Storm Trilogy

by Ria Cantrell

  “Then I would be careful not to provoke a spell of emasculation,” Rhianna warned but that made Erik laugh. He pulled her into his arms to kiss her.

  “You would never. You would only suffer for it.” Rhianna wrinkled her nose and pushed him off.

  “You stink and need a bath.”

  He laughed again and said, “Well be quick with my Guard so I can end this state of filth.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Rhianna let herself into Drew’s quarters. Bronwyn sat by his side and she was crying. She wept, “He is sleeping, but look at those marks on him.”

  “I know. I gave him a stiff drink and added a little bit of a sleeping draught to help ease his pain. The marks will mostly fade and the pain will be dulled considerably after tonight. When he wakes, rub the salve into the lesions. It will help lessen any scarring and dull whatever pain is left.”

  Bronwyn hung her head and murmured, “How can I marry him after this?”

  “I admit it is not the best way to start a marriage, but I know Drew. He has never been in love before. And he is now.”

  “Did he tell ye’ that?”

  Nodding, Rhianna said, “Yes, he did admit it to me. He loves you. He told the king he wanted to marry you. We will ride for my home on the morrow, when he is better and well enough to sit in a saddle. If you wish to send word to your family so they can attend your wedding, we would welcome them.”

  Wiping her eyes, Bronwyn said sadly, “Yer’ husband would ne’er want a home filled with Scots. Nay, I fear I have dishonored my clan. Perhaps once it is done, things would be different, but now, I ken they willna’ be pleased with me. I have failed them by not marrying yer’ husband. They will take this second plan for marriage as an insult.”

  “Alright, no need to decide now. Here, do as I said to help Drew. He will be better by morning, I assure you.”

  Bronwyn was astounded at the kindness shown to her by someone who should be her enemy. After further instructions on what to do when Drew awoke, Rhianna took her leave. Bronwyn prepared herself to keep vigil over Drew while he slept. Her thoughts raced with memories long tamped down and visions of the future. Despite the king’s decree, Bronwyn was not certain she could marry Drew. As memories collided with these thoughts, she finally gave merit to the dreams of her past. As much as she had tried to deny her destiny, she could no longer run away from it. It was here now, calling on her door. Erik was never the one meant for her. She remembered those dreams of so long ago. It had been Drew. It was always Drew. Bronwyn wondered how they would rise above the troublesome start to their entwined lives. Would they ever be able to or would they be destined to a life of turmoil and strife? How could people destined to be enemies overcome that with love? As the thoughts and doubts swirled in Bronwyn’s mind, she drifted off into a fitful sleep.

  ~ “You have the answer, girl. You have had it all along.” Bronwyn faced the Old One.

  “Morag, but if he is the one…’

  “Not if, Girl. He IS the one.”

  “How shall we live as one when we are born to be enemies?”

  “Ye’ know the answer. Ye canna’ change fate, no matter how ye’ try.”

  “But he…”

  “Trust in the power of love. Trust in his love. He would not give that lightly. Ye’ were made for him. He has only been waiting for ye’. And now ye’ are here.” Bronwyn hovered over the sleeping body of Drew, floating in the mists of dreams and she said, “Look what I have done to him. He suffers because of me.”

  “T’was his choice to. Ye’ would have done all to prevent it.”

  “But how can we overcome this? How can love overcome this?”

  “That is yer’ answer. Love does. It just does…” ~

  Chapter Fifteen

  Bronwyn woke with a start and realized it was because Drew had spoken her name in his sleep. It was not said in anger or revulsion. It was called out in need. She leaned close to him and whispered, “I am here. I havena’ left ye’.”

  At hearing the beautiful sound of her lilting voice, Drew’s eyes fluttered open. She was there, like a dream. He had not dreamed her…or maybe he did. It seemed she was there in his dreams always. It seemed she had been in his dreams from time to time. He vaguely remembered a time, when he was hurt in battle and bleeding, and between bouts of consciousness, like an angel, she was there. But that would be impossible. He had not even met her until only a few weeks ago. It must be the effects of the sleeping draught that made him think such a thing.

