Mary Gillgannon

by The Leopard

  Astra averted her eyes. “A man helped me find you. He expects a reward.”

  “A reward?”

  “Aye. He helped me sneak out of the manor yard, and then brought me here. I must give him something.”

  Richard went to the large chest, and upending the chessboard and pieces, opened it and dug inside. He stumbled over to Astra, swearing as he stepped on something, and handed her a cold, hard object. Astra did not look at it, but ducked through the tent opening.

  The soldier was waiting a few paces away. She thrust the object at him, seeing now that it was a dagger.

  “The Leopard wants you to have this for your trouble.”

  The man nodded and turned away. Astra started back toward the tent. Alyce put a restraining hand on her arm.

  “Here now, what about me?”

  Astra sighed and entered the tent again. Richard appeared to be fumbling around by the bedplace. She could hear scuffling noises in the corner.

  “Richard, I’m sorry. There was a woman too, one of the Queen’s ladies. Without her, I would never have known what to do. I’m afraid she expects a reward, too.”

  “All right, let me find a lamp.” Richard’s voice sounded sleepy, distant.

  A light flared, revealing Richard’s nakedness. Astra closed her eyes. There was the sound of more fumbling, and then Richard’s breathing close by.

  “Here,” he said, taking her hand and pressing another metal object into it.

  Astra turned to the tent flap, finally opening her eyes. Outside, Alyce was waiting. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the brooch.

  “Holy Mother! He gave you this?” She glanced at Astra, her face speculative. “Mayhaps I was wrong. It seems you mean more to Sir Richard than I thought.”

  Astra resisted the urge to say something cutting. She didn’t want to get in an argument with Alyce. She just wanted her to leave.

  “The blond knight?” she questioned Alyce. “Do you think you can find him?”

  “’Tis no matter,” Alyce answered, still looking at the ebony brooch. “If I can’t, I will go back to the manor.” She raised her head to scan the night sky. “It’s growing near to morning anyway. There is no time to dawdle, Astra. Go to your lover and seek to please him well. If you are fortunate, perhaps he will make you his mistress.”

  There was an unexpected wistfulness in Alyce’s voice that made Astra’s throat grow tight as she turned away.

  Twenty

  Richard met Astra at the tent entrance and immediately pulled her into his arms. He tried to kiss her, but it was awkward in the low tent. Slipping to his knees, he wrapped his arms around her hips and pressed his face into her breasts. Astra squirmed.

  “Please, Richard. I came to talk.”

  “Talk,” he said huskily, and tried to pull her down beside him. She resisted him, her heart pounding. Richard had seen fit to put on his hose, but his chest and shoulders were still bare. She could not think with all that sleek, warm skin exposed.

  “Please, Richard, dress yourself and come outside with me.”

  Slowly he released her. She watched him fumble by the bed again, searching for the rest of his clothing. Then he sat down on his bedroll and began to dress. It was strange to watch him clothe himself, strange and somehow intimate. As he slipped his tunic over his head and managed his cross-garters and boots, Astra imagined watching him dress in the morning, as if he was her husband.

  When Richard was done, he ran his fingers through his sleep-tousled hair and faced her with a smile. “I am ready.”

  Outside the tent, Astra glanced to the east, nervously searching for the tell-tale glow of dawn. The sky seemed very dark, the moon still high and bright.

  Richard appeared beside her and took her arm, then leaned over and kissed her. The kiss banished the night chill completely and left her hot and breathless. Richard ran his fingers through her hair, his mouth hard against hers. Astra’s whole body caught fire, the flames sucking the air from her lungs and making her so dizzy she could hardly stand.

  Finally, she broke away to protest, “Richard, we have not talked yet.”

  Slowly, he released her. “Lovely, Astra,” he murmured. “I can’t believe you are really here. When I woke and heard your voice, I thought it was a dream. Or mayhaps a holy vision. You look more like an angel than ever.”

