Chapter Fourteen

Rosamunde had been waiting for the press of his lips since the last moment she’d had them on hers. Dreams. Thoughts. Wishes. Clenching her thighs together, she swallowed her moan of desperation for more of his taste. More of everything he could give her. Touches. Safety. Passion.

The pressure of his large hands on her back urged her closer to him. Bryn settled her between his spread legs, anchoring them together. Her stomach clenched as he pressed his hardness against her.

She wasn’t disgusted, she wanted more. Longed to touch him, experience him in a way she’d only heard about and, since meeting him, dreamed about.

Bryn inched his right hand along her hip and secured it to her side. A hold she swore she could feel it branding into her skin, burning through the coat and her clothing.

His lips moved over hers and she opened beneath his questing touch. The crisp taste of mint and cold flowed from his mouth to hers. His tongue dipped in, brushing against hers, pulling another moan from her.

Desperate, she pushed up on the toes of her remarkably comfortable boots, asking without words for more. He didn’t disappointment. Masterful, he wrested control of the kiss and owned her. She gave the lead to him, following and taking cues from his actions.

Softening the kiss as her legs trembled, he pulled back enough to see her eyes. She watched him, unsure what was the right course for her. Did she pretend it didn’t happen? Did she ask for another kiss? Walk away and leave him alone for the rest of her time here with him and his family?

“You’re one hell of a dangerous woman, Miss Fletcher.”

She’d expected him to move away. Perhaps set her from him and put a respectable distance between them. He didn’t. In fact, he didn’t even release her.

“I hardly think so.” She lowered her gaze but Bryn nudged her chin up so they were once again locked in staring.

“I know so.” His grip on her hip flexed. “And I’m right, so you can’t argue with me.”

“I’m allowed to argue with you and will do so when you deserve it. Which, if you were asking, is all the time.”

He dipped his head and claimed her mouth once more. With a purr, she followed his instruction as before and opened when he asked for entrance. His hand gripped her ass and brought her core tighter to him. She loved being there, feeling the full length of his shaft against her.

“We need to talk.”

She couldn’t fake the struggle to open her eyes. His kisses had put her somewhere she had no desire to return from. However, those words were enough to pull her back to the cold reality of standing outside in winter.

Humor lit his expression as he shook his head. “I should stay far away from you, lioness, but I can’t. Even though I know it’s the smart choice for both of us.”

“What are we talking about?”

It hurt, deep down, that she was the one between them thinking about the future with him and how amazing it would be if she could be his wife. But Rosamunde knew what lay in wait for her. It wasn’t this man, no matter how much she wished it would be, so she tamped down the hurt. She needed to have this man help her achieve her dreams before she became shackled to an old man who would control her life.

He nipped her lip again before brushing a kiss over her forehead. “Not going to argue about that with me?”

“Of course not. I know you are leaving. It’s pointless for me to think about forming an attachment to you. I’m pragmatic. Even if you were remaining in England, I’m spoken for, which means had you been interested in a woman like me, it wouldn’t happen.”

His jaw flexed.

“What do you mean? A woman like you?”

“We don’t need to pretend I’m the size of most women in society, Bryn. I know I’m not and it’s okay. I’ve been larger my entire life. I’m not the kind of woman you find attractive.”

He growled. Honestly growled at her.

She stepped back.

He furrowed his brow, thick eyebrows slashing together. “Really?” He grabbed her arm. “You step back from that but let me kiss you without a chaperone around?”

“You’re not making sense, Bryn.”

He tipped his head back, allowing her the rare chance to run her focus along the strong column of his neck. The corded muscle. Taut, bronzed skin she longed to sink her teeth into. Rosamunde wanted to mark him. Wanted to leave it perfectly clear to all the other women who looked at him with lust from below lowered lashes that this man was taken. By her.

She shifted her weight and, like a shot, his focus slammed into her once more. Without speaking, he walked her backward off the bridge and right up to the tall tree she’d been imagining in spring or summer with its incredible foliage. Now it had branches covered in ice and frost that glinted as if they’d been covered in diamond dust. The wind slid through them, reminding her that this wasn’t the best weather to be outside in.

“Listen to me, Rosamunde Fletcher.” A deep breath. “My lioness, brave and bold except when it comes to her own beauty.”

She flattened her lips and stared over his shoulder, the intimate connection becoming too much for her weakened heart.

“Look at me,” he rumbled.

Unable to disobey, she capitulated to his demand. Such frank hunger swam there she nearly glanced away again simply to preserve the small bit of strength she retained. He didn’t let her go. Not physically and not their visual connection either.

“You are a fucking stunning woman. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool.”

The graveled admission made her knees weak and she flexed her hands, too late realizing they were still wound securely in his coat. He inched nearer to her, cutting off her air as his cock settled between her legs, a spot she desperately longed to feel him without the barriers of clothing between them.

Nose to nose, he briefly closed his eyes only to open them again.

“Sexy as hell. Smart and funny. You’re the complete package, love. Never forget that.”

