His groin ached to near bursting as his manhood strained against her waist. Pleasure and agony ripped through him in perfect harmony. Never before had a woman been so important to him, and yet, in the few days he had known Isabella, he ached at the thought of losing her. And he nearly had.
Isabella clung to Merrick like he was her lifeline. And in many ways he was. He was all that separated her from complete aloneness. She kissed him hungrily, not wanting the embrace to end. She poured all of her relief and fear into his hands as she melted against him.
She felt her back rock against the wall of the cottage as Merrick walked her backward. Her hands delved into his hair and she luxuriated in the feel of the short strands. She was determined to experience every inch of him, touch him, feel him.
Her shirt fell open under his persistent hands. A cool draft blew over her breasts, the tips hardening. His thumb brushed over a taut nipple, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her body.
He tore his mouth away from hers, taking in a ragged breath. Then he lowered his head and flicked his tongue over a nipple. She gasped then cried out as he sucked it between his teeth.
She gripped the back of his head, holding him tightly against her breast. Afraid he would let go, afraid that she wouldn’t stop him.
She needed him. Wanted him.
Slowly, he drew away, gently pulling her shirt back down to cover her. His expression was unreadable. She was unable to discern whether he regretted his actions or if he regretted ending the kiss.
He rubbed his thumb over her swollen lips and backed away, putting distance between them.
“Don’t say it,” she said fiercely. If he so much as offered an apology, she would kick his teeth out.
“Say what?” he asked, a perplexed look marring his face.
“You’re sorry.”
“It would be a lie.”
Satisfaction settled comfortingly over her like her mother’s warm hugs. Though she fought to contain her reaction to his admission, her lips battled upward into a smile.
“We should go,” he said, bringing reality crashing down on the both of them. “We’ve obviously been found out.”
“Where to now?” she asked.
“It matters little that they know we are in Dover now that we are already here. We should go see the captain I told you about. If we can get on a ship with no mishap, our chances are as good as if we boarded in another port.”
She nodded her agreement.
He bent and retrieved the map from the floor and carefully folded it. Then he handed it to her.
She curled her fingers around it, glad to have it back once again. It represented her entire future. She had taken a great chance in hiding it on Merrick, but she had been right to do so.
“Are you sure you are all right?” he asked, cupping her elbow and leading her around the fallen bodies on the floor.
She flinched when Merrick bent down to retrieve his knife from the chest of one of the dead men. As if it were nothing, he wiped the blade clean on the trousers of the man then tucked it back into his boot.
The deaths of the men in themselves did not bother her. Though she wasn’t bloodthirsty by nature, her parents’ murders had profoundly affected her. It was a given that more death would follow as she exacted her revenge.
But what nagged at her was the different man Merrick had become right in front of her eyes. Gone was the care and consideration he had shown her, and it its place was a cold-blooded killer. A man used to exacting punishment in a methodical way. He hadn’t paused at all as he dispatched the first two in a frightfully efficient manner.
Which side was the real Merrick? Was she wrong to put so much faith in this man?
“I only brought one horse,” he explained as they stepped into the cold. “We’ll have to ride double.”
He helped her up then swung up behind her. Reaching around her, he took hold of the reins and started the horse into motion. She settled against his chest, needing the warmth and comfort her offered.
His right arm tightened around her as he transferred the reins to his left hand. “Rest,” he murmured against her hair.
Needing no further encouragement, she laid her head back and closed her eyes. The events of the past few hours had left her badly shaken and in great need of his strength. She put aside her misgivings for now and offered a silent prayer that they were able to hire the captain Merrick spoke of and depart quickly for Leaudor.
Her bravado left her in one fell swoop. She sagged precariously against him, trembling in earnest. She felt him press a kiss to her head and lost all control of the emotion that strained to break free. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she hiccupped as she attempted to call back a sob.