  Drew tried to turn and sit up, but that action forced him to wince. He was reminded of his present injury. He settled back down and asked, “Have you been with me all this time?”

  “Aye.”

  “Have I been sleeping a long time?”

  “Aye. For many hours. It is well into the night. Only a few more hours till morning, I suppose, now.”

  Drew groaned, “Oh Rhianna and her concoctions. I don’t think I should have been out all this time.”

  “She seems to know what is best to do. Should I try to find ye’ something to eat?”

  “No. Not very hungry, truth be told.”

  Drew knew he should try to talk to Bronwyn about what she had blurted out to the king. More importantly, he should tell her he loved her, too, but he just did not know how. He looked at her and he asked, “Are you alright?”

  She gave a snort like laugh. “How can ye’ ask me that? I am not the one who suffered the lash.”

  “Nay, not physically, but I fear it hurt you in a way that won’t heal with one of Rhianna’s potions.”

  “I am fine,” she lied. In truth, she wanted to vomit every time she looked at the angry welts on Drew’s beautiful back.

  “Well then, could you come closer so I can kiss you? It is hard for me to rise up or I would have done it already.”

  Bronwyn stared at Drew’s back, almost not believing what she had heard him ask of her. How could he want to kiss her after what she had done to him?

  Because he loves ye’, girl, she heard Morag say in her mind.

  He loves me…it was almost too unbelievable to imagine. She willed herself to move closer to him and she leaned down to him. Pushing up on his arm, he raised himself enough to touch his lips to hers. He kissed her softly and said, “I am glad you are here.”

  Bronwyn did not know how to respond. Despite their night of passion, she felt suddenly very awkward. She stammered, “Rhi- Rhianna left me some salve to put on yer’ wounds. Shall I do that fer’ ye’ now?”

  “Yes, please. That would be wonderful.”

  “I…I will be careful.”

  “I am not worried,” Drew said, with equal awkwardness. He thought that perhaps the contact of touch would break through the uncomfortable shyness that seemed to stretch between them. It was indeed odd. In the past few weeks, Drew felt like he could talk to Bronwyn about anything. They had shared some very intimate things on the past night, but here they were, with the profession of love hanging before them and they were once again strangers to one another. Bronwyn carefully applied the ointment to the worst of the stripes on Drew’s back, gently rubbing it into his skin until it was invisible. Drew sighed and said, “Mm, that feels better. Actually, it feels quite good.”

  But then as Drew was relaxing into the healing massage, he felt a cold drop of water splash against his back and he heard a stifled sob escape the girl. Forgetting about any pain, Drew sat up and took Bronwyn into his arms.

  “What is this, Sweetheart?”

  He pressed his thumb to the fat tear that slid from under her lashes, and he squashed it out of the way. He kissed her face, brushing the new tears away with his lips. Seeing her cry hurt him worse than any stinging whip.

  “Don’t cry. Please don’t cry.”

  She continued to sob and she choked out, “I am so-sorry, Drew. I wish-wish I could go back in time and not have had ye’ stay with me.”

  “Really? I don’t. If I hadn’t stayed, I would not have learned the truth…what you t
old the king. You know, about how you loved me? You did mean it, didn’t you?”

  Bronwyn nodded.

  “Then I am glad I stayed with you.”

  “B-but look at what I caused. T’is all my fault that ye’ lie here marred and in pain.”

  “T’was not your fault. You love me! You would not want harm to come to me. And knowing that, I suppose is what is most important. We are to be married, now, by the king’s decree and I would rather know that I am marrying someone who loves me.”

  “I canna’ marry ye’ now. Not after this.”

  Drew held her and said, “Shhh, I am glad it was done by your hand. The guard was hell bent on ripping me apart. I know your strikes were tempered by hesitation and …love.”

  “Didna’ matter. I still marred ye’.”

  “But if no marks appeared, the king would have had me flogged more severely. You had no choice. And besides, you said you loved me,” he reminded her.

  “I shouldna’ have said that.”

  Drew tucked a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him.

  “Was it a lie, then?”

