Chapter Fifteen #4
Mara felt him erupt deep inside her and she smiled, eyes closed and head lolling. “That’s right,” she murmured, squirming atop him to drain every last drop. “Give it all to me, Kirk. Give me your son.”
In spite of his pleasure and exhaustion, Kirk laughed softly. “Is that all you want me for?”
Her eyes were still closed. Lazily, she smiled. “Aye.”
He took a deep breath as the waves of rapture faded, pulling her against his chest. Weak and sated, Mara dozed to the sound of his pounding heart.
Kirk’s lips caressed her forehead, his thoughts turning from their lovemaking to his impending trip to Ireland.
The urge to take her with him was tremendous, but he knew in his heart she must stay behind.
Still, the thought of separation ate away at him like a cancer and he gathered her closer, pulling the linens over them both in a protective cocoon.
“Kirk?”
He had thought she was asleep. “What is it, love?”
“Do I have to stay at Anchorsholme while you are gone?”
Her head was tucked under his chin and he caressed her back, gazing into the darkness. “There is little choice. Where else would you stay?”
“Haslingden Hall.” She lifted her sleepy face to meet his gaze. “Mayhap you could supply an escort to guard me while you are away.”
He sighed; truthfully, the idea wasn’t a bad one. “What of Micheline? She will have to remain at Anchorsholme.”
Mara pushed the hair from her eyes, making a face. “Edmund doesn’t like her, anyway. Mayhap he will allow her to return to Haslingden simply to be rid of her.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “I doubt that. But supposing I allowed you returned to Haslingden, the place is in shambles. Do you truly wish to return to such poverty?”
She could see he was trying to talk her out of it. Mara stared at him, realizing that if he truly had confidence that nothing would happen to her at Anchorsholme, then he would have discouraged her idea from the onset. Instead, he actually seemed interested. And that worried her.
“I would rather return to Haslingden that meet my death at Anchorsholme,” she said. “And I can see that you agree.”
“I told you that nothing would happen to you at Anchorsholme.”
“But you do not fully believe that, else you would not have allowed me to entertain the thought of returning to Haslingden.” She eyed him a moment. “If neither place is acceptable, then you could always ask Lord le Vay to watch over me.”
He looked as if he had been struck. “With Spencer waiting to steal you when my back is turned?” He snorted rudely. “I think not, lady.”
She shrugged. “It was merely an idea. I did not say that I wanted to stay here.”
“And you shan’t,” he said firmly, miffed by her suggestion. “The mere idea is ludicrous.”
“Fine, fine,” she agreed simply because he seemed so agitated, “I apologize for even mentioning it.”
He glared at her and she smiled sweetly, kissing him on the nose. “You shall stay at Anchorsholme,” he said, struggling to maintain his stern attitude in the face of her kisses. “You and Micheline shall be safe from harm, I swear it.”
“But you will be in Ireland,” she said, kissing his chin and feeling his body react to her. “How can you be sure?”
He softened, his affront fading as she began to kiss his broad shoulder. “By threatening Edmund’s life,” he rumbled, his hands moving from her back to her buttocks. “If anything happens to you, I shall make sure his death is not pleasant.”
“And you are sure he will listen?”
Kirk’s hands were moving down her slender thighs, pulling her knees apart as he wedged his big body between them. “He will listen. Especially if I threaten Johanne.”
Mara paused in her kisses, casting him a strange glance. “You would harm a woman?”
One hand moved from her knee to her private core, fingering the thatch of dark curls. “Johanne is not a woman, Mara,” he muttered. “She is a mad beast and I suspect it is she, and not Edmund, who is behind the vanishings.”
Mara did not like the sound of that at all. “What makes you believe so?”
Kirk was silent a moment. “Because the women who vanished had all shown me undue attention. I never responded to any of them, but it is well known that Johanne is rather fond of me and her jealousy feeds her madness.” His hands moved to her buttocks again, caressing them.
“And that is why we will live in Ireland, far away from Anchorsholme and far away from Johanne’s insanity.
But until then, I have no doubt that you shall be untouchable to the evil forces of Anchorsholme.
You are the only woman I have ever loved and that fact alone shall place you above harm.
If some mishap befalls you, the wrath of the Master shall be severe. ”
Mara gazed at him, wanting so desperately to believe him. “Promise?”
“I do.”
She would not dream of disputing his vow. Smiling weakly, she kissed his smooth lips. “Then I shall wait for your return at Anchorsholme.”
His hands moved to her thighs again, pulling her closer as he responded to her kisses. “And have no doubt that I will return,” he breathed, feeling her love-slick sheath draw him in. “I love you, Mara. Always remember that.”
The sun rose before they realized it.