“Oh, Richard. All this time. What a fool I was to have listened to the angry words of a scorned youth. But I’d only ever seen my reflection in the pond near my old home. I’d had no reason to doubt your words.”
“I am so sorry. I tried to right the wrong I’d done. Only when I finally found you this time did I realize the extent of the pain my words had caused. Can you ever forgive me?”
Glenna smiled suddenly as the realization of the situation sunk in. “’Twas not your fault, Richard. Not really. I could blame you, but I do not. ’Twas my own insecurity and fears that caused me to be this way.”
He was watching her reflection intently. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“I’m thinking I’ve wasted enough time dwelling on what was. Let us think on what will be instead.”
Richard sighed with relief. He turned Glenna around and held her tightly against his chest. “I have loved you for as long as I can remember.”
“And I have loved you for three hundred years.”
Glenna smiled up at him and felt a warm glow in her chest as his head lowered to meet her lips in a fiery kiss.
THE WISE WOMAN
Chapter 1
“Mistress Cordrey! Come out, Mistress Cordrey!”
Whatever could be the trouble now? The light of a single candle and a tiny fire dwindling in the hearth lighted her cottage. Belinda opened the door a crack and peered outside. Her breath caught as a fierce chilling wind battered angrily against the door causing the flame of her candle to dance precariously. Outside, the glow of torchlight cast by three men on horseback illuminated her yard. By the black and red colors they wore she knew them to be the lord's men.
Balek!
Again the wind blew and this time extinguished her candle completely. “I come. I come.” She slammed the door and threw on her cloak before rushing to open it again.
“Tell me,” she raised her voice above the shrill whine of the gale that whipped round her, causing her long mass of black hair to fly wildly about her head.
“Lord Grey requests your presence anon Mistress.”
Requests? “What ails my lord?”
“Fetch your bag and come.”
Now, that sounds more like Balek. Belinda raced back inside and made a quick check of her medicine sack. On an ancient table by the window she snatched up a few drying sprigs of herbs and wrapped them in a rag before adding them to her sack. She was back outside moments later and reached up her hand to the rider who quickly pulled her up behind him. Then off they raced into the dark night toward Lord Grey's castle.
The black sky made the castle high atop the hill look foreboding. Though Belinda had been there many times, ’twas usually by the light of day. It took only minutes to race up the winding pathway and reach the courtyard. There, the guard handed her down and vaulted off the horse himself, tossing his reins to one of the stable lads that had come out upon their arrival.
The man was silent as he and the others marched up the wide stone stairway to the heavy wooden doors. Their grim countenances gave Belinda cause for concern, but she straightened her spine and strode on determinedly. She would learn all she needed to know as soon as she got to Balek.
Two of the guards fell away as they walked past the great hall while she and the man she'd ridden with headed directly for the staircase. He led her upward to the second floor and down a long narrow passageway, passing several closed doors, until they came to a stop. He rapped upon the door twice and was bidden “Enter.” He opened the door to reveal a weeping lady and a very aggravated lord.
Lord Grey stopped his pacing and waved them inside. He turned to the man. “Return my lady to her room.”
The lady, who'd been draped over the edge of the bed, one hand bent up across her forehead in a dramatic pose of despair, rose from the bed with exaggeration and ran sobbing from the room.
Belinda could have sworn she heard a growl escape the lips of Balek as he watched his lady rush away before gesturing angrily for his man to follow her. The door slammed behind the pair and soon she found herself alone with the lord in his bedchamber.
“Wine?” he asked her, obviously noting her windblown appearance and reddened cheeks.
Belinda stepped forward and took the proffered cup. “My thanks.”
Balek dipped the decanter over his own cup, filling it to the rim, before drinking deeply. It looked to Belinda like he'd had more than a fair share of drink tonight already. She took a little sip of her wine and then put the cup aside on the table.
“My lord,” she began gently, fearful to raise the ire of the giant who stood before her. Heavens. He is even broader and more handsome than the last time I was here. When she saw she had his full attention, she continued. “Tell me, why have you sent for me at this late hour?”
Balek raised his cup to his lips again as he regarded her. When he realized the cup was empty he threw it angrily across the room. Belinda jumped when it cracked against the wall behind her. She trembled slightly as he stepped past her and began to pace back and forth across the room again.
She watched him with fascination, knowing by the swift gesturing of his hands and the silent movement of his lips that he was trying to bring voice to his dismay. While she waited patiently, she regarded him with admiration. His midnight hair was thick and usually rested upon his wide shoulders, except now the breeze he created with his stride was making the tendrils lift slightly. The ties of his shirt were done up unevenly, as though he’d donned it in haste, and a faint glimpse of the dark curls on his chest peeked out teasingly. His long muscular legs were fitted snugly into leather breeches. Instead of the tall heavy boots he usually sported, his feet were bare.
He stopped suddenly and sighed deeply. “’Tis my manhood,” he said faintly.
Since he was facing the wall, Belinda had trouble hearing his words. “Wormwood, my lord? Aye, I can get it, but I’m afraid I don’t have any on me at the...”
