Seducing the Knight (23 page)

Suddenly, the light softened. The pain vanished, replaced
by a delicate caress that filled his body with an overwhelming sense of peace and tranquility as soft and gentle as an early spring rain. As quickly as it had come, the bright light vanished, along with the swirling blue light above the ark.

Dizzying relief poured through Alan. He bowed his head to the ark. He didn’t understand what had just happened, and he didn’t need to. He was just grateful to whatever divine force had protected the woman he loved. The thought made his breath catch. He did love her. Alan’s hands trembled as he brushed the hair away from Jessamine’s face.

She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her eyes were so serene, so filled with love. She raised a hand to his face. “You came for me.”

“Always.” He helped her sit up but couldn’t stop the frown that came to his lips when he saw the purple bruise against the velvet skin of her neck.

“I’ll heal,” she said softly. “I’m more resilient than you think.”

“You are a constant surprise.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

Jessamine clutched his hand as her gaze shifted to what remained of the conde’s body. A pile of ashes lay atop a scorched mark on the stone floor. “He’s really dead?”

“He’s gone from this world.” Alan’s gaze moved to the open church doors. He nodded to Simon and Kaden that all was well. With a nod, they turned and strode back into the churchyard.

Alan smiled down at Jessamine. “It appears the Spaniards are gone, as are the Arabs. That just leaves you and me and the Templars.”

“Then I’m no longer married?” Jessamine’s voice was
a whisper. A slow smile came to her lips as she turned toward the ark. “I have been given everything I asked for in the presence of the ark, except for one thing.”

“What is that?” he asked cautiously.

“You.”

His heart swelled.

“You asked me twice before to marry you and I refused. Now I am asking you. Sir Alan Cathcart, would you marry me here and now? Not because you feel it is your duty, but because you cannot live without the love we share.”

“You are the very air I breathe.” He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed each one slowly. “I’m willing to risk everything for you. You’re certain that’s what you want? We’ll be living with the charge of treason for the rest of our lives.”

“That’s not what I want, but I’m no longer willing to live without you. Perhaps in time I can make my uncle understand.”

His lips moved from her fingers to her wrist, then down the length of her arm.

Her eyes dilated and he could see passion flare in their depths. “You must stop that until the priest can marry us, because I fear that making love on yet another church altar might not endear us to the heavenly forces that have watched over us these past few weeks.”

Alan’s laugh mingled with Jessamine’s. The sound filled the church, displacing fear and violence. “I accept, and I couldn’t agree with you more.”

Once the fighting had ceased and the injured had been tended to, Alan and Jessamine prepared to take their vows. As Jessamine waited at the back of the church, a small orb of blue light appeared before her. It circled around her in a flitting, jubilant way completely unlike the angry, swirling blue that had appeared over the ark.

Jessamine extended her hand. The blue orb accepted her invitation and hovered over her palm, warming her skin but in no way burning her. She laughed as a slight tickling sensation moved up her arm and into her core. “Are you here to wish us well in our marriage?” she asked, not really expecting an answer from the playful light.

It spiraled up toward the ceiling, then over the heads of the Templars who crowded the small church. Their voices quieted as the light swirled through them, then shifted toward the spot where Alan and the priest stood waiting for her. With a burst of brightness, the orb passed right through the stained glass window high over the altar, bathing the church and those inside it in a rainbow of dancing colors. Blues and greens and reds and yellows sparkled on every surface. Jessamine gasped at the splendor of it all.

There was no music, but suddenly the tinkling of imagined bells filled Jessamine’s head. She started down the aisle, passing through the Templars’ arced swords
toward Alan. He smiled at her, and she was suddenly filled with a sense of joy as radiant as the light streaming all around them. The radiance swept through her, lifting her up until she felt as though she were sparkling with the same brilliance.

This was the way it should feel when you married the man you loved.

The vows passed in a blur of joy, and when the blessing was complete, Alan took Jessamine into his arms. There was a raw, unveiled passion in his eyes that she’d never seen before—an almost animal intensity that stole her breath. His mouth slanted possessively over hers. He kissed her slowly, gently, and the combination set her soul and body afire.

A rousing cheer went up from the crowd, which hastened forward to congratulate them. Alan broke the kiss, but took her hand in his. When the congratulations died down, the men scooped Jessamine and Alan up, creating seats for them with their arms.

“We’ve a surprise for you.” Simon grinned up at Alan and winked at Jessamine as the Templars escorted the two of them from the church to a tiny cottage just past the churchyard. “No marriage is complete without a wedding night.” A shout of laughter broke out amongst the men as they ushered the two of them inside.

“It’s beautiful!” Jessamine breathed as they set her on the polished wooden floor. They set Alan down beside her.

Golden light spilled through the one-room cottage, illuminating the only article of furniture—a lone bed with crisp white linens sprinkled with blooms of heather. A pitcher of ale along with a platter of cheese and bread sat on a small table near the bed.

