by Meg Allison
She narrowed her gaze, angry at the way he tried to play on her fear. “He didn’t kill Brigit! And he’ll never submit to the likes of you—you’re nothing but a brute! He’s a kind, gentle man. He would never have hurt her like that.”
“You have a high and mighty opinion of your lover, don’t you?”
“He’s not my lover!”
His eyes danced with hellish delight. “Ah, now, so O’Brien really has changed his ways. Or maybe you’re too much a woman for him to handle?”
He kneeled on the ground beside her, the lust evident in his eyes. With one hand he grasped the neckline of her dress and lifted a knife from his boot. She winced as he slid the blade through the cotton; the sound of it tearing apart seemed loud in her ears. The cold breeze on her thinly covered breasts made her shiver. Alaina looked up at the darkening sky as she blinked back tears and prayed silently for deliverance and strength.
“Ah, don’t be like that, lass,” he murmured as he then tore away the chemise and exposed her completely. “You know you long for a man’s touch—a real man would have taken you to bed the day you landed on this rock.” He traced her breasts with the sharp tip of the knife and she cried out as it cut her flesh. Doogan grinned. “O’Brien would disappoint you. But I’ll show you how good it can be.”
He pulled back the knife and began to loosen his breeches. Alaina could feel her heart pounding as if it might fly right out of her chest. She squirmed against the ropes and felt the rough hemp scrape at her skin. A chance. All she needed was a chance to get away. If only he would remove the rope from her neck and feet. She was too vulnerable otherwise.
“How can I enjoy anything while I’m trussed up like an animal?”
He stopped and raised a brow. “I’m not a stupid man. You won’t talk me into untying you.”
“At least take the thing off my neck so…” She swallowed down the bile that rose in her throat. “…so I can help you.”
“Help me? And just what do I need help with?”
She felt the heat rise in her face and forced herself to look into his eyes. If ever she needed to be a good liar, the time was now. “I know things…things a man likes.” She licked her dry lips and noticed his gaze followed the movement intently. “But I can’t do them with my head in a noose.”
“And where would a high society lass learn such things? You’re lying.”
“I snuck out to the slave cabins when I was young and curious. I used to watch the men and women together—they were very…passionate. I know what to do, but I’ve never done it before.”
Doogan snorted. “I’m not sure I believe you, lass. Why don’t you give me a little demonstration first? If I like it, then I’ll take off the noose.”
Panic welled up and threatened to shred her last bit of control. Alaina shook her head, the rope dug into her neck and she coughed. “I-I can’t…” she gasped as she spoke, her fear and the friction of rope on flesh making it hard to breath.
She couldn’t go through with it. What had she done? If he had agreed to remove the noose, then she could have defended herself at least a bit. She might have gotten away. But she would rather die than have to pleasure the filthy evil beast in that way.
“That’s what I thought,” he sneered. “If I put myself into your mouth I’d likely have it bitten off, wouldn’t I? Wouldn’t I?” he yelled as he tugged the noose tighter, then let go. Alaina gasped for air.
“Enough talk, ’tis time for play,” he panted as he tried to kneel between her thighs. “Open your legs.”
She averted her eyes from his open fly. “I can’t,” she whispered on the verge of tears. “You’ve tied my ankles too close together.”
He cursed and lifted the knife. Alaina squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for a quick death, but he sliced the rope between her feet and rolled her over onto her back, her hands crushed beneath her own weight.
“There now,” he muttered. “We’ll do this the old-fashioned way first.”
“Please,” she found herself begging as tears coursed down her face. “Don’t…”
“Come lass,” he huffed as he lifted her skirts higher and lowered his full weight upon her. The smell of his sweat and rancid breath made her want to vomit. “It can be good for both of us. Just relax a bit…’twill be better for you then. Hell, you might even enjoy it.”
“No.” She closed her eyes and prayed for oblivion if salvation were out of her reach.
