The Bride and the Brute (8 page)

“Looks like your horse will have to go cold tonight,” Reese said.

Jayce headed for the fence. “No he won’t,” she answered.

Confused, Reese glanced toward Satan. The blanket was draped over his back. Astonished, Reese turned back to Jayce to see her climbing over the fence.

“You dropped the blanket when he shoved you,” she said. She eased her feet to the ground and headed toward the castle, leaving Reese standing alone in Satan’s pen.

“I don’t believe this,” Reese muttered, absently rubbing his sore stomach.

*****

Unable to sleep that night because of deep blue eyes hovering in his mind and red parted lips that called to him and spoke his name, Reese went to the study to bury his mind in work, to try to exorcise his demons.

He stood and strode to the window to gaze out at the chilly evening sky. The sun had fled beneath the invading blackness, and the evening was peppered with small glistening stars. Reese felt an anxiousness stir his soul. Tendrils of cold blew in from the open window to wrap icy fingers around his strong form.

Suddenly, the door swung open on softly creaking hinges and he turned to see the woman who haunted his dreams enter the room. Jayce paused in the middle of the open doorway, her hands folded before her, her small frame dwarfed by the wide entranceway. Reese’s breath caught in his throat, and his gaze traveled slowly over her; her hair was hidden beneath a sheer blue fabric, her figure curvaceous and regal, her shapely hips accented by a belt of rich velvet fabric that hung to the floor.

Reese stepped closer, thinking he must be imagining such beauty. But the closer he got, the lovelier she looked. Her blue eyes shone like beacons; her full lips were as red as cherries. He might just want to taste those cherries. He stopped immediately, realizing what the little nymph was doing to his senses.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I didn’t know anyone was here. I saw the light and I was coming in to douse the candle.” With her hands folded demurely, Jayce looked as innocent and pure and righteous as a damned saint.

Reese approached her, but moved around to the back of the table before he came too near her.

She stepped up to the table, her eyes scanning the parchment that lay scattered across it.

“What are you doing?”

“There is a problem in the fields. Some of the men have been stricken with a fever and are unable to work.”

“Is it serious?” Jayce wondered.

He shook his head. “The ones who have had the fever have recovered fully in about a week.

If the fields are not fully seeded in two weeks’ time, it will be too late.”

“How many men are still ill?”

“Ten.” His gaze swept her unwillingly. “But that’s my concern.” She was quite comely.

Her petite figure was curvy, alluring and inviting. Her brown hair was neatly tucked under the coif, but Reese remembered the rebellious curls that had framed her face. And her face! God’s blood! Her deep blue eyes reminded him of the ocean, the deepest part of it. The part you had to be careful you didn’t drown in. He forced his gaze from her and his jaw clenched. He was angry for being forced to marry a woman he didn’t love. He was angry with her for being so damned beautiful. “Had you no suitors?” he inquired suddenly.

“Suitors?”

“Men asking for your hand in marriage,” he clarified dryly.

One dainty eyebrow rose. “Many,” she replied defiantly.

Of course she did. How could she not have had men lining up to wed and bed her? Then, another thought occurred to him, and he clenched his fists. “Does a babe grow in your belly?”

Jayce straightened indignantly. Heat suffused her cheeks. “No,” she retorted stiffly.

“Then why would your father go to such extremes to have me wed you?” he demanded. “It makes no sense.”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, turning to glance at the parchment.

Reese swore he heard agony in her tone. “Jayce,” he called. When she lifted those blue eyes to him, he forgot his words. He stood with his mouth open for a moment before shaking himself. “I cannot help but think I would never do this to a daughter of mine. She would be happy in her life, with her husband.”

“Are you so sure I am not happy?” Jayce wondered.

Reese studied the simple dignity of her face. The honesty that shone from her eyes touched his heart. He shook his head. “You cannot be. You know nothing of me.”

“I know you’re an honorable man.”

“A rich man,” he added in a biting, accusing voice.

Her chin rose a notch. “Yes,” she said. “A wealthy man.”

