Dare, Lydia - Tall, Dark and Wolfish

"Of course you did," he replied, unable to keep the smile from his face.

He quickly washed and dressed while his wife talked with Sorcha in the kitchen. Elspeth came in when he was nearly dressed, looking so cute in her frilly white nightrail that he simply stood and looked at her. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders in disarray. He wondered what she'd look like in fifty years. Still just as beautiful, he'd wager.

"Will's here already?" he asked.

She nodded. "Why else would Sorcha be here? I doona ken what I'll do with the girl."

"I know what Will would do with her, so keep her far, far away from him, love." He kissed the top of her head as he walked by her and hefted her heavy chest of clothes with ease.

"There's another by the door," she said, pointing to a small bag full of bottles and pages with notes.

"Are you sure you need to take all this with you? Might not be much need for healing in London." What he really wanted to say was that people didn't readily seek out her kind of healing unless they couldn't afford a doctor. And he'd not have all the miscreants and vagrants knocking on his door to summon his wife.

"There's always need for healin', Ben." She simply smiled at him, so he loaded the bag along with the chest.

As they prepared to leave, Rhiannon and Blaire arrived. He chuckled under his breath when Blaire said, "Ye hurt her, Lord Benjamin, and I'll do the same ta ye." She glanced toward Will. "Or someone ye care about. Ye ken?"

"I wouldna laugh at her, Lord Benjamin. She has power like ye've never seen," Sorcha said as she walked by a plant in the front yard. She touched it and it immediately flowered. She plucked it, smiled softly, and held it out to Ben, who just shook his head. Would he ever grow used to women with powers?

"You do not have to worry about Elspeth. I would protect her with my life."

"But who will protect her from ye?" a voice called from the other side of the carriage. Then Caitrin stepped into view.

She took Elspeth's hands in her own and squeezed so hard that Elspeth winced.

Ben moved toward the two young witches, but Will's hand suddenly hit the center of his chest, stalling him. "Let them work this out," he said quietly. "I'd rather not see an example of their powers firsthand."

Ben just grumbled to himself as he finished helping his coachman load the bags onto the carriage.

"I canna see yer future, El, " Caitrin admitted.

Good. That suited Ben just fine. He liked having some surprises in life.

Caitrin continued quietly. "I think it's because ye're already separatin' yerself from us, with yer mind."

"But never with my heart," Elspeth said vehemently before she dropped Caitrin's hands. "I will see ye all very soon." Then she addressed each sister in her coven separately before stepping inside the coach.

It wasn't until he closed the door and pulled her into his lap that she finally broke. She turned to his shoulder and sobbed. When her tears subsided, he passed her his handkerchief and stroked her hair. It nearly broke his heart to see her so upset.

"We can stay here if you'd rather," he offered. Though in the back of his mind, he really liked the idea of having her to himself for a bit.

"No. I need ta find my father." She sniffed loudly. "I need ta understand why he left my mother." She sniffed again. "And me." Then she tucked herself into him again.

"We'll get the answers you seek. I'm sure of it." But he truly wasn't. And he was fearful that she wouldn't like the answers they

did

find.

"Where is yer brother?" she asked.

"He's riding alongside until we reach the first coaching inn. I wanted to be alone with you. I feel like we haven't had any time together."

"My coven," she started.

But he cut her off by tipping her chin up and kissing her softly. "They're not with us now. It's just you and me."

"Tell me why ye came lookin' for my mother, Ben," she said as she slid from his lap into the seat beside him. He instantly felt the loss.

He scrubbed a hand over his face and thought. Then he let out a sigh. "You know why. Because I was broken."

"Ye're no' broken," she said as she reached up to brush the hair from his forehead.

"I've lost a part of myself, Ellie. And I'd hoped your mother could help me find that part."

"I can help ye, Ben. I ken that I will be able ta do it."

"If you can't, I'll be all right without it. I have you."

"Ben Westfield! Doona ever say that! I couldna take the place of yer wolf. Nor would I try." She batted at his hands as he tried to pull her near.

Maybe a kiss would take her mind off his problems.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Ye willna take my attention from this topic. No matter how sweet yer kisses."

He smiled. "You think my kisses are sweet?"

"Ye ken I do," she giggled as his questing fingers traced the line of her bodice. "Stop that."

"I can be even sweeter," he teased.

"Ben, yer brother is outside the carriage, and he has the same hearin' ye do!" she reminded him.

He pulled her atop him, despite her halfhearted protests. "I can be quiet," he whispered as he tugged her dress off her shoulder. Her breast popped free, and he immediately took her nipple in his mouth. Her head fell back. He loved how responsive she was. "Can you?" he asked, catching her gaze with his.

Elspeth seriously doubted she could be quiet, not as quiet as she needed to be. If Will's hearing was anything like Ben's, he'd hear every gasp and sigh.

She drew her bottom lip between her teeth to keep from crying out as he uncovered her other breast and pressed them together so that all he had to do was turn his head back and forth, giving more and more pleasure with each turn of his head.

"Quiet, now," he laughed when she couldn't contain her gasp as his fingers slipped beneath her skirts and tiptoed up her leg to touch her heat.

"Ye beast," she whispered.

"Not so much anymore," he said, a sad look crossing his face.

"Aye, ye are," she affirmed as she let him move her to the seat beside him. He threw her skirts up to kiss her inner thigh and then pulled her drawers off and bent to kiss her center.

"You bring it out in me." He opened her with his fingertips and licked slowly across her center. She squirmed, hoping he would touch the place she needed most. Then he did. She couldn't contain her groan as her hands moved into his hair.

"Shhhh," he said, his breath blowing softly against her tender flesh. He pressed a finger to her lips to silence her. She drew it into her mouth and sucked, then nipped the pad of his finger. He groaned that time.

"Shhhh," she said with a light laugh.

"Witch," he remarked as he went back beneath her skirts.

"Aye, and ye're my beast." She threw her head back as he licked her to new heights, then he finally pushed her over. But he caught her when she fell. Before she'd even come back down, he picked her up and opened her legs to straddle his lap. Then he lowered her slowly onto him.

She took him carefully, her gaze never leaving his as she settled around him. He gently helped her rise and fall, riding him until her body fluttered, and then he joined her in pleasure.

"We were no' very quiet," she whispered as she lay against his chest, her breasts bare and her skirts around her waist. It felt perfectly decadent to be so free and open with him.

"Yes, I know. My brother will be ready to do bodily harm to me by the time we get to the coaching inn."

"Why?" She didn't understand.

"'Cause I plan to take you again. At least once more. And I plan to make lots of noise," he laughed.

Thirty-nine

The coach finally stopped, and Ben stepped from its confines, eager to stretch his legs a bit. Again, he thought to himself how coaches weren't made for men his size. He stepped out and asked the coachman, "Where is his lordship?" as he looked around for Will.