She scoffed and pressed closer. “He and Wen didn’t seem to care that I might walk in on them.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and moved her off his lap to sit beside him. “But he doesn’t have Wen anymore.”
Her face heated with shame. For that one moment, when she was completely lost in Finn’s kiss, she had forgotten about Wen. “You are right. I’m so sorry for my behavior.”
He lifted her chin with his finger. “There is no need to be sorry. And I for one would love to continue kissing you but not here. We need privacy.”
She smiled at his words. “Have you got somewhere in mind?”
He took her hand in his. “My room is furthest from Andrew’s.” When his thumbed stroked her palm she could barely think. “We need a private place to talk. To talk about our future.”
“Just talk,” she teased.
“Don’t tempt me.” He leaned in for another kiss. She loved the taste of him. He broke the second kiss with a groan. “Will you come to my room at midnight?”
She rose to her feet eager to get to her bedchamber and organize a bath. “I could find my way blindfolded.” She skipped to the door. “I’ll expect more than talk. I’ve waited years for you. I am not waiting another twelve months.”
* * *
Once she’d left the room, he tried to get his raging body under control. Why had he never noticed Galina’s sensuality before? He laid his head on the back of the settee and closed his eyes, smiling at a memory of Wen and her teasing him about Galina. She was right. Galina was perfect for him. Wen would have loved to be here to see him wake up to find the woman who would complete him had been in front of him all along. How he missed his sister.
He would have to maintain rigid self-control this evening. He wanted nothing more than to make love to Galina, but what if he got her with child? They could not marry for another ten months at least.
He was about to stand and take his leave when the door opened and Andrew entered. “I thought I would have missed everyone.”
Finn smiled a welcome. “The ladies have gone to bed, both of them exhausted from the day. Where have you been?”
Andrew poured himself a drink, and one for Finn, and then took the chair by the fire. “I’ve been sitting in the crypt with Wen. I wanted to tell her about her—our— son’s baptism.”
Finn didn’t know what to say to that so he said nothing, and merely drank.
“May I ask what your intentions are towards Galina. I did not know you’d developed such a tender for my sister.”
Finn smiled. “Neither did I until two days ago. It hit me like a rampaging bull.”
“Wen told me you would marry Galina. I thought she was mad, but my darling girl was always right—except about having an easy birthing.”
Finn’s smile died. “I will of course wait until after the mourning period to wed Galina.”
Andrew stared into the flames and swirled the whisky in his glass. “You asked me the other day about Wen’s ring.”
“My mother’s ring. It goes to her upon Wen’s death.”
Andrew ignored his words. “You asked me where it is.” Andrew loosened his cravat and pulled up a gold chain. Hanging at the end of the chain was the emerald ring. “Wen gave it to me the night of our wedding. She said as long as it was round my neck, she would always be with me.”
Finn’s stomach lurched. Now he understood.
“You don’t need a ring to know Wen is with you. You have loads of memories, and you have Jake.”
Andrew merely clamped his fist around the ring. “Has your mother even asked if Emily wants this ring? It means more to me than any of you.”
Andrew made sense. Finn doubted Emily would ever wear, or even want the ring, certainly not after it did nothing but bring bad luck to Wen. But his mother…
“I’ll talk to mother. Perhaps she can be made to see sense. I’m sure it’s just her grief which is seeing her want it back. Like you, it makes her feel closer to Wen. A child is not supposed to die before a parent.”
He rose to take his leave when Andrew’s next words stopped him cold. “You do that. Make your mother understand. You can’t have both. If you take the ring, I keep Galina for as long as I need her. You know with only a few words I could make her stay. Her compassion, and love for Jake and I, will see Galina do her duty.”
With barely concealed rage he uttered softly, “Her duty? Her duty? Where is your duty to her? She’s already older than your wife was when she gave birth, and now you want to ruin her happiness.”
Andrew thumped the arm of his chair. “Happiness. I’m barely managing to keep living.”
“That is not fair. It’s not Galina’s fault, nor mine. Nor my mother’s.”
His so-called friend merely emptied his whisky glass in one gulp and then said. “If you love her enough, you’ll choose her. It should not even be a difficult choice. I’d have not even needed to think. It would have been Wen—always—Wen. From where I’m sitting you don’t deserve Galina.”
Finn walked and leaned down so he was in Andrew’s face. “I shouldn’t have to choose. You should do what’s right and give my mother back the ring that belongs to her and you should be happy for Galina and I.” He stepped back before his fists did the talking. “My sister would not recognize the man I see sitting in this chair.”
With that he stalked from the room. He didn’t want to do anything or say anything that would destroy years of friendship, and he had to keep remembering Andrew was destroyed by Wen’s death. He just prayed his friend would recover. Andrew would put himself in an early grave if he carried on drinking while filled with such anger.
He definitely had something to talk to Galina about now. He would never let her brother emotionally blackmail them both. Waiting the twelve months would be hard enough.
Chapter 7
Galina could barely keep her hands from shaking as she pulled her slippers on her bare feet. She had left her hair down, and she’d brushed it a hundred times until it shone. She wore no jewelry, merely a sheer linen night rail and a silk robe. She felt daring and wanton.
