelyn and I’ve her looks. My father loved her very
much. After her death, he gave me much attention and devotion. I miss him.”

“Where
is he?”

“He
went to the excursion in Egypt, and died there.”

“How
did he die, in battle?”

“I
don’t really know, our overlord said his tent was burned to the ground and that
they couldn’t find him. My father’s squire said he’d been hurt in an earlier
battle and was being tended to when their regiment was attacked. Before my
father sent his squire away, he gave him the medallion to give to me.”

“Why
did he send it to ye?”

“I’ve
yet to figure it out, ‘tis a mystery. Lord Ri … ah, my guardian wants it, and I
don’t mean to let him know I have it.”

“What
do you mean he wants it? Did he try to take it from you?” Brendan listened
carefully, hoping she would reveal the man’s name. She’d almost let it slip.

“He
asked if I had received anything from my father, but I didn’t let on that I
had. When I met Bonnie and discovered her plight, I knew I had to return her to
her family. It was also a way for me to leave my guardian. He’s not of good
character.”

“Nay,
he’s not. I’ll make him pay, Katie. You have my word.” Brendan’s jaw clenched
with that vow and he felt her stiffen.

“I
must tell King Henry about the medallion and what Lord … um my guardian did to
Bonnie. Mayhap he’ll enact justice for my father death and for abducting a
child. It’s the only way I can secure my future.”

He
leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Your future is secure.”

“Brendan,
I cannot involve you in this. My guardian might come after me for the medallion
and it could very well become dangerous. I’ll not involve the MacKinnons—”

“We’re
already involved. He involved us when he abducted my niece. Do you deem we’ll
let that go so easily?”

She
sighed, shaking her head. “I wish he had never abducted Bonnie then I would
never have come here. I think you should let the king direct his judgment.”

“That’s
not the way of the Highlanders. When I find out who he is, he’ll pay for
hurting you and Bonnie. I’ve made that vow. Aye, it will be sweet revenge. Tell
me his name, and I will enact justice for your father, too.”

“I
don’t want to talk about this anymore. Look at the scene before us. How can
there be such evil in the land when the land looks like this? It’s so
romantic.”

Brendan
nudged her chin toward him. She didn’t know what he was up to until his lips
touched hers in a gentle kiss. She sighed when he ran his tongue over her
bottom lip. Aye, he had her, right where he wanted her.

“I’m
so captivated by you,” he whispered against her mouth, and then he deepened his
kiss, taking full possession of her lips. He gently moved her back onto the
ground, and lay on his side, kissing the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen,
his own wife, at his favorite place in the whole Highlands.

The
sky seemed to surround them as if they were as far up in the heavens as they
could get. Romantic, aye, it was romantic. Brendan couldn’t get past that
thought. Their passion took hold, both their bodies swarmed with feelings of
desire. Brendan couldn’t hold back any longer, and wanted to make hard, hot,
passionate love to her. He didn’t want to scare her off again, and he realized
at that moment, that she was just as absorbed by their kissing.

He
began removing her gown, and when it was below her breast, he pulled back to
see the loveliness of them. He cupped his hand under her soft mound and leaned
to take the exquisite bud in his mouth. Kate grasped his hair, holding him in
place. Passion flowed between them. Brendan continued to kiss her breasts, and
she moaned at the pleasure of it. He chuckled, knowing that she enjoyed it. He
moved to her other breast, repeating the gesture.

“Katie,
you’re perfect.” He continued to fondle her beasts, teasing her with his
tongue. Never had he felt such torture, as wanting to be inside her. He grinned
at Kate’s abandonment, when she threw her head back in passion. The intensity
built inside her, just as it was building within him. He revealed the rest of
his prize, and set the garment away from them.

“Ah,
Katie, just look at ye, you’re ready for my loving.”

Kate
couldn’t speak; emotions must have made it impossible. How could he utter a
word? His eyes retreated to the vee between her sweet, soft legs. There nestled
was his greatest want. He reached down to feel its velvety folds, and groaned
at the moistness he felt. She wanted him. He shook with desire. Brendan thought
he die right then, his mind instantly blanked, and his body felt heavy under
her gentle caresses. Kate sucked in a breath when he pressed the tip of his
finger inside her. She mumbled something about him doing it again, and he
smiled widely. He hastily removed his tunic and tartan. She watched him with
wide eyes, gawking at his steeled body. For some reason, she didn’t seem to be
afraid. When she reached out to touch him, he groaned at the sheer pleasure.

