Claire Delacroix (36 page)

Brianna’s lip trembled dangerously. She caught her breath, and then she closed her eyes. A shuddering sigh broke from the very core of her, and her tears began to stream in a torrent.

Luc folded Brianna against the warmth of his chest, closing his own eyes at the painful sound of her sobs. He stroked her hair and murmured soothingly to her, knowing that there was little he could truly do.

But still he was honored that Brianna turned to him for solace. ’Twas not like this lady to concede any weakness at all and the very fact that she came to him was telling.

Connor, bless his immortal soul, had understood his daughter aright. Luc would not betray that man’s trust in any way, nor would he do less than his best for Brianna.

Luc cradled Brianna closer and rubbed her back. He guided her to his pallet and lifted her into his lap, tucking
the ends of both cloaks around her feet. She cuddled against him, her arms thrown around his neck with a childish trust that warmed Luc’s heart.

Her hair spilled around them and he marvelled at the flaxen hue of it. The scent of her skin and the softness of her curves filled Luc’s embrace and there was nowhere else in Christendom he would rather have been.

Luc did not know how long they sat there, indeed, he did not care. His hand moved in an endless caress across her shoulders as the lady wept, the chill of her tears trickling down Luc’s flesh.

Finally, though, Brianna laid a tiny hand against his chest and heaved a ragged sigh. “I am sorry, Luc,” she whispered unevenly, her head bowed. “You must think me weak.” A tremor echoed in her low words. “But I have never been alone.”

Luc slid a finger beneath Brianna’s chin and tipped her face so that he could look into her eyes. “And you are not alone now,” he insisted, noting the ravages of her tears with sympathy.

Brianna frowned. “But …”

Luc slipped his fingertip across her lips. “But naught,” he chided gently, willing her to understand his commitment to her. “You are not alone, for you have me by your side.” Brianna glanced up, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. Luc smiled crookedly. “Not only are you saddled with me in these days, my lady, but for all time.”

Brianna bit back a tentative smile. “You sound as though you are going to pledge as much to me.”

“I would.” Luc nodded. “Without hesitation. You may have my pledge, either now or before the altar, it matters little either way.” He smiled at her. “The choice, my lady fair, is yours.”

She did smile then, a soft and feminine smile that made
her look young and no less vulnerable. Luc hesitated but a heartbeat before he bent and touched his lips to her brow.

He paused there, uncertain whether he pushed overmuch, but Brianna glanced up, a warmth in her eyes. She reached up and touched his lips with her fingertips, no doubt deliberately echoing his characteristic gesture.

“I like that you pledge to me,” Brianna whispered, her gaze flicking to meet Luc’s. He could not take a breath beneath her regard, though his heart thundered in his very ears.

“Then I will not cease.”

Brianna’s smile was fleeting, her lips sobering as her emerald gaze fell once more to her fingertips yet resting against Luc’s chin. Luc bent to kiss her temple, her nose, her cheek, her chin, tasting the salt of her tears with every caress.

Then, Luc gently kissed the sweetness of Brianna’s lips. He swallowed her sigh and gathered her closer, determined to protect his lady from all the dangers confronting her. His hand slipped over her shoulder and found the ripeness of her breast, though truly Luc had never intended to do any such thing.

When Brianna gasped and arched her back, Luc was loath to abandon the curve he had found. He slipped his thumb across her nipple, feeling it tighten even through the layers of woolen cloaks. Brianna’s arms twined around his neck and desire flooded through Luc.

Brianna was to be his wife, his lady fair for all time. She needed the consolation of his touch, she needed to be coaxed to slumber. Brianna needed to forget for a moment the tragedy she had just endured. She needed to be certain that she was not only not alone, but that she was cherished and secure.

Fortunately, Luc had a very good idea how he could achieve all of those aims.

Brianna caught her breath when Luc tumbled her to her back and caught her against the heat of his chest. Her heart pounded at the surety of the strong hands cradling her close.

