Extol of Agnatic Dreams (The Extol Series Book 1) (32 page)

His kiss was intense, and Evangeline was surprised at that strength. When she finally pushed him away for breath, she knew it was only so because Thomas had let her. If he did not want to leave, there was little Evangeline could have done to enforce her want. Thomas was so different to how she imagined it to be that Evangeline felt even out of sync with the whole experience. She had been expecting one thing, and Thomas was giving her the complete opposite.

Thomas pulled away from the bed but took Evangeline with him. Pulling the woman to her feet his hands ran down her back and up the sides of her body. Something happened between them then. The fire, the heat and passion, the hungry need kicked in and suddenly the clothes were a hindrance to their desires. Evangeline took the initiative and shoved his jacket off his shoulders.

The chuckle Thomas made, low and trapped between their kisses, fuelled her as Evangeline struggled with removing it properly. Thomas leant back just enough to be helpful but his hands returned to her body instantly. Blindly they started working on the clasps and hooks as his mouth pressed against hers. Stealing each other’s breaths, Evangeline grinned. The need to have Thomas was all that mattered and should the door ever open, Evangeline wasn’t sure she could even care.

Undressing Thomas was far easier then Evangeline losing the layers of her dress. She could feel the fastening loosen around her torso but it was not happening soon enough. In an effort to quicken the procedure Evangeline helped him, and soon the dress was left ignored on the floor. A giggle escaped her lips before Thomas could steal it with a kiss, and the pair were back together. Untucking his uniform shirt, Evangeline’s hand skimmed across the firm outline in his pants. Gasping she stumbled backwards.

Thomas, panting softly stayed where he was. Since the moment she had suggested this union, he had been waiting for Evangeline to come to her senses and reject him. He had no desires to force her or coerce her decisions. He planted his hands on his hips, realised the image he was creating with an unconscious point to his groin and dropped the posture in a hope not to appear vulgar. “You truly are a virgin.”

“Was there ever doubts?” she asked, still breathless and suddenly very self-aware. Was it always this difficult? It seemed whenever they found a good rhythm together, she would somehow ruin it.

Thomas shrugged. “There are always rumours.”

Evangeline nodded. “Does it bother you?”

“No.” Feeling it was safe to advance upon her and not scare her, Thomas took Evangeline in his arms. “I really never thought of it because it barely matters to me.”

She believed him. Arching up in his arms she kissed his mouth softly and Thomas was slow and happy in response. Just as she believed if she told him to stop he would, she believed that her personal history was not something Thomas had considered. Apparently it did not bother him to know she was marrying his future king. If it did bother him, it did not affect his ability to become aroused.

The lacings of her corset came apart under his hands, and along with it came the rest of her undergarments. The roles had been reversed, Evangeline becoming naked faster than Thomas was. “We don’t have to,” Thomas whispered in her ear as one arm went around her waist to hold her firmly while the other skimmed over her newly exposed breast, circling the alert nipple before he continued over her stomach and finding the outline of her hip and thigh.

“There are other things we can do.” Thomas was unsure where he was going with this suggestion but he knew the last thing he ever wanted to create between them was a barrier. Whatever happened in this chamber would undoubtedly change their relationship forever. If Evangeline came to regret it, then he would never get her back. Thomas had been attracted to Evangeline from the first moment he saw her in the woods. Holding her had been nothing but a dream only moments ago. She had made it clear this was a single offer but Thomas did not want to believe that was so.

Evangeline swallowed hard, her body responding to his wandering hand as it seemed he was determined to map her skin. Panting softly, her lip bruised just as his was, she looked up at him as his hand came to rest on her sex. Her heart stole everything from her. Without his support she couldn’t stand, the anticipation froze her and any words she might have spoken were taken before Evangeline could even arrange them into a coherent sentence.

One finger teased her and Evangeline shuddered against him. Thomas was encouraged but didn’t want to sprint forward. If this were all she wanted, Thomas would walk away with his head held high. Her body was tense against the intrusion but she wasn’t fighting him. He buried his face into her neck, smelling the sweet scents of her hair as he massaged her clitoris gently.

Slowly she relaxed. Her thighs lost their firmness and after a moment, her hips rocked ever so gently against his hand. Her mouth opened, parting only a little as she spoke his name. Thomas had never heard it being said so sweet. He kissed her neck, the only area he had been avoiding until that moment. She didn’t even seem to notice that his lips are pressed against the scars of Glais’ bite. Evangeline was far more distracted than to allow such small things bother her.

