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  “As will you some day,” Lady Weobley said, giving me a warm smile.

  I shrugged, a little embarrassed by the station I would hold in only a year’s time. “Yes, I suppose so.”

  It was a great honor to be the High Priestess of all England. It was a position to which I had been born. One for which I had trained my whole life and would continue to train even though I would soon be married. I had brought some books from my home—no, from my parent’s home—so that I could continue my studies, and my mother had promised to send me more.

  I had to think of Weobley as my home now.

  I turned and looked at the castle, which was laid out below me. It was a good, strong, well-fortified holding. In the inner bailey, men-at-arms practiced their swordplay. The round chapel stood off to one side, and the great hall was a well-proportioned building, grand enough to house a king. This is where I would live…

  The thrumping of horses’ hooves stopped my thoughts, and I turned back wondering if it could be my father returning for some reason.

  But Lady Weobley was now the one leaning out over the battlements, trying to discern who the small group of horsemen were.

  “Who is it, my lady, can you tell?” I asked, leaning out next to her.

  “I… I believe it… Yes, it is my son! My son is returned home!” And with that she turned and ran back into the room she had assigned to me. I could hear her shouting out to the servants as she ran down the stairs to the great hall, but I couldn’t make out what she said. Soon all of the knights who had been practicing in the inner-bailey stopped what they were doing and rushed to the gatehouse to welcome the newcomer.

  Her son? My fiancé? He was here, already? I had been told that he wouldn’t return until next week. I had been looking forward to this time to get to know my future mother-in-law and to prepare myself, mentally, for the role I was about to take on. It had only been three months since my father had informed me of the match. Since then, I’d been too busy preparing my trousseau to even give a thought to my future husband and my role as his wife. But now, here he was. Returned home before I could even get my bearings in this strange new place.

  I turned back to watch the small group of men clatter across the drawbridge and then disappear as they passed through the gatehouse into the inner-bailey—and swallowed the fear that had sprung up between my shoulder blades.

  Chapter Six

  I stood back from the group of people who had all surged forward to welcome home his lordship, Huw, Earl of Weobley. Uncertain whether he was expecting me to be here, I also wanted a chance to get a good look at the man who would be my husband.

  My father had done all of the negotiating and arranging of this marriage. He wasn’t one to spend a great deal of time speaking with his youngest daughter—or any of his daughters for that matter—so I knew very little about the earl. The sooth-sayer had said that my destiny lay with the son of this house, and so my parents had arranged for me to marry him.

  I peered around a knight trying to get a glimpse of my intended, who had dismounted from his horse and become lost in the crowd before I had even joined my future mother-in-law outside.

  “My son! It is good to see you,” I heard Lady Weobley say. “You have been gone far too long. We have had such excitement since you left.”

  I could only think that she referred to my arrival. This was confirmed when Lady Weobley turned and caught sight of me. After a moment’s pause, she beckoned to me.

  I wondered about her hesitation, but she caught hold of my arm and pulled me forward before I could discern any reason for it. “Come, meet the Lady Erinne.”

  I curtseyed deeply just as my mother had taught me, lowering my eyes to the ground. But before I had done so, I caught a glimpse of Lord Weobley. He was possibly the most handsome man I had ever seen! His hair was dark brown, almost black, and he had a complexion that bespoke of many hours out in the sun. Standing nearly a head taller than I, his chest and arms were testament to proficiency with a sword and lance, but it was his eyes which truly caught my attention. Never in my life had I seen eyes gray as a stormy sky. And yet they were kind, smiling eyes.

  I lifted my own once again, to find him staring at me with an expression of wonderment. Immediately, I knew why he looked at me this way. My magic told me that he was pleased with my looks and physically attracted to me, but even more startling was that we were both overcome with a feeling of completeness.

  I felt as if I were staring at the other half of myself, so immediate was our connection. I had not spoken one word to this man, but I knew him. I had never laid eyes on him until this day, but I felt comfortable and safe just being in his presence.

