Luciana gave the gate another shake, then yelped as a big rat ran past her onto the beach. Calm? If anything happened to Leo, it would kill her.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Leo was grateful he’d thought of marking their descent into the catacombs. For half an hour, they’d been winding through passages lined with shelves stacked with bones. These were the more recent dead, Jensen had explained, for over the years, people had grown reluctant to venture into the depths of the catacombs for fear they would be lost down there forever.
It was a legitimate concern, Leo thought, as they veered one way, then another each time the path forked. Father Rune could have hidden down here for weeks without being detected.
Nevis had tied one end of a ball of twine to the entrance of the catacombs, and he’d been unfurling it as they went. Already, he’d gone through three balls. Brody could probably sniff his way out, but they’d all agreed that having a second lifeline was for the best.
Brody was in the lead, his nose to the ground, while Leo and Jensen held torches to light their way. They had finally reached a series of large chambers, each one lined with shelves of more bones.
The air was chilly, as it usually was underground, but Leo wondered if part of the chill came from the presence of ghosts. If that was the case, then poor Ana had to be terrified.
Up ahead, he spotted an iron gate extending across the room, separating this room from the next. He held his torch up high. The next room had a back wall, so it was a dead end. She should be here.
“Ana!” His voice echoed about the chamber.
Brody suddenly halted with a jerk.
Arrows burst out of shelves in the chamber walls. With lightning speed, Leo jumped back, pulling Jensen with him. The arrows thudded into bare wooden shelves on the opposite side, passing several feet above Brody, who had flattened himself on the stone floor. A human would have been killed.
“Is everyone all right?” Nevis asked.
“Yes.” Leo lowered his torch and spotted another wire. “There’s a second trap. Move back.”
Brody scooted back to join them, then Leo tossed a bone at the second wire.
Another barrage of arrows shot across the room.
Jensen eased closer to the side to inspect the walls. “Someone emptied the bones from this section of shelves and fastened several crossbows.”
“I knew it,” Nevis muttered. “That damned priest kidnapped Lady Tatiana so he could lure Leo to his death.”
“But where is she?” Leo demanded. The next room was empty.
Loud footsteps echoed in the distance as someone hurried toward them. He must have been following their lifeline.
Nevis and Jensen drew their swords.
“Identify yourself!” Leo yelled.
“It’s me, Edmund!” His voice sounded in the distance. “Come quick!”
Leo ran with the others, following the trail of twine. After a few minutes, they found Edmund coming toward them.
“Lady Tatiana’s father arrived,” Edmund reported. “He went up on the wall walk to look around and spotted something strange happening on the beach.”
Leo took off at lightning speed while Nevis yelled, “Wait for us! It could be another trap!”
As soon as Leo cleared the catacombs, he dropped his torch into a pail of water and kept going. He darted across the courtyard and drawbridge, headed for the beach.
At the top of the path, he halted. A line had been drawn in the sand, parallel to the shore. He scanned the beach, but there was no one there. Then another line began to appear, and his breath hitched. A stick was digging through the sand, but it was moving on its own. Was one of Ana’s ghostly spies at work?
He eased slowly down the path, not wanting to frighten the ghost away from its chore, for he had no doubt that this was somehow the key to finding Ana.
The new line connected to the tip of the straight line, then another line began. An arrow? If so, it was pointed at the rocks at the base of the promontory. Had Ana found the tunnel leading from the catacombs?
“Ana!” he shouted as he raced down the path. The line stopped, and the stick fell to the ground.
“Leo!” Ana yelled. “I’m here!”
His heart surged with a mixture of relief and joy as he charged toward the rocks. He skirted a few boulders, then found the narrow opening in the rock wall of the promontory. A few feet in, an iron gate crossed the tunnel, and behind it, Ana was jumping up and down, grinning.
“Leo!” She reached through the bars.
“Ana!” He ran toward her, grabbing her arm with his gloved hand.
“I was so worried about you.” She pulled her arm back to clasp his hand with her own.
“Careful.”
