Chapter Thirteen

Rosamunde rolled over in the large bed, completely warm and cozy. Outside the wind slammed into the window but for the first time in longer than she could remember, she had no rush to get up from the luxury she would love to get used to.

Seconds later, guilt smashed into her. She shouldn’t be enjoying this. Her family wasn’t comfortable like this. They were in a cold house, scraping by.

“No, I’m not family. As they so love to remind me, I’m nothing more than a means to an end.” She sat up, the heavy comforter around her breasts as she gazed about the darkened room.

Unsure of the time, she knew it was still pre-dawn. The snow and wind continued to smack against the window, however unlike in her childhood home, she wasn’t shivering under the blankets. A soft glow came from the fireplace, informing her there were some embers there that just needed to be coaxed up a bit.

After taking care of that herself, she held her hands out to the flames and sighed. Perhaps this weekend was the exact thing she’d needed. Cleaning herself up quickly, she smoothed her hand down a new day dress and cracked open the door to her room.

Darkness met her but she didn’t care. She’d made a mental note of the steps between her room and the stairs—a habit brought on by the house she’d grown up in, especially on the days when she’d bolted from her room trying to escape her sisters. Counting had been her way to ensure she didn’t stumble down the staircase. As she made it down to the first floor, a maid walked up to her.

“Good morning, Miss Fletcher.”

“Morning.”

“If you’d like to break your fast, we have food ready.”

Her stomach growled and she flushed, pressing her hand over her belly. The maid merely gestured up the hall. Her mind raced with a million and one thoughts, most of which circled around why they had food ready at this hour.

An answer she received the moment she stepped into the room.

Bryn.

He lifted his head when she walked in, raked his gaze over her then focused back on the plate in front of him.

She faltered, not wanting to interrupt his meal. And for the purely simple fact that looking at him made her mind blank and her words scramble to form coherent sentences. Especially when it was only the two of them.

Like now.

Sure, he sat at the table, but there wasn’t any way to hide the power this man contained within him. Something wild and untamable lingered beneath the surface, she could see it as sure as she could see snow on the ground from her room window. It was part of his makeup.

Coiled. Always alert. Dangerous.

Yet I still want permission to pet him.

His white shirt stretched taut over broad shoulders and muscled arms in a way she wasn’t used to seeing. For sure, the men in her household didn’t have that issue. He didn’t have a hat on, so she was able to take in the jet-black hair that he’d not contained in a queue and subsequently floated around his shoulders, the ends having a slight curl to them, like they were still wet strands and didn’t want to disturb his skin with something so menial as dampness.

She swallowed hard and scrunched her toes within her house slippers, determined not to make an ass out of herself.

“Apologies, my lord. I didn’t mean to disturb.”

The door clicked behind her and she realized they were still completely alone. Even more now, given the maid had made herself scarce.

“Sit down, Rosamunde. Get some food and join me.” He lifted his head and she sucked in a sharp breath at the intensity simmering in his blue eyes.

She didn’t move, simply stared back at him. Without releasing her gaze, he sat up, draped an arm over the back of his chair and gave her a lazy grin. Behind the material of his shirt, his muscles flexed as he shifted while watching her.

One grin I suppose he gives to all the women he flirts with.

“You’re not scared to be alone with me, are you, lioness?”

Most definitely. Because I find myself liking you more and more with every interaction we have.

Lifting her chin, she went to the sideboard and picked a small portion of potatoes and a single pastry. At the table, she set her plate down and had moved to pull out her chair, when he was suddenly up and beside her.

“Hell no.”

Eyes wide, she stepped back, stumbling until he wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her flush to him. His eyes dropped to her lips and back up.

“You need to eat more than this, baby. I imagine I’ll have to fill a plate for you every day.” He set her on her feet. “And you’re sitting next to me. I don’t want to yell across the table. “

He walked away and piled up her plate to his satisfaction. She had just sat in the chair beside his when he returned and placed it in front of her with a thump. He’d loaded it with meats, fruits, breads and more.

“I don’t need to eat this much. My—”

“Don’t argue, eat.”

Eat? She was still trying to interpret his statement about doing it every day.