As she snuck through the darkened halls of Banff Castle, she shook, but not from cold. Butterflies rioted in her stomach and eagerness was swimming in her veins. Tonight she would learn the secrets of love. Wen had told her it was like touching heaven. Just being with Finn was like a dream come true.
She needed no candle because she knew these halls backwards. It took her only a few minutes to reach Finn’s bedchamber. She stood outside his door and wondered if she should knock. Realizing that might alert someone to her presence, she took a deep breath and lifting the latch she slipped into his room.
She didn’t know what to expect, perhaps Finn already in bed, or sitting on the bed in a robe, or better yet naked for her to peruse, but instead she found him sitting fully clothed staring into the fire. He hadn’t even noticed her entrance. So much for the idea of turning his head.
He didn’t see her until she dropped to her knees at his feet. Slowly he looked up. They stared at each other, and time seemed to slow to a halt.
He reached out and ran his fingertip slowly down her nose over her lips and down her chest. “You will be mine.”
“I’m already yours. You’ve held my heart for years. That’s why I have never wed. How could I, unless it was you?”
She watched as Finn shivered, his blue eyes darkening in answer to the searing awareness between them. He bent his head slowly and pressed those magic lips to the curve of her neck.
Her whole body quivered with the most thrilling response. He whispered, “I want you so much, and we will share pleasure, but I will not make you fully mine. We cannot marry until we are out of mourning for Wen because you could get with child.”
“Just being here with you is enough for now. I’ve waited a long time; I can wait for more.”
He laughed. “Well, I bloody can’t,” and he stood, collecting her in his arms, and laid her on his bed.
Finn’s heart
slammed in his chest as he pressed her down on the soft mattress. His member throbbed like it would burst from the sight of her creamy skin visible through the fine linen of her night rail. She was beautiful. Sinking onto his knees before her, he was stunned by the unexpected reverence for her. He stroked a hand over the linen shielding her breast from his hand.
He watched her as she held his gaze and he began kissing her chest all over, nuzzling her round, lovely breasts through the linen. “You are so beautiful.” All the while, he caressed her shapely legs and sleek hips while gathering up the linen as his hands trailed up her thighs.
Starring at her in wondrous delight, he bent lower and kissed her knee.
“Ooh,” she sighed as she tipped her head back, reveling in his attentions. Her pale skin became flushed, and her lips begged for his kiss.
A light, breathless laugh escaped her as he skimmed his lips slowly up her silken limbs, leaving a love bite on the soft flesh of her inner thigh. If he could not make her his then he would at least mark her so she would think of only him for the duration of his stay at least.
Pushing away thoughts of their upcoming separation, he let his mind focus back on the succulent feast of flesh before him. He touched her dewy core with his fingertip, reverently parting the delicate fair curls that veiled her womanhood. His body ignited on the knowledge he was the first, and by God he’d be the only man to look upon her this way.
Arousing, intoxicating, her scent drew him closer. He could not stop the trembling in his limbs. Before he totally lost control, he spread her thighs wider and bent to taste her. Smooth, sweet, and pebble-hard he ran his tongue over her fiery center, adoring her innocent gasps and little cries, losing himself in the bliss of introducing her to passion.
His male pride soared at every soft sigh and every rise and fall of her hips. She had natural sensuality and he fell in love with her even more.
He yearned to possess her, to make every inch of her his, but knew it could possibly destroy them both. At this very moment twelve months felt like an eternity—and if Andrew emotionally blackmailed Galina to stay, it could be longer.
He could hardly bear to think of it and blocked it from his mind as her moans built in volume. Her fingers laced in his hair pulling tighter as she cried out, “Finn…” When her release came, he got drunk on the nectar flowing on his tongue.
He gently kissed down her leg and sat back on his haunches watching her through his own pounding desire. She lay on his bed her arms spread wide reveling in her first climax. She let out a soft, breathless laugh, which tickled his brain. He watched her wishing he could sink between those thighs and lose himself in her warmth.
“That was thoroughly wicked and thoroughly enjoyable. I can’t imagine anything better.”
“If we didn’t have to wait months to wed, I’d strip off my clothes and prove making love to you is so much better.”
She rose up, propped on her elbows as drowsy laughter tumbled from her lips. “I suspect now that I have had a taste of passion the months will crawl by.”
At the mention of their parting desire dissolved. He crawled up the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. “About that. We have a problem.”
Like the changeable Scottish weather, her smile faded and a wistful sadness crept into her eyes. “Andrew doesn’t want me to leave him. I can understand why. He would be here, alone, with his sorrow. I’m not sure twelve months will be enough time to morn all he has lost.”
Andrew was right. Galina’s compassion would keep her from him. “He told me tonight that I can have the ring or you.”
“But the ring is not yours, it’s your mother’s.”
He rolled onto his back and sighed. “He knows I am the one to request it back. He thinks to keep the ring because I will choose you. But I can’t. I can’t let mother down. She is desperate to get the damn thing back for some reason.”
