Irish Seduction (8 page)

“That is the reason for this meeting, Mother,” Jasper explained. “We need your input. You were always the one that helped us sort ourselves out when we were young and undecided. Now, more than ever, we have need of your knowledgeable ways to help us decide what will benefit us the most.”

“It must not be anything to do with Edrith O’Reilly, is that right?” asked Richard.

“Apparently,” Jasper replied bitterly.

Lady Ellen glanced at her son, her eyes not giving away what she was thinking. “Tell me again of the discussion you had with them. Refresh my memory, if you will.”

He took his glass of port and stood in front of the fireplace, facing his mother and best friend.

“Edrith was banished to the Americas because of some indiscretion they refuse to discuss with me. They thought that she was far enough away from them to not cause any trouble. Her powers were stripped from her and it would appear that she has been calling upon the dark side to regain them. Helan said that they would not help us with her because they had already punished her. Now that she is in our world, she is subject to our rules and we have to deal with her.”

“Rather a one-sided way of looking at things if you ask me,” Lady Ellen said.

“I agree. But what choice do we have? They make the laws and we have to deal with it.” Jasper was getting depressed by the whole one wish deal.

“Why don’t you tell us what you want most, Jasper,” Richard said. “I know there is something going on with you. You should probably get it off your chest.”

“No, you have it wrong, Richard. There is nothing going on that you don’t already know about.”

“Tell him,” his mother said. “You know he will get it out of you in the end anyway. He always does.”

Richard beamed at her with a beautiful smile and turned to Jasper. “Give,” he said, in a tone that brooked no argument.

Jasper proceeded to tell all of what had been happening to him over the last few months. Richard listened with disbelief on his face when Jasper told him that he had made love to the god’s daughter and had taken her virginity.

“Do you have any idea what they will do to us when they find out?” he cried, a mixture of anger and fright making his voice tremble. “Did you stop to think what you were doing, man?”

“No, I did not and now I have to live with that. Believe me when I say that none of this was planned. I would never do anything intentionally to hurt my people, you know that.”

“Well, it looks like you have done just that, Jasper,” Richard replied with scorn in his voice. “How could you let your dick think for you?”

“Don’t tell me that you have thought everything through before you bedded a maiden, Richard,” Jasper yelled. “I have seen you many a time leading a willing female into the barn for a quick rumble in the hay. I can guarantee that you didn’t think of the consequences before you pulled up her skirts.”

By now the two men were standing face to face, hands on hips. They both let go of their frustrations on each other, something that they had been doing since childhood.

“I think that will be enough of that language for now, both of you,” Lady Ellen said.

They looked at her, suddenly remembering that she was in the room and that their conversation was not fit for a lady’s ears.

“Mother, forgive me,” Jasper said. “I let my anger and frustration get the better of me. Richard, I apologize. This is not your fault, it is on my shoulders and I will have to live with whatever the gods hand out to us.”

“Since when have we not shared our problems?” Richard watched the internal war going on in his friend’s head. “Is this not why you asked me to dinner tonight, to find a solution to your problems?” He moved over to the fireplace and looked at the flames before turning back to face Jasper. “Just because you couldn’t keep you pants on doesn’t mean that I don’t want to help you. It is just such a shock to find out who your latest bed partner is.”

“Do you seriously think that I planned this? At first I thought it was just a dream and I enjoyed every minute of it, any red-blooded man would. It wasn’t until the morning after she gave herself to me completely that I realized that it was no dream, it was real.” Jasper ran his hand through his hair and shook his head. “Can you imagine my shock when I met her in the flesh? My mind was reeling. I had no idea what to do.”

“Could you not have told her there and then that you could not see her again?” asked Richard.

“Aye, I tried man, believe me I tried. I am afraid that I cannot deny her. My heart takes over when my head tells me it is all wrong. I love her and she feels the same. I know it is a relationship that is doomed for disaster, but I cannot help how I feel about her. I will take whatever punishment Helan dishes out to me when he finds out. My only concern is for my people.”

