Love's Call (13 page)

Ali rose to all fours and growled.

Leargan didn’t release her, but his arms stilled around her.

“I’m fine, Ali.” She made eye contact with her bondmate.
Lie back down. Don’t move. Leargan will not hurt me, love.

Her wolf huffed but did as ordered.

His warmth enveloped Ansley, and her heart thundered. She could feel his echoing the pace and her breath caught.

“She won’t move, Leargan.”

“I never meant to hurt you.” He nestled her closer, and she wanted to melt into him.

“Oh…” Ansley said.

What’s worse?

His apology or the fact he knew he’d hurt her?

“Leaving like that, I didn’t think of how you might react. I’m sorry. I acted impulsively, and…I didn’t know how to handle myself.”

With every word, he inched closer, until his lips were hovering over hers, the heat of his breath tickling.

A tremor shot down her spine and she tightened her arms around him. Ansley tilted her face, brushing her lips against his.

Leargan groaned and crushed his mouth into hers. Kissing her hard, he forced her mouth open, but Ansley met his every move.

He devoured her, their tongues dueling.

She moaned, and he swallowed it, deepening the kiss even more.

Ansley’s legs wobbled, desire settling low in her belly. She wanted to get lost in him.

Forever.

But…what did Leargan want?

He moaned as she pulled away.

She stayed close—she couldn’t help it—resting her forehead against his shoulder. Hurt threatened to swallow her whole. “You left. Kissing me was a mistake.” Voice shaking, Ansley concentrated on not crying, her emotions awry.

She wanted to be honest with him, but did she have the guts to do so?

Leargan yanked away, cupping her face. “It’s not like that,” he whispered.

“You apologized…I thought…”

He silenced her with his lips.

Ansley melted back into his chest, shooting her arms around his neck. Ignoring questions and doubts, she kissed him back with all her might. She felt his body’s response pressing into her, and her core warmed even more.

He
did
want her.

When Leargan parted their mouths, it was much too soon.

She bit back a protest. Her body was hot; she throbbed between her legs.

They panted, chest heaving against breasts.

“Ansley. My Ansley. What am I going to do with you?”

She froze in his arms, staring into his dark eyes.

My Ansley?

He tugged her braid and smiled.

Her stomach somersaulted, but then his expression slid into something serious, his eyes pools of midnight. “I apologized for shoving you up against the wall, pushing myself on you…shaming you.”

“Shaming me?” Ansley gasped.
Cera and Aimil were right.
“You didn’t shame me, Leargan.”

“You don’t understand. I was about to…” The apple of his throat bobbed as he swallowed.

“I wanted you. I would have let you.” Warmth engulfed her face. Had she really just admitted that aloud?

Leargan blinked. Understanding settled into his expression and her stomach fluttered. Color lit his high cheekbones, olive slipping into pink.

Blessed Spirit, you made him blush?

He shook his head, dark hair swishing about his shoulders.

Ansley wanted to reach up and touch the stubble on his cheeks, it’d felt like heaven against her skin when they’d kissed.

Gorgeous, like always, his full mouth was swollen from their kisses. A tiny scar above his top lip stood out, white against the hue of his skin. She’d always wanted to ask him how it’d happened.

“Leargan,” she whispered.

His eyes slid to her mouth before he met her gaze again, and she shivered.

“I apologized because of what I almost did. It wouldn’t have been reversible. And, it wasn’t right against a corridor wall.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered.” Ansley’s stomach jumped. Relief washed over her with the confession.

So what if he knows you want him?

“What?” Leargan gaped, eyes wide.

She gripped her newfound bravery with both hands. “It wouldn’t have mattered, because it was you.” Doubt ate at her and she had to avert her gaze. Why had she just admitted she would’ve given him her innocence without a backward thought?

“Look at me, Ansley, and tell me what you mean.”

After squeezing her eyes shut, she took a breath and finally met his eyes. Words fell from her mouth. “I wanted you that day. And…I…want you still…”

He grinned.

Her heart tripped over itself, but she had no recovery time, because he claimed her mouth again. Ansley molded her body to his and opened for him, rubbing her tongue against his.

