Wolfsgate (38 page)

He decided he wanted to give that back to her, more than anything in the world. To make Wolfsgate a pleasure, a sanctuary for her once again, and not the prison it had become for her. Brandon’s ribs squeezed tight. He would make their home her land of enchantment once again. He removed the glove from her hand and kissed her fingers. She smiled at him.

“Wolfsgate has been your refuge,” he said. “I envy that, for I resented it for quite some time. Mother died here and later Annie, and it became infected with sorrow for me. Father chose to deal with his pain with work. He was always working, always so busy. Once I got older I only itched to escape it and all the responsibilities it suddenly required of me.” His voice trailed off, and he shook his head.

“Brandon—” Justine tightened her grip on his hand.

“I assumed that everything would be waiting at my pleasure. I thought I would find the estate, the house, Amanda, even Father in the same condition I had left them. Imagine.” He scoffed. “What an idiot I was. No plans, just whims. Father, of course, had offered me a plan.” He let out a sigh. “And part of me hated him for it.”

“You followed his plan. And you did well.”

He took in a gulp of air. “I must have been a thorn in his heart. I regret that exceedingly.”

“He was proud of you. He loved you, Brandon,” she said. His gaze fell on her. It was so simple for her, these emotions, her belief in them.

Justine let out a laugh and held out a hand in the air. She looked up at the sky. “It’s snowing!”

Thick flakes floated in the cold air and bunched on their eyelashes.

“We’re close to the stables,” Brandon said.

“Are you tired? We could go home.”

“Come, Justine.” He tugged on her arm.

The snow fell thicker coating their cloaks and hair in white sparkles. Brandon pushed open the heavy wooden door.

“What’s this?”

A grey mare and a dark chocolate stallion stared at them. Persephone and Knight stamped their feet in their stalls.

“New horses for my lady,” Brandon said. “Now that you ride so well I thought you might like—”

Justine lunged at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly. She remained in his arms this time, and he pressed her into his chest. His eyes closed as he took in her rose scent and her little breaths. Her wild heartbeat drummed straight through his own.

She planted a kiss on his mouth.

“You’re welcome, love.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She wiped at her eyes.

A faint smile curved his lips. “I wanted to surprise you. I even swore Martin to secrecy.”

Justine approached the new horses. “Aren’t you beautiful?” She murmured to the mare. Her hand reached out and stroked the animal’s neck. Brandon stood beside her watching her.

“Come, Justine.” He led her to a corner of the stables where bales of hay were stacked. “We can admire our new beasts from here.” He pushed a few bales to the side, removed his coat and shook it out then laid it down over the hay dry side up. Justine took off her cloak and shook it out as well. He took her hand, tugged her down to the hay, pulling her close, and they settled on their backs, her cloak over them, listening to the extreme quiet of the snowfall and to the horses whinnying softly and stamping in their stalls.

“A country symphony.” Justine laughed turning into his chest.

“Now there’s enchantment for you.”

“Hmm. Brandon, tell me about Jamaica. I can’t even begin to imagine it.”

“Color, that’s what I remember. Color shimmering in the heat of the constant sun. The tall, lazy palm trees, the unusually shaped mountains thick with green, the bright, colorful clothes the natives wore. Of course, the deep dark color of their skin and their blinding smiles were something to behold. They are a joyful people, and it was quite a switch to get accustomed to, I can tell you. I liked it. Singing and laughter could be heard all hours of the day and night.”

“Wonderful.”

“It is, yet it struck me as so very odd in the beginning. Damn me, that heat was overwhelming, sticky, oppressive. But then there are the winds coming in from the sea that fill the house with their hazy energy. Bathing in those impossibly clear, blue-green waters was physic enough. And so much fruit, fruit of all sizes and colors. Fruit with every meal, in almost every dish. Never tasted anything like it before.” He chuckled. “Spicy and sweet together.”

“That I would like to try.”

