Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) (22 page)

“Damned
right we are.” Brendan answered for Colin, as he approached to stand next to
them.

“I
think we should stop by the loch before we head home. I don’t want my wife
seeing us like this,” Colin told them.

Night
fell by the time they reached the loch. Several wounded men sat by the bank of
the water. Colin had two soldiers tend the wounds of the few that had been
struck. He directed them to bind and care for those that needed it. The more
seriously injured could go to Jinny for aid. Warriors bathed in the loch, and a
good number of tartans and tunics littered the trees and bushes, drying in the
night breeze.

The
soldiers’ guard was let down, being near their home. Loud shouts and
rambunctious play came from the water. The men became boisterous, recounting
their accomplishments of the day. Brendan sat beside a tree, he’d all ready
bathed. He noticed Colin looked around for him and Robin. It had become a habit
of his, to speak to them after each battle. Colin had been responsible for them
for such a long time, and had always looked out for them. Not that they needed
it. Robin caroused in the water with Gil, and they laughed over a tale another
warrior was telling about a man he’d slain earlier.

“Brendan,
are you all right?”

“Aye,
why should I not be?”

“You
did well today. I haven’t seen you fight in a long time. I always enjoy
watching you combat.”

Brendan
nodded. “I want to find that knave and kill him, Colin. I won’t rest until I
do. He hurt Katie, damn it.”

“I
know, Brendan, but you have to wait until I get his location from Henry. This
Richard de Morris is not going anywhere.”

“Nay,
he is not.” Brendan lifted his dagger, studying it. “I want to put this in his
heart.”

Colin
sat next to him. “We need to talk about you’re leaving. You are going to have
to accept the land Henry has given ye.”

“Nay.”
He absently used his dagger to scrape the mud from his boots. He didn’t want to
discuss leaving, because as far as he was concerned, it was a closed subject.

“You
know she’ll want to return to her home. She has property, and must see to her
people. Kate is too honorable to let her people down, Brendan. Will you let her
go?” Colin stopped Brendan’s hand, and he dropped his dagger.

“Can
you explain something to me? You love Julianna?”

“Aye,
with all my heart,” Colin declared, placing his fist over his heart.

Brendan
frowned. “What does that feel like? I don’t understand what the kind of love
you’re talking about … is. I think that I might love Katie, but I’m not
certain.”

“I’m
taken aback, Brendan, you really want to know?”

“Aye,
did I not just ask?” He wasn’t really sure why he’d asked his brother that, but
now that they were speaking of it, his interest piqued. The awkwardness of the
topic didn’t affect him as it normally would.

“I
cannot describe the feeling, but I can tell you that I would die for her then
I’d go to hell for her. Knowing she’s part of me makes me who I am.”

“That’s
ludicrous, Colin, I don’t think I feel like that.” Brendan still enraged from
the fighting, stood.

“So
you’re just going to walk away?”

He
scowled fiercely at his brother, and started to walk away. “Aye, I detest
England.”

Colin
called after him. “But you might love Kate more than you detest England,
Brendan.”

He
ignored his brother’s remark and strode toward the keep. When he reached it, he
kept walking. His stride increased, he intended to see his wife and to release
his pent-up sexual tension. Quietly, he entered her cottage and knew she was
asleep. She lay with her eyes closed in a cocoon of covers. No fire lit the
hearth, but the night was warm and none was needed. Brendan wanted her
intensely. With that in mind, he stripped his clothing hastily, and joined her
on the bed. He took her in his arms and kissed her roughly.

Kate
awoke not knowing what happened. She would have screamed, except her mouth was
completely covered by his. Once she realized who kissed her, she relaxed, and
wrapped her arms around his neck. Brendan was in a frantic state of heated
passion, and every part of his body demanding release. He tore at her sleeping
gown, wanting to rid her of it. She did scream then. He covered her scream with
his mouth again. The kiss wasn’t gentle either, but she didn’t mind. She became
as rough and fervent as he. His hands touched her everywhere. She cried out
when he gripped her breasts with both his hands and used his thumbs to stroke
her nipples. His harsh breath sounded in the room. He needed to be inside her.
Exhilaration overrode any thought to be gentle, and he spread her legs and
entered her. He drove into her repeatedly, reeling from the excitement, carnal
lust urging on his primitive response.