He kissed her until her legs gave out, groaning against her lips.

Leargan held her up plastered to his chest and explored her mouth. Urgency was still there, but he guided their kiss with a languorous heat that melted her heart and soul.

She would do
anything
for this man.

He rocked his hips into hers, and Ansley wanted to be naked with him. She broke away panting and pulled him toward her bed.

Embarrassment and insecurity didn’t matter anymore. Leargan was in her room, in her arms, and kissing her senseless.

It couldn’t stop here.

Reason, reminders, right from wrong were pushed away, replaced by desire, heat and her body aching in places she’d never experienced before.

“Ansley, we can’t,” Leargan gasped, locking his feet in place by the table.

He must’ve read hurt in her expression, because he pulled her back into his arms, holding, stroking her hair.

Her braid had been worked loose, her long red locks flowing down her back. Her heart beat against his, and Ansley hid her face against his neck, tears threatening.

Leargan kissed the top of her head, squeezing her against him. “I’m not rejecting you.”

“Then why?” She met his eyes. Her stomach fluttered at what she saw there.

Tenderness…and desire.

“I won’t dishonor you like that.”

Ansley trembled. “What if I chose it?”

“I would love to say
aye.
Now. Blessed Spirit knows I want you that bad. But I can’t do that to you.”

The hardness in his breeches pressed into her hip.

She swallowed hard. “I want you, Leargan.”

Groaning, he closed his eyes. “Your virginity is for your wedding night.” His arms shook as he held her.

“My virginity is for whatever
I
choose.” Ansley glared.

Honor be damned.

She wanted him. She was offering herself to him. Her body demanded it.

His hands and lips all over. Needed to feel his weight on top of her, inside her.

“And I choose to give it to you.” Sucking in a breath, she waited for his answer. Rejection would crush her, but she steeled herself for it.

Leargan guided Ansley’s face back to his, kissing her. “I’ll never receive a greater gift. But not tonight. Like I said, it’s for your wedding night.
Our
wedding night.”

She gasped, swaying on her feet. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, marry me, Ansley.”

Her mouth hung open.
No words
.

Why was the man of her dreams proposing?

Don’t question it. Just say ‘Aye.’

Hot tears cascaded down her cheeks. His handsome face blurred.

Leargan smiled and kissed them away, his lips brushing hers. She tasted the saltiness of her own tears and blinked.

Was this really happening?

How could this be real?

He’d said he wanted her, but that was far from love. Was he asking her for physical needs? Because she was innocent?

Surely not. Leargan could find another woman if it was only that. Right? A tavern, even a maid in the castle.

Don’t think about this. Respond.

It’s too good to be true…
a voice chided. Ansley ignored it. Listened to her heart, not her head. She couldn’t help it. She
loved
him, more than she’d ever thought possible.

Could she marry him without the same from him? Was physical desire enough to sustain her?

Ansley also disregarded the voice that asserted she needed
all
of him, as well as the voice of reason that there was more to this sudden proposal.

Perhaps for now, she’d take what she could get.

His expression was open, expectant.

“Marry you?” Ansley stumbled out.

“Aye. Ansley Fraser, will be my wife?”

“Aye.” Was there really any other answer? She clutched the front of his leather jerkin as her head spun.

Blessed Spirit, please don’t let me wake if this is only a dream. I want to stay here. Forever.

“You said aye?” Leargan whispered, wonder in his tone, eyes wide.

Ansley nodded, feeling his arms tighten around her.

He gave her a brilliant smile and pulled her closer.

“You thought I wouldn’t?”

She’d never seen Leargan…vulnerable. Ansley should reassure him, but she liked him this way. It made him more reachable, not so much the perfect knight.

More
hers.

“Aye…no…I don’t know...” Leargan looked away. “It’s out of the blue…”

I love you
. She bit her lip to keep the words inside, panic washing over her.

Ali whined, and they both shot glances to the she-wolf.

I’m fine,
Ansley thought-sent.
Stay. He’s not hurting me.
Taking a breath, she turned back to him, forcing words out. “I will marry you.”

Leargan pressed a kiss to her mouth, resting his forehead against hers and flashing a grin that had her heart thundering all over. “I’m glad. There’s nothing I want more.”

