Druid's Daughter

by Jean Hart Stewart

  When they paused Lance bent to check Mrs. Tomlinson.

  “She’ll come around shortly. Poor Shriver, he’s always picking up the bodies I strew around. I’m glad I brought him, though, or I’d have to deliver her to jail myself.”

  He rubbed his chin over her hair. “Let’s go in the house, Morgan. Incidentally, I’m not leaving you until we’re married. Not for a minute.”

  She stared at him, half-thrilled and half-aghast. “Lance, I appreciate your concern, but you can’t do that. We might not be married for weeks.”

  He grinned at her, his confidence restored now that she’d accepted him.

  “We’ll be married within a day or two. Being a Duke’s son has some privileges. No waiting for banns for us, although we’ll want to get your mother and Devon in from the country. And Jamie, of course.”

  Was the man crazy? Completely daft? First he was marrying anybody but her, now he couldn’t wait. She raised on her toes and kissed his lips.

  As soon as he let her draw a breath she spoke, leaning back in his arms and letting her eyes tell him of her love.

  “Anything you say, Lance.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  After Shriver had taken Mrs. Tomlinson away Lance walked Morgan into the house, his arm fast around her shoulders.

  “Shriver has orders to bring back my night things, my love. I intend to be with you every moment, just as I mentioned. Well, maybe not when you visit your bathroom.”

  His expression told her he was not joking at all.

  Morgan looked at him in shock. Through the night or two before they married? She didn’t care about her own reputation, but as a high-ranking police officer he should be worried about his own. Although men could get away with most anything. But his parents! What would they think of her when they found out?

  “Lance! What about your reputation?”

  He hooted with laughter as he stopped walking and wrapped her in his arms.

  “No wonder I love you so much! Do you ever think about yourself? My reputation will be just fine since you’ll soon be making an honest man out of me.”

  She thought he was hinting hers would too. She watched in fascination as his magnificent chest heaved with his laughter. He was such a beautiful man. He continued talking while she stared at the muscle display so close to her nose.

  “Morgan, don’t look at me like that or I’ll throw you down right here in your own hallway.” His voice was delightfully husky. “I don’t intend to leave you for a moment. My men are now checking to find if there are any other of Tomlinson’s relatives alive and exactly where they are. I won’t take a chance on another crazy coming after you. Now or ever.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose and led her to the sofa. “Now, Miss McAfee, do you think you can give me your undivided attention for a while?”

  “Yes, Lance.” Her voice and eyes were suddenly serious. Too serious for the occasion. He looked toward the ceiling in supplication.

  “I’ve done something, I just know it. What have I done, Morgan?”

  She looked down at her hands twisting in her lap. “You haven’t done it yet, Lance, but I don’t want you to have any more mistresses, Lance. Not ever.”

  He hooted again and she glared.

  He kissed her chin, his laughter still rumbling in his chest. “No, I’m not making fun of you, sweetheart, I just can’t imagine such a thing. I intend to be far too busy making love with you, for one thing and for another, my father has always been faithful and my married brother also. I guess fidelity runs in the family, especially when you’re blessed with the woman you love as your wife.”

  He leered at her so that she had to laugh. “All right, Chief Inspector. But be careful! I’d hate to have to lay a wicked spell on you.”

  He took her seriously and started to look a little offended at her lack of confidence in him and then he grinned and grabbed her to him again.

  “Let me show you why you don’t have to worry, my little witch. Then we’ll make some definite plans.”

  * * * * *

  Far too soon a smiling Jackson came in to announce dinner. Lance had been very busy. Messages had gone to his parents, requesting his father’s help in obtaining a special license and asking them to please be present at his wedding on the day after the next at the McAfee town house. Another message had gone to Devon and Viviane, inviting them and, of course, Jamie. Morgan intended to buy her own wedding clothes the next day and order flowers to blanket the townhouse. Lance was finally persuaded to let Shriver drive her and guard her for a few hours.

