The Fragrance of Her Name (32 page)

Lauryn swallowed hard, brushing the tears from her cheeks.

"That's enough for now," she whispered softly reaching out and taking his face gently in her hands. She'd learned, too, from volunteering that just as there was a time to let a soldier talk, there was time a he needed to stop. They could talk themselves into the deepest despair if they weren't reminded that beauty had returned to them. Beauty, love, hope and good things. Many times Lauryn would sneak a sweet, playful puppy or kitten into the hospital. Always, she was amazed at how the little bundles of fur and slobber would brighten the men's faces. She wished she had something up her sleeve now. Something to bring Brant back to Tennessee and the beauty all around him. But all she had was herself. In the next moment, it seemed to be enough.

As he turned his face toward her, his eyes opened, and the tears in them, the pain was almost too much to bear. Never had Lauryn seen such pain expressed in a man’s eyes. But as he looked at her, the slightest of grins captured his lips and he said, "You were the first thing I saw after my injury…after the fighting. After the darkness of war and blindness…the very first thing I saw, so light and bright and sweet, and for that moment I remembered why I went. What I was fighting for.” Lauryn smiled at him and her heart leapt at the knowledge he'd given her. Simultaneously, as she released his face and brushed at his still damp cheeks with the gentleness of her fingers, he raised one hand and wiped the tears from one of her cheeks with the back of his hand. The spontaneity of the simultaneous gesture broadened his grin, and Lauryn could sense leaving Europe and coming back to Tennessee. "It's one reason I kissed you that day on the train."

Lauryn blushed and cast her eyes to the ground for an instant, not wanting him to read the pure delight she experienced each time the memory came to her. He stretched his arms over his head momentarily before lying back down on the picnic blanket with his hands at the back of his head.

“
And it was so worth it…the chance I took in molesting you,” he chuckled.

“
You’ve never molested me,” she giggled. “You’re so funny about that.”

“
Oh, but I have,” he assured her. “You just don’t remember it because you were sleeping.”

Instantly Lauryn began flipping through her mental pages of memory. Whatever was he referring to? Surely she’d remember being molested by Brant Masterson. Asleep even.

“
You’re teasin’ again,” she sighed.

“
I’m not,” he assured her.

“
When then?” she demanded shoving at his side. He smiled, his mood lightening quickly. “Recently.”

“
How recently?” She had to know what he was teasing about.

“
A few days ago,” he confessed. “That night we were up late reading the Captain’s letters in the attic.”

Lauryn remembered that night well. How could she forget those moments alone with Brant? But she didn’t remember ever being molested.

“
What kind of ‘molested’ do you mean?” she asked him. “Do you mean
molested
as in…”

“
As in making improper advances toward you,” he answered.

“
Oh,” Lauryn said, still puzzled. “Improper advances…as in
improper advances
or simply improper advances.”

He laughed and sat up. “There’s a difference?” he said smiling. “You’re nervous about it, huh?”

“
No,” she lied.

“
You are, too,” he argued playfully.

“
You tell me right now, Brant Masterson, what in the world you’re talkin’ about!” she demanded jumping to her feet and stomping her foot.

“
Oooo! I’ve got your dander up now, don’t I?” He was completely amused, and she was getting more and more upset with each passing moment. What could he possibly be talking about?

He stood up then, taking her shoulders between his strong hands.

“
Here,” he instructed. “I’ll show you. Close your eyes like you’re asleep.” Lauryn raised one eyebrow distrustingly. “Come on. Don’t you trust me?”

“
You’ve just confessed to making improper advances toward me in my sleep. Now you want me to trust you?” she reminded him.

“
Come on, now. Just close your eyes.” Lauryn closed her eyes. After all, she must know what it was that he did. “Now,” he continued in a low, whisper. “Sigh.”

“
Sigh?” Lauryn asked, her eyes popping open.

