Page 27 of Promises Made at Midnight
“You came,” she whispered in a breathy tone and she at once realized how fast her heart was hammering away inside her chest. She was excited and scared all at the same time while she tilted her head back to see his face. She felt so tiny next to this giant of a man, who must be well over six feet tall.
“Aye.”
Bridgette searched his face, waiting for more of a reply but he appeared unsure of himself and that was entirely out of character of the man she had come to know.
“You didn’t want to?” she couldn’t help herself from asking.
“I am uncertain if this is wise, Lady Bridgette. Lord Dristan—”
She placed her fingertips on his mouth. “Let me worry about Lord Dristan,” she replied, stepping closer.
His brow rose at her statement. “You have no idea what you are asking of me when I defy my liege lord by being alone here with you.”
“I just wanted some time with just the two of us, Ulrick. Is that too much to ask?” She took hold of his arms, and he placed his hands gently on her waist. “I promise I won’t bite… much.”
She gave him what she hoped was a wicked wink. A deep chuckle erupted from him, and his smile brightened her whole mood.
“I hardly know what to reply after such a comment. You are a feisty one, to be sure, Lady Bridgette.”
“I just know what I want,” she replied with a sincere heart.
“And what is that exactly?” he asked pulling her fully into his body.
“You have to ask?” She moved her palms to rest on his chest. One hand continued upward until she fingers brushed over the back of his head feeling the softness of his hair before settling on his neck. She began a gentle message with small circular motions and heard a soft moan escape him.
“Aye,” came a strained reply.
“You are a man of little words sometimes. Do you know that?”
“If I am going to be damned for my actions, then I must needs know your mind. Whatdoyou want, Bridgette?” He asked, again ignoring her comment, but she could tell that whatever control he was briefly holding onto where she was concerned, it was about to break.
“What do I want? You… I wantyou, Ulrick” She let her answer linger in the space between them, but she didn’t have to wait long for his nonverbal reply.
His arms tighten around her waist, lifting her up and bringing them chest to chest. And in that one brief moment, their heartbeats fused as one. As she stared up into those mesmerizing blue-grey eyes, the reflection from the stars above were twinkling in their depths. Her gaze was drawn to the sensual chiseled lines of his mouth. His lips turned up with a slow roguish grin before swooping down to take full possession of her. A gasp of surprise gave him what he wanted when his tongue dipped inside her mouth to dance with her own while their bodies all but melted together as one. She lost all thought of anything else but this man who claimed her. Bridgette had released Ulrick from whatever restraints he had been holding onto and she was delighted he was equally moved to finally share their first kiss.
A hushed moan escaped her when his lips moved from her mouth to place a trail of soft kisses as he went from her cheek to her neck. His teeth nibbled at the lobe of her ear and the warmth of his breath was almost her undoing.
Taking hold of his cheeks, she all but demanded another kiss in her attempts to take back control of their moment together. But who was she kidding? She lost any attempt of self-control the moment Ulrick stepped through the turret portal.
Their kiss continued for several more minutes—an exploration of two missing souls who had finally found one another. It was as binding as if they had already promised themselves an eternity together… at least in Bridgette’s mind.
The chink of chainmail with the changing of the battlement guards brought their kisses to an end. Bridgette gulped in air in her attempt to calm her breathing, but she wasn’t sure if she would ever be able to breath normally again… at least whenever Ulrick was in her presence.
He held out his hand for her to take… a gesture of understanding between them to continue what they had just started. Or so Bridgette thought. She gladly placed her own hand in his warm one.
“Come with me,” he said, and began escorting her off the parapet. They set off down the winding turret stairwell, but Bridgette was surprised when they stopped on the fourth floor where her chamber was, along with those of the Berwyck family. She thought he would proceed to his room on the third floor, where most of Lord Dristan’s personal guard resided instead of the garrison hall. But if he wished to continue in her bedchamber instead of his, Bridgette wouldn’t complain.
Ulrick opened her door and as she slipped inside, she turned with a bright smile on her face only for that same smile to fade when she saw he still stood in the passageway. Confused, she quickly crossed the distance and stood in the portal.
“You’re not coming in?”
“Nay.”
“But why not? I thought you wanted to continue on with—”
“’Tis not that I do not wish to be with you in every way, Lady Bridgette, but—”
“But what?” Her voice was louder than she expected, proving to herself at least how disappointed she was. “I want to be with you. I thought you felt the same.”
