The Duchess (MacBride Sisters Trilogy Book 2)

by Kira Freitas

  I had spent the whole day helping in what I could and feeling useful in a comforting way. I haven't seen a party like that in months, because for a guard chief engaged in a fight, there wasn't much time left for amusement. Except in brothels or taverns where I could drink in the company of beautiful girls. A long time ago my mind was occupied with strategies of battle and revenge. The entire MacCalister clan wanted Roy's head more than all the people who inhabited the Highlands and some allies. There were obvious reasons for so much hatred and I grew up in the middle of it. So being among such joyful and outsiders was both comforting and strange. Looking around, it didn't look like there were troops under siege around Edinburgh, devising strategies to enter the fortress. There were also small troops besieged along the border, taking care that no traitor attacked Dunhill and tried to kill Aideen. Everything, at that moment, inspired or breathed peace and joy. A peace that I had long forgotten or reneged on.

  I raised the beer mug in another collective toast with the singers. My gaze went through the crowd stopping in the direction of a beautiful blonde. She had her back to me and was getting ready to shoot an arrow at a target. The soft-colored dress did not hide her curves and her perfect posture showed that she knew what she was doing. The silver hair was stuck in a long, thick braid that reached his thin waist. I didn't need much to know that was Annabel. It inspired delicacy and savagery at the same time, so I remembered the morning we met. When I jumped on the horse, I had no idea that that angel had premeditated and helped Aideen escape. I soon discovered that behind those beautiful bright eyes, there was a demon hidden and he had been tormenting me from the moment I laid eyes on Annabel.

  I held my breath when a guy left the tavern and walked towards it. I went along with the look and got up slowly. There was something in his gaze that didn't leave me satisfied or comfortable, so, leaving the mug aside, I went down the stairs without taking my eyes off the man and walked to Annabel. He stopped behind your back and said something in your ear. This was enough for her to lose focus and her hands slipped causing the bow to fall. The rope was released at the wrong moment by hitting the hand that held it, without it waiting. Annabel screamed in pain and dropped her bow on the floor. The man laughed while she held her fist. I knew how painful that hit hurt, because I often let go of the rope at the wrong time when I started to learn how to use the gun.

  - Let me see! - ...I asked you to take his hand delicately. - We're gonna need some cold water.

  - No! Don't touch! - she begged me, shrugging her hand and trying to pull it out, but I was holding her wrist firmly. - It hurts so much!

  There was a red line marking the base of his hand and thumb. Annabel cried because of the pain she felt.

  - Are you all right?" asked the man when he saw you start crying.

  - Have you gone mad? Why did you do what you did? - ...I squirmed by pushing the man... - Didn't you see you hurt Annabel?

  - I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you! - he took a break before looking at Annabel. There was no compassion or concern in his gaze. He staged an apology for being watched by several people. - It was just a joke. I didn't expect her to miss the real target,

  - A joke? - I growled angrily and closed my fist preparing a punch. - This is no joke on a lady, you useless bastard!

  The punch caught his nose so hard, he knocked the man to the ground. I never measured my strength when I was angry and hit him so hard that he fainted. The blood began to flow down his face.

  - Jesus! - Annabel exclaimed scared.

  I looked at her and then at the people around me. Everybody was staring at me scared. Realizing the discomfort of the situation and wanting the festivities to continue, the musicians played again and everyone was dispersed. Some of the man's friends pulled him out and dragged him into the tavern. Taking a deep breath, I turned to Annabel who was holding her wrist.

  - Forgive my temper! I saw it from afar when he approached you and distracted her with something he said. - I said in a voice full of sorrow. - Maybe she made a bet with her friends to make her miss a game they didn't even play, just for stupid fun.

  - It's okay! It's okay! Anyway, thanks for coming to my rescue. - she sighed when I took her hand to observe the wound better. - It wasn't really the scare that surprised me, but the words he said made my stomach turn.

