Irish Seduction (3 page)

Jasper turned to meet the young woman walking toward him. The air was sucked from his lungs and his head swam.

It could not be
.
This was a cruel trick of the gods
. He gazed into the green eyes of the young woman that taunted him nightly in his sleep.

She stood in front of him, her hand held tight in her father’s. Her gaze dropped to the ground while he stood speechless in front of her
.
He was doomed before he started. His hands were clammy and he could not think of what to say to her. How could he have dreamt of this young woman? Did she know? What did it mean?

He struggled to clear his throat several times before he was able to form the words. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” he said bowing his head slightly.

“It is kind of you to visit and agree to train me.” She looked at him quickly from under her lashes and dropped her eyes again when they met his intense gaze. A blush rose up on her delicate cheeks.

“Perhaps you could show Jasper the gardens and discuss a plan for your studies, Leona,” her mother suggested, pushing the two of them together.

“Yes, Mother.” She beckoned Jasper to follow her and led him out of the room and outside into the warm sunlight. Leona glanced behind her to see that he was still following and made her way over the neatly clipped grass. Jasper followed her down a winding pathway that led to a quiet lake. With a smile, she gestured to the stone seat that was almost hidden from view by shrubs. He waited for her to sit before he joined her.

He sat on the end of the bench, distancing himself from her. Jasper was unwilling to touch her for fear that he would lose control, and tried not to look at the white dress clinging to her curves or the way her arms were bare to the sun. His gaze strayed to the neckline of her gown. It was cut low over her lush breasts. He wanted nothing more than to run his tongue around the back of her neck and follow the curve of her jaw to take her mouth. His body was already reacting to being so close to her and he struggled to find the words to start the conversation. In the end it was Leona that spoke.

“You do not look comfortable being here.” She looked at him, her gaze boring into his. “Did you not wish to teach me?”

“It would be an honor to teach you, my lady,” he replied looking out at the water. “I am sure that your father could have found one with more skills than me, though.”

“I don’t think so. He is always careful to find the right teachers for us,” Leona replied. “This world is so perfect, is it not? It is hard for me to imagine what it would be like to live in a world where nature wreaks havoc on the land like she does on yours. Here it is so serene and peaceful. I would like to visit your home, Jasper. I want to see nature at her worst.” She turned to him and smiled beguilingly. “Please say you’ll take me.”

Jasper swallowed and his body trembled. This couldn’t be right. He knew the consequences of overstepping the boundaries with the gods. If he took her home, he would not be able to deny what he wanted to do with her. Jasper’s body would betray him, of that he was certain. Would she accept him if he showed his hand? This was the only woman that he had met that he would give up everything for. She was untouchable to his kind. The gods would never allow it.

“I do not think that was what your parents had in mind, my lady,” he said, his voice strained. He flinched when she put her hand on his arm, the electric shock kicking his heart into overdrive.

“If you ask them, I’m sure that a visit would be approved.” She leaned closer to him, her faint perfume drifting around his face.

“Let us plan your studies first and see how you progress.” Jasper tried to ignore the sweet smell that tantalized his senses and made his cock throb. “We may schedule a visit if your parents deem it necessary for your skills to be enhanced with Mother Earth under your feet.”

“Thank you, Jasper.” She turned back to face the lake and lifted her face to the sun. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply and raised her hands to the sky.

She looks like a sleek white cat
. Jasper watched her arch her back and stretch. She threw back her head and laughed, pointing her delicate feet out in front of her. He ached to reach out and touch his fingers to her face, her throat, and her breasts, but he dared not. It was his dream after all, and until he knew differently it would remain so. She had no part in it.

He coughed and stood, walking away from her so he wouldn’t be tempted. She followed him and slipped her hand through his arm before he could stop her.

“Let us walk. You can tell me about your home. Paint me a picture with words until I can see it for myself.”

Slowly, while she chattered away, he began to relax with her. Leona teased him and encouraged him to talk. She laughed at him and in the next breath consoled him over the death of his father. She railed to him about the desperate measures his father had taken to have him marry before the next solstice. Then she wept with sadness for the loss his mother still felt. Leona took his hand and soothed him when he expressed sadness over his mother’s broken heart.

By the time they made it around the extensive gardens and back to the palace, they had discussed everything except her lessons. He felt at ease with her and at the same time, frustrated. She was blissfully unaware of the turmoil that was raging through his body and his mind.

It was with a great amount of sadness that he bid her farewell and traveled home. He stood on the headland looking out to sea, his body screaming for release. Raising his arms, Jasper called the wind, ready for battle. The breeze came to him, flitting through his fingers and blowing around his head, lifting his hair and whipping it around his face. Degree by degree, he raised it higher until it threatened to throw him from the very cliffs he stood on. He looked down at the white-tipped waves that crashed on the rocks below. The ocean roared his frustration and he pulled the elements harder to do his bidding.

The black clouds rolled and boiled, stealthily creeping over the dark ocean toward him. Lightning bolted down and thunder crashed. Still he pulled it closer, his mood darkening with the storm. The rain started to fall and turned to sleet. He lifted his head to the sky and screamed his pain to the heavens.

Collapsing on the ground, he buried his head in his hands and wept for what he could not have. The pain and frustration of the last few months during his father’s illness and death, his tormented dreams night after night, and now to be confronted by the one thing that tortured him the most. The beautiful green-eyed goddess who enticed him and made his body come alive in his sleep would now torture him in his waking hours even more. Gods. Would there be no rest for him.

Chapter Two

There was no visitor for him that night. His body tossed and turned, frustrated beyond belief. When he woke the next morning with his sheets twisted around his legs, he told himself that he was relieved she had not come this night. Even though his needs were not met and he awakened with his cock throbbing and ready for sex, he was glad. Jasper didn’t know if he could face her again without wanting her.

