Ronen felt the eyes of the main hall on them as he led Jayne through, intent on taking her back to their room. The knights had returned to their drinking after being interrupted to search for a lady who wasn’t actually missing. The queen gently spread rumors through her servants that Lady Jayne ran away but had a change of heart and came back, the pull of her handsome husband too strong. By the time Patricia finished dropping clues, most would believe running to be a cultural custom from Jayne’s homeland to entice her mate. Ronen hated lying, but he couldn’t naysay the queen in front of the castle so kept his mouth shut.
Jayne suddenly turned toward the lower tables, sliding into an empty seat. Smiling at the couple of knights who sat there, she reached for their pitcher of mead and poured herself a goblet. Ronen watched, unsure if she would merely take her drink and continue on with him. When she didn’t, he slowly sat across from her, aware of the awkward glances the men gave him.
“I saw you fighting out by the tents, didn’t I? You have a killer left hook.” Jayne motioned to Dersly’s scarred left hand before giving a small punch through the air to indicate what she talked about.
Dersly followed her gaze, examining his hand as if he’d never seen it before. The big warrior grunted softly.
“My lady?” Ronen tried to stand, hoping to prompt her to do the same. “Perhaps we should retire.”
“I’m not tired. I slept most of the day,” she answered. If he didn’t already know her so well, he would have believed that look of innocence on her face.
Ronen frowned, not wanting to pursue the conversation and draw attention to the fact he’d sent the king’s army into the forest to find a woman who might not have been missing to begin with. He lowered himself down once more, tensing with dread of what might happen next. He remembered all too well the way his brother’s first wife flirted with the men of the castle.
“I bet you knocked out a few teeth in your time, too.” Jayne lifted her cup to Gerald. Compared to Dersly’s vast fighting experience, Gerald was an untried youth.
“My lady,” Gerald nodded in affirmation, not as hesitant to return the lady’s smile. “A fair few.”
Jayne laid her hand out on the table. “I once hit a guy so hard his tooth became lodged between my knuckles,” she paused, pointing at her hand, “right there. Let me tell you, Handsome Larry Turner wasn’t so handsome after that.”
It wasn’t exactly what she said, but the animated way in which she said it. Suddenly, the stoic Dersly laughed. The deep brusque sound echoed over the hall. Ronen could barely believe it.
“My lady likes to tell tales, Dersly,” Gerald said, chuckling and nodding, and he took a long drink.
“It’s the truth!” Jayne gasped in unconvincing affront. “I never lie about a fight.”
“A delicate thing like you,” Dersly managed in between laughing gasps of air, “hitting…” He pounded the table, unable to finish.
“You have no scars, my lady,” Gerald said, as if that explained away her claim.
“I don’t get scars,” Jayne answered.
“Was he a wee man?” Dersly grabbed his stomach.
Ronen watched the scene unfolding before him in amazement. In the course of two seconds, Jayne had integrated herself with the knights. Watching her closely, he said, “It is the truth. I have seen for myself how she heals.”
Knights began to gather around them, moving from across the room to hear what made the mighty Dersly so amused. As Gerald explained what happened, Jayne slapped her hands together.
“So, Dersly, you don’t think I can hit a big man like you?” Jayne kept her face composed, the almost innocent half smile on her lips.
“I welcome you to try, my lady.” Dersly stood. “And I offer my face to the cause.”
Laughter grew around the hall and fists began to pound in a steady, encouraging rhythm.
“Lady Jayne,” Ronen began, intent on stopping her. The rambunctious noise surrounding them drowned out his reasoning.
“It hardly seems fair to hit a still target, but your face it is!” Jayne yelled, slamming her goblet down. The knights only cheered louder. She pushed up from the table and made her way to Dersly. Ronen didn’t worry about the man. Not a one of them would dare hit the Lady Jayne. Besides, she had claimed to be a fighter. Leaning forward, he silently admitted to being a little curious as to what his wife could do.
