Hearts Unbound Read online

  The spine crackled as she opened the old book, and she leafed through the pages with a careful hand. The script was written in magical runes that danced before her eyes. Perhaps she should have consulted the Book of Ancient Magicks first.

  “Tell me of the shelmir bond.” She watched with excitement as the runes rearranged themselves across the pages. Within moments, she read about the bond, how to cast the spell, and the long-lasting effects. She scowled.

  “Can the bond be broken?” she asked, anger lacing her voice. Once again, the runes assembled themselves, revealing to her a passage that made her cackle with glee. There was a way!

  Morana closed the book and said the words that sent it back to the ethereal plane with another flash of light. She stood and glanced out the doorway of her hut. It was still daylight; she’d have to wait for the night before she could roam about freely. Now that she knew what must be done, a plan formed in her mind.

  “Jareth Moreland,” she said to herself as more wind whipped about the room. “You will be mine!”

  Morana’s evil laughter echoed through the forest.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jareth lay languidly on top of Jessica, reveling in the feeling of her fingers running through his hair. How could one simple act make him feel so content? As if everything was right in the world. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, smiling as he breathed in her lilac scent.

  Everything about this woman was beautiful.

  Leaning up on his elbows, Jareth smiled down at her, smoothing the stray hairs away from her face. Jessica’s eyes were hooded; she’d been thoroughly pleasured. He was still buried inside of her, and he thrust forward just enough to make her gasp and bite her lip. Jareth groaned at the sight and kissed her, eager to feel her delicate tongue in his mouth once again.

  “Swim with me,” he whispered against her lips.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Swim with me,” he repeated. “This pond is—was—my favorite place to come and get away from everything. I want to swim in it again—with you.”

  “It will be cold.”

  “I promise you will be cold only for a moment.”

  As she looked into his eyes, Jareth couldn’t help but feel tenderness enter his heart. He’d dreamt of making love to Jessica many times, but the reality of it was much more intense than he could ever imagine. He’d never been so connected to a woman, so in tune with her body, that he knew what she wanted before she did. Hearing her soft voice tell him she loved him had inflamed his blood, and nothing in the world could have stopped him from taking her.

  Jareth had no idea what he’d ever done to deserve her. His entire life, he had done nothing to be proud of. He had even conspired to kill his own brother in order to have Cassandra. The fact that Cassandra died along with Laith was grounds enough for Jessica to hate him, but she didn’t. She’d loved him for a while, apparently, and he’d been too dense to realize it before now. If she hadn’t brought him back to the past, he never would have realized it.

  He had no idea if her feelings for him would have made a difference in the rivalry he shared with his brother. It might have. Then again, he’d been so blinded by Cassandra’s beauty, that there wasn’t another woman he would have considered looking twice at.

  Now that Cassandra was lost to him forever, Jareth found that he couldn’t recall her face. Even the thought of her had him shaking his head until he thought of his shelmir lying underneath him. For the first time in his long life, he didn’t want Cassandra. The revelation stunned him.

  He wanted Jessica. With everything inside of him.

  “I will swim with you, Your Grace,” she said shyly, lowering her eyes.

  Jareth caught her chin with his fingers and brought her face back up to his. “Jareth,” he corrected with a soft smile. “You are my shelmir, and you will soon be my wife. You will call me by my given name.”

  Jessica’s eyes widened as she took a deep breath. He knew what she was thinking. Saying out loud that she was going to be his wife had such a finality to it that he couldn’t keep his hands from shaking. Not from dread, but from delight. He could clearly see the tears in her eyes.

  “Does this sadden you?” he asked, wiping her cheeks.

  Jessica shook her head. “No. I merely cannot believe it. For years, I have dreamt of becoming your wife, Jareth. Now it will be a reality.”

  “Nothing will stop it,” he whispered to her, giving her feather-soft kisses all over her face. “You will be my duchess in a few days if I have my way.”

  Jessica gasped in his ear. “Your duchess!” she exclaimed, clinging to his neck.