The build-up started and Evangeline felt the need to fall, to spread out under Thomas, who still wore his shirt and turned just enough away from her body so she couldn’t feel his bulge pressed into her hip. She grabbed the fronts of his shirt, her hands becoming clawed as his fingers teased her in a way she had never experienced before. Evangeline could never imagine anyone more skilled than Thomas in this, and when the tension finally broke Evangeline was draped backwards and panting in his arms.

Thomas picked her up off her feet and carried her to the bed. Laying her on the thick blankets he turned to leave.

“Thomas?” she couldn’t manage more than his name right now, but the concern was evident on her face. They were far from done, and while she still enjoyed what he had done it did not meet her needs.

“I’m just going to fetch you some water.” Thomas lied. In truth, he needed a moment to himself, a place where the sun didn’t hit her body to highlight the perfect outline of her frame. There needed to be a room that existed that wasn’t perfumed with the scent of her satisfaction. Thomas needed to be anywhere but in her bed chambers.

“I don’t want water.” Evangeline sat up, sure he had no intentions on returning with water. “I was serious Thomas. I do not want that monster to be the first person to know me like that.” She reached out for him, although her arm was limp and had no strength to the gesture. Thomas was weak in resisting her. He had tried all he could to be a better man.

With no further motivation, he returned to her bed and instantly he straddled her hips and pulled off his shirt. Their lips met and Evangeline chuckled at his eagerness. She pulled back to mimic his exploration of earlier. She started on his chest, Thomas’ body lean of fat and holding faint scars from battle. Nothing grotesque or overly concerning in her quick assessment but Evangeline wouldn’t have cared either way. She imagined this was expected for a man who saw action. She kissed the scar on his collarbone, the one that peeked out and had secretly distracted her from time to time.

Her hands wandered lower over his body, Thomas arching over as she followed the trail of hair to where his pants kept the rest of him hidden. She tugged at the ties that kept the garments closed. Trying not to blush, Evangeline was delicate in her task, almost maddeningly so as Thomas wanted to rush her. Just as the fabric dared to part and reveal what was underneath Evangeline stopped. Thomas almost fell with the disappointment as she moved back on the bed so she could find his lips.

“Show me,” She whispered. “I trust you.” She kissed him again but evidently made no movement to finish what she had started. Thomas had little choice but to scramble backwards and finally undress himself. The boots kicked off, his pants dropping and he hopped a little on one foot, unbalanced as he tugged the tailored fabric away from his ankles. A naked as the day he was born, Thomas slowly approached the bed again. Evangeline only had eyes for one part of him. He seemed impossibly large.

“I’ll be gentle,” Thomas promised, guessing her fear. Evangeline nodded. Thomas pressed her into the bed, and as promised, he was gentle.

S
leeping with Thomas had not been the mistake. The mistake came when Evangeline realised she had no idea how to react to him now when she saw him around the castle. He seemed to be everywhere, and while she appreciated that he was not obviously treating her any differently than he did before, Evangeline wished there was some kind of mark on him to prove that it had meant something to him.

Thomas had stayed for as long as he dared after they were done and Evangeline had been very sure to explain to Thomas that this was not an open invitation to her sleeping quarters. She was solemn about her vows to Glais and however Glais intended to live out his time, she would not be the one to ruin their union in the eyes of Xado. Surely he would forgive her for this one act of weakness. Thomas had assured her that Xado was an understanding God and had been quick to disappear before he was severely missed.

That was their final conversation. Since then he had been sure to never engage her in talk unless it is entirely innocent. Thomas would greet her as Lady Evangeline, ask the legitimate questions of how was her rest, how was her day, what lovely weather for a ride and never keep her from her tasks.

Her obsession with Thomas doing exactly as she had asked left her little time to concern herself with other things. Most of the duties leading up to the wedding were left with Kyleigh and Evangeline found herself wandering the gardens much like she did when she first came to Braykith. For every time she thought of Thomas and remembered the touch of him, she considered Glais. How did he live with this feeling? At times, it made her skin crawl.

Evangeline was subconsciously going to the stables. Perhaps she could take Tempest for a ride, let the wind take away the doubts and concerns for a few hours. It felt good to have a plan that was steady rather than avoiding everyone. Stepping around the door, she saw Glais. Before she could disappear, he caught her eye. Evangeline cringed but forced herself to enter the building fully and curtsey with a sway of her skirts as an embellishment.

“Evangeline please…” He sighed, pulling off the gloves he had just put on. “We don’t need to be like this to each other.”

Evangeline rose from her position. “Yes, we do Glais. Because you deserve nothing more.” Too late to leave, she headed towards Tempest’s stall just to have something to do that didn’t involve looking at Glais. Tempest had protected her before, and she would do it again.

