Page 27 of Irish Thoroughbred (Irish Hearts #1)

Adelia woke to a blinding flash of lightning and a burst of thunder. The room glowed with brief intensity as the sky was broken with spiderwebs of light, and the wind moaned like a man mourning.

Tossing back the covers, she rose from the bed and threw open the French doors leading to her balcony to let the storm enter the room.

The hands of the wind pulled at her hair and whipped the soft material of her thin nightgown, molding it against her.

Rain fell in torrents like angry tears from the heavens, and she raised her arms wide, laughing in sheer delight at the raging elements.

“Dee?” She turned her head and saw Travis silhouetted in the doorway. “I thought you might be frightened. The electricity’s out, and the storm’s loud enough to wake the dead.”

“Aye,” she agreed triumphantly. “It’s wonderful!”

“So much for finding you shaking with fear under the covers,” he returned with a dry smile and stepped back.

“Oh, Travis, come look!” she cried as another bolt of lightning illuminated the murky sky and was followed by a deafening roar of thunder.

He watched her slimness outlined against the blackness, the fullness of her hair flying riotously around her bare shoulders. He opened his mouth to speak, but Adelia cried out again.

“Oh, come, just look at it!” Taking a deep breath, he moved to join her.

“It’s so wild, so strong and powerful and free!

” She lifted her face to feel the full force of the wind on her cheeks.

“It’s angry as the devil and doesn’t give a hoot what anyone thinks.

Listen to the wind, screaming like a banshee!

Oooh, but I love a storm that blows free! ”

She turned and found his eyes on her. Lightning flooded the room, and she saw the naked desire darkening his unblinking blue stare. Her smile faded. Her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out the turbulence of the storm as he pulled her against him and crushed her lips in a violent, hungry kiss.

Her arms clutched around his waist as they fused together, and she felt the need in him she had not known existed and knew a moment’s delirious pleasure that it was for her.

Fire ignited fire. Her response was abandoned and uninhibited.

His mouth ravished hers, hard and bruising, and she opened under the pressure like a flower to the sun.

His hand slid to her shoulders, and the soft material of her nightgown sighed to the floor.

Her hands fumbled with the belt of his robe until no barrier of silk came between them.

With a swift, desperate gesture, he lifted her and carried her to the bed.

The passionate violence of the storm paled against the turbulence of their lovemaking.

His lips moved over hers slowly, his hands roaming with gentle experience over her trembling body, releasing her desire while he kept his own in check.

When he made her his, she surrendered, drawing her pleasure from the gift she gave.

Later, she slept in the warm circle of his arms, the deep, peaceful sleep of one who had been lost and searching and finally found home.…

Sunlight streamed warm and loving on Adelia’s face, and she opened her eyes.

Travis’s face lay close to hers, and she studied it thoroughly and sighed, her love nearly bursting her heart.

His breathing was slow and even, the deep blue of his eyes hidden by lowered lids and lashes which seemed incredibly long and thick against the strongly masculine face.

Her hand lifted and stroked the dark curls away from his forehead, and she snuggled closer, murmuring his name.

His eyes opened at her movements and smiled into hers. “Hello,” he said simply as his arm tightened around her waist. “Do you always look this beautiful first thing in the morning?”

“I don’t know,” she answered. “It’s the first time I’ve ever woken with a man on my pillow.” She rolled on top of him and peered down at his face critically. “You’re not a hard sight on the eyes either.” Grinning, she rubbed a hand over his chin. “Though it’s a fact you’re needing a shave.”

He tugged the hair that fell streaming from her head to his shoulders and brought her face down, claiming her lips.

After a moment she lay her head in the curve of his shoulder, sighing with absolute contentment as he caressed her back with slow, idle movements.

“Travis,” she said curiously, “that clock says it’s after ten. ”

He twisted to see for himself and groaned. “That’s what it says.”

“But it can’t be,” Adelia objected, raising herself up in indignation. “Why, never in my life have I slept as late as that!”

“Well, you did this time.” He grinned. “Even you can’t argue the day back.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t see it,” she decided and snuggled against his warmth.

“As much as I’d like to do the same, I have an appointment, and I’m already going to be late.

” He kissed her again, rolling her over, and she clung to him, moving her hands over the rippling muscles of his back.