“Perhaps that was why your father did this,” he said. “To make sure you were well established, well taken care of. My wife will have luxuries you were never used to. Luxuries---”

“Well taken care of,” she repeated, as if to herself. “Perhaps. And perhaps he didn’t see you as a liar.”

Reese stiffened to his full height, towering above her like a stone tower. “I am not a liar.”

She reached across the table to touch his arm meaningfully. “You lied to my father.”

He stared at her, trying desperately not to be moved by her touch. “You lied, too,” he accused.

“I was protecting my husband,” she answered. He began to shake his head, but she continued undaunted. “It was my duty to stand by you.”

Reese’s gaze was drawn by her parted lips. Any words she was about to say died as his gaze devoured her mouth as thoroughly as if he were kissing her. He turned away quickly and found his stare occupied by the ledgers of his farms.

“Perhaps you can use the alewives for the time being,” Jayce suggested.

“What?” Reese asked.

Jayce pointed to the ledgers. “The alewives. Take some of them to work in the fields until the men are well. They won’t be as skilled as the field workers, but they’ll do for the time being.”

“Women?” Reese asked dubiously.

“Their backs and arms might be sore because they’re unused to the work, but give them a day of rest, and they won’t protest as much.”

“A day of rest?” Reese echoed with distaste. “Women are not made to do the job of men,”

he added imperiously.

Jayce shrugged and turned to move out the door, calling over her shoulder, “It will solve your problem.”

Reese watched her go, staring at the empty doorway for a moment, then turned back to study his ledgers. “Alewives,” he muttered incredulously under his breath.

*****

Early the next morning, Jayce leaned over the gate to Satan’s pen, waving a carrot at the proud stallion that haughtily eyed the offered food. She dropped her arm in disappointment and lifted her eyes. Beyond the pen, out in the fields, Jayce noticed six alewives working alongside the men. She smiled in amazement.

She turned back to Satan, again offering him the carrot. The horse snorted, refusing the food. Finally, frustrated by the horse’s disregard for her gift, Jayce straightened.

“He’s not as easily fooled by your pretense at innocence.”

Jayce whirled to find Morse approaching from a nearby barn. She clutched her hands before her, trying to still the unease that raced through her body.

Morse eyed the horse, then the gate. “How fitting to find you at the gate to hell.”

Jayce scowled. “What do you want?”

Morse took a step toward her. “I should ask you that question.”

Jayce tilted her head slightly in confusion. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Tell me why you’ve come to Castle Harrington,” Morse demanded. “Are you here to destroy my family?”

“Destroy...? No!” Jayce answered emphatically. “I came to wed Reese.”

“By kidnapping Nicole?” Morse demanded.

“Do you think I would have come if I had known what my father had done? How do you think this makes me look? Do you think I wanted to live like this? A husband who wants nothing to do with me. No chance for a loving family, no chance for children.” She looked away from him, blinking back the tears of shame that suddenly rose before her eyes.

“Such a touching act,” he cooed richly. “I could almost believe you. Tell me, how long have you practiced that speech?”

Jayce straightened her back, her eyes narrowing. “I don’t want your sympathy. What’s done is done. And I, for one, intend to make the best of it.”

“Make the best of what?” Morse asked. “By Reese’s own words you are nothing more than a guest here at Castle Harrington.”

“I am Reese’s wife in the eyes of God.”

Morse laughed sharply, his snicker spitting out from his mouth like a snake’s venom.

“Nowadays that doesn’t count for much. Not with an annulment so easily paid for. And that is one thing we do not lack—coin, as you well know.” He turned his back on her, his ugly chortle of contempt lingering in the air as he walked away.

Annulment. The word sent shivers down Jayce’s spine. What would she do if Reese decided to annul their marriage? Where would she go?

She felt a warm wetness brush her hand, then she heard a crunch. She looked down to see she still held the carrot tightly in her fist but a large bite had been taken from the end of it. Jayce raised her eyes to see the black warhorse towering above her, munching noisily on the carrot. A grim grin came to her lips as she held the rest of the carrot out to him.

