“And your man”, he said. “The one that you were going to marry, did you make that up too?” The tension in the air seemed to thicken even more as he waited for her answer. He was watching her face carefully, and Nessa knew he would be able to tell if she lied. She suddenly wanted nothing but the truth between them. It felt…necessary.
“No”, she said softly. “I had a man before I came here, but he’s almost certainly given up looking for me by now.” She tried to keep the twinge of pain and regret out of her voice, but it wasn’t easy. Whatever had happened between her and Bridei—whateverwouldhappen—Nathan had been in her heart, and always would be.
Bridei’s fists clenched on the table so that his knuckles turned white. “What was his name?”
“His name was—isNathan.”
“Do you love him?” he demanded.
Nessa looked into dark eyes that were sparking with something close to fury, but she would not lie. Nathan deserved at least that much from her.
She dropped her gaze. “Aye.”
“I see.” Bridei’s nostrils flared and he clenched his jaw. “But now…now you will never see him again.”
Nessa looked up at him. That had sounded more like an order than a statement. “No, I guess I won’t.” She couldn’t help the tears that welled up. It wasn’t just because of Nathan. It was for Gram and Angus too. And even the friends she had left behind, and her gardens. She would never seeanyof them again. Just when she thought she was moving on, it all came back again. It was all still very close to the surface, and she knew it would be for a long time to come.
Bridei stared at her for a moment, but instead of offering any sort of comfort, he got up from the table and stalked towards the door and out into the night, without an explanation or even a backward glance.What had just happened?
She had hoped—perhaps foolishly—that the evening would end in another breathtaking kiss, but that definitely wasn’t in the cards.
She pushed her food around on her plate for a few minutes, then decided she would much rather be alone, away from the noise and curious eyes of the hall.
Brideiwalked down to the sea and stood on the rocky beach, where the waves lapped softly at the shore. The smell of brine filled his nose, but it couldn’t wash clean the scent of the woman he wanted so badly. That kiss had changed everything. He had only wanted to taste her, but instead he had opened a door that could not be closed again. A part of him knew that door would open, but he had kissed her anyway. He couldn’t have stopped himself if he had tried.
Four days without having her near had been torture. So how had he let himself believe he could simply enjoy her company and conversation at dinner? His whole body had trembled at the sight of her, and all he could think of was having her naked and writhing in pleasure beneath him. It was as if the very gods were calling on him to claim her, filling his mind with nothing else.
Andwhyhad he asked about her lover? He didn’t want to know that she had loved another, and now he felt the need to wipe away every memory of that man she loved, and leave her with onlyhim. He wantedhisscent on her skin,hisseed in her body,hismark in black ink over her left breast, proving to the world that she belonged only tohim. It was a need that boiled up inside him like a storm, until he could barely contain it. Her love for this other man was his enemy, and he was a born conqueror.
He didn’t understand the how or why, only that Meara had had a hand in dealing his fate, but he was through with denying that that was what it was: Fate. There was no other reason a woman would come to him in such a way, through time itself and by his own words reaching far into the future. Perhaps he had it all wrong. Perhaps he would be distracted in battle if hehadn’talready claimed her as his own. He turned and looked at the light spilling from the windows of the broch in the distance. If Nessa was there, then that was where he wanted to be too, even if only to sit by her side. That was when he made up his mind.
Moments later, he burst into the door, his gaze landing on the now empty table where he and Nessa had dined a short time ago. “Where is she?”
“Where is who, my King?” A lone woman was clearing the last of the plates from the hall. He thought her name was Gowen, but he couldn’t be bothered to remember. Not when he had just decided—mind, body and soul—to go after what he wanted. What heneeded. He was already deep into battle mode, ready to defeat and plunder.
“Nessa. Where has she gone?”
The woman looked apprehensive, and Bridei realized he must look a bit crazed. A darkly raging river of lust flowing in his veins would do that to a man.
“She…I think she said she was going for a walk to clear her head. She didn’t say where, but I know she likes to spend time with the horses, so you might…”
“Thank you.”
Bridei left the startled woman standing there and stormed back out the door and into the night.
Gowen, or whoever she was, was right, thank the gods. He could see Nessa there by the paddock as soon as he came up over the rise. And there was Lotex, leaning over the fence as far as he could reach, begging for her to scratch his ears. Bridei stood and watched them for a moment, a vision of beautiful woman and majestic steed outlined in soft moonlight. When he walked up silently behind her, she jumped and cried out, and Lotex gave a low snort and pawed the earth.
Nessa clasped a hand to her chest. “Oh, you scared me half to death! What are you doing here?”
Whatwashe doing here? He didn’t really know, only that he was going to take her away from that other man that she loved. He was going to make her forget this Nathan, and that she had ever loved him. Soon, she would remember no other man’s touch but his.
“I came foryou.”
Her eyes opened wide in surprise, and maybe a touch of fear. “You did? I thought…with the way you left so suddenly, that I’d said something to make you angry. Should I have waited? I’m sorry if I…”
He grabbed her by the back of the head, sifting his fingers through her hair until he could hold on tight and turn her face up to his. “I’m not angry.”
He crushed his lips against hers, so hard that she made a small sound of shock. But before she could even try to pull away from him, he slid his other arm around her waist and pulled her up against his body. With a groan, he angled his mouth so that she was forced to open for him, and his tongue found hers. He kissed her hard and long, backing her up against the fence and following her with the length of his body. He was hard. He was ready. She no longer had a choice. She was going to be his.