  There was absolutely no denying the fact that the sooth-sayer had been right—Lord Weobley and I were meant for each as the right hand was meant for the left. Here, indeed, was the man I was destined to spend the rest of my life with. And every inch of me was acutely aware of this., My body tingled in way I had never felt before. Desires I had never before experienced were running through me, and I knew I would never feel this for anyone but this man, the one man for whom I was destined—Huw of Weobley.

  “Lady Erinne,” he began, but before he could get more than that out, his mother intervened.

  “Come, my son, come inside and I will bathe you and see that you are well fed. You must be exhausted after your journey.” She took his arm and led him away toward the great hall.

  I hesitated and then ran after them. “My lady, is it not for me to see to his lordship’s needs? I would be most happy to do so.”

  Lady Weobley stopped and looked from her son to me and then back again, clearly trying to decide if it would be appropriate for me to do so. Since he was to be my husband, I was certain that caring for him even now was my duty.

  “No. That would not be—” she started.

  “I would be quite content for Lady Erinne to see to my bath while you see to my supper, Mother,” Lord Weobly said. He attempted to keep a bland expression on his face, but I could see a distinct twinkle in his eye.

  Lady Weobley opened her mouth to naysay his lordship once again but turned back and made a moment’s eye contact with me. I caught a strong sensation of uncertainty and fear in her. I couldn’t understand what she could be conflicted about—Lord Weobley was soon to be my husband.

  We stood for nearly a full minute with her just looking back and forth between the two of us as she made up her mind.

  With great reluctance, she relented and called out for a serving girl to show us both up to his lordship’s bedchamber, and to a second to bring bathwater and a tub to the same chamber. There was a distinct look of unease in her eye when it caught mine once again. Silently, she sent me a word of warning, but I didn’t understand what she meant.

  As I had only just arrived at Weobley the evening before, I was grateful for the girl who showed us the way up to his lordship’s room. It was along the same hallway as mine and only two doors down.

  His room was larger than my bedchamber, but mine did have a private sitting room, which his did not. It was dominated by a large, canopied bed with a trunk situated at the foot of it. There was a good amount of space between the trunk and the large fireplace where the footmen could place a bathtub.

  I have to admit to feeling quite shy at first. I was unsure if he would be offended if I used my magic to help him with his mail coat after I helped him remove his belt and surcoat. He must have sensed my unease. Before I could even make up my mind, he gave me a sweet smile and began to use his own magic to lift off the heavy mail. Seeing him do so immediately put me at ease, and I began to use my own powers to assist him.

  His coat was off and gently floating to lay over the trunk at the foot of the bed when two male servants came in bearing a large copper tub, followed by two more carrying buckets of hot water.

  He grabbed his coat out of mid-air with a sheepish expression on his face, before any of the footmen could notice its lone journey. I couldn’t help but giggle. The footmen gla
nced over at me, questioningly.

  “Indeed, Lady Erinne, I kid you not,” his lordship said, as if he had been speaking to me about something before the men had come into the room.

  “Oh, but my lord, that can’t be right, to mistake your grand stallion for an ass!” I said, saying the first thing that came to my mind.

  “Indeed, the poor man was as blind as that,” he said, beginning to giggle himself. “And as he was behind the horse, looking at his, er, rump, it could have been an honest mistake.”

  I could not stop laughing now.

  “For all I know, however,” he continued, “if I had been unclothed and bent over, he could have mistaken me for…”

  “My lord, shall we build up this fire for you?” one of the footmen interrupted my burst of laughter, which I quickly stifled with my hand. It was probably a very good thing, too, because I don’t think I could have thought of a rejoinder to his ridiculousness.

  Thankfully, the footmen left quickly. But then as soon as they were gone, his lordship got such a look in his eye, I almost wished them back.

  “Come here, Erinne,” he said, his voice deepening and becoming soft as silk.

