Knights of the Imperial Elite Complete Trilogy

by Beth Mikell

  Maude whimpered deep in her throat. Her blood burned through her veins, settling deep in the center body, vying for an unnamed release as she shimmied closer in his arms. She broke free of his mouth, her breath heaving. “Nyle... I do not... know... what to do...or...” In her innocence, she could not finish, blushing hard, looking away.

  He tilted her head back to look at him. “I am right beside you, sweetheart.” He stood, drawing her up to stand beside him, his face falling into seriousness once again. “As much as I want you,” he whispered, caressing a hand down her cheek. “I can wait for our wedding night.”

  Panic burst through her. “Nay!” Her lips parted in protest, wanting him more than she could communicate, yet somehow she found the words. “Please... please do not make me wait.”

  His lips lifted in a slow, seductive smile and he held out his hand “In a hurry, sweetheart?” He leaned closer. “So am I. Shall we find a quiet place, my soon-to-be wife?”

  Maude forgot to breathe. “Yes.”

  Finally, their hearts were settled. And there were no more words.

  ****

  “So, this is your escape? It is better than a bolthole, I suppose.”

  Ryrie smiled to herself and closed her eyes in triumph. Colin took the bait and followed her up to the battlements. Turning to face him, he stole her breath, evoking a heart-pounding gush in its wake. His tall, muscular body moved with an easy stride of a warrior, a trained killer. His overlong blond hair emphasized his dangerous appearance, so lithe, so handsome. Instead of fear, her heart thudded with a surge of desire. Her heart jolted until she thought she might choke. The young girl of her past peeked around her mind and stared through her eyes for just a moment. The man was mind numbing—always had been.

  “I did not get far. You found me,” she said a little too breathless, his approach toppling her well-meaning attempt at sophistication.

  Colin smiled. “Indeed, my lady. You would be impossible to miss.” His deep voice was smooth and fluid, while he stopped a little too close.

  By the king’s decree, the man was too much and he overwhelmed all her senses. “Are you not worried my brother will find you here?”

  He shrugged. “I will take my chances.” Colin reached to pat his sword, frowning. “I guess I will have to use my wit and charm. Do you suppose that will work?”

  She chuckled warmly. “Do you possess any wit and charm?”

  Colin leaned up against the wall, propping his booted foot, eyeing her. He held a hand over his heart as if in pain. “You certainly know how to wound a man.”

  Ryrie tried not to laugh, but her smile still escaped. The man was wickedly charming. She reached up to play with the ends of her braid with nervous fingers. “I must commend you on your jousting today. It was impressive.”

  His blue eyes crinkled. “It was your favor, Ryrie. You gave me luck, plus Darrius’s boon was an added inducement.” He added with a small chuckle, yet his eyes narrowed. “May I ask you a question?”

  “That is one.” She chuckled. “But, please, do ask another.”

  Colin folded his arms. “Why are you here? Seems a woman of your worth and beauty would be married by now.”

  Ryrie shrugged. “I do not believe the Colin of seven years ago would agree with you. Perhaps I am still a child and too… undeserving,” she muttered with a little more sting than she intended. Though she had settled her infatuation with him long ago, seeing Colin again stirred up old feelings. Old regrets. A missed opportunity that was not hers to claim.

  “I disagree. The Colin you are referring to was a fool. He made too many mistakes. I think you would be the right woman for the right man.” He straightened to his full height, a full head and shoulder length above her.

  Her breath caught in her throat and her mouth watered at his closeness. “Are you applying for the position?” Her violet eyes were unable to look away from his face. His mouth beckoned her like it did seven years ago. God, she wanted it on hers.

  Colin took a step closer, his face darkening. “Are you taking offers?”

  Her eyes expanded at the drop of his velvet voice. Ryrie tilted her head to the side. “I like to think of it as keeping an open mind.” She needed to change the subject for her own peace. “Now, may I ask you a question?”

  He only nodded.

  “I know the history between you and Darrius. Why not make peace with each other?”

  Colin sighed. “It is not that simple.”

  “Atonement never is.”

