A Dark Guardian

by Donna Grant

  * * * *

  Mina waited until the last villager was settled before she made her way toward the stairs. She smiled at Cole and Gabriel and wondered where Hugh had disappeared. Her feet were quick as she walked to her chamber. Maybe Hugh was there waiting for her.

  But when she opened the door all she found was a dark chamber. She lit the candles and then sat to unbraid her hair. It was still damp from her bath and hasty dressing. She looked to the bed but found she wasn’t sleepy.

  She briefly thought about trying to find Hugh but realized that was foolish.

  Instead, she sat in her chair and stared into the empty hearth.

  The candles were almost gone when a knock sounded on her door. She jerked in surprise and was about to rise when the door opened and in walked Hugh.

  “I saw the light under your door and just wanted to check that you were all right,”

  he said.

  She nodded. “I’m fine, thank you.”

  “And your arm?”

  “Just about healed. Gabriel’s medicines are wonderful.”

  He glanced at the bed. “Why aren’t you asleep?”

  She shrugged and rose from her chair. “I couldn’t sleep. Why aren’t you abed?”

  “Same

  reason.”

  She stood in the center of her chamber and waited. Silence reigned as they stared at each other. She was about to give up when he dropped his chin to his chest.

  “I knew I shouldn’t have come,” he said. Then he raised his head and stepped inside. The door shut behind him, but he didn’t move from it.

  She stayed where she was though she longed to run to him. “Why did you?”

  “I had to see you.”

  A glimmer of hope burst from those five words. “And now that you are here? Do you wish to leave?”

  He pushed away from the door and walked to her. “I don’t think I could leave if you asked me to.”

  “I’m not asking you to.”

  “The more we are together the harder it will be when I leave.”

  She gave him a small smile. “Don’t think about that now. Think about us. Right here, right now. We’ll deal with the tomorrows when they happen.”

  He reached up and smoothed her hair out of her face. “So wise for one so young.”

  She stepped into his arms and lifted her face for the kiss she knew would come.

  He didn’t disappoint her. His mouth moved slowly, seductively over hers leaving her flushed and wanting more.

  A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  137

  “You are teasing me.”

  “Nay,” he said and kissed her eyelids. “I’m going to show you how you should have been made love to.”

  Her heart fell to her feet when he bent down and picked her up to carry her to the bed. He stood her beside it and turned her around to unlace her gown. With each string he unlaced he placed a kiss where it had been.

  Chills raced down her spine at his feather light kisses. When he pushed her gown over her shoulder he twirled his tongue on her shoulders and neck. Then, he turned her to face him and knelt to pull the gown from her arms.

  She had dressed so hurriedly that she hadn’t bothered with any underclothes and as the gown came off her shoulders it bared her chest to him.

  His eyes heated at the sight of her breasts. Her loins clenched and her heart raced at the look on his face. He wanted her, and if that was all she remembered of their time together, it was enough.

  Slowly, he lowered her gown over her hips until it pooled at her feet. She was about to take her shoes off, but he stopped her and did it himself.

  When she was naked he kissed her ankles and ran his hands up her legs and over her hips to circle her waist. His mouth kissed and teased her stomach and hips. Her hands plunged into his hair and held onto him.

  In the next heartbeat, he had picked her up and laid her on the bed. She watched as he pulled off his green tunic, his muscles flexing with each movement. He sat on the bed and took off his boots, then stood and faced her. His fingers slowly unlaced his trousers.

  She bit her lip as inch by inch his skin was exposed to her. When his manhood popped out and stood straight and tall all she could think about was holding his velvety, hot rod in her hands. When he had shed his trousers and laid beside her, her hands instantly went to his body.

  “You are so hard and solid,” she said as her hands roamed down his bulging arm to his hip.

  He nuzzled her neck. “And you are all softness and curves.”

  When she reached between their bodies for him, he stopped her and pulled her arms over her head.

  “Tonight, my lady, I am going to make love to you.”

  “You’ve already made love to me. Twice.”

  He shook his head. “That wasn’t making love. At least not how it is supposed to be.”

  She gave up trying to argue when his lips claimed hers in a kiss that made her toes curl. He stroked her tongue and plundered her mouth fiercely, but lovingly. His hand moved over her arms, down her side to her hip.

  But he didn’t release her arms.

  He held them firmly as his kiss moved from her mouth to her neck and down to her breasts. He took a nipple into his mouth and swirled his tongue around it bringing to a hard bud begging for more.

  Mina cried out and moved her hips against him. Her breasts swelled until they A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  138

  ached for his touch. He moved his other hand up to cup her breast and fondle her nipple while his tongue continued to tease the other one.