A fierce bellow like that from the ancient warrior Celts rattled her eardrums. She opened her eyes to see Doogan staring, dumbfounded before he rolled off of her and onto his feet.
“Bastard! You’ll die!”
Doogan crouched low and then leapt across her body, only to be met by a hard mountain of flesh and anger. Torin tackled him to the ground as Alaina watched. They rolled about in the dirt as punches and curses flew in rapid succession.
A touch at her arm and Alaina screamed and began to flail her unbound legs to get away. “Alaina!” a familiar voice called. “’Tis me, Sean! Hush now, lass. You’re safe.”
The words finally registered and she looked up at Torin’s friend. His blue eyes were filled with concern. “Here lass.” He glanced over his shoulder at the men still brawling. “Let’s sit you up.”
“The rope,” she whispered. He turned her on her side and winced.
“Bastard,” he muttered as he began to work at loosening the knot that bound her wrists. “I bloody well ought to help Torin beat him to a pulp.”
A moment later he helped her sit up and unwound the rope from her throat, cringing as he did so. A trickle of blood slipped down her neck and slid over her naked breast. Alaina realized how exposed she was and tried to cover herself as tears of relief and humiliation burned her eyes.
“Here, lass,” Sean said as he shrugged out of his coat. “Take this.” He helped her put it on and did up the buttons when it was clear she couldn’t with the numbness in her hands. Warmth enveloped her and she snuggled deep within the woolen garment as she sought out Torin.
Some yards away, he rose to his knees, breathing hard as Doogan lay in an unmoving, bloodied heap on the ground in front of him. Torin’s face was dark with fury as he kneeled over the other man, breathing hard and wiping blood from his mouth.
“God I hate this place,” Sean said, almost as if he spoke to himself. “Such a horror for her—to fall from this accursed cliff as she always feared.” He shook his head and smiled softly at Alaina. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”
She bit down on her lip to keep it from trembling. “No, not really. Nothing that won’t heal.”
Sean looked over at Torin and an understanding seemed to pass between them. Then he helped her to her feet as the man she loved struggled to his alone.
“You should die for this,” Torin said to Doogan, grabbing a handful of the battered man’s collar. “If you had…” His voice trailed off and he took a deep breath as he dropped Doogan back to the earth. “Leave Ireland and never come back. I’m not going to prove myself the murderer everyone thinks me to be. You’ve failed in that. Now go…go and never return.”
“I’ll go…when I’m…damn well good and…and ready,” Doogan said, his words slurred as his head lolled from side to side on the ground.
“You’d best be ready, then. I won’t kill you, but I won’t stop any man that tries to do so. And from what I’ve heard tell, Alaina isn’t the only lass you’ve violated since you’ve come home.”
“Prove it.”
“I don’t have to,” Torin said. “But you do—if you live long enough.” He left his adversary lying in the dirt and walked to where Alaina stood with Sean at her side. “Darlin’?” His eyes filled with tears that he blinked away. “Are you sure you’re all right now?”
She nodded silently and took a half step away from Sean and into the arms of the man she loved. “Yes, I’m fine,” she whispered as he gathered her close to his chest. “You came just in time. I tried…I tried to fight him, but the rope—”
“Shhh, hush now, love,” he said. “He’ll never hurt you again. No one will ever hurt you as long as I’m living.”
Sean cleared his throat and patted Torin on the shoulder. “Take the lass home, boy-o. I’ll see the baggage makes the next boat out.”
“Don’t turn your back on him, Sean.”
“Nay, do I look stupid?” He chuckled lightly. “Don’t answer that—my ego’s taken enough of a beating losing the prettiest lass to you. I’ll just drag him down to the pub by his own rope. I’m sure Shannon’s lads will be glad to help me get him the rest of the way.”
She lifted her head as he walked away. “Sean, thank you.”
“For what?” he asked with a frown.
“For being a gentleman.”
