Bride of the Isle (21 page)

A
dam’s eyes were fixed
upon Cristiane. If he’d thought her beautiful at their wedding ceremony, she was doubly so now. The green gown enhanced the color of her eyes, which shone brightly against her fair skin. Her hair fell in soft curls to frame her face, dropping to her shoulders and down her back.

His hands itched to touch it.

“I—I’ve had a meal prepared for us, my lord,” she said. She held herself stiffly, nervously. She bit one corner of her lower lip. “Are you h-hungry?”

His voice left him when he realized that she had recreated their wedding night.

He nodded and stepped over to the table, where plates had been set, along with a few platters of food. He spied a bottle of wine and had the truly inspired notion of getting Cristiane to drink some…and perhaps relax.

He cleared his throat, then uncorked the wine as he kept his eyes on his wife. “You are lovely in your wedding gown,” he said. “Did I tell you that before?”

“Aye, my lord,” she replied quietly. “Madam Williamson did a fine job—”

“She did,” he interrupted, “but ’tis you who makes the gown so lovely.”

He poured two goblets, then handed one to Cristiane. He lifted his cup and said, “I drink to you, my lady wife, and to many long years together.”

Cristiane blushed and drank from her cup.

While they sat together
on the settle and merely picked at their food, they spoke quietly of their wedding, of Meg and the isle, and of Cristiane’s life in St. Oln. As Cristiane relaxed, Adam moved closer. His hands ached to touch her, but he did not want to move precipitously.

Casually, he lay one arm across the back of the settle and lightly ran his fingers over her shoulder.

“Our birds here on Bitterlee must be the same as the ones up in St. Oln,” he said.

“Oh, aye,” Cristiane replied, “but I’ve never seen a seal before.”

“Meg never saw them before, either.” He took a tendril of fiery hair between his fingers.

“I’m glad she was with us today, then,” Cristiane said breathlessly. Her breasts rose and fell rapidly, and the pulse at the base of her throat fluttered like the wing of a tiny bird.

Desire raged through him, and he struggled to maintain control. Cristiane was sensitive to his touch, but moving too fast could be disastrous. Adam intended to have many years with her, enjoying every aspect of their marriage.

He touched the shell of her ear, then caressed her jaw. A shiver ran through her. Using one thumb, he feathered a soft touch across her lips.

“Adam…” She sighed.

He lowered his head and kissed the pulse at her throat.

“Adam.” She
turned slightly and lifted one hand to his shoulder. Her movements were shy and tentative, but encouraging.

He moved his lips to the edge of her jaw near her ear, breathing in her scent, tasting her. His hand slid from her shoulder to caress the upper curve of her breast. She made a small sound that caused him to think of one of the small birds on the beach.

He felt her hand on the back of his neck, stroking, teasing the hair with her fingers.

“Kiss me,” she whispered. “Please, Adam, kiss me.”

Adam was certain he’d misheard her. He raised his head and looked into her eyes, and found them shimmering with desire.

She wanted him.

With a groan, he slipped both arms around her and brought his lips to hers, kissing her fully, demanding as much as he gave. Her mouth was soft and sweet, and her body trembled, enticing him to seek more.

His tongue traced the seam of her lips and gained entry, her tongue shyly meeting his. He deepened the kiss, and his breath caught as her tongue grew bolder. He was unaware of having moved, but somehow she was beneath him on the settle. He pressed against her, nestling his hard body into the welcoming softness of hers.

Their heads moved and they changed angles, increasing the contact between them. His hands briefly rested upon her shoulders, then traced the outline of the delicate bones at her throat. A moment later, her breasts swelled beneath his palms, the tips beading against his fingers.

All at once, he stood and lifted Cristiane from the settle. He carried her to the bed, then set her on her feet next to it. Time stood still as he took her mouth again, caressing her shoulders and the curves of her breasts. He located the ties that held her bodice together, and released them,
then pulled the gown off her shoulders.

Cristiane quivered under his touch, though ’twas clearly from arousal, and not from distaste.