Glais joined Evangeline at the gate, leaning back casually on the wood that kept her horse in her pen. Evangeline stayed where she was, not offering him even a sentence. “I know about Thomas,” He muttered. Evangeline looked around frantically, fearful of being overheard. “No one is here.” Glais assured her.

“Well, I thought after all the women you take to your bed, I was entitled to one.” She tried to stay steady, but the gate carried more weight than she meant to give and Tempest came over to inspect Evangeline, reacting to her subtle change. “How did you find out?” She asked quietly, embarrassed that he had this knowledge after she had attempted to be so discreet.

“People notice things. It is a rumour that had been following your friendship. It is your reaction that confirmed it for me.” Glais said, continuing to stand beside her and looking out over the vast stable. “I just wanted you to know that I approve.”

Evangeline snapped around to look at him. “I don’t need your approval,” She growled, not even realising how little her lips moved as she delivered the words. “I didn’t do this for your approval.”

Glais nodded once, keeping his head down and crossing his arms over his chest. “Then why did you do it?” He was curious, and after the initial shock of learning what she had done settled that was the only question he had. Why? Apparently they were starting to know each other better. Glais didn’t feel threatened by Thomas, but he never imagined Evangeline would ever do a thing like this.

“Those reasons are my own.” Evangeline reached out for Tempest, running her palm along the mare’s offered face.

“Is he the only one?” Glais dared to ask.

“Yes. And only the one time. Is there anything else you need to know?” Evangeline asked, still awaiting to look at him. Glais would never know just how Evangeline felt about her time with Thomas. She never planned to share.

Glais went quiet. He turned but when he tried to touch Tempest the horse jarred her head away from him and Glais was left with nothing but air. “I hope he was good to you.”

Evangeline felt her body rush in response but she said nothing. Her mouth was set in a firm line; she would not deny or confirm any question Glais asked. She could barely bring herself to reliving the memories without feeling like a fool. She would not be forced to share them with Glais after he had kept so much from her.

The pair stood together, Glais leaning against the gate and watching Evangeline as she studiously stroked the face of her horse. Neither spoke, but Evangeline felt she was the only one deep in thought. Glais had more to say and she could feel his tension. She offered him no opening. Finally, he sighed. “Be careful Evangeline, there can never be questions about the paternity of our children. The heir to the throne must be preserved.”

She pushed Tempest away. “Glais, if anyone is endangering a claim to the throne it is you. You and your decision to bed every woman who sacrifices herself for you.” She stepped into him, mustering her strength which came to her quickly now he had made her angry. “You have done this to us Glais, and please be cautious of who you speak to of this.”

“Do you fear your reputation?” Glais asked.

“I am afraid of what Luella will do to keep you,” Evangeline admitted freely.

“Luella?” Glais said the name like he had never heard it before, but Evangeline knew that he was aware of exactly which woman he spoke of. Even the most lost wanderer noticed the way Luella was protective of her place with the Prince.

“She has approached me and openly mocked me Glais, and more than once she has threatened violence against me,” Evangeline told him, repeating what she assumed he already knew. Luella never seemed particularly careful when she was around. It was a wonder the curse had not killed Luella and her loose tongue before now.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Glais frowned as he searched her face as if suddenly hearing this news would make any bruises she had sustained from Luella obvious.

Evangeline was honestly surprised by his reaction now. “I thought you already knew. When you never said anything and continued to see her, well I didn’t believe you cared.”

Glais blinked at her. “Luella is gone.”

“Glais, what did you do?” Evangeline demanded, her voice rising in her shock.

It took a moment for Glais to realise what Evangeline was exactly accusing him of. “No, nothing. I swear to you. She lives and breathes. Probably waiting for me right now in my rooms.” He knew he had said the wrong thing instantly but he was quick to cover it up. “What I meant, if she makes you so uncomfortable, if she is threatening you then I will get rid of her. I will send her away from the castle.”

Evangeline frowned and she looked at Tempest to try and focus her mind instead of getting drawn into her own confusion. “Why would you do that?”

Glais smiled but didn’t try and touch her like he wanted to. “Because this is your home Evangeline, and you are my wife. While I may not have done my best to make you feel welcome before, I will insist you feel welcome now.”

Evangeline stared up at him and finally she came to nod and started heading out of the stables.

“I’m trying Evangeline,” He called after her.

She paused and turned to face him. “I think it might be too late for that.” The pair stood in the stables, space between them and neither quite sure on how best to handle this moment. Evangeline both hated and feared Glais. He thought what he was doing was sweet, but really all Evangeline could see in his gesture to remove Luella from her castle was how impulsively he rid important people in his life.