He stepped free of her and she immediately missed his heat. The familiar and comforting beat of his heart. The warmth his body exuded around her, like he had wrapped her up in a thick blanket that had been warmed by the fire prior.

Coming over the field she noticed the rest of the people he’d grown up with as well as Isabella’s children. Her kids were in sleds being pulled by their parents, their laughter warm and pure.

She’d been so lost in this man she hadn’t even heard them approach.

Embarrassment flooded her and she yanked her gaze to the ground.

“No hiding. We weren’t doing anything.” A shuddering breath. “This time.”

When she snapped her stare back to him, he winked and smirked.

“Come on, you two,” Falcon cried. “We’re going ice skating.”

Fear slid in to replace her embarrassment. Shaking her head, Rosamunde pressed deeper into the trunk of the tree behind her. “I’ll head back to the house.”

Bryn snorted. “Not a chance.”

Grasping her hand, he tugged her after him, making her hustle to keep up with his longer strides. The entire trip she tried to free her hand from his but he simply ignored her protests and struggles, keeping her hand firmly in his.

They went over one more hill and she paused at the top, gathering her breath while the children went down on the sleds, their screams loud and free. A lake was beneath them. A small shack was beside it as well as two benches along the lakeshore.

“Come on.” He gave her hand a squeeze.

Rosamunde didn’t want to get on the ice but she couldn’t deny how stunning this entire property was to view. Rolling hills that glittered from the frost and ice. The sun would soon be overtaken by the clouds coming in, and despite all things in her mind saying make her way back to the house, she went down the hill with Bryn still holding her hand.

Keely glanced at her, gave a pointed look to where they held hands and smiled before picking up some snow and launching it toward Elonne. As the fight erupted, Falcon, Bryn, and Rosamunde opened up the shack and stepped inside. A small fireplace was along one side. Stacks of cut wood lined a wall. A table was pushed up beneath the window and there was a bed on the other side, piled high with blankets.

Near the door however, she noticed a rack on the wall that held skates. Rosamunde knew this was something slowly catching on but again, the thought of being out on a lake where it could break beneath her and she’d fall in didn’t sit well with her.

From the looks of things here, this family loved skating.

“Let’s find you a pair.”

Falcon picked up a broom and walked out the door, leaving them alone.

In a cabin with a bed.

Heart thundering, she tried to ignore that. People were right outside, so they weren’t truly alone.

“No, thank you.” She pulled from his hold. Being out of the wind was a nice break.

“Why not?”

At the window, she watched Falcon brush the snow off the top of the lake, making it sparkle further. The adults didn’t let the children on the ice until he waved them forward. Lips curling as a few found themselves on their butts, she turned away from the view of happiness and love she wouldn’t ever have in her life.

If I have a child I doubt the old man will want anything to do with it. Then again, perhaps he has children my own age, and merely needs a wife.

“Rosamunde?”

She blinked and found Bryn right there, invading her space.

“What?”

“Where’d you go?”

His hands were settled on her upper arms, his expression full of concern. She lost it. The tears overflowed and raced down her cheeks as she gave a single heart-wrenching sob.

The wail broke him.

He stepped back a second, turning to try to ascertain where the danger came from, the need to protect her as natural as breathing. The moment he realized it came from Rosamunde, he shattered. A sheet of ice with a rock through it, reducing it to nothing but shards.

He was scattered to the four winds and he didn’t know if he would ever be fine again. Holy fuck, that was simply from a single cry .

Bryn dragged Rosamunde into his arms, tucking her tight to his chest. God damn it, he wanted to slay all her demons. Over the top of her head, he saw Falcon stepping toward him and he shook his head. She wouldn’t want to be seen like this.

Because he’d grown up with these guys it didn’t take words to get things passed through the group. Ensuring she remained tight into his chest, he held her as she cried while Keely snuck in, started the fire and took out the skates before he nudged the door closed behind her.

He warred with himself. He longed to shake her and demand she tell him what the problem was so he could solve it. And he wanted to be selfish even longer and keep her against him where every inch of her belonged. By him. Touching him.

Bryn locked his knees to keep from taking her to the bed, knowing she’d be more comfortable but not wanting her to question why he was holding her. He tossed his hat toward the table, not caring where it fell. He settled his feet to a more comfortable position and readjusted his hold on her, not ready to let her go.

For now? Or forever?

Yeah, he wasn’t going to think about that for a while. Obviously it would be for now because forever wasn’t an option. Not with her and not with him.

Head down so his nose sat buried in her thick chestnut strands, he breathed deep, taking in all he could of her unique scent. How a woman could smell so much like violets and mint in the middle of winter, he didn’t know. Didn’t care either, just that when it was on Rosamunde, he couldn’t get enough.

“Talk to me, baby.” He stroked his hand up and down the small of her back.

He realized also as they stood there that she was freaking petite next to him. He’d gotten his father’s height for sure and boxing had filled him out. She came to his shoulders…barely.

She shook her head.

