Page 103 of Laird of Steel
“Why? What can I do?” She had a momentary vision of standing between the newly wedded couple with herdaodrawn.
“Ye’re his friend,” she said, placing a hand on Merraid’s shoulder. “Ye can be there after…” Her face fell. “After I’ve broken his heart.”
Merraid’s shoulders sank. She wasn’t sure which would be worse. His broken heart. Or his offended pride. Either way, Lady Carenza was right. She could calm Gellir down when he was vexed. Soothe his spirits when he was wounded.
But leaving her clan. Leaving Lady Feiyan. Traveling all the way to Rivenloch…
“I don’t know,” she said.
“I need ye,” the lady pleaded.“Heneeds ye.”
“Are ye mad?” Gellir, sweaty from the morn’s practice, strode across the courtyard toward the great hall. “That’s the last thing I need.”
Merraid scrambled to keep up with him, dodging past busy servants and flocks of hens. “’Tis whatItold her as well.”
“We cannot,” he muttered. “We dare not.”
“Agreed.” She slowed her pace. “Although…”
He sighed and stopped to face her. “What?”
“’Twould only be for a wee bit. Just until she settles in.”
“Absolutely not.”
“O’ course,” she said. “I’m only passin’ along her wishes.”
Shite. Asking him directly was not going to work. But she’d made a solemn vow to Lady Carenza that she would accompany her to Rivenloch. She was going to have to think of another way. Some way to convince him—or coerce him—into taking her along. But how?
Merraid made the mistake of looking up into his eyes then. They were gray as storm clouds. Hard as steel. In her mind’s eye, however, she remembered them softening with affection. Melting with lust.
It was only for an instant. After all, they were surrounded by the castle folk. She couldn’t be seen, staring at another woman’s bridegroom.
But in that instant, her breath caught, and her heart opened. A deluge of emotions rained down upon her. Her spirit soared like it had on the night of Beltane. When the whole world stopped.
In that instant, she remembered the strength of his arms around her.
The sweet exploration of his kiss.
The tempting torment of his tongue.
The welcome weight of his strong body.
The velvet heat of his cock deep inside her.
The breathlessness of their joining. Body. Heart. Soul.
In that instant, she glimpsed his emotions as well.
His smoldering passion. His tortured withholding. His sharp desire. The ecstasy of his release. The honesty of his love.
The memories were so vivid, so palpable, for that instant she couldn’t breathe.
Then, behind them, the castle gates suddenly burst open.
Merraid took a startled step away from Gellir.
“Here he is!” Lady Feiyan cried.
