The Northern Knights Series (Boxed Set)

by Amber Dane

  Her big eyes never left his all the while she gripped his wrist in her small hand. He did not think she would relent and would wake her son after all.

  But, finally she said through gritted teeth. ‘Any harm comes to one hair on his head and there will be hell to pay, Norman husband.’

  Her threat was true. He saw it in her eyes and once again he found himself admiring the strength and backbone that he’d glimpsed at Halvard’s which lay within this woman despite her fear.

  He answered her calmly with an arched brow, his voice low but firm. ‘You do not wake him and let him be taken to another room, no harm, I promise you will ever come to him under my roof, Saxon wife.’

  He knew she did not like his words, but she had started it first by insulting him. He knew it was just her protectiveness that had her so riled and of what was to come. He watched her throat work as she swallowed, their gazes warring with another.

  Finally she released him and turned away, but not before he saw the sheen of wetness fill her eyes.

  Caroline did not see Laur take the boy with the utmost of care from Darc’s arms and coo softly in her son’s ear before she exited.

  Caroline struggled to compose her emotions. Her arms felt empty. She did not think she would be able to go through with the rest of the evening after all. How was she going to bear it? She did not know what to expect. As it was, she’d been claimed as the spoils of war and power, a wrong done unto the king.

  She was shaking so badly, the light headedness threatened to overcome her with her blood pounding so hard through her veins. She felt him come up behind her. She closed her eyes and a single tear rolled down her cheek. His warm breath fanned over the back of her neck.

  ‘Come. We will retire to my chamber.’ Darc saw her shoulders stiffen, but she did not protest and he was glad. He was tense enough. ‘Do you wish for a maid to attend you before we start?’

  Her reply came hoarse and quick. ‘Nay. I am capable of seeing to myself.’

  He gave her an odd look, then turned on his heel and did not wait to see if she followed him or not.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Once inside his chamber, Caroline felt what little numbness she had wear off, yet her legs still felt like they would give out any moment.

  His room was double the size of the one she and Kelbie had been given. His bed larger too and looked like a curtained prison on the raised wooden dais. Sheeting hung from the four large pillars that fashioned its frame. It was the centerpiece of the room. So the deed would be done here. Just like that. Apprehension settled around her like a choking blanket.

  ‘Do not feign innocence with me, demoiselle. You have birthed one child already so you are more than aware of what happens between a husband and wife.’

  Jarred by the coolness of his tone, Caroline’s gaze jerked from the bed to his, speechless.

  Distant and cold.

  On this she had no scathing retort and said nothing. She was too nervous. She watched him remove his black cloak and toss it on top of the chest at the foot of the bed. His face darkened as he strode past her into the anteroom and waited there she supposed for his manservant.

  Caroline turned away and went to one of the two hearths blanketing either side of the room. She removed her slippers first. Her tumultuous feelings caused her fingers to shake badly as she undid the lacing on the sides of the simple gown she’d worn of green as her wedding dress. It was the finest one she owned and the only one she had managed to grab in her mad dash to gather any of their belongings before they had been forced to leave their home. How befitting her doom.

  She struggled with the lacings in the back and almost screamed when she felt his hands on her bare skin, his knuckles warm against her back as he took over the task.

  ‘Let me help you.’

  His tone had lost some of its coldness and anger, but still Caroline could not take in an even breath. He’d spoken so softly in the too quiet room. She stood frozen until the gown pooled at their feet. She stepped out of the puddle but was unable to go any further for he held her in place by her long unraveling braid.

  She stopped breathing and looked around in the dimly lit room for signs of his servant. There was no one. With a deep breath, Caroline turned and faced him and yanked her hair out of his grasp, and then she gasped.

  He stood completely naked in front of her, an expression she could not read upon his face as his eyes slowly looked over her body.

  With the back of her hand pressed to her mouth, she let her eyes roam over him. The breadth of his chest and shoulders, made her throat go dry. He was thick and well-muscled it seemed all over and when he turned his back to her for a moment, she sucked in a deep breath at the sight of his tight muscled arse.

  His large chest, riddled with old scars and nicks on one side stared her in the face. A spatter of dark hair sat in the middle of his chest and covered his nipples, then went down his flat stomach where it ended at that nest where his member lay softly. Even in his flaccid state he still appeared larger than Lord Halvard had been. Her breath quickened when he faced her fully again. The muscles bulged and corded in is arms as he ran a hand through his thick hair.

  Her wide eyes continued down over his muscular thighs and calves to his naked feet and toes. He had not one ounce of fat on him. His lean frame loomed over her and heat washed over her. His body was taut. Craning her neck to look up at him, her eyes stopped at his thick neck. She swallowed loudly, unable to look past his bearded chin for her own embarrassment she knew colored her cheeks.

  ‘Come. We need to do what needs be done then we can go our separate ways. Lie on the bed.’

  She walked stiffly to the bed in her thin shift and stood next to the bottom post, her hands burning from the wringing of her hands. ‘Can we not just talk for a moment first?’ She knew she was asking for much not knowing what this Norman was capable of.