  I walked with her to the bench where she'd been sitting.

  - Thank you! Thank you! - said thanking the woman who had brought a clean white cloth and a basin of water. - I can imagine, but what were his words, exactly?

  She sighed and then rolled her eyes making a disgusting face.

  - He said he had a much better arrow between his legs and that the fun would be worth a lot more.

  - What's that? What's that? What a fucking bastard! - ...I've stirred up by standing up. - I'm going there to finish what I started and kill him once and for all so that he doesn't repeat such an act against another lady.

  - No! - she shot me holding my arm and then made a face of pain. - He got what he deserved and I bet he doesn't want to do it again.

  I took a deep breath and I nodded.

  - All right! All right! - I whispered.

  Then I knelt again in front of her to continue to bandage her hand. Annabel choked when the cold touched her skin. Although I was wearing a long-sleeved dress, I noticed that her skin crept the instant I touched her, through the square neckline, which left part of her shoulder and her neck showing it. I smiled internally and tried to concentrate on what I was doing. She leaned back on the wooden wall and watched me. Crossing the other arm just below the bust, Annabel remained silent for a few moments. Something caught her attention and the silence was broken.

  - Can I ask you a question?

  - You can do as many as you like. - I replied in an ironic way. - I'll answer those that are relevant.

  Annabel rolled her eyes, but she didn't give up asking the question.

  - How many scars do you have? - I frowned with surprise. - Can you talk about them?

  Smile at the question, a little too curious. No one's ever been interested in my scars.

  - Well! Actually, I've never counted, so I have no idea how many I own.

  - Are they all of battle?

  - With one exception, the others were acquired on battlefields or in duels.

  - Which one wasn't?

  - Why the question?

  - Because, except for my sister, I've never seen a man carry so many marks on his body.

  - So many? - I asked with a debauched smile and raised my head to face it. - Did you happen to see each of them?

  Annabel blushed and I soon realized I understood the question.

  - I... Huh! - she coughed choking and stuttered trying to respond.

  I let out a laugh by shaking my head. I was just enjoying seeing her blush and blush. Now she knew how people felt listening to her nonsense. I took a deep breath before I started talking. You'd get into a delicate matter for me.

  - The scar on my left shoulder. - I answered by throwing the cloth away and taking the other one to roll up his hand. - Cora wanted to learn how to hunt and since she didn't know how to use the right bow, she ended up hitting an arrow on me.

  I took a break smiling.

  - She was desperate when she saw me bleeding and it was very painful. At first I wanted to kill her, but we ended up laughing at the situation after everything passed. The way she was able to calm us down was extraordinary. It was hard not to forgive your mischief or your foolishness.

  - You loved Cora, didn't you? - she asked.

  I took a deep breath of sadness and nodded my head. It was hard to talk about my cousin and I avoided it as much as I could.

  - So much so that I never thought I could love again.

  She smiled like she understood what I was getting at.

  - I was in love with her. - Annabel concluded. - I've heard a lot of similar stories. That sounds very romantic.

  - Yes. You can imagine that, watching two men rape and then slit
your throat, was not a very pleasant thing. - I answered. - even if it wasn't for Cora, I'd have felt hatred the same way. They were animals and could never be treated like men.

  - But they still deserved a fair trial. - she fired.

  Annabel lowered her head and closed her eyes for a few seconds.

  - Listen, I didn't mean to sound insensitive when I asked you not to kill Morvan. - she paused as if searching for something in her memory and her gaze became sad. - I know very well what the feeling of powerlessness you mentioned is like.

  I took a deep breath and with my index finger, I lifted her face up so she could look at me.

  - It wasn't your fault! - I emphasized. - It was Ravenna who removed the guard and stopped the rescue. You did what you thought was right and necessary to save your sister.

  - You don't understand! - she said in a bitter voice. - I was the one who helped Aideen get out of the castle. I taught her the passages and how she would come back. If I hadn't done that, he would never have attacked her.