He made quick work of his own clothes, pulling away from Cristiane only long enough to drag his tunic over his shoulders and head. ’Twas long enough for Cristiane to feel embarrassed by her near nakedness, and attempt to cover her breasts with her hands.

Adam covered her hands with his own, then raised them to his chest, where she threaded her fingers through the thick mat of hair. He closed his eyes for a moment and relished the sensation of her fingers on his tight nipples.

“Yes,” he breathed.

He loosened the skirt of her gown and divested her of it, then ran his hands up to her shoulders and down again to cup the fullness of her breasts. As his thumbs teased the taut peaks, Cristiane’s head fell back.

Adam pressed his lips to the base of her throat, then rained kisses down to her breasts, laving attention on each one in turn, rejoicing in the arousal that made her sigh with pleasure. He slid his hands back to her naked hips, pulling her lower body close while Cristiane held his head at her breast.

This
was what she wanted. Adam’s hands on her, his lips touching her intimately. Naught in her past had prepared her for this, but she knew in her heart that it was right. It was meant to be.

She felt him move slightly away from her, and knew that, as he kissed and suckled her breasts, he was shoving his chausses and braes down his legs and kicking them away.

A second later, one hand was on
her bottom, the other on her belly. He inched his fingers down until he was caressing her intimately, making her moan with the intensity of these new sensations. She’d never imagined that his touch would make her weaken and quiver so.

Heat spread everywhere he touched, its flames emanating from her core, licking her with fire all the way up her spine and down to her toes.

“Adam,” she whispered.

He picked her up and eased her onto the bed, covering her with his body, one thigh between hers. He was solid and heavy, but his weight was welcome, exciting.

His eyes were dark in the flickering light of the fire and the candles. Cristiane opened to him and he breathed her name once…and again.

Adam took possession of her lips once more, kissing her as their tongues danced, mated. Cristiane shuddered and clung to him even as she welcomed him. He changed position slightly, and she felt his heated flesh at the entrance to her body.

He moaned and said, “You are moist, Cristiane…ready for me,” he said, as if he could not believe it. Then he entered her, moving forward slowly, relentlessly.

Cristiane let out a tiny huff of breath, tilting to accommodate his size. His penetration was uncomfortable at first, burning and stretching her, but he stopped, giving her a moment to adjust to him.

Then he moved.

A flood of odd feelings swept through her, extraordinary sensations that propelled her forward at a dizzying speed. She had no control, and no desire for control. There was only a feeling of utter and complete freedom.

She arched against him as he moved, repeating the motion again
and again until she was consumed by a kind of pleasure that was so exquisite, so perfect, that she could not grasp its reality. ’Twas as if every sensation, every feeling and emotion she’d ever known culminated in this one wondrous moment with Adam.

His eyes were squeezed tight, his head thrown back, and all the muscles in his neck were taut. Cristiane knew he was experiencing the same kind of peak she’d known only a moment before. The thought of it was so arousing that it pushed her over the edge once more and she shattered again, even as Adam climaxed.

“Cristy!” His voice was strained, but ’twas clear he’d called her name.

They lay quietly entwined as their breathing returned to normal. Adam propped himself up on his elbows and looked down at her, then kissed the corner of her mouth. When he moved to leave her, Cristiane held on to him.

Boldly, she gazed into his eyes. “I would have you linger, m’lord,” she said.

A moment passed, then Adam took her mouth again, kissing her deeply. A fierce shudder ran through him, and he was aroused again, filling her, moving with her, taking her to the same heights where she’d peaked with him only moments before.

Adam could not sleep. In awe, he watched Cristiane’s lovely features as she dozed, and he marveled at the incredible hours he’d just spent with her.

Never in his wildest imaginings could he have known ’twould be like this. He’d been rendered profoundly speechless.

He had finally tucked Cristiane into the curve of his body and gently caressed her until she slept. He had no doubt she would have
made love with him once again if he’d been so inclined.

He had been.

But he knew her body could not tolerate more. Not tonight, mayhap not tomorrow night. Yet now, as he lay next to his wife in her snug bed, listening to her even breaths and feeling the steady pulse in her chest, he felt hope. For the first time in years, he saw a future here on Bitterlee—for himself, for his daughter and his people.

