03 - The Wicked Lady (40 page)

Malcolm moved up beside Ian. "I prefer the redheaded lass."

The cheers of the other men roared around her. Kristen's face heated with embarrassment as Ian looked at her, too.

"Kristen, lass, would ye come up here?"

She maneuvered through the crowd and across the field. She must get this over with, and it didn't appear that Trevor wanted his prize at all, which was a severe blow to her ego.

She'd just reached the top of the platform, when she looked up. Malcolm advanced toward her with lust in his eyes.

From out of nowhere, she heard the pounding of horses' hooves. She turned. A rider raced across the field at a breakneck pace. The crowd turned to see who approached.

The rider didn't slow as he approached the group, and they had to scatter like ants to get out of the way.

Kristen gasped when she recognized the rider. He galloped straight toward her. He had no intention of stopping. Was he going to run her down?

She hadn't meant to make him
that
angry.

The next thing she knew, she'd been swept off her feet and pulled in front of Trevor. His arms tightened around her as they sped off. Shouts from the crowd followed until they became a soft whisper on the wind.

Kristen felt so contented to be held by Trevor that several minutes went by before she asked, "Where are we going?"

"I wanted to speak with you," Trevor said tersely.

"Ye could have spoken with me back there."

"No, I could not."

Kristen was surprised that she wasn't worried about their talk as she'd been earlier.  Just maybe she'd test his mood.  "I dinna get the chance tae give Malcolm his prize."

"Nor will you," Trevor snapped.

He sounded jealous. Good, she thought and pressed for more. "He did tie with ye, after all."

"He's a bloody pain in the ass. If he wants his kiss, he'll have to choose Keely."

Kristen smiled, but Trevor couldn't see it. "But he didn't want Keely."

Trevor jerked his mount to a stop, grasped Kristen by the shoulders, and glared at her. "I'll not have you kissing another man. You're my wife."

And to prove the point, he pulled her to him, crushing her within her arms. With the swiftness of a bird of prey, his mouth swooped down on hers in the most breathtaking kiss she'd ever experienced.

Trevor tasted heavenly. After the initial shock, his mouth softened and he began to place soft kisses over her face, tender kisses down her throat until she shivered within his arms.

Looking down at her, he whispered, "We'll continue this later."

Once again, he enfolded her in his arms. He kneed his mount, and they galloped off toward Chatsworth.

Trevor reined in his sweating steed and dismounted at the front door. He said nothing, but took her upstairs to his room.

Once inside, she turned to face him. Hoping for the best, fearing the worse, yet knowing they had to talk, she could not go on. She had to know how he felt.

"Kristen." Trevor paused. "I don't know where to begin."

She watched him, afraid to say anything for fear that it might be wrong.

"I can see you're not going to help me." He didn't look happy. "Kristen, I think . . ."

Oh my God, he wanted a divorce. No, Kristen prayed. Please don't take him from me. Not the only thing I've ever wanted.

"Kristen, I--I . . . ."

Chapter Twenty-Four

"Kristen, I want to start again."

"Ye want a divorce?" Kristen asked, not knowing what he meant. From somewhere far off, she heard Constance's voice as if she were still standing beside Kristen.

You must get Trevor to open up if you ever want to keep him. Remember, everyone he has ever given his love to has let him down. He has grown cold inside
.

"No," Trevor stated flatly. "Not unless you do."

Kristen closed her eyes and shook her head. "Nay, I do not." Finally, she opened her eyes and asked, "What do you want?" She held her breath as she waited for the answer.

Trevor laughed wryly.
"Do you know how many times I've asked myself the same thing?" He saw the anticipation in Kristen's wide, emerald eyes as she waited for him to say more. A voice he thought never to hear again sounded in his ear.

You can't go through life keeping everyone at arm's length.  You must open your heart and trust.  For if you're not careful, you'll lose her
.

Trevor looked around as if he expected to see his grandmother behind him.  But no one was there.

"What is it?"

"I thought I heard--never mind," Trevor said, looking back to Kristen. "I want you to stay here and be my wife," he finally said, and then in a softer voice, "I need you."

Kristen couldn't move. She wanted to leap into his arms, yet she held back. She needed more, but found she was unsure how to ask for it.

Look deep inside yourself, and you'll find out what to do
.

Kristen smiled as Constance gave her the final shove. "I
canna
promise that I'll never be any trouble."

Trevor laughed. "I must admit yo
u have kept me in a whirlwind. The funny part is that I've come to like it." He took a step toward her.

"I
can
promise that I will never leave ye. If ye get tired of me, ye'll have tae send me away."

"That will never happen," Trevor admitted. His gaze never left her
face. He took another step toward her. "Remember, until death do us part."

"I plan on living a long, long time." Kristen blushed. Her heart raced faster the closer he got to her. For once, she was letting him make the first move.

"As do I, providing I can keep all weapons out of your hands."

She blushed. "I really dinna mean tae shoot ye."

"Oh, really?" He stopped in front of her.

"Had I not, we never would have met," she pointed out.

"Well, your plan worked." His breath bushed across her face.

"Aye," she sighed, and looked into his eyes. "Say the words."

"What words?"

"The ones ye have avoided saying since the moment we met."

He lifted a finger and brushed her cheek softly with a gentle touch. "It took me a little while to figure everything out."

"And what did ye find?"

"I found that the sun and the stars were much duller when you were not around."

"And?"

"And my life was empty without you." He cupped her chin and tilted her face up.

"And?" she prodded.

His thumb traced her bottom lip. "And I could think of no others, but you."

"And?"

"And . . .  I love you Kristen Johnstone Claremont. From the moment you taught me there was more to life than just going through the motions. You are the stars . . . the moon . . . you are my life."

Kristen's began to tremble as Trevor's mouth descended to hers. But instead of kissing her, he just brushed her lips and moved to place warm kisses across her ear. When his tongue touched her soft lobe, she had to grasp his arms to keep from falling. He whispered how much he loved her over and over again.

Gathering her courage, she murmured, "Trevor, ye have taught me many things. Can ye teach me how tae have a baby?"

His mouth covered hers in a heart-stopping kiss that robbed her of her breath. After a long moment, he lifted his mouth and she saw the dark passion that burned in his eyes.

"I think that can be arranged," he murmured. He caressed her lips again. Then drawing in a steadying breath, he whispered huskily, "If you catch on as quickly as you did to kissing we shall have a house full of children."

"I love ye, Trevor." Kristen gazed up at the one thing she had wanted all her life. She just hadn't known that it was Trevor.  I'm ready for my first lesson."

Trevor chuckled as he lifted her off her feet and carried her to the bed.  "Kristen,
you are one
wicked lady."

"Aye," Kristen murmured as she finally found her little bit of heaven . . . .

"And yer one wicked mon."