Lydia Dare - Wolf Next Door

"Truly?"

"It drives me mad," he chuckled.

"Will," she scolded, pushing his hand away as he reached for her breast. "Who chained you to that bed?"

He probably should have explained that before now. "Brimsworth," he told her.

Prisca gasped. "What?"

He hated to see her shocked expression, and jealousy washed over him. "He knocked me out, and I woke up shackled to that iron bed."

"Why would he do such a thing?"

"I believe he's a little angry that I won you."

She shook her head. "But why?"

Did she really have to ask that? "Priss, don't you know how beautiful you are? How any man would be beside himself if he lost you?" He brushed his fingers over her rose-petal lips, wishing they were on him.

Prisca blushed. "You're not a man. You're a Lycan."

"Do I repulse you?" he asked, sitting up so he could face her.

She leaned over and kissed him softly, a smile upon her lips. But he could see the questions in her mind, or at least guess at them.

"We only shift into Lycan form when the moon is full. A few days before the moon, we get a little lusty."

She snorted. "You? A

little

lusty?" She laughed out loud.

"I'm lusting for you now," he whispered and then smiled when he smelled the scent of her desire. "You're not disgusted by me." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

"How could I be? I love you."

Will closed his eyes as his heart thundered in his chest. "I knew it," he said triumphantly.

"Can we make this work?" she asked hesitantly. "I'll never forgive you if you take another woman."

"

I want no other women

," he growled. "You must believe that."

"It will take some time for me to get used to this. May I have some time to think?"

"How long?" Surely she didn't think he could wait much longer to take her as his wife.

"I don't know. This is just new to me. And I'd like to have some time to get used to it."

"You may have all the time you need. But do know that I'll do my best to sway you."

"And just how will you do that?" Her violet eyes twinkled.

"I plan to show you how much I love you," he said quietly as he pushed her back on the bed.

"Will," she complained. "Stop it."

"Some men are talented poets, Priss. They might write a sonnet to your beauty. But all I can offer you is me." He ran his thumbs over her nipples. She gasped and closed her eyes as her jaw dropped.

"I'd love to hear you try to write a poem." She giggled.

"Laughter is not an aphrodisiac," he warned.

She giggled more.

"God, I love you." He couldn't prevent himself from saying it. His heart was nearly flooded with it. Simon's advice had been to court her. And she deserved it.

"You just want to sleep with me," she said, or at least that's what he thought she said over her laughter.

"Well, that, too," he agreed before he captured her lips with his.

Thirty-Three

Prisca stepped into the kitchen at Westfield Hall and stopped to inhale deeply. The smell was heavenly, just as it had been the last time she visited. As it was, though, she wasn't in search of food; she was in search of Lily and Elspeth, and Billings had said she could find them in the kitchen.

The butler had frowned a bit when he said it, apparently thinking the room beneath the duchess' station. Prisca couldn't help but grin. The man had served two generations of Lycans without complaint. A duchess spending time in the kitchens was nothing compared to that.

She discovered quickly that Billings was correct. As she looked around the room, she found Lily, Elspeth, and that other witch seated at a kitchen table. Lily sipped from her teacup while Elspeth and Caitrin Macleod finished their morning porridge.

"Good morning, Prisca," Lily chimed. "Come and join us," she said as she motioned to the vacant chair.

"Do ye want some porridge?" Elspeth chirped.

Prisca glanced into Elspeth's bowl, and her stomach protested a bit. "No, thank you," she sighed as she sat down heavily.

"It's really no trouble," Elspeth said as she spun her finger quickly in the air. The spoon in the porridge pot began to stir. Prisca wondered if she would ever get used to that.

"I believe I'll wait for Will to wake up and take my breakfast with him."

"Left him snug in the bed, did ye?" Miss Macleod asked as she finished the last bite of her breakfast.

Prisca instantly bristled. Before she even realized what she was doing, she replied, "My bed is none of your concern." She caught the waspishness of her own voice and nearly apologized. But before she could get it out, Caitrin was patting her arm.

"It's all right," she said, genuine concern on her face. "It will all turn out the proper way."

"I don't know what you mean." Cryptic messages were very confusing. Not to mention bad-mannered.

"Yer worries. They will resolve," the blond witch continued.

"Which ones?" Prisca nearly wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the conversation.

"The ones that are important," Miss Macleod said as she shrugged. "I'm afraid I must go."

Elspeth shot the woman a look.

"I'm goin'," Caitrin muttered, before she breezed out the door.

"I'm sorry about that," Elspeth said quietly.

"About what?"

"She canna divulge secrets. And she kens she canna do it. Sometimes she leaves a hint too many." Elspeth shook her head.

"What good is the ability if she can't use it?" Prisca was thoroughly confused.

"She can use it. But she canna use it ta change the events in the future. If she comes close ta doin' that, she has ta leave the situation completely." Elspeth shrugged. "It's a rule. One she didn't follow particularly well with Benjamin and me. She's trying ta be better."

Prisca nodded as though she understood. But she didn't. She almost felt a bit sorry for the witch who had a power she couldn't use. "How many witches do you know? And do they each have special powers?"

"Aye, there are five of us in all. There's Caitrin and me. Ye ken what we can do. Then there's Sorcha who can make the plants do her bidding. And Blaire and Rhiannon. Blaire fights."

"Like a pugilist?"

Elspeth laughed. "She

can

fight like a pugilist. But she can also throw fire and has other talents. And Rhiannon controls the weather. Wind. Rain. The sun in the sky."

Prisca tried to absorb it all. Then she finally said quietly, "I think I'm happy to know you, Elspeth."

The woman grinned widely.

Lily asked, "What brings you to the kitchens, Prisca? Something weighing on your mind?"

"A bit," Prisca confessed as she rubbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. Then she opened her eyes and drew in a deep breath, before looking over her shoulder to be sure no one was listening. "It's about Will."

Both women watched her intently, but neither spoke.

"He's acting… odd."

"In what way?"

"I think he's courting me."

"Courting his wife? What a novel idea," Lily laughed. "What is he doing, exactly?"

"He's leaving little notes lying around, just so I'll find them. And bringing me flowers. He seems to be trying to please me. With very little thought of himself."

"And this is a bad thing?" Elspeth snickered.

"No. Not bad," Prisca admitted. "It's just odd, and it's not like Will at all." Then she blurted out her biggest fear. "I don't think he wants me."

Lily put her teacup back on its saucer and regarded her solemnly. "Everything you've mentioned makes it sound to me like just the opposite."

"I know!" Prisca cried, then buried her face in her hands. She looked up at them from between her spread fingers. Perhaps if they didn't see her face, she could ask them what she needed to know. "He came to me several times yesterday. T-to give me his attention." She felt the heat creep up her neck and hated the little stutter.