She rolled into his side. “I can understand. Surely you as a man can too. Men all push to have sons to carry on your lineage. This is her lineage. She must be so proud of the heritage behind this ring.” She kissed his cheek. “Plus, it was Wen’s. That’s the problem here. Both Andrew and your mother are grieving and are clinging to anything that keeps Wen in their lives.”
“So what are you saying? That I should choose the ring?” He pulled her close. “I want to marry you as soon as possible. Will you let Andrew emotionally blackmail your future?”
“Are you not prepared to wait for me?”
He closed his eyes against the knowledge he was losing this argument. “I would wait for you forever. I love you.”
She sighed. “Then you have your answer. You and I will wait. But I promise you I won’t let Andrew hold me from becoming your wife for too long. We shall review at the end of the mourning period.”
He turned to her in silence and stared into her eyes. “A lot can happen in twelve months.” The fact of the matter was he was upset—not because he could not make love to her, but because he was frightened. Death had come visiting to someone young. What if it happened again—to Galina and he had wasted so much time without her already. Would Wen have wanted that? He thought his sister would have wanted them to be happy.
He felt foolish for thinking it, but tomorrow morning, first thing, he would visit the glen he’d found Galina in, and make a wish.
She squeezed his hand. As if reading his thoughts she added, “Then best we make the most of tonight,” and rolled on top of him. “You have sparked my imagination of what a lady might do with her mouth.”
Finn couldn’t help it. He burst out laughing. “I shall very much look forward to introducing you to the world of pleasure.”
And he set about teaching her some of the joy to be given, and found to his absolute delight that she was an apt and eager pupil.
Chapter 8
The next morning, for once, Galina slept in. She had slipped back to her room at dawn, tired but very satisfied. She stretched like a contented cat, and a dreamy smile made her lips curl. Being with Finn had been nothing like her dreams, but then she’d been so innocent of the world of pleasure.
No wonder men and women gave into temptation all the time.
She learned that making love, although they did everything but, with the person, who owned your heart, was like touching heaven. Last night had brought her closer to Finn. He was in her heart now and always would be.
Her smile died as she suddenly realized this is what Andrew had lost.
Andrew! Perhaps tip toeing around his grief had not been the right thing to do. She knew in her soul Wen would be upset at the way he was behaving. She would want him to live a full life, love their son and remember her—but find love again. Not wallow in misery.
Enough was enough. She would not let Andrew ruin what she could build with Finn. It was time her big brother learned a few home truths. Lady Stuart deserved the ring back, just as Finn and her deserved to be happy. Wen would not even want them to wait the twelve months before they wed. She’d have been so thrilled to see Galina marry Finn.
Throwing back the covers she called for her maid and began to dress.
* * *
Finn raced across the fields as if trying to catch the wind. As he'd held Galina close last night, he'd understood he had a far bigger wish to make at the glen. He’d meant what he said when he said he’d wait for Galina. His heart was so full of her he could never think of another woman.
He slowed his horse as he entered the beautiful glen. The sun twinkled through the trees and the sounds of the stream created a musical background.
He dismounted and tied his horse, then looked around. Suddenly he felt a tad foolish. Was there somewhere specific he had to stand, or sit, or kneel to have his wish heard? Then how would he know if the wish was granted?
He started to walk towards the center of the glen, out from under the tree feeling like the King’s jester, when he swore he heard a woman whisper, “I hear your heart, Lord Stuart. It is beating strong, but heavy with sorrow.�
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He looked round, and his heart raced in his chest because he saw no one. He was going mad.
The siren voice came again. “I know what it is you wish for. I have the power to grant that wish if I deem you are worthy. Why don’t you say the words out loud?”
Was he dreaming this? But the brook still babbled and the flies still buzzed. He pinched himself. He was definitely awake. “I want to live a long and happy life with Galina and ensure all our children are safely born.”
The feminine voice cackled with laughter. “You are greedy. That’s not all you wish for. You wish your friend’s suffering would end. You want him to remember your sister with love, but be able to move on with his life and be happy with someone else.”
“What is wrong with that? Andrew is still young and it will be a lonely life without a woman who loves him by his side. If I can only have one wish then I’d gladly see Andrew have a life filled with love again, because I know how it feels to be alone. When you find love it changes your world. I know because I love his sister.” Finn waited, torn between the two people he loved. He longed for an answer.
Finally the voice said, “Your wish for your friend speaks well of you. But I can only grant a person one wish.”
Finn clenched his fists. Selfishly he wanted to ensure Galina was safe, that she would not die in childbirth like Wen. But Andrew… Realizing he needed Galina more than the air that he breathed he had an understanding of Andrew’s suffering.
“I feel your inner battle. You are a good man and a fine friend, Lord Stuart. Go now. Your wish for your friend I have granted. He will eventually recover and will once again experience a love that will last him a lifetime, but Wen will never be forgotten.”
“What about Galina? If I marry her will she be safe?”
“Do not worry. I can’t grant you another wish, but I have already granted Galina hers. She made a wish here not so long ago. I know you will both live a long and happy life with many children.”
Highland Wishes And Dreams: Scottish Regency Novella Page 4