Dersly still chuckled as he turned his face. Jayne lifted her balled fists, keeping her arms tight to her body. As fast as a striking serpent, her fist struck, hitting the knight square on the jaw. The cheering instantly died into a palpable silence. Dersly’s head snapped back and he swayed slightly before righting himself. Then, very slowly, he reached to touch his face, rubbing the wound.
“This one isn’t a lady, she’s a warrior in a lady’s form,” Dersly announced. “Methinks she could knock a man’s tooth from his head.”
The cheering erupted again.
“She hits harder than you, Gerald, to be sure,” Dersly teased, inciting more laughter. “Bring the Lady Warrior of Firewall a drink. Let’s see if she can hold her liquor like she holds her fist. Tonight, she celebrates like a true Starian knight!”
Finally, Jayne turned her gaze to him. She grinned, looking very pleased with herself, as if some strange plan she’d set into motion had come to fruition.
“A toast,” Gerald called out, “to the Lady Warrior!”
Ronen had no choice but to grab his goblet as the men continued to cheer his wife. “To the Lady Warrior.”
* * * * *
“I said I could fight, but I never said I could drink,” Jayne mumbled, swaying into Ronen’s side as he helped her to their chambers. “Good think, thing, think, drink…”
His wife was drunk. No, she had ridden well past the border of drunk and into the oblivion of nonsense.
“Good think I have the nanos. I would not want to feel my head tomorrow without them.” Jayne giggled and draped her arm around his shoulders. She leaned her head onto his shoulder. Her breath a whisper against his neck, she said, “Mission accomplished.”
“Mission?” Ronen stiffened and stopped walking. When he looked at her, she had closed her eyes.
“Mm, are we there?” Jayne asked.
He bumped her with his arm. “What mission, Jayne?”
Her lashes fluttered over her beautiful eyes. “What? Why are you glaring at me? You are the one who seemed all worried about what those men would think about me running away a second time, or not running away but you thinking I ran away. It’s not my fault you didn’t look on the floor. I hate soft beds, they’re too soft.”
He tried to take a step, but her feet didn’t move with him. Sighing, he swept her up into his arms. Jayne gave a light moan and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“You were worried. The queen was worried. Margaret was worried. Renell was…well, Renell was chatty.” Jayne moved in his arms, pressing her body against his chest. “You smell nice.”
Ronen walked faster. Her lips brushed his neck, sending chills over his body.
“So I took care of it.” Her hair tickled his chin. “I gave the knights something more entertaining to talk about.”
“I don’t think the queen would approve of your actions.” Ronen had seen Queen Patricia pass by the hall. She had been far from pleased.
“I don’t care. I much prefer the company of fighters. Men are easy, especially warrior types. Make a few jokes about fighting, prove you know what you’re talking about by manipulating the biggest guy in the room into baiting you, take a punch of two with a smile and they’ll let you glide right into their ranks. So much easier than dealing with women.” She snorted. “Though I am kind of glad Dersly didn’t hit me. He has really big fists.”
“None of the men would dare to touch you.” Ronen held her tighter, realizing there was a lot he didn’t know about his wife. Just by watching her tonight with the others, he knew she was smart. She read people and fed off their reactions.
“
That’s not true.”
Ronen stopped, tightening his grip as he got ready to turn back.
“Fredrick slapped me on the back and made mead go up my nose. It burned bad.”
Ronen relaxed. Fredrick had been slapped himself and was knocked into Jayne.
“By the looks of the women around here, they are not the fighting kind. Now, when news spreads about me, I will be called Lady Warrior not Lady Runs-a-lot. And the men will speak of how I hit Dersly and held my liquor.” Jayne moaned. “Well, almost held my liquor.”
Ronen didn’t want to tell her that after the first cupful, he’d ordered the servants to water hers down in secret. The mead had been strong and Jayne too slender. If he hadn’t she would have dropped dead on him.
“Mm, you feel nice. I love your hands. They’re so strong.” She wiggled again and he realized he’d begun massaging her as he carried her, kneading his hands on her thigh and near her breast. Jayne bit his ear. “Stop walking. Let’s have sex right here.”
“In the hall? But someone could walk by.”
