Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
S abrina woke from a nap with a start. She’d wanted to talk to Gavin, but exhaustion from the flight to Scotland and staying up late to get pictures edited had finally taken its toll.
When she’d finally gotten Gavin alone in the library, she’d barely begun her practiced speech when Gavin told her he needed time to consider things. She’d not stopped him. After all, she was the one who’d left and not allowed them time to work things out. It was only fair to move forward on his terms.
There seemed to be a lot of activity on the first floor. There was loud talking and even clapping below. Whatever happened, was causing excitement.
Perhaps Liam had finally been able to reappear. Sabrina sprang from the bed and rushed to the bathroom to rinse her face and run a comb through her hair. She’d gone to bed wearing a gray long sleeve t-shirt and matching athletic leggings. Since she wore socks, her footsteps were silent as she hurried down the stairs.
Everyone was in the library. On the couch was a bloodied Liam, John beside him. Tammie held a bowl of wet washcloths and Gwen was wiping Liam’s face.
Gavin and Tristan looked on with concerned expressions.
“What happened to him?” Sabrina asked, moving to stand next to Gavin.
“His curse has been broken,” Gavin informed her.
She leaned into him and whispered. “Why doesn’t anyone look happy? Who beat him up?”
It was Gwen who spoke next. “Liam is not happy to have left the other two. Niall beat him up.”
They filled her in on what had happened. When they got to the part of Liam having stabbed Padriag, Sabrina gasped. “Oh no. That had to be awful for you.”
Liam closed his eyes.
“What do we do next?” Tammie asked. “Maybe he should take a shower. There’s sand everywhere.”
“Can you stand?” John asked the injured man who nodded.
John and Tristan helped Liam to stand, and when he seemed steady enough they helped him from the room.
“Should we call a doctor?” Tammie asked. “He said one of his ribs might be cracked.”
Gwen shook her head. “Miles went to get his bag. He is a trained paramedic. Said he will stitch up the cuts and tape his ribs.” Just then the aforementioned man walked in with a white case. “Where’d he go?”
“Up to take a shower,” Tammie said pointing to the ceiling.
The older man hurried from the room and up the stairs.
“Tammie, let’s make some dinner. The staff is off today. It’s been a crazy day.” Gwen tugged her sister from the room giving Sabrina a pointed look.
Noting Gavin’s worried expression, his gaze toward the stairway, Sabrina went to him and instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist. “He will recover from his injuries. I am sure of it.”
His arms came around her, but his body remained still.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking,” Sabrina tried to push away, but his arms remained solidly around her.
“I do not mind.” Gavin peered down at her. “We should talk.”
Sabrina’s heart thundered wildly. This was it. She would put everything on the line, make sacrifices that she’d never thought to have to make. Letting out a shaky breath, she allowed Gavin to pull her over to a pair of chairs next to a wide set of windows. From there, the view of the rolling hills, trees and lazily grazing sheep gave the illusion that everything was, and would be, well.
Fingers intertwined to keep her hands from shaking, Sabrina swallowed. “I am going to move here, to Scotland. To be with you.”
He started to speak, but she held up a hand. “Let me finish, please, before I lose my nerve.” Sabrina blew out a breath. “I am in love with you Gavin. I have no idea how that is possible after such a short time, but I have absolutely no doubts. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone before.”
There was a combination of uncertainty and hope in his eyes. “I owe you my life Sabrina. I do not expect anything from you. It is I who should make sacrifices for you. I can go to where you live and do whatever it is I can to make life easier for you.”
Her heart melted for him. Transitioning to life in the Scotland countryside would be hard enough. She couldn’t imagine him in the busy city of Atlanta.
“I want to live here. In my job, I can work from anywhere in the world. Is it agreeable to you that I come to live here?”
Gavin nodded. “Aye, I would like that verra much.”
Her heart leapt in her chest. He’d not said how he felt, which was fine. They’d come to that topic later. First, she needed to finish telling him everything.
“I want to tell you more,” Sabrina continued. “My work takes me away for many days at times, to distant locations. For the foreseeable future, I have cancelled some shoots. But when I do go to work, I hope you will travel with me.”
“Will we travel on those air...cars?” He pointed to the sky.
“Airplanes. Yes, we may have to.”
