Borderland Beauty (14 page)

Dominic’s breaths grew heavy and Lucy pried her eyes open to watch. With a final thrust, she felt him pulse inside of her and he pressed an unsteady kiss to her lips as he uttered her name.

Brushing her hands soothingly over his face, she watched as his blue eyes cleared and focused on her. His disarming grin snapped back into place and her stomach dropped. She could better deal with him when he was vulnerable.

“Ah, Luce…”

But yet, there it was. She had never seen it before but his eyes still reflected that same vulnerability. He was still sharing that part of himself with her. She could feel a smile spreading its way carefully across her mouth.

With a quick kiss, he shifted to her side and pulled her into him. He nestled her into the crook of his thighs as he kissed at her bare skin and wrapped a huge arm around her waist.

“You’ll have to marry me now, you know?” he mumbled against her shoulder.

Lucy stiffened. Had he bed her just to get her to go through with the contract? But the warmth of his embrace quickly ate through her defences and she burrowed back against him. Ack, of course she would marry him. She was probably half in love with him already.

“Aye, I suppose I will.”

Her heart expanded as she felt him grin against her skin. Mayhap, just mayhap he felt the same way.

~* * *~

Scrubbing a hand across his face, Dominic stretched. Only he couldn’t. His arm was trapped. What the—?

Lucy.

The hall was dark now, the flames of the fire having burnt to embers but enough night time illumination filtered in through the windows to highlight her body.

His heart clenched as he recalled their loving embrace. Lord, he couldn’t remember ever being so consumed by a woman. She was so passionate, so giving. And she understood. She understood all his worries, all his burdens. He didn’t want someone to take them away or to attempt to erase them. He was proud to be lord of Thornewall. Nay, he just needed someone…there.

Dominic’s lips tilted as he studied Lucy’s gentle face. The faint rasps of her breath between her lips worked to soothe him, the fluttering of her lids eased the pains of the previous day. She had known precisely what he needed, and given it to him, without thought or question. Had he done it? Had he finally broken through?

Ack, well she agreed to marry him. Surely he could now claim her as his own.

Lucy shivered and he tugged her closer, brushing the back of his hand up and down her arm. She stirred and rolled over, pressing her body against him. He bit back a groan.

“Luce?” he whispered.

Burrowing further into him, she mumbled something indistinguishable.

“Lucy?”

She mumbled again as her hands worked over his shoulders, yanking him closer. Flattening her lips to his skin, she proceeded to kiss across his chest as her hands played impatiently over his body.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he luxuriated in the soft touch of her lips. One hand snaked between them and grabbed at his increasing arousal.

“Lucy!”

Her hand froze as she jolted awake and she blinked as she took in his naked state before taking in her own. Clapping her hands over her chest, she attempted to wriggle away from him but he held firm.

Reaching over her, he grabbed at her discarded gown and wrapped it around her body. She offered him a tentative smile and his breath caught in his throat. Dropping down to give her a gentle kiss, he skimmed a thumb across her cheek and pushed her hair back from her face.

“Come to my bed, Luce, ‘tis cold,” he murmured against her lips.

“I cannot,” she whispered back.

His muscles bunched. Lord, had he lost her already? “Why ever not?” he asked lightly.

“‘Tis not proper, Dominic. What if someone sees me?”

He relaxed and let out a slow breath. “I would not see you dishonoured, lass. I ask but a few more hours of your time, ‘tis all. I’ll not let you be seen, I swear it.”

She chewed at her lip and he held his breath. He didn’t think he could survive the coming day if he didn’t have just a few more moments with her.

“Aye, as you will.”

Laughing, he snatched her up as she squealed and clutched at her gown. “You need not make it sound like a hardship, woman.”

She laughed too and he relished the sound. Soon he would be able to spend whole days making her laugh and there would be no shame in having her awaken in his bed. Bounding up the steps, he kicked open the door to the solar and cursed as he stumbled into a chair. Lucy giggled and he dropped her unceremoniously onto the bed causing her to squeak in indignation.

“You’ll not be laughing if I’m incapacitated for the night.”

“From a bump? The great lord of Thornewall incapacitated by a bruise! What a tale to tell.”

“You’ll be telling no one, lass,” he growled as he claimed her mouth with a punishing kiss. Lucy released a faint moan and looped her arms around his neck.

