I kept going, not letting his condition or my paranoid critic sidetrack me. Love hasnt only blinded you, it has made you deaf as wel .
He shrugged, a familiar smile creeping into position. Maybe, but I dont need my ears to enjoy you. His hands slid from my neck down my back, pausing to grip my hips.
And what about your eyes? I played his game, finding it difficult to put together a simple sentence the way his fingers were dril ing into my skin.
His eyelids dropped, his hands fol owing their lead. His smile crept higher. I think I can make do.
Tingles ran the ful length of my body.
Case in point? he whispered, his mouth finding mine with no amount of searching needed, despite his temporary blindness. His mouthed sucked at mine gently, right to the heart palpitation point, before he released me.
I half-sighed, half-moaned. Point proven. Who needs sight and sound when theyve got hands and lips that can do that? I was stil feeling the aftershocks tingling down my body from them.
He laughed, deep and slow. I dont need them, he said, his lids lifting to reveal the pale colored eyes that would one day soon be forever changed if fate decided to cut us a break. They took me in, from very top to very bottom, right back up to my eyes. But Im certainly glad I have them.
Excuse me, sir, an assured voice cal ed out from the barn doors, a loud clearing of the throat fol owing.
And our bubble of privacy wed conjured up was popped. Nothing like a dark-suited, buzz-cut guard to kil the mood.
Wil iam didnt hide his look of extreme annoyance when he turned to him, but he left both arms twisted around me. Yes?
I thought I should let you know we had to take down your, eh . . . picnic? He said it like he had no clue what to cal it.
Why? Wil iam asked, making a one syl able reply sound like a threat.
The guard shifted. A few members of the Council arrived this evening and, wel . . . the poor man looked like he would have been more comfortable if he was on fire. Eyebrows were raised . . .
Wil iam cut him off with the raising of his hand. No need for further explanations, James. Al you had to say was the Council. I can fil in the blanks. Storm clouds rol ed through Wil iams eyes, but it passed quickly. Shrugging it off, he said, Thats alright, I can play their game one more night. Once were Betrothed tomorrow, they cant tel us we cant have a candlelight dinner for al to see if we desire so.
James nodded his head. Good evening then, sir. Wel be outside waiting.
Theyl be waiting awhile, Wil iam breathed in my ear as I felt the smile lift up the corners of his mouth. Have you met my soon-to-be Betrothed, James? Wil iam cal ed out to the guard making as fast of a retreat as he could without looking rude.
Sir? he paused, swal owing.
Wil iam motioned at me, standing tal er. This is Bryn Dawson. Wel , save for a few formalities, Bryn Hayward.
I gave James a smile, pul ed wider than was introduction-customary due to the man beside me verbalizing my upcoming name change. The awkward look James gave me confirmed he wasnt ignorant of the rumors swirling about regarding my upcoming Betrothal. Pleasure to meet you, maam. Best of luck to you tomorrow night. There was something purposeful about his words, tel ing that it wasnt just Wil iam and me who wanted to see us end up together tomorrow night.
You too, James, I said softly, trying to send my silent appreciation. And thanks. Were going to need it.
James smile was sad as he ducked out of the barn.
Ive always liked to think of myself as a man who creates my own luck, Wil iam said softly, picking up right where we left off, pre-James. His eyes gazed at my neck, his mouth taking their place.
My eyes closed, James a distant memory. I hope youve been creating an extra big batch, because you know as wel as I do things never go the way we hope they wil .
This wil , his words hummed across my neck, igniting a new set of chil s.
Wil iam was so confident, so assured, that his and my name were sitting side by side on that list of Betrothals. There wasnt a hint of doubt I could find in his words or his voice or his demeanor. If it were up to Wil iam, wed be promised forever tomorrow night.
But it wasnt up to Wil iam. It was up to seven men, his father included, who were as cold, unyielding, and ancient as a glacier. If Wil iam and I being together didnt align with their plan, then tough; I didnt put it past them that theyd pair Patrick and me without raising a single brow.
So whats the plan for the rest of the night? I asked as I leaned back from him, sure Id explode into a flaming bal of sexual frustration if his lips slid against my skin one more mil imeter. Since you know the Council wil be watching us wherever we go from here.
Then maybe we should stay right here, he suggested, dead serious.
I took a purposeful look around the hay bales, feed bags, and dirt floor. I curled my nose to bring home the point. Here?
A moment. He raised his index finger for me to stay and jogged to a vacant stal in the front of the barn. There was an explosion of sounds, shifting, moving, bursting, and scraping and then it fel silent.
Wil iam ushered out of the stal , the tilt of his brow at just the right angle for me to know he was up to something. He bowed, sweeping his hand from me towards the stal . Your stal for two, Miss Dawson.
I kept his gaze as I crossed the space between us. I gave him a confused look which he met with an assured one before I took a step in the stable. Whoa, I muttered, taking in the stable hed transformed into what could have been a cozy room in a rustic cabin. Blankets were spread al over and around the entire area, a good six inches deep. A strand of frosted white globe lights crisscrossed above us, which suddenly glowed like soft orbs in the night sky when the lights overhead clicked off.