Page 47 of Love Beyond Time
He sat completely upright in the bed. “Three! My God, Bri! Tell me, lass, were ye a harlot in the time ye came from?”
It was my turn to frown. “No, I was not! I can assure you that for someone my age that is a very respectable number! Just ask Mitsy! She’s got me beat for sure!”
“What’s a Mitsy, lass?”
“Mitsy is a person. A friend. Who, come to think of it, is probably worried sick about me.”
He lay back down and draped an arm over me as he snuggled in closely. “I’m sorry, lass. I suspect there are a good many things that I doona know about ye that would surprise me.”
“Yes, I’m sure there are. We are from different worlds, Eoin.”
“Aye, lass. But for now, they are the same world, and that’s all I can bear to think of now.”
* * *
I thought back on those words as I rode in front of him, now only a short distance from arriving back at Conall Castle, as we could see it in the distance. It surprised me how much I could relate to what he’d said. I found it hard to think of our worlds separating, as well.
Thankfully Eoin pulled on Griffin’s reins, slowing him to a stop before I could allow my thoughts to descend so negatively. He said nothing as he dismounted, turning to lift me off of the horse.
He dragged me until my back was against the side of a tree and his mouth was on mine.
After kissing me ruthlessly, he pulled back, his eyes hungry. “When we get back to the castle, we shall all be busy with preparations. I doona want to end this constant companionship with ye, and I must take ye once more before we arrive at the castle.
I reached forward to pull him toward me, gladly fulfilling his desire.
* * *
God, he wished he could spend his life buried deep inside her. He leaned forward, deeply breathing in the smell of her hair as the breeze lightly lifted it toward him. Each time he made love to her, he found himself wanting to go deeper, to claim every inch of her, to melt her with himself so that she would stay his forever.
In past experience he’d found that once he slept with a lass his fascination was gone, that having her for one night was enough. Not with Bri. She’d captured a part of him he’d never lent to anyone, and if he let her go, he knew that she would take that part of him with her when she returned home.
He squeezed her tightly around the middle as they pulled reins at the stables where Kip was waiting for them, ready to care for the travel-worn Griffin.
As they made their way up to the castle, hand-in-hand, Eoin caught sight of Mary waiting at the entrance. Mary glared at him as she saw him and quickly called Bri to join her, for there was something she wanted to discuss with her.
Knowing better than to deny Mary, Eoin squeezed Bri’s hand, encouraging her to leave him. As the two women entered the castle, worry started to build. Whatever Mary was going to tell Bri, he had a feeling it wasn’t going to mean anything good for himself.
Chapter 30
I was definitely about to get into trouble. For what, I had no idea. But from the look on Mary’s face I could tell she was not overjoyed to see us back at the castle.
She didn’t let go of my hand, nor did she stop moving until we reached Morna’s spell room deep below the castle. Once inside, she released my hand and pointed to the wooden stool in the corner.
“Sit.”
I finally understood how my kindergarteners felt when they had to sit out during recess. “Is everything alright, Mary?”
“Nay, lass. What exactly do ye think yer doing?”
I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what she was talking about. “I don’t think I’m doing anything. What’s the matter with you?”
“What’s the matter with me, lass? What’s the matter with ye? Ye and Eoin were up to no good while ye were away, and doona try to tell me that ye were no.”
I couldn’t repress a smile. “Define ‘no good.’”
“Ach! Why, ye have been tupping, and enjoying every bit of it, have ye no?”
There was no reason I should’ve felt guilty for my recent activities with my sort-of husband, but Mary was quickly succeeding in making me feel so. It instantly made me defensive. “I don’t believe that’s any of your business, Mary.”
