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Authors: Kinley MacGregor

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BOOK: Born in Sin
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It must have been the time he’d spent journeying with Maggie and Braden, he decided. He’d grown soft in their company. Grown used to people who saw him as something other than a monster.

He swallowed as his thoughts turned to Caledonia and her angelic, unassuming face.

Tonight he wouldn’t be alone. Tonight he would be with a beguiling woman who possessed brave, friendly eyes and a sharp wit.

For the first time in his life, he looked forward to the sun setting.

 

Callie smoothed the front of her dress with her hands. Vespers had come and passed with no word of Lord Sin.

She was more nervous than she should be and a little irritated that perhaps he had forgotten.

“Should I go look for him, milady?” Aelfa offered.

Before she could respond, she saw Lord Sin approach in the gathering shadows.

Her breath caught in her throat. Still dressed all in black, he cut a striking figure. Freshly shaved, he
wore his hair brushed back from his face and it warmed her that he had taken time to freshen his appearance for her.

She smiled at him.

“Forgive me for being late, milady,” he said, giving her a courtly bow. “It took longer in town than I thought it would.”

A chill went down her spine as he lifted her hand and placed a gallant kiss on the back of her knuckles.

“You’re quite forgiven,” she said, noting the breathlessness of her voice.

What was it about this man that made her so hot, and yet cold as well? So shivery, yet warm?

His answering smile made her weak in the knees. He was so close to her now, she could smell the fresh, clean scent of him. Feel the heat of his body warm hers. His strength and power overwhelmed her senses.

With a mental shake, she redirected her thoughts away from how much she would love to kiss this man and feel his arms around her. “I hope you enjoy what I brought.” She indicated the platters on the blanket she had spread on the ground. “We tried to find someone who knew what you preferred to eat, but no one seemed to be able to suggest anything that wasn’t frightening.”

“Mmm,” he said. “Let me guess. I like to drink the blood of innocents, feast on the entrails of knights and eat the hearts of small children everywhere.”

“Aye, that was much the consensus.”

A strange light came into his midnight-black eyes as he looked away from her. “Well, I hope you didn’t
go to such trouble to feed me. I fear ’tis off season for good blood, and knights can be rather testy when you disembowel them.”

It amazed her that he could joke about it. What she had learned this afternoon made her heart ache. Out of all the hundreds in this castle, no one knew anything about the man before her. Not even the king.

Henry couldn’t tell her what Sin enjoyed doing, what songs he preferred, what activities he liked, not even his favorite color.

Not even Simon knew.

“I’m afraid to disappoint you,” she said with a wistful sigh as she continued to tease him, “but all we have is roasted pheasant, stewed apples and leeks with onion sauce and wine. But if you prefer the other…”

He smiled at her. “How is it you understand my humor when no one else does?”

“I have no idea except to say that my brother is a bit morbid as well. He rather revels in it at times.”

“You think I’m morbid?”

“Aren’t you? You dress in black and like to frighten people. Isn’t that the very definition of the word?”

“I suppose.”

Callie set him down upon the blanket and poured them wine. She glanced over his left shoulder to see Aelfa motioning to her that she would be on the other side of the wall should she need her. Nodding at the maid, Callie handed Lord Sin a cup. “So tell me, other than being morbid, what else do you prefer to do?”

Sin shrugged. “I ride a great deal.”

“And?”

“That’s it.”

Callie wrinkled her nose as she regarded him. “It’s a very short list.”

“Unlike yours. I’ll wager your list is long. Infinite, probably.”

He was teasing her and she enjoyed it a great deal. For the first time, she realized he was a different man around her. He never teased anyone else and he seemed a bit more relaxed in her presence. The thought thrilled her. “As a matter of fact, my list is quite infinite.”

“You probably enjoy dancing and singing.”

“Aye. Do you?”

“I’ve never attempted either.”

“Not once?”

He shook his head.

“Why?”

He took a deep drink of wine and set the cup aside. “Never had time as a youth, and as a man I never had any inclination.”

“Oh. I don’t suppose you read?”

“Nay.”

