IntoEternity (18 page)

Gusty had come looking for him to discuss their present
situation and her parents’ attitude toward her and Alexander’s relationship.
But her husband’s lusty actions had driven everything she had planned to say right
out of her mind. He was the only thing that mattered at the moment. The way his
hands felt as he caressed her body and how his mouth ravaged her lips with
sweet, passionate kisses. Ecstasy and desire blazed within her and filled her
with an insatiable need. A cry of dismay escaped her as Alexander broke
contact, his lips leaving hers swollen and thoroughly plundered.

“I can wait no longer. My need is great and this is a
dangerous game we play, my sweet,” he growled hungrily against her mouth. “I
have never wanted anyone as badly as I want you. One look at you and I can
think of nothing but taking you hard and fast, burying my cock in your soft,
lush body over and over until I find my release. You are mine and mine alone.
No one will ever take you from me.” His voice had risen fiercely as he uttered
the last.

Gusty thought he must have read her mind.

“Oh, Alexander,” she breathed as she reached up and gently
brushed a stray lock of his dark hair back from his face. She placed a light
kiss on his stubborn jaw. “No one will ever take me from you. I…care a great
deal for you.” She gave him a quick kiss and then pulled back with a sigh. “I
might even love you just a little bit, my Highland warrior.”

She kissed him passionately, remembering the way he had
kissed her before. Her tongue darted out to lick at the seam of his lips. He
opened his mouth and she thrust her tongue in, tasting him. His tongue met hers
and his growl turned into a low groan as she suckled, drawing it back into her
mouth.

Unable to hold back any longer and shaking with arousal,
Alexander tore at Gusty’s clothing. He feared he would shame himself before he removed
them. No man should have to suffer so! He quickly covered her, pushing her
thighs wide as he settled between them. With a groan of pleasure he moved the
length of his hard, aching cock against her hot, wet folds, caressing her in a
rhythm that soon had her begging for more of him.

He pushed the top of her gown aside to bare her firm round
breasts to his view. For a moment Alexander could not breathe as he gazed
hungrily at the beautiful sight before him. He swallowed noisily as he cupped
her breasts in his hands and lifted them, squeezing them. He buried his face
between the soft, white mounds, nuzzling her silky white flesh. His beautiful selkie…his
and his alone. No one would ever possess her but him.

The memory of how she had vanished from his arms filled his
mind, disturbing him so badly he could not hold back the shudder that swept
through his body. The need to assure himself that his Augusta would never slip
through his hands again had him growling with determination as he covered her
nipple with his mouth and drew on it deeply. She arched up as a moan escaped
her lips. He suckled and licked his way back and forth from one dusky pearled
nipple to the other. He nipped her gently, drawing a whimper of delight from
her, and he smiled as he felt her trembling beneath his hands and mouth.

Her movements grew more frantic and she wrapped her arms and
legs about his body. He explored every inch of her breasts, her shoulders and
her long, slender neck with his mouth and tongue until he finally settled his
lips over hers. He deepened the kiss, tasting her sweet mouth more fully, wanting
to leave his mark on her. He never wanted her to forget she belonged to him and
him alone.

Gusty moved her fingers through Alexander’s hair, grasping
handfuls as she responded fully to his kiss. “Please, Alexander, I want you. I
need you. Do not make me wait!”

Her passionate plea nearly ended it for him right then.
Alexander took her mouth, his tongue sliding past her lips as he thrust his
cock deep, hips pumping hard and fast. Their moans of passion and pleasure
broke the silence of the small, hidden bower as Alexander brought his woman to
her climax only moments before he found his own release. His body stiffened
over hers and with a long, low groan he emptied his seed.

“Shh, someone could hear you.”

Alexander chuckled as he buried his face against the side of
her slender neck.

“I think you’re too late. No doubt your loud cries of
pleasure have already attracted the attention of the nuns praying in the
chapel.”

“Alexander! Surely not!”

Her shock at his words made him laugh harder. She was so
innocent. He grabbed her hands as she tried to push him away.

