MIDNIGHT CONQUEST: Book 1 of the Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles (30 page)

“Thank you, sir!” He stepped forward, but stopped as if seeing Davina for the first time. The nervous energy returned and he inched forward as if hedging toward a wild animal, ready to bite if he stepped any closer. He extended his hand with hesitation and gave Broderick a small sack. Broderick tried to refuse, but Clyde insisted. “‘Tis showing you me gratitude.”

Broderick reluctantly stretched his hand to receive the donation, still trying to keep Davina in his lap to conceal his erection, the bag jingling as if filled with coins. Clyde bowed his way out of the tent and left them to their intimate moment.

Davina struggled to get up, and this time he let her go without a fight. “What in blazes were you thinking to keep me locked to your lap like some tavern wench!” she hissed.

Broderick smiled, tossed the sack of coins onto the table, and stood with his hands on his hips. “Well, dear lady, I very well couldn’t stand in my current condition.” Broderick glanced at his loins and winked.

Her eyes traveled down and locked onto the very obvious arousal pushing against his trews. Her hand went to her cheek and her eyes flew back up to Broderick’s face.

“I would have been very glad to let you up once my…well…
member
went down, but you kept wiggling your sweet little bottom against it. You left me no choice.” He crossed his arms and grinned with satisfaction.

Davina stood speechless. Broderick heard the rambling of her thoughts. She didn’t know if her cheeks were on fire from the embarrassment of being caught on his lap by an upstanding citizen of their community, or from the fire burning between her legs at the sight of Broderick’s obvious arousal, or a combination of both. She stood there, stunned.

Davina flitted her gaze to various points of interest around the tent, fighting to keep her eyes from straying down to view his enlarged groin. That didn’t do anything to help him ease the tension in his breeches, so Broderick put the barrier of the table between them.

This act brought her back to her senses, but not her jovial mood. Davina stepped back and crossed her arms protectively over her breasts. “I…I…” She sighed, exasperated. Too flustered to continue, Davina dashed out of the tent.

Broderick hung his head in defeat. He had been so close to convincing her to open up! Why couldn’t he control his urges around her? Never had a woman affected him the way Davina did. Broderick rose from his chair and paced the tiny space. He was an adolescent around her, his groin rearing its head every time she came near. Even now he cursed his still-present arousal.

Raking his rigid fingers through his hair, he inhaled deeply and steadied his nerves, trying to recover something from the evening. New information had come to light. The man she was afraid of, she said, was dead. This Ian, he assumed, putting all of the pieces together. But who was he? Her father? A lover? He knew it wasn’t her brother. His name was Kehr.

Nothing more came to mind for Broderick. He needed answers, but every time he came close to Davina, he lost his senses. This task proved most impossible!

* * * * *

 
“Come, Davina,” Rosselyn said, coaxing Davina out of sleep. “‘Tis time to break our fast.” She placed the tray of food onto the trestle table by the double doors, nursing a giddy excitement in her breast of the day to come. Winter made a grand entrance overnight, and she itched to share it with Davina. This turn of the weather would give her and Davina much needed time together before she set off on her new life with Nicabar. She feared, though, these days would go faster than she wanted, and Rosselyn grabbed tight to any moment she could before the Gypsies were off to the next settlement in their route. As much as she dreaded to think upon the weighing responsibility, she also needed this time to tell Davina her secret.

With the winter nights getting longer, the sun had not yet risen this early in the morning, so Rosselyn set about the chamber lighting candles and starting a fire in the hearth. The amber glow of the room warmed the atmosphere. “If we dress right for our meal,” Rosselyn offered cheerfully, “and put a blanket over our laps, we can arrange to sit on the terrace. ‘Tis a bonnie sight this morn.”

Davina considered the oriel window. “Oh, why is that?”

Rosselyn drew back the heavy curtains and opened the double doors, breathing in deep the crisp morning air. Torches lit the courtyard so the morning chores could be seen to. The yellow flames created a sparkling vision on the knee-deep snow, blanketing the landscape surrounding the castle. Davina gasped.

“Looks as if the Gypsies—”

“Aye, Roz, I know.” Davina diverted away from the doors with a frown and hunkered at the table. “‘Tis too cold to have the doors open. Please close them.”

Rosselyn’s spirits plummeted at the foul mood the weather put Davina in. She sighed and did as her mistress wished. Pulling up the other chair, she spoke with concern in her voice. “We haven’t spoken much with each other as of late.” Rosselyn’s heart pounded.

Davina turned a puzzled mien upon her. “We speak every day, Roz. What—?”

Rosselyn placed a hand upon Davina’s shoulder. “Private talk, between friends. You once told me often of your dreams of marrying Broderick.”

Davina switched her attention to her trencher of bread and cheese as Rosselyn continued pressing the matter.

“Now that he’s here, ‘tis in your own world you are.”

When Rosselyn paused, Davina cast her a sideways glance.

“Does he not fancy you?”

Davina rolled her eyes and went back to her food. “Oh, ‘tis very obvious he is about how he fancies me.”

“Then why—?”

“Once that man beds me, Roz, I will never see him again.”

“Has he not displayed any signs of affection?” Rosselyn gripped Davina’s shoulder. “He hasn’t hurt you, has he?”

“Nay, he hasn’t. That’s not a great concern for me.” Davina fell silent, seemingly mulling thoughts about inside her head.

“What has he done that has you believe he wouldn’t want more than a bedding?”

Davina seemed more ardent about this topic. “The first night he returned, he handled me like a tavern wench!” Her cheeks flushed. Whether out of embarrassment or anger, Rosselyn couldn’t tell.