  - Roy would do it with or without help. Actually, he tried it other times with Ravenna's help. - I answered. - I know that scoundrel and united with a woman like Ravenna, he's become even more dangerous.

  I felt like a fool when I tried to comfort someone who had the same feeling of guilt in his chest as I did. I could not convince myself that Cora's death was not my fault or my incompetence in protecting her, or Alec. How to convince a girl to get rid of the same feeling?

  Annabel sighed, sniffling after that.

  - Thank you! - she whispered trying to smile. - You should listen more to yourself.

  - What's that? What's that? - I said confused. - I don't get it.

  - Cora didn't die because of you or any of your cousins. - she said in a soft voice. - I don't think she'd want you to martyr yourself for it, just as I know, that Aideen hates seeing me suffer for similar reasons.

  - You don't exist, you know that?

  Annabel let out a laugh and, sniffing, dried her tears with the back of her hands.

  - Hey, come here!

  I pulled Annabel gently into my chest. She knelt on the floor and accepted the hug by nesting, without reluctance. I passed my arms around her and caressed her hair. I'd swing it back and forth like a frightened child's nest. I used to do that with Cora during the storms. She was scared to death of lightning and this lasted until she was sixteen years old, when she felt too grown up to protect herself in the arms of her cousin or brothers. It was from that moment on that I began to lose her.

  Annabel walked away from me and, taking a deep breath, smiled apparently more calmly. She kept staring at me for a few seconds. His light eyes glowed with even more intensity. Annabel was very beautiful, inside and out. Whether in a stormy moment or in her fragile form, she could charm in the most surprising ways possible. Without thinking I raised my hand and with my thumb, I traced the path of tears to her fleshy lips. Annabel closed her eyes and gasped with my touch.

  - Like I said, I don't regret kissing her. - I whispered. - I can't deny that I'm looking forward to another moment like that.

  She held her breath by biting her lower lip. Slowly I approached him and began to spread soft kisses on his delicate face, until I reached his lips and kissed the right corner. She held her breath when my lips took yours in a slow kiss. I wanted to prove it and provoke your instincts. Annabel released my wrist and took her hands to my hair pressing her body against mine. I put my hand on her back and brought her even closer. Releasing her face, I took the other hand to her hair and held it tightly, before putting my tongue in her mouth and deepening the kiss. Hearing Annabel's groaning against my lips brought me an excitement that spread all over my body. I carried my hands around his neck and devoured his lips as if he were hungry. I felt Annabel surrendering more and more to me. His body exuded lust, not unlike mine. Rising without ceasing to kiss her, I took Annabel in my arms with ease and dexterity. Entering the inn, I went with her to her room. I couldn't think and she didn't stop me when I put her to bed and started to loosen the threads that tightened her dress. I kissed her lap and felt as she held her breath as I lowered the upper part, leaving the show full and voluminous breasts. One by one, I kissed them, sucking slowly and rubbing their nipples. Annabel moaned arcing the body and squeezed my neck. On my knees, I took off my shirt and released his arms from the dress. I'll jump on her again to kiss her and Annabel took the opportunity to touch the skin of my chest. I pant before your shy but soft touch. She smiled around some of the scars on my arms and shivered when my beard touched the outline of her neck. Quickly, I finished removing your dress, socks and your combination.

  - Linda! - I whispered with lust when I saw her naked.

  Standing between her legs, I kissed her lap, her breasts, her stomach and lingered in her navel. I held the thin waist on both sides while tormenting the small cavity with my tongue. She twisted herself by bending her body and making it easier for me to caress her. I went up again to kiss her again. I touched her belly softly and watched Annabel squirm when I reached the little bud between her legs. Scared, she tried to close her legs, but I reassured her by kissing her again. I started a caress in circles, in a gentle way, and increased the speed of my touch, until I heard Annabel moan even louder. Smile with satisfaction when she grabbed my shoulders hard. I penetrated my index finger into her vagina, causing Annabel to scream between my lips. I started a slow back and forth movement and gradually accelerated as I felt she was relaxing. After some time of provocation, I inserted a second finger and stored it quickly. She was moving at the same pace.