  He chuckled at her innocence. “Yes, shelmir. Did you think to wed a duke and not become a duchess yourself?”

  “I…I just never thought…the duchy does not matter to me.”

  “Nor to me, my sweet, but here we are, unwilling aristocrats.”

  Jessica giggled. “Perhaps we can both run away and make love across the countryside.”

  Jareth’s eyes flashed as he stared down at her in disbelief before he grinned with mischief. “I love the way you think, little one,” he purred, bending down to kiss her ear. He flicked at her lobe with his tongue.

  “Mmm,” she answered in the back of her throat. “What about that swim?”

  “Yes.” He grinned and pulled away. “I do need to cool off. Come with me.”

  He withdrew from her heat slowly, making her gasp once again. He couldn’t help the smile that followed.

  He stood and offered her his hand. She took it timidly, giving him a smile of her own. Jareth’s heart lurched in his chest. He couldn’t help but wonder if this was what it was like to fall in love.

  * * *

  Jessica gasped as the cold water sluiced over her skin. Jareth grinned at her sharp intake of breath as he led her out to the middle of the pond.

  “Do not worry,” he said. “The pond is not deep.”

  With a nod, Jessica followed him, only to gasp once again as he dunked his head under the water, splashing quite a few droplets on her. He began caressing her skin under the surface. His hands climbed up her thighs, resting firmly on her backside as he emerged from the water with a grin.

  Jessica had to close her eyes to him. The man was too handsome, and even more so, now that his skin and hair were slick with water. His hands were still on her bottom and he pulled her closer to him, making sure she was pressed firmly against every inch of his skin.

  “Wrap your legs around me, shelmir,” he whispered. Jessica shuddered and opened her eyes, but did as he asked, never once breaking his eye contact.

  “I want you again,” Jareth said as one hand made its way to her breast. With that one simple caress, Jessica could feel her body tightening, ready to be pleasured once more. “Do you feel that?” he asked as he lowered her hips further in the water.

  Jessica sucked in her breath at the very tip of him pushing inside of her. She trembled at the sensation. “Yes,” she whispered, fisting her hands in his hair and holding on tight.

  “Make love to me, Jessie,” he pleaded, his eyes asking her to continue. Jessica’s breathing stopped.

  With that one look from him, he was giving her all the control, asking her to lower herself on him fully. She didn’t say a word, merely kissed him tenderly while sheathing him at the same time. Jareth groaned and tried to pull away from her lips, but Jessica held on tight. Instead, he slipped his tongue into her mouth, slowly exploring, taking his time.

  As soon as he was inside of her, he crushed her to him, as if ensuring that she could never get away. After long moments of merely kissing each other, Jessica finally pulled away only to bring him close once again, bobbing up and down in the water. The feelings overwhelmed her and she wanted to prolong it.

  Releasing his mouth, Jessica kissed his cheek only to forge a path down his neck as he’d done to her many times. Opening her mouth, she licked his wet skin, amazed at the taste of him. She used her teeth to bite him ever-so-gently, and she smiled a
t his low growls as he began guiding her in a faster rhythm.

  “You taste good,” she whispered in his ear, teasing his lobe with her tongue.

  “So do you.” He grabbed her hair to pull her head to the side, exposing her own throat. His mouth descended and he suckled her skin, continuing to lift her hips against him.

  Jessica couldn’t think as sensations whirled about her, making her strain for release. She could feel Jareth deep within her and she couldn’t help but gasp every time he was fully sheathed. Running her hands up and down his chest, Jessica writhed with the need that now spiraled deep in her heart.

  Jareth reached between them below the water and rubbed her slick skin with the pad of his thumb. With a shout, Jessica fell over the edge, clinging to him as wave after wave of ecstasy pulsed through her. At the exact same time, Jareth’s body tensed as he, too, groaned loudly in pleasure.

  Spent and panting, Jessica collapsed against him, hugging him close and placed feather-soft kisses on his neck and shoulder.