“So, what is it you do when you’re home and not serving your king?”

“I train.”

“And when you’re not training?”

“I think about training.”

“And when you’re not doing that?”

“I’m resting so that I can train when I rise.”

She grimaced at his earnestness. “Are you being honest, or are you just being irritating?”

“I’m always honest, milady, and am told most often irritating.”

Her heart lurched at the casual way he said that. He was so accepting of the way others treated him.

“Always honest, eh? I don’t think I’ve ever met a man who could claim that.”

His black eyes burned into hers. “I’ve done many things in my life, things that I wish I’d never done, but I have never lied.”

Somehow that comforted her.

“Tell me, Lord Sin—”

“Sin,” he said, interrupting her.

“What?”

“Just call me Sin. I’m not one for titles.”

“But you are an earl, are you not?” She’d heard one of the courtiers refer to him as such. The man had told her Sin had lands all over England, Normandy and Outremer.

“I am a man, Caledonia. I’m not a title, and the only thing I wish to be master of is myself.”

It was the first time she’d heard her name from his lips. A tingle swept over her. There was something very intimate about the way he had spoken her name. “Is that why you don’t show a coat of arms?”

Sin didn’t answer. “Why don’t you tell me about you, milady?”

He was a sly one, trying deftly to distract her, but she wasn’t about to let him get away with such tactics. “I know all about me; ’tis you I don’t know.”

“Aye, but I know nothing of you. Nothing except you are fearless.”

She rubbed her neck nervously. “Far from fearless. I have been terrified since the moment my father died.” She couldn’t believe those words came out of her mouth. She’d told no one of that.

“Why?”

“He was everything to my clan. He held them together when one half wanted to attack the English and the other half just wanted peace.”

Sin nodded as if he understood, and she felt a sudden connection with him, though why she would feel such, she couldn’t imagine. “Your uncle is laird now?”

“Aye. They wanted to elect me, but I refused. I knew such a thing would hurt my brother Dermot. He already feels very competitive with me because of our mothers. I had no wish to make it worse for him.”

Sin took a bite of pheasant. “What about your mothers would make him feel competitive?”

“My mother was cousin to King David.” Callie paused as she saw hatred flare in his eyes at the mention of the former Scottish king. “You don’t like him?”

“Let’s just say the one time I met him, we did not get along.”

“But he was such a good man.”

Sin looked away.

Callie swallowed her nervousness. Would his hatred of her cousin spill over onto her? There was no doubt that Sin had no use whatsoever for David, but she couldn’t imagine why. Davey had been nothing but kind to her when she had lived at his court.

“And Dermot and Jamie’s mother?” he asked.

“She was a very young shepherdess. I was Jamie’s age when my father met her. He fell in love and married her within a month’s time.”

Sin’s gaze dropped to his trencher. “Do you remember your mother?”

Callie smiled as happiness welled up inside her. It always did that when she remembered her mother.
“Aye. She was beautiful and kind. An angel. I was only five when she died, but I remember so much of her.”

She saw the sadness in his eyes.

“What of you? Tell me of your mother.”

“What about your stepmother?” he asked, instead of answering her question. “Was she kind to you?”

What a peculiar question; but then, given the way most people looked upon stepparents, maybe it wasn’t so strange after all. “Morna is wonderful. You’ll like her much, I think. She’s been trying to find me a husband.”

He frowned at that. “Why haven’t you married before now?”

Callie drew in a deep breath as she thought about it. In truth, she’d always wanted to be a wife and mother. She could think of nothing better than having a home filled with children.

“My betrothed died before we married,” she whispered, “then my father died before I had a chance to look for another. Since his death, I haven’t even wanted to consider it, for fear someone would use me to try and take control of the clan from my uncle.”

“Peace is important to you?”

“Very much so. I’ve lost enough of my family. I’ve no wish to lose more.”

His black gaze searched hers and she saw the respect he felt for her. It warmed her greatly. “You’re very wise, Caledonia.”

“Callie.” She smiled gently. “My family and friends all call me Callie.”