Brendan
realized his roughness, and he stopped abruptly. “Katie, am I hurting ye?”

Her
only response was to pull his head down to return his kisses. He resumed his
thrusts and felt his body spinning out of control.

Katie
reached the pinnacle of her orgasm, and she screamed his name. Brendan grunted
in male satisfaction at her reaction to her culmination. He yelled his own
climax to the rafters, and his body fell on top of hers in total surrender.
Aye, she’d weakened him. She held him close, his head cradled by her neck, and
she fondled his hair. He could feel her breath heating his skin. It allayed him
and he smiled. He didn’t move, but continued to lie on top of her.

Brendan
was overwhelmed by what happened. He used her so vehemently, and he had never
taken a woman like that before. It didn’t sit well with him either. Guilt
pressed him, yet he couldn’t even look at her face to assess her expression.
After several minutes passed, he finally pulled out of her and rolled away.
That’s when he noticed her crying.

“Katie,
did I hurt ye? I didn’t mean to be so brutal. I … answer me.” What in God’s
name was wrong with him? He was prattling like a lad. Well, hell.

Kate
cried harder, she couldn’t stop. Once the tears began, they just kept coming.
“You always make me cry, I don’t usually do so, but you always make me.”

Now
he had done it, he thought. He hurt her so badly, she couldn’t stop crying. He
knew he had to do something to soothe her, so he enclosed her in his arms.

“Shhh,
I didn’t mean to hurt ye. I would never …” he trailed off hearing her speak.

“It
was so beautiful, I never felt so … loved.” she whispered her declaration and
sighed.

Brendan
didn’t know what to make of her claim. His jaw tightened. How could she say
that after he’d been so rough with her? He squeezed her arm gently, but
wouldn’t acknowledge such feelings for her. He did love her, but wouldn’t admit
it aloud. A warrior wouldn’t say such nonsense, he reminded himself.

At
last, she calmed, and remained quiet. He leaned forward, and pulled the coverings
over them. He settled himself next to her and fell asleep within seconds, a
frown on his face.

*****

Kate
lay for sometime, watching him while he slept. She longed to tell him the
truth; that she loved him, had loved him for longer than she knew him. At least
since his vision came to her. She wanted to say it outright, that she loved him
with her whole heart and that he made her feel content. He made her feel loved.
The way her body responded to his astounded her. She regarded the man lying
next to her, holding her so tenderly. Admittedly, she didn’t know much about
him, though she knew his family and his friends, and had seen his home. He
didn’t display much of himself for anyone to see, nor did he talk of his
interest or his feelings. It was as if he placed a shell around him so none
could see his tender side.

He
has a good heart, but doesn’t want anyone to know about it.

She
could tell he kept to himself and didn’t share his views with anyone. That
thought saddened her a bit. She wanted to draw him out. Had his demeanor always
been serious? Brendan needed someone to care for him, she wanted it to be her, but
that wouldn’t be. She knew that he had no intention of going to England with
her. If only she could renounce her father’s fief, and remain with Brendan, but
that would go against her father’s bequeath. Once she left the highlands, it
was unlikely she would ever return. She must not let her heart soften toward
him further. Yet, she snuggled contentedly next to him, knowing she didn’t have
much more time with him. She would enjoy the few days left, before she returned
home with the king.

The
next morning, she awoke and found him gone again. Just once, she’d like to wake
in his arms and have him kiss her before he stalked off to train. She snorted
at that, because it would likely never happen. Kate decided to take a morning
ride, she went to the stable, and luckily the stable master was busy tending to
horses in the coral beyond the building. She quickly saddled a mare and led her
out. A nice relaxing ride would settle her nerves. She galloped toward the open
field where bales of hay made a maze. She kicked her mount into a full run, and
the horse jolted at her demand. Its hooves moved so fast, they blurred by the
grass. The mare’s powerful body leapt in the air, and she snorted and whinnied.

