Desire (Notorious 3)

He pressed his fingers to her lips. “No more regrets about the past. We have only the future ahead of us.”

His arms encircled her once more, and she reciprocated, relishing his embrace. For a long moment they simply held each other, until Lucian broke the silence with a quiet question.

“Brynn, will you come away with me?”

“Come away with you? Where?”

“I thought the castle in Wales, the one I gave you as a belated wedding gift.”

Pulling back, Brynn glanced up at him, trying not to leap to conclusions. “Why?” she asked, feigning lightness. “You want to incarcerate me there to keep me from committing treason again? ”

“Not in the least. You said I don’t know you well, and it’s true. But I want that chance to know you, Brynn, and for you to know me. We need time to explore each other, time for love and trust to build. If we were to go away together, we could have that time. It could be a new start for our marriage.”

“But what of your duty? You have yet to apprehend Caliban.”

“I’ve come to realize you’re far more important to me than apprehending traitors. There will likely be a lull in his treachery in any case. We dealt a blow to his ring tonight, and he will have to reorganize. I’m not proposing we live there forever, merely visit for a few weeks.”

“I should like that,” she said softly. “A new beginning.”

The smoldering look in his eyes made her breath catch.

He bent his head to kiss her, to seal their pledge. Fire flowed between them as their lips met, fire and want and need.

Lucian felt himself tremble with it. Fierce desire burned through him, desire that had nothing to do with any curse.

They would make a new beginning, Lucian vowed solemnly. Yet this time he would earn Brynn’s love. He would prove himself worthy of her. And he wouldn’t rest till he had wholly won the enchantress who had enslaved his heart and soul.

Epilogue

Gwyndar, Wales, October 1813

A half smile playing on his lips, Lucian watched his countess cavort in the sun-warmed tidal pool. They had arrived in Wales two weeks ago at the castle that had been his wedding gift to her.

Gwyndar was a place of strange enchantment, with its crystalline caves and secret coves and cascading waterfalls, but until now Lucian had never appreciated the beauty. By some quirk of nature and ocean currents, the climate of this northern stretch of Welsh coast was as temperate as southern England; newborn lambs and rare butterflies thrived here. And despite the lateness of the year, this was a particularly glorious afternoon, drenched with sunshine, caressed by the mildest of sea breezes.

He and Brynn had discovered the sandy cove during their first exploration of the castle environs. Although the tidal pool was heated by the sun’s rays, it still wasn’t warm enough for Lucian to brave the water, yet Brynn seemed to relish the chill. She was part sea siren, he was convinced.

She was his heart. She had insinuated herself so deeply into his soul that he could no longer fathom living without her.

The past weeks had been a new beginning for them, just as he’d hoped. Since nearly losing each other, their time together seemed infinitely more precious. They had spent the magical hours here becoming true lovers, exploring each other’s thoughts, sharing secrets and hot sultry kisses, making love wherever and whenever they could, falling deeper in love…

Lucian marveled at the depth of his feelings for Brynn. He had never expected to be overwhelmed by the power of love, so shaken by passion. He had never imagined finding anyone who set his heart afire, a temptress who met his passion with her own and left him gasping. A soul mate who completed him.

“You should join me, Lucian,” Brynn called teasingly, interrupting his thoughts.

His mouth curled. He had stripped down to his breeches, but that was far enough for his taste. “I’m not mad enough to swim in that icy water. Your gooseflesh must be the size of mountains.”

“You will have to warm me, then.”

Across the stretch of sand, he met the brilliant sparkle of her emerald eyes and felt lust and love surge through him. “Come here, siren, and I will.”

She emerged from the water, her flaming hair cascading wildly around her naked breasts, seawater foaming around her calves. Lucian’s breath faltered at the beguiling sight.

His gaze sweeping every tempting curve of her body, he rose and went to her. His very hands burned with the need to touch her.

His arms slipped about her waist, catching her close, crushing her soft breasts against his bare chest. “This reminds me of the first time I saw you. I thought you were a fantasy…” His voice grew husky as he stared down into her eyes that were translucent pools of green. “You still are. I dream of you like this now… fiery, vibrant, sensual… mine.”

Her soft smile held an erotic allure. “I am no fantasy, Lucian,” she responded, reaching up to slip her arms around his neck. “I am flesh and blood-and just at this moment I am about to turn into an icicle. Didn’t you promise to warm me? You are gravely neglecting your obligations.”