“Our gift to you both,” Simon said with a bow. “The men and I cleaned it quite thoroughly.”

As they were gazing about the chamber, two Templars brought in the ark and set it beneath the shuttered window opposite the bed. Alan had requested that the ark remain with him and Jessamine until it could be taken to a safer location. After another round of hearty congratulations, the men left and shut the door behind them.

Jessamine went into Alan’s arms as though she had done so a hundred times before. “Alone at last.”

“I missed you.” Alan smiled at her, a slightly wicked smile.

Jessamine could feel her heartbeat intensify just looking at him. It had been so long. Too long. “Then let’s not wait. I must touch you.”

“Soon.” He reached out and slipped her gown, then her chemise, over her shoulders. The garments pooled at her feet, and something hot and intense flared in his gaze as it ran over her naked body.

She could feel her nipples tautening, her breasts swelling, as his gaze caressed her.

“Come with me.” He took her hand and led her to the bed. He set her gently on the side, then stepped back and dipped his hand into his satchel for a brief moment before removing his belt and swords and setting them aside. “There is something I want to give you.”

“Now?” she asked, her heart beating so hard she could feel it thunder in every part of her body.

He smiled. “All will be well. I promise.”

“What is it?”

He began to unfasten his white linen shirt. He stripped it off and threw it aside. “Bear with me,” he said. “This all has a purpose.”

“With each article of clothing you remove I care less and less about your purpose and more about touching you.”

He laughed, a throaty, pleasant sound, then tugged off his boots. They joined his shirt on the floor.

Her hands clenched the bedlinens beneath her. She drew a sharp breath.
Dios
, he was beautiful. The early-evening sunlight streaming into the chamber bathed him in a golden glow, gilding his face, the tough sinewy grace of his torso and shoulders. Her chest was so tight she was having difficulty breathing. She swallowed roughly as he removed his breeches to reveal his brawny thighs.

He stood before her, his stance wide, his buttocks tight, every muscle tense, his manhood boldly aroused.

“I need no other gift but you,” she said hoarsely as the very air in the room seemed to vibrate with the same arousal she saw in him. She stood and moved toward him.

“Nay.” He pushed her gently back on to the bed. “Once you touch me, I’ll not be able to talk. I must do this now.”

She nodded. She couldn’t think. Her bones seemed to have no substance.

“You gave me the gift of hope and faith, and something I never expected to feel again—joy.” His chest rose sharply. “After Teba, I was dead inside. And you changed all that. Our passion changed all that.”

He lifted her hand and brought it to his chest, put it over his heart. She could feel a rapid beat beneath her palm. He placed his hand on hers.

“I give you my heart, always and forever.”

“Alan—”

“There is more.” She felt something warm slip from his hand to hers. He drew his hand away.

She lifted her fingers slowly from his chest to reveal the gold ring set with a bright red stone that he’d had
made for her in Jaffa. She gasped as she recognized what it was. One of the stones of fire.

“Alan…”

“If I am to be the guardian of the ark, then you are the guardian of the stones. Together, we must keep these treasures safe for the rest of our days.”

She nodded, not trusting her voice.

His gaze fastened intently on her face. “I also want you to remember each time you look at this ring that it is you who set me afire every time we touch.” He lifted the ring from her palm and slid it onto her left hand.

“Alan, I accept the gift of your heart and this ring, and all that it signifies. I willingly give myself to you in return.” She could see his pulse beating wildly in his jaw. His eyes flared and sheer lust tore through her. “Please, I want nothing more except to feel you filling the aching emptiness between my thighs.”

“Are you asking me to love you?”

“Yes.”

He gathered her in his arms and reclined on the bed, placing her on top of him. “I’m yours, my princess, seduce me any way you please.”

Suddenly she felt as though she was in control of her life and her destiny. She was entering a wild and secret world where anything was possible and nothing forbidden.

Her fingers stroked his chest. “Does this please you?”

“Aye, it makes me feel glorious.”

“More glorious than this?” Her hand slid across his taut stomach. His muscles went rigid beneath her fingertips. Her fingers moved lower to tangle in the soft curls surrounding his manhood. He drew a sharp breath.

“And this, love…does this feel good?” She gently stroked his pulsing member.

“I ache,” he said, arching his head back. “I need more.”

She released him and shifted herself over him. Slowly, she slid down his length, until he filled her fully. She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing at the rich excitement pulsing around her. It was as though her every response was linked to his in some mysterious fashion. Every tingle of pleasure she gave him was her pleasure.

He lifted his head to hers and kissed her with a sweetness that wove a web of enchantment around them both.

“Let me give you more, Jessamine.” He thrust upward, filling her with his hot hardness over and over again.

She moaned, clutching helplessly at his shoulders. “Alan.”