  Morgan sat staring at him at dinner, reveling once more in his devastating appeal and finding it hard to believe she’d be married to him in two days’ time. This man of hers was as wonderful in his intellect and character as in his body. She blushed thinking she’d soon know just how beautiful that body was. She ate little and Lance ate a great deal. Doubtless that big frame of his needed a lot of food.

  Did he really intend to be with her every minute? All night? She doubted if she could keep her hands off him if he insisted on being in her room. He wouldn’t do that, would he?

  He would. After dinner and an hour of real or pretended reading he suggested they go upstairs to her room.

  “Don’t worry,” he said, holding her hand as they walked toward the stairs. Actually she’d done more worrying than reading in the last hour, although she had remembered to turn a page or two. “I expect to sleep on the floor unless you have a very large sofa in there.”

  “Lance, you can’t.” It wasn’t lack of trust in him worrying her. Even if he were at the end of the hall with his door locked she’d be tempted to somehow get to him.

  “I can.” He looked as superior as only a male determined to have his own way could look. He was taking shameless advantage of every inch of his commanding height. “You doubtless have at least two windows in your room, don’t you? Do know how agile some criminals are?”

  Then he simply asked Jackson where his clothes had been put, gathered up what he needed and followed her to her room. On the way he explained to Jackson what he was doing and why and Jackson nodded vigorous assent.

  She was being compromised by a pair of male coconspirators. She flounced in her room, trying to shut the door after her, but wasn’t surprised when she didn’t succeed. He merely stuck one large boot out to keep the door open until he walked inside. She opened it again and called for Jackson.

  “Bring the Chief Inspector several blankets to make the floor a little softer, Jackson. But not too many.”

  She slammed the door again and then threw a pillow at Lance.

  He caught it with ease. His knowledgeable grin made her want to throw something more solid at the big lummox. After looking longingly at a small lamp she decided she didn’t want Lance’s masculine beauty marred on their wedding day. She might accidently hit him with it.

  Snatching up her nightgown and robe, she disappeared into her dressing room. When ready she started to walk out and looked down at herself. My God, she might as well be naked. She’d had no idea her robe was so see-through. It was positively indecent.

  She walked rapidly to the bed, flung off her robe and jumped in, pulling the covers up around her neck. He’d evidently seen more than she wanted him to, as his eyes were undeniably smoking.

  She steadied herself. “Your turn, my Lord Lance.”

  He merely grinned at her formality and reappeared shortly in a nightshirt and nothing else. He strode to her bed, pulled her up halfway out of it and wrapping her in his arms, proceeded to kiss her until she almost begged him to crawl in with her.

  He gently placed her back against her pillows and stood over her.

  “If you get lonely let me know.”

  His low, seductive voice so mesmerized her she was incapable of answering him. She nodded and turned her face away, not wanting to watch him lower himself to the hard floor and attempt to be comfortable. His aura glowed around him like a halo, the beautiful blue shot through with a deep rose of p
assion. Even when she shut her eyes she could see it, glowing in mesmerizing glory.

  Radiant and beckoning.

  Damn the man.

  She couldn’t sleep. She heard Lance shifting and shuffling, doubtless trying to find a comfortable spot. Not that he’d find any on the hard floor.

  Whatever possessed her to be so mean-spirited? He deserved better than this from her. He’d saved her life twice, to say nothing of the fact he loved her.

  As she loved him.

  She called to him softly. “Lance.”

  “Yes, my love?” he answered instantly. Drat him, there was a definite sound of hope in his low, gravelly voice.

  “I give up. I can’t sleep. I doubt if I ever will again unless you’re beside me. Please come to bed with me.”

  There was a pause. Had she been wrong? Didn’t he want to join her? Did he think she was too bold?

  He bounded from the floor and leaned over her, kissing her wildly before sitting on the bed beside her and continuing his assault on her senses.