Indeed, Brianna had never felt so safe in all her days. Luc’s embrace sheltered her from the chill in the air; the tenderness in his touch made her imagine that the love she sought might indeed be close at hand.

There was a reverence in the way Luc cupped her breast, a gentle affection in the smooth slide of his muscled thigh between her own, both of which made Brianna feel cossetted within his embrace. Luc’s eyes fairly glowed, their hue so intense that the sight took Brianna’s breath away.

She knew already that she could trust Luc Fitzgavin with her life, with her honor, with anything she held dear. She already knew that Luc was a practical man possessed of good sense, a man who more than once had known better than she.

And Brianna had an inkling that ’twould not take him long to fulfill his pledge to capture her heart. Indeed, the man made decided progress with each passing day.

Given all of that, it seemed perfectly right to welcome the surety of Luc’s touch. And truly, Brianna craved the warmth of Luc’s caress. She was so cold, had been so chilled since finding her father in the chapel, that she welcomed the heat Luc brought to life beneath her very flesh.

When he claimed her lips once more, Brianna opened her mouth to his caress. Luc’s tongue dove between her teeth, the taste of him making her dizzy. Brianna closed her eyes, winding her arms securely around Luc’s neck, and surrendered to sensation.

Luc did not disappoint.

Even as he angled his mouth over hers, the pad of his thumb found her nipple once more. His hand had slid beneath
her cloak, through the lacings of her kirtle and she could fairly feel the rough edge of his thumb through the sheer linen of her chemise. Brianna gasped as Luc cajoled that nipple to a taut peak and felt her back arch against him. His muscled thigh slid higher between her own, spreading her legs wider. Brianna’s breasts were pressed against the hard wall of Luc’s chest.

He was so differently wrought from her—his body all heat and muscle, his flesh tanned and of a heavier texture than her own—yet the surety of Luc’s touch felt right beyond all.

Luc kissed beneath her chin, nibbling on the softness beneath her ear and Brianna shivered. She grasped fistfuls of Luc’s hair, gasping when his hand slid purposefully over the length of her. She froze when his fingers dove beneath the hem of her skirts and slipped through the tangle of hair at the apex of her thighs, her own grip tightening on his broad shoulders.

Luc kissed her earlobe, murmured reassuringly, flicked his tongue across her ear, and Brianna shivered anew. She whispered his name and he brushed his lips across her mouth again, tantalizing her with his touch. Brianna lay back, trusting him, and Luc’s strong fingers moved yet higher.

He growled with satisfaction when he found the slick wetness awaiting him there and claimed her lips triumphantly. When his teasing fingertips found the sensitive pearl at the very core of Brianna’s heat, she surged against him.

Luc caressed her with gentle persuasiveness, his touch launching a shivering heat through Brianna that left her wanting more and yet more. She writhed beneath him, revelling in his kiss and his touch, wanting something she could not name.

A consuming heat built beneath her very flesh. Brianna found her legs winding around Luc and her hips lifting demandingly
toward his touch. She felt the heat of his erection press against her hip; the sign of his own arousal feeding her desire as naught else could have done.

Brianna was aware of naught but Luc, she wanted no one but Luc. Luc touched and teased, Brianna writhed and moaned, Luc slipped a finger into her heat.

Brianna gasped and caught at Luc’s shoulders. She looked into the sapphire blaze of his eyes and could not tear her gaze away, even as the tide of her desire broke loose.

“Luc!” She clutched at his shoulder and felt her nails dig into his flesh. “Please! Call me by my name.”

His smile was a flash in the darkness, his breath a welcome heat against her ear.

“Brianna!” he murmured, the possessiveness in his low voice bringing Brianna’s newfound passion to a crescendo. “My Brianna!”

Luc claimed her lips as the heat surged through her, searing every fiber within her as it passed. Brianna gasped, then cried out, but Luc kissed her deeply, greedily swallowing the sound, as he held her fast against his chest.