He sat with far more grace than a man his size should. A forkful of food paused on the way to his mouth before he moved it before her, the delicious aroma from it causing her belly to clench.

“Unless you’d like me to feed you.”

Those damn blue eyes burned with a heat she’d feel for years to come. Bryn waggled his eyebrows at her. Her stomach repeated the action for an entirely different reason this time. Because…yes! She would love to have him feed her.

“I’d love to show you how much fun we could have feeding one another.”

Telling her body to calm down, she centered herself, aware once again—after a fashion—he was teasing her. She leaned closer to him.

“I’ve been using utensils for a lot of years on my own now.”

He brushed the back of his hand down the side of her face. “Baby, it’s not about using a fork, but my fingers, sliding in and out of your mouth, having them get slick with your—”

She slapped a hand over his mouth, skin hotter than she could recall. Squealing when he flicked his tongue along her palm, she shook her head.

“You have got to stop talking like that.”

“Why? You’re wanting me to set you up with someone to show you pleasure.”

She cleared her throat.

“We also need to get the details figured out while you’re here this weekend. I head for America soon and I want to make sure I’ve held up my end of the bargain.” He inched closer to her. “And that you’re satisfied. ”

She whimpered. An indulgent chuckle left him.

His lids lowered and she stared at his insanely long, curved lashes. How did a man look so flipping handsome? She wanted to touch him, learn him. Enjoy him.

With his knuckles, he nudged her plate toward her. “Eat.”

She’d barely taken her first bite when the door opened and the rest of the younger ones crowded in, already talking and laughing. Rosamunde watched them interact as they all filled their plates and sat down around the table.

Keely winked at her as she claimed a seat across from Rosamunde. “I see you’re up as early as we are. I hope my brother is being nice to you.”

“Of course. He is polite as always.”

The entire room erupted in laughter. Bryn gave them all a rude gesture, which had Rosamunde snickering behind her hand. He snapped his gaze to her.

“Are you laughing at me too, lioness?”

Rosamunde rolled her lower lip before shrugging and nodding. “Yes.”

A bark of laughter escaped him at her honesty. The sight of a light flush moving up her smooth skin kicked him in the groin and he adjusted himself, watching her. Realizing he had a huge problem when it came to Miss Fletcher, he took a deep breath and forced his gaze away.

Unfortunately, that put his gaze on Falcon, who watched him with a knowing, not to mention smug, expression. It was when he didn’t smirk however, that Bryn felt a kernel of fear unravel within him.

Fear? What the hell do I have to fear?

The second his subconscious flashed an image of Rosamunde he stopped it, not willing to accept what his brain was trying to tell him.

He was leaving for America and that was final.

His eyes drifted back to his right, to the woman who had taken up permanent residence in his brain once more. She laughed with Elonne, her smile doing strange things to his stomach and heart.

Damn it .

After they finished eating, all of them headed out to the entryway and dressed warmly to go outside in the cold. More snow fell but it was much like they were young kids again, playing in the snow, tossing balls at one another and making angels.

Pride filled him at his family including Rosamunde, not treating her like spun glass and giving her the same snowballs to the face everyone else got. He stood on the sidelines as those he considered siblings played with Isabella’s children.

In his periphery, he noticed Rosamunde heading toward the tree line. Where are you off to, lioness?

It wasn’t a problem, she was always welcome to walk around Heartstone. Canting his head to the side, he watched her walk through the snow. It had to near the tops of her black boots.

Were her feet warm enough?

“You could always follow and ask her.”

Fuck.

His father stood next to him, arms crossed and legs spread as he braced against the wind as it ticked up its speed. Dark hair streaked with gray stirred from the gusts whipping around them, but his father still moved with the ease of a younger man.

“It shouldn’t matter to me, Papa.”

“But it does, more than you are ready to admit to yourself.”

Bryn nodded, not even bothering to attempt to hide that he was following her with his gaze. “I’m leaving and she’s engaged.”

A low rumble emerged from his father. “Against her wishes because her father is a damn fool who put his own needs and desires above those of his family.”

