“Jamie told me this morning,” she said.
“Did he tell you Katie helped Ian escape?”
How much should she reveal? Would Jamie get in trouble if Rannoch knew Sorcha had told him about Katie? Her decision made, she found courage and managed a look of horror. “First she captured him then she helped him escape? It doesna make sense, Milord.”
“Katie found herself enamored with Ian Innes. He tricked her and took her virginity as punishment for his capture. She fancies herself in love with him. Katie ran off with him and the Innes clan.”
Brianna gasped. “She gave herself to our enemy?”
“Aye, so,” he assured her. “I saw her virgin’s blood on the bedding. When I confronted her, she admitted she had been with him.” Rannoch frowned. “Even though ‘twas you I desired, I couldna let her be so ill-used.”
“What did you do, Milord?”
“I tracked them down and killed them all save Katie. She is not herself. Sorcha is trying to find a cure for her troubled mind.” He sipped his wine and gazed at Brianna. “I am sorry Katie witnessed the carnage, but there was no other choice. Her rash actions caused it all.” He shook his head.
Brianna grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “There was nothing you could do, Milord. Some day she will see you are our hero.”
“I pray you are right, Brianna, but good has come from this.”
“What good, Milord?”
“I no longer feel obligated to marry Katie.” He reached across and ran a single finger across her bare shoulder, trailing it down to the edge of her bodice. Fire snaked through her veins at his touch. She let out an involuntary whimper. “You and I were meant to be together,” he continued.
When he withdrew his hand, Brianna finished her wine and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She felt dizzy and flushed. Rannoch sat across from her his eyes alight with desire. “You revel in my touch,” he whispered.
“Aye,” she breathed. She could not lie. He saw it in her reaction.
“I am getting ahead of myself,” he said. “Let us eat before our meal grows cold.” He refilled her cup despite her protest. She did feel calmer after drinking the heady brew. Brianna picked up the cup and drank more of it. He smiled.
“Aye, Milord, let us partake of this fine feast,” she said, struggling to remain composed as the wine brought heat to her whole body.
The plate consisted of a selection of cheeses, cooked apples, and roast chicken. Rannoch began to eat, so she did too. After a long silence, she once again felt his eyes moving over her. Looking up, she could see he perused the swell of her breasts above her dress. She felt like she had become part of the meal. It was as if he contemplated devouring her in the same way he caressed the chicken with his mouth and gnawed it off the bone. “Milord, you said you would tell me of our future.”
“So I did,” he said tossing the bone onto his plate. “I am sorry for my rude silence. I am not sure how to begin.” With a tentative smile, Rannoch rose and came over beside her. Taking her hand, he knelt beside the chair. “Brianna Blackburn, will you be my wife?”
“Milord, you would have me instead of Katie?”
“Aye, if you are agreeable,” he said softly kissing her hand. “What say you, Brianna? Will you be mine?”
Brianna trembled. She had wanted this for over a year. Could she? With a sharp intake of air, she touched his face. “Milord, I would be honored to be your wife,” she said in a strained whisper.
Offering her his hand, he pulled her to her feet. Why did the whole chamber seem to move when she stood? Unsteady, she leaned back against the table and drew a deep breath. “Please call me Rowan, love,” he said, hugging her to his chest.
Pushing back, she gazed up into his eyes. “Rowan,” she breathed.
“A kiss to seal our betrothal?”
Wide-eyed, she nodded her assent.
His lips found hers, gently at first then with more purpose. He kissed her until her lips felt bruised by his persistent invasion, the sweep of his tongue, and his nips on her soft lower lip. Brianna answered his every caress. Nothing had ever made her feel so good or so wanted. “Brianna….” Rowan Rannoch pulled away from her panting. “You invite me with your willingness,” he gasped.
Brianna tried to collect herself. She was having difficulty. The feelings coursing through her made her feel so alive, hot, and needy. Had she wantonly invited him to take her? Flushing she tried to regain control of her senses. “Milord, what must you think of me?”