“It’s late. No one is about.” She bit harder, instantly licking the wound. “Come on, take me against the wall.” Her hand glided up his arm. “You’re so strong. I know you can lift me.”
“You are far into your cups, my lady.” He tried to reason, but it was hard to hold onto sanity when her breathy whisper begged him. “I will not take advantage of you.”
“Why?” She chuckled. “I would take advantage of you if our roles were reversed.”
His cock lurched to attention, very willing to be taken advantage of. Ronen’s brain tried to resist.
“It will be quick, I promise.” Her kisses hit his throat and hair, wherever her mouth could reach while he held her. “Just unlace your pants. I’ll lift my skirt.” She groaned into him, dragging her tongue over flesh. “Please, Ronen, I’m already wet for you. Put me down and take me against the wall.”
“We’re almost to our chambers.” His words were hoarse and he walked faster. Having sex in such a place wasn’t unheard of, but usually not where the queen resided. She had strict rules when she was in residence.
“No, here,” she pouted. “Now.”
Ronen couldn’t take it any longer. His cock ached for the slick warmth of her body. How could he resist? His wife begged for him to take her and he wished for nothing more.
Ronen lowered her and she backed up against the wall, stumbling slightly. He eagerly reached to untie his laces, his fingers feeling thick in his urgency. Jayne pulled at her skirt in invitation. Finally managing to push his breeches from his hips, he went to her, crushing her against the wall.
Jayne gripped his shoulders, running a leg up his hip. Ronen pushed her up the wall, holding her thighs. Bracing her against the wall, he mindlessly pushed forward. The soft heat of her sex greeted the tip of his cock, enveloping it.
“Take me,” she ordered, squirming.
Ronen plunged deep, enjoying the way her pussy clung to him. He ground his hips, rocking within her. Her cleavage bobbed with each push of his body, causing the tops of her breasts to dance erotically for his pleasure. “You will be the death of me.”
“Ah,” she gasped as he thrust harder. “No, I have no intentions of killing you.”
“Just of leaving me.” He quickened his pace, ramming into her as if he could make her want to be with him forever. Emotions warred inside him—fear that she’d leave him, the desire to hold her like this forever, anticipation of what she’d do next. Life with Jayne would never be boring.
Her sex began to quiver along his shaft. She dug her fingers into his muscles, squeezing tight. Suddenly, she made a weak noise of release, her pussy engulfing him in jerking waves. Ronen thrust a few more times before meeting his own climax. He kept her pinned to the wall, his cock deep inside her.
“You don’t have to go, Jayne. I will be good to you. I promise.” He smoothed back her hair and her foot fell to the floor without his support. His shaft pulled free.
“I can’t stay. This world isn’t for me.” She closed her eyes, refusing to look at him.
“How can you believe that? It’s a war filled with fighters. You said it yourself, you understand our ways.”
“Ronen, don’t.” She shook her head. “I’m not a wife. I can’t give you a family.”
“I have given the matter thought and we can help raise my brother’s future children. They are blood and will be like our own. Or there are plenty of boys who have lost their parents. They need good homes.”
“Orphans?” Jayne finally looked at him, her eyes glassy. “I can’t take care of children, Ronen. All I want is to be free to travel the dimensions and to live on my own terms. Alone.” Her head fell forward and she sighed. “I’m so tired. I don’t want to talk anymore.”
Ronen stepped from her just enough to grab his breeches and tug them up his hips. He tried to force her words from his mind, hoping that by not thinking about it, the pain inside his chest wouldn’t hurt so much. Not bothering to pull the laces tight, he lifted her into his arms once more and carried her to her own bed.
Chapter Ten
“Bloody fucking misery.” Jayne’s back felt as if someone stabbed her repeatedly along her spine. Moaning, she tried to move, managing to make it to her side to stare at the stone wall. She was all too aware of the fluffy softness surrounding her limbs. Why in all the dimensions was she in a bed? Naked?
She recalled hitting Dersly and bracing herself for a return punch before the man broke into laughter. The drinking she remembered. Singing drunken war ballads at the top of her lungs with a room full of inebriated knights was a little fuzzier.
