She looked down at the improvised bed and grudgingly nodded. “I suppose.”
His warm fingers grazed her cheek. “And we will not be disturbed here.”
Brenna felt something akin to pain take root in her chest. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, yet she would not gain her ultimate goal that way. She would indeed find pleasure, but for how long? He would not make her his wife if she became his devoted slave.
Reluctantly she stepped away from him and sought a topic that would delay what she knew would soon come. “The race that is planned for the morrow—can anyone enter?”
“Yea.”
“Can I?”
Garrick started to laugh, but thought better of it. “Nay. Any man may enter, but no woman.”
“And I imagine no slaves either?” she asked, rather piqued.
Would this woman ever let pass a day without showing her temper? he wondered. “’Tis true.”
“But I could conceal my appearance, Garrick. At home I was oft mistaken for a boy by those who knew me not. And ’twould give me great pleasure to best your brother.”
“How did you know my brother will race?” he asked her pointedly.
Brenna blanched and quickly turned away. How could she admit she overheard them talking of the race without admitting she understood their tongue quite well? “Will he not?”
Fortunately, Garrick let her question suffice for an answer. “He will, but then, so will I. Do you wish to best me also, mistress?”
Brenna glanced at him sideways. “I suppose it would not do to beat you where all could see.” Then she added with an impish grin, “As long as you know that I could do it, that is enough.”
Garrick burst into laughter. “I will accept that challenge one day soon, wench. But for now, I have a much more interesting sport in mind.”
He reached for her, but Brenna ducked beneath his arm and moved to the entrance of the stall, ready to push aside the panel and flee. She faced him and put up a hand to try and halt his pursuit.
“You know I will not lay down with you willingly, Garrick. I will sleep outside if I must.”
Garrick moved one step closer, but that was all. “I have enjoyed your presence beside me this day, Brenna,” he said in a level tone. “I had hoped for even greater pleasure this night. But I will not chase you for it.” He lay down on the straw and motioned for her to join him. “Come. You had best sleep while you can. The morrow will be a long day.”
Brenna had not expected Garrick to give up, certainly not so easily. She let down her guard and almost sighed in regret. She doubted she would get much sleep being so near him, but she was determined at least to try. However, Garrick was on top of her before she was even fully prone, his weight pinning her securely beneath him.
She glared up at his look of triumph, her eyes darkening quickly. “You tricked me!”
“Nay, wench,” he chuckled. “I only said I would not chase you, and I have not.”
His lips came down on hers to silence any further arguments. She tried to turn her head aside, but he cupped her face between his large hands as his tongue plundered her mouth. The very pressure of his body, his strength, his desire—these were intoxicants that helped melt away her objections. And then even these were quickly forgotten as he moved to her side and slipped one hand into her bodice.
Her belt was opened and her long skirt raised, and before she even had time to think of the folly of it, they both lay devoid of clothing. His hands moved gently over her body, caressing, molding with skillful fingers that set fires where they touched and brought moans to her lips. She did not care. Her love for him was all that mattered, her desire, her intense need to feel his hard, throbbing shaft inside her.
And when at last he drove deep into her, Brenna cried out with the ecstasy of it. It was as natural as if they were made only for one another. She drained him of his strength, and her will was his. Even the after-glow was beautiful as they lay pressed together in exhaustion, breathing heavily, contentment flowing through them.
Several minutes passed, but Garrick did not move from her. Brenna finally opened her eyes to find him staring down at her, a soft yet strange expression on his face. She wondered about that expression only briefly before the words she had cried out in passion came back to her.
Her first reaction was panic, and she pushed at Garrick. She wanted to flee, to hide. She had not planned to declare her feelings this way, and certainly not this soon. She was not sure of him yet.
Her hands could not budge him, and at last he bound them at her sides to still her. “Did you speak the truth? Do you love me, Brenna?”
She closed her eyes against his penetrating stare. She could lie, but that would not gain her his trust. And she needed that above all else if they were ever to be truly happy.
“Yea, I love you.” She whispered the same words she had cried earlier.
There, it was done, and now she felt good about it. She opened her eyes and found he was smiling tenderly at her. She took heart from this.