  “I thought I was going to die right there on the floor. Oh, Morgan.”

  His strong arms gathered her to him and then he stopped, naked desire in his eyes.

  “You know I won’t be able to hold back, don’t you?”

  “I don’t want you to,” she confessed, wriggling even closer to him.

  She knew making love with Lance would be more than she’d ever dreamed. He stroked his big hands over her soft, slithery gown and then gently lifted it from her. Throwing back the covers he looked her over for a long moment, admiring her every curve, his eyes glowing.

  “You are more beautiful than any flower and smell just like one. I adore you, Morgan.”

  She felt no false modesty at all. His devoted gaze stripped away any lingering doubts this was what she wanted to do.

  “This isn’t fair, Lance. You’re not bare yet. I want to see you too.”

  His laugh was a little ragged as he began kissing her all over her face. After stripping his nightshirt off he moved quickly to claim her lips again. Without pause he tumbled into the bed and wrapped her in his arms. Darn him, he’d moved so fast she hadn’t been able to see more than a glimpse of something huge. But she could feel! The hardness and pulsing power of his erection was a solid shaft against her legs. She guessed he’d been wise not to let her see this part of him just yet. No wonder he’d jumped into bed so quickly. If he was as big as she suspected she might jump out just as fast and she didn’t really want to do that. Lance would take care of her. She sighed and willed her rigid body to relax.

  His lips now moved to hers and his clever tongue urged her to part her lips and let him in. His mouth on hers was open and hot. She put all her love for him, all her devotion, into her kiss. He responded almost wildly at first, swooping his tongue into every crevice and groaning as he relished every recess.

  Then he seemed to gain control as he slowed as if in deliberation, suddenly acting as if he had all the time in the world. He caressed her breasts and then her hips and stomach, kissing her every place his hands glided. He moved his lips to her breasts, giving them equally committed attention. His kisses were hot and followed his lips as he suckled each breast and then withdrawing a little, nipped the tip of each breast with the bare edges of his teeth until they peaked as hard as jewels.

  He was concentrating on driving her insane. She knew it. He was coming very close to succeeding. She was aware he realized exactly what he was doing to her and his eyes flared as she thrust her hips against him.

  This was the strangest thing. She felt as hot as if she were running a temperature. Yet she didn’t intend to be passive, even if receiving his passion was almost magic. She didn’t know quite what to do, but imagined if she returned his caresses it would be a good start.

  She felt for his nipples. She could barely see them by the moonlight streaming in the windows, but they resembled copper buds and under her fingers soon felt as hard. Like little stone pebbles. But she meant to taunt him even more. She moved her hands lower. His chest was so solid and massive and she let her hands explore, lingering on his contoured planes and muscles. Her hands made a sensuous whisper as they glided over his body. She loved every inch of his powerfully masculine body and tried to show her adoration in her increasingly ardent caresses. It was not enough. She gave a strangled moan and pressed her soft breasts against his hard strength and wiggled a little.

  “Leave off, love, if you expect me to last the course.”

  The words made no sense to her. His voice was so low she could barely recognize it as that of her lover. Her lover Lance. The very words in her mind thrilled her as she moved her lips to his nipples, tasting and teasing him as he’d tasted her.

  “Morgan, my dear love. Take care. I want to give you pleasure, not take you so rapidly you’d miss much of the delight.”

  He pulled away from her and lay back on the bed, one arm over his eyes and his breath rasping in his throat.

  She thought what they were doing was perfectly lovely and she didn’t want to stop. She could go on kissing and caressing his body forever. Evidently he had other ideas, as when she reached for him again he chuckled and grabbed her hands.

  “You’re a treasure, Morgan. My God, how do I slow you down?”

  He began his caresses anew as he held her hands in one of his as he suckled her breasts again, slowly at first, while his other clever hand found her body’s most sensitive points. His lips became hungry and evocative as he raised emotions in her body she’d never imagined. She threw back her head, moaning in delight and he released her hands with a knowing smile.