  His fingers raked through her disheveled braids, deftly undoing the tangled plaits until Astra’s hair fell in loose waves over her shoulders. He buried his hands in her hair and pulled her close again. He kissed her neck and said, “Now you are as I first saw you—your hair wild and golden in the sun. You are my goddess, my Venus, my angel. Let me worship you, Astra. Let me worship you as I wanted to then.”

  At his whispered words, a hot thrill shot down her body. His hands tore at the loose neckline of her gown until it gave way. Finding the bare soft skin at the top of her breasts, he nuzzled, then nibbled, his rough mouth sending sharp, almost painful sensations down Astra’s body. Her knees wobbled. Richard held her up, his hands firmly cupping her buttocks.

  Astra moaned, and then managed to come to her senses enough to push him away. “Have you no decency, Richard?” she said sternly, “We are in the midst of an army camp. If I am seen, it will go hard with us. Have a care and find us someplace private to talk.”

  “Aye,” Richard mumbled. “You are right. I will take you somewhere no one will find us.”

  She gasped as Richard picked her up. She’d never had a man carry her before. It felt strange and exhilarating. But she worried she was too heavy. For all that his arms felt strong and secure around her, she could hear him panting.

  “Pray, don’t overexert yourself. I can easily walk.”

  Richard laughed. “Do you think for one moment that I will agree to release you? Hah! I have thought of nothing but this for weeks, nay months. I have half a mind to carry you off into the woods and keep you to myself forever.”

  Astra felt a stirring of unease. There was something unsettling about Richard’s words. She could half imagine him abducting her and keeping her as his prisoner. The thought aroused her oddly. Her heart was already his captive. What would it be like for him to imprison her body as well?

  She had no idea where they were, but it was surely in the woods somewhere. Ahead was a clearing in the trees where the moon shone as bright as day. He carried her there and put her down. His arms still encircled her tightly.

  “Astra, my love.” Richard rained kisses on her face and neck. Astra tilted up her mouth, searching for the warm wetness of his lips. He found her mouth and sucked greedily at her lips, then thrust his hot tongue into her mouth. She went limp, moaning. His hands were everywhere on her body, enflaming her. But when he tugged at the neck of her gown, Astra’s reason reasserted itself. She struggled to push his hands away. “Nay, Richard, we have not talked yet.”

  “Talked of what?” he murmured, his lips still busy torturing her.

  “I wanted to tell you—I am sorry for what happened in Southwark. I did not mean to involve you in a conflict on my behalf. If you would wish it, I would be willing to go to the King and explain you were only doing your duty.”

  “Ah, Astra, there is no need,” Richard sighed. “I would gladly endure Henry’s wrath for your sake anytime. I was only afraid you would hate me for using violence to defend you.”

  “I wish you could have ended the trouble another way, but I could never hate you, Richard.” She reached up and gently touched his face. “I... I love you.”

  She felt Richard’s body tremble. He crushed her to his chest and gave a low moan. “Oh, Astra, if you knew what your words meant to me. If you only knew...”

  His hands caressed her, impatient, almost frantic. She gave in to the breathless, urgent need his touch evoked, and allowed him to work down the neck of her gown so her breasts sprang free. He cupped them roughly and then stepped back, staring.

  “God in heaven, you’re beautiful,” he whispered. “You’re even more beautiful than I remembere
d.”

  Astra felt a sense of horror mingling with her desire. Her breasts were completely bare. It was night, but the moonlight was very bright. It was almost as bad as when he had seen her swimming in the pond in the forest. The very thought of it made her feel weak and shaky.

  “Richard...I...”

  “Hush,” he whispered. “I only want to look, to drink my fill of you.”

  “But Richard,” Astra protested, suddenly frightened. “We cannot do this. Someone could come upon us. Someone could... oh!”

  Richard’s leg had somehow entangled with hers. Astra lost her balance and went down with a soft crumpling sound. She was not hurt, only dazed. Richard’s arms had cushioned the impact, but it startled her to change position so quickly.

  Richard released her and then jerked off his tunic, tossing it aside.

  Astra panicked. “What... what are you doing?”

  “Hush. I only want to look at you.”

