Phantom of the Heart (8 page)

The deep, sound of the organ throbbed in the air, and Orla took her mother's hand. “I will tell her what you said.” The pale-blue eyes were bright. “It is time.”

***

A tall, dark figure stepped out of the shadows of the overgrown tree. Sharp, steely eyes zeroed in on the tower of the majestic cathedral rising out of the picturesque setting that was
Kemble
. A slow smile curved around his lips and with one last look at the city, he turned away and was swallowed by the dark forest.

Chapter 8

Orla felt her heart contract at the sight of her bride dancing sensually to the slow, haunting melody of the flute. Her hair was loose and bouncing gently, as her tall, slender body floated with the rhythm of the accompanying clapping of the guests. Their eyes met and Orla swallowed at the look of hunger in the quicksilver eyes.

Earlier, while waiting at the altar for her bride to join her, she had once more been attacked by a bout of insecurity.

Was she ready…no, would she be able to adapt to her new lifestyle, her new status? Was she truly a good enough candidate to take over one day from Cybralle? What would happen to her mother now? Would her new family expect her mother to wait on her? Could she accept that? But then the organ had started playing and, turning toward the entrance of the cathedral, her eyes fell on the most beautiful vision. The bright light from outside cast her bride’s face in darkness, but Orla was mesmerized by the small beams of sunlight dancing in auburn hair. There was a movement behind this vision and that was when she saw the familiar shape of her mother, entering behind Sterling.

When Cybralle placed her daughter's hand in Orla’s, Sterling stepped closer, her eyes filled with love. For a moment, they stood there looking at each other as the guests held their breath.

“I chose your mother as our guide. It is my tribute to her for having brought you into this world and granting me such happiness.”

That was when all her insecurities disappeared. As Guide to the Second Royal Couple, Lima was elevated to a status of semi-royalty. She would now reside in the palace and they would see each other every day. A smile worked its way from Orla’s heart onto her face.

Sterling had thought of everything. Orla watched her bride dancing suggestively; their eyes locked with each other’s, and Orla knew that she was going to be very happy being joined to this woman.

“It is almost time for the two of you to retreat to your chamber, my child,” Lima whispered in her ear, and Orla blushed lightly at her mother’s teasing tone. “No need for you to be nervous, Orla. Just follow your instincts. Your body will tell you what you would find pleasurable. Then do that to your bride.”

Orla threw a quick glance in her mother's direction and saw the big grin on Lima's face. She sighed deeply and came to her feet. Almost immediately, the music stopped and all eyes were on her. She sought out Sterling and found her looking back at her with an enigmatic smile.

“Go get your bride,” Lima whispered softly.

Her eyes quickly scanned all the faces in the Great Hall. What she saw on the faces made her blush even deeper. They knew. They all knew what will transpire in the bridal chamber tonight. What did she get herself into? Her gaze moved to where Sterling stood and she felt herself relax at the soft, loving look she saw in the silver eyes. Keeping her bride's gaze captive, she moved around the table and made directly for her woman.

“I was wondering if you were going to come and get me, my love,” Sterling whispered softly. “Not many have shown your nerve to stand up in a hall filled with six hundred guests and claim that they were eager to bed their brides.” Orla felt her face heating up more, and Sterling laughed softly. “I feel honored and loved, my heart. Now, you need to finish what you have started. Everyone is waiting to see what your next move will be.”

Looking into twinkling silver eyes, Orla felt the rest of the Great Hall disappear. She placed her hands on Sterling's hips and gently pulled her closer.

“I missed you yesterday and it almost drove me insane. Heaven knows how I will survive more than a day without seeing you.” Sterling's voice was filled with emotion, as Orla smiled down into her gaze.

“Let us not think about that now.” Orla bowed her head and placed a chaste kiss on Sterling's lips. She reached for Sterling's hand. “Lead the way, milady. All these people looking at us are making me nervous.”

Sterling gave her a warm smile and squeezed her hand. “You are doing very well, my love. Come, let us leave them to their feasting.”

