Chapter 28
Storm was one of the last to retire for the night. Burke had left the campfire hours earlier, and she had no doubt he hoped she’d do the same. She couldn’t. She was upset.
Burke’s vivid description of America painted a desirable picture and had set many minds to thinking.
Why not? There was no promise of owning land in Scotland.
They would struggle their entire lives and have nothing in the end.
At least America provided them with a chance for a decent life, and even if they struggled, it would be for their own land.
How could she deny them that? They couldn’t go on living in treetops in the woods forever. She knew how eager Tanin and Ellie were to have a family, and yet at the same time, they both feared it. How could they raise children when Tanin constantly kept two steps ahead of the law?
America seemed the answer to many of their prayers and Storm had the feeling that a few of them would take the opportunity offered and set sail with Burke.
Was she being foolish in not considering the same?
She paced the small confines of her quarters, the questions haunting her mind.
She hadn’t expected to feel as tied to Burke as she had these last few days.
They spent endless time together and made love every night.
Her days had suddenly become more joyous.
She smiled more, laughed more, enjoyed life more.
Burke had a good sense of humor and he was a man of intelligence.
Their discussions always stirred and challenged her mind.
She had actually panicked when she suddenly realized that he would leave and she would once again be on her own. She had admonished herself to keep her distance, to only enjoy his company but not let herself feel.
She had, however, felt from the very first time he had touched her, kissed her, and that was what started it all. She had experienced emotion for the first time since her husband’s death and it had felt so very good.
Suddenly her emptiness was gone and life once again seemed worthwhile.
It actually wasn’t a sudden realization. It somehow just happened without her knowing it. She hadn’t wanted to feel for the American. She hadn’t believed she could. He was not the type of man she ever imagined herself interested in.
She had never expected to be interested in a man again. This attraction was a complete surprise and confused her, but then Daniel had told her once that love never made sense.
Love.
It wasn’t possible that she could love the American. Or did she refuse to acknowledge her feelings? Did she really think she could be intimate with the man and not feel?
She plopped down on the bed, annoyed.
Answers certainly weren’t forthcoming and she was growing tired of fighting with herself. A simple interlude had turned complicated in so many ways, and she didn’t have the slightest idea how to uncomplicate matters.
She was grateful for the distraction of the rap at her door—until she saw who it was.
“Burke,” she said on a sigh.
“Don’t sound so happy to see me.”
If only he could feel the catch in her stomach and the flutter in her heart, he’d know exactly how she felt on seeing him.
“You’re angry with me,” he said, approaching her.
She stood and moved away from the bed. “No, how can I be when you offer a future to many who thought they had none. It is kind of you.”
She sensed his next words would be that he offered her the same, but she didn’t want to hear that, not now.
“I’m tired,” she said, moving farther away from him. “I will see you in the morning. Remember we leave at dawn.”
He nodded and turned to leave, then swerved around and walked over to her.
She braced for the kiss she knew he’d deliver and steeled herself against responding. She couldn’t fall into bed with him again, she couldn’t. She lost herself completely to him when she did and she couldn’t allow herself to do that anymore.
He reached for her face, cupped it in his warm hands, and kissed her until she thought she would go insane from the want of him.
She kept her hands fisted at her sides, her back rigid and her heart cold.
He brushed his lips across hers. “Is it a challenge you want?”
She opened her mouth to answer and he plunged in, his tongue taking complete charge and sending spears of passion stabbing pinpricks of pleasure over every inch of her body.
He scooped her up in his arms and had her on the bed in no time. His hands worked magic beneath her clothes, not once attempting to remove her garments or his.
“Only if you want me, Storm,” he whispered in her ear. “I will love you only if you want me to.”
She thought to push him off her. Her hands went to his chest and rested against hard muscle. One push, one simple push, and he’d be gone.
He waited, his arms supporting his strength as he hovered over her. And there in his dark eyes where his hunger for her was always obvious, she caught a spark of intense love.
It jolted her heart and soared her passion and she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down on top of her.
Their passion was much too heated to waste time in removing clothes, so garments were shifted out of the way, bodies entwined, and movement fast and furious.
She feared her cries must have surely echoed out into the night, for the pleasure he brought her was so great, she could not control her moans. He must have thought the same for he captured as many as he could with kisses.
She savored the aftermath of their lovemaking and wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in his arms and not think of tomorrow or the future, just this time here and now spent with him.
As if he read her mind, he saw to undressing both of them and getting them settled beneath the blanket where they snuggled against each other, as had been their way since first they made love.
They didn’t talk. It wasn’t necessary. Their bodies had done the talking for them, and now Storm had a lot to consider, but not this moment. This moment was to enjoy.
They fell asleep wrapped around each other, and she woke in the middle of the night aroused by his intimate touches, and they made love again.
In the morning, before dawn touched the horizon, they rose and dressed and spoke not a word. Soon they would, but for now, it would wait.
Five of them, Storm, Burke, Tannin, William, and Philip, had spent two days observing the activities and routine of the guards along Balford land. It was easily determined what route Burke could take to reach the gardens and where the most secluded spot was for him to approach Lady Alaina.
Storm advised him that Lady Alaina’s daily stroll usually lasted thirty to forty minutes, and given the time it would take Burke to reach the location, it would leave him with no more then twenty minutes to speak with her. Otherwise, he ran the risk of guards breathing down his neck.
In the early morning of the day of the meeting, Storm found Burke standing on the edge of the forest that bordered Balford land.
“You are getting closer to rescuing your brother,” she encouraged as she approached.
He held his hand out to her. “Thanks to you.”
She took it and he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. She loved that he was so generous with his affection, for it made her feel wanted.
“I hope this goes well for you today,” she said, snuggled in the crook of his arm.
“If nothing else, I will discover more than I already know about my brother, and that is bound to help me.”
“Yes, Lady Alaina would know much about your brother, being in love with him.”
“I am eager to hear it all, for then I can reach a reasonable conclusion that will allow me to take the next step.”
“Attempting to purchase your brother’s freedom,” Storm said softly.
“You don’t think it a viable option.”
She laid a gentle hand on his chest. “Lady Alaina would be the best one to answer that.”
“I value your opinion.”
“Something tells me that you need to be cautious. The Earl of Balford is a deceitful man and that means a dangerous man.”
“I will keep your warning in mind at all times.”
“You’d better,” she said with a poke to his ribs. “I don’t want anything happening to you.”
He pulled her in front of him with his hands resting at her waist. “Why is that?”
She stared into his dark eyes and knew what he wanted to hear from her, felt it in his touch, heard it in his voice, but was she ready to tell him? Did she know for sure herself?
“Time to leave,” Tanin said from behind them.
She shivered, Burke’s dark eyes warning along with his whisper: “I will have my answer soon.”