by Lydia Dare
"Good morning, Prisca," Lily chimed. "Come and join us," she said as she motioned to the vacant chair.
"Do ye want some porridge?" Elspeth chirped.
Prisca glanced into Elspeth's bowl, and her stomach protested a bit. "No, thank you," she sighed as she sat down heavily.
"It's really no trouble," Elspeth said as she spun her finger quickly in the air. The spoon in the porridge pot began to stir. Prisca wondered if she would ever get used to that.
"I believe I'll wait for Will to wake up and take my breakfast with him."
"Left him snug in the bed, did ye?" Miss Macleod asked as she finished the last bite of her breakfast.
Prisca instantly bristled. Before she even realized what she was doing, she replied, "My bed is none of your concern." She caught the waspishness of her own voice and nearly apologized. But before she could get it out, Caitrin was patting her arm.
"It's all right," she said, genuine concern on her face. "It will all turn out the proper way."
"I don't know what you mean." Cryptic messages were very confusing. Not to mention bad-mannered.
"Yer worries. They will resolve," the blond witch continued.
"Which ones?" Prisca nearly wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the conversation.
"The ones that are important," Miss Macleod said as she shrugged. "I'm afraid I must go."
Elspeth shot the woman a look.
"I'm goin'," Caitrin muttered, before she breezed out the door.
"I'm sorry about that," Elspeth said quietly.
"About what?"
"She canna divulge secrets. And she kens she canna do it. Sometimes she leaves a hint too many." Elspeth shook her head.
"What good is the ability if she can't use it?" Prisca was thoroughly confused.
"She can use it. But she canna use it ta change the events in the future. If she comes close ta doin' that, she has ta leave the situation completely." Elspeth shrugged. "It's a rule. One she didn't follow particularly well with Benjamin and me. She's trying ta be better."
Prisca nodded as though she understood. But she didn't. She almost felt a bit sorry for the witch who had a power she couldn't use. "How many witches do you know? And do they each have special powers?"
"Aye, there are five of us in all. There's Caitrin and me. Ye ken what we can do. Then there's Sorcha who can make the plants do her bidding. And Blaire and Rhiannon. Blaire fights."
"Like a pugilist?"
Elspeth laughed. "She
can
fight like a pugilist. But she can also throw fire and has other talents. And Rhiannon controls the weather. Wind. Rain. The sun in the sky."
Prisca tried to absorb it all. Then she finally said quietly, "I think I'm happy to know you, Elspeth."
The woman grinned widely.
Lily asked, "What brings you to the kitchens, Prisca? Something weighing on your mind?"
"A bit," Prisca confessed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. Then she opened her eyes and drew in a deep breath, before looking over her shoulder to be sure no one was listening. "It's about Will."
Both women watched her intently, but neither spoke.
"He's acting… odd."
"In what way?"
"I think he's courting me."
"Courting his wife? What a novel idea," Lily laughed. "What is he doing, exactly?"
"He's leaving little notes lying around, just so I'll find them. And bringing me flowers. He seems to be trying to please me. With very little thought of himself."
"And this is a bad thing?" Elspeth snickered.
"No. Not bad," Prisca admitted. "It's just odd, and it's not like Will at all." Then she blurted out her biggest fear. "I don't think he wants me."
Lily put her teacup back on its saucer and regarded her solemnly. "Everything you've mentioned makes it sound to me like just the opposite."
"I know!" Prisca cried, then buried her face in her hands. She looked up at them from between her spread fingers. Perhaps if they didn't see her face, she could ask them what she needed to know. "He came to me several times yesterday. T-to give me his attention." She felt the heat creep up her neck and hated the little stutter.
"Ye mean in the bedroom?" Elspeth asked with very little concern for propriety. Lily blushed almost as much as Prisca.
Prisca nodded quickly. "Bedroom. Garden. On the settee." She drew herself back to the present when she recognized the wistful tone of her own voice.
"I hope you mean at the dower house," Lily said, a smile suddenly tipping the corners of her mouth.
"Of course!" Prisca cried. Then she couldn't keep from snickering. "But here's the problem. It's all for
me
."
"I doona ken what ye mean," Elspeth said, her eyebrows scrunching together.
"Oh, never mind," Prisca said, sure her face was aflame.
Lily covered Prisca's hand with her own. "Don't worry. As long as he
is
coming to you, you have nothing to be concerned about."
"I would think so, too," Prisca admitted. "But when he comes to be with me, I get all the pleasure and he gets none." There. She'd said it. She blurted the last. "Ever!
We
haven't
even
consummated
the
marriage yet!"