“This will be bad, Jasper. I know it will,” Richard said, shaking as though a shiver had run over his skin.

“Why don’t we concentrate on the main reason for this meeting? My affair with a goddess is something that I will face after this wish is granted. For now we have to come up with something that will serve our people well for we will not get another chance,” Jasper said.

They talked long into the night, often arguing, and sometimes consoling each other. The ideas came thick and fast and behind each suggestion, Jasper tried to find a way to bring in a resolution that would ease the need and pain that tore at his heart.

Long after his mother retired for the night, Jasper sat by the side of the dying firelight with Richard, trying to come up with a solution. Each idea had been stretched to its limit while they tried to find the best possible answer. At the edge of dawn, they admitted defeat and crawled off to find some solace in their beds before the sun called them to another day.

Chapter Six

Jasper opened his eyes when he heard his bedroom door creak. His manservant entered with a jug of warm water for his morning wash. He poured the water into a bowl and bowed before leaving the room.

Jasper struggled to rise. His body screamed out for more sleep, but he could not indulge himself. He had a farm to run, people to look out for. Personal needs came second behind those of his people and his commitments.

The lack of sleep had done nothing to ease the turmoil in his mind. Jasper struggled out of bed and splashed cold water over his face in an attempt to wake himself up. He ran the washcloth over his body, more by routine than intention. When his hands made contact with his genitals, his cock twitched and he sighed with frustration. Leona had not come to see him and he missed her greatly. Already he was becoming used to having her in his bed. Apart from the lovemaking, he enjoyed her company. She was a bewitching young woman. Her body held him in awe as did the woman herself. She was beautiful and clever, bold and loving. Just the perfect mate for him. Apart from the fact that they could never be together, everything was just peachy.

He threw the washcloth down in disgust. Jasper turned to his wardrobe and wrenched open the doors, then pulled out some trousers and a work shirt and tugged them on. He sat, pulled on his boots, and stormed from his room.

His mood had not mellowed by the time he had finished his breakfast and headed for the stables. He went from horse to horse, finding complaint in each stable. Mathew cowered in the corner while Jasper vented his anger on the stable hands. The boy’s eyes filled with terror when Jasper approached Windamere’s stall. The sight of the lad cowering from him brought Jasper to his senses.

“Oh lad, forgive me,” Jasper said roughly and pulled him close. He ruffled the boy’s hair and sighed deeply. “You are not at fault, believe me. I am sorry to take out my anger on you. It is nothing that you have done, Mathew. It is something that I must deal with on my own.”

Windamere put her head over the gate of her stall. She snuffled and nipped at Jasper’s clothes, looking for her apple. Jasper let go of Mathew and turned to stroke the horse’s soft muzzle. He ran his fingers around her forelock and ears, leaning his head against hers.

“If only life was so easy and all we had to worry about was where the next treat came from, girl,” he sighed.

Mathew nudged him and held out his hand, showing Jasper the apple he held in his hand.

“You give it to her, lad.” Jasper moved out of the way for Mathew to hold the apple up to the mare. She took it from his fingers and rolled it around in her mouth before she crunched it and chewed with delight clearly showing in her eyes.

Jasper helped Mathew groom the horses and was on his way back to the house when Richard sauntered toward him. He looked tired but immensely pleased with himself. It didn’t take Jasper more than two seconds to work out the reason for his demeanor.

“Don’t tell me, you scored again,” he said.

“What can I say,” Richard replied. “The ladies know a good thing when they see it.”

Jasper laughed, but inside, his heart plummeted. How he wished that his love affair was simple and uncomplicated. How could he possibly rectify what he had started with the gods?

Richard stopped grinning and placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Have you thought of any way that you can help your people and yourself at the same time, Jasper?” he asked.

“I cannot ask for myself, Richard. Surely you can see that,” Jasper said. “My loyalty lies with our people, not my cock.”

