Charles nodded once, his eyes not leaving Jon's face.
There was jealousy mixed with admiration.
Perhaps he was upset that he'd never had the chance to marry me, and held contempt towards Jon.
I expected Jon to be cordial to anyone from Mount Tier, as he'd proven he wasn't the prejudiced type.
I never expected him to be friends with anyone else from my home, though.
I felt unsettled.
""I'll go check on my woman,"" Bane stood, taking his mug with him.
Charles' eyes followed him out the door, which slammed shut after his exit.
""Seems none of your people particularly enjoy my presence.
"" Charles joked.
""They have good reason not to.
"" Jon stared levelly at him.
Charles dropped his gaze briefly and nodded once.
""So, what news?"" Jon asked.
Charles sighed heavily, but smiled all the same, the lines at the edges of his mouth becoming parenthesis around his grin.
""Not much.
The military seems stagnate at the moment.
"" Charles said.
""What of my father?"" I blurted, unable to contain the question.
""He's well,"" Charles smiled, his blue eyes sincere.
My heart lightened.
""Your uncle and aunt's health is failing quickly now.
Your grandmother is still as austere as ever.
I know not of your mother and siblings, but I'd assume they're all in good health, or I'd have heard otherwise.
"" I felt tears in my already cried-out eyes.
""Thank ye,"" Jon nodded, squeezing my hand again and moving to clap Charles on the shoulder.
He blushed in response.
""Charles advocated for my release from Mount Tier.
"" Jon explained to me.
""So he told me,"" I said, giving Jon a courteous smile.
I leaned into him, feeling the warmth he always exuded.
Charles averted his gaze, staring at the beams above his head.
""We can talk more later, if ye'd like.
"" Jon said, sensing his unease.
""Yes, let's.
"" Charles smiled and stood.
""If ye see my sister, tell her to quit hidin' from me.
"" Jon said.
Charles chuckled unconvincingly as he left.
""Jon,"" I began, once we were alone.
""Ye sound serious, princess,"" he smirked, pressing his thumb between the crease in my brows.
I smiled briefly.
""I, well, when Charles rescued me yesterday, he told me""”"" ""That he was yer betrothed?"" His eyebrows quirked up, his easy playfulness winding its way back into his smile.
""How did you know?"" I breathed, perplexed.
""He made mention, when I was prisoner, that he would marry the daughter of royalty.
When I met ye, I put it all together.
"" He shrugged a muscled shoulder.
""Why didn't you tell me?"" I growled, not truly angry.
It would have been nice to know how much Jon knew, so I wouldn't feel so stupid and left behind when other's approached me with this kind of news.
""I didna think it important when we were escapin' murderers.
"" He teased.
My heart ached in longing, having been cautious to see if Jon was the same man I'd married, or if this prison sentence had altered him at all.
I should have known he'd never let anyone have the satisfaction of changing him.
""Besides, princess,"" he leaned in and kissed my forehead.
""That marriage wouldna go very far.
"" He grinned impishly.
""And why's that?"" I glared, taking offense.
His full lips quivered before he could no longer contain his laughter.
""What is so funny?"" I leaned away from him, wondering if he was mocking me somehow.
He quieted down, sobering his mood.
""Charles""¦well, uh,"" Jon positively blushed.
I squinted at him and crossed my arms, waiting.
""He, uh, prefers the company of other men.
"" He peeked at me from under his thick lashes.
I was instantly confused.
""What?"" ""Ye heard me correct.
He isna' attracted to women, sexually.
He must hide that preference, though, or he'd be hanged as a traitor.
"" My mind reeled.
I'd never heard of men attracted to other men.
I suppose Jon had given me the answer why, though.
""But he's Major-General in my grandfather's military.
"" I said.
Jon shrugged.
""Aye, he's got a damn good mind for war, and a pretty face to flash around, too.
I think that's what originally moved him to save me,"" he chuckled, rubbing his own hairy, rugged, beautiful face.
My heart rate picked up as I stared at him.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts.
""You mean, he finds you attractive?"" Jon snorted.
""Well don't sound so shocked,"" he winked, wrapping an arm about my shoulders and pulling me close.
""Best keep that knowledge to ourselves, hmm?"" He said.
I nodded, stewing over this revelation.
We later said our goodbyes to Bane and Freyja, wishing them well on their journey home.
It was time for the rest of us to regroup, to begin planning for the threat of imminent war.
Jon, Meleryn, Thaniel and Charles talked for hours.
I sat and listened, absorbed at first.
It was clear I was of no use for them as the day progressed.
Sighing, I slipped out of the cottage, Bear on my heels.
It was dusk, still a bit chilly as the breeze came down the mountains, but summer would be here, and soon.
I sat a ways from the stone cottage in the shelter of the trees, watching the smoke pour from the chimney, listening to the voices rise and fall from within.
My heart was content, knowing Jon had not turned into some other person in the absence of each other.
I marveled at his ability to remain himself in this constantly shifting world.
My stomach rioted in anticipation, wondering if tonight we'd have a chance to be alone.