Together they left the hall amidst applause and ribald jests.

***

A cheery fire was burning in the fireplace and the rest of the room was alight with strategically placed candles. Sterling waited with bated breath, as she watched Orla taking in the room. Her eyes traveled over her wife's tall frame. Keeping her hands to herself while lying in that big four-poster bed next to this intoxicating woman was going to be one of the hardest things she would ever endeavor to do. The dark head turned and she was caught in Orla's pale-blue gaze.

“Would you like a glass of wine?”

Sterling blinked. The offer was not what she had expected from Orla, but at least her bride was not spooked by the overly romantic setting. She nodded and quickly walked over to where a carafe of wine, and a plate of cheese and fruits were set up. Although she was the next in line for the thrown and, as Commander of the Royal Army, a very powerful woman in the kingdom, tonight she was but a bride, trying to win the favor of her spouse. She poured them each a glass of sweet wine and took them over to where Orla stood, her large body dwarfing the room.

“There is some cake too. Would you…”

“Yes,” Orla said quickly.

Sterling grinned at her bride's excitement and made another trip to the table to retrieve a sugar-dusted piece of cake. She was pleased to see that Orla's eyes followed her return.
Another good sign
, she thought happily. Maybe the night was not going to be too difficult to survive. She lifted her hand and held the treat to Orla's lips. After a slight hesitation, the pale eyes closed and Orla opened her mouth. Smiling tenderly, Sterling was once again humbled by the complete trust the woman had in her. She inhaled sharply when Orla's tongue lapped at her finger, cleaning the sweet dust from her fingertips. The pale eyes shot open and looked at her curiously. She smiled to reassure her skittish spouse.

“You want another piece?”

Orla shook her head and Sterling's eyebrows shot up. Orla never said no to cake. She had once seen her devour seven pieces of cake she had baked for Sterling. Even after that she had still wanted more. Sterling cocked her head as she looked at her beautiful bride.

“There is more than enough, beloved.”

“Only if you will have some too.”

Sterling's heart melted. Not a day went by that she did not fall more and more in love with this wonderful, selfless woman. She swallowed past the knot in her throat and nodded.

“Yes, I would like to share a piece with you.” She quickly looked away when she felt tears pooling in her eyes. “I would like to share everything with you.”

She felt Orla's hand on her cheek and looked back to find the blue eyes looking at her with deep emotion.

“Everything…forever.” The dark head lowered and Sterling sighed at the first touch of Orla's lips on hers. A lone tear trickled down her cheek and she stood with her eyes closed as Orla gently wiped it from her face. “Tonight is not made for tears, beloved.”

Sterling nodded and gave Orla a watery smile. “You are right. Tonight is made for love and the promise of an eternity we shall spend together.”

Their lips met again and when they broke away, they both gasped for breath. They shared a long, intimate look before they moved in for another kiss. Sterling's hands moved up Orla's leather-encased chest and rested over her heart. She moaned in protest when Orla slowly stepped out of the embrace, breaking the kiss. Sterling slowly opened her eyes, afraid for what she would see. She relaxed immediately when saw a reflection of her own hunger in Orla's eyes. Remembering that her spouse was an innocent, she cradled Orla's face in her hands.

“We do not have to do anything tonight. Sleeping in your arms will be more than enough for me.”

Orla shook her head slowly, and Sterling's heart skipped a beat as she stared into Orla's face. The dark head lowered and Sterling accepted the soft kiss.

“Show me, Sterling. I want to experience the love that Gerald the Troubadour sings about.” The ice-blue eyes were smoldering as they looked at her.

“Are you sure, my love?” Sterling asked gently, her hands shaking as they reached for Orla's.

“Yes.”

***

Orla took a deep breath and reached for Sterling's hair, loosening the band of flowers braided into the golden-red tresses. She smiled when the heavy mass fell into her hands, and she tenderly pressed her fingertips against Sterling's scalp. A deep throaty moan escaped her bride's lips and Orla felt a fluttering sensation in her belly. Since meeting Sterling, her body had not been her own. The body she thought she had known so well for the past nineteen years had taken on a will of its own, betraying common sense. She looked down into Sterling's captivating silver eyes.