  His voice was low, vibrant, tender. Astra felt herself giving in. Her doubts seemed to float away, and she suddenly was aware of nothing except the man who loomed over her. His shoulders were like dark wings. His handsome features glowed silver in the moonlight. At this moment he seemed as wild, as beautiful as his leopard namesake. She reached out to caress him. The skin of his chest was warm, smooth, alive, as luxurious as velvet under her fingertips. She closed her eyes and gave in to the sensation, floating down a river of pleasure and contentment.

  “I dreamed of touching you like this,” she whispered. “When you went off to Wales, I was so afraid. I was terrified you would be hurt, or killed...” Her voice broke with emotion.

  She felt Richard’s hands on her breasts, stroking in slow, rhythmic circles. “And I thought of you, every moment,” he whispered. “I dreamed of loving you, touching you. I thought perhaps I wanted to die. I imagined heaven was filled with angels like you.”

  She grasped his hands and held them against her heart. “Do not say such things. It is sinful to wish for death. If you had died, a piece of me would have died also.”

  “But I have found heaven here,” he said. He leaned forward and pressed his face in the hollow between her breasts. “Such sweetness...” he murmured.

  Astra released a shuddering breath. In her fantasies she had imagined Richard resting his head on her chest, his dark hair soft against her skin. Now it was happening, and the thought of it made her nipples tighten until they ached. Longing shot through her and a sigh escaped her lips. As if in response, Richard raised himself up and suckled her breast. His hand stroked her other breast, teasing the nipple with his fingers.

  Astra moaned and arched her back, giving in to the shimmering pleasure. Richard’s mouth was everywhere. He laved hot kisses on her nipples and then traced the swelling curves of her breasts with his tongue. His fingers followed, fondling, squeezing and stroking her as if he could not be satisfied. Astra found it a kind of exquisite torture to be touched so many places at once. Her mouth felt wet and hungry, and the place between her legs had grown so swollen and hot she could barely lie still.

  Richard gave a ravaged sigh. “Oh, Astra, I cannot endure it—I must know the rest of you as well!”

  She felt his searing mouth desert her, leaving the night air cool on her wet, sensitive skin. Richard fumbled with the folds of her bliaut. She cried out as his fingers found her bare leg and moved upwards. In seconds, her skirts were pushed to her waist, her legs and hips exposed to the moonlight.

  Astra went rigid. She might as well be naked—her breasts and hips were completely uncovered and only the bunched up skirt shielded her belly. His fingertips were mere inches from her most private parts. She felt his eyes upon her, and the blood rushed to her face, making her feel hot and fevered. She was ready to swoon. If she had known what he meant to do next, perhaps she would have.

  Soft hair tickled her thigh. Astra drew in her breath as his lips brushed her thigh. She clenched her legs together and whimpered. The feel of his warm breath started an ache deep inside her, quivering and irresistible. She could not escape the tormenting heat of it. Her chest heaved. His mouth came down on the cleft between her thighs, but she did not shatter into pieces as she expected. She made a soft, animal-like sound, and her legs slid apart.

  The whisker-roughed skin around his mouth pressed against her tenderest parts, sending spasms of heartstopping pleasure through her body. His lips devoured her. His tongue alternately soothed and tormented her. The sensations expanded and grew, rippling within her like the current of a river. She reached down blindly and buried her fingers in his hair, bracing herself against the raging tide that threatened to consume her. Darkness spilled over her. Darkness lit with vague pinpoints of light, like stars. The stars grew and swelled, filling the night.

  She trembled, shivering convulsively. Richard stroked her tenderly. His face rested on her thigh. She reached down and pulled him up to her, desperate to have his strong arms around her. He kissed her, his lips still musky with her scent. She felt light and boneless, as if she might float away. Every inch of her tingled, and she could still feel the imprint of Richard’s mouth on the throbbing flesh between her legs. He had possessed her, claimed her, and the fever his touch had aroused could not be easily quenched.

  He began to kiss her roughly, and she realized he had not found satisfaction yet, that there was more to lovemaking than what they had experienced. The knowledge frightened and intrigued her. She let her fingers explore his bare torso, wondering if she could hope to offer him the same pleasure he had given her. Richard grabbed her hand and pressed it against the front of his hose. She felt something rigid and warm—and startlingly alive.