His gaze heated over her. “I think we already have, don’t you?” She made a small noise in the back of her throat, and he shifted her in his arms. “Tell me something,” he said, his blood quickened at the sight of her parted lips.

“Yes?”

“The other day when we were together in the study, I got the distinct impression you needed to exorcise some sort of ghosts on that desk. Am I correct?”

Justine bit her lip as her hand smoothed down his shirt. Brandon squeezed her arm. “Justine?”

“William worked in there a lot, and I grew to hate being summoned there to be informed of some new turn of events regarding my future. I never knew what was coming next nor how it would affect me. It is where Richard and William told me I was to marry Sir Wallace, and also where they informed me of my having to marry you.”

“So it was an exorcism then?” His lips brushed the side of her hair. She nodded and settled into his chest. A low chuckle escaped his throat. “Did we expel the ghosts?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Any other rooms in the house need exorcising?”

She pinched his waist. “Are you mocking me?”

“Ow! Absolutely not. As your husband it is my responsibility to relieve you of any burdens, is it not?”

She raised herself on her forearms and met his amused gaze. He brushed her generous lower lip with his thumb. “Tell me,” he whispered.

“The wine cellar.”

His eyes narrowed. “The wine cellar? Why?”

She quirked an eyebrow. “I will tell you after you relieve me of that burden.”

“Whatever my lady requires.” His one hand wrapped around her neck, and he pulled her to him and took her mouth in a languorous kiss. “I am most happy to comply.” His lips dragged across her jaw. “To submit.” He kissed her throat. “To yield.” His greedy hands found her breasts and tugged away the fabric at her bosom. “To satisfy her every desire.”

She gasped. “What a thoughtful husband you are, Lord Graven.”

“Is there anywhere else you require my assistance, madam?” he asked, his thumbs rubbing her nipples.

“The folly.” She arched her back.

“Ah, yes. Absolutely.” He bent his head and took a nipple in his mouth and sucked on the tip. She let out a whimper.

“And you, Brandon?” She combed her fingers through his hair keeping him close. “Do you have any requests? We’ve covered the kitchen, your parents’ chamber, my chamber, the parlor.”

His lips brushed hers. “The great oak tree.”

“Hmm.”

“I do have another.”

“Where?” she asked, her breathing now irregular.

“My old bed,” he said. His tongue lashed across her other nipple. “Yes, definitely.”

Her eyebrows snapped up, and she pulled back from him slightly. “Have you entertained on that bed?”

He smirked. “I tortured myself with fantasies on that bed. Utterly ridiculous fantasies.” He sucked on her breast, kneading the other as she held her breath.

“Why were they ridiculous?”

“Because my reality today is so much better than I could have ever imagined back then as a smug, young fool.” Her mouth found his and they kissed hungrily. “Jus, I want to give you so much,” he murmured against her lips. “But I’m not sure it’s enough.”

Her forehead creased. “Brandon you give to me all the time.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes, you do. Every time you smile at me or take my hand.” She took his hand in hers. “Every time you laugh in appreciation of my fantastic wit.” She laughed softly, her hand stroking over his at her breast. “Every time you touch me, you give to me.”

His eyes flashed. “Yes, but you should have—”

“Fine clothes? Jewels? A roof over my head? New horses?” You’ve provided me with all that, not to mention a title, Lord Graven. I like this, Brandon. This, right now.”

“I want to give you more,” he whispered. His tongue trailed behind her ear. A shiver stole through her, and her hand slid down his breeches curling over his hardness.

“Lord Graven, I thought you were controlling your urges.”

“My urges for you are particularly strong these days. The one happy aftereffect of the opiate. It ceaselessly demands satisfaction.” He glanced up at her. “Is Martin working today? He’s always hanging about.”

She shook her head. “He had to help his aunt with a repair at their cottage.”