“I think you are a passionate young woman.” He ran his finger around the rim of her neckline scorching her breasts with his lightest touch. She remembered every detail of his previous explorations. Brianna wanted him to touch her again. “If you are an innocent, I canna take you until we speak the vows, Brianna.” His fingers dipped inside the dress. “Please tell me you are not like your sister.”
“I have never been with a man, Milord.” His eyebrow rose. She smiled through the haze the wine wrought. “Rowan,” she corrected. The name rolled off her tongue, the same tongue that had swept into his mouth with each of their passionate kisses.
He blinked and drew a deep breath. “Good,” he said. Rannoch ran his hands across her bare shoulders until she had a hitch in her breathing. “There are things we could do that fall short of actual joining,” he told her. “Things not unlike what we started in the great hall until we were so rudely interrupted by your sister.” He kissed her lips feverishly. “Things that would give us both pleasure but leave you chaste.”
“Oh….” Brianna felt his hands opening the front of her dress and pushing it off her shoulders until it hung in a clump around her hips. Naked from the waist up, she shivered under his perusal.
“Your breasts are so lovely, Brianna.”
“You are the first man to see them, Milord.”
“Rowan,” he corrected. “In such intimate circumstance you must call me by my given name.” He ran his hands down over her. “Is it so hard?”
“Nay, Rowan,” she whimpered.
“May I give us both pleasure,” he asked in a dark whisper.
“Aye,” she said shakily. Again, his lips found hers as his hands grasped her tender fruit. He stroked every inch of her exposed flesh. She put her arms around his neck enjoying his steady massage.
Rannoch broke off the kiss with a chuckle. “You are ready for more, aren’t you?” he asked. With one swipe of his hand, he sent the remnants of their dinner clattering to the floor. Rannoch picked her up and sat her on the end of the table beginning a string of wet kisses down her neck. An alarm went off in her head. What of Katie’s tale of Sorcha strapped to a table for his pleasure. Brianna began to struggle against him. He paused in his assault.
“What is it, love?” he asked. “Would you deny me a brief taste of what is to come?”
“Rowan, I am afraid. The feelings you inspire are new to me. The way I feel frightens me.” She felt out of control. The room spun as she tried to focus on him.
“You are to be my wife,” he said. “No harm will come to you by my hand.” His lips brushed hers again then took off on a trail across her willing flesh.
Brianna’s head dropped back as he moved ever downward. His arms were around her bare back holding her in just the right position for his tasting. She felt his mouth on her nipple. A low moan escaped her as he sucked hard teasing her tender fruit into a tight contraction. He left off that side and moved to the other repeating the process until she cried out.
Breathless and shaking, she felt Rannoch let her drop slowly to the table. He bent over her giving her his full attention. Brianna’s fear and confusion turned to burning desire. She was in a newfound heaven.
At length, he rose and looked down at her with fire in his eyes. “There is a little more I would do if you would allow it,” he said, “A touch, a taste, but I will not take you.”
“I fear I am already b-b-beyond reason from your attentions, Rowan.” Her voice sounded strange to her own ears, hollow and slurr
ed. “Would you challenge my innocence more before we can wed?” Brianna asked. She started to rise from the table, but he gently pushed her back. Was there more to the wine than she thought? Weak as kitten, she could not stop him. He controlled her every move with his hands of fire.
“Just this once before the vows are spoken,” he entreated. “Lie still and enjoy my touch.”
His hands were beneath her pulling her dress completely off. It skimmed over her legs and fell to the floor. Naked on the table in the flickering firelight, she saw his eyes move over her lustfully. He put a hand on each thigh and spread her legs, stepping close to the heart of her. She felt his hardness pressing against her. Only his plaid kept him from her. Leaning over, he ran his hands over her ribs just beneath her breasts then traced them around to her sides and moved down to caress her hip bones.
“You hips are wide enough to carry our children well,” he told her. One of his hands ran over her flat belly then dropped ever downward. He began a light stroke between her legs.