  - Bruce! - she whispered between groaning and wheezing.

  - I know! I know! - I said smiling when I realized she'd soon be making fun of me.

  Annabel twisted and with a scream she reached the climax. She fell on the bed with her body exhausted, but I wanted more. Taking my fingers out of it, I stood up and untied my pants. Annabel looked at my member in a frightened way and I smiled at her reaction. Kneeling beside her, I kissed her again and caressed her clitoris again. Soon Annabel moaned, showing that she was ready for me again. Slowly, I penetrated your vagina with my limb. She gasped when she felt she was starting to stretch. I kissed her cheek, whispering in her ear to make her relax. She stuck her nails in my arms and I let go of a grunt by sticking her face around her neck. I stood still for a few moments until I realized the pain was gone. I've never deflowered a virgin before, and for me, that was the pinnacle. I had to control myself so I wouldn't make fun before she did and ruin the moment. Annabel was tight and I felt the walls of her vagina contract around my limb. She gasped when I started stocking slowly. Annabel relaxed even more and I groaned when she started to follow my rhythm. I was being more cautious than usual. My mind was clouded by the sound of Annabel's whispers and groans in my ear. She grabbed my buttocks asking for more and I answered her. I started stocking faster and Annabel threw her head back. I had to suck the sensitive skin off his neck and pulled his legs up, giving me a little more access and allowing deeper storage. Our bodies began a frantic dance of the same rhythm. That's when I felt Annabel would reach her climax, that I accelerated her movements. She screamed, falling with her head on the mattress. I made fun of her right away, dropping my weight on her. Panting, I put my head against her shoulder and Annabel hugged me. We stayed like this for a while, until reality fell on me.

  - What did I do?" I said in a whisper and got down on my knees.

  Standing up, I walked away from the bed and put my pants on. Annabel stared at me with a frown.

  - What's going on? - she asked in a confusing way.

  - Oh, shit! You really are a witch! - I squealed by punching the dresser behind me. - I'm a man of war. I wasn't born to take responsibility for a marriage or raise a family. That should never have happened!

  The moment I said those words, I was bitterly sorry when I noticed the shock in Annabel's eyes. She held her breath, swallowing her tears and pulled the quilt over her naked body.

  -
Annabel, I...

  - If I'm a witch, you're a devil! - she said coolly. - Please, get out!

  Fear took hold of me when I realized that I had blamed Annabel for a deliberately mutual act. I knew I could never make up for my mistake or get her forgiveness for my actions. The pain and sorrow in her eyes made that very clear. Still, I tried.

  - Annabel, forgive me for my breakup! - he said approaching me. - My words were cruel and...

  - I told you to leave! - she said coldly. - Go away and leave me alone!

  The cold, painful voice went through my heart. My shoulders fell, when I realized, that because of an idiotic impulse, I had lost, perhaps, the only woman who made me want more. Taking a deep breath, I tried to get close, but it was already late.

  - Get out! - she screamed. - Now!

  Not knowing what to do, I grabbed my shirt and boots coming out of the room right away. I leaned back on the door after knocking it and closed my eyes. I held a grunt when I heard Annabel's sobs, who had begun to cry. With my chest taken by anger and remorse, I put on my shirt and headed for the inn. I decided to drink to try to forget. Maybe I could talk to her the next morning.

  Chapter 11

  Annabel

  Taking a deep breath to contain my tears, I embraced Abigail in a farewell gesture. It seemed like we'd never see each other again. In fact, I could see her whenever I wanted, since Dunhill was a few hours away from that village.

  - Where's my horse? - I asked as soon as I left the inn.