Chapter Fifteen #3
She brought his hands to her shoulders, wanting so badly to have this moment with him. The anticipation was so strong, she needed his arms around her. Even if she did nothing but sleep beside him, she wanted to feel his touch.
“How are you feeling?” he asked gently, his hands grazing her spine. Her skin grew sensitive, tightening with desire.
“Better with each moment,” she admitted. Though she’d had to fight to survive, she could think of nowhere else she wanted to be.
“I don’t think you should be standing,” he said. “Lie down.”
It did feel easier when she lay back against the furs. “I didn’t want to be alone tonight. Not without you.”
He lay beside her and pulled her into his arms. She twined her legs with his, resting her cheek against his heart. “Did you ever imagine, when I wandered into the abbey, that it would end up like this between us?”
“No.” He stroked her hair back, holding her close. “I never thought I deserved happiness.”
She leaned over to kiss him. “I want that for you. For us.” But she knew that the fate of his sisters was still weighing upon him. She hadn’t pressed him, but if they were still alive somewhere, she intended to reunite him with them.
“Kiss me,” she murmured. “Be with me tonight.”
His mouth moved upon hers, as if he were trying to be gentle. She licked the seam of his lips and felt the answering heat of his arousal against the juncture of her thighs.
She touched his bare chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath her palm. The rapid pulse was like her own, and she moved her fingers over his bare nipples. He sucked in a breath of air, his eyes smoldering.
“Do you know what it did to me when I thought you were dying?” he asked, catching her fingers.
She shook her head, stilling her hands upon him. He sat up, pulling her onto his lap. “When I saw you fighting to breathe, I couldn’t breathe myself. I didn’t even care that they took me prisoner—all I cared about was your life.”
“I’m going to live, Raine.” She believed that now, with all her heart.
With each day, she grew stronger, and her stomach no longer hurt.
And whether that was from embracing a new life with him or whether she had to be careful of the food she ate, she believed she would spend the rest of her life with this man. “Besides, I have you to live for.”
He kissed her as if she was his reason for being alive. In his embrace, she felt whole and beloved. He laid her back, helping her undress until she lay naked before him. He removed his own clothing and ran his hands over her flesh. “You are beautiful to me, Carice.”
She smiled and brought him down to her. His body was warm, the hardness of his muscles pressing against her softness.
For a moment, he simply lay on top of her, skin to skin.
Then he adjusted his weight, moving his hands along the sides of her body, caressing her curves.
His callused palms evoked a strong reaction, and though she was already anticipating his body inside hers, she recognized his desire to slow down, to savor.
He nipped at her earlobe, and a shudder passed over her. But when his mouth lowered to her throat, she jolted at the sensitive place, biting back a shriek.
“That wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for, chérie.“ But there was amusement in his voice.
She couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “I was ticklish, Raine. When you put your mouth on my neck, I couldn’t stand it.”
He started to move in, and she put both hands on her neck. “If you dare, I’ll scream so loudly, my father and his men will descend upon us.”
Instead, he moved his hands to cup her breasts. “I don’t mind if you scream loudly, Carice. So long as I bring you pleasure.”
Her laughter died away, and she gasped as he stroked her nipples.
He bent and suckled one, pressing her back against the furs.
Her fingers dug into his hair, and she arched beneath him.
While he worked her with his mouth, he brought both hands down her hips, parting her legs.
She surrendered, and he worshipped at the altar of her body, before his fingers touched her intimately.
She could hardly catch her breath when he found her damp opening and slid two fingers inside.
“Raine.” His name was a prayer upon her lips, and he began invading and withdrawing with his fingers.
All the while, he continued tormenting her nipple with his tongue, but when he began to circle his thumb against her hooded flesh, she raked her fingers against his spine.
“Come inside me,” she pleaded. “I need you.”
In answer, he put only the head of his shaft at her opening. She tried to bring him inside, but he held her down. “Not yet.”
He turned his attention to her other breast, and she grew even wetter, seeking a full joining with the man she loved.
He found a rhythm that she delighted in, pressing and circling her intimate flesh, until she felt herself beginning to tremble.
Her body ached to be filled, and she dug her hands into his shoulders.
She was quaking, straining to meet him, when suddenly a white hot shuddering release unfurled within her.
The wave of ecstasy pulsed through her, and when he slid deep inside, she bit back her cry of relief.
He moved slowly, caressing her with his shaft, while she tried to urge him faster. Her entire body was pliant against him, and when he began to thrust, she squeezed him from within.
“Do that again,” he commanded, as he entered and withdrew. She locked her leg around his waist, meeting him as he plunged deep.
As he continued to drive his body within hers, she heard him murmur words of love in the Norman tongue, words that praised her beauty.
And when he hastened his thrusts, reaching for his own release, she tightened around him, startled when her body bucked and another ripple of pleasure caught her in its grasp.