  The pleasure was so intense she didn’t know how she was going to survive it.

  She moved her hips against his abdomen and felt a spurt of desire at the contact.

  “I have to touch you,” she said.

  He let go of her hands immediately and they moved to grip his wide shoulders.

  His hard, hot body pressed against hers and she felt every move he made. He slid his hands across her skin awakening her body with his touch.

  She closed her eyes and lost herself in the power of his touch. While in his arms she felt beautiful, as though nothing could stand in her way. In his arms, she had the missing part of her world.

  He rolled over and she found herself straddling his hips. She smiled down at him and ran her hands up his abdomen so her fingers could curl in the black hair that littered his chest. His hands reached up to cup her breasts and she let her head fall back.

  Her hips began to move and his hands attempted to stop them. She stopped and looked down at him.

  “I want you too desperately, Mina,” he whispered.

  Her heart ached for him. How lonely he must be, maybe as lonely as she was.

  She leaned down until her nipples brushed his chest. He gasped and stiffened. She bit her lip to keep from smiling as she realized the control she had where she sat.

  She moved from side to side rubbing her breasts against him. He tried to stop her, but she shoved his hands aside and wielded what little power she had. He didn’t allow her much time before he rolled over and pinned her with his body. His weight on her was exquisite, and she relished the feel of him.

  His manhood pressed into her stomach and she knew by his darkened brown eyes that he wanted her. Her stomach felt as though it had butterflies flying around inside.

  She opened her legs for him and he easily moved until the tip of him rested against her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him against her. Slowly he filled her completely and she gasped at his fullness.

  Hugh thought he would spill his seed right then. He had wanted to make slow, sweet love to Mina, but she brought out the passion in him like no other woman ever had.

  He lost control so easily while in her arms.

  He looked into her blue-green eyes filled with desire and felt himself swell. He pulled out of her until on the tip of his rod remained, then he sank into her and heard her sigh with pleasure. He knew if he continued o
n this course he would climax in a matter of moments, and he wanted this time to last longer for her.

  With a groan he withdrew and turned her onto her stomach. He placed kisses from her shoulders to her delectable behind. He urged her onto her hands and knees and reached around to fondle her sex. Moisture coated his fingers as he sunk them into her heat and smeared her juices around her sex.

  She moaned and moved her hips back against him, seeking more. He gripped his rod and moved it to her sex. He pushed into her as he moved his fingers over her hips and behind. She tried to take more of him in, but he held her in place. Inch by inch he filled her as his finger caressed her plump cheeks and the hidden valley between them.

  A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  139

  He timed it so when he filled her fully, his finger touched her tight bloom.

  He didn’t push his finger into her, only wiggled it as he began to thrust. She cried out his name as he plunged in and out of her until she clenched around him. He followed close behind her and roared his release, finding a peace he had never imagined.

  Her arms wrapped around him as he fell against her, his heart hammering rapidly while the euphoria of their lovemaking enveloped him.

  She nuzzled his neck and kissed his face while her hands roamed over his back.

  His last thought was that he wanted to make love to her when he woke.

  A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  140

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Hugh woke and reached for Mina, but all he found was an empty bed. He opened his eyes and looked around the chamber to find it vacant as well. He ground his teeth and made a mental not to talk to her about leaving him in the mornings.

  He wasn’t happy that he had slept soundly either. He looked out her window and saw the sun already up. A knock sounded on the door, and it only took a heartbeat to realize that Mina wouldn’t knock on her own door. He quickly rolled off the bed to land on the far side.

  “Mina,” Theresa called.

  From under the bed, he could see Theresa’s feet walk into the chamber. As quietly as he could, he moved under the bed. Just in time too, as Theresa walked to the bed. He heard what sounded like she moved her hands over the sheets.

  “What are you doing?” Mina asked as she walked into her chamber.

  “Who slept in your bed?”

  “I did,” she answered.

  Hugh held his breath.

  “I don’t believe you,” Theresa said.

  “Get out of my chamber.”

  He longed to see Mina’s face. He could well imagine her eyes were shooting fire and her face was flushed with anger. She had changed quite a bit since his arrival.

  His thoughts came to a stop when he heard the door slam. He peered from under the bed and found he was once again alone. With a sigh, he rolled from under the bed and hurriedly slipped into his clothes he had taken with him under the bed.

  He didn’t know what prompted him to take them, but he was pleased he had listened to his instincts. They were what kept him alive.

