‘Glad to hear it,’ said Casta, sending a thunderous left straight into Conn’s face. Conn staggered. Casta followed up with a right cross that slashed through air as Conn ducked. The younger man hammered an uppercut into Casta’s belly, then a left hook which exploded against his jaw. Casta fell back, then charged. Conn dropped to his knees, then surged upright, hurling Casta from his feet. The older man landed hard, but rolled to his knees. Conn stepped in and caught him with a right as he was rising.
Casta went down again. He rose slowly, lost his footing and fell back into the wall of the barn. Arian spun on her heel and walked away. Conn followed her.
Hampered by the game he was carrying, Braefar struggled to help Casta to his feet. ‘I was just talking to her,’ mumbled Casta. ‘She invited me back here. Now I’ve a sore head – and I’ve made an enemy of the lord’s son.’
‘You’ve made no enemy,’ Braefar assured him. ‘Conn doesn’t know how to hold a grudge. Anyway you got the best of it.’
Casta gave a rueful smile. ‘I’ll take some convincing of that.’
‘He ended up with Arian. Believe me, she’s trouble.’
‘Aye, but she’s worth it,’ said Casta. ‘I’d risk far more than a beating for one kiss.’
‘I think the blows have addled your wits,’ Braefar told him. ‘No man who weds her will ever be sure he is the father of her children.’ But he could see he was making no impression on Casta.
It was after midnight when Conn made his silent way to their bedroom. Braefar awoke as a bed board creaked. ‘I take it all is now well between the two of you?’ he asked the darkness.
‘All is well, little brother,’ came Conn’s voice.
‘You still intend to wed her?’
‘Of course. Why would I not?’
‘She is a flirt. Why can’t you see that? And I don’t believe she cares for you.’
Braefar read the anger in the silence and decided to say no more.
Conn lay awake, his mind in turmoil. The events of the evening had more than unsettled him. Not so much the fight, which, truth to tell, he had enjoyed, but the strange, fey mood that had come upon Arian as they walked into the woods. At first she had maintained an angry silence, but as they came to the stream she had begun to tremble. He asked her if she was cold, and put his arm around her. Her reaction had astonished and delighted him. Throwing her arms around his neck she kissed him with such passion it took his breath away.
Conn had dreamed of this moment, especially since the night with Eriatha, but he had been more than willing to wait for the Feast of Samain, and the marriage walk around Eldest Tree. What they were about to do was against the law of the Rigante and risked the severest punishment, at worst flogging and banishment for both. Even knowing this, Conn could not restrain himself and within moments both were naked, lying on a blanket of their clothes. He tried to use the skills that Eriatha had taught him, but Arian pulled at him, drawing him over her, into her. Her movements were fast and frantic. Conn gazed down into her face. Her eyes were wide and unfocused, her teeth bared as she powered her body against his. Her nails raked his back, and she was moaning softly.
With Eriatha the lovemaking had been very good, and wonderfully satisfying, but here, with the great love of his young life, Conn felt himself reaching new heights of ecstasy. She shuddered beneath him and cried out, again and again. As he had been taught, Conn held back, his movements slow and rhythmic. Her blue eyes were focused now, the pupils huge. Conn kissed her gently, then slowly increased the pace of his movements. Within minutes she shuddered and cried out again, her body arcing up against him. Conn did not stop, but finally allowed himself to finish. It seemed to him that his soul rushed into her with his seed, merging with her own spirit. In that moment she whispered in his ear, ‘I love you.’ It was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. His heart swelled and his vision misted. Unable to speak he kissed her again, then rolled to his side, drawing her into his embrace. Her golden head lay upon his shoulder and he stroked the skin of her hip.