  Their first conversation had not been the best. But she was willing to make an effort, even though his large form was intimidating and distracted her as well as it excited her.

  ‘There is naught to discuss and neither is this the time for talk.’

  Though his hard words sent a shiver through her, undeterred, Caroline blamed it on her fear and the other emotions clawing at her stomach. ‘Ther-There is always something to say.’

  His deep sigh of exasperation told her that her request tested his patience. He jerked his dark head in the direction of the bed, his hair falling softly across his cheeks as he did so.

  She climbed up on the raised bed and faced him.

  Frowning, Caroline twisted her lips. She just wanted a different start than her first marriage. She moved to draw her knees up to her chest but thought better of it. Now was not the time for her modesty. That move might cause him to strike out or tell her to spread them like Lord Halvard had done.

  The silence stretched between them.

  Then he did something so unlike Lord Halvard and commanded. ‘Speak of what you wish to talk about and do so with much haste.’

  Caroline wet her lips, a ray of hope lit inside her.

  She really didn’t know quite where to start, so taken aback by his unexpected favor. Lord Halvard had whacked her for asking that question.

  Helen had said once that all men were not the same. Norman he might be but he was still a man.

  She need make an attempt to keep the peace and any harm away from herself and for her son.

  She blurted what came to her first, detesting the tremor in her voice. ‘I-I will do my best to be a good wife to you.’

  His hard-edged reply came without pause. ‘You will be. After this night I shall be away a great deal. The less we see of each other, the better a union it will make. You will have your freedom. You and your son. A marriage of necessity, naught more.’

  Caroline cringed under him as he leaned in closer. ‘Twas not exactly the response she’d hoped for. Her wanting to start off well seemed futile. Then again, he had given her his ear, albeit brief. Lord Halvard had b
eaten her for her talkativeness. Something he’d viewed as disobedience. She would have the beating out of the way now if the Norman aimed to do the same. Rather his ire on her than Kelbie.

  But he could expect her to fight back as she’d done with Lord Halvard. Aye, though she’d lost, she’d left her mark on her first husband all the same.

  ‘I ask not for a marriage of love, my lord. I merely wish for one of mutual understanding.’

  ‘I’ve just spoken of that just now, did I not? Enough of this. Time to get on and finish this act. I merely wish to commence this union and you can go back to your son. Move closer,’ he ordered her.

  Oh, she wasted her breath with this man!

  Caroline scooted her bottom toward him on the feather bed. She did not know where to put her hands. She soon found she worried for naught for he placed them beside her on the bed. Fear and want warred inside her watching his long lashes and shimmering eyes watch her back.

  He slid his large hands up and over her calves, knees and thighs.

  She bit her lip to stop the sound that bubbled up in her throat, but she could not contain the shudder that shot through her from his restrained touch and at what those rough hands ignited.

  She had survived Lord Halvard, she would survive him.

  But she knew this was different.

  This man was not older like her first husband had been.

  He stirred a spark in her which Lord Halvard had failed to do miserably at each encounter.

  His expression was one of displeasure and annoyance and it showed in his posture, his every gesture as his hands roamed her body.

  He may not have beaten her, but he was still just as cold. Caroline waited. Worry of what was to come tightened her chest and made it hard for her to breath.

  She gazed at that part of him to see if there was a change and there was not. She tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth and tried to still the rising panic as she crawled backwards away from his touch. He made a face at her movement.

  She hoped something changed down there for if it did not he would blame her and she did not want that. When he placed both of his hands on her hips and pulled her back toward him, she bit back a scream and held her breath. His exasperated sigh told her his patience was quickly waning.

  He did not kiss her.

  Neither had Lord Halvard indulged in the act, calling it silliness and for wet behind the ears young bucks that knew naught of what they were about. Caroline hungered for a kiss and wondered for a brief second whence that surprising thought had come. But when she looked at his lips again, her wonder was answered and hunger replaced it.

  She had never wanted to kiss anyone after that first night with Lord Halvard and had not thought of it again until she had stood next to this man while taking their vows. No longer trying to analyze or rationalize her thoughts, Caroline wondered, would he kiss her now?

  Nay, he was too busy pulling off her undergarments and she found herself blushing and disappointed. Lord Halvard had yanked down her drawers just like this and had started off right away with his cruelty.

  Caroline gave up in frustration, braced herself and lay back, stiffly and waited for his next movement. Her attempt to make things different this time had failed. Her words to him had been cast aside and changed naught. Eyes burning, she squeezed them closed tightly.

  Darc tensed above her. She was acting like a virgin. Sure they were strangers, but she had birthed Kelbie and now she aimed to play the innocent. She held her body so rigid he was afraid he would hurt her if she did not relax a little. The moment was awkward for them both. He’d not been with a woman in quite some time and he could not even dredge up the memory of it to his mind.

  He was nervous enough, that his member had gone soft when she had continued to cry when she’d undressed and that the sound of grief had bothered him more than he’d cared to admit. The whole of the reason he’d allowed her shift to remain on. But he would need it off now in order to grow hard for her rigidness was having an ill and continued effect upon him. Like when she thought he might strike her earlier.