To find that his dream lover was the youngest daughter of the gods that ruled them, how much worse could it get? Helan had commented on the fact that the last elements teacher they had brought up to give instruction to Mari had overstepped the boundaries. Surely his encounter with Leona would be far more treacherous than that. It would be treason to dare to defile the youngest child of the most powerful gods. What would they do to him if they found out? It didn’t bear thinking about.

Jasper dressed and grudgingly made his way downstairs. Today he had to ride to the outlying district and deal with the neighboring tenants and their fractious behavior. They had been crossing over the river into his lands again. According to the reports from his lieutenant and best friend, they were stealing from his farmers and killing stock.

This had been going on for far too long. He knew it was another push for him to sell and increase the O’Reilly’s landholdings, but his father had never given in and neither would he. Nothing had changed with his father’s death. The estate would remain intact with him now the head of the family, and the answer would still be no.

His mother was still in bed and would not rise until later in the morning, so he took his breakfast in the kitchen, which was his habit. Jasper thanked the cook before heading out to the compound to speak with Richard, his lieutenant of the guards.

“I don’t know how much more your tenants can take of this behavior, Jasper,” Richard said when they discussed it. “They can’t afford to lose any more cattle or crops. They struggle enough every day.”

“Aye, Richard, I know. We will ride out now and have a wee word in their ear. If they continue to attack we will put a stop to them once and for all.”

Saddling his horse, Jasper listened to the soldiers milling around, getting ready for their ride out. When Jasper had his mount ready, he joined his men in the courtyard and encouraged Richard to tell the men what they had already discussed earlier.

Jasper led his men out of the castle and headed east to the river, the border they shared with the O’Reillys. His great-great-grandfather had built this castle and it was going to stay in his family for generations to come. There were too many families that depended upon him that would not get the consideration from the O’Reillys that he gave them if they managed to force Jasper out. It was rumored that they were cruel landlords and their tenants lived in fear everyday that they would be evicted without any warning. More than once, Jasper’s father had taken a lost soul and their family in because they could not come up with the extra taxes that they were forced to pay.

It was a frustrated team that returned home that night. They had met with claims of denial when they approached the head of the O’Reilly household. Yes, he wanted to take over Jasper’s land and offered high price for it, but once again, Jasper refused. He left with his men and a warning. He would not tolerate any more attacks on his tenants or his land. Next time he would attack back with all the force he could muster.

His mother was waiting in the garden when he rode in. He went to her once he had unsaddled his mount.

“Mother, do not fret so,” he said, pulling her frail body to him and holding her tight. “It will all work out fine. I have warned them for the last time and they know that. Next time they try to hurt any of ours, we will attack without mercy.”

“Thank you, Jasper. I knew we could count on you. What happened last night at your meeting and the gods?”

Jasper looked away from her, afraid that her wise eyes would see that he was keeping something from her. It had been late when he had returned to the house last night and he was spared the task of relaying to his mother what had transpired with his visit.

“They requested that I teach their youngest daughter element spells,” he said in a hard voice. He turned to look at her, trying to soften his words. “Elena sent you a potion to help heal your sorrow, Mother. She worries about you.”

“It is a great honor, Jasper, to be called to teach one of the gods.”

He knew that she would be puzzled by his tone. He was revered far and wide for his skills as a teacher and a healer. Why would he be surprised or angry that they had called him for this purpose?

“I know, Mother. It has just come at a difficult time.”

It would always be a difficult time when Leona was concerned
.
He had found it hard to concentrate today on the business of the estate. He must toughen his heart before he returned to Upper Therrus for the first lesson next week. Leona showed no recognition when Jasper had arrived at the palace. She obviously knew nothing about his dreams.

“I must see to the men, Mother, and then I will join you in the library.” Jasper left her standing in the garden and led his horse to the stables.

Jasper made a fuss of the animal, trying to delay his return to the house. He gave his soldiers instructions for the hunting parties that would roam his lands and keep an eye on the warring neighbors. Only when he had nothing else to distract him did he join his mother in the library.

“When do you go back?” she asked, her eyes lighting up with interest.

“Early next week.” He sank his body fluidly onto a chair in front of the fireplace. He leaned his head back, letting the tension ease. “I have undertaken to visit once a week until I feel that she has a basic knowledge. Helan would like to see her master the elements before she learns anything else. Leona is hoping to pay a visit here when she has progressed enough.”

“It will be lovely to see her, Jasper.” His mother poured tea and passed it to him. “It has been a long time since we have had a visit from them.”

“At least we know that we have done nothing to displease them when they stay away from us,” he grumbled. He took a sip and placed the cup on the small table beside him. The warning that Helan had insinuated at their meeting came back to him. Gods did not mate with witches or humans. Not if they wanted to keep their heads.

“Jasper, about your promise to your father.” His mother ran her hands over her dress, smoothing it over her knees, and gazed intently at him. “Have you decided which girl you will take for your bride?”

He sprung to his feet, frustration seeping out of every pore. He tried to contain his anger so that he would not upset his mother, breathing until he found enough control to speak.

“Mother, I love you dearly. Never doubt that, I beg of you. But I cannot in all conscience take either of these young women for my bride.” He leaned his hands on the fireplace with his head between them. Pressing his forehead into the warm stones of the hand-carved lintel, Jasper closed his eyes to the pain he knew would be shining in his mother’s grief-stricken eyes.

“You promised your father on his deathbed, Jasper.”

“I promised him I would take a bride, Mother.” Jasper turned to faced her. “But I will take a bride of my own choosing. The name of Kilcane will continue on, that I promise you, but she will be someone that pulls at my heart with everything she is. I will not marry for convenience, not even a deathbed promise that I had no intention of keeping.”