“There may be a way,” Richard said, his eyes darting away and back to Jasper again.

“That I doubt, but I do thank you for trying to make me feel better.” Jasper heaved a great sigh and started walking away again.

“Stop and listen for a moment. Why can’t you ask for a truce of some kind between us and the gods? Make it possible for us to interact with them the way they do with us.”

Jasper froze. He let Richard’s words race around his brain. The gods lived among them when they chose to, it was true. Most were unaware that the one they loved was not a normal person. The gods loved and mated with the human race, living a seemingly normal life. If he could ask for the same, would it benefit his people in any way or would it bring joy to only himself?

“What do you see such a request doing to benefit our people?”

“Well, let me think.” Richard rubbed his hand over his jaw.

Jasper watched him try to find a benefit that did not include himself in Richard’s latest idea. It had merit to a point, he thought, especially for him. But he would take more convincing before it got to be more than a passing fancy.

“Nothing coming to mind, Richard?”

“I’ll think of something,” he said before he walked away.

Jasper watched him go, disappointment dulling his mood yet again. Maybe his mother had come up with some more ideas. He would speak to her at dinner and see what she thought.

***

“That could work, Jasper,” Lady Ellen said when he discussed Richard’s latest idea to her. She sat beside the fireplace with her sewing on her lap and a tray of tea by her side.

“How could that possibly benefit our people, Mother?” Jasper asked, angry still.

“Because the gods look out for their own, that is why,” she replied. “If they were made to acknowledge the fact that they lived and loved amongst us, instead of being sly and secretive about it. Imagine the benefits for the community at large if just one of the gods married into it.”

“Have you not seen their world, Mother?” Jasper asked, the scorn in his voice making her cringe. “Why would they leave the perfect setting that they have to live in a share cropper’s house?”

“Love, Jasper. Sometimes that is all you need to make your world perfect. Not everyone wants castles and servants, or to live in a world above us where they want for nothing. They just want love. And that can be found in the most unexpected spots. You are well aware of that.”

He stopped pacing to look at her and was astounded at her logic. Could this work? Jasper could imagine the response that he would get from Helan. How could he put such a request forward without getting hurt in the process? They could not refuse him, Elena had said so.

“See, Jasper. Even you think that the idea has merit now.” His mother smiled at him. “I can almost see your brain working it out.”

“Aye, Mother, I am sure you can.” He imagined having Leona by his side and in his bed permanently. “But they already live amongst us now. Making it official would change nothing.”

“They live amongst us, yes that is so, but they do it under cover,” his mother said. “They do not let on who they are, usually surrounded by a cloak of secrecy. This is what must change and it is what will benefit our people. No longer should the gods have it all their own way. If they wish to live as one of us, they must give us the grace of their protection, especially those that they marry. That would benefit our people, Jasper.”

“I cannot believe that they would leave the world they have to join ours. To be part of the struggle of everyday life when everything that they desire is theirs in their own land,” Jasper mused. The hardships that faced his tenants and even his own family were not always joyous.

“You sell yourself short, my son. You who has a goddess in his bed, questions that there is more in life than living up there,” she gestured with her hand to the sky, “having everything at their beck and call. True love does not always exist in only the finest things, Jasper. You can find love in the poorest house. Just look around you. Not all of our people are rich in gold. What they lack in material things, they make up for in passion; a passion for their partners and their families.”

“You are right again, Mother.” He laughed nervously. “I find it hard though, to acknowledge that requesting the alliance of the gods will ultimately help others more than it will help me. I feel it is a selfish request, designed to improve my life and not the lives of others.”

“Think about it,” Lady Ellen said. “Do you not still have a few days to mull it over?”

“Yes, yes I do. If I can think of nothing else, I will make that request before we lose the right to ask for anything at all. That would be a tragedy.”

“I agree. Now, help me in to dinner and you can ponder over the idea all you want when you retire for the night.” She held her hand out to him.