A Warrior's Heart

by Donna Grant

  He sighed loudly. Too much disorder and not near enough answers. He sensed that the odds weren’t in their favor of winning, but hadn’t the Great Evil eluded to that very thing in Scotland?

  The Shields had fought the creatures for so long, managing to win when it seemed doom was inevitable, but now…now was different. It seemed the entire world held its breath, waiting for the final hammer stroke that would end all as they knew it.

  Gabriel had a difficult time believing that all the work the Shields had done was for naught. If they could find at least one answer in all the whirlwind, then it would help right some of the chaos.

  Maybe.

  * * * *

  Gabriel ran his hands through his still damp hair. He was nervous. Nervous!

  Of all the emotions he thought he might feel at the prospect of seducing Danielle, being nervous wasn’t one of them. Though he didn’t proclaim to be a lover of Cole’s proportions, he’d had his fair share of women.

  “Damnation,” he growled and stormed from his chamber. If he sat and worried about it any longer, he wouldn’t carry through with it.

  He told himself it was because Danielle could be an innocent and by duping her A WARRIOR’S HEART

  Donna Grant

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  with a seduction, he would be hurting her. That was partly it, but the other part, the part that urged him to sink into her body, told him their joining would be right.

  His steps slowed as he came to the stairs. If he ventured down, he would find the other Shields in the great hall, but if he ventured down and to the right, he would find himself in front of Danielle’s chamber.

  Just the thought of her chamber led him to think of her bed, of him gently laying her on the bed and kissing her sweet flesh. He could see her beautiful hazel eyes grow dark with desire and her body quiver with need as he brought her to her release.

  A soft touch on his arm brought him out of his thoughts. And he found himself staring down at none other than Danielle.

  “You look deep in thought, my lord,” she said, her husky voice moving over him like the warmth of the sun.

  “Aye,” he answered.

  She lowered her gaze demurely, then smiled up at him. “I am glad to see that you are indeed immortal. You had everyone worried.”

  “Everyone?” He didn’t know what was wrong with him that he repeated everything she said.

  Her dusky pink lips turned up at the corners. “You had me worried.”

  The thought of her concerned for him sent a jolt through him. “You don’t even know me.”

  “Odd isn’t it?” she asked. “I cannot help how I feel, though.”

  Her words tugged to a memory long forgotten. He stood before a golden throne, a tall man wearing a jeweled crown stared down at him, his dark eyes unfriendly and disapproving.

  “I cannot help how I feel, sire. I love her.”

  “-rial?”

  He jerked and stepped back. He could still feel the sting of anger and fear of rejection from that memory. He had spoken to a king about a woman he loved. But what king? What realm?

  What

  woman?

  “Gabriel?”

  He looked down at the soft hands wrapped around his arm. His gaze moved up her slim arms to her face and the concern clouding her beautiful hazel depths.

  “You have beautiful eyes,” he said suddenly. “Has anyone ever told you that?”

  She swallowed and released him. “One other person.”

  An awkward silence followed. Gabriel wasn’t good with wooing women, he didn’t know the flowery words to tell them.

  “What happened to you a moment ago?”

  He blinked and leaned against the wall. “Something you said made me remember something.”

  “Really?” she asked. Though her voice sounded happy, her expression was guarded almost as if she was afraid of what he had remembered.

  He shrugged. “The memory didn’t tell me any more than I already know.” Nay.

  It told me much more. It told me that I had loved. Deeply.

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  “I was wondering if you would give me more of a tour of the castle?” Danielle looked at him with wide eyes, her expression hopeful.

  Since Gabriel had been searching for a way to be alone with her, he readily grasped her offer. “Of course. How about some of the splendid views of the towers?”

  “Sounds wonderful. Lead the way.”

  Gabriel took her hand and tucked it in the crook of his arm. He shortened his steps and turned her down the corridor.

  “Isn’t this the way to Lord Hugh and Lady Mina’s chamber?”

  He smiled down at her. “You’ve a good memory. Aye, their chamber is at the end of the hall. However, we’re going a different route.”

  She asked no more questions as they walked silently along the hallway. It was comfortable silence, like old friends content to be in each other’s company as they walked.

  Or lovers looking for a secluded spot.

  He mentally shook himself and turned her to the left just after his chamber. “The stairway is narrow and very steep in parts.”

  “I’ll manage it,” she said over her shoulder. Her smile and the excitement lighting her eyes made it all worthwhile.

  He followed her up the stairs, trying in vain to wrench his gaze away from the alluring sway of her hips. He could just imagine running his hands along her bottom and the curve of her hips, the indention of her waist.