"Oh." Prisca and Elspeth both understood at the same time. Lily spoke. "You mean you've never?" The women shot astonished looks at one another. "That's a surprise."
"Imagine if you were me," Prisca grumbled. "On the one hand, I'm extremely pleased to be so well taken care of. But I would like to reciprocate, just a bit. Otherwise, I just don't feel right about it."
"Seduce him." Elspeth shrugged, as though it was a simple matter.
"What?" Prisca gasped. "I don't know how to seduce him," she groaned.
"All I have to do is look at Simon…" Lily began, then blushed prettily.
"I seduced Ben. I had ta take all my clothes off under the light of the full moon ta get his attention, but I did. It's how I convinced him ta claim me. We hold more power than we realize at times."
"Claim? What does that mean?"
"Will is goin' ta teach ye. Doona worry."
"And as the moon approaches, it will become more and more difficult for him to resist," Lily piped in.
"Truly?"
"Aye, truly," Elspeth concurred.
"Oh, why me?" Prisca groaned. "My
husband
is courting me, and now I have to
seduce
him to get him to make love to me."
Lily and Elspeth both giggled at the same time.
"I could think of worse situations to be in," Lily said, a smile upon her face.
Thirty-Four
Will didn't particularly care for the smug expression on Simon's face as he regarded him from behind his new mahogany desk. The duke leaned back in his chair and folded his hands as his grey eyes swept across Will, who was leaning against the study doorjamb.
"Just what is the meaning of that look?" he asked his brother.
Simon smirked, which was rare. "I hear you've been a busy man, William."
A busy man? "I do hate it when you're cryptic, Simon."
"Tell me, are you experiencing problems
rising to
the occasion
, where your bride is concerned?"
Will blinked at his older brother. Certainly he didn't mean that the way it sounded. "Rising to the occasion?" he echoed.
"You've always been a lust-driven man, Will. So it's the only answer that popped to my mind. You've made an excellent show of caring for your wife's needs without indulging a bit for yourself, it sounds like."
How could Simon possibly know that?
Apparently the mortified look on his face amused Simon even more, because the duke started to chuckle. "Women do talk. I can't help the fact that I have excellent hearing."
Will growled.
; "Save all that for tomorrow night, little brother," Simon advised. "But honestly, are you all right? Everything in working order? Or did Brimsworth do permanent damage somehow?"
Not wanting anyone else to overhear the conversation, other than Ben and Oliver who were probably enjoying themselves immensely at his expense, Will stalked into the room and slammed the door shut. Simon's eyes didn't even grow round with surprise. He simply shook his head. "Do be careful with that door, old man. It's not accustomed to such abuse."
Will snorted. He'd heard Simon slam it on more than one occasion. "So that we're clear, everything
works jus
t fine." He'd been submerging himself in icy bathwater for days now to keep his lusty side at bay. The moon, almost completely full, was making that rather difficult.
"Well, I am glad to hear it. I truly was concerned about you."
"No need," Will grumbled, sliding into one of the overstuffed chairs in front of Simon's desk.
"Do you mind me asking why you haven't bedded your wife yet, William?"
Of course, he minded. What went on in his bedroom was none of Simon's damn business. Not that he could say that to his brother. Since the duke was pack leader, it was always best to show him respect, no matter how grudgingly. "You're the one who said I should court her."
Simon's dark eyebrows shot up in surprise. "That's what you're doing?"
Will shrugged. He'd never actually courted a woman before, not in the traditional sense. He was probably going about it badly, but he wanted Prisca to know how much he loved her, cherished her. Showing her was better than telling her. "That, and I'd really rather not scare her off at the moment," he admitted.
?"
"You know what we're like days before the moonful. She'll be better able to handle me after I've claimed her. Until then, I don't want to take any chances."
"So you've decided to claim her after all?" Simon sounded pleased.
Will nodded. Prisca loved him, and she accepted the truth about who he was, amazing as that sounded. In his heart, he'd vowed never to let anything stand in his way if she returned his affections.
"Good. You had me worried," his brother confessed. "Now that Brimsworth is gone, you've nothing to worry about."
Will leaned forward in his seat. "Thank you for that, Simon. For sending him away."
"Thank Major Forster when he returns. When Brimsworth came to ask about a mentor, he stepped up and offered to deliver him to Canis House."
"You handled that situation beautifully, as you do everything else."
"Stop trying to change the subject." His brother smiled. "Have you told her? Does she know what to expect?"
Will winced. "Not the particulars, no." He wasn't certain how Prisca would take to the idea of him leaving a permanent mark on her neck. It was a pretty neck.