I ached to be near him, to feel the safety of his embrace, to give him everything I had in this world to offer.
Bear's ears perked up, his hackles rising.
I gripped his scruff, rooting him to the spot as a hooded figure appeared at the cottage.
They waited, moving lithely through the undergrowth, unit they were at the window.
They crouched beneath it, listening.
It was too skinny to be a man, but tall for a woman.
My breathing hitched.
Bear growled, propelling himself forward and dragging me with him.
I spit gritty dirty out of my mouth, snapping my head up to see what would happen.
The intruder fled, quick and quiet as a ghost.
The only thing I saw in the twilight was a flash of bright red hair.
I tramped down the hill, angry, dusting my bodice off and spitting out more dirt.
Bear panted at the door, clearly impressed with himself.
""You dumb brute,"" I growled, though I knew he was only protecting us.
I tried to clear the images from my mind""”the hazy red haired woman who'd told me to sleep, the other woman pushing her way forward as Jon was about to be executed, and now this.
All added up, it seemed someone wanted to kill Jon, or at the very least obtain information about Macdara.
I was stumped, wondering if my recollections were correct, or simply my mind filling in the gaps of stressful moments.
The door opened to reveal Jon.
He gave me a quizzical look, but I only shook my head in response.
""This one took chase of a rabbit and dragged me along for the ride.
"" I lied, glari
ng pointedly at Bear, who tilted his head to the side.
Jon reached down and grabbed his scruff, pulling him up onto his hind legs.
His face was livid, and my heart lurched.
""Jon""”"" ""Good boy,"" he cooed, shaking Bear, who placed his massive front paws on Jon's chest.
He leapt up and down on his hind legs, trying hard to lick his face.
I rolled my eyes and shoved past them.
After a hot meal prepared by the landowner, we said our goodnights and made our way into various spots to sleep.
Still having command of the largest room, we were blessed with a vanity.
Jon sat with a straight edged razor in front of the mirror, shaving the scruffiness away but leaving some facial hair along his jaw and chin.
It suited him.
I sat propped up in bed in my shift, reading a book about local plants.
It seemed good knowledge to possess.
Jon stood, blowing out the candle and moving to check the bolt on the door.
I knew Bear was on the other side, hearing his pitiful whine.
Served him right.
He moved to the end of the bed, blocking out the firelight.
I put my book down, ready to snap at him, when I noticed he'd removed his shirt.
My mouth ran dry, my nerves on fire.
He smirked down at me.
""Now what's a beaut like ye doin' all alone with a savage like me?"" He teased, though my heartbeat felt much more serious as it hammered in my chest.
I opened and closed my mouth, searching for a witty retort but coming up with nothing.
I set my book on the small side table and pushed my hands under the covers to hide their shaking.
He leaned over, placing his hands on either side of my legs, still a fair distance from me.
His presence was intoxicating all the same.
His shoulders were rounded in thick muscles, his forearms lined with visible tendons.
I remembered the first time I'd come face to face with Jon, how I had thought he really was a savage.
He simply looked the part; rugged, swathed in muscle, dark brooding eyes that were alight with a certain playfulness, and a commanding aura.
""Afraid of me, princess?"" He whispered, standing straight and gripping my ankles.
He tugged me down, eliciting a yelp of surprise.
I lay flat on my back as he now hovered above me.
I glared at him.
""Never.
"" He quirked an eyebrow.
""Never, eh?"" I nodded, sensing the challenge in his voice.
I moved to pull my shift down, but he clamped my wrist in his rough hand, pulling it back up and above my head.
My chest heaved, heat rushing to my face and neck.
He bent to me, placing a trail of kisses along my neck, gripping my other wrist and sentencing it to the same fate as the one above me.
His long torso stretched above me, heat pulsating off him.
He pulled away.
""What about now?"" I shook my head, less convincing this time.
""I thought I taught ye how to defend yerself?"" He smirked, his face inches from mine.
My mind went blank with longing.
I could see it in his eyes, too.
He climbed forward, straddling me.
""I remember the first time I did this to ye.
"" He chuckled.
My brow furrowed.
""When?"" ""In the forest, I held a knife to yer throat because ye scared the shit outta me.
"" We laughed together in memory of that moment.
His eyes clouded over, serious once more.
""I'd never admit it to ye, but I wanted ye so bad from that day onward.
To feel ye, angry and squirming beneath me.
"" I did just that, hearing him tease me.
I huffed, struggling against his weight and strength.
He smiled wickedly.
""I wanted ye all to myself, to hold ye tight,"" he bent forward, planting a kiss on my lips that stopped my struggling and my very breath.
""To feel ye lose yerself because of me.
"" He kissed me again briefly, pulling away long enough to gaze at me with an animalistic hunger in his eyes.
""I am a savage, princess, after all.
"" ""Jon,"" I breathed, my eyes fluttering closed as we became one once more.
