by Dee Brice
“Edgar lacks chest hair, true. But I have yet to see him naked. What if I never see him that way? He may sleep in his shirt and hose!” She wailed, “I cannot yet say anything about his balls or his sex hair. I may never know!”
They lapsed into unhappy silence.
Edina squared her shoulders. “There is nothing else to do. Much as I abhor betraying Gerard, for your sake I shall do what needs doing.”
“Oh no. I won’t allow you to seduce Edgar, Edina. If anyone seduces him, I shall be the one.”
Edina giggled. “I knew you had it in you.”
“Not yet. But I shall. Tomorrow Edgar will be mine—soul and body!”
* * * * *
Yvonne’s Tower—The Next Day
Gareth turned from the window in his wife’s solar. “I believe the ruse is about to end,” he said as he drew Yvonne into his arms for a kiss.
“Good. Once your brothers are wed, we can leave for Puttupon and begin training the rest of your men.”
“Our men.”
Yvonne followed his anxious gaze to the young woman striding through the bailey. “Who has need of a blanket in this heat?”
“Not married a month, yet my wife has forgotten trysting beneath the willows.”
“We did not tryst, m’lord. We—”
“Swived. The ground was hard and cold.”
“Which is why you—gallant king—permitted me to ride.” She laughed and snuggled against him. “Which woman is that? Can you tell?”
“Rowena. See how she bears her bundle in her right hand? She leaves her left hand free to lift her skirts or ward off an unwanted suitor.”
“Hmmm. Have you informed your brothers how easy it is to tell the twins apart?”
“And spoil the ladies’ game? Nay. Edgar and Gerard must recognize their differences without assistance.”
“As Vinn and Banan did? When they finally saw Willa and Pippa together?”
“Vinn and Banan were ignorant of the game you and your sisters played. Gerard and Edgar have known about the twins from the beginning.”
“Which apparently has gained them little advantage. Oops, there goes Edina—carrying…whatever in her left hand.”
“Paints, I believe. She carries with her splashes of color—discernable to an astute observer.”
Yvonne laughed. “The twins appear to be headed in the same direction. It seems the game is about to draw to an end.”
Gareth held out his arm.
Placing her hand upon it, Yvonne asked, “Where are we going, my king?”
“I think we shall punt upriver. Perhaps join in the activities.” He kissed her.
“There is a soft, wide bed here, m’lord.”
“Later, my queen. I am curious to see how this farce will end.”
* * * * *
Gleeful, Kerrie rubbed her hands together. This game brought her so much pleasure she might allow it to continue forever. But no. Sooner or later, the twins would recognize their folly and confess their sins. Until then… She followed Yvonne and Gareth, eager to see what might happen next.
* * * * *
“Which tree? Which tree?” Rowena muttered, feeling lost and frustrated. She was certain Edgar had said the third tree beyond the split in the path. But she had never used the path before today and had just discovered a second split. Or was it the third? Perhaps Edgar meant the first willow beyond the third split. On the verge of tears, she slumped on a convenient rock and hugged blanketed Ariel to her chest.
And shrieked when two rough hands over her eyes blinded her.
“Hush, Edina,” a voice soothed. Edgar’s voice? she wondered as a soft cloth replaced the unknown man’s hands. But why would Edgar call her Edina when she carried Ariel? Had he been expecting Edina? Had he believed her to be Edina when he made this assignation?
“Come with me,” he—whoever he was—whispered.
“I cannot see.”
“Then you must trust me. The path is level and there are no obstacles to trip us.”
“Why have you blindfolded me?” Yet she stood and took a cautious step forward. With his hand on her elbow she felt less unsteady.
“To heighten your awareness of sound and scent and…touch.”
She thought he brushed against something. “Duck,” he whispered.
She bent, obeying his silent command to step forward. A soft shhh made her imagine the willow branches falling into place behind them. Yes, they must be beneath the willow. It felt cooler here and the river’s flow sounded muted.
“Sit.”