“I’m fine.” She interlaced her fingers with his. “See?”
He could touch her bare skin with his gloves? “Ana.” He reached his left hand through the bars to touch her face for the first time. “By the Light, I was so afraid I’d lost you.”
She nuzzled against his gloved hand, her eyes twinkling. “You, the mighty warrior, afraid?”
“Hell, yes. I was scared shitless.” He glanced at the gate. “What’s wrong? Is it locked?”
“Rusted shut. I was trying to escape so I could warn you. Father Rune left a trap—”
“We found it. Don’t worry, everyone’s fine.”
She exhaled with relief. “Thank the goddess—I mean—”
“You can thank the goddesses. Hell, I’ll thank them, too. I’ll thank every deity I can think of, as long as you’re safe.”
Her smile wobbled as tears filled her eyes. “I-I wish I could hold you.”
His breath caught. He wished he could do a lot more than holding. “I’ll get you out.” He grasped the bars and gave the gate a shake. It held fast.
She sighed. “I tried heating up the hinges with my torch, but it didn’t work. It was so frustrating, because I wanted to stop you before you found the trap.”
His brave, beautiful, and clever Ana. “Step back. Way back. I’m going to blast the gate open.”
As she retreated down the tunnel, he removed the glove from his right hand. Lightning power built inside him, surging down his arm till sparks crackled around his fingertips.
He extended his hand toward the first hinge and let loose a streak of energy. With a small explosion, the hinge shattered.
“Leo!” Nevis shouted behind him.
He glanced back to see Nevis, Jensen, Edmund, and his personal guard rushing toward him with their swords drawn. Ana’s father was with them, and Brody trotted beside them, barking.
Leo lifted his hand, sparks flickering around his fingers. “I’m breaking open the gate. Keep your distance.”
They stopped and peered around some boulders to watch him as he blasted away a second hinge, then the latch on the other side. Grasping two bars, he ripped the gate out and tossed it aside.
“Leo!” Ana ran toward him and threw her arms around his shoulders.
He caught her in his arms, angling his head away so his bare skin wouldn’t touch hers. “Ana.”
He could hold her forever, and it wouldn’t be enough. Should he tell her he loved her? Not now, when they had an audience. Brody was still barking, and the other men were cheering.
Go away, he thought, tightening his hold on her and swaying from side to side. She was warm. And soft. And mine. His groin swelled.
You can’t bed her, he reminded himself. You can’t—he stiffened with a sudden realization. His right hand was still bare. It was pressed against her back between her shoulder blades. Perhaps her gown was protecting her, but her long braid of hair was brushing against his bare skin each time they swayed.
“My dear!” Lucas Vintello approached them with tears in his eyes.
“Father!” Ana released Leo and hugged the former duke.
“I was so afraid.” Tears ran down her father’s face.
“I’m fine. I—” She lowered her voice. “I’ll tell you more later.”
Leo figured she was referring to her ghostly spies, like the one who had drawn the arrow. But her secrets were not foremost in his mind right now. He kept thinking about her hair brushing against his bare skin. Did this mean he could touch her without killing her?
She hadn’t reacted at all. How could that be when a touch from his bare hand would kill anyone else? He thought back to all the times he had touched her. The first time he’d grabbed her arm to pull her away from the curtain wall, he’d been wearing gloves and she’d had on a cloak and nightgown. Three layers of insulation, so she hadn’t felt any pain. Later, in the tower room, he’d taken hold of her arm. His glove and her sleeve had made two layers of insulation. And when he’d pressed her bare hand to his cock, only his breeches had separated them. In her bedchamber, she’d hugged his back, her bare hands pressed against his thin shirt. She’d never felt a shock. And just now, he’d touched her bare skin with his gloved hand. That would have caused most people to lose consciousness.
But not Ana.
Even so, he would have never risked touching her with his bare hand. Yet he had touched her hair, and she was unharmed. Could he touch her skin? He stared at her as he tugged on his glove.
“Pirate, you’re back!” Ana leaned over to give Brody a hug.