  When he was dressed, he walked to the door but stopped short of opening it. He could only hope that there was no one in the hallway. He took a deep breath and opened the door a crack. After a careful look, he thankfully found the hallway empty.

  As quickly as he could, he slipped out of Mina’s chamber and hurried to his own to change clothes. When he opened his chamber door he found Gabriel and Cole waiting for him.

  “Where have you been?” Gabriel asked crossly.

  Cole laughed. “If I had to hazard a guess, I would say with a woman.”

  Hugh stood there while both men looked him over. He turned and went to the chest that held his clothes without bothering to answer Gabriel. He pulled out a black tunic and a pair of fawn colored trousers.

  “Well?” Gabriel prompted. “Is Cole right? Have you been with a woman?”

  Hugh didn’t want to answer them, but he knew better than anyone that they A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  141

  wouldn’t let up unless he gave them what they wanted. “Aye,” he whispered.

  Cole clapped him on the back. “About time.”

  Hugh rolled his eyes as he changed clothes and ran his fingers through his unruly hair. He splashed water on his face and had a thought that he might visit the bathing chamber later that day.

  “By the heavens, he’s smiling,” Gabriel said.

  Hugh looked in the mirror and found himself doing just that. He wiped the smile from his face. “Come, men. We need to see if we can track the creature.”

  When they walked into the great hall it was overcrowded with the villagers. The atmosphere was one of a party. Something was definitely wrong.

  His eyes roamed the hall until he spotted Mina. She sat surrounded by villagers laughing and smiling. He watched her for a moment, noting how well she belonged here despite what she thought.

  He moved his eyes down the table and found Bernard staring fixatedly at Mina.

  There was something odd in his gaze that made Hugh take notice. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he found himself wanting to rip Bernard’s head off.

  He is her brother.

  But that didn’t stop the anger rolling within him. His gaze traveled back to Mina, and he found her gaze on him. His anger dissipated in an instant with the smile that she gave him. He nodded and returned her smile before turning to his men.

  “What is it?” Gabriel asked.

  Hugh shook his head. “I don’t know. Go see what you can find. Cole,” he called.

  “I’m off to find the shrew,” he said of Theresa.

  Hugh turned back around and made his way toward Mina only to be stopped by Theresa.

  “Come sit,” she beckoned. “I have saved a place just for you.”

  Not to take her invitation would be an insult and one he couldn’t afford. He sat beside her and glanced at Mina to see a frown marring her beautiful face. He would make it up to her later, he told himself.

  Instead of a cheerful morning conversation with Mina, he had to listen to Theresa complain about everything from the food to the villagers crowding the castle. He was about to put a gag in her mouth when Bernard spoke.

  “Enough,” the baron said. “Hugh’s eyes are glazed over from your ranting.”

  Out of the corner of Hugh’s eyes, he saw Theresa’s face red with anger. “You are insulting me now?” she hissed furiously.

  Bernard shook his head. “I’m taking pity on our guest.”

  “Bah,” Theresa said and rose to her feet. “You are treading on dangerous ground, brother. I would remember that the next time you think to go against me,” she said before she stormed out of the hall.

  Hugh looked after her and just spotted the shadow that was Cole trail after her.

  When he turned back, he found Bernard staring at Mina again.

  “Something wrong?” Hugh asked as nonchalantly as he could.

  Bernard sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Mina has changed.”

  A DARK GUARDIAN

  Donna Grant

  142

  “And

  that’s

  bad?”

  “Not at all. I just worry about her. Theresa sees what everyone does. You should have seen the smile on Mina’s face when she came into the hall this morning. She lit up the entire hall.”

  Hugh smiled inwardly. He had done that to her. “And you think Theresa will react to it.”

  “I don’t think,” Bernard said as he looked at him. “I know it as surely as I breathe. We will have to watch Mina.”

  “I had planned for us to try and find the creature today.”

  “During the daylight? Do you think we can?” Bernard asked, hope shining in his blue eyes.

  “’Tis possible. Gabriel saw the creature fly to the northwest.”

  “The forest,” Bernard said.

  “Exactly.”

  The baron stood. “The
n Mina must come with us. I dare not leave her here alone with Theresa.”

  Hugh wasn’t about to tell Bernard nay. In fact, he wanted Mina with him just so he could have her by his side. “As you wish, my lord.”

  He watched as Bernard walked to Mina and told her the news. Her gaze jerked to him, and they shared a secret smile before she went up to her chamber to ready herself.

  “The villagers think the creature is gone,” Gabriel said as he sat beside him.

  Hugh couldn’t believe his ears. “Are you sure?”