Secrets of the Night Special Edition (83 page)

He retrieved their bear robes and flipped hers out on the the cave floor. "Get some sleep, Kerry. We have another long day ahead of us tomorrow." Night sounds echoed around them, insects buzzing, wolves howling, smaller animals squeaking and clucking. Under the light of a full moon, the dark forest extended as far as the eye could see, miles and miles of wooded hills.

They lay down on either side of the smoldering fire, each wrapped warmly against the night chill.

* * *

For the longest time, Keriam lay sleepless under her robe, wanting Roric to lie beside her and take her in his arms. And if he did? She was a princess who must remain chaste before marriage, as was the custom of her country. What if she were married to Roric? She wondered with a quickening heartbeat. The kiss they'd shared in her cave moonphases ago returned to taunt her, warming her body. So what if he wasn't of royal blood; he was everything she'd ever wanted in a man . . . and more. Roric, come to me, she silently pleaded.
Hold me in your arms and tell me you love me. Let me lie beneath you, kiss me and caress me, become one with me and drive me out of my mind.
She could only dream of what lovemaking was like, but she knew it would be wonderful with Roric, all she had ever imagined and more, oh, so much more.

She recalled the words she'd uttered to Balor long ago. If she couldn't marry the man she loved, she wouldn't marry at all. But you must consider the royal line, her conscience nagged her. She turned onto her back, reluctant to dwell on marriage. Yet she realized she must pledge herself to another once she was restored to the throne, to provide the kingdom with an heir.

She sighed and diverted her mind to the approaching encounter at Uisnech. What if the soldiers at the encampment refused to serve her? Suppose the soldiers joined their cause, as she and Roric wished. If Balor defeated them, the kingdom would be worse off than before. She knew Balor and his vengeful nature. Everyone would suffer because of their failure.

* * *

Unable to sleep, Roric forced himself to lie quietly as he considered the problems ahead, of persuading the battalions to unite with them, of the coming war against Balor. Above all, he thought of Kerry, this woman who reclined close by, her tempting body turned away from him. What would she do if he threw aside his robe and joined her? Would she welcome him, or would she spurn him for the lovelorn fool that he was?

He raised himself up on his elbow, wanting to go to her, his body aching for her. Did she want him, too? Yet he would never take her as a man used a pleasure woman, couldn't make love to her without a commitment. After moments of intense longing, he sank back down, his mind ruling his heart. . . .

Night after night, Roric fought this ache deep inside him, this burning need for Kerry that drove every other thought from his mind. Did she desire him as much as he wanted her? Go to her, his heart urged him as he lay across the fire from her. The worst she could do was refuse him, a possibility he feared to consider.

On the last night before they reached Uisnech, he tossed and turned under his bear robe, struggling with his need for her. No longer able to fight his desire, he threw his robe aside and went to her. “Kerry? I have wanted you so!” he cried. Lying down beside her, he tried to gauge her reaction. She stared at him, an unreadable expression on her face. Had he made a terrible mistake? Would she spurn him and forever disparage him as a lovesick fool?

“Roric! I thought you would never come to me.” She drew him close. She wrapped her arms around him, and the touch of her fingers on his bare skin, the pressure of her pliant body against his, sent all his doubts fleeing and inflamed him like the most passionate kiss. Never mind that she had mysterious powers. Never mind that she was a princess and he only a palace steward. The here and now was all that mattered, this woman in his arms all he wanted.

“How I have hungered for you,” Kerry whispered between kisses. “And how I have wanted you all these nights.”

“Ah, darling, then we must make up for lost time.” He kissed her as if they would have no tomorrow, and indeed, they might not. All this time they could have spent making love, all these chances he’d missed! Why had he ever doubted her? He breathed in deeply, inhaling her lavender scent, reveling in her very essence. He touched her as he’d wanted to for so long, learning all the pleasures her supple body offered. Night sounds reverberated around them, a cool breeze rustling the trees. The flickering firelight cast her lovely face in light and shadow, a face he would never forget. Despite the cold, her breasts were warm beneath his exploring fingers, his body aroused beyond endurance. She opened her mouth for him to explore, and he welcomed the invitation, his yearning for her so great that he couldn’t even think of stopping.

She drew back, and for just a moment, he felt cold, bereft, as if denied everything wonderful in life. “Wait, darling . . .” She raised herself and eased her dress up, a look of sultry encouragement on her face.

He needed no more inducement. Quickly, he eased out of his trousers and undertunic, his fingers clumsy with impatience.

“Roric,” she said, hesitation in her voice. “I . . . I am unschooled in love, but I can no longer deny what you . . . what we both want.”

“Kerry, sweetheart, I will try not to hurt you.” He raised himself over her, helpless to deny his need, even if the world had stopped turning, even if he would die tomorrow.

“Ah, darling!” She welcomed him inside her, waiting for she knew not what, knowing only that her life would be empty without this man, without this moment between them. She reveled in his every movement that bound him to her, so happy to share this intimacy with him. Goddess! How she loved this man! She felt his warm breath on her neck, heard his whispered endearments in her ear, as she had always imagined. Ah, what was happening to her–a joy beyond anything she had ever dreamed of, a desire to know and give pleasure to this one man who meant more than life to her. A slow heat built within her, a longing not to be denied.

“Ohh!” Rapture exploded inside her, waves of heat rippling over every inch of her body, their two hearts beating as one. And when his cries of joy blended with hers, she knew she would remember this moment forever, that she would love him until death.

Later, as he lay next to her and held her in his arms, he breathed a long, slow sigh. “Kerry, all these nights, lying so near you, wanting you so . . .” He sighed again. “Torture! I couldn’t fight my need for you any longer. But I should never have taken you–“

”Ssh! Don’t say it, sweetheart. I don’t regret a thing.”