Of course, Glais did not see it this way. Luella was a meal, a woman who had fed him when he needed it, and gave him access to her body whenever he hinted at it. She was just one of many, and although she found her way to him more often than the others it didn’t make her special. Glais did not value her in the same way he did not evaluate the cow before killing it for steaks. Removing Luella would not change his life much, and if it made Evangeline feel better, then he was happy to do it.

Evangeline turned and walked away, leaving the stables and abandoning her plans for Tempest without looking back.

Glais punched the gate and turned with a huff away from Tempest before the mare could try and defend her master. The horse seemed to have a sixth sense, a bond with Evangeline that Glais did not understand. There were many things that Evangeline did that Glais struggled with. His parents had been so concerned about him learning how to be King and hide his particular habits that it seemed he lacked the very basic understanding of how to interact with people.

He envied that trait in his brother. Baxter was much better at being approachable, and maintaining a positive image. He rode into the surrounding village and he became one of them. Glais tried but with his dark features and mysterious aura Glais simply couldn’t do it. He had never been able to keep a single person happy. What hope did he have for his marriage? Too many mistakes haunted him already, and not enough time to fix them doomed him to ruin.

Inspired to try, Glais took off after Evangeline. She was quick, stomping off back towards the castle even though there was nothing there for her. Except Thomas. Glais stopped himself in mid-step. He knew that she felt like he had forced her into another man’s arms, but he could not see it that way. He never would shoulder all of the blame. Huffing out a breath he watched Evangeline disappear around the corner and from his sight.

Evangeline knew if she walked fast enough that eventually she would find Thomas. He seemed to be everywhere when she didn’t need him. Of course, the moment she did, it took several sweeps through the ancient stone walls to locate where he was stationed.

“Thomas, I need to run an errand to the church before the ceremony. Can you accompany me?” Evangeline asked, knowing he would not refuse and that a trip out of the castle would mean she would need to be guarded. He nodded and dutifully fell into step just behind her. Like this, they walked outside the parameters of the castle, beyond the guards at the main gates and into the busy streets of the town. She walked, knowing Thomas was behind her and felt safe even as she veered off the path and took a shortcut through someone’s lawns and into the trees that surrounded the castle.

The trees here were identical to the trees found within the castle grounds. They stood at attention as they always had, their limbs reaching up for the heavens, but slowly they were changing. Evangeline had only just noticed it this morning, and although the difference was hardly worth observing by anyone, she started to believe that perhaps Braykith was not as cursed as it had once been.

She walked along the path, Thomas never even questioning why they were not heading towards the church. He had been waiting for this moment actually, sure that she had some words to speak to him. Thomas hoped it was a reconciliation. When Evangeline had mentioned the church he had thought, it was a confession. Now he was confused but continued to follow on behind.

Evangeline stopped and Thomas stopped as well so there was space between them. “Glais knows about us.”

Thomas nodded. “I always thought he would work it out. Even if it weren't true, he always would have suspected just because of our friendship.” Evangeline nodded, chewing on the nail of her thumb as Thomas struggled to know how to help her. “He has threatened you?” he asked, seeking the seed of her anxiety.

She shook her head. “No. In fact, he apparently approves of you.”

That was uplifting, and it was obvious from the way he held himself that Thomas was shocked to hear it. “I suppose it makes some sense. I am a trusted guard of the family. I know the castle well and have lived to see the end of many battles.” Thomas shrugged. He could only ever guess at what Glais was thinking.

“I suppose so.” Evangeline sighed.

“You have more to say.” Thomas tried to prompt her. She had that same stiffness and jumping attention she seemed to have inherited since they were together.

Evangeline didn’t know how he managed to read her, but she supposed that she never actually tried to hide her feelings from anyone. It was only Thomas who decided that her emotions were worth discussing. “I am simply in awe of how well you can portray your role that nothing happened between us. I cannot figure out how Glais discovered it.”

Thomas knew that the truth behind her comment was in the first and not the second part of that sentence. “Are you mad at me because I am doing exactly what you told me to do?” He asked her, and Evangeline did her best to ignore the sideways smile that teased his lips, instead crossing her arms and holding herself tighter. “Eva, you declared there was nothing more than a single night between us.”

“I know,” She muttered.

“And you are the one who told me that I must never speak of it or give any indication that we are more than friends.” Thomas did his best to repeat her own phrasing back to her. When Evangeline nodded again and sighed, he almost chuckled at her reaction. “Then why are you mad?”