  “Nay…I have not lied to you.”

  Drew kissed her lips softly. She said, “I dunna’ understand this. How is it possible?”

  “I don’t know, but I know it is so. For me, as well.”

  Bronwyn raised her eyes to his and she asked, “What do ye’ mean?”

  “I mean, I have fallen in love with you, too.”

  Instead of easing the pain in her heart, his admission caused fresh sobs to erupt from her. Drew tried to comfort her.

  “Ssh, do not cry. You must not cry. It is alright now.”

  Drew brushed his knuckles over her cheek. He kissed her deeply. He felt her sob against his mouth and he gathered her tighter in his arms. His hand wandered inside her chemise and skimmed over her breast. “I love you and I want you.” Bronwyn looked into his eyes and sniffled, “But ye’ are in pain.”

  He flashed Bronwyn a smile and said, “Not so much right now.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  As his hand continued to gently touch her, he said, “I love you, Bronwyn. I want to show you, by loving you with my body.”

  She still was not convinced and gulping back a sob, she asked, “How can ye’ love me?”

  He did not answer her but kissed her soundly. His fingers made quick work of the laces in her bodice. His lips wandered down her neck and he pushed her chemise out of his way. His teeth nipped at the soft flesh between her neck and shoulder. This caused a tingling all the way down inside of Bronwyn. She loved the feel of his hands and mouth on her. All the while, he was easing her back on his pallet. His hand wandered inside her loosened chemise until it cupped a breast against the warmth of his palm. He felt her nipple instantly harden against his hand. He could feel her warmth and suddenly Drew wanted nothing more than to lose himself in it.

  For a moment, he drew himself away, and he removed his shirt and then as she watched, his trews. Her eyes widened at the sight of him beautifully naked before her. She thought she would never stop being amazed at his masculine perfection. Her tears quickly dried on her cheeks and he observed the pink tip of her tongue peak between her lips, as they had suddenly gone dry and she licked them slightly. He smirked at her bold appraisal of him. Innocent as she was, she was not shy to openly admire his body. He sat next to her and he unfastened her plaid, gently tugging it down her hips. She sat up and took her chemise off completely. Drew’s breath caught.

  She was so beautiful. Her firm round breasts begged for his mouth and as he kissed one rosy tip, his hand lovingly cupped the other one. She shuddered as his mouth drew on one breast, suckling and teasing it, until a moan was forced from her lips. She sobbed again, but this time not from sadness. It was more like a trembled moan. Her fingers splayed over his chest. She could feel his heart hammering beneath the thick muscled plane. His eyes were dark and passion-filled, causing the green colored irises to retreat to just a leafy ring around his darkened pupils. He suddenly felt like a starving man.

  He let his fingers trace the shape of her lips, and he was not surprised to feel her lips part; with mouth open, she kissed and then sucked on one finger. It was so damned seductive how her mouth lingered on and suckled his finger, reminding Drew of how it had done the same thing elsewhere the past night. And as for that part of his anatomy; ah, it was throbbing and swelling hard, at the memory.

  He took her jaw gently into his hand, and he drew her in to kiss her. He kissed her, then with the promise of passion to come. He kissed her with love and tenderness. He kissed her with desire and heat. He took her hand and guided it to his manhood. She was not shy to touch him this time and as her fingers wrapped around it, he moaned into the kiss. She gave him a sensual squeeze and as he moaned again, a moist heat pooled between her legs. She professed honestly and without shyness, “Ye’ make me so wet, Drew. I feel near to soaking.”

  “Really? Let me see?”

  His mouth went dry when he saw what she was wearing. All she had left on were the small scrap of the softest fabric he had ever seen. He had never seen anything like that on any other woman and he wondered at it. There was soft lace adorning the sexy garment. Satin ribbons fastened it above each thigh, over her hip. A triangle of the soft stuff just covered her other natural triangle of soft curls. It undid him to look at her wearing that thing. He thought, he could look at her wearing that scrap of silk all day. Well, maybe not, come to think of it.

  Drew fingered the softness of the silk and he said, “I have never seen something like this before. Where did you get this?”