His fingers continued to work and Brianna erupted over and over again. Until finally, she sagged spent against his heat. She pressed a kiss to his shoulder, and smiled as Luc kissed her brow and snuggled her close. Brianna’s fingers landed in the pelt of hair that graced Luc’s chest and she smiled when she felt the erratic pounding of his heart.

Luc was right. She was not alone, after all.

And with that smile yet curving her lips, Brianna closed her eyes and slumbered within the circle of his embrace.

B
rianna stretched luxuriously as she awakened, then reached for Luc’s heat.

He was not beside her. Surely he had not abandoned her! Brianna sat up in alarm.

But Luc sat quietly opposite, his gaze steadily blue, his hands upon his knees. He was fully garbed and the first of the night’s shadows were being dispelled by the promise of daylight.

Brianna recalled well enough that Luc had held her while she slumbered and was disappointed to be denied the gift of awakening within the circle of his arms.

“My lady,” Luc said softly before Brianna could utter a sound. “I would have you make me a promise.”

She blinked. “Aye?”

Luc’s gaze was solemn beyond all. “Do not suffer yourself to be alone, for even a moment, on this day or any other. Pledge to me that you will
never
be alone.”

Brianna frowned, not understanding his concern. “But why?”

“Your sire was murdered, I know not why or by whom.” Luc’s gaze was steady, his expression stern, his voice low. “Lady Ismay may have been cast to her death, as well. I believe ’tis because of the Rose of Tullymullagh.”

Brianna was no less confused by this. “But that is what people call
me!
I had naught to do with this.”

“Aye, I know it well.” Luc cleared his throat and came to sit beside her. He took her hand within the warmth of his own. “My lady, did your sire ever confide in you of a treasure he kept hidden?”

For a moment, Brianna thought Luc meant her dame’s letters, then she dismissed the thought. They were treasures only to a bereaved daughter, a daughter who would hear her dame’s beloved voice echo once more in the written words.

She shook her head. “What manner of treasure?”

“A crucifix, a token from that gem merchant in Outremer.”

Brianna shook her head once more. “I know naught of it.”

“ ’Tis important, my lady, for I fear ’twas the pursuit of this gem that led to your sire’s death. Perhaps he would not confide its hiding place, perhaps ’tis long gone and the thieves did not believe your sire’s claim.”

Brianna’s heart clenched at the very prospect and she recalled again the expression of betrayal etched upon her sire’s features. “Or perhaps he recognized them.”

Luc nodded. “Aye. It could well be so.”

“But what is this token? Perhaps I know it by another name.” Brianna entangled her fingers with Luc’s, instinctively liking that they tried to solve this together. “Perhaps I have seen it and never knew its name. Do you know what it looks like?”

“You
are
a woman of good sense.” Luc’s eyes glowed with approval and Brianna felt herself flush beneath his gaze. “ ’Tis said to have been wrought of gold, embellished with amber and a great ruby. A ruby said to be as big as a man’s thumb, and one that once was known as the Rose of
Tullymullagh. Do you think your sire might still have possessed it? Can you guess where he might have secreted it?”

Brianna gasped in sudden understanding and her free hand rose to her lips. “They sought it in the
chapel
!” she declared, horrified. “My sire must have surprised them in the midst of their search! Oh, Luc, this is horrible!”

Luc leaned closer. “Why would they seek it in the chapel?”

Brianna understood to keep her voice low that none anywhere might overhear. “Because there is a place there in the chapel, a hidden place.”

Brianna’s mind flew like quicksilver and she knew the quartz on the great crucifix had been resolutely locked in place when she had been there the day before.

Perhaps this treasure Luc spoke of had not been found! ’Twould be no small thing to have a token her sire had once held dear, a gift that had been granted to him long ago.

She gripped Luc’s arm. “If it still was within my sire’s possession, it must be yet there!” Brianna declared. She began to rise to her feet. “Come! I will show you.”