Brianna felt as shaky as a newborn foal. Rannoch became more purposeful exploring her. She should not allow it. “Rowan, I… I….” Somewhere he touched set her body on fire. She broke off all protest. His touch became magic. Her head tossed back and forth on the table. She strained beneath him eager for his next stroke. Rowan pressed harder running his fingers in little circles over the heart of her.
A pressure built inside of her body. She ached for more, but what? Suddenly something burst inside her. Her whole body contracted repeatedly sending ripples of pleasure all the way to her toes. She heard him start to grunt. Rannoch pulled away from her, exposed his hard member, and jerked on it repeatedly until he spewed seed onto her thigh. Quivering, he drew a linen handkerchief from his pocket and slowly wiped off the sticky substance. When he finished, he kissed her right between the legs.
Rannoch ran his hands over her wobbly legs. “I didna expect this,“ he told her.
“Nor I, Rowan,” she breathed.
“I think I proved you had no reason to fear this small sampling of the joy we will find together.”
“Aye, so,” she agreed for she had never felt anything that compared to the pleasure he had given her.
He smiled and pulled her up to a sitting position. Her head rolled. “Let me help you.” He leaned down and picked up her dress. Taking her arms, he moved them above her head so he could slip her gown down over her. Rowan lifted her off the table and smoothed her skirt. Once all was in place, he moved to tighten her laces until her passion-tender breasts again peeked above her bodice.
Properly covered, she drew a deep breath. “You made my body sing,” she said reaching up to run her hand across his face. “Are you pleased with me?”
“Your innocence pleases me,” he said. “I have lived too long in the company of whores.”
“Sorcha?”
He nodded. “It was all I could do not to take you.” He kissed her swollen lips. “We should wed before we enjoy this pleasure again.”
“What of Sorcha?” she asked, almost afraid to hear his response.
“Sorcha is nothing but a distraction. She plies me with magic potions to increase my desire and enhance my pleasure.”
An alarm went off in Brianna’s brain. Had he given her one of Sorcha’s potions, one that would assure she enjoyed his touch? The wine…. No, it was her love for him that brought her such bliss.
He brushed her hair out of her face. “You look troubled.”
Brianna fumbled for something to say. “When we are wed, will you still take Sorcha to your bed?” she finally asked.
He smiled. “You want me all to yourself?”
Brianna felt her face color with a blush. She looked away and fought back tears. “It is my desire.” Her eyes met his. “Can you leave off whores like Sorcha in favor of your wife?”
Letting out his breath slowly, he ran his hand across her face. “If you will bend to my wildest desires, I would consider it.” He kissed her forehead. “But you may find what I wish to do to you offensive.”
“How so, Milord?” she asked.
“That is a discussion for our wedding night, Brianna. I just tell you if you let me do as I choose, I wilna need whores like Sorcha.” He smiled and licked his lips. “What think you of that compromise? You seemed eager enough today.”
He had given her pleasure. Surely, she could accommodate his desires in their marriage bed. Brianna stood as straight as she could. “I find it agreeable, Milord.”
“So it is decided. You will be my wife.”
“Aye, if today is any indication, I canna fathom what you could want to do with me that could be so offensive I would deny you your husband’s rights.”
“My innocent,” he said brushing her lips with another kiss. “You have no idea.”
Chapter 22
Jamie made his way to Sorcha’s tower. He would not reveal any clan secrets to his new paramour, but deep inside he knew that if he had an opportunity to have her once again in his bed, he would take it. As he entered the tower, he saw Sorcha standing at the narrow window. Her red gown swirled around her soft curves. He couldn’t believe this beautiful creature had taken him inside her and taught him so many things in one all-too-short night. For now, he must leave off his lustful thoughts and see to Katie. Sorcha turned to face him when he came up behind her.
“Jamie, I’m glad you’re here.” She hugged him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before stepping back. “Please come see your sister. I dinna ken how to help her. She just stares into space.” Drawing a key from a pouch which hung on her belt, Sorcha unlocked the door to the adjoining chamber.”
“She is a prisoner?”
Sorcha cast her eyes down then met his gaze. “It is for her protection, Milord. In this state, it is hard to say what she might do.”