  Using both of his own to once more celebrate the contours of her body, he glided over her hips until his fingers found the thatch of curls between her legs. She reached down in automatic reaction to stop him, but he refused to allow it, caressing her mound even as he slipped a finger inside her. Now he used his fingers to part her folds, almost immediately finding the nubbin she hadn’t even known she possessed. As he caressed the damp bud, she swiveled her hips and tried to push even closer to him. Still he held her off and kept up his escalating torment, enticing her passion until her whole body began to vibrate.

  He rapidly reared over her, parting her legs with his knee and placed the tip of his member against her entrance. Then he reached down and pulled her thighs wider.

  “Lance,” she whispered. “What are you doing?”

  “Think, darling,” he gasped, entering her slowly and then pausing. She felt her body expand to take him in and raised her hips involuntarily to give him access. He threw back his head and stopped still for an instant as if he were again trying to slow himself. Then he thrust deeper with one powerful stroke. She cried out and he froze, holding his body still while he comforted her with small kisses. The pain passed quickly and she pulled at him to continue. He smiled down at her and kissed her once more before he started his movements again, his member thrusting deep and deeper in her body.

  He filled her completely, a sensation she found amazing, beautiful and satisfying beyond any expectation. She clutched him with her arms as tightly as she could, feeling her inner folds grasp him tightly. His strokes became vigorous as he began to enter, withdraw and then enter again. She had a fleeting memory of a stallion mating and wondering how the mare felt. Surely not this overpowering desire to have him thrust ever deeper and stronger and never stop. Soon she couldn’t think of anything at all. Nothing at all but Lance and the burning pleasure he was giving her.

  Lance’s virile stroking submerged any sensation except the knowledge he was in her. Nothing existed except the wish to have him help her reach some wonderful summit before she exploded. His breathing was shallow and his jaw clenched as if he were trying to hold off a powerful force.

  She didn’t know what she craved but she longed for that mysterious something with every hot fiber in her straining body. She began to match his thrusts with her own, praying he’d gift her with whatever she was seeking.

  She kne
w he held the answer, if he would just share it with her. She found herself surging into a realm of passion she had never imagined, on the edge of a wonderful sensation she couldn’t comprehend. Then in one vigorous stroke he drove himself deep into her as she gasped and screamed.

  “Let go, darling.” She could barely recognize his hoarse words. “Fall with me. I’ll hold you safely.”

  She felt her inner muscles tighten around him as he shouted her name. He joined her as they fell together into the heavenly oblivion that only true lovers know.

  * * * * *

  For a long time afterward he held her, their bodies still joined. When he finally began to pull away from her she clutched him again, reluctant to let him go. His big body was heavy on hers but she didn’t want him to move. She was aware the rapid thudding of his heart was slowing as he gently pulled himself from her body and wrapped her in his arms.

  “I feel so ignorant,” she chided herself. “I think I felt this would never happen to me and so refused to think about how wonderful it might be. I thought fireworks were going off right in the bedroom.”

  Lance chuckled. “An apt description, my love.” Lance brushed the hair off her brow and kissed her forehead. “I only hope I didn’t go too fast for you. You made it hard to slow down, although I did try. I so wanted your first experience to be good for you.”

  She turned her face and kissed him. Sweetly and without the hot passion that had so inflamed them both such a short time ago.

  “It was very good, my lord Lance. But I think you know that quite well and just want to be complimented on your expert lovemaking.”

  She could feel him smiling against her face. “Thank you, Lady Laniston. I rather thought you liked it.” His voice lost its faint touch of smugness and lowered to an intense sincerity. “For me, my love, it was quite simply heaven.” His voice deepened even more. “A rare heaven most mortals never reach.”

  Thrilled to tears by his emotional words, she kissed him with all her heart. Suddenly all of his words got through to her and she started with surprise. She would be Lady Laniston! What an amazing thought.