Ok people. you wanted a new chapter, you got one. took me awhile but got over the block. I tryed to make it longer but i htought this would be a good place to end
. thanks to
TikiDoll, Elf, Detzer, maxzhotand
tiredmuse who posted a comment and my beta and pain in the butt, best bud Starlight. enjoy!
Chapter 6
He could see it in her eyes. Still brimming with the passion from the night, they reflected the lust he was feeling himself. The urge just to drag her into a dark corner and ravish her right then and there was very hard to ignore.
“Have you broken fast yet?” he asked.
“Yes,” she replied as he took her arm and led her down the corridor. “In your…I mean, our room.”
He nodded absently as she spoke; his mind was on other things or at least other parts of her body. The way her full, rosy lips had surrendered to his, how her arms and legs had tighten around his body when he had first entered her. He shivered with pleasure at the thought of having her in his arms again tonight.
“Are you cold Michael?” Beth asked him. “The wind has gotten a little stronger out here. If you would like to go back in…” She gestured back towards the castle.
He shook himself out of his thoughts and realized Beth had leaded him out into the gardens to about the place where he had spotted her.
“Oh…no, no. Not cold at all. Unless you are?” he inquired hurriedly, not sure if she was using his shiver as an excuse or not but she shook her head.
They wandered farther. Michael in a stony silence with his hands locked behind his back. Beth copied his position after she fidgeted with her hands in boredom. What to say to him now? What would they talk of? Certainly she couldn’t bring up last night. She couldn’t just say, ‘Oh by the way, last night was fabulous and I think I might be falling in love with you.’ Yeah right. She inwardly shook her head.
She couldn’t seem to figure him out. At first she thought he was this stone wall, the next maybe even a loving human being and now he had turned back to stone. He was like the male Cinderella. During the day he was cold and distant, but at night, he was a prince. Maybe, she thought, he just needed to find his other glass slipper…
He could barely restraint himself. He could feel his pants growing tighter and the only way for him not to topple her to the ground in the bushes was to be as distant as possible. He had learned long ago not to let his emotions take over.
Michael looked over at her and she seemed to be copying him with her hands. She looked so serious with a contemplating look on her face. He realized that she wasn't like most women. Most women he knew were of ample, and more, bosom with wide, womanly hips and a short stature which made them come to about his shoulders, not even. But Beth, though she had some breasts, they were neither small nor overly large and her hips swung with an intoxicating swagger that made her all the more womanly and she could almost look him in the eye. A fire started burning intensely with each second that past of him watching her. He had never seen any other woman who he thought was as beautiful. But, of course, he told himself, she would never know he thought that.
He let out a small sigh and returned his gaze to the pathway. He didn’t know what to say to her. He didn’t know what she was interested in or what she would like to talk about. Actually, he thought, he never usually talked with women a lot…his situations with them never really included a lot of talking…
“MY LORD!”
Both Michael and Beth turned at the call and saw a scrawny young page running towards them.
“What is it boy?” asked Michael.
The boy stopped for breath, and replied in between them, “Your brother, milord, and your mother…they have arrived at the castle.”
“My brother? And my mother?” the boy nodded.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Beth stiffen. Of course she would be scared. Being faced with both his mother and his brother at the same time he could understand. So he placed a hand on her elbow and led her back towards the castle and placed a coin in the page’s hand. The boy bowed and rushed off ahead of them.
“Do not worry…”he whispered in her ear. “My mother is the salt of the earth and my brother doesn’t bite….much.”
Beth looked at him to find a hint of a smile and some amusement in his eyes. She relaxed her muscles and let him lead her back into the castle. But she found she was still scared. What if his mother hated her? What if she took one look at Beth and felt disgusted by her? And his brother. Was he really like Michael said?
She slipped her arm in his and felt almost calm just by feeling his arm around hers. But she could feel him tense a little when she did this and could feel him give her a quick glance before relaxing again.
As they rounded the corner, she could hear voices coming from one of the rooms. When they stepped inside, Michael let go of Beth and let her get swathed in a pair of arms. When she was released, she looked into a woman’s glowing eyes and smiling face.
“Beth! Welcome to the family!” the woman said and kissed her warmly on both cheeks.
She then let go and rushed to Michael. She was a woman with flowing silver hair, slender like a willow and silky brown eyes.
So, Beth thought, that is Michael’s mother
Chapter 7
“Mother,” Eden said as he embraced her. “What a pleasant surprise. And Zan.” He paused for a beat then continued to his brother. “Also a surprise.”
“Michael, you wouldn’t really think that I would miss meeting your bride while mother was here, now do you?” Zan said sleekly as he took Beth’s hand and kissed it. “Beth, lovely to meet you.”
