by Ria Cantrell
His arms drew around her hips and he murmured, “My God, I am with my Brielle again. I had not been a whole man without ye’, love.”
Her arms held him, stroking his shoulders, feeling him relax against her. She loved the feel of him lying against her that way.
“Thank God he didn’t hurt ye’…thank God ye’ are safe here in my arms again,” she said.
Nuzzling against her belly, he seemed to go very still. Brielle almost thought he possibly had dozed off. If he had, she would not have awakened him, knowing how very tired he must have been. Then she felt his hand move lower and his fingers dipped between her thighs. He was met with her moist heat. She gasped, thinking he had fallen asleep, only to feel his touch.
“Oh, yes Beauty. That’s my girl…so responsive to me.”
She moaned softly. He kissed lower as he eased his fingers into her, first one, then opening her further with a second. When she felt him touch her like that, shivers surged through her.
Brielle parted her legs, welcoming his sensual touch. He turned, kissing over her soft curls. He said, “Feed me. . . I am so very hungry for ye’, Brielle.”
As her legs opened for him to fit between them, his hands eased under her, softly squeezing her buttocks, and drawing her up to his lips. He could feel her heat before he ever tasted her and as he parted her, a moan left him from somewhere deep inside. His tongue circled her bud, tasting her sweet honeyed juices on his lips. Brielle arched up to his mouth, needing him; craving the feel of his mouth on her. She flexed her fingers into his shoulders. Despite the erotic sensations coursing through her, she mouthed a silent prayer of thanks for this second chance to love Ruiri. She would never deny her love for Rory again, she promised God and herself. Rory savored her, as his mouth both tortured and pleasured her. Brielle glanced at him and saw his eyes, intense and filled with desire, looking up at her. She shuddered, feeling his fingers gently moving in and out of her as his mouth feasted upon her. She was quickly reaching that place where she would climax, but they both realized they needed to be one.
Before Brielle could come, Rory kissed his way back up her stomach and ribs. He suckled her breasts, bringing each peaked nipple into his mouth, drawing on them, feeling their velvety fullness against his tongue. Brielle was so excited and heated from not finding immediate release, she writhed under him; needing him so badly. He felt her hands touching his chest; his own nipples getting tight and hardening under her palms. He nibbled against the wildly fluttering pulse at the base of her throat; he felt her life. She was life…she was love.
Rory also said a prayer of thanks for her life and that she had been spared. He knew, at that moment, that she had been created for him to love. Her arms drew him up. Her legs curved around his hips, cradling him against her. She raised her hips slightly, which was enough to give him the access he needed to enter her.
Gazing into her eyes, he slowly inched inside of her, knowing that she would again be virgin-tight from not having been together those many days and he wanted to be sure she would not hurt. As he felt her easily yielding to him, he moved all the way inside her. She drew in her breath, not because of pain, but because feeling him deep inside her again was superb and she thought nothing else felt as wonderful as having him fill her.
A sexy smile lifted his lips, “Ye’ are a wanton little thing, Aye?”
She actually giggled. Oh God, how he loved that sound and he kissed her lips sweetened with laughter. Her hands moved over the sculpted muscles of his chest and her legs hooked around his hips, drawing him as deeply as possible inside her. She wanted to feel fully and completely filled with him. He sighed, feeling the comfort of being sheathed within her. She was so hot and wet; it was almost too much for him to maintain control.
She rose under him, meeting his thrusts in perfect cadence. She tightened around him, causing him to moan with pleasure. Her inner muscles clenched around him, and feeling that perfect clenching around his shaft sent charges racing through him. He said, “I love ye’ so much. Dunna’ ever doubt it. Ever!”
“And I have never stopped loving ye’, not even for one second.”
Rory filled her; body and soul. She needed to kiss him, so she drew him down so that she could touch her lips to his. She kissed him deeply, causing her to feel completely connected to him. The intimacy of the kiss coupled with their love making just united them deeper. Feeling his love and passion, she knew she could never again bear to be without it again.
“Ye are my life. T’is like a dream fulfilled.”
