Hearts Unbound Page 7

  Jareth didn’t care.

  Leaning his elbows on the desk, he steepled his fingers in front of his face. All he could think about was his shelmir. Seeing her in such pain at the hands of Morana made his skin crawl. Perhaps he did genuinely care about the girl. He’d been in a fine panic, hoping against hope the old crone heeded his warning that he would kill her if she continued to harm Jessica.

  Truth be told, he was actually surprised that Morana had let Jessica go. Perhaps she didn’t want to take her life just yet. If she killed Jessica, there would be no way to break the shelmir bond until she was reborn, if there even was a way to break it.

  A shiver of dread tingled through his skin and he furrowed his brow. Would Morana find a way to break the bond? Just the thought of not being able to feel Jessica with him was enough to make him shudder. She was the only woman who’d confessed to loving him without being compelled to do so by his powers as a vampire. He wasn’t ready to lose that. Not now. Perhaps not ever.

  Thinking on his shelmir, he smiled. She was finally resting. However, the more he concentrated on her, the more trepidation entered his heart. Something was wrong. The tingling in his skin wasn’t nearly as pronounced as it had been when she was close by. In truth, it seemed as if she wasn’t in the manor at all.

  Jareth’s heart stopped cold.

  He sprang from his chair so fast, it fell over with a crash. He didn’t stop to right it. Jareth ripped open the doors to his study and all but sprinted up the staircase. He didn’t bother knocking on her door. He knew he wouldn’t find Jessica in her bed, but he had to look regardless.

  The door swung open easily, revealing an empty room.

  “Damn the woman!” he cursed under his breath, wasting no time as he bounded down the stairs two by two.

  “Your Grace, is something the matter?” the earl of Thornbury asked as he strode through the hall from his chambers.

  “Nothing you need worry about, my lord,” Jareth said coolly as he swung open the front door. Before Thornbury could retort, he was down the terrace steps, running to the stables.

  Once inside, he spied the stable boy who stared at him with large eyes.

  “Did Lady Jessica order a horse to be saddled?” he demanded in a gruff voice. The boy didn’t immediately answer him. “Well did she?”

  “Y—yes, Your G—Grace,” the boy stammered. “She took Dewdrop, the dappled gray mare.”

  “Do you know where she went?”

  “The lady did not say!” The boy looked as if he were about to faint, his skin was so pale. Jareth could practically see him trembling.

  Nodding, Jareth held up a hand in an effort to soothe the boy. “Do not be frightened, lad,” he said. “I am not angry with you. Saddle me the fastest horse in the stable.”

  “Begging your pardon, Your Grace, but the fastest horse in this stable was Sir William, and I’m afraid he…he…”

  “He what? Out with it!”

  “He perished along with Lord Laith, Your Grace.”

  Closing his eyes, Jareth groaned. “Then saddle the second fastest. And be quick about it, I do not have time to waste.”

  “Right away!” the boy exclaimed, jumping to do his bidding.

  Within moments, a spirited bay gelding was saddled and ready, his red coat shining in the early morning light. His mane and tail were as black as pitch and he stomped his foot a few times as if eager to run.

  “Thank you, lad,” Jareth said, tossing him a coin for his efforts. The boy’s eyes grew wide.

  “You are most welcome, Your Grace!”

  Jareth didn’t answer. He merely swung up into the saddle and gave the horse its head. He could feel Jessica toward the east and turned the horse in that direction. What was she thinking, leaving the comfort of her room and risking her life by riding about the countryside? Didn’t she know she was in grave danger?

  Her words came back to him. She believed she had to leave in order to protect herself. No matter that he told her to stay, she’d left anyhow. Jareth’s anger burned. Would the woman ever learn? She was his shelmir, she belonged to him! There was no way in hell he’d let her go so easily.

  Kicking the horse even faster, he could feel himself getting closer to her with every powerful stride. He was going to make sure, once and for all, Jessica knew exactly where she belonged.