He took Ariel from her, holding her steady as she sank to the ground. But this ground felt surprisingly soft—like silk and velvet—and a subtle scent drifted upward from it.
She drew a deep breath.
“Sandalwood,” the man explained. “’Tis said Yvonne’s father seduced her mother on these very pillows.”
Those words—those softly murmured words—flowed over Rowena’s body like a lover’s caress. Her breasts ached. Her nipples hardened. Moisture seeped between her thighs. Edgar, her mind whispered. Surely this must be Edgar for her to feel these strange yet wondrous sensations.
“Did you enjoy my brother’s kisses, Edina?”
“I…I…” Was this a trap? Did the brothers know they were dealing with twins? Of course not! When she and Edina played this game, no one knew the difference. But that didn’t mean the men were unaware of dealing with sisters.
Unwilling to admit duplicity, Rowena said, “I think you think to trap me, m’lord. If I say I did enjoy your brother’s kisses, you might become angry. Perhaps desert me and leave me to find my own way back to the castle. My sense of direction is so poor I might never find my way. I could starve or take a chill. Even d‑die.”
“Let me put it another way then. Did you enjoy my kisses?”
“Another trap, m’lord. For the same reasons I just told you.” Whoever you are. His silence made her nervous. Had he left her without her hearing him? She reached for her blindfold. His hand, warm and calloused, stopped her.
She had held both brothers’ hands. Gerard had calluses on his fingertips. But so did Edgar—his put there by his constant training for war.
She sighed. “I pray you will not think me brazen, m’lord, when I propose a solution to this kiss dilemma.”
“What do you propose, Edina?”
She could grow to hate her sister’s name! Especially on Edgar’s lips. If this man was Edgar.
“I believe… Were you to kiss me now I could say whether or not I enjoy your kisses.”
She felt a blush flood her entire body. Could she make love to this man who might be Edgar but could be Gerard? This man’s voice sounded lower than Edgar’s normal tone, but he could be disguising it. And if Gerard made love to her—Rowena—would Edgar ever forgive Gerard or her? Would she forgive Edgar for making love to Edina? She could bear no more of this uncertainty.
Tearing off her blindfold and glaring into Edgar’s laughing, golden-brown eyes, she cried, “You cad. You knew ‘twas me all along.”
She swung at him, but he caught her hands. Pressing them to his chest—his sculpted, naked, hairless chest—he laughed. “Aye. I knew ‘twas my Rowena. But you might have switched places with Edina. I had to be certain.”
She read his intent to kiss her and leaned away. “Moreover, you think you have taught me a lesson.” Her shoulders slumped. “Which you have. But…how did you know? How did you know we are twins? We could have changed places. Edina and I do so often.” Damn! Does Gerard know as well?
“You are left-handed.”
“So? Even our parents have not noticed that about us.”
“Which means they haven’t looked closely. You walk differently as well. You always seem about to take flight—never looking for what pitfalls lie ahead. Edina looks around and her pace is cautious.”
“Not with Gerard.” Rowena huffed. “So you and your brother can tell us apart. In daylight. How—?”
“In candlelight I sh
ould recognize you by the way you look at me.”
“And in the dark, m’lord?”
“I trust you would recognize our bed.”
“And if by chance I mistook our bed for Gerard’s?”
Edgar frowned. Taking her hand, he guided it to his cock. “I trust you would recognize this.”
Rowena giggled as Edina would. Edgar’s scowl revealed a momentary confusion.
Good. Let him wonder. Feel unsure.
He slid her chemise down her right shoulder then expelled a small sigh. “I have the woman I belong with,” he said, his voice smug.
“But I am still uncertain about you, Edgar. Edina says Gerard’s cock—”
“You talk about our cocks?”
“Curves. She says his lies flat against his belly when he is aroused.”
“While I have never seen Gerard’s arousal…”
His pause made her suspect he had, but would not admit it now.
“I can assure you my cock—”
“Assure me, Edgar? I think you must show me.”
