Page 49 of A Touch So Wicked

With a cry of surrender, she climaxed. Thunder filled the chamber, fire consumed her; a blaze centered where they were joined and she felt herself receding from reality. Moments later she felt his liquid heat seep into her, heard him gasp out her name.

Elissa’s wits returned slowly. She stretched her limbs and realized that Damian’s weight had been lifted from her. She turned her head and regarded him solemnly. He was lying on his back, one arm covering his eyes, his breathing harsh and untamed. She was startled from her contemplation when Damian reared up and said, “You are a sorceress. ’Tis the only explanation.” He surged to his feet. “Nothing good will come of this. What if I gave you a child?”

“A man of your experience should know how to prevent such an occurrence,” Elissa charged.

He pulled on his breeches. “I have no control where you’re concerned. You keep me in a constant turmoil. I’m torn between wanting to strangle you and wanting to make love to you. When I’m inside you, there’s no pulling back.”

Elissa touched her stomach. “We’ve only done this twice. Perhaps I should ask Nan for a potion to expel your seed should it take root in my womb. I donna want to bring a bastard into the world.”

Damian whirled, his face dark with fury. He placed his hands on her shoulders, pinning her to the bed. “Nay! I forbid it! You will kill no child of mine.”

Elissa breathed a sigh of relief. It was a sin to kill an innocent bairn. Sometimes a village woman asked Nan for a potion to rid herself of an unwanted bairn, but Nan always refused, advising them instead to practice abstinence.

“’Tis highly unlikely you have conceived,” Damian said, as if to convince himself. “Rest assured this will never happen again. Meanwhile, you’re to remain under lock and key until I decide your fate. Harsh punishment isn’t the answer, for it will serve only to anger your clansmen. But I vow you’ll never have the chance to betray me again.”

Damian’s words lingered in the charged air long after he left her chamber.

The day passed slowly. Elissa missed her mother and sister. She was surprised when Maggie arrived later with clean clothing and a pitcher of water. Had Damian changed his mind about allowing visitors?

In the time allotted her, Maggie related the latest gossip. Elissa learned that patrols had been doubled, but Damian still intended to send the Black Watch back to London. Elissa thought Maggie had something more on her mind, but unfortunately the guard summoned her kinswoman from the chamber before Elissa could question her. Maggie sent Elissa a sympathetic look over her shoulder as the door closed behind her.

Elissa spent the day in supreme boredom, with nothing to do but gaze out the window. She was more than a little surprised when Damian himself arrived with her evening meal.

She sent him a wary look. “Where is Maggie?”

“Taking the air with Sir Richard.”

“I should have known.”

“Do you have any objection?”

Elissa shrugged. “What good would it do? You Englishmen will have your way.”

Damian placed the tray on the table and stood over her as she pulled up a chair and picked delicately at the slices of venison and green vegetables. Her fork paused halfway to her mouth when she realized Damian had removed his jacket and shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting ready for bed.”

“You’re sleeping here?”

“This is my chamber.”

“But I thought you said we wouldn’t…be together anymore.”

“We won’t. I’m testing myself. I’d like to think I’m not so lacking in will that I can’t control myself around you. What happened earlier won’t happen again because from now on I’ll be on guard against your wiles.”

Elissa threw the fork down. “My wiles! How dare you. You’re the one who attacked me.”

Damian scowled. “Eat, lady, the hour grows late and I am weary.”

He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his boots and breeches. Elissa pointedly ignored him as he stretched out atop the covers. The food tasted like straw but she forced herself to eat and drink in an effort to prove her contempt for the man many called the Demon Knight.

When she’d eaten her fill, she pushed the plate aside and asked, “Where am I to sleep?”

“You may share the bed, if you like.”

“No, thank you. The hearth rug will do. May I have a pillow and blanket?”