  A very dry, chuckle escaped his lips. “Darrius is too stubborn and I know that for a guaranteed fact, as should you.”

  She knew. Ryrie remained thoughtful. “Are you repentant?”

  Colin cursed under his breath. “Shall I tell you how I lived in hell these last few years?” His expression grew hard. “I am still trapped in the prison of my sin, Ryrie. I have prayed for silence to no avail. I have prayed to die—but never do.” He ignored her indrawn breath, continuing, “If I could go back, I would change everything, but my absolution is held within Darrius’s hands. No one else can save me,” he said, turning away from her to look out over the wall. “Run away from me, Ryrie. Run and do not look behind,” Colin whispered.

  Ryrie blew out an unladylike puff of air. “Good thing I am a strong woman and proficient in following my own path. I do no run away easily.” She stepped back, but he caught her arm.

  “You do not know what you are saying,” he said a little harsh, his eyes glittering dangerously.

  She raised a dark eyebrow. “Really? You can hide behind your pain, cloaked in the shadows of regret all you want, but you will continue to suffer, Colin. I am not such a person that runs away from anything. I choose to find out why I am so drawn to you.” She raised her chin a fraction, her eyes clashed with his inside a streak of stubbornness.

  ****

  A growl pushed through his lips and suddenly he was on her, pulling Ryrie into his arms. This was reminiscent of years ago, but unlike before, all the rules changed. She was no longer too young, but rather sweetness and irresistibility, drawing Colin closer to a fire he never expected.

  Her sleek body molded against his with effortless ease—as if she were made for him. Her cinnamon sweetness enveloped him with hot desire, smacking him senseless. She sent Colin spiraling downward in vulnerable emotion. He wanted her and his shaft pushed hard in against his pants with unfulfilled demand.

  He drew a ragged breath. “If it is danger you seek with a measure of curiosity, I am wrong for you.” He paid lip service with a well-intended warning, but to hell with his sanity. He lowered his head closer to her, his mouth a breath away from her sweetly, parted lips. He was too far gone to convince himself of propriety. The ship sailed on that the moment he saw her yesterday.

  Ryrie brought up her hands and wrapped them into the straps of his shoulder harness, twisting them within her fingers, yanking him closer. She lifted her head an inch to stare up into his eyes. “Shall we test my curiosity?”

  A guttural groan burst from his throat, and Colin’s moved over her lips in a flush of raw, untamed energy. Her mouth met his with a crash of fire. His tongue slid over hers, so silken, partaking of her rich essence. Her flavor was blended with potent, spicy need. Within in her taste, Colin found a mighty recovery, healing his soul. She shaped his demoralized spirit with honor. He could faint, die, or find rebirth and walk a steady pace again with Ryrie next to him. She fed him his penitence with the sweetness of her presence. He was captivated by everything she offered him.

  Ryrie gave him vindication—a renewal of years of blame.

  Need fed them. They were both lost within each other with no focus. The sound of a throat clearing brought them up from the surface of desire to see Simon. Colin and Ryrie pulled apart looking entirely guilty, and the young knight raised an eyebrow.

  Colin recovered in seconds, moving to block her from Simon’s questioning gaze. “Yes? What is it, Simon?”

  “I thought you should know that Darrius
is looking for Ryrie, and if you want to keep your head, I suggest she go to the great hall.”

  Colin cursed under his breath. “It always comes back to your head, does it not?” he asked frostily

  Simon only gave a curt nod, and the young knight shrugged. “Well, in this case… yours.”

  ****

  Ryrie brought up her hands to her lips to still their trembling as Colin and Simon spoke. Her heart pounded hard against her ribs. She was sweating, and she hurriedly wiped her brow. Taking a deep breath, she stepped around Colin.

  “Simon, thank you. I am coming directly.” Ryrie moved to leave, but Colin’s hand settled on her forearm, and her stormy eyes met his. She tried to school her expression, but she felt needy and wanton. “It is Darrius and I like your head right where it is,” she said with a faint smile.

  “Thank you,” Simon murmured from behind her.

  Ryrie continued to move forward and Colin’s hand slid down over her skin as she walked away.

