Darc had grieved for and with her and when her eyes met his, his heart swelled. He understood now why she had needed to come here.
She had needed to lay all to rest.
What he now saw in her wide honey-colored depths took his breath away.
Without a word spoken she walked directly into his arms.
Darc buried his head in her soft waves and pulled his cloak around them. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him back just as tightly as her embrace would allow.
The wind picked up but he still heard her words when she spoke.
Though she had told him this once before, this time, the depth of her emotion filling her voice made him know that for as long as he lived, he would never forget this moment.
‘I love you so it hurts me, Darc.’
Devotion choked his words. ‘Ah, Caroline, my love. Thank you.’
She lifted her head to look up at him then. ‘Nay. I thank you. Now. Take us back home, husband. Our boys await our return.’
Darc could not hold back his loud and happy roar. He felt her shake with her laugh in his arms. Her round belly pressed against him and he felt their babe kick. His hand slid down over her middle as he said with a smile, ‘Aye, wife, home.’
He planted a hot kiss on her smiling lips.
He told the men to load the carriage and he helped her carefully back inside.
Mounting and turning his horse around, Darc was the happiest man on earth. She’d not come here for the treasure. She’d come for so much more.
‘You’re all the treasure I need.’ She had told him when she’d revealed the hidden treasure Halvard and Cedric had greedily sought and murdered for.
As he watched the last load being placed onto the second cart, he shook his head. Now he knew why she had been so persistent in bringing it along.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
‘I want to know about you, Darc.’
‘I have told you.’
‘Nay you told me about your brother. About Adelay. I wish to know about you.’ Caroline pressed her hand to his scar and he tried to move out of her caress but she would not allow it. He stood rigid in front of her. They were in their chamber.
They had moved her belongings into his larger room weeks ago, the day they had returned from burying her father.
Kelbie and Cal now shared her old chamber. Old Agnes, though Darc had forgiven the woman, he could not bring himself to forget and had her sent off to Gest Manor.
Caroline pressed tighter against him and repeated her query. He took her hand and turned it over in his staring at it strangely. When he looked back at her, Caroline wanted to cry at the depth of emotion she read in those magnetic eyes she’d given her heart to.
‘What would you like to know?’ he asked her softly.
She let out a cry and pulled him into her arms. She placed her feet on top of his and kissed his neck, bare chest, and all the places she could reach as she said breathlessly, ‘Everything.’
He hugged her fiercely back and said softly against her ear. ‘I was born in Rouen…’
Later, Caroline inhaled the scent of the delicate petals and set the metal vase filled with roses back on the small table next to trenchers of food for their supper.
Her gaze went back to Darc, he was stretched out on the bench next to her, his bare legs and toes drew her attention.
She liked the fine hairs on his muscular legs and her skin tingled from just looking at them and she squirmed in place. He gave her a side long look.
She returned it with a mock look of horror and with the urge to be bold, pressed her hand over her one breast.
Darc’s mouth went dry thinking of how that perfect mound and her long nipple would feel in his mouth later. She smiled and dropped her hand to her rounded belly.
He moved closer and gave the same breast a squeeze she pushed him away with a giggle. ‘We need to eat afore the meal grows cold.’
‘I want us to make a promise to one another that when discord arises that we talk of it at that very moment.’
‘Aye, that wife, I can promise. And I would like to add that I will work better at controlling my temper when it comes to you.’
He stopped when her face reddened. He lifted her face up by way of a finger under her chin. ‘What have I said that makes you blush so prettily?’
She gave him a beauteous smile and Darc shifted, his toes curling as he awaited her response.
Caroline said. ‘Well that one, husband I must admit you are not alone in. ‘Tis something too which I need work on harder as well. After all you do tend to make my blood boil.’
He threw his head back, chuckling. He stood and walked over to the bed. Caroline watched him, her eyes smiling, mesmerized by the difference in this man in the past half year. She was still getting used to it, but oh did she love every bit of it. She added in a loud voice. ‘Then again, ‘tis what drew me to you when we first met.’
‘Aye. Know that we will not always agree on many things.’ Her wary gaze made him eager to assure her and he went on. ‘There is one other thing I can promise you. And that is I will always and forever love you, Caroline. Come, lie next to me whilst I rest my aching bones.’
Darc guffawed when she launched herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck as he fell backwards on the bed.
When she was done kissing him and his passion flamed to near bursting she drew back, breathless. Those honey-colored eyes he loved so much twinkled and reflected back the warmth he sought.
And her love.
Seeing it made him wish he could spend the whole week with her locked away in their chamber. ‘God, you are beautiful, Caroline.’
‘As are you. Your words please me.’
‘I am glad I could please you.’
‘Oh, you are not yet done, husband. Aching or not, I need you to show me as well. I do so love the little deaths you give me.’
She took the breath from him as she kissed his open mouth. Their hot kiss ignited the hungry fire in him as she climbed on top of him. Pregnancy agreed with her, she glowed and was nigh insatiable. And Darc loved it. He had worried about harming the babe, but after the midwife’s examination his concerns had been put to rest a little. He still worried and was careful, but he handled it by letting Caroline think she led their lovemaking and careful positioning each time.
Darc reluctantly ended their hot kiss. His mouth dropped open further as she wriggled on his growing manhood. He sucked in his breath and he wiped his brow with forced exertion and a yawn. ‘If I must suffer more to prove my love to you. Your wish is my command, wife.’
She swatted his shoulder as he rolled her over onto her side, her back to him. She glanced at him over her shoulder. ‘You tease me unmercifully.’
Darc grinned down at her and moved his hands over her thin night rail. She lifted her leg with a moan. He touched her softly, gently drawing the wetness from her. She was so hot for him.
He whispered hotly against the back of her neck. ‘The unmerciful part has not even begun.’
Castlefolk slept on and guards remained silent at their posts near the staircase as the Lady of Renald’s cries came from their lord’s chamber. All were thrilled the lord and lady had come back together.
The beast had found his mate.
About the Author:
Amber Dane resides in the Northeast with her family and loves to pen historical medieval romance and romantic suspense. Visit her at her website/blog:
http://dain54.wordpress.com/about/
http://amberdane.webs.com/
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Table of Contents
Copyright
The Beast of Renald (The Northern Knights)
CHAPTER TWO
CHAP
TER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FIFTY
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
About the Author: