Hearts Unbound

by Rebecca Goings

  Jessica glanced around frantically, but there was no escaping him. His servants watched them with interest and she knew she couldn’t disgrace him in front of them. Without knowing what else to do, she placed her hand in the crook of his elbow and allowed him to lead her out of the kitchen.

  The contact of his arm against her hand made her shiver. She tried desperately to ignore their bond, but she found it nearly impossible. Her cheeks blushed as her thoughts become improper, of kissing him as she had the day before.

  “You look flushed, my dear,” he cooed. “I am most unhappy you have emerged from your bed after just having been sick.”

  Tears stung her eyes as he led her through the halls of the manor. She had no idea where he was taking her, but she followed him regardless. She’d follow him wherever he may lead. She groaned at the thought.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, glancing at her

  “I am sorry, Jareth,” she said in a soft tone, staring at the floor. “I am sorry for everything.”

  He stopped walking to turn to her. They were alone in a dark passage. Before he could say a word, she continued.

  “I am sorry for bonding you to me, for assuming that you…would want me. I am sorry for bringing you back to a life you didn’t want, nor asked for. I am sorry for making you feel things for me that aren’t natural.” As she spoke, tears formed in her eyes. Jessica was so very tired of crying, but she didn’t think she could ever stop.

  Jareth hooked his fingers under her chin to force her gaze up to him. When he was silent, she licked her lips and said, “I—I will accept Lord Charles and his offer of marriage. I do not think I could live with myself if I forced you to marry me as well.”

  The look on Jareth’s face darkened. “You will not accept his offer,” he whispered.

  “But—” Jessica gasped.

  “You are my shelmir. You belong to me, my sweet, not to him.” He stepped closer, pressing her against the wall. “No other man will touch what is mine.”

  “But you do not want me, Your Grace.” She tried her hardest not to stroke his face.

  “Jareth,” he corrected. “And that’s where you are mistaken. I do want you.”

  He leaned down and kissed her, pressing himself against her body. Jessica sighed into his mouth, but did not resist. She remembered too well the taste of him and wanted to taste him again. Timidly, she raised her hands against his chest, not to push him away, but merely to touch him, to make sure that what she was feeling was real. Jareth grabbed her arms and placed them around his neck himself just before he tilted his head and deepened the kiss.

  Jareth groaned as his tongue slipped into her mouth, and she couldn’t help but clutch onto him. He raised his hand and touched her breast, teasing her nipple through the heavy fabric of her dress. She took a sharp breath and pulled away. Jareth’s eyes were a stormy shade of gray when he looked into her eyes, still continuing to caress her.

  “I want to taste you here,” he said, standing so close to her that their breaths mingled. “I want to suckle your breasts, Jessica. I want your legs around my waist. I want you screaming my name.”

  Jessica could do no more than stare at him in shock. His words made her weak, and she had no choice but to hold on to him tighter, lest she fall to the floor.

  “Jareth.” She gasped when his fingers pinched her hardened nipple through her dress. She threw her head back against the wall, but that only invited him to lean down to lick her neck. He gently bit her skin and she couldn’t help the sounds that escaped her.

  “You will not marry Charles, my sweet,” he growled against her skin. “You gave yourself to me, and I intend to take you.”

  “But—”

  “No,” he interrupted, holding her face in his hands. He brought his face up to hers. “No, Jessie. You are my shelmir. You will stay with me.”

  “What of my sister?” she asked breathlessly as her fingers threaded through his silken hair.

  “She did not save me, she killed me. She chose Laith over me. Twice. Cassandra is dead. Dead in truth, and dead in my heart. I can barely recall what she looks like.”

  “But this morning, when you said—”

  “I know what I said, my sweet,” he murmured, making his way to her ear and pulling her earlobe into his mouth. “I did not mean it, and I am sorry if I hurt you. My temper got the better of me and I acted like an ass.”

  The pressure of his teeth against the delicate skin of her ear made shivers race throughout her body, and she ached between her legs. Her body’s awakening desire made her feel light as a feather. With a gasp, she realized she wanted her legs around Jareth’s waist as well.

  “We shouldn’t be so intimate,” she managed to say. Jareth brought his hand up to cup her other breast. She cried out at the contact.

  “You’re right. But I do not believe I can stop myself.”

  “What are you doing?” He began lifting her skirts off the ground.

  “I have to touch you,” he said, before he kissed her roughly. Jessica returned his kiss, helpless to resist. She wanted him to touch her as well.

  Suddenly, he pulled away, keeping her at arms’ length. “No, I must not defile you now,” he said, looking left and right. They were still alone.

  “You shouldn’t defile me at all,” Jessica admonished with a giggle. “We are not yet wed.”

  “Perhaps I should defile you to ensure that we will be,” He returned her smile.

  A loud voice echoed down the passage, disturbing their banter.

  “There you are, Crichton, I’ve been looking all over for you!”

  Jareth groaned loudly. It was the earl of Thornbury.

  “We will continue this,” he whispered to Jessica, the promise of it apparent in his eyes. “Will you deny Lord Brent’s offer of marriage?”

  Jessica hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding her head. The smile he gave her took her breath away.

  Chapter Eight

  Jessica picked at her food. What had she done? She’d promised herself to Jareth, that’s what she’d done. She could hardly think when his body had been pressed so closely to hers. She was angry with herself. Charles glanced at her across the table, giving her soft smiles while Jareth chatted amiably with her uncle.

  Her hand trembled as she lifted her soup spoon. The soup was cold after sitting for too long. Every now and again, Jareth would look at her, and her thoughts scattered to the winds. She blushed every time, giving him timid smiles.

  Charles raised his brow at her blushes and scowled darkly at Jareth. Jessica hoped he wouldn’t be too disappointed when he heard her choice for husband. Jessica hadn’t fancied him, being too wrapped up in Jareth to see any other man.

  Charles was handsome, with sandy hair and a nice smile. Jessica couldn’t help but think of what kind of life she would have with him. He claimed to have feelings for her. That was more than Jareth admitted. He’d said he cared for her, but you could “care” for your dog. She just couldn’t believe how quickly Jareth had been able to convince her to reject Charles and his offer. If she didn’t know better, she might think he still had his powers of persuasion.

  When a lull in the conversation came, Jareth cleared his throat, bringing all eyes back to him. “I have a toast, if you please.” He held his wine glass aloft and stared straight at Jessica.

  With another blush, she held up her glass.

  “Lady Jessica has accepted me as her fiancé. We shall be wed as soon as we are able.”

  Charles’s face reddened with rage and his glass quivered in the air.

  “Here, here!” Thornbury said, grinning from ear to ear. “A fine match indeed!”

  Jessica breathed a deep sigh of relief. She hadn’t wanted to be the one to tell Charles of her decision. She tilted her head to Jareth in thanks. He gave her a smug grin and barely nodded back before he drank his wine.

  Charles pushed his chair back and threw his napkin on the table. “If you will excuse me, Your Grace, I am no longer hungry and wis
h to retire.”

  “By all means,” Jareth said, raising his hand.

  Charles stormed out of the dining room, slamming the door behind him.

  “I would say he’s not happy about the match,” Jareth said to Thornbury. Jessica could tell from where she sat that his eyes twinkled in triumph.

  Thornbury waved his hand. “Do not worry about the knave,” he said. “We must speak of dowries and wedding dates!”

  “Indeed we must.” Jareth took another bite of bread. Jessica could hardly catch her breath at the look he was giving her. Clearly, it said, “You are mine; I have claimed you.” She took another drink of wine to swallow her thundering heart. How she was able to survive the rest of the meal with Jareth’s gaze upon her was a mystery.

  * * *

  Morana’s eyes burned in the darkness. Laith was dead, Cassandra was dead, and Jareth had deceived her.

  Rage gripped her heart. Not even when her sire had turned her five hundred years before did her anger burn this hot. She’d done everything Jareth had demanded and more. Cassandra had not been meant to die, but Morana had seen to it that she had. Jareth was hers, and she would take him.

  His shelmir made it impossible to bond him to her in any way. She had tried casting the shelmir bond on him at the ravine, but the spell fizzled and faded away.

  He was already bonded to someone.

  Morana just needed to find out whom that “someone” was. And she had a good idea.

  Scrying into her large crystal, Morana used her magic to peer into Jareth’s home, Crichton Manor. She found him easily enough, chatting in the drawing room with the earl of Thornbury over brandy while a hearty fire crackled in the fireplace. And off to the side sat Jessica Belstowe, stealing shy glances at Jareth. He returned them boldly.

  Morana smiled, revealing her long, white fangs. “Hello there, my dear,” she croaked, rubbing her cold hands together. “Caught yourself a duke, have you?”

  Cutting a lock of her hair, Morana held it to a nearby candle and allowed it to be consumed by the flame. “Not for long,” she whispered in the gloom.

  * * *

  A sudden chill crept up Jessica’s skin and she shivered, despite the fact she was sitting close to the fire. Had a draft whisked its way through the drawing room? The men didn’t seem to notice, still talking about this and that over brandy. The tingling that followed the chill was unmistakable.

  There was magic in the air.

  A dark dread overwhelmed her. Only one person she knew of could wield magic. Morana.

  If the witch was scrying inside Jareth’s estate, then she would know for sure who his shelmir was. Jessica swallowed hard. What, exactly, would she do to her? Perhaps she didn’t want to know. She was in danger if she stayed here, Jessica was sure of it.

  Glancing at Jareth, her heart fell. He would never fully be hers. True, he had kissed her and said words that shouldn’t have been spoken before marriage, but that was easily explained away by the bond they shared. It was strong. The pull to be with the one you were enchanted to was almost overpowering.

  Now that Morana had found her, would she have to flee? Would she have to leave Jareth and break her promise that she’d marry him?

  Sniffling, Jessica stood abruptly, trying hard not to cry. Both men stopped in mid-sentence to look at her and stand themselves.

  “Please forgive me,” she said through a smile. “But I am very tired. I believe I will take my leave of you gentlemen.”

  “Of course, my dear,” Thornbury bellowed, holding out his arms. Jessica accepted his hug with a smile. “You and the duke will make a fine match.”

  “Thank you, Uncle, for your blessing.”

  Jessica turned to Jareth and her heart began to pound. The man threatened her very sanity as she gazed into his ardent eyes. He’d lived through a hell she could not even fathom. However that did not tarnish him in her sight. In truth, being bonded to Jareth had intensified her feelings for him.

  “Will you do me the honor of kissing me goodnight, my sweet?”

  His voice turned her knees to butter. Before she knew it, she stood before him and the entire room fell away. Nothing existed but him as he framed her face with his hands. He gave her a half-smile and slowly lowered his head.

  The soft brush of his lips against hers made her whimper. She hoped her uncle hadn’t heard it. His kiss was chaste and warm, demanding nothing, but giving much. Jessica’s heart yearned for his love as he held her in his arms. She clutched hard onto his collar and stood on her toes to get closer to him. Before she gave in to temptation and deepened the kiss, Jareth stepped away, giving her a lazy grin.

  “Good night, my sweet,” he said as he raised his brow to her. Jessica could have sworn she blushed three shades of red. Her cheeks were on fire. She’d forgotten her uncle was in the room with them.

  “Y—yes,” she stammered. “Good night, Your Grace.”

  “Jareth,” he corrected softly.

  She turned and all but fled the room. She didn’t stop until she was up the ornate staircase, down the long hall, and safe behind the door to her chambers. Taking deep breaths, Jessica tried hard to calm her thundering heart.

  Chapter Nine

  Jessica had just blown out the candle on her nightstand when a soft knock disturbed the silence. With a groan, she tried to sink down into the pillows as if she could hide. Was it Jareth? Concentrating on him, she couldn’t feel their bond through the door. It was not Jareth. Then who could it be? And why did they think to disturb her now?

  “Who is it?” she called out.

  There was a slight pause before a man’s voice called to her from the other side. “It is I, my lady. Lord Charles.”

  “Charles?” she said, knitting her brow. “What are you doing here?” Rising from the bed, she donned a robe over her shift and stood by the door. She did not open it.

  “I must speak to you. Will you open your door?”

  Jessica gasped. “No! I am in naught but my bedclothes.”

  He sighed. “I must know, Jessica. Do you have feelings for Crichton? Did he trick you into a marriage with him?”

  Biting the inside of her lip, Jessica leaned against the door. “He did not trick me,” she said softly. It was I who tricked him, she thought. “And yes, I do have feelings…for him.”

  “I do not believe he cares for you,” Charles said. Jessica gasped.

  “How dare you speak of him so casually?”

  “Please forgive me, my lady,” Charles said, his voice muffled. “But he was betrothed to your sister. I doubt there has been time for any true feelings for you to emerge. I fear he wants you only because you are Cassandra’s blood.”

  A shiver raced down Jessica’s spine at his words. She’d wondered the very same thing. “Charles, I will not have you speaking of my fiancé so. Please apologize.”

  She could hear him clearing his throat. “I am sorry, my lady,” he whispered.

  Charles was a good man, Jessica knew, but there was no possible way she could be happy with him, not when every waking moment of her life would be spent thinking of Jareth Moreland due to the bond they shared.

  “Thank you,” she whispered through the door. With another shiver, she rubbed her arms, recognizing the feeling. “Charles, you must go!”

  “But—”

  “Jareth is coming.”

  “How do you know?”

  Jessica stomped her foot in frustration. “I just do. Please leave. Now!”

  “I will always think fondly of you, my lady,” he said a moment before his soft footfalls faded down the hall.

  “Now isn’t that comforting?”

  Jessica shrieked and spun around, clutching at her chest with both hands. That was Jareth’s voice. He was in the room. Dark shadows moved next to her, and her tingling skin told her it was him. How had he entered her chambers without her knowledge?

  “Jareth!” she exclaimed, breathless.

  “Yes, it is I, my sweet. Although I must admit I do not know whether I
should be insanely jealous that Lord Charles has visited your chambers, or if I should be immensely flattered that you defended me to him.”

  Before she knew it, Jareth was in front of her, pressing her back against the door. Jessica’s breath came in sharp gasps as she strained to look into his eyes. There was no moon tonight and the room was shrouded in darkness. That didn’t stop her body from responding to him, however.

  “You shouldn’t be here,” she managed to say past the lump in her throat. “Why are you here?”

  Jareth chuckled and her nipples tightened in response. It was as if every nerve ending in her body begged for his touch.

  “I am here to seduce you, my sweet. Why else would I be lurking in your room?”

  “But…but I didn’t feel you until a few moments ago.”

  “Indeed,” Jareth said, and Jessica could picture him smiling down at her. “Do you think the only way to wander Crichton Manor is through the public halls? There are many secret passages in this old, drafty mansion.”

  Jareth pressed closer, and without the hindrance of her heavy skirts, she could feel every inch of him.

  “You shouldn’t be in here,” she repeated, finding herself clutching onto his shoulders.

  “Perhaps you are right,” he whispered. “Do you wish me to leave?” His breath tickled her throat as he leaned in closer. His warm lips were on her neck, kissing and nuzzling her. Jessica held on to the back of his head either for support or to hold him there, she wasn’t sure which.

  Her senses whirled from being so close to him. She could feel his hand dipping inside her robe to rub her nipple with his thumb through the thin fabric of her shift. Jessica shivered as a fire ignited between her legs. If he left her now, she’d surely go mad.

  “No, Jareth,” she whispered into his ear. “I do not wish you to leave. Please don’t leave me.”

  He bent down and swept her into his arms, standing as if she weighed nothing. The room swirled around her head and she couldn’t think of much beyond the man holding her. He was going to take her. Now. Tonight. Was she ready for this?