“Come on, it’s just us in here. You don’t have to skate if you don’t want to. I won’t force you to get on the ice.”

Rosamunde pulled back enough that he could see her red eyes, and it killed him to think she’d had to endure any type of pain. Behind her back, he pulled off one glove before touching his hand to her face, smoothing it along the roundness of her cheek.

“Talk to me.”

“It’s nothing.” She gave a firm shake and tried to put some distance between them.

Not happening, baby.

He cupped her cheek and held her still. “Talk.”

“Gonna spank me if I don’t?”

Heat surged through him and he ground his jaw. The air between them charged and sparked.

Bryn leaned toward her, holding that green gaze that reminded him of Ireland. “Perhaps I will if you do . I think that will be a reward for you, baby.”

Yeah, he was right. Her pulse kicked up and he almost gave in and laid possession to her mouth when she dipped her tongue out to touch her lower lip. Dilated eyes gave away more than her words. Far more.

Longing filled her gaze as she ran it over his features. A sad smile tilted up her lips as she shook her head once more before tucking herself into him. She knew where she belonged. Head on his chest, his arms around her holding her, keeping her safe and secure.

“I was struck for a moment about what I’m never going to have.” She sagged into him, trusting him, even if she didn’t realize it at the moment, to hold her up. The loss was monumental when she drew away. “I’m fine. I want to see you skate.”

“You coming?”

She moved around him and opened the door. “Oh no. I don’t know how to swim, I’m not about to go out on a frozen lake.” Stepping outside, she left him alone in there. He readjusted his erection then tended the fire more so it would be warm in case the kids needed to take a break.

He stood behind her and watched as she pasted a smile onto her face while she folded her hands at her waist.

He allowed the door to click behind him as he inched closer to the woman before him. In his hands he held some of the bedding. The last thing he wanted was for her to be cold or get sick.

“Have a seat on the bench.” He pressed a blanket into her hands. “I’ll let it go this time but you’re going to need to learn if you’re fitting in with this family.”

Bryn waited as she obeyed him, eyes widening at his statement. Yeah, it shocked him that it had come out of his mouth but he wasn’t taking it back. More and more he knew she was the correct person to fit in this family at his side. His plans for America were no longer as high of a priority. Placing the extra blankets next to her, he allowed himself one more indulgent inhalation of her scent before heading out onto the ice, forgoing the skates.

Keely moved around him with grace and poise, something he’d never learned on those blades.

“Is she okay?” She moved backward, eyes focused on his face.

“Yes.” He wouldn’t accept anything less. “Just a lot for her.”

“I like her, Bryn.”

He nodded. “I know, so do I.” Her grin had him adding to that statement. “Don’t, Keely. I’m still going.”

“We’ll see,” she singsonged as she spun expertly around and raced over the ice to the kids, making them squeal.

Bryn snuck a peek at the shore where Elonne had made himself at home beside Rosamunde. It was a knife to the gut and he bit back his possessive growl at the relaxed body language she maintained around him.

Why Elonne and not me ?

The wind increased and he stopped in the middle of the lake, head up and eyes on the clouds, which had gotten dangerously close.

“Time to go.” He barked the order.

No one hesitated to follow. Even the kids moved off the ice. Within moments the skates were hung inside, the blankets back and the fire out. Bryn skimmed the group and calculated the distance back. They wouldn’t make it in time.

“Move now.”

Everyone obeyed, keeping the kids in a single sled so they didn’t have to walk and slow them down, plus they would stay warmer pressed together. The extra sleds were dragged empty behind some others. Eyes roving the group, he stayed in the back so no one would fall behind. Henry, his younger brother, led the way, his easy steps cutting a path for others to follow.

They’d made it about a quarter of the way when the sleet slammed into the back of his head. Damn it ! He should have been paying better attention to the clouds. His lips twitched as he watched Rosamunde and Delicia, Uncle Phillip’s daughter, slide in behind the sled, acting as wind barriers to protect the children more.

The whinny of a horse had him sharing a look with Falcon. Both of them had weapons on them, no way they went anywhere with family and were unable to protect them from danger.

It wasn’t danger. His father drove a sleigh toward them, a pair of roan geldings tossing their heads and snorting as they moved, raring to go. The geldings moved in a wide circle around Bryn and his charges, where his father gave him a nod then stopped.

“Let’s get on.” Bryn waved a gloved hand in the air, encouraging them to all climb in.

The children were lifted in, then the women. It took everything in him not to demand they not touch Rosamunde. Once everyone else was on and settled, he tossed in the sleds the children had used and hopped over the side. Keely tugged on him and he lowered himself to the wood floor of the repurposed wagon.

Blankets were passed out to protect them from the increased sleet slamming into them. Bryn made sure the children were safe then leaned against the side with a deep breath.

Rosamunde sat across from him and he caught her staring. With a wink, he smirked at the flush moving over her skin.

What he would do to her if he were seated beside her with a blanket over them, keeping others from watching. His dick swelled and he bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself under control.

It wasn’t working.