  * * *

  Trotting off the road, Jessica weaved in and out of the trees before finally coming to a halt on the shore of a small pond. Her head was spinning, and her ears ringing. She needed to rest.

  She should have known better than to try to leave Crichton when she was injured. Not only did her body ache from falling down the staircase, but she was also feeling the after effects of Morana’s magic as well.

  “Damn,” she whispered as she slid off the horse. Falling to her knees, she cupped some water in her hands and splashed her face. The cool water was a welcome balm against her heated cheeks. As she concentrated, Jessica tried to find magic within herself. Perhaps she could heal whatever side effects she was having. Perhaps she could make her body cease to ache.

  Her dizziness was too great. The weaves of magic could not be found. With a sigh, Jessica lay back in the grass, allowing the mare to graze a few feet away. If she just spent a minute here, she should be all right. She could get underway as soon as the world stopped spiraling.

  By now, Jareth was probably aware that she was not in her room. She had no doubt he would come looking for her. That thought alone had her trying to sit up. She ached in too many places, and riding the horse hadn’t helped matters. How long had it been since she’d ridden a horse on her own? She couldn’t remember. Now her backside ached as much as the rest of her.

  As she thought of Jareth, she could feel him getting closer through their bond. Her skin tingled and she rubbed her arms to try and rid herself of the sensation. Gazing at the mare, the horse turned and walked a few more feet away, presumably to graze on finer grass.

  Groaning, Jessica stood and stumbled a bit before finally getting her footing. Her head pounded mercilessly and all she wanted to do was lie back down. Was there really any hope for outrunning Jareth anyhow? The man was so close she could practically smell him.

  With a cry and a thud, she fell back to the grass, surrendering to her fate. She was destined to be with Jareth; there was no way out of it. Tears sprang in her eyes and she wiped at them angrily, waiting for him to come.

  It didn’t take long.

  A huge red horse crashed through the foliage, its handsome rider glancing about until his gaze settled on her. Groaning once again, Jessica covered her face and lay back, crying, and hating herself for it.

  “What do you think you are doing?” Jareth’s angry voice carried to her as he jumped off his horse. “Do you care at all for your own safety?”

  She couldn’t answer him. Her throat closed around the words she wanted to say. She kept her eyes closed tight behind her hands.

  “Answer me, Jessica, or so help me I’m going to bend you over my knee here and now!”

  Dropping her hands, she looked up into Jareth’s gray eyes—eyes that were shooting sparks. He knelt beside her, looking as if he could wring her neck. She supposed he might be mad enough to do it. However, all she could think about—was the maid.

  “Jareth,” she said, sniffling. “Do you love her?”

  “Love whom?” His face twisted in confusion. “Whom are you talking about? Your sister?”

  Jessica shook her head as she bit her lip. “No. Trudy.” She still lay in the grass looking up at him, and she watched as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “Who is Trudy?”

  “Your maid. The one you’ve been dallying with.”

  “I have not dallied with any of the servants!” he exclaimed, looking hurt.

  “She said you have. Trudy said you…that you…”

  Jareth closed his eyes, as if remembering. He heaved a sigh and nodded. “I have not thought of her in centuries,” he said in a soft voice, reach
ing out to stroke her cheek. “I have no feelings for her.”

  “But you were with her, were you not?”

  “A very long time ago, yes.”

  “Not that long,” Jessica said, feeling tears once again.

  “Long for me, my sweet. I am not the same man you once knew. You pulled me here, into this body, the body of the man who used to live in this time, but he is no more. I am here now. I have lived for longer than you can imagine. And I tell you the truth, shelmir, I have not touched her since I have returned.”

  His gentle tone made her shiver. She could see tenderness in his eyes, and she couldn’t resist bringing her own hand up to stroke his cheek as well.

  “Why, then, did you choose a maid over me all those years ago?” she asked as her tears fell. “Why could you not see that I adored you?”

  Something changed in Jareth’s eyes. Long moments of silence stretched between them as he stared at her. He finally whispered, “Because I was a fool.”