With a sigh, he disentangled himself from her arms and snatched up a taper, setting it to the fire and lighting a candle. Dominic placed the candle on the table at his bedside and Lucy burrowed into the covers, a faint blush seeping through her cheeks and onto her chest. He chuckled. How it was that she could be so coy was beyond him, especially after what they had just done.

Settling himself next to her, he pried the sheet from her stiff hands, easing it off so he could admire her curves. And, God’s blood, were they
curves.
He had thought her astounding dressed in all her finery, but with nothing on…Sweet Lord, he was certain she could ask anything of him and he would do it.

Tracing a finger across the swell of each breast, he pressed over her nipples and ribs. He flattened his palm against her waist, marvelling at how tiny it looked underneath his large hand. As he gripped at her rounded hips, he flicked a glance to Lucy’s face. Her cheeks were bright red and she nibbled at her lip as uncertainty filled her gaze.

“Why do you look at me so, Luce?” He shifted closer and pulled her against him. “Have I displeased you?”

“Nay! Nay, not at all…I am just…could we not blow out the candle?”

Dominic resisted the urge to laugh, he had already seen every inch of her under the firelight, but he could hear the unease in her voice. “I wish to see you,” he told her with a kiss to her forehead. “Every sweet, supple part of you.”

His pulse quickened as he studied her again. Aye, it was a good job she had agreed to be his wife, for no other woman could possibly compare now.

“But…but I am not like you.”

He pushed himself up onto his elbow and frowned at her. “What is your meaning?”

“Well, you are…perfect, and I am…” She gestured to herself with a dismissive flick of her hand.

Trying to ignore the swell of pride that filled him, he snatched her hand, holding it close to his chest. “Is this because of my foolish words as a young man?”

“Nay…aye, a little. But ‘twas not just you. I know well enough others thought the same. You were the only one bold enough to say it.”

“Thoughtless enough, you mean.” Ack, if he could go back and wring his foolish seventeen-year-old neck, he would. “Lucy, you are perfect. You were made for a man’s hands…nay, you were made for
my
hands. There is not a man around who does not see you and wish you were his.”

She laughed as she shook her head. Daft lass didn’t even realise that she had half the keep bewitched.

Hell fire, she had him bewitched.

Cupping her breast possessively, he kissed at her cheeks and nose. “And they shall have to continue to wish, for you are mine, Lucy Montgomery.” He shifted lower and bit at her shoulder. “You are mine.”

Chapter Nine

Lucy was pulling a comb through her hair when Winnie shuffled into her chambers.

“Good morrow, Winnie,” she greeted the maid brightly.

“Good morrow, milady.” Setting aside the water jug, Winnie scuttled over and took the comb from her hands before setting to work on her hair. “I did not think ye’d be up yet, not after the events of yesterday.”

Lucy gave a sigh. So much had changed in so short a time. She had left Dominic’s chambers when it was still dark, feeling wicked and delightfully wanton and though she had tried to rest, her mind would not allow it. Her skin still tingled from his every touch and her body twinged as a reminder of their lovemaking. Who knew it could be so blissfully decadent? Even the minimal amount of gossip she’d heard and her mother’s vague words had not prepared her for the experience. When he took her into his arms for a second time that night, she had wondered if it was possible to die of pleasure.

“Ye are happy here, milady, are ye not?”

“Oh, aye,” she breathed.

“‘Tis a shame the reivers sought to ruin our celebrations. They’ll be burying poor Thomas on the morrow.”

Oh, Lord. Poor Thomas. Lucy shook her head. How could she have forgotten him and his young wife? Here she was, revelling in her joy, when that brave woman had lost her husband. God’s blood, she was selfish.

“‘Tis well enough, milady. Ye need not feel bad for being happy, I am glad ye have worked things out with the lord.”

Lucy snapped her head up. “I-I know not what you mean.”

 Winnie studied her in the mirror as she worked a braid down the length of her hair and secured it with a ribbon. “Aye, I thought as much.” A mischievous smile spread its way across the old woman’s face. “Well, I’ll be glad to be serving a lady once more when ye are wed. Ye’ll do a fine job as mistress and ye’ll do the lord a world of good.”

Eyeing Winnie with narrowed eyes, Lucy shook her head with a laugh. “How is it you are so canny, Winnie?”