Jensen knelt on one knee and bowed his head. “Forgive me, my lady. I have failed you.”
“Nonsense.” She grabbed his arm to pull him to his feet. “I’m the one who sent you away.” She turned toward Leo. “Please don’t punish him. It was my fault I was captured.”
Leo could only nod in silence, for his mind was still reeling. If he could touch Ana, he could make love to her.
“Was it Father Rune?” Nevis asked.
“Yes.” Ana nodded. “He left the trap so he could escape before Leo returned. Oh, I should warn you. He said if you survived his trap and go after him, he’ll have another trap ready for you.”
“Bastard,” Nevis muttered.
“We’ll catch him,” Edmund boasted, then glanced at Leo. “Right, my lord?”
Leo nodded as he flexed his gloved hands. “Nevis, take your men and half of my personal guard. Edmund can go, too, if he likes. And Brody, if you’re up to it.”
The dog woofed.
Nevis’s eyes narrowed. “Aren’t you coming?”
Leo shifted his weight. He couldn’t admit in front of everyone that he was more desperate to bed his wife than catch an assassin. “I want to make sure Ana and her father are safe before I leave. Send Edmund back once you find the priest’s trail, and I’ll join you then.”
“Aye, my lord.” Nevis motioned to Leo’s personal guard. “Let’s go!” They ran toward the path leading to the fortress with Brody chasing after them.
“Give Brody some food before you leave!” Leo yelled after them. The dog shifter had to be exhausted, but perhaps he could shift into human form for an hour or so and ride a horse.
“Come, my dear.” The former duke wrapped an arm around Ana’s shoulders and led her up the path, with Jensen following close behind. “You’ve had a frightful day.”
She shuddered. “I’ve seen more bones, spiders, and rats than I ever cared to. All I want to do now is soak in a hot tub.”
Her father nodded. “You should stay in your room and rest. I’ll have some food brought up for you.”
Leo followed behind them, making his plans. If all went well, his marriage would be consummated tonight.
* * *
Thirty minutes later, Leo had bathed, shaved, and dressed in clean clothes in the communal bathhouse. On the way across the courtyard, he slipped on his gloves. His power was still high, so he’d have to be careful. Dammit, if he hurt Ana, he’d never forgive himself.
Outside Ana’s bedchamber, he found Jensen standing guard. “No disturbances for the rest of the night.”
“Yes, my lord.” Jensen gave him a sheepish look. “I won’t fail you again.”
“I believe you.” Leo let himself in the room and bolted the door. The room was empty, but the sound of splashing and female voices came from the dressing room. She was probably still bathing. A basket of food had been left on the table in front of the hearth, along with a bottle of wine and two goblets.
Leo started a fire, using his lightning power, then opened the bottle and filled the goblets. His gaze kept drifting toward the bed as his thoughts kept returning to the way her hair had brushed against his bare hand. Surely that meant he could touch her. If he could touch her, he could kiss her. He could make love to her.
His groin swelled. What was taking her so long? Was this one of her infamous long baths?
He pulled off his boots and draped his jacket across the back of a chair. The splashing noises continued. Dammit, he couldn’t wait any longer.
He cracked open the door to the dressing room. The maid was pouring a bucket of water over Ana’s head, and suds were streaming down her hair and bare back.
When he walked in, the maid yelped and dropped the bucket with a noisy clatter. “My lord.” She quickly curtsied.
With a gasp, Ana sank deeper into the tub of sudsy water.
He skirted the tub, taking in Ana’s stunned look and attempt to cover her breasts with her hands. Her long hair floated around her shoulders, and her bare knees stuck out above the water.
He was so tempted to touch her, but he knew from experience that his lightning power was somehow amplified in water. Instead, he rested his gloved hands on the side edges of the tub as he leaned forward.
Ana’s eyes widened as she pressed back against the tub. Was she afraid of him? He didn’t want her fear. He wanted her to ache for him as much as he ached for her.
