“Now it’s my turn.” He settled himself between her legs and thrust deep and hard. She withered beneath him, huffing, and moaning. James got caught up in listening to her sweet desirous wails that he had lessened his movements.

Emlyn cried out, and James suspected she was nearing culmination, and he kept to the teasing pace. She screamed his name and he moaned. Her woman’s core tightened and convulsed around his erection. Such sweet, tumultuous torture.

James couldn’t hold back and he became a beast. Pleasure entwined his veins, and he shook with magnanimous force. He thrust and stayed planted, for his body hardened and he released a ground-out breath in a guttural call. He was wracked in a paralyzing orgasm of which he’d never experienced.

His breath rasped and when he opened his eyes, he found her watching him closely. The only thing he could do at that moment was grin, for if anyone asked him to move, he would likely fall.

“God Almighty, James. I cannot believe how wonderful that feels.” She continued to stroke his arms and smiled.

He laughed and pulled away from her, giving her a hand to help her sit up. Emlyn threw her legs over the side of the table and sat next to him, shoulder to shoulder.

“Is it like that all the time?”

He grinned, for he was about to tell a falsehood. “Aye, it is.”

Emlyn’s sweet laughter flowed through him.

“I cannot believe you came to me. Does this mean what I deem it to mean?”

“Aye. I will help you.”

She threw herself into his arms. “James,” she said, trailing light kisses over his face, “Thank you. Why did you change your mind?”

He chuckled and pulled her against him. Her naked body felt splendid against his. “I’ve been released from my vow to my laird. When we go, we will let everyone believe you’re going to Marshall as agreed. When we reach the border, we’ll head north.”

“Oh, I thought mayhap you … Ah, well that is good and I am relieved.”

A bang sounded on the door and they both shot a gaze toward it. The banging persisted.

“Who else knows you’re here?”

More bangs came and shouts. “Emlyn, are you in there? If you are, ye best answer me. I demand you open this door at once.”

“Oh, damnation. It’s my mother. Come, we must hide.” Emlyn scooped up her garments, and James followed suit. He clasped her hand as she led him to a dark, dank outlet. They seemed to be in a cave. “This should be far enough.”

Once inside the cavern, James moved into a recess of rock near the entrance where Emlyn stopped. Light from the antechamber didn’t reach the cave and he could barely see her even though she stood next to him.

“My mother won’t come in here. Stay quiet.”

James pulled on his tartan, belted it, and held on to his tunic. He helped pull Emlyn’s tunic over her head and she giggled when his fingers brushed her abdomen.

“You’re ticklish. I’ll have to remember that.”

“Shhhh,” she said, setting a finger over her lips.

James grinned and pulled her to his body. He kissed her and kept it up until his lips became numb.

Voices came from the antechamber and Emlyn broke off the kiss, and leaned to peer into the lightness.

“Emlyn, if you’re in there, ye best come out. Delyth told me where to find you. Hiding will do you no good. You will be sent to Marshall and will wed him as your father and I bid. You have a duty as your father’s daughter. As a Wales princess, you should not be acting so childish. I am being reasonable, but not for much longer. Do you hear me?”

Emlyn whispered in his ear, “How can we not? She’s yelling loud enough to rattle the bats and wake the Gods.”

“Mayhap she’s not in there,” one of her mother’s guards said.

“If you do not return to the keep by this eve, I vow I will send ye to our enemy without a stitch of clothing on. Come all, I have spoken my peace.”

The antechamber door banged and a quiet followed.

Emlyn stood still and didn’t seem to want to move. James pulled her close and clasped her in his arms. “Do you deem she means what she said? I fear all of the Gunns would want to ride alongside ye, you being naked and all.”

Emlyn laughed. “Oh aye, she means it. My mother was born to King John of England. Her heart is just as malevolent. I doubt she knows what compassion is.”

James kissed her forehead. “Mayhap, you’re aright, for I know King John never had any. What is this place?”

From deep inside the cavern, he heard the sound of dripping water. The scent of fish and an acrid smell engulfed him. He noticed the ceiling went upward and seemed not to end. He never would have guessed the chamber led to the cave, but the entrance was darkened and it appeared to be another room. It was far from an adjoining room.

“Ddraig Goch, the red dragon’s lair, the dragon that guards my grandfather’s secrets.”

Her grandfather had a strange name for his domain. “Where is he?”

Emlyn pulled on her breeches. “He’s gone, died. He practiced the old religion and many still revere him. They deem this sacred land and none ever enter his realm. I’m surprised my mother did, but she never believed in my grandfather’s sorcery. My father sometimes speaks of the days when he was a lad and odd happenstances occurred.”

“You believe he performed such rituals and of dragons?” James kept his expression devoid of humor, for he wouldn’t affront her.

“Oh aye, for I saw his sorcery with my own eyes. I never did see the dragon though. I’m not certain, but he may have fabricated that tale to keep everyone away from the cave.”

James looked ahead and his eyes adjusted to the dark abode. He spotted something bright on the floor of the cave. “Look there.” He began walking toward it.

“Oh, James, it looks to be eggs. Do you deem they’re dragon’s eggs?”

“I know not, but I’ve never seen such large eggs before. They’re warm,” he said, touching the closest one.

“We should leave. I don’t want to disturb anything, especially if the dragon or whatever they are, mama’s returns. Come.”

James followed her from the cavern back into the adjacent chamber. He finished dressing and leaned against the table where they’d fornicated.

“Come here.”

Emlyn stood between his legs. Her bright green eyes still misted with passion. James held and stroked her face with his thumbs and considered kissing her again.

“I should return.”

“Aye,” he said. But neither moved. He wished she didn’t have to leave his presence, but knew she had to return to the keep. “Emlyn, when we leave … Once we reach the border, we’ll head toward Gunn land. We’ve a neighboring chieftain that will give us sanctuary and aid. I don’t want you to fear.”

“I won’t as long as I’m with you.” She stood on the tips of her toes and kissed him.

James returned the kiss, but broke it off when he felt the stirrings of lust. Aye, he wanted her again.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because, I now know what we experienced the other night and I will remember what it feels like to be inside you.”

Emlyn smacked his hand when he raised it to touch her breast.

“Aye, you’re a vixen, lovely, and mine.”

Emlyn set her hands on the sides of his neck and whispered, “Always and willingly.”

Chapter Twelve

Emlyn was forced to submit. Her mother’s guard awaited outside the chamber and captured her arms before she made a move to defend herself. Even though she didn’t resist, they drug her forcibly to the keep. Her mother met them at the entrance.

“Take her to the black-stall. She’ll not be able to escape.”

“Mother, I wish not to escape. Please, don’t put me in there. I’ll do your bidding. There’s no reason to lock me away.”

“I disbelieve ye. Put her in the stall and make sure the door is locked.” Her mother turned and walked away as if her punishment were nothing but a mere slap on the hand.