Lady Adalyn (The Saga Of Wolfbridge Manor Book 1), Sahara Kelly [the best e book reader .TXT] 📗

of them, Adalyn,” said Evan thoughtfully. “And this time it was a clear case of murder. Perhaps now we’ll be able to pick up a trail that might lead us to their killer. Odds are that he has to be the man who paid them to dispose of Sir Amery. If Fricklebottom survives, then perhaps we’ll know.”

“But we’re still no closer to a motive, are we?” Adalyn looked over her shoulder at the assembled men.

“I have faith,” said Daniel. “Secrets seldom remain that way when people start dying.”

“We will not give up, Adalyn.” Jeremy rose and walked to her side. “None of us will give up.”

She sighed. “No, we won’t. We can’t. We’re Wolfbridge, and we care for our own.”

He nodded, picked up her hand and dropped a light kiss on the back.

Something inside her stirred. She was tired, but her mind still raged over the issues surrounding her. The flood, the bridge, Trick, and now these killings… She was frustrated, helpless to accomplish her goals...she couldn't stop the rain...

She needed…she needed…Jeremy.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Giles knew.

Somehow he’d sensed the direction of her thoughts and as the evening wound down, she saw him catch Jeremy’s arm and whisper a few words in his ear.

They’d discussed all the events of the day, in great detail, and come to a final conclusion that no more could be said at that moment, either about Trick’s situation or the danger of the Wolf river flooding. The brandy glasses were empty, the table cleared, and the fires banked for the night in the fireplaces. It was time to retire, and Adalyn did so with a glad heart.

She was weary…the physical toll of moving people and things for a couple of hours had been strenuous, and the emotional toll of seeing Trick in his cell had added to the pressures of her day.

Even though her shoulders ached, and her limbs felt heavy, her mind still persisted in going over and over everything. So she walked past her bed and stoked up the fire, listening to the rain as it fell outside on the tiles over her windows. The chair and a thick shawl were beckoning, a warm nest and bright flames to ease the body and the soul.

After about twenty minutes there was a light knock on the door, and Jeremy peered around. “May I come in?”

“Of course.” She turned back to the fire. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I hoped you would be.” He came to stand behind her. “It’s been a strange day, hasn’t it?” His hands found her shoulders and began to massage them.

She managed to avoid a groan of pleasure, but his fingers felt so wonderful. She just nodded and found her muscles relaxing into his touch. “That feels wonderful, Jeremy. Just wonderful.”

His touch continued, his firm hands kneading and stroking, moving to the back of her neck and turning her head this way and that, and then over and around to her chin and neck, still working to ease the tautness that had locked her body in its grasp.

“You are tense,” he whispered, leaning over to brush her ear.

“You’re helping,” she whispered back, closing her eyes and tilting her head to one side, exposing her neck to his gaze.

And his lips.

She felt the kisses, delicate touches as his breath warmed her. Then his tongue followed, tracing the muscle from her ear to her shoulder.

That brought a moan of pleasure. She couldn’t contain it, since his caresses were awakening all the pleasure centres within her body. His mouth opened against her skin where her neck and her shoulder joined, his teeth grazing the sensitive spot as his hands slid lower and found her breasts.

She moved, the heat from his touch arousing her, the scrape of his teeth stimulating a response low in her belly.

“Shh.” He held her in place. “Don’t move…”

She felt his fingers untie her robe and then the front of her nightgown—baring her to the firelight and his gaze.

“So beautiful, Adalyn. You are so beautiful. Like flames on porcelain…” His hands slid down again, but this time against naked flesh. Her breasts felt swollen as he cupped them, and when his fingertips caught her nipples and gently pinched them, she whimpered, lost to the sheer sensuality of such a daring and exquisite touch.

“You like that,” he chuckled softly in her ear.

“Yes, I do,” she mumbled, pushing forward ever so slightly into his hands. “Oh yes, I really do.”

He played with her then, teasing, pinching, squeezing and kissing whatever part of her was near, until she was a writhing mess of need. “Stand up, Adalyn.” His touch vanished and she felt the cool air as he stood between her and the firelight. “Stand up.”

She put her hands on the arms of the chair and pushed herself to her feet, her body weak and throbbing with urgency.

“Good girl,” he praised her. Then he stripped her robe and gown off her in one simple move, leaving her standing nude in front of him.

She gasped at the speed and efficiency of his hands, and her eyes widened as he disposed of his own clothing in the same way. Then he drew her into his arms, heedless of the two piles of nightwear around their feet.

The heat of the fire toasted one side of her as they turned in each other’s arms, the hair on his chest abrading her already sensitive nipples. He lowered his head and kissed her, holding her tighter and tighter, and sliding his hands all over her, squeezing her buttocks, then slipping up her sides to caress her shoulders.

He was hard against her and she parted her thighs, making room for him in between.

This time the groan was his and he scooped her up in his arms. “I want you, Lady of Wolfbridge. And tonight I will have you.”

She shivered at the command in his voice. “I want you too, Jeremy.”

He carried her to the bed, but instead of dropping her on top of it as she’d expected, he turned