“I’ve got to go.” His lips tarried a moment at the curve of her neck before he disentangled himself.

He rose and slipped on his robe, turning back to gaze at her slim form, scantily covered by rumpled sheets.

“If you stay there for a couple of hours, I’ll be back. ”

“You could stay now and be a bit later for your appointment,” she suggested with a smile as she sat up, clutching the sheet to her breast.

“Don’t tempt me.” Moving over, he kissed her brow. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

When the door closed behind him, she lay back with a blissful sigh and stretched.

I’m truly his wife now, she thought, closing her eyes as memories of the previous night ran through her mind.

I’m a married woman, and Travis is my husband.

But he never said he loved me. She sighed and shook her head.

He said he needed me, and that’s enough for now.

I’ll make him love me in time. I’ll make our marriage work, and he’ll not be thinking of ending it.

I’ll make him so happy he’ll think he’s found heaven.

She jumped from the bed, full of confidence, and danced into the adjoining bathroom to shower.

Later, she paused halfway down the stairs, her face lighting with pleasure as she heard Travis’s voice coming from the living room.

Before she could begin the rapid descent she had intended, another voice floated to her, and she stopped, the smile fading as she recognized Margot Winters’s voice raised in exasperation.

“Travis, you know very well I never meant those things I said before I left. I only went away so that you’d miss me and come after me.”

“Did you expect me to drop everything and run off to Europe chasing you, Margot?” Adelia heard the slight amusement in his tone and bit her lip.

“Oh, darling, I know it was foolish.” The voice became low and seductive. “I never meant to hurt you. I’m so terribly sorry. I know you married that little groom to make me jealous.”

“Is that so?” The answer was calm, and Adelia’s hand tightened on the banister at his cool, dispassionate discussion of her.

“Of course, darling, and it worked beautifully. Now all you have to do is arrange for a quick divorce and give her a nice little settlement, and we’ll get things back to normal.”

“That may be difficult, Margot. Adelia’s Catholic; she’d never divorce me.” Her stomach lurched at the easy remark, and she wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the sharp, piercing stab of pain.

“Well, then, darling, you’ll just have to divorce her.”

“On what grounds?” Travis’s voice sounded reasonable.

“For heaven’s sake, Travis.” The feminine voice rose in annoyance. “You can arrange something. Give her some money. She’ll do what you want.”

Adelia could stand no more. Covering her ears with her hands, she ran up the carpeted stairs and into her room.

Oh, ’tis a fool you are, Adelia Cunnane, she berated herself, leaning against her door.

He doesn’t love you and he never will. Your marriage was just make-believe all along.

She dashed away the tears and straightened her shoulders.

Now’s the time to end it, she decided firmly.

Uncle Paddy’s strong enough, and I can’t go on this way any longer.

She packed only her old clothes and those bought with her own earnings in the well-battered case she had carried from Ireland, then sat at the writing desk and penned notes to her uncle and husband.

Please understand, Uncle Paddy, she pleaded, placing the two envelopes on the smooth surface of the desk. I can’t be going on with this anymore. I can’t stay here so close to Travis, not now, not after all that’s happened.

She slipped downstairs and, taking a deep breath, walked outside to await her taxi.

The airport was as busy as it had been on her arrival, throngs of people rushing around her and shaking her confidence.

For a moment she felt achingly lost and alone.

Sighting the ticket counter, she drew herself up and headed toward it.

A hand gripped her arm and spun her around.

She dropped her case to the tiled floor with a thud.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she began indignantly, stopping openmouthed as she looked up into Travis’s furious face.

“That’s precisely what I wanted to ask you,” he tossed back, his eyes boring into hers with a hard blue light. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“To Ireland, back to Skibbereen.”

“Are you stupid enough to think I’d let you get on that plane without a word?” he demanded, his grip on her arm increasing.

She winced at his bruising fingers but answered evenly. “I left you a note.”

“I saw your note,” he hissed between his teeth. “It’s a good thing I got back early, or I’d be chasing you across the Atlantic.”

“There’s no need for you to be chasing me anywhere,” Adelia insisted, pulling at her arm as the circulation began to slow down. “You’re breaking my arm, Travis Grant. Take your hand off me.”