Beth stared at him, seeing the remarkable resemblance between the brothers then hastily added a nod and a smile.
“And you.” She added in a whisper.
Michael glared at his younger brother, seeing the hunger in his eyes as he looked at Beth, keeping her hand in his for a minute too long for he’s liking. His mother, Serena, noticed this. She gripped his arm in warning. And the look in her eyes told him not to do anything he would regret later. Michael let his muscles un-tense, only slightly though. He knew better than to let his guard down with his brother around.
Beth glanced over at Michael, shooting him a pleading look to take his brother away. The look in his eyes unsettled her. He reminded her of an animal who had been starved half to death and had just been given some food. Her.
“Beth,” Michael whispered in her ear. She turned and found him right beside her. He gently pulled her away from Zan and put a possessive arm around her waist. “Let me introduce you to my younger brother Alexander.”
“But everyone in the family calls my Zan.” He interrupted. Michael gave him a scowl.
“And my mother, Serena.”
“But you MUST call me mother, Beth. We are family now.”
Serena came back to Beth and wrapped an affectionate arm around her waist, shooing Michael’s away. Beth returned the gesture and the warm smile that Serena gave her. She gently led Beth away from the men and seated her beside her on one of the couches occupying the room.
“Now, my dear daughter, I hope to hear that my son has been treating you properly. During the day AND night.” She paused her to take the cup of tea a servant offered her. “Although, you two being newlyweds and all, you have probably let day become night and….night still be night…”
“Mother!” Michael cried, taking a tentative step towards his mother and Beth, who was struggling to hide her laughter behind a fit of coughs.
Serena just sipped her tea while coolly watching her son.
Beth took one more minute before answering, “Of course mother. Michael has treated me very well.” Very, very, very well, she added to herself as she took a sip of tea. She could feel Michael’s sudden gaze on her at her remark but she chose to ignore him. Continuing to sip her tea, she risked a quick glance at both men. Zan had taken a seat in a chair by the unlit fireplace while her husband still stood where he had been except slightly closer, his arms crossed, watching her. She slid her gaze away and turned it to Serena, mother, she corrected herself, who was chattering away to anyone who was listening. She tried to concentrate on her.
“….The weather coming her was miraculous……roads were very muddy though…..”
Beth caught bits and pieces of Serena’s babbles. But the hairs on the back of her neck rose as she felt his stare on her. She looked towards Michael. But he was concentrating on his mother, nodding every so often and murmuring supporting words. She looked towards Zan. His leaned on the tips of his fingers and his gaze stared straight into her. The same animal look that she had seen before was still there, except stronger this time, like the food had been put just out of his reach. A smile curled the ends of his mouth, giving him an evil look, more so than before. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw his tongue dart out and lick his lips, making her start coughing again and almost tipping her tea onto her lap.
“My, my, are you all right Beth?” Serena asked.
Beth nodded quickly as Michael came around her and hit her on the back. She grabbed his hand to stop him and he looked in her eyes. A strange look was there.
“I think,” he started, taking her hand. “I think Beth is a little tired. Maybe I will escort you to our room. I’m feeling a little bit tired too, mother? Perhaps you should take a rest too, the long journey has probably worn you out…” he drifted off as Serena lifted her hand, a glimmer in her eyes.
“Dear Michael, I may be getting old, but a journey like that would not wear me out. Although I think I might go have a lie down anyways. Zan? Perhaps you shall escort me to my rooms? And then maybe you too shall rest? Although I doubt you need it. Probably full of energy as always.”
Serena continued blabbering to Zan as he led her out of the room down one direction of the corridor while Michael and Beth went in the other.
Michael took a quick glance behind them as Serena’s voice faded before he looked at Beth. She looked calmer now, that look gone from her eyes as far as he could tell.
She must’ve felt his gaze on her because she instantly looked up at him, then as if guilty, she looked back down and her cheeks became very flushed.
“Is something disturbing you my dear?” he inquired linking his hands behind his back. “My mother’s lewd joke? I hadn’t thought that it had disturbed you that much, what with that witty remark without so much as a blush, although you did have that awful coughing attack…” he left it at that.
Beth could hear the sarcasm in his voice. She dipped her head sheepishly, then raised it back up and returned his gaze.
“Yes I didn’t know I could cough that much in my life. Amazing really. Never coughed that much in my life.” God, she thought, that was such an idiotic reply. But she returned his gaze steadily and she watched as he tried to fight back a smile.
She had never seen him smile, she realized. Except for when she had first seen his face the night before.
They reached their room and Michael opened the door, letting her step in first. He closed it quietly, following her every move.
