Mist Warrior (40 page)

“
S
ome mercenaries
will remain
until we recover from this.
”

Edmund bowed, his eyes sparking with new hope.
“
As you will, my lord. Now, I pray your pardon
,
but I must go afore someone decides to clean the solar.
”
He hurried off.

Branan dragged his hand through his hair then drained his wine cup, praying his ruse would work.

****

Catriona returned to Branan's solar
,
surprised to find him gone
and
a maid redressing the bed.

“
M'lady, may I get you anything?
”

“
Clothing,
”
Catriona replied.
“
I have no idea if any of my dresses are here or at Brackenburgh.
”

“
They are here, m'lady. I heard tale that Lord Courcy sent your trunks back
,
saying he'd purchased new clothing for you.
”

She arched an eyebrow
,
but on the other hand that shouldn't surprise her at all.
“
Thank you.
”
Catriona
paused and gestured to her dress on the floor.
“
I fear that one is ruined, see that it is burned.
”

“
Aye, m'lady,
”
the maid said and quickly scooped it up. She left the room
,
promising to return quickly.

Catriona shivered trying to force down the horror of yesterday. She had thrown herself into the passion with Branan not only because she had desperately wanted it for so very long
,
but because the pleasure he granted her obliterated her guilt over Richard's death.

Just the memory of what Branan
had done to her...
Catriona
closed her eyes
,
feeling
her heart race and
a damp heat bloom between her thighs. Damnation where was he?

T
he maid returned. Catriona dressed and descended the stairs to break her fast.
She sat at the table, certain this meal was the finest in years.

“
Good glory, sister,
”
Gavin said, grinning broadly.
“
You eat as a girl starved.
”

She smiled up at him, relieved to see him hale and whole.

He approached and kissed her cheek.
“
How are you?
”
he whispered.

A memory of the death blow severing the vein of life in Richard's neck shot across her
vision. Catriona
squeezed her eyes closed for an instant and forced it away, replacing it with the memory of Branan's loving touch last night.

“
Catriona?
”

She looked at
Gavin
as he sat next to her, his blue eyes worried.

“
I...I am fine...or I will be.
”
Catriona
paused, biting her lip. What should she say to her brother about Branan? All knew she had spent the night in his solar. Hell, anyone with ears....

“
Catriona, listen to me,
”
Gavin
said
,
holding her hand tightly.
“
I am so very relieved. You are back where you belong...
.” He hesitated, gazing at her intently. “Y
ou
belong with
Branan
.
I know you do not need my blessing
,
but I give it anyway, wholeheartedly
.”

A huge weight slid from her shoulders and she smiled. “Thank you, Gavin.”

His lips lifted
,
but then his smile faded. “
I know
you
well, little sister, I know
the circumstances weigh heavily on you,
but please do not do not take this upon yourself.
I thank the Almighty for correcting what would have been a terrible mistake.
”

“
I just feel so
dreadful
that Richard died
defending me
.
”

“
I know,
sister, but God called him home.” Gavin
paused
, giving her a gentle smile
.
“
Perhaps He needed Courcy there. It would not do if someone sold the Pearly Gates out from under Him.
”

Catriona managed a sad smile and rested her head on
Gavin’s
shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her and hugged her. A maid brought kmaild havehim his breakfast and he released her to eat.

“
After you finish,
”
he said.
“
We do need your help. Some of our men were wounded in the skirmish.
”

“
Of course
,
Gavin.
”

A bit later, Gavin ushered Catriona into the barracks. Her gaze locked on a Scotsman, Simon, and she knew he was by far the worst...and in trouble. A terrible sword wound in his side refused to stop bleeding and his face was colorless.

“
Oh dear, Gavin,
”
she whispered
,
moving quickly to the man's side.
“
I'm going to need help.
”

She had no idea how long she worked.
Catriona
had to cauterize Simon's wound and she feared they may lose him to blood loss. But he clung to life with stubborn tenacity. She was so grateful for Gavin's help.

Catriona bandaged, sewed, and cleaned wounds
,
until she had no idea what time it was
,
only that she was absolutely exhausted. Finally
,
she sat in a rickety chair with a sigh, closing her eyes.

“
Lass,
”
a soft voice rumbled. Catriona
felt a gentle hand caress her cheek and she smiled. Opening her eyes
,
she focused on Branan as he crouched before her.

“
I see ye have been working too hard again.
”

“
What time is it?
”

“
Late evensong.
”

She blinked at him.
“
I had no idea it was so late.
”

“
Come,
”
Branan
said
,
pulling her to her feet.
“
Ye need to rest. Ye canna help them if ye drop, lass,
”
he added
,
forestalling her argument before she even uttered it.

He led her to the solar and closed the door, latching it.

“
Forgive me,
”
he growled. Catriona’s
br
eath caught in her throat as Branan’s
gaze locked on hers. His sea-green eyes sparked with feral desire.

Suddenly
,
she found herse
lf pressed against the wall. Branan’s
mouth possessed hers, his kiss anything but gentle. His hands roamed over her, igniting a firestorm of un
expected passion within her. Catriona
surrendered to it immediately and returned his powerful kiss. How had she ever denied him? How had she been able to control the desire raging through her whenever he touched her?

Branan’s
mouth moved to her neck
,
where he mixed his kisses with soft nips. Catriona let her head fall back as she wrapped her arms about his neck. She shivered, moaning softly in delight. She felt his hands move again
,
but was uncertain as to what he was doing.
Branan
lifted her up and pressed her back against the wall.

“
Wrap yer legs around me,
”
he said, his voice hoarse. He tugged her skirts up, his hand caressing her thigh.

She did as he asked then gasped as she felt his cock rub against her through the opening of his trews.

“
I canna bear this,
”
he whispered and with a hard thrust of his hips
,
he drove himself inside her.

Catriona
cried out as c
olors sparked in her vision. Branan’s
arms tightened around her, his strength held her securely. His breath rattled in his throat and sweat dampened his body. Catriona found herself instinctively moving against him, her arms clinging to his neck. He groaned softly, his movement increasing.

“
Dear God,
”
he gasped.
“
I must...
”

A wave of pleasure seized her and she intensified her movement.

“
Slow down, lass. I canna...
”
Abruptly
,
Branan
groaned again, his entire body shuddering. He pushed harder
,
striving for greater depths, his tempo grew with urgency.
“
Forgive me,
”
he whispered again.
Catriona opened her eyes and watched him. The exquisite rapture of his expression as Branan shoved himself desperately inside her and found his pleasure, only made him even more beautiful to Catriona.
His body convulsed and he cried her name, his arms so tight around her she could barely breathe.