“Nay! I said...’tis my manhood.”
He’d again stated the problem with little more than a whisper. “Mandrake, my lord? ’Tis a nasty thing, you’d not be wanting to fetch that without a dog to dig it up.”
“Confound it woman! ’Tis my bloody manhood I speak of!”
Balek was glaring at her now and this time she’d had no problem hearing his words for his voice was raised and angered. She took an involuntary step back. “Well, if ’tis bloody I could wrap it for you.”
“Blast it, do you seek to earn my wrath this eve?”
When he took a step toward her she took another step back and rose up her hands in supplication. “Please, what can I do to help you, lord?”
He let out a ragged breath. “I know not.” He ran his hand through his hair in agitation. “I have tried to lay with my betrothed every night since her arrival three nights ago. She suggested that we should make certain we are suitable before the wedding, and seeing the logic in it, I could not help but agree. Yet, every night ’tis the same. Nothing happens...down there.”
He pointed to the unremarkable bulge in his drawers and Belinda couldn’t help but gaze at it longingly. “Well, now, that is a problem,” she said compassionately and without any trace of delight.
“Can you help me?”
Belinda licked her lips and gave the matter some serious thought. “Hmm. I do think I have some supplies in my sack that might help.”
Balek’s face lit up with relief. As Belinda removed her cloak and began rummaging through her sack she could hear him begin to pace again.
“Here we are.” She pulled out some herbs and a vial of oil.
Balek came up behind her to lean over her shoulder. “What will you do first?”
She walked over with a handful of dried herbs to the flagon of wine. She poured the rest of the wine into an empty cup and dropped in the herbs, giving it a stir with her finger. She then offered it to Balek.
He took the cup and eyed it suspiciously. “Drink it,” she instructed. He seemed to ponder the idea for a
moment or two before he finally shrugged his shoulders and did as she asked.
“Not bad, not bad at all.” He set the now-emptied cup aside. “What will that do?”
“It will help your blood flow more freely so that it may surge to your manhood when you require it to.”
“Good. Are we done then? Can I send for my betrothed?”
“Nay!” she said, perhaps a bit too loudly. “I have not yet applied the oil,” she continued in a calmer voice.
“Oh, all right. Will you rub it into my temples to soothe my nerves then?”
Belinda gave him a level stare. “Nay, ’tis not where I intend to rub it, lord.”
It took him a second or two to get her meaning. “I...I suppose I should unclothe myself then?”
“Aye, remove everything if you please, then make yourself comfortable. Perhaps on the bed, or on the rug before the fire?” She watched with barely contained enjoyment as he began to peel off his clothing before her. Being a powerful lord he had an arrogance about him, despite his little problem, so he didn’t bother with any false displays of modesty. All of his clothing came off and soon he stood completely naked before her.
Belinda licked her lips again. “Ah, please...take your ease.” She gestured toward the fire hoping he would take the hint and lay himself down there. He regarded her for a brief moment then sauntered over to relax before the heat of the flames.
Belinda grabbed the oil and went over to join him, kneeling down at his hip. Balek’s long legs stretched out before him and his elbows propped up his upper body. Belinda knew he intended to watch what she was about to do. She wasn’t sure if that would make it easier on her, or more difficult. She did know that she’d never been more nervous about anything in her life.
She looked at Balek’s face for a minute while she pulled the stopper from the vial. Traces of the boy he’d once been were hard to decipher. Once in a rare while, when she’d come upon him and seen him laughing jovially, she could see the youth she remembered. A boy she’d once played with at this very castle when her father had been one of Balek’s father’s knights.
Belinda and her mother had often walked up the winding path to the castle with a basket of lunch to take a picnic with her father. And afterward, as her parents had strolled along the bank of the river, Belinda had wandered off to find Balek and play games.
One of Balek’s favorite games had been to play ‘Damsel in Distress’. Obviously, Belinda had always played the part of the damsel and Balek, the rescuing knight, but she hadn’t minded. She had loved him then. Just as she still loved him now.
When Belinda had been just fifteen years old, her parents had died during a terrible raid on the village one night. Balek’s father, Lord Grey, had taken pity on her and allowed her to remain in the family’s cottage, despite her father no longer serving as one of his knights. He had even seen to her welfare, supplying her with food and clothing.
Balek had also seen to her comfort, and tried to ease the loneliness in her life. But when his own father died a year later his responsibilities kept him from her side. Belinda soon discovered to rely upon herself. Using the skills she’d learned from her mother, she became the village healer. It had been easy to earn the villagers’ trust and respect, and they had taken to calling her ‘the wise woman’. Over the past five years, since the demands on Balek’s time were great, she had seen less and less of him. Now the only time they spoke was when he sent for her to heal someone at the castle.
It hadn’t lessened the childhood affection she held for him. If anything, seeing what a fine, caring and noble lord he’d become—just as his father had been—endeared him to her even more.
Though now, he was expected to wed. His father had betrothed him just before he’d died, so Balek felt duty bound to honor his father’s wishes.
But that didn’t mean Belinda had to like it.
