Read Online The Hands of Time by Irina Shapiro - Free Book Online Page A

Somewhere not too far away, a thrush was singing its heart out and the ruins of the Abbey once again looked picturesque rather th a n sinister across the meadow.  I closed my eyes for a moment enjoying the peaceful surroundings , and opened them abruptly when the sun was blocked out , and I found my face in the shade.  Finn was lying on his side, supported on one elbow , his head blocking the sun .  His green eyes looked dark and intense , and I suddenly realized that this was the closest I ’ d been to any man since Mike and I began dating all those years ago .  He looked and smelled different th a n a man from my own time, but I couldn’t deny the attraction I felt.  Mike had always been clean - shaven and smelled of soap and aftershave, but Finn had a goatee framing his generous lips , and smelled of leather warmed by the sun, mus k and horseflesh.  I had to admit that I didn’t find the smell repulsive, quite the opposite.  I suddenly reached out a hand and touched his lean cheek, passing my thumb over his bottom lip.  That was all the encouragement he needed , and his lips came down on mine, firm and demanding an answer.  I gave him one by pulling him closer and kissing him back with abandon. 
    Finlay seemed a little surprised by my reaction , pausing for just a second, but then h is kiss became more intense , and I felt his hand close over my breast, his thumb caressing the nipple through the thin fabric of my gown .  Making love with Michael had become so routine and tense , that my own reaction took me completely by surprise.  I found myself tugging at the ties of Finn’s doublet and putting my hand beneath his shirt to feel his chest.  His heart was beating fast , and I could feel his arousal through the cloth breeches he was wearing.  His head moved down to the bodice of my gown , and he pushed down the fabric to expose my breast to his lips.  I closed my eyes and threw my head back, trembling with pleasure and wanting more.  Finn shifted his weight off me , and I felt his eager hand move up my leg , finding the bare flesh above the silk stocking ; h is fingers stroking and probing, bringing me to heights of pleasure I forgot I could reach.  He withdrew his hand long enough to undo the laces of his breeches and I wrapped my legs around him, urging him on, taking everything he had to give me and giving him all of myself in return. 
    As Finn collapsed on top of me panting, a line from Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” ran through my mind.  “Did you feel the earth move?”  I did.  The earth definitely moved , and I wrapped by arms around Finn, holding him close and wishing he’d never leave me.  Finally, he raised his head and looked down at me.  “You weren’t a maid,” he said without reproach.
    “I was married.”
    “ So w here is your husband?”  He didn’t seem angry, just curious.  I suspected that making love to a married woman would not make Finn run to the nearest confessional. 
    “He is gone, long gone.”  I looked up at him to see his reaction.  Finlay gave me a beautiful smile and kissed me soundly on the mouth.  “Good, you are all mine then.”
    Eventually, we got up and started for the castle.  I rode behind Finn through that green tunnel and wondered about the immediate future.  What would happen now?  How would our relationship change, especially since I was now living in his home?  What would Alec say?
    “Finn?” I called to his back.  He turned around, “ H m m?”
    “Can we not tell Alec?”  I asked timidly.
    “I was not planning to make an announcement , but t here is no shame in what we did.  I would never do anything to dishonor you.”  He gave me a warm smile , and I felt reassured.  I wondered where Finn saw this going.  From my understanding of the times , there wasn’t much between being a whore and a wife, unless you settled for the life of a mistress.  Is that what I ’ d just become?  I supposed that would be the