Blessedly,
the mare obeyed her commands. It felt so free, flying again. She always loved
it, and her laughter echoed through the field. She heard Bonnie’s clapping and
laughter from atop a hill near by. Her attention was so focused on her task and
the enjoyment of jumping the bales that she hadn’t noticed the people who stood
behind Bonnie at the top of the hill.

Brendan
was on his way to the training field when he noticed people gathered at the top
of the hill. He wondered what they were doing, but then he saw Bonnie sitting
on the grass, and he sat next to her. His minx of a niece seemed mesmerized by
the view, as did the people standing nearby.

“What
are you looking at, fairy?”

“Kate.”

“Kate?
Where?”

“There.”
Bonnie pointed toward the field.

Brendan
looked to where she’d pointed to, and his whole body became rigid. His lady
flew though the air on a damned horse. Not just any horse, but the one horse
Colin told him was onerous, and not yet tamed. The horse landed beyond the
bale. Kate’s sunny laughter reached him, she was laughing at her victory. He
realized his breath became raucous, flaring his nostrils with anger.

“How
long has she been doing this?”

His
niece hunched her shoulders. “I think she’s a princess.”

“Aye,
lass, she is a princess.”

Bonnie
giggled. “Do you love her, Uncle Brendan?”

Brendan
watched his niece smile sweetly at him and he grunted. His niece snickered at
his response. Kate finally noticed them on the hill and her face reddened. He
could see the brightness from where he sat. She rode up the hill and dismounted
near him. The people behind them walked away when their entertainment came to
an end. He scowled at her, hoping she would realize her jeopardy. But she must
not have, because she had a fat smile on her face. She sat next to Bonnie and
placed her arm around Bonnie’s shoulder.

“Good
morning, Bonnie and Brendan. ‘Tis a beautiful day.”

“Katie.”
He gave her a hard look.

“Why
are you not off trying to find de Morris or on the training field? I am shocked
to see you here wasting your morning. What are you doing here?”

“I
believe I was watching a bean-sith trying to kill herself. Why would you
endanger yourself so?”

“I
wasn’t in danger. I always—”

“You’ll
not ride like that again, not on that horse,” he ordered.

“I
don’t answer to you, Brendan. I’ll ride whenever I want, and on whatever horse
I choose. I enjoy riding fast and jumping over objects.”

“Bonnie,
go to the keep. We’ll see you later.” He patted her leg to get her moving.

Kate
lifted her arm and was about to stop her from leaving, but his niece moved with
amazing speed and had run beyond her reach.

“You
had no right to send her away, Brendan. I promised to—”

“Katie,
I mean what I said. I don’t want you riding like that again. Now, give me your
word.”

She
looked him in the eye. “Nay.”

Incredulous,
he said, “Nay.”

“I
always ride so, I don’t answer to you.”

“Why
is that? You’re an obstinate lass, you know that.”

“What
are you talking about?”

“I
want your promise, now.” Brendan knew she wouldn’t promise him anything.

“I
promise.”

Brendan
grunted his approval at her compliance.

“What
did I promise to?”

His
jaw flinched and his scowl deepened. “You’re the most confusing woman. If you
don’t know when you’re in danger, I’ll have to …” Brendan gave up, he pulled
her into his arms
,
and started kissing her. He set her back on the grass, touching her gently, his
kiss tender. His tongue caressed hers as though he tried to melt into her. Kate
groaned. He growled.

He
continued kissing her, lying next to her felt too darned good. Brendan’s entire
length squeezed the whole of her body. His hands held her head still so he
could ravish her mouth, though gently, especially after last night. He knew he
had to stop, and if he continued, he would take her right there where anyone
could come along.

He
pulled back, his mouth a scant inch from hers. “You make me forget myself, and
where we are.”

“Brendan,
please, I …”

“I
was rough with you last night. Are you angry with me?”

“Nay,
you weren’t rough. I thought it was beautiful.”

The
woman pleased him. He was a wee bit astounded that she liked it rough, and he
would have to remember that the next time they made love.

“Promise
me you’ll not ride a horse like that again.”

“I
enjoy riding a horse like that, Brendan. I was perfectly safe.”