“Was there something you needed? Some clothing?” She glanced toward the shelf where his clean clothes were stacked.
He let his gaze wander down her body, half hidden in the sudsy water. A slim waist that flared into rounded hips. Soft white thighs pressed together but not completely hiding the triangle of dark hair. His groin swelled thicker.
When his gaze returned to her face he didn’t hide the hunger he was feeling. “I need my wife.”
Her mouth parted with a quick breath that made her breasts rise. And his cock grow harder.
Slowly he straightened and handed a towel to Gabriella. “Help her out of the tub. No need to dress her. Then you are dismissed for the night.”
“Yes, my lord.” The maid took the towel and gave Ana a worried look.
Leo strode back into the bedchamber and paced in front of the fire. Could he touch her? Soon he would know.
He heard a door closing, the maid’s door. Then the dressing room door opened and Ana appeared in the doorway, her long hair loose and wet about her shoulders, her hands fisted around the towel to keep it wrapped around her. She hesitated, biting her lip.
“Come in.” He cleared his throat, for his voice had sounded harsh.
She stepped closer. “You look like you took a bath, too. Would you like something to eat?”
“Later.” He reached out a gloved hand to touch a strand of her wet hair. She looked wary, but not in pain. He touched her bare shoulder. “You’re all right?”
“Yes.” She bit her lip. “I should finish dressing.”
“No.” He removed his gloves.
She stiffened, her eyes widening. “Leo, what are you doing?”
“Trust me.” He reached a hand forward, and she turned her head, squeezing her eyes shut as if she was expecting a shock. By the Light, he hoped she wasn’t right.
His fingers touched her hair. She remained still, her eyes tightly shut. She hadn’t run away or stopped him. Even though she was clearly afraid, she’d let him touch her. Hell, she’d just risked death for him.
A surge of emotion nearly bowled him over. “Ana, I love you.”
With a gasp, her eyes flew open.
“Look.” His fingers glided down her hair. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”
“No.” She watched his hand and gasped again when he touch
ed her forearm. Slowly he grazed his fingers up her arm to her shoulder.
“Leo.” Her skin prickled with goose bumps.
“I can touch you.” His groin grew harder as his fingers skimmed along her collarbone. “I can kiss you.”
He let his fingertips descend to the edge of the towel that was wrapped around her, that she still held in place with a clenched fist between her breasts.
“Say yes.” He curled his fingers around the edge of the towel.
Her breasts pushed against his hand as her breathing grew more labored.
“Say yes.”
Her gaze met his, her eyes glittering with emotion. He wasn’t sure if it was fear, worry, or desire, but as long as she said yes—
“Yes.”
With a victorious growl, he ripped the towel off her and pulled her into his arms.
Chapter Thirty
There was something hard in his breeches again. And it was growing, pressing against her lower belly, easy to feel since she was naked. Completely naked. Luciana buried her face in his shirt. Good goddesses, she’d never felt so exposed before.
Her mind reeled with a thousand thoughts. How was Leo able to touch her? How come he was fully dressed when she was fully naked? Did married couples actually do this sort of thing in daylight? What shocking thing was he planning to do next? Right now, his hands were skimming up and down her back—her bare back because she was totally naked!
Don’t panic! She clutched his shirt with her fists. You survived the catacombs and your worst fear. You can do this. Thank the goddesses her mother had vanished with Tatiana before Leo had whisked off her towel. Apparently her mother had known what was coming next.
But I don’t! Luciana had said yes, but she wasn’t quite sure what she’d agreed to.
“Ana.”
She stiffened. “Yes?”
“Relax. You’re breathing as fast as a frightened rabbit. There’s nothing to worry about. We’ve already established that I can touch you without hurting you.”
She ventured a glance up at him. “How can that be?”
“I don’t know.” He brushed her wet hair back from her face. “And right now, I don’t care. I’ve wanted you since the minute I first saw you.” He smiled, his green eyes twinkling with warmth. “I knew you would be beautiful. And you’re softer than I ever imagined.”
How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days Page 29