“Perchance,” Jamie said. “I think I should see Katie alone. She doesna trust you or Rannoch. Your presence may hinder any conversation.”
“As you wish,” Sorcha said abruptly. Turning, she walked back to the window.
Jamie entered the room, shut the door, and bolted it from the inside. Katie sat on a bench near the fire with her back to him. Her body was rigid. He moved up behind her and touched her shoulders. Was it his imagination, or did she recoil? Leaning down, he whispered in her ear. “Katie, it is Jamie. I’m here to help you.” He sat beside her, took her hand in his, and gave it a squeeze. “I am alone.” With one finger, he turned her head toward his face. Did she see him? He couldn’t tell. “Are you still in there?”
Katie looked at her younger brother. He seemed changed somehow, older, and less innocent. She looked over her shoulder and surveyed the room. No one accompanied him. “Where is the Red Witch?” she asked gazing into his eyes.
He grinned and hugged her to his chest. “You are all right. Sorcha is in the other room. I wouldna allow her to accompany me into your chamber.”
“This is not my chamber.”
Jamie held up his hand. “’Tis your chamber until Sorcha cures you, or so I am told.”
“Rannoch imprisons me here with his Red Witch. I wilna take her potions. Look what they did to father.” Katie drew in her breath. “My folly has caused great injustice. Ian and many of his clan have been murdered because of me.”
“We dinna ken if they are all dead.”
Hot tears burned down her face. “I saw them slaughtered,” she moaned. Jamie took her into his arms. She sobbed into his shoulder. Wiping away tears with the back of her hand, she drew back from him. “There was so much blood.”
“How far away were you? I canna imagine they allowed you near the fight.”
“Ian left me behind a boulder and I watched them all fight bravely until one by one there were slain. Ian was the last to die. He met his maker right after his father and Erland.”
“I, for one, wilna believe they are all dead until I see the bodies.”
“Why do you ask me to hope? I told you what I witnessed.”
“Tessa
believes Ian is alive.”
Katie ran her hands through her unkempt hair. Her pulse pounded through her temples. Could it be? “Tessa, seer of the Blackburn clan, if only I believed.” she said.
“Hold out hope until we ken she is wrong. She sees much that none of us can explain.”
“I shall pray she is right about this, but even if she is, Ian will never forgive me for causing the death of his kinsmen.” She trembled at the thought. “I love him, Jamie. If Ian is alive, he must be gravely wounded and there is no one to help him.”
“You dinna ken that, Katie. Did Laird Innes send missives to the other clans to ask for their help?”
“Aye.”
“Some of them may have come and found Ian.”
“I shall pray this it is so.”
Jamie put his arm around her. “Why do you pretend to be distant from the world? Rannoch may free you from the tower if you let Sorcha see you are well.”
She gave him a wry smile. “Rannoch wilna free me. This is my prison and his Red Witch is my guard. When I pretend not to hear or see they talk in front of me. They reveal things because they think I canna hear them.”
“And so you will persist.”
“Until I find a way to kill them,” Katie said with conviction. She saw her brother blanch.
“I didna see you as a murderer, Katie.”
“After all I have seen and heard I will have my revenge.” She rubbed her hand across her flat stomach. I pray Ian’s seed took root. At least if I canna have him, I can raise his son or daughter.”
Jamie’s eyes grew wide. “You let him take you?”
Katie felt the color rising in her face. “Aye, he asked me to marry him, but we havena spoken the vows.”
Jamie’s hand closed over hers. “I hope you do carry his child and that the child’s father is alive to see its birth.”
“Until we ken the truth, I will persist in my farce. Perchance I can learn something that will help us escape Rannoch.”
He kissed her cheek. “Have a care, Katie. I wouldna lose you to this cause. It is better to live to fight another day than to go into battle ill-prepared.” He rubbed his hand across her belly. “You must eat and take care of yourself in case you are with child. Let Sorcha see a slow improvement. If you were to engage her in conversation, you might learn something useful,” he suggested.
Highland Legends 04 - Captive Highlander Page 15