“I wish to do that,” Gavin replied with a grin.
Sabrina wanted to leap up and throw herself against him, but she held back. “I do want there to be intimacy between us. I cannot be in a relationship without it. I don’t mind us taking it slowly, but we will have to work on me being able to touch you during sex.”
Gavin nodded. “I will do anything to keep you in my life. I cannot see going forth without you in it.”
Batting her eyelashes at him, Sabrina leaned forward. “Gavin, you like me, you really, really like me?”
“Do not a jest. I do care deeply for you, perhaps I love ye.” Gavin attempted to look serious, but his lips curved. “Ye...er, you are a minx.”
“I want to be your minx,” Sabrina leaned forward, he did the same and they kissed.
By the evening, Liam was well enough to join them for dinner. The Englishman brooded the entire time, feeling too guilty to appreciate his freedom. The conversation during the meal centered on how to free Padriag and Niall. It would take time and patience which, after freeing three of the men, everyone was not feeling.
Sabrina got everyone’s attention. “From what I understand, neither Padriag nor Niall have felt the urge to leap here. Is it possible, we may have to search further for their helpers?”
She glanced at Gavin and then to Tristan. Both had the same look of quiet desperation. They wouldn’t be able to rest fully until their friends were also freed.
“We will continue to work hard to bring them to this world,” Gwen said to the others at the table. “There are four of us here who will not give up.”
“Work begins at dawn,” Tammie said with a firm nod. “I have some ideas.”
John reached for Liam’s hand, squeezing it. “We will free them, have no doubt.”
When Liam looked at John, Sabrina could see the growing bond between the men. She looked to Gavin who watched the pair with a soft smile.
After a shower, Sabrina sank into her bed. Usually she’d be surrounded by photo proofs and electronics, on which she’d work until falling asleep. This night, despite not feeling sleepy, she sank back against the pillows and closed her eyes considering the events of the day.
Gavin, Tristan and Liam had been deep in conversation when she’d gone to the library and kissed Gavin good night. The men were discussing different scenarios, reverting to old English as they considered the fate of the two men left behind. It was no use to tell them to get rest.
What would happen if the last two men could not be freed?
It was a depressing thought, but a possibility none of them wanted to accept. The Magic Book was on her night table. Interesting as she’d last seen John with it. Perhaps someone had brought it to her room.
Picking up the heavy tome, she leafed through it, stopping every so often to scan the words on the page. Spells could be read, but not out loud, which made finding the right one difficult at times.
The door opened and Gavin walked in, his gaze moving from her to the book. “Can I join you?”
Closing the book and putting it back on the end table, she patted the bed. “Of course you can. I would love it.”
He went to the bathroom emerging a few minutes later wearing only boxer briefs. She suspected Miles had spent time with both Tristan and Gavin explaining hygiene for the current times, because Gavin’s hair was damp from the shower.
Unable to look away, she took him in. One day she’d do a photo shoot of him. If he allowed it.
The bed dipped under his weight, and he lay back on the pillows, both hands under his head, eyes to the ceiling.
“There’s so much happening. I can only imagine your mind is racing,” Sabrina murmured.
Gavin turned to her, then glanced back up at the ceiling. “I’m grateful for Liam’s freedom. But we cannot stop until Padriag and Niall are free as well.”
Sabrina reached over, her fingers grazing his hand. “None of us will rest until it’s done. You have my word.”
After a pause, Gavin let out a long sigh. “Niall...he doesn’t want to be saved.”
“Then we won’t give him a choice,” Sabrina said softly, turning to face him. “He, like you and the others, deserves his freedom.”
His gaze lingered on her lips, and she leaned closer, her heart beating faster as she brushed her mouth against his in a gentle kiss. “Try not to worry too much. I know it’s hard, but we need to keep our minds clear for what lies ahead.”
They were silent for a few moments, each searching the other’s eyes, their breaths mingling. Then, with a quiet intensity, Gavin leaned in, capturing her lips in a deeper kiss that sent her heart soaring.
After a moment, he drew back, his expression tender and uncertain. “Can we …” He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “I want to be with you.”
Sabrina’s pulse quickened, and she couldn’t hide her smile. She had tried so hard to keep her hopes at bay, but now, with his confession, her own longing broke free.