  His doublet untied itself even as I obeyed him, and he shrugged it off and tossed it over to join his mail and surcoat on the chest. With the briefest glance behind him, he sat back on to the bed and began to remove his boots. I helped him and then turned away to move his towel closer to the fire so that it would be warm when his lordship had need of it.

  When I turned back, he stood naked waiting for me. I could barely breathe. His beauty, the definition of his muscles and, well, all of him was quite overwhelming for a girl with as limited experience as I. I tried my hardest not to stare, but I had seen too few men in this state not to ease my curiosity just a little. His broad chest was lightly sprinkled with dark hair, which gradually became thicker as it formed a straight line from his navel to his… I swallowed and quickly turned around to face the bath once more. His member was slowly rising and growing, reaching out as if to greet me. I was certain that my face must be flaming red.

  “You see what you do to me,” he said.

  “Yes, my lord.” I could only barely choke out the words.

  He took pity on me and stepped past and into the bath. The water sloshed over the edge, but I ignored it as I knelt on the floor next to him. It was my duty as his future wife to care for his needs, and so I would. I was grateful that it would not be a distasteful task. I took a deep breath to try to dispel my embarrassment. This man was to be my husband. I should get used to him—all of him.

  I helped Lord Weobley to bathe, soaping his back and then his chest. He assisted by lifting his legs out one by one so that I could wash them and the dirt from his feet. He moaned in pleasure as I massaged the soap into his long hair and scalp, but sputtered in protest when I dumped a mug full of water over his head to wash it out again.

  When I gingerly wiped the water from his eyes and face, he paused. I could not help but do so as well. He was so beautiful. His long lashes were thick and dark with water, his eyes a stormy gray. His top lip was thin, but the bottom one was plump.

  Before I realized what he was doing, he pulled me to him. My breath caught in my throat as our lips crashed together. But then his softened, as he gently nibbled at my own. I had never been kissed before… Well, not like this. He tilted his head so that we fit together better, closer. I could feel his tongue sliding along the seam of my mouth. Cautiously, I opened to him and his tongue swept inside taking full ownership of my mouth, of me, and quite possibly of my heart.

  My bones all seemed to dissolve into jelly, and I stumbled forward, nearly falling into the tub with him. He caught me, laughing a deep chuckle I could feel rumbling through his chest. He stood up, taking me with him.

  “You are soaked through,” he said, his voice deep and husky with desire.

  I looked down to see for myself. My eye was caught by his manhood, which stood erect and pointing meaningfully right at me. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was suddenly very dry. It took great effort to pull my eyes away from him, but when I finally did, his eyes were smiling even though his expression was most serious.

  “I should not do this and may the Lord protect me from the consequences of my actions, but I fear I could not stop myself if I tried,” he said, in a near whisper. “Come here.” He stepped from the tub but didn’t bother with the towel. I made a move toward it, but he stopped me with a raise of his hand, which then turned as he beckoned me closer with the crook of his fingers.

  I took a hesitant step toward him, but he closed the distance with one of his own. He lifted off my tunic, which was indeed wet through. My chemise lifted itself off with the help of his magic, as he tossed my tunic over toward the trunk.

  He reached for me, cradling my head in his hands. This time his kiss was sweet and gentle as he scooped his arm under my knees and lifted me off the ground. I was glad of his support because I was certain my legs would give out under such a sweet assault. He carried me to the bed and laid me down toward the center of it, leaving room for himself.

  His body pressed against mine and I could feel every inch of his warm, wet form. The hair on his chest tickled against my bare breasts but stimulated me as well. But it was his hand as it ran down my side to my hips that sent shudders of pleasure shimmering through me. His hand then made its way to the juncture of my legs and gently pushed them apart. The sensations he caused as he touched me made me gasp. Immediately he stilled.

  “Am I hurting you?” he asked, concern filling his voice.

  “No! No, it feels good. No one…no one has ever touched me there,” I whispered.