“Not all that different from the majority of those in the upper crust.” Bryn shifted a bit to keep her in his sight.

A deep sigh. “Trust me, son, I’m all too aware of that. But this man is ignoring the fact that he’s the one who cheated on his wife. I know, also not uncommon, but then he had her pass Rosamunde off as hers, only to turn his back on her now, because his wife refused to sacrifice any of her daughters. And he won’t do anything to his heir.”

Bryn didn’t speak again, merely walked away and after Rosamunde. A low thrum of laughter followed him briefly only to be swept away in the wind and he shook his head.

Of course his father would find this amusing.

This place was stunning. She’d barely gotten anywhere but her heart pounded from the majestic view. The landscape was covered in ice and snow, wind whistled through the bare trees and it should have made her shiver yet invigoration flowed through her.

Continuing on, she paused on the crest of a small hill and glanced down into the dip below her. A wooden bridge crossed a frozen river, tall, browned grasses covered in frost hummed as the wind made them sing. Small swells of snow twisted in delicate funnels. Soft light glinted off the ice and the crystals dotting the landscape.

Tucking her hands in her pockets, she closed her eyes as she lifted her head to the winter sun with a deep inhale. Unlike at her childhood home, this air didn’t make her cringe.

It brought to her a sense of adventure, freedom and peacefulness. All things she’d never gotten at her childhood home. She began walking after opening her eyes, and headed to the bridge. Four split rails and it boasted one tree on either side of the bank.

“I suppose they offer shade in the warmer months.” In her mind, there would be fragrant flowers adding their perfume to the air, mingling with the sweet grass smell.

At the beginning of the bridge, she skimmed gloved fingers over the ice-covered wood. Gripping the rail, she bent over and peered down at the frozen water below.

How deep was it? Had they played in this during the summers here, growing up? What would it have been like to experience such freedom?

“What thoughts are going on in your head?”

She should have jumped. He should have shocked her, but her body’s reaction to his proximity had alerted her long before he rested beside her.

“Thinking about how beautiful this place is, and how much I would love to travel.”

A rough, sad laugh escaped.

“Of course, my father said I get to travel all the way to Italy when he marries me off like the property I am to him.”

The man beside her stiffened and she angled her head to look at him. His strong jaw, covered with a hint of scruff, was clenched, and a muscle worked tautly beneath the skin. No hat on his head, allowing all his thick, dark hair to move in the wind.

Her fingers itched to push through the strands and simply allow herself to feel.

“Anyway,” she said, looking forward once more. There were little dips and swells on the top of the river, like it had been a windy day when it froze. “I was imagining you and your siblings playing in this river.”

“We did a lot of that. Mama had a hard time keeping us inside.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “If you could go anywhere, where would you like to go?”

“Everywhere.” She didn’t hesitate, there wasn’t one place she longed to go more than others, she longed to travel. Plain and simple.

“Any place more than another?”

“Not at all. I’ve been a total of two places, well, three now, in my life. To be able to see mountains, the oceans, desert.” She lifted a shoulder. “It would be incredible.” Taking a chance to steal another peek, she did her best to hide the moan of appreciation this man pulled from her.

His gaze focused on her mouth and she felt an answering tug between her thighs.

“I’m sure you want to spend time with your family. I’m going to take a walk.” She made sure her smile didn’t falter until she had her back to him while she crossed the bridge.

“Scared to be alone with me, lioness?”

How was it possible for this man to surround her with warmth and not even touch her?

“And why would that be? We have a deal set between us. We’re helping each other to get what we want.”

Proud of herself for not whimpering with the need this man never failed to rouse within her, she continued walking.

“Are we, though?”

That stopped her. Spinning back, she slipped on her boot heel and Bryn snagged her around the waist, hauling her to the hard planes of his body without hesitation.

He moves me around like I’m a thin girl. And he’d done this more than once, always making her feel tiny and beautiful.

His beryl gaze burned into her as he put them nose to nose. Warm puffs of his breath fanned over her skin and she inhaled deeply of his minty scent.

Rosamunde gulped, scrambling desperately not to lose control and close the distance and press her lips to his firm ones. Arching one eyebrow, she braced her hands against his chest. Better not let him think he had the upper hand. Even if he did.