"Well, you're running out of time to remedy that, William. Do so before tomorrow night."
"Is that an order?"
"Does it need to be?"
Will shook his head. He knew Simon was right. He just didn't relish the conversation he had to have with his wife.
***
Prisca found her husband reading
The Times
in the dower house sitting room. At least she thought he was reading. Upon further inspection, she noticed his eyes didn't move at all; he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
She could stand there and watch him all day. The way his brow creased and his lips twisted up in contemplation. He was mesmerizing.
A moment later, he dropped the paper to his lap and looked at her. The intensity of his gaze startled her, and she gasped. "Will."
"Priss, come here." He flipped the paper onto the rug and gestured to his chair.
She crossed the floor to stand before him, and in one fluid movement, he tugged her onto his lap.
"Will," she giggled as he kissed her neck and his hand slid up her side.
He groaned, and Prisca couldn't help but grin in response.
Seduce him. That's what Elspeth had suggested
. It couldn't be that difficult. She ran her hands up the fine lawn of his shirt until she reached his collar. Then she stroked her fingers into his hair and reveled in her own power as he shivered beneath her.
"You'll be the death of me," he whispered.
Prisca shifted on his lap until they were nose to nose and she could look deep into Will's blue eyes. "I love you."
The corners of his mouth turned up to a grin. "I love you, too."
It was still marvelous to hear the words trail from his lips. She'd never even dared to hope that she might hear them from him, and she didn't think she'd ever get enough of them. "Make love to me."
Every muscle in his body froze, and Prisca couldn't imagine what she'd said that was wrong.
"I do wish you wouldn't share what goes on between us with Lily and Elspeth."
Prisca felt her cheeks begin to burn. Surely her sisters-in-law hadn't divulged her secrets.
"Simon and Ben have hearing that is equal to mine, love," he said as though reading her mind.
Thoroughly mortified that his brothers had overheard her conversation, Prisca buried her head against his shoulder and cringed. She should have realized. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "I was just looking for advice."
Will nudged her until she looked at him. "What sort of advice?"
"Well, I don't know what I've done wrong." Her voice was barely a whisper, and she prayed that he'd leave it at that. She didn't want to voice her thoughts on the subject while staring into his eyes.
"What you've done wrong?" His brow furrowed.
"Never mind," she said, trying to wriggle off his lap.
But Will tightened his hold on her, making escape impossible. "What do you think you've done wrong?" he asked again, his voice filled with confusion.
Prisca sighed and rested her head against his chest. It was easier than looking at him. She swallowed hard as she mustered her courage. "I don't know how to satisfy you, and now you don't even attempt to find your pleasure with me… and I'd hoped Lily and Elspeth—"
The low rumble of a chuckle in his chest stopped her words, and she looked up into his handsome face. Amusement laced his features, making his light-blue eyes twinkle.
The lout was laughing at her!
Prisca smacked his chest with her open palm. "It's hardly a laughing matter."
Will's hold softened, and his fingers began to stroke her, tracing circles across her back. "Priss, I've left you notes telling you how much I love you. I have given you pleasure at every opportunity—"
"But you don't take any in return, Will. I know I'm not terribly experienced in these matters, but—"
He cupped her bottom, sending a jolt of need straight through her. "How many times do I have to tell you that you are the only woman I want? You satisfy me like no other."
She blinked at him. "Then why…?"
His lips brushed her brow, and his hot breath warmed her skin. "Sweetheart, I'm trying to go about this the right way. You know the full moon is tomorrow."
She nodded.
"And I told you I get lustier as it approaches."
"I haven't seen any evidence of that," she grumbled.
He laughed again. "My skin is nearly shriveled from all the icy baths I've suffered through these last few days. Just looking into your pretty eyes makes me want to ravish you."
"You're not making any sense, Will."
The mirth on his face faded away, replaced by a slight frown and tight lips. "I don't want to hurt you, Prissy. I don't want to lose control."
That was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. "You would never hurt me."
"Not intentionally, but it could happen. After I claim you, it won't be a concern anymore."
"What does that mean?"
He gently rubbed a hand over her arm until she rested her head against his chest. "On the night of a full moon, a Lycan claims his mate. It binds us to each other in a way a marriage ceremony never could. You'l
l be a part of me, and I will be a part of you."
The idea sent chills racing down her spine. What would it feel like to be even more connected to Will? She smiled against his shirt, imagining it. "That sounds lovely."
"The beast within us takes over on such nights, Prissy. I don't want to scare you. I may not seem like myself."