  He bent down and kissed her before she could reply. Jessica was shocked at the contact, but cried into his mouth as his velvet tongue delved inside, demanding her surrender. She gave it without question. Instantly, one hand was in his hair, while the other pulled on his tunic, drawing him closer. She wanted nothing more than to feel his weight bearing down on her has it had the night before.

  While she clutched onto him, his hands rubbed her breasts through her dress, making her arch her back. Her body hummed with anticipation, eager to feel the pleasure of his touch once more.

  His mouth burned her, giving and taking with such need, it stole her breath away.

  “Shelmir,” he whispered through his hectic kisses. “Tell me you are ready. Please!”

  Jessica knew exactly what he meant. A shiver of fear raced through her, but also one of excitement. There was no way she could say no to this man. Not now.

  His mouth on hers made it impossible for her to answer him. She merely moaned low in the back of her throat.

  “Is that a yes?” His breath scorched her skin as he made his way to her ear.

  “Yes! Jareth, yes. Don’t stop. Merciful God!” Jareth’s hot mouth was clamped on the side of her neck, sucking and biting ever-so-gently. It made her blood boil. “Stay with me,” she whispered to him right before he once again claimed her mouth with his fervent passion.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jareth bunched up her skirts until they were around her waist. Jessica knew she should feel some kind of modesty, indignant that he should dare uncover her legs. However she cursed her own skirts and petticoats for being in his way.

  “I do not know if I can wait to undress you fully, my sweet,” he panted against her skin, dipping his head to lick and nip her just above the low-cut neckline. His tongue plunged between her breasts, making Jessica cry out at the shock of it.

  “Jareth!” she said, her breath catching.

  With her skirts held high, he ran his warm palm along the sensitive skin of her inner thigh until he found his prize. This time, she wore linen drawers, but he merely ripped them away.

  “Forgive me,” he moaned, ascending once again up the column of her throat. “But I must have you. Now.”

  Instantly his fingers were upon her, sliding up and down, eliciting a sharp gasp from her. Her hips matched his rhythm as he plunged his finger inside of her, only to pull it out and run it along her wet skin again and again. She burned where he touched her, wanting more and not being denied.

  Jessica opened her legs wider for him to settle there as he continued his onslaught. His tongue invaded her mouth, mimicking the motions of his finger. She could do nothing but rock against him, straining for the pleasure she knew would come.

  “Jessie,” Jareth panted, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. “Promise you will never leave me again.”

  She could barely think with his hands upon her, but his words shocked her to the core. Looking into his eyes, she could see for herself his vulnerability. Perhaps he was coming to care for her after all.

  “Promise me,” he whispered as he leaned in close, circling her ear with his tongue, making her shiver.

  With that soft demand, Jessica fell apart. The world exploded around her, whirling about her head in a maelstrom of sensation, expanding outward to every corner of her body. Jareth kissed her hard as she whimpered again and again, lifting her hips up to him to do as he pleased.

  “I promise. I promise, Jareth!” she managed to say. He smiled down at her.

  Jareth sat up, making Jessica hold her arms out to him. “Don’t go,” she said, her eyes wide. He merely gave her a seductive grin. Her insides jumped at the sight of it.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he assured her. “But I am going to make love to you, shelmir. Right here. Right now.”

  Jessica watched in awe as he made a show of untying his breeches. Pulling his tunic from his waistband, he yanked it up and over his head, tossing it somewhere amongst the grass. The sight of his bare skin made her mouth water. She wanted nothing more than to taste his skin as he tasted hers.

  Her body ached once again, feeling an unfamiliar need inside of her. She wanted him, not only the pleasure he could give, but she also wanted to feel him moving within her innermost depths.

  Jessica sat up as well, ignoring the dizziness in her head.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, raising a brow.

  “I want to feel you against me, Jareth, not my dress. Help me get it off.”

  After a few moments of wriggling and tugging, she was free of the garment as Jareth lifted it up and over her head to join his tunic. She couldn’t help but smile shyly at him. Grabbing her shift in her hands, Jessica pulled that up and over her head as well, baring her breasts for his eyes.