“Stay still, Gusty. No one heard you. We are well-hidden
back here.” And then his mouth found hers and every thought beyond their own
little world faded away as he moved his hands over her eager body and began to
make gentle love to her again.

“Ha-hem!”

“
Damn it, Davin!
” Alexander muttered, recognizing the
loud throat clearing and stomping feet on the other side of the hedge as a
warning that they were about to be disturbed. Gusty went perfectly still
beneath him, her fingers clutching his shoulders.

They had been discovered in their private corner of the
garden and Davin’s arrival had totally spoiled the mood.

He moved to roll off her to face his man and Gusty grabbed
the front of his tunic to hold him still. He glanced at her flushed cheeks and
she ducked her head to hide her face against his chest.

“Don’t you dare move!”

Her harsh whisper in his ear had him glancing down at her
with amusement until realization hit him. His lady’s gown was opened, fully
revealing her tantalizing assets. He started to laugh but her fist hitting him
in the chest turned his chuckle into a feigned groan of pain.

“Careful, love, you might bruise me.” He grinned down at her
as he addressed his second in command. “What is it, Davin? Can you not see I am
engaged at the present?”

“Aye, Alexander, I could not help but notice. But you need
to hear this.”

The tone of Davin’s voice peaked Alexander’s interest. The man
knew better than to disturb Alexander at such an intimate moment unless it was
important.

“Don’t you dare move,” Gusty warned him again and tightened
her grip on his clothing.

“Go away, Davin. I will join you at the front gate in a few
moments.”

“Aye. But you had better hasten. There’s trouble afoot.”
With those parting remarks, Davin left them alone in the secluded garden.

Even after Davin left, Alexander had to pry Gusty’s hands away.
He sat back on his haunches, straddling her hips as he looked down at his love’s
flushed face. He did not know whether to laugh or weep at their situation.
Gazing down at the beautiful half-clothed woman under him, he settled for a
self-deprecating grin.

“Sorry, my love. It seems that duty calls once again. Damn
but this is getting to be more than just a little frustrating.” He swiftly
pulled her bodice back over her beautiful breasts and then did up her laces. He
didn’t need the extra temptation of her sweet flesh when his aroused body was
protesting the abuse of having to leave her at that moment. He swore silently
that if Davin’s urgent circumstances were not as vital as he made them sound, Alexander
was going to thrash the giant warrior into oblivion.

“Stay here, my sweet selkie.” He gave her one last hot,
passionate kiss before rising to his feet. “I will return shortly.”

“I am not going to wait here in the garden for you. How
would it look for me if one of the nuns came by and found me lounging here
under this tree looking like this? It would be too embarrassing!” She stood up,
gathering her dignity around her like a mantle. As she started to walk past
him, her head held high, he swatted her sweet little arse with a resounding
thwack
,
causing her to yelp.

She turned, no doubt ready to give him a piece of her mind,
but his lips were there to stop any words from escaping. The urgency of the
kiss reminded him only too vividly of their brief interlude and he wished
fervently they had not been so rudely interrupted.

* * * * *

Bart groaned and rolled from between the thighs of the once
exquisitely beautiful woman he had just used to satisfy his animal needs. He
was breathless from his sexual efforts, soaked with his own sweat and seed. Imogen
merely reached for the bedcovers and pulled them up over her lush body. He
cursed when he noticed that his exertions of the past few minutes had barely
affected the indifferent woman who shared his bed. She was indeed a cold fish
and even as he sated himself on her, she had just lain there unmoving.

His mind wandered back in time to when they had been young
and romantic and had taken pleasure in the hot passion that had flared between
them whenever they had come together. Theirs had never been a true love match.
More like lust, good, self-satisfying lust. At one time, they had not been able
to get enough of each other. But over the years she had changed, growing
embittered and increasingly unfeeling toward his sexual overtures.