She almost crept around the room, first going over to the chairs by the gently glowing fireplace then casting a gaze out the windows and stopping beside the giant four-poster bed. She just stopped, her expression resembling one of a person who had just woken up from a dream. Or maybe just stepping into one, Michael contemplated.
Beth looked up at him, her sleepy expression still there. He gave her a little half smile.
“Must I really take a nap? I’m not that tired…” she stated. It almost sounded more like a child than a woman. He shook his head.
“Not if you don’t want to. I only said that as an excuse because you were looking a little…how can I describe it…scared?” Her sleepy look vanished and her eyes took on a seriousness that began made Michael hate himself for bringing her to their bedroom.
Awkwardly she asked, “Then what shall we do? Your mother and brother will likely wonder why we aren’t taking naps if we leave here...”
Beth’s simple question almost triggered him. He gulped softly and thought of a suitable answer. Instead he stumbled on words.
Beth hid her laughter behind her hand as he mumbled mixed up words at her innocent remark. Obviously he had been thinking the same thing as she had been all day. She was surprised at the flush that came over his cheeks as he mumbled more word and then finally gave up and turned away from her to sit in one of the chairs. She smiled, and sneaked towards him. He didn’t hear her until she stepped right up behind him and put her hands on each of his shoulders. His intake of breath insured her that he knew she was there and that he was reacting to her touch. She let her fingers play along his shoulders, letting them run across the muscles that stretched taunt along them and rubbed them gently. He let out a soft groan as she worked magic on them.
Beth smiled and splayed her hands out on his broad chest, leaning her head close to his, close enough to hear each of his breaths and close enough for him to feel the warmth of her breath whisper across his cheek.
“Your muscles feel so tense…” she whispered. He murmured what she took as a yes and sighed softly. Her smile widened. Bringing each of her hands up the sides of his neck, she stopped and just let her hands feel his pulse, the bumps and contours of his neck and the prickles of his unshaved skin. She leaned her head on the top of his and closed her eyes, taking in the smell of him. Fresh and clean, with a subtle hint of forest and horses. A masculine smell that made him all the more attractive. She started rubbing her thumbs along his jaw line and felt as he arched his neck more and more, letting her bring her lips to his forehead.
His hands reached up for hers, trying to make them stop this torture. Micheal brought her around to face him and sat her on the lap, making her turn her face towards him. She stared at him, the sleepy look back in her eye. He brought her face closer and gently kissed each eyelid.
She kept both her eyes closed, not wanting to know what would happen next. He eased his hands up to her face and let them wander around. Smoothing her cheekbones with his thumbs, erasing the thoughtful lines in her forehead with his indexes, and running his pinkies over her jaw. It was her turn to sigh now.
He had never been this gentle or thoughtful with a woman before. But then again, he had never known real affection or marriage. Only the common village whores to satisfy whatever need he had. But they never would want a loving caress or a tender kiss. Just to be done in the bed, to be paid and then leave, knowing they’d be under the laird’s protection.
When Beth had first laid her hands on him, he thought she was going to be the same. That she had come to start undressing him, but instead she had melted him with her hands, exploring his back and chest then his face. The smooth plains of her face, the creaminess of her skin. And she was trusting him with her face. He wondered if she would trust him with her body too…
Beth wanted to melt against him. Simple as that. His touch made her feel light headed and she could feel a fire building deep in the pit of her stomach. His fingers brushed gently up and down her neck while feathering kisses along her jaw line. A moan escaped her, making Michael pause for a brief moment then to nudge his nose against the hollow of her throat, bringing another moan up in her throat. His breath was ragged and hot against her. She shifted on his lap so she could face him more; she swung one leg over and hitched her skirt up around her thighs. Innocently, she shifted closer to him, feeling the hard bump of him jolt against her inner thighs.
Michael ran his fingers along the creamy softness of her thighs and down over her knees to her calves. He nuzzled his face more into her neck and she let her head drop back and then brought it forward again to gasp into his hair. She raked her fingers through his hair, letting him hold her in the crook he made with his body and trail his fingers along her legs. But when he ran his fingers up the sides of her waist, Beth let out a little giggle. He stopped, and then looked up at her. His quizzical gaze made her giggle even more.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, bringing his arms around her and pulling her closer.
She giggled one last time then gave him a sober face and replied, “You tickled me.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I tickled you?” He repeated. She nodded. “When?”
“When you brought your hands up my sides.” She bit her lip to keep from laughing all over again at the memory.
“When I brought my hands up your sides…like this?” He ran his
fingers up and she squirmed, biting her lip harder. “Ah. I shall try not to tickle you again then.” And with that, he kissed her to stop her giggles as he tickled her again.
all the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players...