Rory moved with her, creating the rhythm that built the delicious pressure that begged for release. He had missed her so much. Feeling the natural way she tightened around him, filled him with roaring desire. She rose up under him, arching to take every velvet inch of him and she continued to flex around him. Each time she did, he moaned softly and she knew he could feel each delicious contraction around his mighty cock inside her.
“Woman, you know that makes me wild.”
She just smiled innocently up at him and clenched around him again, which bought her a delicious moan from Rory. He shifted, rolling onto his back, needing to feel her on top of him. As she straddled him, he stretched up inside her, full and thick. She arched her back in sensual pleasure. His hands splayed over her waist, gently drawing her to move with him. His eyes never left her, watching her rock and undulate with him. He loved the way her delicious breasts swayed with each sensual movement. He held her at the waist, assuring she would not even release one inch of him. He could feel her dripping hot wet essence over his thick shaft.
Her hands clasped his strong shoulders and Rory could not contain himself any longer. Watching her and feeling her, he needed release. He ached to come. With his head thrown back, a moan tore from his throat and he surged up into her, coming with a powerful release of a man who had been denied too long. Feeling such a release pumping into her made Brielle pulse and ripple around him. She cried out his name and as his seed filled her, he watched his beauty also come in his arms.
He ran his hands up her sides, holding her as the waves of her climax pulsed, ebbed and then subsided. He drew her down to lie next to him. He stroked her and kissed her and said, “Rest for a while Sweetheart.”
Brielle had no need to rest at the moment. She was fired with the afterglow of loving Rory. She had never felt more alive. Besides, she needed to tend to his wound.
She kissed his mouth again, but got up and went to the water pitcher, wetting a cloth. She went back to him and cleansed the blood from the cut on his arm. Then tearing a strip of soft linen from her own chemise, she wrapped a band around his arm. Her touch was feather light and so very gentle. He swallowed down the emotion he felt; visibly moved by her tenderness. She was so good at caring for him. She was his redemption. He drew her back into his arms, just holding her and touching her. She kissed his mouth and said, “I am so glad ye’ are safe.”
“I am glad ye’ are too, honey. I couldna’ bear to think ye’ were harmed. It nearly destroyed me.”
Nuzzling her cheek to his chest, she said, “I am safe now, in yer’ arms, Ruiri.”
His arms tightened about her and he said, “Aye, Angel and if I have my way, t’is how ye’ shall stay. While I live I vow to protect ye’ and keep ye’ safe. While I live, ye’ will prosper and thrive.”
“I am so lucky to have a second chance to love ye’, too. I thought I had lost ye’ forever.”
“Ye’ will ne’er lose me.”
She kissed over his left breast, feeling the wonderful steady beat of his heart beneath those honed muscles. That was the source of his life and she promised to guard it for the rest of her days.
“I am so sorry for denying my love fer ye’, Ruiri. I thought only to protect ye’.”
“I know, honey. Ye’ are too good and kind to have meant to hurt me. I knew the truth in my heart.”
“I hoped ye’ would, but when I sent ye’ my words of love, ye’ didn’t even flinch…like you dinna’ hear them.”
“I heard them, well enough, aye? I needed to act out your own ruse to protect ye’ as well. I thought if it looked like I believed ye’, ye’ would suffer less danger. But know this, Brielle, yer’ words hit me. I wanted to take ye’ into my arms and crush ye’ against me. It was torture to not turn to ye’ and hold ye’, and profess my love to ye’ in return.”
Resting her cheek against his breast, she said, “Ruiri, I need to tell ye’ something…”
“What is it, my beauty?”
Brielle kissed his flesh beneath her cheek and as she was going to speak, there was a loud urgent knock on their door.
“Just a minute,” Rory called. He got up and threw on his clothes. Brielle also dressed hastily and went with Rory. Caleb was there looking strained and distressed.
“It’s Liam. His fever suddenly has spiked. The wound looks like it has festered. I dunna’ like it. It came upon him so quickly. He was resting one minute and feverish the next.”