  White hot desire flooded him, bringing his rod hard and aching with just a thought. Gabriel clenched his teeth together and tried to focus on anything other than Danielle. But it was impossible.

  She was…well, she was different. She wasn’t like any woman he had ever met.

  Her spirit, her courage and her beauty were unmatched by anyone. He saw the darkness in her as well, which only made him want her all the more, because she didn‘t try to hide the darkness. She accepted it as part of herself.

  Suddenly, she stopped and Gabriel found himself a few steps below her, their faces just breaths apart.

  “I’m not a commoner.”

  He smiled. He didn’t know why she had confessed to her lie, but he was terribly glad that she had. “I know.”

  “And you’re not going to make me leave?”

  There was something in her eyes. Was it hope? Did she want to leave?

  Gabriel shook his head. “We’ve all known from the very beginning that you weren’t a commoner. A blind man could see it in the way you walk, the way you carry yourself, and most importantly how you speak.”

  After a moment’s hesitation, she continued up the narrow stairway. Gabriel was disappointed. He thought she might have divulged more of her reasons for coming to Stone Crest, though he kept a small vein of hope that it was just by chance that she had happened upon the castle.

  It wasn’t long before they came to the north tower. The square room overlooked most of the castle, though it wasn’t the tallest of the towers.

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  He came up behind her as she slowly entered the tower, her gaze taking in the nearly empty chamber. Only a few chairs and a small table occupied this tower.

  “Not what you expected?” he asked.

  She tossed a grin over her shoulder. “The castle is very grand, and I do suppose I expected something more for the towers. Almost like a sanctuary of sorts for Mina and Hugh.”

  “There are other towers. This one is used mostly by the knights since it has a direct view of the road leading to Stone Crest.”

  “Ah. Which explains only the chairs and table.” She ran her hand along the table as she walked around it. “You don’t seem at all concerned that I lied,” she said softly

  Gabriel turned from the window and crossed his arms over his chest as he regarded her. “It isn’t that I’m not concerned that you felt the need to lie, which makes us wary of you. What
concerns me more than anything right now is defeating the evil and anything that stands in the way of us succeeding.”

  “I understand.” Her eyes had taken on a faraway look, as though she were remembering something very dear to her. She blinked and focused her eyes on him.

  “Did you find what you went to search for this morn?”

  “Hugh wanted a look at something Cole and I had found a few days ago.”

  She lowered her gaze and took a step toward him. “I’ve seen many things in my life, Gabriel, and I hate to admit it, but those creatures terrified me.”

  “We’ve an entire castle to protect from the creatures. You’ll be safe as long as you stay inside.”

  She gradually raised her gaze to his. Sadness flashed briefly in her eyes. “Aye, I should be safe.”

  Gabriel didn’t know what propelled him toward Danielle. Maybe it was the loneliness that seemed to radiate from her like the glow of the moon or maybe it was because he didn’t want to deny himself another moment. But whatever it was, one moment he was leaning against the wall and the next he stood before her gazing into her lovely hazel eyes.

  “It’s odd, you know,” he found himself saying as his hand came up to rub the ends of her braid between his fingers. Her golden locks were made to be loose and flowing about her.

  Her entire body stilled. “What is?”

  “How familiar you are to me. It’s as if I know you, though that cannot possibly be true. If I did know you it might explain why I can’t seem to keep my hands from you.”

  In answer, she simply smiled. Her eyes that had once seemed like great pools of despair were now focused on him like a falcon eyeing its prey.

  “Why try to explain our feelings,” she said, her voice low and husky as she raised a hand and placed it on his arm. “I’ve learned the best thing to do is just feel.”

  Gabriel stared at her parted lips. Her lashes lowered, and his breathing quickened. By the heavens, it was near torture not to take her lips. Then he remembered her words.

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  Just feel.

  He dipped his head and captured her lips with his own. It was as if the world had awakened then, shaking off its gray mantel and shining brightly. Yet, he couldn’t be parted from Danielle to enjoy it. The need to taste more of her, feel more of her was stronger than his need to breathe.

  His mouth moved over hers, gently at first then more insistent as his desire for her grew. His hands slid around her trim waist then moved up her sides until he felt the weight of her breasts touch the outside of his hands.

  The yearning, nay need, to feel her body beneath his nearly brought him to his knees. Never had he experienced such longing before and it both frightened and intrigued him.

  A soft sigh escaped her when he slid his tongue along her plump lips. It was all the encouragement he needed. He pulled her against him, needing her to feel how desperately he wanted her.