“But I do! What if I’ve gotten you with child?”

“You haven’t. It is not the time.”

“Thank the Goddess! I would never have forgiven myself had I gotten you pregnant.”

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Let there be no misgivings between us, no recriminations. This wonderful moment between us was meant to happen.” She smiled in lush contentment, so happy that she’d had a fragile barrier, that she hadn’t known any pain with their lovemaking. Now, she wanted him again and again, all through the night. She swallowed hard, reluctant to think beyond this night. If she lost him in the struggle against Balor, she would have this time between them to remember for the rest of her life.
And if I lose him, how can I bear to go through life without him?

* * *

Roric and Keriam crested the wooded hill that overlooked the Uisnech encampment where wooden barracks now stood in place of tents, and a sentry guarded the palisaded entrance. Below them, soldiers practiced warfare, some with sword and shield, others hurling javelins or shooting arrows at straw dummies. A natural obstacle, such as a cluster of trees or a stream, separated each group from the others.

Would the men rally behind him? Roric worried. Would they accept Keriam as their future queen? Or would he and Keriam face arrest and a painful death for treason?

Leaving their supplies in the woods, Keriam rode sidesaddle on the sorrel and he mounted the draft horse. Clad in the dress he'd bought--a cerulean blue velvet long-sleeved dress with a gold chain circling her waist--she looked elegant, her dark hair now drawn into one single braid that swung with every movement. Thoughts of last night warmed his body, memories he knew would stay with him for the rest of his life. They had made love again and again throughout the night, a beautiful blending of hearts and minds and bodies, and when the first lavender glow lit the western horizon, he wanted to make love to her one more time, as if the hours behind them had never existed. He’d gazed at her lovely face and kissed her, then drew away from her to face the new day. Sighing now, he brought his mind back to the challenges that faced them this day.

Kerry glanced his way, a look of determination on her face; yet he suspected she shared his misgivings. And was she, too, filled with memories of last night? Surely she was!

"Shall we go?" she asked. Not waiting for an answer, she urged her horse down the rocky, tree-dotted slope. He followed, his gaze on her ebony tresses that shimmered in the sunlight. He pushed tree branches aside, picking his way carefully among the thick tree clusters and dense understory. Within minutes, they reached the camp.

Dismounting at the entrance, Roric spoke to Keriam in a quick aside. "Best you wait here for now. Let us see how the wind blows." He reached up to squeeze her hand, throwing her a look of encouragement.

She smiled down at him, and it looked to him as if she had projected all her love in this one moment. "May it blow our way."

"Let us hope so."

In front of the wooden fence, the sentry approached Roric. "Sir, state your business," he said, his gaze sliding to Keriam.

"I'm here to see Colonel Riagan." Roric held his breath for a moment, every muscle tense.

"Is he expecting you?" he asked, fingering his sword hilt.

"I believe so, yes." Although his stomach knotted, Roric forced himself to relax, his hands held loosely at his side.

The sentry glanced at Keriam again. "And the lady?"

"She will wait here for now."

Doubt still clouded the sentry's face, but he acquiesced. "Very well, but leave your sword with me."

Stifling his displeasure, Roric drew the sword from its scabbard and handed it, hilt first, to the sergeant. After the guard opened the gate, Roric made a staying gesture to Keriam. He caught the worried look on her face and noted how her slender fingers gripped the reins. More than anything, he wished her could tell her she had nothing to fear. A reassuring smile was the most he could offer.

Inside, his gaze absorbed the puzzled glances of the men. Over twenty evenly-spaced wooden barracks occupied the level ground, set among evergreens and birches. Upon seeing him, the soldiers halted their practice, swords, javelins, and bows in their hands. They stood motionless, as if rooted to the spot.

Colonel Riagan separated himself from a group of soldiers and strode forward. “Major

Gamal!" He addressed the sentry by the open gate. "Sergeant, I can vouch for this man."

"Very good, sir," the sentry said, returning Roric's sword to him.

After sliding his sword into the scabbard, Roric inclined his head and placed his hands across his chest in the traditional soldier's salute. "Colonel Riagan."

The colonel returned the salute, then stared at Keriam, his eyebrows raised, mouth open in surprise. He looked Roric's way and spoke in low tones. "Major, I must introduce the princess."

Roric thought quickly. "If you will only wait a few minutes, sir."

The other soldiers remained where they were, muttering among themselves, exchanging confused looks. With hesitant glances at Roric and receiving permission from their officers to halt their practice, the men inched forward along the hard, open ground, until they stood only a few feet from Roric.

"Will you excuse me, sir," Roric muttered to Riagan and headed back for Keriam at the open gate. He reached for her, his hands at her waist, helping her off the sorrel. "So far, things have proceeded well," he murmured. "But it's time to introduce you to the men. We won't gain anything by waiting."

She nodded, her feet on the ground. "I agree. I'd just as soon find out now how they will accept me . . . or if they will."

And if they didn't? He didn't dare consider the consequences of failure.

The colonel snapped his fingers at another soldier. "
Leinster
, take care of their horses."

"Yes, sir."

Fintan Davies emerged from one of the barracks, heading their way. "Ah, Gamal!" He looked Keriam's way and bowed low. "And--"

"The princess!” The colonel raised his voice, addressing all the men. "I present to you the future queen of Avador!"

With excited murmurs, the soldiers came forward, looking at one another, talking among themselves. Hundreds of soldiers gathered in clusters, some elbowing their way through the crowds, trying to see over their fellows’ heads. As one, they started to bend to one knee.

"Wait!" A voice rang out among the crowd. "How do we know she's the princess?" Rumbling erupted among the men, many of them looking more confused than before and straightening up again. "Yes," others bellowed. "How do we know?"