“I love you, Raine,” she cried out, as he thrust hard and pulsed against her, his body finding its own fulfillment.
He leaned down to kiss her, his lips softened and swollen from their lovemaking. With their bodies joined, he held her close. “Know that I will always love you, Carice.”
She fell asleep with his body against hers, feeling blessed beyond words.
They returned to Carrickmeath, but Carice made him promise to wait until the summer before they wed. Although Raine had wanted to wed her the moment they reached her father’s estate, she had insisted on delaying the marriage for a few months while they attempted to find his sisters.
Raine had sent over a dozen men to search England, but there was no sign of them. He’d wanted to travel there himself, but he was wary of leaving Carice. Although her health had continued to improve with each day, he was still afraid of her declining again.
Lady Aoife and Strongbow had agreed to intervene with King Henry on his behalf.
They had made it possible for him to end his service as a soldier, and Raine had come to live at Carrickmeath with Carice.
In time, King Henry hardly seemed to care what became of him.
With the Irish Sea to separate them, the man was disinterested in stirring up conflict among the Irish chiefs—especially when he wanted to rule over them all.
Even so, it was the longest three months of his life. For Carice had also demanded celibacy until their wedding night.
Although Raine guessed that she wanted to be strong enough to fully enjoy their wedding celebration, it didn’t make it any easier.
The one consolation was that each day she grew stronger.
She had not eaten bread even once, and the sickness had disappeared.
Now, her body held a softness with curves that tempted him beyond reason.
He stood outside, anxious for the wedding to be finished so he could be with his wife. The summer sunlight shone over them, and it took an effort not to pace.
Her brother Killian came to stand beside him. “You do realize,” he remarked, “that if you hurt my sister in any way, I will peel the skin from your body.”
“She’s not really your sister.” He grinned at the man who had come to be a good friend over the past few months. As the High King’s son, Killian had taken over the province of Ossoria, along with his new wife, Lady Taryn.
“Not by blood, perhaps. But in all the ways that count.” Killian fingered the knife at his side. “You had best make her happy, or I will make you wish you’d never been born.”
“That I will. But I do not know why she insisted on waiting so long for our wedding.”
“Like as not, she wanted it to be summer. Carice despises the winter.” Killian shrugged and accompanied him down the stone stairs.
Below, in the inner bailey, several wagons had arrived, bearing gifts from the MacEgans and from the Connelly clan.
“She also commissioned a special wedding present for you and went to a lot of trouble.” With that, he withdrew a blindfold. “She demanded that I put this on you.”
The secrecy intrigued him, but Raine saw no reason to protest. Once the blindfold was in place, Killian took him by the arm and guided him toward the stone chapel.
“Walk forward six paces,” the man ordered, and Raine counted as he did.
He felt the warmth of the summer sunlight transforming into shadows against his skin as he approached the doorway.
Then he heard the voice of Lady Taryn as they drew closer.
Feminine hands touched his face, and when the blindfold was removed, he saw his bride standing before him.
Carice’s long brown hair hung below her waist in waving curls.
She stood just outside the chapel, and the sun illuminated her hair like a halo.
Her sky blue eyes held love and anticipation. “Are you ready, Raine?”
“I was ready to wed you three months ago,” he reminded her.
“Not for the wedding.” She smiled at him. “Something else. I know I should wait to give you your gift until after we are wed. But I find I cannot stand it any longer.” Carice clutched her hands together with excitement, and her smile held such joy, it echoed the feelings in his heart.
“Go on, then.” He let her take him by the hand, and they entered the stone chapel. Inside, it was darker, and when his eyes adjusted, he saw his sisters standing inside. Elise and Nicole both ran forward, and he caught them in his arms, unable to believe they were alive.
“Raine, I’ve missed you so much—”
“I cannot believe you’re here—”
“—I’m so glad to see you.”
Their voices jumbled together, and he couldn’t stop from crushing them close, so thankful they were here. “You found them.”
“With Queen Isabel’s help,” she agreed. “Her father is Norman, living near the border of Wales. He learned where they were and arranged for them to travel to Carrickmeath. That was why I delayed our wedding.” In her face, he saw the quiet joy.
“I wanted them to be here for you, after all you endured. King Henry never harmed them—he only sent them far away.”
Raine let go of his sisters briefly to lift Carice up, kissing her hard before he let her slide down. “I love you. You could not have given me a greater gift, Carice.”
She sent him a gentle smile, touching his face. “Perhaps in the next year, you might give me a greater gift. Like a child.”
“It would be my pleasure.” He leaned in and kissed her neck, only to have her squeal again at the sensitive place. “Raine, stop! I cannot bear it.” But her protests were mingled with laughter.
He took her by the hand, and they gathered together among friends and family. They spoke their vows before the priest to be faithful to one another for the rest of their lives.
But for Raine, even an eternity would never be enough.