Brielle and Rory exchanged looks and Brielle felt the weight of her guilt hit her like someone had taken a mace to her chest. She blamed herself for Liam’s state. Rory said he would go to find a healer or ask about a person who could help. He took his leave quickly to seek aid. Brielle followed Caleb in to where Liam had been laid. She checked the wound and found it to be indeed inflamed. She bathed it again and put a clean dressing over it. She then dabbed the suffering man’s his face with a cool wet cloth. His brow was beaded with sweat. She spoke to him softly in Gaelic, begging him not to die. She hoped Rory would return quickly with help. She was so afraid for Liam. She and Caleb sat vigil, just trying to do anything to bring down the fever by applying cool clothes to his body, taking turns to cool him as best they could.
*****
It was late into the night when Rory finally returned. He looked exhausted; his face set grimly.
“There was no one who would help me. My plaid marked me as an enemy in these parts. We need to get Liam home. Morag will know what best to do for him.”
Caleb shook his head.
“Nay, Son, we canna’ risk moving him. We shall have to take turns sitting with him so that we can lever if he worsens.”
Despite his exhaustion, guilt plagued Rory. It was his fault Liam danced with Death this night. Grief and exhaustion etched his handsome face and he said, “Well Da, go on and rest. I shall sit with my brother.”
“Nay Ruiri, t’is my fault he is hurt. Let me stay with him. I owe him my life.” Rory kissed Brielle’s hair and he said, “T’is not yer’ fault. Ye’ would have never set to hurt him. It was an accident,” he choked on his own guilt.
“Go take yer’ rest, Beauty.”
She shook her head “no” and she kissed his cheek, saying, “Ye’ are exhausted. I will wake ye’ in a few hours. Rest for a while.”
Brielle set a chair next to the bed Liam was lying in. Caleb retired to a pallet, feeling tired, but not certain he would be able to find rest with his son in crisis.
Sometime later, Shawn had returned to the inn. He had gone back to Campbell Keep to help MacDougal finish the fight. Brielle raised tired eyes to him as he explained what the MacDougal had done.
“The keep is yers’ Lady. The MacDougal saw to that.”
“Then…my other brother is also dead?”
Shawn shook his head.
“Nay, Brielle. He was nowhere to be found. He and that sick bastard Jerome McManus somehow escaped the fray. We have arranged for a Christian burial for Roderick. The MacDougal sends his regrets to ye’. He said he did what he had to do, but he is still sorry for yer’ loss.”
Brielle nodded, not sure how to answer. The man had killed her brother after all, but if he hadn’t, Ruiri would be dead, instead. Ruiri had explained how Rod had Ruiri cornered with a cross bow that left him, the most experienced of warriors, without an escape. Roderick was her brother…but Ruiri was her love and true mate. All that mattered now was that she was with him.
A tortured moan from Liam brought Brielle out of her thoughts. She checked Liam and found him to be sleeping. Finally Brielle said to Shawn, “Once my brother is laid to rest, I never want to set foot in that place again.”
Ruiri squeezed her shoulders gently and he said, “Will ye’ come home with me, then?”
Without taking time to even ponder the question, Brielle answered, “Aye. There is no other place I belong more.”
Rory hugged her from behind and said, “My home is yer’ home from now on.”
Brielle covered his arms with her own hands. Rubbing her cheek against his strong forearm, she murmured, “Thank you for giving me a new home…a home that is beside ye’.”
He kissed her hair and said, “Bri, I need ye’ beside me always.”
Tears welled up in her eyes and she just nodded. She once again, said a silent prayer of thanksgiving for Ruiri’s love and safe return. He offered her the promise of the future; a safe haven filled with love and expectation. She knew she needed to tell Rory about the babe, but it would have to wait. She wanted her timing to be perfect to give him that news. Now, she had to concentrate on helping the man who had so selflessly saved her life.
Brielle and Rory stayed up with Liam well into the night. It was nearly morning when Rory noticed Brielle was sleeping in her chair. He roused his father and he whispered, “I am taking Brielle to bed. She is exhausted. Liam has fared well. He has been resting comfortable for several hours now and I do believe his fever is less.”
“Alright son, I will take a turn to keep watch over Liam. And son, I am glad ye’ got her out of that dreadful place, despite what has happened to Liam. She was sure to perish there, Ruiri.”
