Chapter 16 #2
"I am sorry I lied to you about who I was.
I will leave the castle first thing in the morning.
" Owen had been so lost in thought that he had forgotten to say anything in response, not that he knew what to say.
He wondered how she must be feeling right now, knowing that she had taken her chance and confessed only to not even get a word to acknowledge what she had just said.
His heart broke for her, and he felt even worse.
She was a victim of circumstance, yet she felt like she had to explain herself and justify her actions.
Charlotte stood and Owen instinctively reached out to stop her, chastising himself for not saying anything. He felt guilty seeing that she was on the brink of tears when she turned to look at him.
"I am sorry ye had tae got through all of that," he said.
Owen got up and held both of her hands in his.
"Ye have nae done anything tae cause me tae hate ye or want ye tae leave the castle.
It is those who have wronged my family that should have tae pay.
" Owen was thinking of himself when he mentioned those who had wronged her.
He opened his mouth to confess to her, but he stopped himself.
How was he to tell her he was responsible for the fire that had killed her father and ruined her life?
Many things could go wrong if he did, but he would be lying to her if he didn't. She had chosen to be brave, but here he was, hiding behind his lies and reasoning to keep from telling her the truth.
Charlotte let out a choked sob at his words, which made him feel even worse. How much fear must she have been holding in her beautiful, bruised heart? He was stunned when she went into his hands and wrapped her arms around him.
"I thought you would not want to speak to me ever again.
I am sorry that I lied to you," she said, her voice still shaky.
Owen's hands moved to wrap around her. This was the closest they had been since the night they had been intimate.
Having her so close caused him to feel things he knew were wrong, especially not with all that was going on.
Still, Owen unwrapped her hands from his body and lifted her chin to kiss her. He released a sigh when she pressed into him. The moment felt bittersweet because he knew that this would be the last time that he was ever with her in this manner.
"I want tae be with ye tonight," he said to her, taking her hand in his when she nodded.
The two walked quietly to his room, careful not to make any noise.
The night had gone by so quickly and the hallways were clear as everyone, including his brother, who liked to work late into the night, had gone to bed.
Owen hastily pushed open his door and pulled her in before shutting the heavy wood behind them. He rested his back on the frame and looked at her. She was standing in front of his bed, looking quite nervous and fiddling with the sides of her dress.
Was he really about to do this? He knew he could not reject his feelings for Charlotte.
From the moment they met until now, his feelings for her had only grown, no matter how he tried to ignore them.
He would indulge himself this once. For tonight, he would forget about the fact that he was hiding in a monastery.
He would forget about all his guilt and remorse, he would not think about all that could go wrong.
No! For tonight, he would only focus on them and the vibrant energy surrounding them both.
He pushed away from the door and stood before her, taking her chin in his hand before tasting her lips.
He moved with her until she was pressed against the bed.
Owen grabbed the sides of her face and deepened the kiss, groaning when he tasted the sweetness of her mouth.
He sucked on her tongue, relishing her reaction to his kiss when she moaned into his mouth.
He sat on the bed, pulling her down until she was sitting astride on his lap.
Owen's hands wandered to the lace of her dress, gently taking them out as they continued their kiss. He smiled against her mouth when she bit his bottom lip, remembering he had done that to her when they kissed earlier.
He dragged the sleeve of her dress down, exposing her shoulder, before he parted his lips from hers and kissed her bare skin up to the nape of her neck as his hands massaged the softness of her derriere.
Owen wrapped Charlotte's legs around his waist and stood, gently placing her on the bed.
He undressed her until she was completely bare before him.
"Ye are so beautiful," Owen whispered, watching in a trance as her body pinkened with embarrassment. He removed his garments slowly with a deliberateness to every movement. He enjoyed the way her eyes followed his hands, exposing his skin inch by inch.
Owen stood naked before her, letting her fill her look.
Then he climbed into the bed, hovering over her.
He leaned down and kissed Charlotte slowly.
His lips created a trail down to her bosom before he wrapped them around her nipple and sucked, enjoying the way it hardened in his mouth.
He placed wet kisses down her stomach and navel.
He slowly licked his way down to her hips.
He kissed and sucked on the swell of her bud and laughed when she moaned and writhed around in bed. Owen held her hips to keep her in place and continued his ministration until he noticed her breathing quickening moments before he tasted her burst of flavor in his mouth.
Owen groaned as he aligned himself with her opening and slowly pushed into her. He gritted his teeth when he met the resistance from the tightness of her.
"I am sorry tae hurt ye like this. I promise it will all be over soon," he said, kissing her eyelids when she whimpered from the pain of his intrusion.
It was a short-lived pain that burst into burning pleasure.
He slowly pushed into her once again, beads of sweat lining his forehead.
Owen felt the resistance give way just as he pushed in, settling himself inside her.
He hugged her to him, apologizing and murmuring sweet nothings to her as he consoled her.
Owen did not know how long he waited before he began to move inside of her.
His thrusts were slow and shaky. It was not only new to her, but it had been a while since he indulged in the pleasures of the flesh.
He sped up his movements a little more. Her heat around him was too much for him, but he struggled not to let go until he was certain she had.
Charlotte's hips moved underneath him, trying but failing to match his pace until he felt her tighten even more around him and her scream of pleasure rang in his ears.
He released inside her, completely spent.
She turned to him as he rolled off her, cuddling against him.
"Owen," came her sleepy voice. "Stay with me. "
Owen felt like a massive fist had barreled him in the chest. He knew she was probably just asking him to sleep beside her but knowing that this was the first and last time they could be together like this made those words hit him so much harder than she most likely intended.
He waited a while, making sure that she was asleep, before he got up carefully to dress and leave the room.
He needed to clear his head, so he went outside into the cool night air. As he walked around, he saw Sweeney, the stable master who had helped his parents get together all those years ago and was Evie's godfather. Owen had missed the man while he was away.
"Sweeney, it is so good tae see ye,"" Owen said when he stopped in front of him.
"Ah, young master, I heard of yer arrival and hoped tae see ye soon.
How are ye?" he asked, and looked at Owen, chuckling.
"Why are ye walking around so late at night?
What is it that troubles ye?" he laughed again when Owen looked surprised.
"Aye, I can see it in yer face, young man. Ye forget who ye are speaking tae."
"So many things are going wrong, Sweeney," he said.
"But things always go awry," he said. "Why dinnae we go in and ye can tell me what it is that is making ye so downcast." Owen followed him in.
"There is a lass I really care for, but I dae nae think it will work out.
I have done bad things, Sweeney." They walked together toward the castle, and Owen took his voice down a few octaves before he continued.
"I took the lives of some English nobles in a fire I set, and I feel like I have tae redeem myself," he said.
"A fire? Dae ye mean…?" Sweeney's expression was one of shock.
Owen nodded gravely. "Aye. That fire. I have been keeping it a secret from her, but now she has told me her secret and I dae nae ken what tae dae." Owen sighed. "I wonder if I should dae same. I ken it is the right thing tae dae but I am worried that it is going to run her off."
Sweeney paused for a moment, mulling over his words.
"I see yer dilemma, however, there is only one thing I can tell ye.
Secrets will only ruin yer relationship; it can never save it.
If ye tell her, ye could lose her, but if ye dae nae tell her, ye will forever be plagued by it.
" Owen considered his words. As he was thinking of what to do with Sweeney's advice, he heard a commotion outside, some loud ruckus that sent goosebumps to the back of his neck.
They were under attack.