Sin stared at her, unable to believe she would offer him her nickname. In that moment, he could almost
let himself dream of a life with her. Of sharing endless nights like this.

But in his heart he knew better. He wasn’t the kind of man a woman like her needed.

“Do you want children?” The question slipped out before he could stop it.

She blushed. “Aye. I would love to have dozens of them.”

His groin tightened at the thought. At the moment, he would love to offer his services, but that was another thing he could never do.

“And you?” she asked. “How many children do you want?”

“None.”

“Not even a son?”

He shook his head. “I don’t want any children. Ever.”

“Why?”

Sin clenched his teeth. He didn’t want children because he refused to bring anyone so defenseless into the world. Look at her little brother. Her father was dead, and she and Jamie were left to the hands of his enemies.

He would never take such a chance. Never allow a child of his to suffer.

“Men like me don’t father children.”

“Men like…” Her eyes grew wide and more color flooded her cheeks. She pulled away. “Forgive me, milord, I didn’t realize you preferred the company of other men.”

Sin choked. “I most assuredly do not, milady. My desires are definitely toward women.”

The humor returned to her eyes. “Oh. Well, you said—”

“But I didn’t mean it the way you took it.”

“Then why don’t you want children?”

“This subject is closed.”

Callie realized he wasn’t going to give her anything more than that. Very well; she would work on that later. For now, she would focus on other things.

“What did you do today?” she asked. “You said you went into town.”

“I was making plans to leave for Scotland.”

Her heart soared. “You’re taking me home?”

“Aye.”

“When?”

“Day after tomorrow.”

Joy ripped through her. Thoughtless in her excitement, she launched herself into his arms and squeezed him tight as her heart pounded.

Sin sat in shock as she wrapped herself around him. No one had ever hugged him before. Not once. He swallowed at the sensation of her bosom flattened against his chest, of her breath on his neck and the tenderness of her arms around his neck.

She felt wonderful.

Awkwardly, he placed his own arms around her. His blood pounded through his veins as his body roared to life with a heated demand so fierce it left him breathless.

All he could think of was the warmth of her body on his, the way her cheek felt pressed against his.

Before he realized what he was doing, he tilted her chin up with his hand and lowered his mouth to her parted lips.

Sin moaned at the taste of her mouth. The feel of her breath mingling with his as her tongue hesitantly
swept against his. She smelled of woman and lilacs, of pure, blissful heaven. He cupped her face in his hands, and just inhaled the scents and feelings of the only tender moment he’d ever known.

His blood rushed in his ears as his body burned for her, and it took every ounce of his strength not to unlace her gown and sample more of her.

Sample all of her.

Callie’s head swam at the taste of the man, of the power of his arms around her. His tongue teased hers relentlessly. A deep-seated ache threatened to overwhelm her as he stirred feelings and sensations in her body she’d never before known.

His arms tightened around her body and she could feel the muscles of his back flexing beneath her hands. Goodness, but he was all solid muscle. All manly power.

And she wanted him in a way she’d never wanted anything. The female in her awoke with such a ferocious demand that she was stunned it didn’t incinerate her. What was this fire inside her? This ache she had, to strip off his clothes and touch every part of him with her hands? Her lips?

For the first time in her life, she understood what her friends meant when they spoke in hushed whispers about their husbands. No wonder they blushed and giggled.

Kissing was wonderful!

He ran his hands down her back to her ribs. Callie throbbed even more as she arched against him. Instinctively, she rubbed herself against him. He answered her with an animalistic growl as he deepened his kiss and moved his hand to cup her breast through
the fabric of her gown. She moaned at the feel of him.

Sin hissed at the way her breast overfilled his hand. At the way she tasted of such sweet innocence and fire. Her hands sought out his body, stroking him, inflaming him. And all he could think of was laying her back and…

He pulled back and stared at her half-open eyes. Her lips were swollen as she breathed raggedly. He could just imagine how she would look in his bed. Imagine how it would feel to claim her.

Tomorrow, she would be his. He could take her then, over and over, until they were both spent.

BOOK: Born in Sin
8.27Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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