*****

When Jayce returned to her room, she was smiling softly to herself. She patted the pocket that held the few carrots left over from her victorious excursion, pleased with her little victory, then pushed the door open. And froze.

Reese stood in the middle of the room with his back to her. He filled the space with his presence like a sculptured god. His bronzed skin glistened in a ray of sunlight; dust particles shifted around him in the light, showering him in what looked like a splash of magical powder.

His black hair just barely caressed his shoulders in a touch that made Jayce feel envious. His shirt was off, and he held a piece of material in his hands.

Jayce didn’t realize until a moment later that the cloth was his leggings.

Her eyes dipped past his waist to his buttocks. They were rounded and firm. His long legs were well muscled. Her gaze traveled back up his body. His torso was strong, and she saw his shoulder muscles release as he drew himself up taller.

He slowly turned to face her. “Come in.” His voice rumbled through her like a tremor.

“And close the door.”

Chapter Sixteen

Jayce obeyed Reese without question, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. It was only when she heard the soft
thump
of the door that she realized with a start what she had done. Shut herself in with a naked man. And not any naked man, but her husband.

She swallowed hard and pressed herself back against the wall.

A smile curved his lips before Reese moved to the bed and sat down, pulling on his leggings.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t realize you were here.”

“It’s my room,” he replied.

She swallowed again and could do no more than nod in agreement.

He pulled a white tunic over his head. “Where were you?” he demanded.

Jayce watched with a pang of remorse as his beautiful body disappeared beneath his tunic.

“I didn’t know you were looking for me,” she responded.

“That wasn’t my question,” he said, picking up a string to thread through the “V” in the neck of his tunic.

Without thinking, Jayce stepped forward, taking the string from his hand. She stood before him, feeding the string through the first loop. “I was out walking. It’s a beautiful morning, and I wanted to see it before the village woke. I---” She paused, realizing what she was doing. She lifted her gaze to meet his amused blue eyes. “Sorry.” She dropped the string into his hand.

Reese eyed her, and Jayce had to drop her gaze beneath his intense perusal. “You were with Satan again, weren’t you?”

“You told me to stay away from him.” Nervously, she took a step back.

Reese’s hand shot out, ensnaring her wrist. He rose before her like a god casting judgment and finding her lacking. He pulled her close to him.

Jayce’s heart raced at his nearness. He was so strong. He smelled like leather and musk.

His chest just barely touched the tips of her breasts and it sent swirls of desire and anticipation coursing through her. She stared into his blue eyes and found them smoldering like the blue at the center of a flame. For a breathless moment she waited. She felt his hand skim her waist to her thigh.

“Then what’s this?” he asked softly, and patted her pocket.

“My leg,” she whispered.

A low rumble sounded from his throat, and his eyes lit up. Jayce had never seen a more wondrous sight. Her heart melted into a pool of contentment.

Reese pulled a carrot out of her pocket and displayed it before her eyes.

For a moment, Jayce frowned in confusion, her foggy mind refusing to relinquish the tenderness in his eyes. Then the cold realization of where the carrot had come from jarred her.

She fumbled for a coherent thought. “I---I happen to like carrots,” she bridled. She grabbed the carrot from him and took a bite.

“What a strange coincidence. So does Satan.”

“He’s a wonderful horse, Reese. It would be such a shame to destroy him. He’s so smart and spirited and beautiful. I know he can be tamed. You’re just going about it all the wrong way. I---”

Reese lifted a finger and touched it to her lips, silencing her. His finger trailed the shape of her lips and moved over her cheek to her jaw. “Satan will live. But only until you tire of him.”

Jayce’s lips tingled where he had caressed them. She stared into his eyes, wanting more, but unsure of what.

Reese stepped back from her, pulling his hand away. “But I don’t want you near him unless I’m with you.”

As he moved away, Jayce felt the contentment in her heart drain away. “Reese!” Jayce called, suddenly very desperate for him to remain at her side.

Reese paused at the doorway.

She fumbled with her whirling thoughts for a moment before asking, “If my father hadn’t taken Nicole, would you have courted me?”