Edgar stripped off his breeches then gathered Rowena into his arms. Untying the laces of her corset, easing her chemise off her shoulders, he bared her breasts and laved her pert nipples.
She tied the blindfold over her eyes.
Edgar sputtered. “How can you see me, Rowena?”
“’Tis best this way. If I cannot see with my eyes, Edgar, my touch will tell me ‘tis you I make love with.” Running her hands down his sides, she murmured, “If nothing else, Edgar, I would recognize this.”
“This what?”
“Your chest. Your hairless chest.”
Finding blindness sharpened her other senses, Rowena felt Edgar’s hands explore her body as if he too were blindfolded. Using only his fingertips, he examined her ears. That light touch tickled yet left her yearning for…a firmer touch, perhaps? His breath, both warm and cool, whispering over the shell? His tongue making her imagine him licking her everywhere?
Oh yes! She’d not experienced that herself. But the maids whispered about the indescribable pleasure being licked and nuzzled, nipped and sucked…there brought them. Rowena shivered just thinking about it.
Should I ask him to feast on me? Oh no, ‘tis too brazen. He’ll think me—
“I love the way your nipples rise when I look at them.”
“They do not.” About to close her arms over her aching peaks, she felt his hands circle her wrists. He pressed her arms to her sides.
“You gave yourself into my care, Rowena. Trust me now to pleasure you.”
“I…I do trust you.”
“Then remain still until…until you feel compelled to move.”
He stroked her breasts, all around her aching nipples. She did not need to see to know they were rigid and longing for his lips. She shivered with delight and anticipation. Waited for what seemed an eternity.
Unable to stand his silence, she said, “Wouldst suckle me, m’lord?”
“Aye, sweeting.”
She smiled, sighed and arched her back.
His low chuckle whispered down her belly.
“Open your legs, Rowena. Spread them wide to show how much you want me between your thighs.”
She felt a blush heat her entire body. Yearning for that pleasure he’d promised, she obeyed.
Taking her hands, he placed them on her nether curls. She tried to pull free, but his grip tightened slightly and she stilled.
“Hold yourself open for me.” When she shook her head, he added, “You will like what happens next.”
“I cannot bear you seeing me.”
“Later, I shall let you look your fill of my cock. It will show you how much it wants in your beautiful sheath.” He guided her fingers to her bud, showed her the pleasure she could bring herself.
While she explored her little nub, delighting in the heat building deep inside her, she felt him part her inner lips then ease his finger into her channel.
“Hot and wet, sweeting. Juicy and needing.”
“Ohhh God,” she whimpered.
“I can smell your arousal, Rowena.” Withdrawing his finger, he held it under her nose.
If heat had an aroma she could smell it now. Guiding his hand to her nether curls, she whispered, “More, Edgar. P‑Please.”
“Hold yourself open and I shall give you more.”
She complied, eager to have him complete this wondrous lesson. Feeling him shift, his hair brushing her thighs, she thought she might die before he even began. She heard him inhale. His breath whispered over her pleasure nub. When his tongue flicked over its tip, she bucked and felt his teeth close around her.
Moaning, she thrust her hips up, groaning when he lapped her from her opening to her nubbin. The heat threatened to engulf her. Little mews of Sweet God, how good… escaped her lips. Grew louder as the pleasure increased.
“Let your juices flow for me, Rowena. Give me your sweet essence.”
He stroked her nipples. She shattered.
Chapter Five
“Which tree? Bartholomew’s balls! Which tree?”
Edina felt a rush of air before she heard it. She started to turn, but a deep voice warned, “Look straight ahead.” She felt something sharp press against her spine and feared she might faint.
“Gerard?” Her voice shook as badly as her knees.
“If it pleases you, by all means call me Gerard.”
The soft voice held the trace of an accent. Was it truly a stranger who held her at knifepoint? Or was this Gerard’s way of punishing her for the tricks she and Rowena had played on the brothers? If Gerard, how did he know? Could he truly tell her from Rowena?
