Page 4 of Taming the Eagle

FENELLA TOOK A detour to her destination, traveling in a wide loop far from the path. Weaving through the trees, she cursed under her breath—cursed the men of Rome who’d taken these lands as their own. She hated that her family lived in Ardoch’s shadow. The Romans’ presence here had made life hard for her people.

The huge fort—which was said to house thousands of men—sucked the land of resources, and, over the years, many brave Cruthini warriors had died upon a Roman sword, while their women had been raped, murdered, or taken as slaves.

And despite that her people had made life increasingly difficult for them of late, they showed no signs of leaving.

Glancing up at the sky above, Fenella quickened her step.

“Damn those Caesars to an eternity boiling in The Hag’s cauldron,” she muttered. “They’re a plague on us all …andthey’ve made me late.”

Indeed, they had. She hoped Lorcan would wait for her.

He did, although she saw by the tense set of the warrior’s shoulders as she burst into the glade, and his furrowed brow, that she’d made him worry.

As always, the mere sight of her lover made giddiness sweep over Fenella. Lorcan was tall with a shock of red-brown hair and moss-green eyes. Woad-blue tribal tattoos decorated his bare arms. He moved toward her with loose-limbed grace.

Rushing to him, Fenella threw herself into his waiting arms. They shared a lusty kiss before she drew back, breathless. “Sorry, I’m late.”

Still frowning, he met her gaze. “I was about to leave … where have you been?” Her lover had a low musical voice she could listen to all day, and a touch that made her melt like a pat of butter on a hot griddle.

“I ran into a Roman patrol on the way.”

His green eyes flew wide before he cursed. “How did you manage to get away from them?”

“They let me go.”

Lorcan’s gaze narrowed, his expression incredulous. “Really?”

“Aye … their leader warned me not to stray too close to Ardoch again, and then he bid me run.”

Even as she recounted the incident, Fenella realized how odd it sounded. The Romans were known for showing no mercy to any stray female they happened upon. Many a lass from the nearby villages had gone missing over the years—most of them never seen again.

A shiver rippled through Fenella at the thought that might have been her fate.

Lorcan pulled her into his arms, his hold tightening upon her. “Thank The Mother, you managed to get away,” he murmured.

“Aye.” Fenella raised her face to his. “I ran as if a horde of demons pursued me.” Her voice turned husky then. “Nothing would keep me from you, Lorcan.”

He stared down at her, his gaze darkening. An instant later, his mouth slanted over hers. His kiss was possessive, hot—as it always was—and within a heartbeat, Fenella forgot all else.

Linking her arms about his neck, she pressed the length of her body against his, opening her mouth to him.

With a groan, he gathered her up against him and moved her toward the trunk of a nearby beech that towered over the glade. It was their loving place. Sometimes he would take her upon the soft moss under it, and sometimes he would take her against the trunk.

Today, it was the latter.

Fenella’s quiver and bow dropped to the ground.

Lorcan’s movements were jerky, his breathing ragged, as he stripped off her hunting leathers and pushed her up against the smooth bark. Usually, he would undress too, letting her gaze feast upon the long, sleek lines of his body. But this afternoon, he did not. There was an urgency to him.

Unlacing his breeches, he freed his shaft, spread her thighs, and drove into her in swift, hard thrusts.

Fenella’s surprised gasp filled the clearing. She clung to him, her legs wrapping around his hips as he plowed her. She welcomed his fierceness today, reveled in it. Lorcan was usually a leisurely, gentle lover, but sometimes she longed for him to take her roughly, wildly.

And this afternoon, he did.

Fenella wondered if today Lorcan would forget himself completely. Over the past year, he’d always taken care to withdraw at the crucial moment so he didn’t spill his seed within her. The act, although practical, always left her feeling a little dissatisfied and wanting.

Just once, she wanted him to let go, to give himself to her without worrying about the consequences.