“Is this really happening?” Ansley whispered.

He laughed and she jumped. After caressing her cheek, he rested his palm against it, the movement of his thumb causing a shiver to slide through her whole body.

“Aye, it’s happening.” He kissed her nose.

She smiled, burying her face against him and closing her eyes.

Ali made a noise, but she was only relaxing. The wolf rolled to her side and closed her yellow eyes.

“She let me kiss you,” Leargan whispered against Ansley’s hair.

She nodded, her cheeks burning. “I threatened her.”

He laughed and Ansley grinned.

Leargan didn’t laugh nearly enough. The sound washed over her, warmed her.

Taking her hand, he kissed her knuckles. “Will she ever like me?”

“I don’t know. We’ll just have to see. We have a lifetime, right?” Ansley melted in the heat of his dark gaze.

“I suppose we do.”

Chapter Eleven

Tynan cursed as colorfully as he could manage, spitting in the dirt and stomping his foot. He’d been to every inn and tavern near the market center, and then worked his way out, ending up in the slums of Lower Greenwald.

Nothing.

His little wife was nowhere he could scent out.

Had the Kenrick boy lied?

His steward shifted on his feet at Tynan’s glare but pretended not to notice his ire. “The boy said what tavern?” he barked.

“The
White Sage Pub
, sire.”

“That is
not
in Lower Greenwald,” Tynan growled.

She’d no coin, and the tavern and inn in question was in Greenwald Main, the better part of the city center. If his wife was there, unless she sold her body like barmaids at many a tavern, she’d gain no room and board.

“Aye, sire. But Mistress Avril is not there.” Harlan’s knuckles were white on his horse’s reins as the beast stood beside him. Only the large gelding stood still.

“You looked at all the wenches as well as spoke to the proprietor?”

Harlan nodded. “Even looked in the kitchens. They’ve not seen a dark-haired lass at all that fit Mistress Avril’s description.”

“Where the hell is she?”

“Shall I have Ferd and Han rove the market again?”

“Do it now.”

His steward shouted for his two oldest sons and relayed Tynan’s orders.

Without a word, both young men mounted their horses and took off toward the city center, only a ten minute ride from the slums.

Tynan glared up at the disheveled sign announcing the
Dragon’s Lair.
Supposed to be shaped like a shield, the wood was split and hung at an angle above the entrance, the other nail long rotted through. The fire breathing dragon on it used to be green. It was chipped and half gone.

The stupid bartender swore he’d not seen Avril, either. Tynan had checked all his whores. Every last one was older and haggard; none could hold a candle to his wife.

In the very least, she was attractive. If she’d have been trying to work there selling her body, the other women wouldn’t have had it. She would’ve been tossed to the street for taking all their
clients.

He snorted. If she was trying her sweet little bottom at being a whore, Tynan would kill her. No matter where he ended up finding her. Then he’d demand her stupid father repay her dowry or he’d replace Avril with her younger sister.

A slow smile spread across his mouth. Perhaps that wasn’t such a bad idea. The girl was at least four and ten now, would have to be pretty, too, because she looked like her older sister.

He could have another virgin. Maybe the younger sister could do what Avril had not, and give him a son. Though his wife was the only one known to have magic in her family, it was in the blood, wasn’t it? Her sister’s son could be just like Avril.

“Let’s go, there’s nothing here,” he snarled at his steward.

“Aye, sire.” Harlan tied his horse to the back of Tynan’s coach and climbed into the driver seat.

“Take me to the
White Sage Pub.
”

“Sire?”

“We’re staying in Greenwald until we find her. She’s around here somewhere. I
will
find her and bring her home.”

****

The more Avril spoke, the more Leargan’s blood boiled. His blunt nails were biting into his palms as he squeezed tight fists, but that was about the only thing that kept his sword in its scabbard. He wanted to tear the bastard from limb to limb.

Ansley’s teal gaze and wide smile kept dancing into his mind, making him see even more red. Even the thought of someone hurting her like Avril had been hurt made him want to run something through. Leargan would
kill
anyone who’d attempt to hurt Ansley like that.