Even her own daughters had quit coming to visit her. They
were happy in their own lives and he could not blame them for avoiding the sour
woman their mother had become. If she were not presently helping him with a
crucial matter, he would probably not be here either. He had no need of her now
that he had found another who appreciated his sexual prowess and expertise. The
thought of his young mistress’ beautiful body welcoming him had his manhood
flexing and he took a deep breath to calm himself.

“Are you quite finished?” Imogen asked.

Her voice grated and he flinched as he rose from the bed.

“Aye, I’m finished with you.”

“Then go and wash. Your stench is revolting.”

“Are you sure it is not your rotten core that has just
rubbed off onto me?”

“You bloody bastard! Take care what you say to me. Without
my help you would be nowhere with all your scheming. It is because of me that
everything has fallen into place exactly as you wished. With my help, you will
soon rule the northern clans. You have me to thank for that. So stop your
sniveling and get out.”

Bart wasn’t about to let lose the retort that clamored at
his lips. He was too superstitious to curse his good fortune at this late date.
Imogen spoke truthfully; he would soon be in control of four of the most
powerful clans in the Highlands. His plan to gain control of Clan Sutherland
was almost complete. He had already taken care of his other nephews and the
previous Laird, Seamus, and his brother Allister and his wife. The raids on
their outer holdings had been well planned. Soon Alexander and Duncan would be
in their graves as well and Clan Sutherland would fall to Bart.

Imogen would do her part by delivering the poisoned wine to
Malcolm Sinclair and the revenge she had sought for years would be complete.
Imogen would then be free to marry Bart, bringing to their marriage the wealth
of her dead husband and an alliance with the Sinclairs since she was the
standing Lady Sinclair. She was also the only heir to her own father’s fortune
and with their marriage the MacKay would back him in his plans to take the
throne.

He had already put into play his scheme to marry Augusta off
to the Ross. Her grandfather, the MacKay, had agreed to help in this. With
Bart’s connection to the MacKay and therefore the Ross, who was cousin to
Edgar, and the unforeseen deaths of Malcolm Sinclair, Alexander Sutherland, and
Duncan Sutherland, Black Bart would soon realize his dream of obtaining the
throne of Scotia. He would be able to challenge Edgar with a magnificent arm to
back him in his quest.

* * * * *

Gusty stopped beside Alexander’s mount, looking up at him.
Her face showed her every emotion… Her disappointment that he was leaving at
this important time in their relationship, her fear he would not return, that
he might go off and get himself killed. And finally, her anger at being left
behind.

Alexander recognized the rebellious expression but he did
not have time for her peevishness right now. He had no choice. Important
matters awaited his attention and Augusta would have to become accustomed to
his being called away on a moment’s notice. He refused to be intimidated by
that look.

“I have to go, Gusty,” Alexander stated in a voice that
brooked no argument. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye to see how
she was accepting his words. He had received news that did not sit well with
him. He jerked at the leather cinch of his saddle until he was satisfied with
its fit and continued to check the rest of his gear.

“What has happened, Alexander? Tell me.”

She touched him lightly on the arm but he was so tense even
her attempts to soothe him had little effect.

“It is just a little business I must see to.” He thrust his
blade into its sheath with a mighty jab and then took the reins from the stable
boy and swung up into his saddle.

“Let me come with you. I am fully recovered now. There is no
need for you to leave me behind.” Gusty spoke in a low, pleading voice.

“Nay, Gusty. You will stay here with your father and mother
where you will be safe. I will return in a few days.”

He turned his mount around to leave but stopped when he saw
the determined set of her jaw and the devilish glint in her golden eyes. He
could almost read her thoughts of rebellion. He dismounted and strode back to
face his unhappy wife. He leaned down until his nose nearly touched hers,
gently cupping her neck with his hand as his lips stopped just short of kissing
her.

“I know what you are thinking, Gusty, and I say nay. That is
my final answer.”

“We are not on a game show, buddy. So keep your answers to
yourself.”

“What is a game show?”

“Never mind,” she muttered. “You need me to come with you,
Alexander. I could help in whatever it is you have to do.”