“Good. I have to taste you right now,” he whispered against her lips. “Then I’m going to take you.” Her hands slid up to his biceps and gripped them. The dry straw crunched underneath their bodies. “And I won’t be gentle.”

Her eyebrows lifted at his words, and his hands disappeared under her skirts exploring her every curve. She melted helplessly under his warm, insistent. “Turn over, Jus,” his voice was thick, his hand pressed at her waist. She did as he asked.

Brandon raised himself up and lifted her skirts, his breath spiking at the beautiful sight of her bare rear. He slowly caressed her soft flesh until she squirmed with need. His fingers slid in between her cheeks and she whimpered. “You’re magnificent,” he murmured. Her fists tightened in his cloak as his fingers glided through the wetness between her legs. Once slick with her juices they glided back up to tease her tight bud.

She cried out at the sweet invasion. “You like it there, don’t you?”

“So do you, my love.”

He explored her secret flesh with his fingers and his mouth until she pleaded with him in muffled words and moans. He bit a cheek, and she groaned raising her arse higher for him, her thighs trembling. He forgot everything else. There was nothing but this, this giving to Justine and her yielding to whatever he gave her. He finally released his throbbing cock and thrust all the way inside her sleekness, ending their torture, ripping his breath away.

“Jus…” He let out a hiss of air.

Her harsh panting breaths filled the stable with every quick, hard thrust he gave her.

“Christ, Justine…”

An overwhelming need to watch her face as she found her pleasure overtook him. He pulled out of her, turned her over onto her back and raising her legs high against his chest, thrust back inside her, the both of them groaning. He held her steady and plunged into her hard and fast. She cried out as her release seized her, her fingers biting into his arms, and he followed.

Justine wrapped herself around him, brushing his face with her lips. The dull smell of hay and the pungent odor of horse settled over them. Her fingers absently tangled in his hair. The softness in her full eyes filled him with a ripple of warmth. He folded her in his embrace and kissed her, and she clung to him. Something shifted inside his chest just then, and he stilled and closed his eyes in an effort to contain it.

Yes, he had to keep it safe.

“I must speak with you, Lady Graven.” Charles dismounted from his horse. He marched towards her, his boots crunching in the fresh snow which glinted like a thick field of powdered diamonds in the afternoon sun.

“With me? Whatever for?”

“How is Graven? Is he doing any better?” he asked.

“He’s sleeping now.” She smoothed her mussed hair behind her ears.

After having fallen asleep in Brandon’s embrace in the stables, she had woken up to the rumble of horses’ hooves approaching. She’d carefully untangled herself from his arms, swept bits of hay from her skirts, and threw on her cloak, slipping through the opening of the stable door as quietly as possible. The snow had stopped and had left behind a startling, pristine white landscape.

“What is the matter?”

He pressed his lips together. “I wouldn’t have come if it weren’t important.”

Justine led him away from the stables. “Go on.”

“I came to warn Brandon.”

“Warn him?”

“I saw William today. He insinuated to me that he had put quite a bit of laudanum in Brandon’s drink the other night at the assembly rooms. He was quite proud of himself.”

Her heart tripped. Of course, William. Why hadn’t she seen it? It was a perfect countermove. Instead she’d easily believed that Brandon had indulged once more.

Her eyes leveled at Charles. “My stepbrother confides in you, does he?”

Charles tilted his head at her. “Did you hear what I said?”

“Yes. I heard you.”

Charles frowned and glanced back at the stables. “Amanda distanced herself from him immediately.”

“William was counting on that reaction,” Justine said. “He’s punishing the two of them for their flirtation. She was mortified by the sight of Brandon in the throes of euphoria, wasn’t she? How he knows his wife.”

“Yes, she spent the rest of the evening squirming yet glued to her husband’s side.”

“Then he accomplished his goal,” Justine said. “That and Brandon’s public humiliation.”

“And yours,” Charles said.

“I don’t give a damn about anything except Brandon’s well-being.”