Seriously? How is he so fit?

Oh, that’s right, his boxing .

“Something wrong with the terms we already set?” She nearly rolled her lower lip while waiting for him to respond.

Holding her breath, she watched him. Indecision scampered over his features before that arrogant smirk lifted one half of his mouth.

“Maybe I want to tweak them.”

Encouraging him was poor judgment, however she loved bantering with him. The thrill she received from his reaction to her every time they exchanged taunts and more was addicting. Couldn’t get enough of how he watched her like she was the only one in the room, or in his focus. Arrogant and stupidly selfish? Sure. Was she going to change that? Nope. Not at all when her future was so bleak.

With that in mind, she didn’t pull back from her proximity to him, nor did she demand he release her. Of course not. Instead she curved her fingers into the scratchy wool of his coat.

Bryn waited. For her to slap him across the face for his forward commentary. For her to jerk her knee toward his groin to remind him of what was proper. She did neither. His heart kicked up as her grip tightened on his coat, keeping them pressed close to each other.

He could smell her damn evocative scent of fresh violets and mint. Somehow it overwhelmed the crisp scent of the winter day. With her face flushed from the wind and cold, Bryn noticed a smattering of freckles along her nose and cheeks he’d not seen previously.

“What changes?”

Right .

This close to her he’d forgotten that he’d told her he may want to change their arrangement. And on the other hand, this close to her, his body wouldn’t let him forget he craved the permission to touch and caress her like he did in his dreams.

“Bryn?”

It should be outlawed, how she rolled his name off her tongue. Resting his head on hers, he took a deep breath and held himself there for a few moments before he pulled back to meet her stare again.

“I was kidding.”

God, the way she watched him, such trust. It was humbling.

Two blinks before sadness leaked into her gaze. Why?

“Okay.” She moved her stare from his and didn’t meet it again. Bryn didn’t believe she even knew that she was petting a hand up and down his chest.

Settling his feet, Bryn simply allowed it because it soothed a part of him he hadn’t known had been stressed and needing her attention. In that moment, he realized it wasn’t going to be just anyone who could calm him like this, it would have to be his lioness.

Slow movements tucked her closer in to him, and he convinced himself it was to keep her out of the wind.

Lies, he knew, but didn’t give a damn. He would lie all day long if it allowed him to keep her pressed tight to him. Snow swirls whipped around them and off in the distance he noticed dark clouds rolling in from the distance.

They would need to head back before too long. A particularly harsh wind bit into him and he gave up any pretense of being subtle and firmly tugged her against him. The shiver that took her wasn’t hard to feel given how she sat pressed into his front.

“You warm enough?”

Her face rested against his chest, right below his neck, and some of her curls had escaped the bun she’d worn today and brushed his skin. Heating his blood and tightening his shaft.

“You are hot.”

He smirked. “Thank you.”

She jerked her head back, allowing him to see her gaze again. Finally! The blush that skipped up her cheeks darkened the wind-given rosy hue.

“I’m sure there are plenty of women who would love to ply you with compliments.”

Rosamunde shifted backward, but he shook his head and refused to let her escape his hold.

“I find myself looking forward to ones from you, lioness.” He slipped his hand up to settle it to hover around in the middle of her spine, paused, then continued up until it was at the nape of her neck.

He skimmed his thumb along the collar of her coat, wishing it was warmer to allow himself the opportunity to experience the smoothness of her skin beneath his touch.

She gave a slow blink, her lashes framing those incredible green eyes he loved to lose himself in.

“I don’t think I’ll be giving you those.”

His lips quirked and he bent closer, allowing their breaths to mingle. “See now, lioness. A lesser man would be hurt.”

She stopped smoothing her hand over his chest only to grip the edges of his coat. “We both know you’re not a lesser man, so what are you then?”

“Challenged.” He nipped her plump bottom lip, lust skipping directly to his cock.

Her whimper was fuel to the fire coursing through his veins.

Unable to resist, he gave into the need riding him and took possession of the mouth that had taunted him since the first time he’d laid eyes on her.