“It
wasn’t safe, Katie. That horse wasn’t broken yet, and is not used to riders.
You ride well, Katie, I didn’t know.” Maybe the horse was affected by her
spirit and perhaps she had used a wee mystic power to lure the beast into
accepting her on its back.

She
stared into his eyes, which pierced hers. “Why are you so sad, Brendan?”

He
ignored her question. “Did you mean what you said last night?” His hands rubbed
her shoulders, gently persuading her to relax.

“What
did I say?”

“That
you love me. You said it on our wedding day, and last night.” His eyes bore
into hers, waiting for her answer. Would she deny it? He didn’t know why, but
he needed to hear it.

“Did
I? I suppose I meant it. Though I believe I meant that you made me feel loved. Aye,
that is what I meant.”

“What
about now?”

“Now?
You’re asking me if I love you right now?”

“Aye,
do you?” He felt assailable and didn’t like the feeling of it either. Why had
he set himself up for a letdown? He squeezed her shoulder to get her to answer.

“Aye,
Brendan, I love you right now, right this minute.”

“Now
and forever?” A sudden urge to grin came over him. He pulled her chin toward
him, when she turned her face to look at the field. “Say it,” he demanded.

She
tried to hide the distress in her voice. “Now and forever.”

He
kissed her gently to seal her vow. His hair caressed her cheek when his lips
touched hers. She looked at him with affection, and he realized how deeply in
love with her, he was.

“I
love you, lass.” Brendan flinched when he realized he spoke aloud. But he had
said it so low, he was sure she hadn’t heard him.

“Did
you just say that you love me, Brendan? I thought I heard you say—”

“Katie,
I’m a warrior.”

“I
know what you are. Well?”

“Warriors
don’t love, they fight.” He glowered, disbelieving they were having this
conversation.

“They
don’t love?”

“Nay,
I don’t have it in me to love. I care for you though, and want to see you safe.
I will to protect you. There is no foe that I can’t best.”

Kate
laughed at his arrogance. “Care? Safe? Protect? You make me sound like a little
girl in need of a father’s protection. I don’t need you for that, Brendan.”

“What
do you need me for?” He needed her acceptance, mayhap because he hadn’t been
accepted by anyone, except by his brothers. She didn’t seem to know how to
answer him. “You do need my protection, Katie. I cannot love you as you would
like, but I admit that you’re important to me.”

“I
am?”

“Aye,
you are.” Brendan kissed her again.

Kate
became as unbridled as he, when his kiss became passionate. At that moment,
nothing mattered but the woman he held in his arms. He wouldn’t be speaking his
affections aloud again.

“Brendan.”
His brother, Robin, called from a distance.

Brendan
ignored him, because he didn’t want to stop kissing her. He felt content. Aye,
and safe from having to admit to himself the feelings she aroused.

“We’re
having a meeting in the hall in fifteen minutes,” Robin yelled.

Brendan
pulled away from her again. “You are my wife. I want to hear you admit it.
You’ll start acting like a wife who loves her husband.”

“I
should be angry with you for tricking me. I’ll admit to being your wife, when
you admit that you love me. And when I hear you say you’ll live with me in
England.”

Brendan
raised his brow at her. “Then you will never admit to being my wife. I will not
leave the highlands for you, Katie. You will stay here with me. I expect you to
obey me and do as I say.”

“Obey
you? I haven’t obeyed anyone since my father left four years ago.”

“Four
years?” He shook his head. Had she been left alone all that time? “Katie, I
only have your interest at heart when I direct you.”

“Do
you? I believe you only have your own interest at heart, Brendan. I didn’t deem
you would leave your beloved highlands for me, so nay, I shan’t admit to being
your wife. If I mattered as much as you say I do, then you would go with me.”

Brendan
sighed. He supposed what she said was true. “I have to go, I’ll see you at
supper.” He rose and quickly walked off. On his way to the holding, Brendan
realized he’d have to keep Katie away from Henry. She would surely ask him to
annul their marriage, and wasn’t about to have that. Aye, the woman had to stay
away from the king, or he’d be doomed.