“Do you want me to stop?”

The silver eyes narrowed to slits. “No. I like it when you touch me.”

Orla closed her eyes when she felt Sterling's nimble fingers fumbling at the fastenings of her leather overcoat. She stood still as Sterling pushed the leather coat off her shoulders. Next was the long-sleeved, black tunic. She felt Sterling's hands slip under the linen shirt and caress her lower back. Orla watched in rapt fascination as her spouse divested them both of their clothing. She could not remember ever getting out of her clothes so fast. Sterling's fingers left a burning trail where they touched her and she sucked in her breath when Sterling’s hand brushed over her taut stomach.

“I…I want to touch you,” Orla stammered.

Sterling moaned. “Do whatever you feel you want to do to me.”

***

Sterling sighed when her lips were taken in a blatantly lustful kiss. She felt her mouth fill with Orla's tongue as it eagerly searched, stroking her teeth and tracing the outline of her own tongue. If Orla made love the way she kisses, Sterling was sure that she was going to embarrass herself.

Through the haze of pleasure brought on by Orla's kiss, Sterling felt a soft touch moving farther down. She moaned when she felt the gentle probing between her legs. Shaking, she reached for the hand and pressed it tighter against her aching mound, all the while telling herself not to let her aggression scare Orla. But it did not. The dark head turned slightly and she was caught in an intense look.

“You like it?” Orla asked.

Not sure if she would be able to form words at that stage, Sterling just nodded and pressed herself into the tentative touch of her lover. Nimble fingers tenderly opened her and delved inside. Gasping at the pleasure, she lifted her hips slightly, urging her lover to continue her exploration.

And she did.

Orla’s stare was compelling, as her fingers gently began to stroke the hardened nub, pressing down and then gently tugging. Sterling closed her eyes, knowing that she was not going to last long. She had bedded many women…more than she cared to remember. Many beautiful, nameless faces taken to her bed and callously kicked out the next morning. Many innocents, wanted and trained with impatience to bring her pleasure. But still, none of them gave what she had truly wanted. Lying here now, in the arms of the most innocent woman she had ever known, she could not believe the pleasure those nimble fingers brought her. Nor the love she felt for this woman. She closed her eyes, and her heart skipped a beat when the dark head lowered and pressed an openmouthed kiss on her neck. A soft, warm tongue tasted the skin there, licking it, while tender fingers moved downward.

She cried out when a finger slipped inside, brushing against her tender tissue, hesitantly probing deeper, and deeper still, until it touched her heart. She opened wild, blazing eyes, searching for her wife's, only to find loving ice-blue eyes so close to her face, staring down into hers.

"Beautiful…your eyes are so…beautiful." she gasped as she savored the movement of Orla's finger inside of her. "Never stop looking at me like that."

She gasped when Orla added another finger, the blue eyes darkening. "I will look at you like this forever."

And then she embarrassed herself.

She came in a cacophony of moans, tears, and clawing as she looked into the now-hungry gaze of her wife. Her body was shaking so hard, Orla pressed herself down, cradling her in her strong arms. But still she was shaking.

***

Orla was scared as she lay there on the trembling body of her new wife. She thought she had understood her mother well when she told her to bring pleasure to her bride, the same way she did to herself. But now it seemed she might have hurt Sterling, because her wife had not stopped crying yet. And she was still shaking.

"Sterling?" she asked gently, unable to keep the panic out of her voice.

Teary, silver eyes opened and held hers. All she could do was stare back as those silver orbs pierced her. After a few moments, she looked away, as she slowly tried to move away from the unreadable gaze.

"No…no…darling," she heard Sterling's breathy voice. She turned to look at her. The silver eyes where luminous. "Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being here with me at this very moment." The silver eyes shot full of tears again. "Thank you for being mine and for owning my heart."