  “That is as it should be. You are mine. I can feel it with every inch of me. I felt it when I first saw you.” His hand began moving once again, touching me and sending shivers of pleasure through my entire body. “I don’t know what it is, Erinne, but I know that we are meant to be together. You felt it too.”

  “Yes,” I gasped. “Oh, yes.” I swallowed my nerves and began to touch him as well, running my hand down his back and over his buttocks. He was soft and firm and well muscled throughout. I then moved so that I could touch his chest and the hard nubs of his nipples. He moaned as I did so and led my hand down to his manhood, which was pressing against my hip.

  I didn’t know how to touch him there, but he guided my hand slowly up and down his shaft. I was afraid to hurt him, but he showed me what to do and soon his hips were pumping the rhythm. He suddenly stopped.

  “Have I done something wrong?” I asked.

  “No. Oh blessed God, no.” He moved on top of me then and moved apart my legs with his own. Slowly, ever so slowly and gently he pressed himself into me. It was a little painful at first, but then he began to kiss my lips, my cheeks, my eyes. I relaxed and he pressed further inside. The sensation was incredible. It felt so right. For the first time in my life I felt whole.

  We moved together. We were one. This was meant to be. The magic swirled around us crackling and sparking, sending shivers washing through me as the jolts of pleasure grew bigger, encompassing more and more of me. My mind went blank. I could think of nothing but how good I felt, how right this was, and how perfect this world of love was.

  Lord Huw groaned and then retreated before pressing ever deeper into me twice, thrice, and then holding himself steady as shudders of pleasure crashed through me. I gasped and cried out as we came together. We both collapsed, he moving his chest off of mine onto the bed but leaving our nether parts joined.

  For a moment we just lay there, panting. Then he managed to push himself up on his elbow so that he could look down at me.

  His smile was beautiful, encompassing his entire face, even his half-closed eyes. “How is it that fate has given me the most beautiful woman?” he asked. “I am indeed a lucky man.”

  Warmth spread through me and I cradled his face in my hands. “My parents were told that I was meant to be with you. I am glad they listened and sent me here. My
life is now complete.”

  He kissed me gingerly, sending shivers of joy through me. But then he moved away, leaving me cold.

  Standing next to the bed, he held out his hand for me. I took it and allowed him to help me from the bed. He handed me my chemise and took his own hose from the pile of his clothes on the trunk. Dressed only in our underclothes, he led me out of the room and down to my chamber. Giggling at the inappropriateness of our dress, I couldn't help but look around to make sure there was no else about. Thank goodness there wasn't. I followed him out on to the battlements.

  The courtyard was empty—everyone must have been in the hall eating dinner. The early evening sky had cleared, turning brilliant with purple clouds stained by the sinking sun. The air was warm, freshened by the day’s rain. I couldn’t help but lean out between castellations to see the beauty. My lord held me safe with an arm around my waist to ensure that I didn’t fall, but I had no such fear. I was with my love, the man I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. Nothing could harm me.

  I leaned my head back against his chest, happier than I had ever been in my life.

  “Wake up now, Erin,” David urged gently. “Wake up. It is the twenty-first century once again and you are Erin Freyn. Do you remember where you are?”

  Slowly, Erin’s eyelids fluttered open.

  Chapter Seven

  Erin sat up suddenly. “My lord!”

  “No. It’s David. Do you remember where you are, Erin?”

  Erin looked around the room, pausing when she got to Lanie and Ibrahim who were still sitting on the floor. Lanie’s mouth was slightly open, and Ibrahim just looked dumbfounded.

  A bad feeling had been pulsing through David’s chest throughout the hypnosis. It had been him—the man she’d been with. He was sure of it. He didn’t know how he knew, but he did, although he felt rather foolish for thinking so.

  Rubbing her eyes as if she’d been asleep, Erin said, “My goodness, that was…” Her eyes then flew up to meet his again. “Oh my God! You’re… you were there! You were Lord Weobley!”