“Ah, don’t be telling such tales! I’ve got a reputation to protect.” He winked and picked up the rope that had bound Alaina, then sauntered toward Doogan as he lay groaning. “Let’s go meet the lads, shall we now? I’m sure they’d all like to hear about your notions on courting young women.”
Torin turned Alaina away and walked her down the slope away from the cliffs. His strong arm around her shoulders, she felt steady for a few steps. Then lightning flashed across the sky and thunder shook the very rock beneath their feet. Her stomach started to flutter until her entire body quaked and her knees buckled. His arms lifted her as she began to sink to the ground.
“Torin?” His name spilled from her lips as a plea for help. She grasped at his shirt with both hands.
“’Tis the shock,” he murmured against her hair. “I’ll get you home and warm you up. You’ll be good as new in no time.”
* * *
A raging storm began as they journeyed to Torin’s cottage. By the time they reached the door, both of them were soaked to the skin.
He sat her down in a chair by the hearth and went to work building a fire. The turf was dry and caught quickly, the flames soon danced and lengthened until they grew high enough to light the room. Waves of heat billowed outward as the red gold flames crackled in the silence.
When he turned back to Alaina, she hadn’t moved except for the tremors that coursed over her. She seemed mesmerized by the fire, unaware of her surroundings otherwise though her teeth chattered and shoulders shook violently beneath her sodden garments.
“Here darlin’,” he said as he moved closer and knelt on the floor at her feet. “Let’s get you dry and warm again.”
She looked at him blankly for a moment and he felt a twinge of fear that the shock had been too great a thing. But then she blinked and seemed to come to herself again.
“Y-yes,” she stuttered through quivering lips and lifted her hands to the large buttons of Sean’s coat. Her fingers shook and Torin watched for a long painful moment while she tried to work the buttons free.
“Here, let me help,” he said, his voice thick with the emotion that rose in his throat. He longed to take the pain upon himself—to soothe her troubled mind and promise he’d keep her safe forevermore. But could he really promise such a thing? They were married now, husband and wife, yet he’d been unable to protect her even in those first hours of their union. His past sins had come back to haunt him and had almost taken her from him in the process.
Torin made short work of the coat buttons and slid the dripping wool from her shoulders. He hesitated but a moment at the thought of removing her dress, but the trust in her dark eyes and the way she shivered helped him make up his mind. He had to get her warm and dry or risk pneumonia.
The torn fabric clung to her breasts but was easily pulled away. His mouth went dry at the sight of her—an almost crippling mixture of lust, anger and sorrow enveloped him as he took in the shallow cuts on her chest. Old scars stood out white and stark on her side. Was that what the bastard had done to her all those years ago? His gut clenched.
He pulled the ruined dress and chemise down over her shoulders, rising on his knees as he did so to tug the fabric down her arms. Then he made a quick decision and grasped the torn opening with both hands and pulled—the sound ripped through the cottage. He pulled her to her feet, slipped the layers down over her hips and off before he tossed the mess to one side. When he looked at her again, Torin’s breath caught in his throat. Her dark hair hung wet and loose over her shoulders, some strands caressing the tight rose tips of her full breasts. Only her torn stockings and the wet, translucent drawers remained. The undergarment teasingly revealed the dark juncture at her thighs.
He looked into her eyes. The love and desire he saw there almost brought him to his knees. She wanted him, loved him. It had been so very, very long since he’d lain with a woman. Now she stood before him—his wife, his to love. He felt his body come to life.
But he couldn’t take her, not after what had happened. Not after the pain he had indirectly caused.
“Torin,” she murmured, a slight note of pleading in her voice.
“Nay,” he replied. “You need rest…you need—”
She slid a hand around the back of his neck and pulled his head down to her. After she placed a hard, sensuous kiss on his lips, she looked up into his eyes. “I need you. I need your touch to warm me. Make me forget what happened, Torin. Make love to me.”
He swallowed hard and lifted her into his arms. Without breaking eye contact, he carried her across the room to his bed. Then he shed his own clothing as she watched him beneath heavy lids. Her gaze lingered on him and took in every movement as he bared himself to her view. It had to be the most erotic sensation he’d ever known.