  “Touch me here, Astra,” he begged. “Please.”

  She stroked him slowly, tenderly, then tensed as the sound of voices cut through the darkness.

  “It came from over here,” a man called sharply. “I don’t think it was an animal. It sounded like a woman.”

  “Jesu, Rob, it’s probably a couple of lovers enjoying the moonlight. Why can’t we leave them be?”

  “Because we don’t know for certain what it was. It might be poachers, brigands, even an assassin targeting the King.”

  Astra held her breath and clutched at Richard’s arm. If they were found, she would be disgraced. The Queen would banish her from court. She started to rise. Richard restrained her with an iron-like grip.

  “An assassin? Does Henry think some disgruntled baron is out to murder him?”

  “In truth, I think he fears madmen more than his barons. The King seems blissfully unaware of the real trouble lurking in his kingdom. What, ho! Did you hear something?”

  The sound the men had heard was Astra’s chemise tearing. Richard had ripped it off and was struggling to fasten it over her hair and the top part of her face. Having managed that, he pulled her beneath him and pressed his lips noisily to hers.

  Astra gasped, fighting the kiss. What did Richard mean to do in the few short moments before the King’s men found them? She struggled as he thrust his heated groin against hers. Then, despite herself, Astra groaned.

  “Shit, Geoffrey, I told you it was just a pair making the two-backed beast. Stand up, man, let me see your face.”

  Slowly, carefully Richard stood. He moved in front of Astra and blocked the men’s view of her.

  “Sir Richard! We did not think to find you fucking in the woods. Silk coverlets and soft beds are more in keeping with your reputation.”

  “The wench is well-born, and she wishes to keep her identity secret,” Richard answered. “I thought we’d be safer here than among the prying eyes of the camp.”

  Astra held the torn cloth against her face, wondering how much of the rest of her the men could see. Richard had jerked down her bliaut before he stood, but she guessed they had gotten a good eyeful anyway.

  “Sorry to trouble you in the middle of that, Reivers. She looks like an exceptional piece.”

  “Oh, she is,” Richard agreed coolly. “She’s well worth ris
king my life and limbs prowling around the forest at night.”

  “Married?” one of the men asked, trying to peer around Richard.

  “She might be,” Richard answered in a low, threatening voice. “As I said, it’s essential her identity be concealed.”

  “We’ll leave you to your pleasure then, Reivers.” One of the soldiers began to walk away. “But I would advise you to see your ladylove back to her bed. The King’s household is already stirring.”

  The other man turned away with reluctance and followed his companion into the woods. Astra stood up, wondering if her shaky legs would hold her. Despite her fear, her body throbbed with longing and incompletion. Richard turned to her. Perhaps it was growing light after all, for Astra could see his features clearly. His mouth was harsh, his eyes tense and brooding.

  “That was close,” he muttered. “Too close.”

  His face softened and he reached out and pulled her to him, burying his hands in her hair as he kissed her. It was a desperate kiss, so full of hunger and longing it brought tears to Astra’s eyes.

  Richard leaned away, his hands still caressing her neck. His gaze locked with hers. Slowly, his fingers trailed down her body. They lingered over her breasts and belly, then reached her hips and fumbled with the folds of her skirt. As Richard’s hand pressed against the heated, aching flesh between her legs, he brought his mouth close to her ear.

  “You are mine, Astra,” he whispered. “I claim you now and forever. I will not wed you until I can provide for you, but never doubt that you belong to me, and me alone.”

  Twenty-one

  By the time they reached the manor, the eastern sky glowed with the pale colors of dawn. Astra held the torn piece of her shift around her face and kept her head bowed while Richard exchanged a few words with the man at the gate. The sleepy-eyed guard let them pass without even glancing at Astra.

  They moved unnoticed through the courtyard and found the kitchen entrance. To Astra’s surprise, Richard followed her in.

  “You must not come with me,” she whispered. “What if you are seen?”