“Ack, ye do not get to be as old as I without learning a few things. I’ve known Dominic since he were a babe and I knew he’d not give up on ye easily. Not to mention, ye have a glow about ye, milady.”

Slapping her hands up to her cheeks, Lucy released a startled squeak.

Winnie eased her hands away with a gentle touch. “Fear not, milady. ‘Tis only clear to me. I remember the same look on Lady Isabel’s face,” she added wistfully.

Stiffening, Lucy picked at a ribbon and thread it absently through her fingers as Winnie chuckled.

“Oh, milady, ye need not worry. ‘Twas clear from the beginning that Lady Isabel were besotted with Lord Jacob. The only thing Lord Dominic feels for the Lady of Greycroft is affection. Indeed, he never looked at her like he does at ye.”

Allowing a smile to flicker on her lips, Lucy glanced at the maid. “Ack, Winnie, will I never be able to keep any secrets from you?”

The maid beamed back. “Nay, milady, not a single one. Now, shall we see that ye are looking especially fine today?”

Lucy patted the back of the maid’s hand with a nod. “Aye, I would beg you do your finest work, Winnie. I should like to look my best.” Especially for when they announced their betrothal, she thought with a grin.

~* * *~

After Winnie helped her wash and dress, Lucy took a few moments to study herself in the mirror. It was a strange thing, for the plump, awkward young girl no longer stared back at her. Instead, there was a comely, radiant woman in her place. It was all Dominic’s doing. With a deep breath, she smoothed down her cotte and tucked in a stray hair.

Her chest fluttered with excitement as she made her way to the Great Hall for the morning meal. Resisting the urge to skip across the snowy bailey, she moved as quickly as she could. She secretly hoped she would be able to steal a kiss from Dominic if she caught him in time.

The hall was quiet, with only a few servants preparing the food. Striding purposefully up the stairs, she crossed the minstrel’s gallery and walked carefully up the wooden steps that led to the solar.

Voices emerged from the open door and she stepped sharply back. She could see Dominic sat up in bed, his hair mussed and his muscled torso standing out in sharp relief against the white sheets. Longing struck her, rolling from head to toe and gathering in her stomach. She could still not see who was with him and she waited. She dare not be seen in his solar with him in his current state.

“Ye slept well, milord?” Winnie was asking him.

“Aye, thank you, Winnie.”

Should she go in? Winnie would not care. She knew well enough all that had occurred between them.

“Ye look well this morning, milord.”

Lucy stifled a giggle. She recognised where this was going. Nay, she wanted to hear what he had to say. It was only fair after being on the end of Winnie’s probing herself.

“What is your meaning, Winnie?” he asked her dryly.

“Naught, milord. It’s just I’ve seen the same look on a certain lady’s face this morn.”

There was a silence and Lucy watched as a frown came across Dominic’s face. “Is she well?”

“Aye, milord, more than well.”

He rubbed a hand across his face. “‘Twas a mistake, Winnie. I should never have bed her.”

Lucy gulped as her pulse kicked up and she leant forward. A mistake?

He pulled on his shirt and clambered from the bed. Moving towards the window, he stepped out of her view with a sigh. “I’ll not make that mistake again.”

She drew back, rubbing her hand across the front of her chest. She strained to listen but the pounding in her ears almost drowned out their voices.

“Whatever do you mean?” Winnie exclaimed scathingly.

“I’ve bedded enough women, Winnie, you know well of that…”

Lucy spun away, the thudding in her ears becoming deafening. She would listen to no more! Stumbling blindly down the stairs, she crashed into the hall doors and staggered out into the courtyard. Her throat ached and her cheeks were wet, so she realised she must have been crying but her body felt numb.

It had been a game, just as she thought. He wanted one quick tumble and now he had what he wanted, he was bored of her. How could she ever have thought she could live up to the elegant noble women he bedded in the past? How could she ever have given her heart to such a man?

~* * *~

“Milord?” Winnie tilted her head and studied him.

Dominic chuckled as a foolish grin spread across his face. No doubt, he looked like a young boy who had just had his first taste of female flesh. “But Lucy is different. I regret that I sent her out like a…like a common whore. I should have waited. She deserves better and I will wait until our marriage before bedding her again.”