“I want to be with you, too,” she whispered, their hands entwining as they finally allowed the walls between them to fall.
He needed no further encouragement, immediately shifting over her, his mouth taking hers with fervor. There was no better way to push through hard emotions than with sex, in Sabrina’s opinion.
She wiggled out of her tank top, and he pushed down her pajama shorts, leaving her fully bare beneath him. With deep kisses, his mouth teased hers, moving from the corner of her lips down to her throat. Sabrina clutched the sheets, pushing her head back against the pillow.
Don’t touch him. She repeated the words mentally when his mouth clamped around her left nipple, his hands sliding up her sides, cupping both breasts.
The more he continued the wonderful explorations with both his mouth and hands, the harder it was to keep from raking her nails down his back.
“I need you now,” she gritted out, her core an inferno of heat.
“Oh!” She moaned out the word when finally he reached between them and guided himself to her sex.
Sabrina let out a deep, guttural moan when he sank fully into her. When he began moving, his hands on her hips, Sabrina couldn’t keep herself in check. Immediately, her body reacted to the feel of him.
The centuries between them had definitely not made a difference when it came to lovemaking, because Gavin was good, very good. Seeming to sense her body’s needs, he caressed, kissed and nipped wherever it was needed. Not only was he good, but the lovemaking lasted longer than she expected. Both taking turns driving the tempo.
Nearing the brink Sabrina grasped the bed linens so hard, her fingernails dug into her palms. Then she lost all control, coming with so much force, she lost her ability to breathe.
Heat traveled through her body, searing a path of wonderful sensations. Unable to fight it, she let go, floating as waves of passion flowed.
“Sabrina,” Gavin’s hoarse voice permeated through the fog, and he shuddered and collapsed.
“Mmm,” she murmured against his ear. “You are a great lover.” Sabrina wanted to nibble the earlobe, but wondered if that would be pushing it, so she resisted.
Gavin lifted and stared down at her. “You touched me.”
“Wh-what?” Sabrina attempted to move from under him, but didn’t make any progress. “I don’t think I did.” She lifted her hands as if it proved anything. “I was grabbing the blankets the entire time, I promise.”
Lifting an eyebrow, he gave her a wicked smile. “I am sure you did not keep your hands or mouth to yerself.” He rolled off of her and motioned to the left side of his neck.
There was no mistaking what the red mark was. It was huge.
“Oh my god. I gave you a hickey.”
Frowning he turned to her. “What is a hickey?”
“A love bite.”
He shrugged. “I do not mind.” Then he rolled to his side to look at her. “I enjoyed it. It didn't bother me. Quite the opposite.”
“Seriously.” Sabrina was sure her eyes looked about to pop from her head. “You didn’t feel fear or anger? You didn’t have some kind of moment that you feared you might lose control?”
He shook his head. “No. I enjoyed it, wanted you to continue.” Once again the corners of his lips lifted. “I did lose control.”
“That is certainly good news.” Sabrina lifted up and inspected the mark on his neck. “I can’t believe I did that. I am thirty years old for goodness sakes.” She covered her face with both hands. “My sisters are going to roast me alive.”
At his frown, she explained what she meant.
“Come.” Gavin spread out his arms and she snuggled against his side, her head on his shoulder.
“Do you think it’s safe for us to fall asleep with me like this?”
Gavin pressed a kiss to her lips. “I will move away before I fall asleep.”
Against his body, in his arms, Sabrina knew all would be well. They’d conquered the hardest part, freeing him. The other things would fall into place. It was the first time in her life that she didn’t worry about deadlines, about work or what happened in the fashion industry.
In Gavin’s arms, all she felt was security, safety and contentment. If only she never had to move from his embrace, it would be a delightful place to live.
When she heard his breathing soften, she shifted and looked at him. He was fast asleep. She chuckled and gently moved from his arms. As much as she wanted to wake snuggled against him, she’d rather be safe than dead.
Sabrina slid from the bed, pulled a blanket from the top of the closet and rolled it to make a makeshift barrier down the center of the bed. Gavin didn’t move the entire time she worked. He was exhausted and needed the rest, apparently.
Sabrina climbed back into the bed and settled on her half.
As she was falling asleep, Gavin’s arm came to rest around her waist.