Brendan
brought her body against his. She heaved at the feeling of his hardness pressed
against every part of her. Her naked breasts pressed against his chest. He
wanted to act nonchalant, but her sweet cries and reaction made him as
unstudied as if it was his first time.

They
lay on their sides, facing each other on the soft grassy spot before the rocky
edge of the cliff. Brendan’s hand cuddled her bottom, and he pulled her against
his hardness, his mouth invading hers again. He felt strangely aware of his
body and its increasing pulse. She moaned when his rugged hand moved over her
skin. Her lusty cries propelled him onward, and he rolled her onto her back.
The sun shone on her hair, making it appear golden. He lost control. If he
didn’t take her this second, he would lose his seed before he ever entered her.
With that thought in mind, he knelt between her legs, leaned over her body, and
whispered into her ear.

“I
want you. Do you want me to continue?” The soft burr of his voice made his plea
sound raspy. His breath became so intense.

“Aye,
Brendan. I need—”

“Me,
you need me, Katie.” He touched her face, looking emphatically into her eyes.

“Don’t
let go of me.”

“Never,
I’ll never let go.” To reassure her, he clasped her tighter in his arms.
Brendan resumed kissing her, and sent her to the brink of ecstasy. He pressed
his erection against her, and she whimpered, fueling his need even more. He
throbbed with such intensity that his legs trembled.

Kate’s
body reacted, and he could feel her shaking too. It made him happy to know that
she was as affected as he. He would hurt her, and the thought made him grimace.
He decided to plunge forward to get it over with. “Hold me, sweetheart.”

“Aye,”
she whispered.

Forcefully,
he pressed onward and broke the barrier as gently and quickly as he could. Kate
screamed. Brendan froze. He kissed her rosy lips, praying to God that he hadn’t
hurt her too badly.

“Katie,
don’t move, let the pain pass.” He groaned at her slight movement. “I’m only a
man, Katie, and I cannot take …”

He
felt Kate’s warm breath tickling his neck, and he kissed her shoulder. She
wrapped her legs around his waist and ran her hand down his spine. Brendan was
stunned by her bold movements, and he enveloped her in his arms. His muscles
tightened, but he held back, trying to resist the urge to ram himself inside
her. He felt her every touch.

“Brendan,”
her whisper sounded breathless. “I want to … to move.”

Her
hips shifted and he pulled out slowly. She made a sexy sound from her throat, a
sound that almost sent him to heaven. He combated the pressure to release a
growl then and there. He pushed himself against her, feeling his length slide
into the warmth of her being.

“Katie,
this feels so …” He lost his thought when she moved her hands over his chest.
His dampened skin tensed with each movement. Excitement began building when she
stroked his chest and pinched the hardness. “You’re going to make me explode.”
He continued availing his body of hers, reeling in lust.

Katie’s
moans became louder. He watched her eyes glaze over with the shocking
sensations that even now entwined between her legs. He became awed by the
sensitivity of the feelings. Her climax consumed her, and she threw her head
side to side, moaning in delight. He knelt back, supporting her legs, and
watched her reaction with affection. He never witnessed such sweet abandon
before. Amazingly, he kept control, and waited for her to finish. How he maintained
such discipline, he had no idea. He needed release, and knew he had reached his
own limit.

“Say
my name, Katie,” he demanded, wanting to hear his name from her lips. His body
stiffened, and he was about to experience the same wondrous sensations she had.

“Brendan.”
Her sexy voice distracted him for a moment, until she wrapped her legs around
his back. He drove into her slowly, feeling his rod encased by her tightness.
He threw his head back, and yelled to the heavens. His shout echoed through the
summit, and his breath was so deep that he felt his lungs pound his ribs. He
looked down at the lady who just ripped his heart from his chest. Brendan
rolled onto his back and looked up to the sky.