“How did you imagine your first encounter would be?” Rosselyn had an idea of why Davina was so disappointed, but wanted her to voice it.

She opened her mouth, but no words came forth, and then she closed her lips. Davina sighed. “They were childish fantasies to be sure, but…” She picked at her cheese, uncharacteristically apprehensive. Rosselyn knew, however, between the two of them, a more timid and childlike Davina often emerged. Though she only had two years on Davina, she knew her friend relied on her as an older, wiser confidant.

“I remember how you envisioned the reunion when you were younger—”

“In spite of that, Roz,” Davina interrupted, “he still should not have handled me in such a way.” Davina implored Rosselyn with her eyes. “He pretended he didn’t recognized me, and I found out later he did. His behavior is so very confusing. He kisses me like a man starving, and then pushes away from me as if he made a dreadful mistake.”

Relief eased the tension from Rosselyn’s body. At least they kissed. That was a good sign! Yet, Davina seemed self-absorbed in these matters. “Are you not behaving just as contrarily? Have you told him how much he has meant to you over the years? Have you shared your heart with him?”

Davina gasped. “I cannot do such a thing! He would surely stomp on it as soon as I exposed my true feelings!”

“Why are you so certain?”

She opened her mouth once more and closed it, her bottom lip trembling. Tears glistened in her eyes under the warm glow of the hearth.

“Out of concern for you,” Rosselyn ventured, “because of what you have been through and the size Broderick is, I’ve inquired about his nature. I’ve asked many of my new friends at the Gypsy camp—people who have spent almost fourteen years living with him—about Broderick’s demeanor, asking if I should have any valid concerns for your safety in his hands. All of them—and I stress all of them—have laughed at the notion of Broderick ever doing harm to you. I’ve heard many reports about his jovial nature, his light-heartedness, and his ease at taking everything with a sense of humor.”

“Rosselyn.” Davina’s voice sounded most serious. “There are things about Broderick you don’t know, things you don’t understand.”

Rosselyn crossed her arms. “I’ve also heard a few people mention a darker side of Broderick, but that has always been in the context of his being fiercely protective of those he loves. Methinks that’s what you’re seeing. Possibly, he too is afraid you will stomp on his heart if he shares it with you.”

“Rosselyn, you just—”

“You are making excuses, Davina.” She placed her palm alongside Davina’s face. “I know you want to love again. I know you want to love Broderick. After all the years you have invested your heart in this man, now that you have him, you’re finding excuses not to rush in. I understand you’re cautious, but you cannot guard your heart the way you do.” Davina’s lips trembled, and tears dropped from her eyes as she closed them, making it difficult for Rosselyn to keep the emotion from her voice. “My sweet friend, falling in love is allowing yourself to be vulnerable enough to open your heart. Love is taking risks. If you want the love you have been dreaming of for so long, you must be willing to get hurt. I know the way you love him, and I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Do not let this chance pass by. You will regret it forever.”

Optimism sparkled in Davina’s eyes. Rosselyn hoped her words found their way into Davina’s heart. The two women hugged each other, and unexpected tears poured from Davina as she clung to Rosselyn, who rocked her in her embrace until the tears were spent. She couldn’t risk hurting Davina more at this moment. Rosselyn couldn’t share her secret now.

* * * * *

Broderick called to Davina, but every time he tried to get near her, she put distance and obstacles between them. In the Gypsy camp, she regarded him with frightened eyes as she scampered between tents and wagons. In the forest, she ran to put trees and bushes between them. In her chamber, she stayed to the other side of the room, hiding behind furniture casting worried eyes at the double doors. Broderick went to the terrace, and a stretch of white sparkling snow covered the grounds. When he turned to face Davina, she shook her head, crying, begging Broderick to go away, and yet reaching out to him with trembling hands.

Broderick awakened upon the setting of the sun and stretched his body to work out the effects of his deathlike slumber. The furs on his bedding smoothed over his naked skin and he frowned, thinking of Davina. These dreams disturbed Broderick. He didn’t understand them. At least this time he didn’t awake with an erection. Dressing, he stepped out of his cave and stood in awe at the glistening sight before him. “Well, what a surprise,” he said. A few snowflakes fell from the sky to join the rest over the forest floor. “Appears as if we will be in Stewart Glen a little longer than we planned.” His emotions teetered between elation and dread, so Broderick pushed this uncertainty from his mind and set out to hunt Angus, and then to feed.

* * * * *

Broderick stood at the tent entrance, Amice sat by the fire pit, and Veronique was sequestered inside the caravan. Staring out into the Gypsy camp, so devoid of activity, an unease settled over Broderick. The cold weather kept the townspeople inside, and the Gypsies overstayed their welcome. Though a concern, because Broderick had come to view these people as his family, the more pressing concern for him lay outside this pocket of civilization…Angus Campbell.

Amice studied Broderick with her eyes, stoking the fire and wrapping her heavier shawl around her shoulders for warmth. “What troubles you,
mon fils
?”

Broderick avoided her gaze. He knew he should have warned her earlier, but he hadn’t anticipated how difficult it would be to gain control of this situation. Or perhaps he fooled himself into thinking he had any control. Sighing, he turned his eyes toward her. “He’s here, Amice.”

After a moment of silence, she turned her eyes to the fire. She continued in French. “You think Angus has finally returned?”

“Nay, I know. I’ve spent every night since our arrival tracking him, but he’s always just out of my reach.”

“And Davina is directly in his path.”

His mouth dropped open. “What makes you think that?”

“Forgive me for not making the time to tell you. Davina came to visit yesterday afternoon, asking for herbal remedies for her mother. Broderick, Angus has approached her.”

“She told you what happened in the exchange?”