He knelt beside her on the bed and slowly removed her undergarments. She laid before him, revealed at last to view and so much more beautiful than the image branded in his vivid thoughts. A form of smooth gentle curves…the round, full slopes of her breasts…her dark hair so in contrast with pale, ivory skin.
His heart thundered in his chest as she whispered his name and he lowered himself to her, the chill of her smooth skin to his made him shiver.
“I’ll warm you,” he said against her neck. She gasped as he kissed the hollow of her throat and at last allowed himself to taste her essence on his tongue, to feel her body beneath him. He could feel her heartbeat flutter between her breasts.
Her moans of pleasure heightened his own until he feared he might lose control long before he could bring her ultimate pleasure.
“My love,” he breathed as he moved to lie between her silken thighs. Then he reached down to touch her intimately and she flinched. “I won’t hurt you.”
“I know,” she said. “I want to please you, Torin. I-I don’t know what to do.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “You’re doing everything just right, my love. Are you sure you’re ready? I said I wouldn’t hurt you, but this…this may be painful the first time.” The thought of what had happened to her before struck him like a blow to the gut. “I couldn’t bear the thought of bringing you pain.”
She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him deeply, the long sweep of her tongue sent a tingle down his spine. Then she looked into his eyes with such love, it was almost too much to bear. “I know you’ll be gentle. I want you to be a part of me. I…I ache for you.” She grasped his hand in hers and led him back to her most private place. “I ache for you here,” she whispered.
He touched her then, finding the most sensitive flesh, and she gasped, her eyes wide in surprise. “Let yourself feel, darlin’. I’ll take care of you. No one will ever hurt you again.”
She seemed to melt into his touch then, her eyes closed and lips parted. Passion took over as he bent his head to taste her breasts—the feel of her taut nipple on his tongue made the fire in his blood burn with more intensity. His thoughts clouded until instinct alone led him on…that and the subtle cues of her breathy moans, the way she wriggled beneath him, the way her hands roved over his back and hips.
When she was hot and wet with need, he carefully lifted himself between her thighs. “Wrap your legs around me,” he instructed softly. She obeyed without
hesitation. “Relax…trust me.”
He could feel he was in position and with one quick thrust of his hips, he entered her. She gasped and went still for a moment before she moved as if to draw him nearer.
“More,” she whispered and he chuckled.
“Take it slow,” he told her, but as she tightened around him, Torin knew was easier said than done. He pushed deeper, her low moan vibrating across his skin.
“Oh…more, please, Torin…I-I need…” her voice trailed off when he relented and did as she asked, hoping only that he could bring her pleasure before his own.
At that moment, she arched beneath him and dug her fingers into his back. He watched her face—the wonder in her dark eyes, the surprise. Then she cried out softly and clutched at his buttocks, pulling him into her as she ground her softness against him. A second later, he felt that ancient but familiar pull and knew his own release was close. By instinct he thrust hard once, twice, three times before the climax overcame him and he couldn’t hold back. The sensation took his breath away.
A novice, he wasn’t, but he had never felt anything so powerful, so completely fulfilling in all his life. He had made love to a woman for the very first time. It had not been merely an act of physical release, but one of supreme and deep emotion.
“Is…is it always like that?” she whispered beneath him.
Torin rose to his elbows and gazed down at her in wonder. “Nay, darlin’. But I think between us, ’twill always be so.”
Alaina smiled a soft smile and wrapped her arms around him, even as her body refused to release his just yet. “I love you. I never knew I could love anyone so very much.”
He rained kisses along the line of her jaw, her temple and then slowly withdrew from her heat. Exhaustion weighed heavy upon him, but he gathered her close, spooning her naked body to his as he pulled a blanket around them.
“A ghra moi chroi,” he murmured near her ear as she pillowed her head on his arm. “Love of my heart, my dearest wife. Sleep now.”