“Aye, and it if were not for the MacDougal, I would surely be where Roderick lies tonight. The bastard had a crossbow knocked at close range of my heart, Da. I owe the MacDougal for saving my life, even if I wanted to finish Roderick myself.”
Caleb nodded pensively.
“I suppose ye’ will be pressed back into service with him, but now at least ye’ will not be his prisoner. Go on, lad, take yer’ girl to bed. The poor little thing has been through so much. She wore herself out with worry before ye’ came back. I couldna’ stay angry with her. Try as I might, any resolve was quickly lost. I love that girl, like a daughter and I knew that her heart was so broken for thinking she had lost ye’.”
Rory looked at his father. “She…tried to protect me.”
“I know, son. I hoped like hell ye’ realized the truth. I think I hadn’t seen ye’ that angry in a very long time.”
Rory cracked a smile. “If we weren’t in imminent danger, I would have paddled her behind before her entire clan as her right and just punishment for such folly. I am going to put her to bed, now da.”
Caleb nodded in agreement. Rory lifted Brielle in his arms. She naturally wrapped her arms around his neck and she mumbled sleepily, “Nay, I must stay with Liam…”
“Shhh, Sweeting, my da will stay and watch him for a while. I want ye’ to sleep for a little while.”
Brielle was so tired she never finished the next sentence. Rory carried her across the hall to the chamber they had shared prior. He did not even bother undressing her. He just tucked her into the bed and curled up beside her. It was so good to feel her in his arms again. It was like a dream come true to hold her, for even he had a niggling fear that he had lost her forever. Holding her warm little body against his, lulled Rory to relax and he rested with her; quickly catching some blessed and well needed sleep for a couple of hours.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Morning seemed to come quickly. Rory roused as daylight filtered into the room through the window. Brielle was already awake beside him. Her fathomless lilac eyes gazed at him. Rory saw the sad look in her eyes. He touched her cheek and he asked, “Weren’t ye’ able to sleep, Sweetheart?”
“I slept some, Ruiri…I just want to see to Liam.”
Rory kissed her and rose with her. He was worried about her. She was strangely pale and when he had kis
sed her, her lips felt unnaturally cool. He knew she had suffered so much and she still had to deal with the loss of a brother despite that brother’s cruelness to her. Rory decided to not press her too harshly. She needed time and gratefully, now time he could give her. Rory could also tell that she bore the weight of Liam’s condition heavily, as he himself did. Taking her hand, he decided to face it with her. It was their burden to equally bear.
They went to see how Liam was faring this morning and Rory again felt how cool Brielle’s touch was as she placed her hand so trustingly into his. Upon entering the room, they found Liam awake. Caleb was undressing the wound to check it for infection. Brielle went to Liam and kneeling next to him, she took his hand. As cool as her hand was as hot as Liam’s hand still was.
“I am so sorry, Liam. Can ye’ forgive me?”
“Och! Lassie, t’was not yer’ fault.”
“Does it hurt very much?”
Liam laughed weakly. “Aye, lass, it hurts like hell, but I am glad it landed where it had. Had I but turned just a hair, the blasted arrow would have been stuck straight in my arse…think of how much worse that would have been to explain,” he said trying to make her laugh. Instead, her eyes filled with tears. She said, “Oh, Liam…”
“Come now, lass, I will be alright. T’will take more than a pointed prick to bring me down,” he said cheekily, wagging his eyebrows to try to at least get her to smile. “Besides, how many men get to say they took an arrow to save a beautiful woman? I’d do it again to save my brother from loosin’ ye’, Lass. OUCH! Old man! Have a care,” he complained as Caleb pressed the wound.
“Just be still, Li, I need to see if there is infection.”
“Well dunna’ press it like that. It hasna’ closed enough for me not to hurt.”
Brielle stood up quickly, suddenly looking stricken and she hurried from the room. Rory watched her go and wondered at her response. She hadn’t been squeamish before about wounds. She had cared for Liam as the wound still wept with his blood and last eve, she had cleansed his own cut without so much as a flinch. But here, she had looked as if she was going to be ill. Caleb met Rory’s eyes and Rory shrugged. With a smirk, Caleb said, “Ye’ best see to yer’ woman, Ruiri. I am nearly done here anyway.”