  Bronwyn blushed and stammered, “My brother’s wife gave some of these to me for my wedding. She is, well different. I canna’ explain it really. It is almost as if she is from a different time or something, like she is ageless. Ye’ will meet her someday, I suspect. Where she got them, I dunna’ know, but she said this garment seems to undo my brother as well. I think t’is why she wanted me to have them for my wedding. Do ye’ like it?”

  “I love it on you. It is wonderfully fetching. You shall have to walk around for me in that…later!”

  Bronwyn didn’t know why, but that really made her blush. She remembered when Jamie’s wife had given them to her, and she was mortified when she had explained to Bronwyn that men find them intoxicating.

  His finger traced over the front of the lacy garment and he found she had told him the truth, for the little thing was soaked through. He untied the ribbons and peeled the little lacies away from her. He eased one finger between her legs, and he sucked in his breath. She certainly was wet. His voice had gone husky when he said, “Perfect.”

  Her eyes grew wide but as he stroked her, she lost all sense of embarrassment. He slipped one finger into her and it slid in deeply very easily. Good, he thought. She will have an easier time. Pulling that finger out, he put it into his mouth and sucked it.

  “God, you taste so good.”

  That profession made her blush again. Seeing her laying back amid the furs on his pallet with that little lacey undergarment undone and moved down, he was quickly losing control. He moved over her and parted her like opening petals of a flower. She could feel his breath on her heated flesh as he leaned in closer and slowly ran his tongue into those sweet wet petals. She moaned and flexed her fingers into his shoulders. She proclaimed honestly, “Drew I love how that feels. T’is my undoing.”

  “Mm, is it, Sweetheart?”

  His tongue dipped a little deeper and she could feel him moving it inside of her. She moaned again, and he replaced his mouth with two fingers, gently stretching her. She arched up to his hand, and he kissed up over her stomach, back to her breasts. He whispered, “I want to be inside of you.”

  “Aye,” was all she could answer him.

  “Completely, Bronwyn. Fully.”

  He wanted to be certain she understood.

  “Aye,” she answered again. He tugged the lacey scrap away and watched as she raised her hips to help
him remove it fully from her. Seeing her lift her hips that way was almost too much for him. Drew clutched at her hips and raised her once again up to his hungry mouth. When he had laved and stroked her with his tongue, till he felt her honeyed essence drip onto it, he then lowered her back down. Her hips had begun to move up and down against him as he caused shocks of pleasure to pulse through her. Drew gently pressed her down, and drawing her legs apart, he sank between them. He was careful to not crush her with his size, but he realized she was parting her thighs wider for him. He said, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Hush, ye’ willna’ hurt me. I think I am quite ready for ye’, Drew.”

  He took her legs and rested them around his hips. He slowly and carefully guided himself inside of her, and the entire time, Bronwyn looked up at him with trust and love in her eyes. Their eyes met and she said, “I love ye’, Drew. Please fill me. I dunna’ want to wait.”

  He felt her maidenhead and steeled himself for control. It was a matter of sheer will because he ached to be inside of her completely. Bronwyn was not having it. She gripped his buttocks raised herself up, causing him to move deeper. He felt the thin little barrier yield as he breached it. A small gasp escaped but she swallowed it back and covered his mouth in kisses. “Be still for a moment,” he said.

  “I dunna’ want to be still. Ye’ are inside of me and it is sublime.”

  Having no more control left, he moved with her and asked, “Are you alright? Did it hurt much?”

  She shook her head and said, “Nay, hardly at all. I am more than alright.”

  At her profession, Drew moved with her. It was wonderful to be fully inside her; to be one with her. She naturally met him thrust for thrust. She was so hot and wet, and she sheathed him perfectly. He felt her beginning to move faster with him; first slowly creating a sensual rhythm then gradually building the pace to a quicker one. He was on fire with the liquid sensation of it and it ran through him like molten heat. She was tight and that was delicious to him. The way she clenched around him was bringing him very close to climax quickly. He wanted to keep it slow, if only to not cause her any pain. He also did not want it to end too quickly.