  “I love you, Jareth Moreland,” she whispered.

  Jareth held her close, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. He rewarded her with something she hadn’t witnessed for a very long time; his beaming, handsome smile.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The ride back to Crichton Manor was long, but Jessica wasn’t about to complain. She sat sidesaddle in front of Jareth on his large bay gelding while he pulled the dappled mare along behind them. Jareth’s right arm was wrapped around her waist, holding her securely to him as he gently nibbled on her ear.

  “We’ll have to get married sooner rather than later, my sweet,” he said while his hand wandered up her bodice to fondle one of her breasts. “I fear I won’t be able to wait much longer until you are warming my bed.”

  Jessica blushed at his torrid words, but she tucked her head under his chin and let him continue his caress.

  “How soon is soon?” she asked, closing her eyes due to the sensations he was causing.

  “Today if I could. However Thornbury would be most displeased. I have a feeling the man wants a proper church wedding with hundreds in attendance.”

  “Goodness!” Jessica straightened in the saddle to look at him.

  “The earl is big on appearances, my sweet. And you will be marrying the duke of Crichton, after all.”

  “I do not want a big wedding.”

  “Neither do I. Perhaps we could marry privately and then throw a ball for those who weren’t able to attend.”

  “Mmm, sounds delightful.” Jessica sighed and laid her head back on his shoulder.

  “I should like to marry you within the week if you have no objections.”

  “None at all, my sweet,” she said, using the term of endearment he often used for her. She gave him a tender kiss under his jaw. “Until then, you can make use of your secret passage to my chambers.”

  Jareth threw back his head and laughed. Jessica’s heart swelled. Slowly, the harsh man whom she had rescued a few days before was disappearing. Reaching up with her hand, she stroked his cheek.

  “How long has it been since you’ve laughed?” she asked.

  Jareth sobered as he gazed at her, turning his face to kiss her palm. “Too long. In truth, I do not know. I had believed I’d forgotten how.”

  “I’m glad you have not.”

  “It would seem you’ve saved me in more ways than one.”

  Silence descended upon them as they continued their ride.

  “We are not free from Morana,” Jessica said after a few moments. “That is why I left. I thought the further away I could get, the less of a hold she’d have on me through her magic.”

  “I will not let you leave, shelmir.” Jareth’s tone was harsh. His arm tightened around her waist.

  “She will not stop until she kills me.”

  “I will kill her before she succeeds.” Jessica shivered at the malice in his voice.

  “Morana is stronger than I am in magic, Jareth. It is indeed possible that she—”

  “She won’t,” he said, interrupting her. A muscle ticked in his jaw and his eyes were as hard as agates. “I will not let her take you away from me.”

  After a few more moments of silence, Jessica could see Crichton Manor in the distance. “I’m sorry for leaving you,” she whispered, wrapping her arm around his neck. “I will never leave you again. Crichton is now my home. You are my home.”

  “I will protect you, shelmir.” Jareth kissed her cheek. “Do not fear the witch.”

  Jessica nodded, but knew that nothing could quench her fear of Morana, not even Jareth’s words. She hoped with all of her heart Jareth would be able to kill her. Nothing short of death would ever stop that old crone.

  * * *

  The next few days were a blur. Jareth had insisted to Thornbury the need for a hasty marriage, and all manner of seamstresses, cooks and servants were hired to prepare for the impending wedding. Jessica’s uncle complained at the lack of a regal wedding, but wasn’t about to offend the duke by forbidding him his quiet ceremony.

  Within a couple of days’ time, the women Jareth had hired to sew Jessica’s wedding dress were finished, working their fingers to the bone to have it ready. Of course, Jessica knew Jareth had offered them a king’s ransom to have it done on time.

  They were marrying today, and Jessica couldn’t stop her heart from racing, or her hands from trembling. For as long as she could remember, she’d dreamt of this, of marrying Jareth and being his wife. He’d made sure to spend every night in her chambers, leaving her bed before the sun rose to avoid being discovered by the servants.