  ****

  Colin followed her with his eyes, hungry for another moment. Simon and Ryrie walked to the entrance, but she turned back to look at him, a smile touched her lips. The same lips, he tasted only moments before. Then she was gone.

  He took a step forward as if to pursue her, but stopped. Emptiness filled him, creating an unfamiliar ache within his heart that he never thought to feel.

  “Ryrie,” he whispered.

  ****

  Ryrie sat for a long time in front of the fire, brushing her black hair, staring into the flames. It was uncertain if the red flush on her face battled the heat of the fire or her thoughts. All she could think about was Colin. His taste, his smell, the hard texture of his muscles as he held her close to his body. He had given her such pleasure that she still tingled. She remembered every simulating sensation.

  She knew he had made mistakes in his past, but who had not? Were any of God’s creations without sin? Ryrie could find no fault with him except for his penchant for self-destruction. He found no self-worth within himself. She wanted to help him find forgiveness, and then perhaps, Darrius would see it too. Maybe he would find it in his own heart to forgive Colin.

  Time should heal all pains of the past. She could barely remember the Colin of seven years ago and how he mistook her for a common leman in the stairway of her father’s home. Maybe she was pushing her luck to feel so inclined toward a man with such a dark past and reputation, but something about Colin called to her. She ached for release in every way a man could be with a woman.

  Ryrie tapped her hairbrush against her hand, knowing she did not have much time—only two more days left before the tournament finished. That wasn’t a lot of time to find a way to convince Darrius to open his heart to forgiveness toward Colin—otherwise he may be lost to her forever. That was unacceptable.

  A knock at her bedchamber door brought Ryrie out of her internal reflection, and she frowned. It could not be Hannah, she left an hour ago. She pulled the edges of her dressing gown together and separated her dark hair to fall over each shoulder as she walked to the door to cover her breasts.

  To her surprise, she found Colin leaned up against the doorframe outside with a lazy smile upon his relaxed face. Ryrie paled and panic flooded her body. She looked beyond him, searching the hallway, fearful someone or Darrius, would see him.

  “What are you doing here? Are you insane? What if Darrius catches you?” she hissed hotly, her eyes searching his cool, uninhibited stance with irritation.

  Colin straightened and took a step toward her, causing her to step back into the bedchamber. “Not to worry, sweetness, I was careful. I waited until Darrius went to his solar with his wife before I knocked.”

  His blue eyes assessed her, raking a hot path down her body.

  Ryrie flushed under his intent gaze and she brought up a nervous hand to pull the edges of her dressing gown together. “So, why did you come?”

  Colin’s lips drew up in a sexy smile. “To get a good night kiss, of course.”

  She arched a perfect black eyebrow. “What makes you think I will give you one?” she asked a little breathlessly, but she wanted that too. Hot desire snaked through to her stomach at his suggestion. The thought of his lips on hers again made her insides clench.

  “You want this just as much as I do,” he whispered. “What kind of man would I be if I denied you such pleasure?”

  Ryrie’s breath drew in a soft gasp. “But—but, we really should not…” Though not opposed at all; the anticipation made her stomach flutter.

  Colin stepped closer, his arm shot out around her waist, dragging her up against him. “I may be a devalued knight, but I promise, sweetness, just a kiss. Then I will bid you… good night,” he rasped, his mouth inches from hers.

  Ryrie threaded a hand through his luxuriant blond hair, pulling his head closer. “Then by all means, do not keep me waiting.”

  ****

  Colin groaned, his mouth touching her parted lips, moving slowly. His blood curled past boiling. Her spicy scent pervaded his senses, drowning all thought and reason from his mind. Only her sweet taste filled him. His lips moved over her creamy cheek, slipping across the turn of her jaw. “You make it too easy, sweetness.” A violent shudder went through his body, his body tightening in hard response.

  “I trust you,” she returned.

  “You should not. I don’t trust myself at this moment,” he said, rubbing the hard evidence of his shaft up against her belly. “You feel like downy silk and I am only a beast waiting to consume every delicate part of you.”