All that they had endured over the past few years was about to change. They had a good crop in, the fishermen were successful and the livestock healthy. Even Charles looked better today than he had only yesterday.

Life was fine, indeed.

“And the ducklings can feed themselves now?” Meggie asked as she sat at Cristiane’s feet near the pond.

“Aye,” Cristiane replied. “They’re old enough to make it on their own. But they’ll still expect you to visit.”

“Just like the fox at the waterfall?”

“Exactly,” Cristiane said, laughing. She could not have been happier, or more content. She had awakened early that morn in Adam’s arms, and had watched him sleep.

His whiskers were heavy and black in the morning, except for the thick, white line of scar along his jaw. He seemed almost boyish in sleep, without the worries and cares of his station, and Cristiane would always have him looking so untroubled, even though she knew ’twas not possible. Not for a lord who cared so much for the welfare of his people.

She felt an odd fluttering in her stomach when she thought of him, and of his kisses. She’d been embarrassed when he’d awakened to discover her gazing adoringly at him, but he’d put her at ease with affectionate touches
and reassuring words.

He cared for her. He’d not said it exactly, but Cristiane did not know how ’twould be possible to share such intimacy and not feel an intensity of emotion. She was truly his wife now, and no matter what Sara Cole had once been to him, that had surely changed.

Adam had not lingered in her chamber this morn, but soon left to shave and dress in his own room. He had gone to look in on Sir Charles before riding to town to take care of some business. He had not said when he would return, but Cristiane was unconcerned. Tonight she would spend another glorious night in his arms.

“Will Papa come and find us here?” Meg asked.

“Aye, I hope he does,” she replied, “if he returns from town before we go back.”

“He’s gone to see Sara.”

Meg’s simple statement shattered Cristiane’s newfound confidence. She frowned, disbelieving, and shook her head. “Nay, I donna think so, lass,” she replied.

Meg laughed. “You sound so very different sometimes,” she said.

But Cristiane hardly heard her.
Had
Adam gone to see Sara? She did not like to consider that possibility, but how could she be sure? ’Twas foolish and naive to think that just because he’d spent the night in her bed, his relationship with Sara was a thing of the past.

She swallowed and stilled the trembling in her hands. How could she prepare herself to share her husband with the townswoman?

“Cristy?” Meg asked, her face a mask of concern. “Are you still ill?”

“N-nay, love,” Cristiane stammered. “I just…thought of something, is all.”

“Can we go to the waterfall now?” Meg asked. “And see if the little fox will come?”

Numbly, Cristiane allowed
herself to be pulled to her feet. Meg grabbed her hand and drew her along the garden path and out the castle gate. ’Twas not until they were on the path to the waterfall that Cristiane was able to shake off her dismal thoughts.

Surely Adam had not gone to his lover the moment he’d left her bed. Meg’s statement meant naught. The child had no real idea where her father had gone, but because he’d visited Sara in the past, Meg assumed he was visiting her now. Cristiane told herself she was worrying unnecessarily.

Adam returned from town and looked for his wife. She was not in her chamber, nor anywhere in the castle with Meg. Certain that they’d either be climbing the rocks on the beach or enticing the little fox down by the waterfall, he gave himself a few moments to visit with Charles. Rain threatened, and Cristiane would know it. She would soon return with Meg.

Adam greeted Sara quietly. He was more certain than ever that her feelings for Charles ran deep. She had spent the day with him, feeding him, giving him medicine and tending to his every need. ’Twas clear she could not accept the truth of his condition.

Charles looked as bad as he had two days ago. Though he’d lived through one crisis, anyone could see that there would be another. Soon. His color was gray, and he often had trouble catching his breath. Even more ominous, his cough was much weaker now.

Adam was grateful he had
Cristiane to help him through this. When the end came, he would take comfort in her presence, her love. He had no doubt of her feelings for him, and at his first opportunity, he would tell her that he felt the same.

He did not know why he’d been reticent last night, except he’d been so stunned by her reaction to his lovemaking. Never in his wildest imaginings had he ever thought he’d have so sensual a wife, a woman whose appetite for him would equal his own.