“
Close your eyes, sugar,” he demanded again. “And sigh.” Lauryn closed her eyes and sighed. “No, no, no,” he chuckled. “Close your eyes and sigh through your mouth.”

Shrugging her shoulders in irritation, Lauryn did as she was instructed. But her eyes sprung open immediately when she felt the moisture of his mouth blend with her own for just an instant.

She took a step back from him, completely thrilled and yet entirely surprised. He smiled and winked at her.

“
You see,” he mumbled. “I made improper advances toward you when you were sleeping the other night.” Lauryn felt the blush rise to her cheeks. “I told you that certain things tasted great here. And I wasn’t talking about your Mama’s chicken.”

Lauryn was alarmed. Her mind and her body’s reaction to Brant were telling her that she was not strong enough to have him! He was some all powerful, perfect man that could completely control her if he ever chose to do so. Her heart raced madly, ached with the regret of not having been awake when he’d ‘improperly advanced’ upon her in the attic. Her body hurt to be in his arms. Her mouth watered for want of his kiss. And yet, at the same time, she was afraid of him.

“
I’ll tell you what, sugar,” he whispered as his hands went to her waist and pulled her closer to him once more. “I’ll let you come into my room and make advances like that toward me any time you want to. Okay? Then we’ll be even.” His smile was no less than entirely seductive. “Hell, I’ll let you do it right here and now.” He quickly sat down on the grass pulling her down next to him. “Sorry,” he whispered his usual insincere apology for swearing in front of her.

Lauryn was entranced, unable to argue or even comprehend immediately what was happening. Furthermore, she knew she was helpless in resisting him. She didn’t want to resist him!

Taking hold of her wrist, he lay back in the grass, pulling her arm across his chest, forcing her to lay next to him. Lauryn tried to pull away from him, but the hypnotic quality of his gaze, his strength and her desire to be close to him were clouding her ability to act rationally.

Brant’s free hand went to her head and he pulled her face toward his. “Come on, Lauryn,” he whispered smiling mischievously. “I’ve misbehaved. Molesting you in your sleep! What a cad I am. I deserve your revenge. An eye for an eye and all that.”

She was frightened, his poor little pixie. He could more than just sense it. Hesitation and fearful inexperience were written across her blushing cheeks as clearly as if the words had actually been tattooed there. But Brant had noticed something about Lauryn Kensington, and he’d use it to his own advantage now. And to hers.

He had come to realize that Lauryn was not unlike Samson, in a manner. Her hair, the way she wore it, often determined her strength, her demeanor. Brant had noted the fact since he’d come back to Connemara. And now, his theory would be put to the ultimate test.

Reaching out, he tugged at the pin holding Lauryn’s hair in a loose knot at the back of her head. Immediately, her long, nutmeg ringlets cascaded down about his face and across his chest. He shuddered at their softness on his flesh, and the good man in him tried to argue the need for self-control with the devil in him who was nearly winning over. He knew he shouldn’t be doing it; corrupting his sweet friend. But she was too beautiful. Too compassionate and kind. Too funny and caring. Too, delicious! He had to kiss her.
Really
kiss her. Just once he had to drink from her lips, savor her mouth, feel her body held tightly in his arms. He thought for a moment that, perhaps his little Tennessee pixie was, indeed, just that…a fairy sprite with some magical power that was weaving a spell around him. Just once, he told himself. Just once he’d have a real kiss from her. Something to fill his memory and dreams.

His theory did, indeed, prove accurate. For immediately after her hair was unpinned, Lauryn’s eyes began to burn with a vixen’s passion instead of an innocent’s fear.

Lauryn smiled as Brant caught a strand of her hair in his mouth and tugged at it with his teeth for a moment. He couldn’t be real and she had to be dreaming. She’d heard of men like this before…men who could seduce a woman into acting completely out of her rational mind. But she never believed any really existed. At least, not until she’d met Brant.

“
Don’t be afraid of me, Lauryn,” he mumbled. “You’ve kissed me before.”

