Lady X

“Good,” he said and suddenly his hands were on her waist, bringing her closer in one easy swift move.

She was ready for his kiss this time. She had been hoping and yearning for another kiss from him. When it came, it sparked something inside of her that exploded and shot through her entire being and into his. Did he feel it? Her inner witch was screaming at her, yes—this man—now!

He leaned back and away from her lips, as though the shock of what they had just experienced had burned him. “Och lass, but…” and his mouth was on hers again, his tongue finding and caressing hers, as his kiss gave birth to another and yet another until they both could not breathe. Once again, he pulled away to hold her from him and stared at her. “Exerilla,” his voice was hushed as though seeing her for the first time.

Her magic had taken over who she was and made her what she was. She had never had that happen with anyone before. She was twenty-one, and had an amazing kiss or two in her time, but this kiss…was different.

His kiss had pulled on her White Magic and bombarded it with his own brand of lusty rapture and had spilled into every vein, into her heart, her mind, and right down into all that she had ever wanted and made what she felt a living entity. Her witch had chosen him. What the hell was going on?

She couldn’t speak as he removed her white damp blouse and pulled away her lacey under-clothes to expose her breasts. She reveled in his deft handling, in the way he played with her nipples and her heart urged her on, as her body insisted she take from him as she allowed him to take.

What was she doing? Over and over, the same question. She was falling for someone she couldn’t have for so many reasons. This would end with her in misery, but for now, she had these moments and she damn well couldn’t give them up.

She wasn’t thinking, only feeling as she pulled away his billowy white shirt and exposed his hard rippled body. She saw unusual tattoos on his left shoulder and both biceps and traced her finger over the intricate details. Something was familiar about his tattoos, but she couldn’t think about that as he removed her skirt, allowing it to drop to the floor.

She kicked off her riding boots, he pulled away her remaining underclothes and then he held her naked body away from him and whispered, “Exerilla, ye are the most beautiful woman I have ever beheld.”

He had her in his arms and as he kissed her neck, went lower to suckle at her nipples; she threw back her head and whispered his name, “Hunter.”

“Aye, say it, lass, say my name,” he growled and the sound was primal.

This was so unlike the woman she had become. This was someone she hadn’t known was buried inside of the girl. She just didn’t tumble into the sack with guys. In fact, she had been a virgin for quite a long time, until Stevie. He had been mortal, with mortal failings and one day she woke up and knew it hadn’t all been his fault. Lost, she told herself, you are so lost. She had no answers; all she knew was what she felt and what she felt was need beyond her understanding.

He was out of his boots and breeches and standing before her and Exerilla discovered he was supersized. She stared for a moment. He was reaching for her and she was breathing hard and ready.

What happened next, took her breath away.

What happened next was a shower of cold water as it splashed over her and from every direction.

She stood alone; naked as the frigid sensation swept over her. She opened her eyes and saw him standing naked at the window. He was pure gold.

He turned and put a finger to his lips as he whispered, “Get dressed, and hurry, lass. He is still a distance and hasn’t seen our horses yet. I’ll go get them saddled, hurry out the back door”

She blinked because one of the first things she noticed was the speed with which he managed to slip into his clothes. How could he already have his clothes on? How had he heard anyone approach?

He was gone in a flash.

Time for magic, she thought as she threw on her damp clothes, with a minor blink, and hoped the magic had been minor enough. She hadn’t needed to use her wand, so she was fairly certain her father would not be able to trace such a small spell to her.

She rushed to take a quick glance out the window. She couldn’t see anyone, but her witch senses picked up on the approach of a rider. She dare not use stronger magic to discover who it was.

She wasn’t sure how Hunter had known someone was coming, he must have heard something. She had been lost to him and had not heard anything but his breathing. She sighed to think he had obviously not been as taken by their connection as she. She noticed that the fire in the grate had burned out. Not only burned out, but looked as though it had never been there. How very odd. She shrugged it off, and rushed out the back door to meet him.

A moment later, they were on their horses and racing madly toward Horwich House.

“Who was it, Hunter—was it Sir Jacob?”

“No, I am not sure. I couldn’t see more than a dark figure riding directly toward the woods along the edge of the trail to the cottage. There is no saying whether or not he would find the cottage, but no sense taking chances, lass.”

She saw the dark frown on his face and asked, “Do you think it was someone from Horwich House?”

He cast a long look at her, “Is that what ye think?”

She shook her head, “David Horwich seems to think I should not visit the stables at Cressly Towe rs”

His lordship smiled but no warmth was emitted from that smile as he said, “Does Horwich bother ye in any other manner?”

She frowned, “Nothing I can’t handle.”