“Close your eyes, Edina.”
“Why?”
“’Twill go better if you refrain from asking questions. Just do what I tell you.”
His voice sounded so cold, Edina shivered. “V-Very well. My eyes… I have closed them.”
“Don’t move.”
“All right.”
A soft cloth fell over her head and covered her face. Gasping, she raised her hands to her head.
“Leave it!”
“I cannot breathe.”
“You can. Calm yourself. Take a deep breath. Yes, like that. Better?”
“A little. ‘Twould be better still if you would face me like a man.”
A chuckle revealed her captor now stood in front of her.
“Hold out your hands, palms together.”
“Why?”
He growled. She obeyed, hating that her hands shook. She could feel them!
Something wound around her wrists. Not a rope—’twas too soft for hemp—but it felt unbreakable.
“If you struggle to free yourself, Edina, the knots will tighten.”
“What do you want of me, sir?”
He ran his hands down her arms, tugged on her bound hands. “What does any man want from a beautiful woman? A bit of conversation. A kiss or two.”
She stumbled and fell against him.
“A few hours of loving.”
“You,” she licked her dry lips, “you mean to rape me?”
“Nay. I mean to arouse you to the point that you will beg me to take you. And then—when we lie replete with pleasure—I shall begin again. You will beg again.”
She heard leaves rustle. Dread filled her heart. Was he leading her under a willow? Perhaps the very willow where she and Gerard had first made love?
“Sir…I beg you now. Please do not do this.”
“Why not?” He pressed her shoulder. She sank to her knees then collapsed around herself.
“B-Because—if you rape me—I shall never again make love with the man I love. You will shame me. Make me feel unclean. Unworthy.”
Gerard, grasping her elbows, raised her to her feet. She was shaking from head to foot, her trembling so intense she could barely stand. He’d wanted to dissuade her from playing games, not frighten her like this. Sighing, he admitted he’d also wanted to prove to himself that she would be fai
thful to him once they married. That even in the dark she would not mistake Edgar for her husband.
‘Tis far more likely we would mistake our wives, he thought, freeing her hands.
“Sweeting,” he murmured as he also removed the hood from her head, “I did not mean to frighten you.”
Even in the dim light, he could see tears brimming in her lovely eyes. Her lower lip quivered as well, making him silently curse himself.
Her deep sigh lifted her shoulders and her pert breasts poked her bliand’s thin linen. The thought of those sweet orbs filling his hands distracted him. Left him completely unaware of her intent to deliver a stinging slap to his cheek.
“Then why did you do this to me?”
Rubbing his cheek, he shrugged. “’S’truth, it seemed a good… I see now it wasn’t a good idea at all.”
She glared at him and tapped her toes against the ground. She did not call him a liar, but he could see the thought in her cold expression.
“I…I thought you might enjoy a game of slap and tickle.”
“’Twasn’t slap and— You made me believe you would rape me!”
“Which I sorely regret.”
“Which, I suppose, is as close to an apology I can expect.”
Ignoring her oblique demand for “I’m sorry”, he said, “I intended to reveal myself before I—before we made love.”
When she snorted her disbelief, he lost control of his temper and shouted, “I did not mean to frighten you!”
“Well, you did!” she shouted back.
No slip of a girl was going to wring an apology from him! “What about all the times you’ve deceived me? You and your sister—pretending to be each other, trying to make fools of Edgar and me. What about that?”
Bright red tinged her face—temper or embarrassment, he neither knew nor cared.
“H-How long have you known?” she finally said.
“Does it matter?” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared. Seeing her shoulders slump, sensing she hovered at the edge of surrender, he took her hands. Her fingers tensed but she didn’t pull away. “Sweeting…I only wanted to heighten your awareness of my touch. Deprived of sight, I believe you would better enjoy my scent, the sound of my voice, the taste of your juices on my lips and tongue, the way my shaft feels sliding in and out of your sweet, slick queynte.”