"
"Chapter 36
""As virtuous men pass mildly away, And whisper to their souls to go, Whilst some of their sad friends do say The breath goes now, and some say, No:
So let us melt, and make no noise, No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move; 'Twere profanation of our joys To tell the laity our love.
Moving of th' earth brings harms and fears, Men reckon what it did, and meant; But trepidation of the spheres, Though greater far, is innocent.
Dull sublunary lovers' love (Whose soul is sense) cannot admit Absence, because it doth remove Those things which elemented it.
But we by a love so much refined, That our selves know not what it is, Inter-assured of the mind, Care less, eyes, lips, and hands to miss.
Our two souls therefore, which are one, Though I must go, endure not yet A breach, but an expansion, Like gold to airy thinness beat.
If they be two, they are two so As stiff twin compasses are two; Thy soul, the fixed foot, makes no show To move, but doth, if the other do.
And though it in the center sit, Yet when the other far doth roam, It leans and hearkens after it, And grows erect, as that comes home.
Such wilt thou be to me, who must, Like th' other foot, obliquely run; Thy firmness makes my circle just, And makes me end where I begun.
"" ""”John Donne
""Jon!"" I giggled as he flipped me over onto my stomach.
I admired his strength, the way he could move substantial objects with an ease unknown to me.
Morning sun streamed in through the window at the head of our bed.
We'd only slept a handful of hours, enjoying each other and the now-empty decanter of whisky.
He trailed kisses down my spine, causing me to shiver despite the warmth of the small room.
""I just canna get enough of ye,"" he said against my skin, his fingers drawing patterns on my shoulder blade.
""So you've said, for the past twelve hours,"" I laughed, turning to face him.
He made a sound of disapproval, pushing my shoulder down.
""What on earth""”"" I began.
""Shush, I'm tryin' to memorize ye from every angle, should we ever be apart again.
The very thought of ye kept me alive,"" he whispered, his words causing me to still.
Though we had each other once more, the threat of the unknown future dangled above us, a knife waiting to fall.
I didn't want to imagine being apart again, but it was a comfort to know the foundation of our relationship stood firm, our souls connected in a way I couldn't fathom.
""'Tis like the gods made ye for me themselves.
"" He said.
I rested my cheek on my arms, smiling.
""Why's that?"" I asked.
I shuddered again as his fingers traced my neck, my spine, my shoulders, my ticklish sides.
I squirmed beneath him, laughing.
I heard his chuckle in response.
""Yer skin has these flecks of gold inlaid, just under the surface.
"" I felt him brush over my freckled shoulder.
He pushed my hair aside, revealing more skin.
""And yer hair is as fiery as the flame that burns within ye.
But yer eyes, so blue, deep as a sapphire and worth more than all the gems in the world.
"" He spoke quietly.
My throat constricted with tears, hearing how beautiful he thought I was.
The thought that he cherished me above all others made my heart swell with pride, but left me perplexed as well.
""Well, then how can I forget this,"" he grabbed a handful of my b
are rear, causing me to jump.
He laughed loudly.
""You were being so sweet,"" I growled.
""Aye, I still am.
I love the way ye feel beneath my hands,"" he moved them to my hips, squeezing the bit of excess fat that I'd always hated.
""Stop that,"" I laughed.
""Why? I love it, princess,"" he gripped harder.
""I canna have a weak woman that's thin as a stick.
I'd worry ""˜bout breakin' ye,"" he laughed again.
I blushed.
Grasping my hips, he flipped me back over.
I brushed the hair from my eyes, met with his dark gaze.
He cupped my face, as gently as a one would hold something precious and fragile.
The length of his hand ran from the top of my head to just under my jaw.
My eyes closed as I placed my hand atop his.
""Must we ever leave this bed?"" I asked.
I opened my eyes, gauging his response.
He smirked, causing my stomach to float, my heart to hammer.
""Aye, we must, but no now.
We can always find each other again, here,"" he nodded to the bed.
I reached up, cupping his scruffy face in my hand, brushing my thumb over his lips.
He grabbed my hand, placing my palm across his mouth as he kissed it.
""I love ye,"" My heart felt as full as it had been before our separation""”even fuller.
There would always remain a spot for our child, an emptiness that could never be filled, but I had embraced it, knowing that our love had created something so pure.
""I love you, too.
"" I smiled.
He bent his lips to mine, and I felt his eagerness.
I sighed in contentment as we became one yet again.
""Get out o' bed ye lazy bastard,"" Meleryn yelled, pounding on our door.
I couldn't help but laugh, though I tried to stifle it as Jon growled at being interrupted.
""Go away, ye stubborn jackass,"" he yelled back, trying hard to focus on the task at hand.
I couldn't help the fit of giggles.
""Ye think that's funny, eh?"" He asked, a devious glint shining in his eyes.
I nodded, though my giggles soon turned to breathless gasps as his hips crashed against mine.
""Ye two have been at it all damn night!"" Mel yelled.
Pulled once more from the high of our lovemaking, I laughed.
Jon did, too, though he placed a hand over my mouth as he quickened the pace.
Falling for Him Page 24