She’d always secretly hoped deep in her heart that Balek would come to realize they were meant to be together.
But now Balek expected her to do her duty as the village wise woman and heal him so that he could lay with his betrothed.
It was unfortunate for him that she had another idea in mind.
Chapter 2
The object of Belinda’s affection lay before her, awaiting her ministrations. His gaze was upon her and she could feel the heat of it boring into her. Taking a deep breath, she tipped up the vial of oil to pour a little onto her palm. She recapped it, set it aside then briskly rubbed her hands together to heat the oil.
“Just relax, my lord,” she said, reaching out to grasp his member in her hands. As she worked her fingers up and down the length of him she felt his tension begin to ebb. He exhaled loudly through his teeth and dropped his head back slightly. “That’s it,” she soothed, her smile growing larger every moment. His skin is so soft and smooth!
Her mind wandered back to a night less than three months ago. It had been a night like tonight with battering winds, but there had also been terrible rain. She had just been preparing for bed when a knock on the door had sounded. She’d been surprised to find Balek outside, alone and exhausted, soaking from the storm. He’d asked for shelter and she had quickly ushered him inside fearfully noting the bloody welt upon his brow.
He’d been restless, he told her, and decided to ride out around the land. The storm had taken him by surprise and a crack of lightening had made his horse bolt. As it tore into the woods he had taken a blow to his head from a branch, knocking him from the animal’s back.
Belinda had tended him and offered to brave the storm to alert some men from the castle to fetch him, but he would not hear of it.
Instead, he had spent the night in her bed.
It had been the first and only time that they had been intimate, and it had been wonderful. Such a tender and tireless lover he had been. It was Belinda’s first time being with a man and he had shown her gentleness despite his great size and strength. In the morning he had promised her that if there were a child of their union he would care for them both, always. But there hadn’t been.
His chivalrous declaration wasn’t exactly what Belinda had wanted from him. When he’d come into her bed she’d expected no promises from him, but it had not stopped her from hoping he would realize they were meant for one another. It’d been hard to accept that Balek would put his personal feelings aside and honor his father’s wishes to wed the woman he’d chosen for him. But he had.
They’d not been together again. Not even sharing so much as a stolen kiss.
Belinda wondered why that was as she massaged the oil around the base of Balek’s manhood and swooped down to fondle his sack. Since that time, she had wanted him to kiss her or to take her again. She felt certain that he still desired her. She’d seen the way he looked at her. Only a few weeks ago, when she tended the castle cook’s fever, she’d caught Balek staring at her with much more than lordly interest.
“I feel something. It grows.”
Balek’s voice broke her from her reverie and she stared down at his rod. He was correct—it was growing. Quickly she bent down her head and began to blow warm air from her lips upon him.
“What is it you do?” he gasped.
Belinda could feel him tense up again. “Feel the heat of the oil, my lord. It warms, bringing your vitality back to you.”
“Aye. It does warm. What manner of magic is this?”
Belinda stopped blowing for a moment. “’Tis not magic, lord, ’tis only simple oil, heated by the warmth of my mouth.” She looked up at him and saw skepticism in his eyes. “It is harmless, I assure you.” Before he could object she bent down and licked his glistening tip. “You see, lord? Surely I would not put it so in my mouth if ’twould harm you.” He still appeared unconvinced so she lowered her head once again and took him fully into her mouth. It pleased Belinda to discover that she enjoyed the taste of the oil. She enjoyed even more the growl of satisfaction she heard tear from Balek’s throat, as he grew even larger in her mouth.
Ah
h, how divine he is. She splayed him with her tongue and lips for several minutes before she sat back up again.
“Why do you stop?” he demanded. “’Twas working.”
Belinda was becoming so hot from the combination of the heat of the flames and the fire coursing through her veins that she could feel the perspiration trickle down between her large breasts. “I grow so hot, my lord. I fear I must stop.”
“Nay.” He looked at her desperately for a moment. “Remove your gown. I demand it.”
Belinda smiled at him innocently. “If my lord demands it...”
“Aye. I do.”
Belinda rose to her feet and pulled up her gown over her head. She still had on her shift but she decided to remove that as well. It wouldn’t do at all if she were to grow overly warm again.
Once she was fully unclothed she resumed her position at Balek’s hip. She took a moment to apply more oil to her palms before she took him into her hands and began to stroke him again.
“Warm me...with your mouth again,” Balek ordered.
“Certainly, my lord,” she complied, taking him deeply into her throat again. Up and down she slid her mouth upon him until it felt as though he would burst. Balek now reclined fully upon the rug and his hands found their way into her mass of hair.
“Aye, wench. Take me,” he gasped, his grip on her tightening. “Take me into your mouth.”
Belinda feared that he would expel himself so she lifted up her head. When Balek squawked in frustration she quickly lay back upon the rug and raised her arm up to her head.
“Oh, my lord, forgive me. I swoon.” She bent up her knees and opened them just slightly.
Balek rolled and bent over her. His look was a cross between aggravation and concern. “Are you ill?”
Pretty Potions and Sexy Spells, Volume 1 Page 3