Behind her a door creaked, but she didn’t turn to see who it was. She must have spent the whole night in the same, unmoving position. Now her neck paid the price. Jayne groaned.
“Are you feeling the effects of drink?” Ronen inquired, as the bed subtly shifted.
“No. My head is fine.” She groaned again as his weight jiggled her.
“See, the bed is not so bad, is it?” A warm hand slid along the small of her back and she focused on that heat. “The queen demands the best where she stays.”
“Yes, it is bad. Horrible,” she pouted. Jayne still didn’t move, not even to squirm when he withdrew his hand. “It’s like I have been thrown into the pits of hell and tiny demons with sharp feet are running up and down my spine.”
“You did not mind it so much last night.” Ronen kissed her neck.
“So, in the passageway? That was real?” Jayne summoned the cloudy memory, but only got vague impressions.
“Yea, my lady, very real.”
“And the singing in the main hall?”
He chuckled. “Yea, my lady, you were very robust.”
Desire stirred within her, making her forget her sore back. “And my taking you into my mouth against your chamber door?” Jayne licked her lips, confident she could remember the taste of him as he came into her mouth.
“Yea, my lady, you were very insistent.” He began to massage her spine, rubbing his thumb in hard circles to loosen the knotted muscles.
“What about you bending me over the side of your bed? I have a vague memory of that.” Jayne closed her eyes. Ronen’s body gravitated closer and she thought to have felt the brush of his cock against her ass. Apparently, Ronen had a few ideas when he came to her room that morning.
Jayne glanced over the wall. Was it morning? The light shining from outside did appear bright.
“Yea, my lady.” He kissed her shoulder and his erection grew bolder along her cleft. His heat radiated around her from behind, as he drew her to his chest. He pressed his body along her back, his hands skating up her body to cup her breasts. Ronen rubbed them gently and moaned. The naked, hard length of his desire for her was unmistakable. Licking her neck from pulse to earlobe, he whispered, “And once you held me down and rode me like I was a wild stallion you were trying to break. By the time you finished with me, methought you had drained my serpent dry.”
He rocked into her, causing her to instinctively arch. Fingers ran down her stomach, holding her flush against him so she couldn’t wiggle away. “But it would seem I am eager to be tamed by you once more.”
Pleasure coursed through her. He pressed his hand lower while nudging his leg from behind. He parted her with his thigh, holding her legs open so he could explore the naked line of her moistening sex.
“So sweet,” he murmured, his words vibrating against her.
Jayne gasped as his finger grazed over her clit. “What about that thing where you poured wine all over my feet and sucked on my toes for an hour?”
“I…” Ronen pulled back. His hands slid from between her legs, leaving her pussy aching desperately. “I did not do that.”
She pressed her lips tightly together to keep from laughing. “Are you positive?”
“I did not drink and had my wits about me,” he assured her. Then, sounding unsure as if he should be angry, he began, “Did someone—”
Jayne couldn’t hold her amusement. Laughter escaped her. “Huh, it must have been a dream.”
He relaxed some. “You wish for me to dine on your toes?”
“No, my lord.” She turned around to face him, running the back of her hand over his thick chest. Jayne loved touching his flesh, tracing his scars and exploring the muscular valleys. “I wish for you to not be so serious.”
“If I am serious, it is your doing.” He brushed the tip of his nose to hers. “If you would but promise to stay as my wife, I could relax.”
Jayne couldn’t meet his gaze, even though it was so close. A part of her actually considered what he offered until the logical part of her brain reminded her that the only thing she’d ever really, desperately wanted since those years in the orphanage was her freedom. How could she give that up now for a tight ass and delicious sex? What would happen when the flames between them died and they grew bored? The longer she stayed, the harder it would be to go. Already she found herself thinking positively about Staria and its people. She liked the knights, with their gruff, fighter ways and easygoing banter. She didn’t care much for the clothes, but they could always be changed so it wasn’t a big issue. The castle food tasted better than some of the finer dimensions she’d stayed in. Then there was Ronen—sexy, beautiful, masculine Ronen. Just thinking his name sent a shiver over her.
Fighting Lady Jayne Page 13