  Jareth stopped what he was doing to stare at her, bringing forth a hot blush to her cheeks. He pushed her back into the grass and tugged at the ties to her petticoats. Once they were untied, he swept them off, leaving her nakedness for him to see.

  “Jessica,” he whispered almost reverently. “You are beautiful.”

  She watched as he kicked off his boots and his breeches, finally naked as she was. She gasped at the sight before her. Never before had Jessica seen a man without his clothes, and Jareth was stunning. His manhood swelled in the sunlight, and she had no idea that she moaned aloud.

  “Tell me you want me,” he said, leaning on all fours to crawl over her. Jessica sucked in her breath at the sensation of his tongue on her belly.

  “I…I want you,” she stammered.

  “Tell me you love me,” he demanded, raising his mouth to her breasts, laving each one with his silken tongue.

  Weaving her fingers in his hair, she whispered, “I love you.”

  Jareth nudged her knees apart as he settled there, kissing his way back to her mouth. “Tell me you are mine.”

  His gaze burned her, but she wasn’t about to look away. Jessica stroked his face and hoped he could read her expression. He held her heart; no other man would.

  “I am yours. Forever, Jareth,” she said.

  He fisted his hands in her hair and thrust forth. A strong, sharp jab joined his body with hers. Jessica cried out, but his mouth smothered her cry as he kissed her. The pain soon ebbed, and she reveled in the feeling of him filling her so completely.

  He was already deep inside of her, but he pushed forward even more, as if to plunge deeper, to touch her soul. Jessica responded by lifting her hips to him, feeling hot tears course down her cheeks and into her hair. She wasn’t in any more pain, far from it. She lost herself in the beauty of finally joining with her shelmir.

  Jareth withdrew from her heat only to glide forward once again. In and out, he slowly possessed her, grabbing her hips with his hands and lifting her to receive him. Jessica threw back her head and groaned, the sensation of him moving inside of her almost too much to bear. His gaze locked with hers and she couldn’t look away. She trembled as she threaded her fingers in his dark hair.

  His thrust
s became more demanding, sharper, shorter, again and again. Jessica had a hard time keeping up with his rhythm, as the fires of passion were swirling about her once more, threatening to consume her.

  Lifting her feet off the ground, she wrapped her legs around his waist and cried out at the new sensations inside of her. Her skin was now pulled tight around him, allowing him to plunge even deeper inside. Within moments, she was groaning her release just as Jareth found his own pleasure, thrusting a few more times to increase the feeling.

  Jessica couldn’t help but take small, shuddering pants as she tried to draw breath. Wrapping her arms around him, she stroked Jareth’s neck while he laid his head on her chest. Neither one spoke.

  He was still inside of her, but Jessica hoped he would never withdraw. Being this close to him made her heart overflow with tenderness. Never had she imagined that making love to her shelmir, to Jareth, would be so earth-shattering.

  “I am yours, Jessica,” Jareth murmured so softly, that she had to strain to hear it. But once she did, her heart soared. She hugged him close and kissed his cheek.

  “Always,” she whispered.

  * * *

  Morana growled low in her throat as she paced the dirt floor of her hut. Books and papers were strewn about, haphazardly tossed here and there as if thrown in a fit of rage. Every one of her spell books mentioned nothing about severing the shelmir bond. It would seem the bond itself was permanent after all.

  She refused to accept that.

  There was one book she hadn’t checked yet; one book that had once belonged to her grandmother, the woman who’d taught her all about sorcery. Spreading her arms wide, Morana began to chant and a sudden breeze ruffled her hair. The flames on her candles flickered wildly, casting ghastly shadows on the walls.

  A bright light filled the room, and a book materialized at her feet. Bending down, Morana lovingly lifted the tome off the floor and wandered to her battered table. The book had been in her family for generations, even before she had become a vampire. She always kept it hidden in the ethereal realm, knowing it could never be stolen or harmed there.