  Colin ran his hands down her back, testing her softness, her body yielding to every caress like a cat preening under his attention.

  Closing his eyes against the ache in his body, he hugged her close to him a brief moment before releasing her. Only he did not step away. God curse gallantry, he thought wryly. He was perfectly ready to forget everything for the sake of his own desires, but clearly, he could not take her so ungraciously. Honor still had its place.

  He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers one last time, pulling back. “You should really lock your door—from me.”

  Ryrie sighed, her eyes glowing purple and bright with passion. “What if I miss another kiss? That would be… wasteful.”

  Colin leaned down, placing his forehead against hers. “You are taking my honorable intentions beyond my sanity.”

  “Promise me one thing,” she whispered.

  He pulled back to look at her, his eyes warm with feeling within their depths. “What is that, sweetness?”

  “Kiss me tomorrow?”

  Colin smiled, taking a step back toward the door. “A promise worth keeping, I can assure you, but it may test me in ways I cannot mention.” He chuckled, reaching for the doorknob.

  She moved beside him, placing her hand atop his, preventing him from closing the door. “Good night, Colin.”

  He caressed her cheek with his other hand. “Good night, sweetness. Do one thing for me—lock the door. The keep is full of strangers.”

  She nodded and Colin stepped out into the hallway, and she closed the door.

  Only when he heard the key turn lock the door, did Colin leave.

  Chapter 6

  Colin sauntered to the stables the next morning in full chainmail, his blond hair already brushed back into a leather tie. He searched for Simon and found him checking his saddled horse.

  “Ah, Simon, good, I was hoping to find you. I need to speak with you.” He walked closer, stopping a few feet away.

  Simon looked up and smiled warily. “Thank you, I think.”

  He frowned. “Trouble?”

  “Nay, I have sentry duty this morning. Have you any news of the Gray Legion?”

  Colin nodded. “Yes, I have been contacted and—” he began, only to be cut off.

  “What is going on?” Darrius’ eyes fumed with barely controlled anger, and an equally angry flush under his trimmed beard. “Simon?”

  The young knight straightened immediat
ely, bowing. “My lord.”

  Darrius drew closer. “I asked a question, do you feel so inclined to answer?” He ignored Colin completely.

  Simon swallowed hard, looking up into the fierce expression of his lord. “My lord, I—” he started, but Colin interrupted.

  “What he is trying to say is… he asked me to investigate the Gray Legion and they have recruited me.” He leaned up against a wooden stall, draping one arm over the height of the door, eyeing Darrius with a relaxed grace.

  Darrius’ eyes narrowed. “If I had wanted a traitor to work my missions, I would have summoned you sooner,” he said bitterly, turning to Simon. “You have overstepped yourself and your duties. It is not a place you will wish to go, be assured.”

  Simon gulped. “My lord, forgive me. We had been searching for a break for so long, but to no avail. Every attempt to infiltrate the Gray Legion ranks proved useless.”

  “So you thought to help by bringing—him.” Darrius threw Colin a caustic glance. “This just gets better and better.” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “At every turn, am I to face the stench of his foul presence?”

  Colin was thoroughly entertained and smirked accordingly. “At least I made contact, what have you done?” he asked smartly, actually tired of Darrius’s holier-than-thou attitude and constant belittlement.

  Simon’s eyes grew wide, but his lord surprised them all by laughing.

  “Apparently, nothing, according to you,” Darrius said, mirth still lurking across his face. “What shall I do? Reenlist you back into the Imperial Elite? Throw open the gates of the keep for you to ravish as you will? What is next, pray?”

  Luckily, Colin remained passive and unaffected by Darrius’s words. “Do nothing. Absolutely nothing,” he said with a shrug. “I am not inclined to help you in anyway, Lord Darrius. A friend, that I respect, came to me with the hope that I could glean information for you and settle the intrigue on who the hell the Gray Legion is. I care not what your feelings are for me, but you have a lot more riding on this than your own disappointments.” Colin sighed, feeling confident in his next words, “I am surprised that you would turn down the opportunity to solve this problem. I have one advantage within this whole situation. I can walk away and never look back. But can you?”