  Darc swallowed back the spark of rage and raised his gaze from her shapely, pale thighs. ‘You will have to remove this. I need to be roused.’

  He was surprised at the speed of her movement.

  He sucked in a breath at her nakedness. She was not bashful, though she was still rigid. But he no longer cared, for he was growing hard as he took in her length.

  Her round breasts would fit nicely in each of his hands, her nipples were big, and extended in their growing state, no doubt long from her son’s suckling at birth. Some women did not use a wet nurse and chose to do the act on their own.

  A spark of anger flared in him at the sight of the fading bruises on her chest his men had caused. Then his eyes lit on markings that looked older than them along the inner sides of her bare arms. He hesitated all of a moment and took a deep breath.

  He did not want to think about what had happened before him. Not now. He could not.

  Darc dropped his gaze, his eyes roamed over her stomach down to those chestnut curls that hid what he sought. Her thighs were clamped tightly together. He found himself pleased with her body, supple and soft.

  Her belly had that soft paunch most women seemed to get after giving birth. He touched her right breast and she expelled a long drawn out breath. Her long nipple grew more under his touch and a moan escaped her.

  A good sign, yet it disturbed him. Another had tasted these before him. He shook the image of the other lord away. He needed to focus and try to rouse any passion she might possess.

  Her rapid breathing deafened her own ears over the delightful sensations that shot through her while he fondled her breasts. A warm flush spread over her. Lord Halvard had never touched her there other than to bring her pain. But Darc’s hands were stirring something surprising and pleasurable within her chest and belly that she’d not felt before. To her horror, Caroline found she liked the feeling.

  Angling her head, she twisted it this way and that to peer down between them.

  His words froze her blood. ‘What are you doing?’

  Crimson stained her cheeks, but she managed to utter, ‘Trying to see if you are ready.’

  She felt him stiffen and she drew back fearing mayhap she should not have said aught and was pushing her luck. Yet she hurried on, ‘I just meant, well, I wanted to see if you were roused.”

  His brows furrowed and he gave her a strange look. ‘Nigh, I will be soon enough.’

  His strangled words sounded almost painful and they did not ease her discomfort. Caroline feared if he did not become roused soon he would strike out in anger. She stared at his mouth. Mayhap that had been the problem all along. A kiss.

  A kiss of peace.

  She leaned in.

  Darc almost drew back when she leaned forward for his mouth. He did not wish to make this anymore intimate if he didn’t have to, but he allowed her lips to brush against his anyway. Her plump softness pressed firmly to his and his shaft grew to full length. He was hard.

  After a moment he frowned over her timid kiss. She simply held her lips there not doing anything. He was ready now and nature took over. He wanted this night over and done with and he would do what needed to be done before he could not, and before she tried to talk again.

  He fisted a hand at the back of her neck in her hair and coaxed her lips further apart. She moaned when his tongue slid into her mouth, he felt her pull back, but his grip held her where he wanted her. His other hand went back to her breasts and soon she relaxed a little under his ravaging of her mouth. Her hot mouth sent a surge of hot desire through him.

  He was surprised and delighted in the same breath when the tiny moans of pleasure soon escaped her throat and she squirmed beneath him. He ended the dizzying kiss and let out a hard breath at her expression of disappointment. He moved to cover her, but her legs were still clamped together.

  ‘Open your legs.’ He commanded his tone harsh.

  She he
sitated, then spread her thighs and Darc settled himself between them. He wanted this over. The awkwardness that had been at the start seemed to have fled them both. He did not pull back when she kissed him again.

  He lost himself again and in between kisses he let his hands massage her upper body, and then he slid a hand down between them to see if she was ready. She was slightly moist.

  It was enough.

  Her sharp intake of breath pushed him on. He probed her entrance. The sooner he was in her he could spill his seed and she could return to her chamber and get her son.

  ‘Bend your knees and open wider for me,’ he urged.

  She did and he gritted his teeth at the silky and wet feel of her against his hardness. Just as he moved to sheath himself inside her, he froze from the loud wailing that erupted from down the hall.

  Her eyes grew even more round as she stared at him, her body slightly shaking and he knew not if it was from passion or the cry they’d heard.

  With great effort, Darc stepped from between her spread thighs. ‘Cover yourself,’ he grunted as he heard his hounds baying loudly no doubt in response to the waling.

  Caroline was not sure that she had heard him over for the loud thudding of her heartbeat in her ears. She took in a few breaths as she glanced to the door and at his naked backside. ‘My lord?’

  ‘Get dressed and see to your son.’

  His tone was hard. She did not question his kindness further, so unlike Lord Halvard once again. She quickly donned her clothes and with the anxiety and passion raging inside her, she tore the material. His soft hand covering hers made her jump.

  ‘Let me.’ he said next to her ear.

  His warm breath stirred the hairs on the back of her neck. When her shoulders were covered, Caroline barely managed to get out a thank you before she exited the chamber and ran down the hall for Kelbie.

  CHAPTER EIGHT