  Sleeping in Jareth’s arms was heaven to her. She’d snuggle deep within his warmth, groaning loudly whenever he had to leave. He frequently gave her soft kisses on her neck and shoulders throughout the night, making Jessica feel so wanted—and almost…loved.

  Upon hearing of their rushed nuptials, Lord Charles left Crichton as soon as they returned from the lake. Jessica knew he’d been sorely disappointed, but there was nothing she could do to soothe his heart. However, she was determined not to feel guilty for marrying her shelmir. Charles would find a good woman. He just needed time to heal. Perhaps if he’d asked Jessica to marry him before she’d brought Jareth back to the past, she might have seriously considered his proposal. It was possible she’d be marrying him instead of the man she truly loved.

  Swallowing hard, Jessica studied herself in her hand mirror. A maid named Mary had done a wonderful job with her hair, piling its length on top of her head with a few ropes of pearls woven within. Matching earrings adorned her ears, and even the bodice of her gown was inlaid with pearls. Jessica was sure she’d never before worn such finery.

  “How do I look?” Jessica asked the maid, turning her head this way and that.

  “You are stunning, mum. His Grace will fall all over himself at the sight of you.” A loud knock sounded at the door.

  “It is time!” another servant yelled through it. Jessica had to swallow hard to dislodge her pounding heart from her throat.

  “Are you ready?” Mary asked.

  Taking a deep breath, Jessica nodded and smiled, opening the door to her chambers and stepping into the hall beyond.

  * * *

  Jareth stood in front of the priest on the grounds of Crichton, waiting for his shelmir. He could feel her getting closer, and his hands shook. Jessica had filled his heart with such happiness, he could hardly contain it. Making love to her had spun his world out of control, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to rest until she was his in every way.

  Tonight, after the ceremony, after the feast, he would tell her he loved her. He was sure of it now. He couldn’t help but smile at the thought of her; he couldn’t wait to be buried deep inside of her again. She was definitely one-of-a-kind, and she’d given him every piece of herself—body, heart, and soul. No other woman could possibly compare to her, not even the deluded visions he once had of Cassandra.

  Jareth wasn’t sure if he was wo
rth saving, as he’d done many evil and vile things throughout his tortured existence, but Jessica had a way of making him believe he was worth it. She saw something in him no one else ever did. Living all those long, lonely years was a small price to pay to finally find peace.

  When Jessica appeared, he sucked in his breath. There wasn’t a woman alive who was more beautiful than his shelmir at that very moment. She was radiant, and her dress reflected the sunlight just enough to make her glow. A crimson blush crept up her cheeks at his bold perusal, and he couldn’t help but smile at the sight while she approached him.

  “You are gorgeous,” he whispered to her as he offered her his arm.

  “So are you.” She took a moment to look him up and down.

  Jareth was dressed in his finest clothes, embroidered with gold thread on his white tunic and light brown breeches. His hair was clean and swept back, and his boots were polished to perfection. He grinned at her.

  Once they both turned to face the priest, he began the ceremony, saying a few prayers over them and anointing them with holy water. Jareth repeated his vows, and meant every word of them. There was no one else he’d rather spend the rest of his life with—or any other life—than with the woman standing before him.

  When it was her turn to recite her vows, Jareth could see tears shimmering in her eyes. They fell down her cheeks and she clutched onto his hands. She smiled through those tears and his heart melted. Jareth’s own eyes became misty.

  When the priest prompted him to place a ring on her finger, Jareth pulled his mother’s wedding ring from his pocket and slowly put it on her. It was a beautiful ring, a blue diamond, ringed with small white ones. He hadn’t seen it in centuries, but once he found it in his mother’s old jewelry box a few days ago, he knew he had to give it to Jessica. She sucked in her breath as she stared at it.

  “This belonged to my mother,” he said softly, giving her hands a squeeze. “I want you to have it.”