“I’ve missed you so.” His words were almost guttural. “The tightness…I feel you grabbing me every time I thrust into you.”

She knew in that moment the power she held over him.

As she undulated over him, he gasped and shuddered. “You’re making me lose control.” He plunged deep, filling her, raising his buttocks off the bed to fill her fully.

She cried out with pleasure, trembling, quaking. Her arousal was too intense, the fullness within her too hot, too hard.

“Let me give you even more,” he said, his breath coming in labored gasps. In a smooth, fluid motion, he flipped her onto her back and plunged deep. Hot lightning seared her. His palms cupped her bottom, squeezing her flesh with each bold invasion, lifting her to each thrust, encouraging her to take more of him.

She cried out with satisfaction as the very essence of her being aligned with his and spasms of release shuddered through them both.

Alan collapsed alongside her, pulling her tight against his side while she struggled to catch her breath. When she thought she could speak without gasping, she lifted her head to look at her husband. He was as breathless as she, smiling at her with a tenderness she’d never expected to find in any man.

“What are you smiling about?”

“Can a man in love not smile at his wife?”

She sucked in a small tremulous breath and quickly lowered her lashes to hide her eyes.

“What is it, Jessamine?”

“Nothing.”

He lifted her chin with his finger, bringing her tear-filled gaze back to his face. “Tell me, anything.”

“It’s just that…” A tear spilled over her lashes onto her cheek. He brushed it away gently with his thumb. “I’ve waited so long to hear those words from you.”

His smile returned. “I’m not the most eloquent man, but my feelings for you must have been obvious from the start.”

“But a woman needs to hear the words.”

His smile broadened. “I’ll not make that mistake again.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek where the tear had fallen. “I love you.” His lips placed a gentle caress on her other cheek as well. “I love you.” He pulled back and looked deeply into her eyes. In them she could see all the glory and all the wonder of his love. Then his mouth reinforced his words with a long and passionate kiss. When he pulled back, he said it once more. “I love you, Jessamine.” His voice broke with emotion. “Always and forever.”

She could feel his gaze on her for a long moment before his lips brushed hers with a velvet tenderness. He gathered her against him and lay down. “I think it best
we get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow promises to be another eventful day.”

She tensed. “The ark still isn’t safe, is it?”

He shook his head. “Not until it is within the fortress of Stonehyve Castle. Even without a leader, the Spaniards may try to come after it again.”

She sighed, her mind suddenly as weary as her body. “We are safe for tonight?”

“In my arms you will always be safe,” he replied and pulled her more snugly against his chest. “Sweet dreams, love.”

At dawn the next morning Alan and Jessamine started their journey to Stonehyve Castle. The pace was slower than Alan would have liked. The sooner they reached the protective walls of the castle, the better off they would be.

At dusk, their small army stopped. The men settled down for the night, setting watch fires to help guard against any possible enemies. Patrols scouted the area, while men took turns guarding each other and the ark.

But sleep did not come easily to Alan or Jessamine. They lay together watching the fire, wide awake and thinking.

“Alan,” Jessamine whispered. “What do you think happened to Will in all the fighting?”

He sighed. The men had searched everywhere for his body. But they’d found nothing. “I’m hoping he wasn’t involved in the battle and that he found safety elsewhere.”

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’ll hope the same.”

“Never you fear about me,” a familiar voice called from behind them.

“Will?” Alan shot to his feet, then helped Jessamine up.

“You’re alive!” Jessamine ran toward the older man and engulfed him in a hug…except her hands moved right through him. She stared at her hands and then at Will, her eyes wide.

Alan’s hand moved to his sword. “Will?” Alan regarded him warily. “What are you? Who are you?”

“William of Tyre.” He bowed as far as his cane would allow.

Alan felt his pulse stumble. “The Templar William of Tyre? The man who wrote the Templar letters?”

His smile widened. “The very same.”

“But how?” Jessamine asked, running her hand through Will’s body once again. “Are you a ghost?”

“No,” he said. “Over the years, I have been responsible for keeping the ark safe until a new guardian, or guardians, could be found. When I saw you in the tunnels beneath the Temple Mount, I knew you were the ones. I made it my task to protect and guide you when you needed me.”

Jessamine’s eyes widened. “You
were
always there when we needed you.”

With a smile and a nod, Will’s image shimmered, then faded, and a small blue orb hovered where he’d stood only moments before.

“The blue light!” she gasped. “That was you?” She held out her hand and allowed the blue orb to nestle in her palm. She chuckled as the light swirled over and under her hand.

As Alan watched, images of Will tumbled through his mind. When they’d first met him at Petra, he’d taken them to the Bedouins. As the blue light, he had guided them to the ark and to each other. “How could we have missed the fact that no one ever saw you when we did?”

The blue light took the form of Will once more.
“You weren’t looking beyond surface appearance at first. But that changed along the way, as did you.”