  Her arms wrapped around his neck as her fingers threaded through his hair.

  Gabriel’s skin shivered as chills raced through him. But still he needed more.

  He slipped his tongue between her lips and was rewarded with a soft moan of pleasure. The more he tasted her, the more he wanted. She was like fine wine, heady and addictive.

  Their kisses turned frantic as need drove their bodies closer. And when she rubbed against his throbbing rod, it was all Gabriel could do not to lay her back on the table and take her right then his desire was so great.

  But he also wanted to see her splendid flesh devoid of clothing. He wanted to trace every inch of her with his lips, to kiss her sex and watch her writhe with pleasure, to feel the heat of her on his fingers. But most of all, he wanted an entire night to get to know her body.

  Somehow, he managed to break the kiss. When he looked down into her eyes, he was amazed to see the hunger and desire darkening her gaze.

  “I want you,” he said once his breathing was back under control. “You have no idea how much I want you.”

  “I want you, too.” She said it as if she herself was amazed with the realization.

  He smiled and ran a finger along her high cheekbone down to her jaw. “I want you naked, on my bed. I want to run my hands along your flesh, to see all your womanly curves and explore your body. I want an entire night of nothing but loving you.”

  His words affected her deeply. Her eyes misted over and her throat worked as she tried to swallow. “I’m yours, Gabriel.”

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  Chapter Twenty

  I’m yours, Gabriel.

  Danielle didn’t even try to stop the words as they tumbled from her mouth. What he’d said to her touched her more deeply than anything had for a very long time.

  She wasn’t sure what surprised her more, how much he desired her, or how much she desired him. So when he took her hand and hastily left the tower, she willingly followed him. It had been too long since she her body had been awakened.

  By

  Gabriel.

  Again.

  But she refused to think about it. She was following her own advice. Just feel.

  It was easy to do that with Gabriel. He made her feel like a woman, a beautiful, loved woman. And she would allow herself to feel that, if only for a little while. After everything Gabriel had done to her, she deserved this little slice of bliss.

  Her breasts ached for Gabriel’s touch, her sex throbbed with need and her soul…her soul cried for a tender touch, a lover’s touch.

  They practically ran down the stairs to Gabriel’s chamber. He pulled her inside and then turned to bar the door. The massive bed beckoned her, promising untold pleasure in Gabriel’s arms.

  She closed her eyes and still felt his lips moving over hers. The feel of his thick rod pressed against her belly had brought a rush of liquid between her thighs.

  Warm fingers stroked her neck as he came up behind her, molding his body to hers again. “Danielle,” he whispered in her ear as his mouth kissed her skin.

  She moved her head to the side as his hot tongue did delicious things to her body.

  Desire strummed through her, making her forget everything but the man behind her and the need in her body.

  “By the gods you are beautiful.”

  His words, though murmured, sent a bolt of longing through her hear. Memories of her past began to stir, pushing past the fog of desire.

  Nay!

  Danielle turned to face Gabriel. His molten silver eyes flared with longing as she ran her hands from the flat plains of his stomach to his muscled chest.

  “Make me forget. Please.”

  His gaze bored into hers as if he were trying to read her soul. A soft smile pulled up one corner of his mouth as his hands cupped either side of her face.

  Time seemed to beat to almost a halt. Nothing existed but her and him–-and the desire they shared.

  His mouth teased her skin with light kisses and soft licks of his tongue. But his hands moved over her body as if she might disappear at any moment.

  Yet it wasn’t enough for her. For too long she had been alone. For too long she A WARRIOR’S HEART

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  had only memories of Gabriel before he betrayed her. And now, he stood before her as he once was, before she saw him in his true form.

  It was too much for her. She desperately needed the past, to feel like the girl she used to be. She needed to forget about betrayals, loss and revenge.

  She

  needed

  Gabriel.

  With a little shove, she pushed his leather jerkin over his shoulders and he let it drop to the floor. To her surprise, her hands shook as she reached for his dark red tunic.

  Her fingers scraped his skin as she tugged the tunic higher.

  Her breath caught in her throat as Gabriel pulled the tunic over his head and stood before her. She had seen him while he lay wounded,
but she hadn’t had a chance to really look at him as she did now.

  He was more magnificent than she remembered.

  Her hands rose to move over his sculpted torso, to feel the muscles beneath her hands. Gabriel had always been handsome, but his body had never looked like this.

  The training and battles he had faced while a Shield had shaped him into a splendid figure of a man.