Lauryn lost her balance as Brant took her face between his capable hands and pulled her closer. Her palms pressed against the warm, solid contours of his chest and her heart beat so madly that she thought it might burst! Her face was so close to his that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her lips as he spoke.

“
You see,” he whispered. “All you have to do…” and he brushed her lips very lightly with his own for a moment. “Is that.” Again he kissed her tenderly. Kissed her so softly that, had it not been for the incredible thrill traveling through her being, she would not have been sure he actually had kissed her.

She was still frightened. He could sense it. Lauryn was uncertain of herself. No doubt she was very inexperienced, which only served to further fan Brant’s devilish delight in ensnaring her. She needed tutoring, he knew. And he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable with him. He wanted her to trust him, know that he would calm her fears. He did not want her to feel, in any way, embarrassed for her sweet naivety.

And so, without further pause, he rolled her onto her back and leaned over her dominantly. He wouldn’t toy with her anymore. He’d simply kiss her.

Lauryn sighed when Brant buried his hands in her hair for a moment, gazing down into her face. His eyes were narrowed, his grin simply impish.

“
Here,” he mumbled. “I’ll show you.” He kissed her again, more lingering this time and far more firmly. It was heavenly! Like floating in the most delightful of dreams.

“
Are you afraid of me?” he asked, unexpectedly. Lauryn looked up at him, completely puzzled by his question. She didn’t want to answer questions. She wanted him to kiss her. Of course, he
had
kissed her. But she knew with every thread of her existence that these kisses were only infantile compared to what he was capable of administering.

“
How…how do you mean?” she stammered breathlessly.

“
Are you scared of me?” he repeated.

How could she possibly answer? Of course she was scared of him! Scared nearly to death. After all, he was breaking her heart without even knowing it. He was intoxicating! He was powerfully intimidating. What woman on earth wouldn’t be scared of him?

“
I’m not scared of you,” Lauryn insisted.

“
Oh, really?” he mumbled. “Then stop trembling.”

“
I’m not,” she managed to argue, in a whisper and knowing full well she trembled violently as he leaned over her.

“
You are,” he insisted. “Why?”

“
I’m not scared of you,” she told him. “It’s just that you’re…you’re just very intimidatin’ some times.”

“
Why?”

Lauryn had difficulty breathing for a moment. She found it hard to look at anything other than his seductive smile, his mouth. What should she answer him? The truth? That he was so perfect, so strong, handsome, clever? That she was afraid she’d never be able to find any sort of happiness in life without him? Of course she couldn’t tell him the truth!

“
You’re…you’re tall,” she stammered.

He smiled. “I’m tall?” he repeated. “That’s why you’re scared of me?”

“
I’m not scared of you,” Lauryn insisted.

Brant brushed her lips lightly with his thumb and Lauryn noticed the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

“
That’s good,” he mumbled. “I don’t want you to be scared of me.” Then he bent, caressing her cheek with his kiss.

Lauryn thought she would completely lose consciousness! Here was a man who was incredibly gifted in wooing a woman. Just the look in his eyes nearly melted her like butter in a hot skillet. And, she feared she was powerless to resist him. Yet, he was a gentleman, wasn’t he? A man who thought that stealing some sort of a kiss while she was asleep had constituted molestation.

“
Let’s put it to the test, shall we?” he whispered. “Let’s see if I can get past your being intimidated because…because I’m so tall,” he chuckled. As he kissed her neck softly Lauryn’s body was covered in a delightful tingle, and she knew he was well aware of why she was scared of him.

“
What?” she squeaked.

“
We talk, you and me,” he mumbled as he kissed her cheek once more. “We laugh. We discuss this miserable mystery until we’re nearly sick. But you do all that with the Captain, too, don’t you?”

Lauryn didn’t answer; she was too bewitched by him. He kissed her shoulder then, and even though her blouse covered her flesh, she could feel the warmth of his lips there and she shuddered delightfully.