“Michael,” she called out softly.
Nothing emerged from the shadows, and her shoulders slumped in disappointment. She walked to her bed discarding her clothes along the way and stopped, her eyes misting with tears. There on her pillow, on a piece of cloth, lay a bunch of berries.
Michael had been there and had brought her berries just like he had done when they were together. And she had missed his visit.
She wrapped the cloth around the berries and held them to her chest. “I miss you and I love you so very much.”
She crawled into bed with a heavy sadness in her heart, and with the cloth of berries snug in her hand, slept.
She dreamed Michael was touching her, kissing her, whispering words of love to her, and she did not want the dream to end. She fought against opening her eyes, fought against letting him go again.
“Open your eyes, Mary. The room is dark and I want you to know that it is me making love to you.”
Chapter 24
Mary slowly opened her eyes, still afraid she was dreaming. The room was dark, the near-dying fire’s light barely casting a glow in the room. Above her loomed a shadow.
“Michael?” she whispered.
“I told you I would come.” He brushed his lips over hers.
“I thought it too late, that I had missed you.”
“I could not go without seeing you.”
“Go?” she asked anxiously. “You are leaving? How long will you be gone?” The thought that she might not see him for some time sent an uneasiness rushing through her, settling heavily in her stomach.
“I have work to do, Mary,” he reminded.
“I can help.”
“We will see. Now, no more talk,” he whispered. “I want to make love to you.”
“I have missed touching you.” She walked her fingers slowly up his arms, over his chest, and then down his hard belly.
“Careful,” he warned, “or this will be a short evening together.”
They both laughed and kissed, their hands reaching out to touch and love each other with a fierce tenderness born of a solid love.
His lips captured her nipples and he enjoyed the taste of her so sweet and tender. He had little time until dawn, but he did not wish to rush. He wanted to linger and savor every inch of her before he took his leave with dawn’s first light.
She moaned and he reminded her that she must remain silent. She quickly stifled her heated response, fearful they might be caught.
His hands roamed her soft silky flesh, coming to rest between her legs. He gently enticed her to respond, and she did immediately, stirring his own passion just as quickly. It had not been long since their last time together but it seemed like an eternity. And now he wanted an eternity to make love to her.
She climaxed with a soft sigh and he smiled, though she could not see it. He wanted to please her over and over, only then would he join with her.
Mary attempted to have her way with him, but he was in total control on this night, and she could do nothing but surrender to his love.
After several soft sighs spilled from her lips, Michael slipped over and into her. She grasped his arms as he brought her to the peak of ecstasy, and together they spiraled into oblivion.
It took a while for their breathing to return to normal and for their racing hearts to calm. In the meantime they remained locked in each other’s arms, refusing to let go, refusing to allow this moment to end, refusing to say goodbye once again.
Michael rolled off her and shifted her to rest against his side. She went willingly, wanting to remain beside him as long as possible.
When his breathing finally calmed he asked, “How goes it with you and Decimus?”
“He is an ignorant, arrogant fool.”
“He is no fool,” he warned.
“You are right,” she reluctantly admitted. “His beliefs are so strong that it makes him dangerous.”
“Can you wed a dangerous man?”
“Do I have a choice?” She tapped his chest. “You are a dangerous man but I would wed you willingly.”
“Do you propose to me?”
She walked her fingers over his chest, up to his mouth, to slowly stroke his lips. “Would you wed me if you could?”
He took hold of her finger. “I would wed you as fast as I could and forever keep you mine.”
She locked her fingers with his and held them firm. “Then know this now, this moment, this day, I pledge my love to you. I will give my love to no other, my heart is yours, my soul is yours, and I am yours forever and always.”
“We exchange vows then here and now, I pledge my love to you. My heart and soul are yours now and beyond time. I give them freely to you. I will keep your love safe in my heart and see that no harm comes to it, and I swear by our love that I will see no harm come to you.”
They kissed to seal their vows and Mary felt at peace. It did not matter now what vows she exchanged with Decimus for she had already exchanged vows with Michael. In her heart Michael was her husband forever and always.
“Sleep,” he said and held her tight.
She knew he did not wish to say goodbye again, and he would leave her in sleep as he did the last time. She wanted to ask when she would see him again, but kept silent. She was content at this moment and she would leave it so.
She snuggled against him and fell asleep with a peaceful heart.
Morning dawned with beautiful skies and Reena asked Mary to join her as she walked the woods to draw plants. Old Margaret the healer had asked Reena if she would record the plants and their properties so that she could teach others her skills.
Mary was thrilled to participate in Reena’s project and glad to be away from the keep and Decimus. It would also give her time alone to talk with Reena.
Mary dressed in the plain skirt and blouse Glenda had given her. She felt comfortable in the clothes; they were who she was. The richer materials did not suit her, and she was uncomfortable wearing them.
Her wedding dress held no interest. She was grateful Brigid had the project well in hand.
After she slipped on her soft leather boots and grabbed her brown shawl in case the weather should change, Mary left her room and hurried down the steps to meet Reena at Old Margaret’s cottage.
At the bottom of the steps she turned the corner and ran into Decimus. Their bodies hit, and Decimus reached out to grab her arms and steady them.
She almost recoiled from the sweet scent that permeated the air around him. She could not quite place the scent, though she had smelled it on him before, but not as strongly. The strength in which he held her reminded her of his power and how truly imprisoned she was.
The thought made her want to flee.
“In a hurry?”
Had he sensed her eagerness to be gone from him?
She kept her calm, not wanting to diminish her chance of joining Reena for her outing. “Aye, my lord.”
“Where do you go?”
She should have known he would want to know her whereabouts. Would he question her plans? Not if he did not know them.
“I go to meet Reena.”
“Good, you work on plans for the wedding.”
If he said so that was fine with her.
“I wish to talk with you later.”
“Have I done something to offend?” she asked, not wanting to concern herself with the reason for their talk.