First Thirst (Craving 1)

Damn, but as I walked beside her, she spoke so quietly I had to bend to hear her and all I could think about was touching her full breasts. As she moved, one breast slipped out of her bodice and her nipple was taut and pink, and I stared.

She stopped, and said as she held it towards me, “Touch me if you want.”

I did, though I had a sudden urge to run. Now, I know why that was, instinct, but then, I thought it was because I was sure this was all moving too fast. I make it a rule to never take advantage of women. I have empathy for their position when they are unprotected in our society. It occurred to me, in spite of her forward manner, that she was alone and perhaps vulnerable. I didn’t want to do anything to her she might regret.

However, she put a stop to all such considerations.

She took m’hand and put it on her breast and I caved.

I was reckless and hungry and I fondled her, pulled at her nipple and teased her, pleased to hear her gasp with pleasure.

I bent m’head and got into position to suckle her exquisite perky pinks, but even as I heard her groan, she pushed me away and whispered, “No, not here. When we get to my room, I will give you a night you will never forget.”

She moved against me, making m’body ache for her…and even so, a warning light went off in m’brain. Something I couldna name, call it m’gut. I was, in spite of my hunger for her, wary in a way I had never experienced with any woman before. Again, something whispered in m’head—run!

I have asked m’self since that night, Devin, what were ye thinking? I wasn’t.

I ignored the instinct I should have followed. Och aye, and I led her towards the inn at a slow pace and tried to keep up a steady stream of conversation. She wasn’t very talkative, except to tell me she was about to fuck me to death.

That shut me up, as I had rarely heard a woman say anything close to that and I have had a bawdy wench or two in m’day.

It was a particularly dark night. There was no moon to light our way, but we made the walk undeterred. All the while I couldna shake the feeling that something was off about her, and about her story.

“As soon as we get to the inn, I’ll send a groom with a wagon to fetch yer maid and yer luggage,” I said as we passed the stables of the small inn.

She smiled up at me and whispered, “How kind you are.” She stood on her toes and kissed me then, hard…our first kiss and when she pulled away she told me, “My name is Allora Brently and I am on my way to Brently Manor. You will remember that when you awake.”

I was surprised again. Brently Manor had been abandoned years ago and had stood empty. When I awake? What did she mean by that? I supposed she wanted me to remember her. I said, because I knew Brently was in near ruins, “But…surely the old manor is not in any condition to receive ye?”

“Ah, but it will be in good time.”

“Time?” I scoffed. “Och, lass, it will take a great deal of time and…work. The place is in disrepair.” I felt some concern for her. After all, she was a woman, and it seemed without male protection.

“When one has time, it is of no consequence, you see,” she said and added, “have you ever thought what it might be like to be young and beautiful for all time?”

“Nae, it isn’t possible,” I answered. “So why think about it.”

“Because it is. It is very possible,” she said, and pressed up against me. “How old are you, sir?”

“I am about to turn five and twenty,” I said smiling. “M’birthday is next week.”

“Well then,” she said, “’tis time, Lord Devon of MacLeod…for you to grasp life with a fever and never let go.” Her arms went around my neck as she kissed me again, and it was a kiss of desperation and hunger.

I was taken by her kisses, by her touch, and was quite off balance.

Something about her intensity…about the blood she drew from my bottom lip as her teeth grazed over it, made me want to get her safely inside the inn and turn away for home. Aye, m’body ached to lie with her, ram m’self into her, but m’brain clicked off a warning I couldna deny.

The pretty, lively Sue was all the body I needed that night, m’logic drilled into me just in that moment.

I was not enamored with Allora Brently, and in fact, I felt wary now, more than I had during our walk towards the inn. Something was off about her…something about her repulsed me.

I took her into the inn and under the disapproving eye of the innkeeper, acquired a key for a room abovestairs and started to hand it to her.

“Walk me up,” she said.

I wanted to refuse, but felt compelled to do as she asked. M’brain said nae, yet I followed her upstairs.

“Look at me,” Allora said after she closed the door and leaned back against it. “Look deep into my eyes, Devin, and listen to me.”