Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 97127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97127 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Nay, you must not. Let me love you.”
“But I wish to touch you, feel you, know your flesh once again.”
“Not this time, Mary,” he said with regret. “Our time together is short and I wish to love you in a manner you will never forget.”
“I wish to love you in return,” she argued.
“Another time.”
“There will be another time? You promise me this?”
He nibbled at her lips. “I promise there will be many more times.”
She acquiesced and let him love her.
He removed not a stitch of clothing. He released the ties of her blouse as he kissed her lips, softly and slowly, then fast and urgently. His fingers slipped inside her blouse to tease her nipples until they turned hard. He then trailed down her neck with his lips sending gooseflesh racing over her with each lick, nibble, and kiss.
He finally made his way to her nipples and when his mouth claimed the solid orb, his hand inched his way beneath her skirt to stroke her inner thighs.
Mary bit her lower lip, knowing she must not make a sound but aching to scream with the fiery passion he had awakened within her. His fingertips crawled slowly along her thighs, inching between her legs and she instantly grew wet with anticipation.
He captured her lips and they kissed deeply, quenching their thirst and love for each other.
“I wish there was more time,” he whispered. “I want to love you all day.”
“I do not want this to end,” she cried, her tears contained by her blindfold.
“I wish, oh how I wish, Mary,” he murmured and slipped over her, entering her slowly until he rested full-length inside her.
She sighed. “I love you, Michael.”
His groan was barely audible. “I love you more than you will ever know.”
With that he moved inside her and she joined his rhythm, so familiar to her and so very satisfying. They took their time, though knowing they had little left. And they climbed together in their passion, holding on to each other, urging each other, and loving each other, until as one, they exploded together.
The clung to each other, neither one willing to let the other go.
They both became alert when they heard a scurry of footfalls, then realized it was a small animal passing by.
Michael took the blindfold off her after securing his hood, and Mary quickly adjusted her clothing.
“I cannot say when I will see you again,” Michael said, pulling a twig from Mary’s long blond braid.
“As long as you will see me again,” she said with concern.
“I made you a promise. I will not break it.”
“Unless,” she was quick to say, “you feel yourself in danger, then you must promise me you will stay away.”
“I promise,” he said without hesitation.
She sighed relieved, for Michael was a man of his word.
He took her hand in his, slipped it under his mask, and kissed her palm. “Know that my heart and soul will be with you on the day you wed Decimus.”
She rested her hand to his cheek. “I will be thinking of you.”
“I am glad to hear that, for then you know you are loved.” He took her hand. “It is time to go.”
“Wait,” she said remembering the question she wished to ask of him as he spread the branches and stepped outside. She quickly followed him. “There is something I must know.”
“We do not have much time, can it not wait?”
She shook her head and asked her question. “I need to know who requested your help in finding me.”
“Magnus asked for my help.”
“Nay, the man who first asked you to find me. Reena explained it all to me and I am curious as to this man’s identity.”
“Why?”
“Because something does not feel right, though I cannot say what it is that troubles me, a missing piece of sorts.”
“And what purpose will this missing piece serve?” he asked.
“It will make the puzzle more clear, more logical.”
A sudden sharp sound like that of a branch cracking caused Mary to turn and see if anyone was near. Seeing no one and hoping it only an animal, she turned to Michael.
He was gone.
She looked around hoping to spot him, but he was nowhere.
She brushed her clothes clean and made certain her hair contained no twigs or leaves, then she began walking back to the keep.
She never got the answer to her question, but what disturbed her even more was that Michael had questioned her need for an answer.
Was he trying to protect her, or did he feel she would not like what she heard?
Chapter 27
Mary stood by the window in her bedchamber in her wedding dress, waiting to be summoned to the great hall for the ceremony. Reena and Brigid had just left her, letting her know that it would be only a short time before Magnus came for her. He would escort her to the great hall and give her hand to Decimus in marriage.