He climbed the spiral staircase thirty feet into the air before he saw the entrance to a parapet. He continued past it without pause. In another moment he was at her door. A heavy wooden door that locked from the inside.
He was about to pound on it when he realized it was open a crack. He pushed it and it swung open easily. He could tell immediately that few people had been inside this room. It was Emeline's own secret hideaway. The chamber was a perfect circle, with two high windows and a third entrance that led to a balcony. It was plain to see that the balcony empty. So was the room.
Where was she?
He couldn't resist the urge to look around her room. To touch her things. He tried to imagine her when she was just married to a much older man, spending her time up here where she felt safe.
Safe from what?
If she'd been in trouble, and he sensed intrinsically she had, why hadn't she sent for him? Even then, even after she had betrayed him, he would have come to her aide without a moment's hesitation. Hadn't she known that? Perhaps unconventional noble girls such as her had flirtations by the dozen. Perhaps he was the one who had taken their words of promise to heart without cause.
He stared at the small bed in the corner of the room. Up here, night after night, dreaming of… what? A better life? Maybe, just maybe, she'd dreamt of him every once in a while.
There was something on the far side of the room. He walked over to it. A pile of broken wood and fabric lay on the floor. He lifted it up and stared, suddenly feeling as if his chest was cracking open.
It was a finished tapestry, beautifully wrought. She'd been working on a this for a long time. It was a stylized version of their garden. The small corner of her father's estate where they'd meet behind a high hedge, hidden from view. It was exquisitely made. She had a fine hand for needlework and the eye of an artist. It must have taken her years to create it.
He frowned, running his hand over the heavy fabric. Had she destroyed it because of him? Because of what he'd said at the table? He felt hope erupt inside him, all the way down to his bones. No matter how suddenly she had abandoned their secret courtship, it seemed she had cared for him after all.
"I'll show ye where she is, if you promise not to harm her."
He turned to see Magda, the servant, standing in the entrance to the room.
"Why would you do that?"
"Because if you don't find her until tomorrow, ye'll be angrier."
"That's true."
"Swear it."
He might have laughed. A Lord bargaining with a serving woman. But he had to find her. If this wench held the key, he'd promise her anything.
"I won't harm her."
"Very well."
She turned and walked to the stairwell. He followed her, straining to hear her words.
"She started hiding here after the first time she ran away. When he'd call for her at night."
Rowan felt as if a rock dropped in his gut.
"She ran away?"
The crone laughed.
"Aye, and more than once! She didn't much care for the way the master treated her."
He frowned. He couldn't tell if the old woman was implying that Emeline was a spoiled girl or if her husband had been cruel to her. He had been a hard man by reputation. Hard and incredibly wealthy, dying without an heir.
"He was cruel?"
The old woman said nothing, just glanced at him over her shoulder with a look of incredulity. She led him out onto the unused parapet. Halfway across the castle there was a small room built to protect the guards on watch during inclement weather. It wouldn't do much for the cold, but it would keep out the rain and the snow.
Magda pointed to it and he brushed past her.
"Remember your promise!"
He ignored her, an urgency to reach Emeline overtaking him. He pushed the door open and saw her immediately. She was curled up in the corner, huddled into a ball. Her eyes widened when she saw him. He didn't hesitate. He simply lifted her up into his arms and carried her back to the stairwell and down.
"Put me down."
"No."
"Please-"
"Shhhhh… we will talk inside."
He glanced down at her as they reached the storage room and saw her panicked expression. He squeezed her reassuringly but it only served to make her more fearful. He decided to wait to deal with her fears once they were alone in his room.
He stalked down the hallway and kicked open the door to his chamber. Once inside he lowered her to her feet and closed the door firmly, sliding the lock into place. Then he turned and stared at her.
"Why did you hide from me Emeline?"
"I- was afraid."
He took a step forward and she immediately took a step back.
"Afraid that I would hurt you?"
"I don't know. Yes."
He continued walking toward her with steely determination. She continued walking away.
"Stop running Emeline."
She shook her head violently.
"Come here."
"No."
"Do you want to be punished for disobedience?"
"I don't care."
He smiled at her sensuously.
"You don't?"
Her legs slammed into the bed. She'd backed herself into a corner, right where he wanted her. She glanced down and gasped when she saw where she was, shimmying to the side.
"Are you sure?"
"Wha-what?"
He reached out and pulled her into his arms.
"Are you sure you don't care?"
Her eyes widened as he lowered his head to hers. He moaned as their lips met. She was stiff in his arms but he didn't let that dissuade him. The taste of her was intoxicating to him. He slanted his lips over hers hungrily, trying to nudge them apart. He lifted his head to gaze down at her.
"Hmmm… open your mouth sweeting."
She shook her head no, a panicked look in her eyes.
"I'm not going to hurt you love. Just let me kiss you."
Her mouth opened in a little circle of surprise and he lowered his head to hers again, slipping his tongue inside. He delved his tongue into her mouth again and again. She didn't react at first, just stood in his arms as if she were in shock. Perhaps she was. He'd never kissed her like this when they were courting. Those had been the chaste kisses of an inexperienced boy. But he couldn't stop- couldn't resist tasting her now that she was finally in his arms.
He pulled her against him so that her breasts crashed into his chest. He moaned at the contact. She felt so sweet and delicious. He told himself to slow down, to be gentle, but his body had other ideas.
She pushed against him suddenly, wrenching herself from his grasp. They stared at each other for a moment before she burst into tears.
"Don't cry sweeting."
She held her hands out in front of her and edged along the bed toward the fireplace. He watched her with the intensity of a bird of prey watching a mouse.
A delicious little mouse.
"Don't- ca- call me that!"
"Emeline-"
"Don't call me that either!"
He laughed.
"What am I supposed to call you sweeting?"
She glared at him and then made a mad dash toward the door. He caught her easily, pulling her back into his arms. He lifted her and carried her to the chair in front of the fire. She didn't struggle as he sat and held her tenderly on his lap. He nuzzled her neck with tiny kisses while she cried.
"Come now, I didn't kill your silly goat."
She lifted her eyes to his, green eyes searching blue.
"You didn't?"
"No, I didn't. How could I when you clung to the damn thing like a mother?"
She giggled in startled relief. He grasped her chin and lifted it.
"No more tears now. That's a command."
She nodded, refusing to look at him. He was sure she was as surprised by the mercurial change in him as he was. This felt right though. His mind was working furiously, trying to fig
ure out a way to tell her that he would be kind to her now. That he had been angry. His feelings toward her had changed the instant he saw the tapestry in her chamber.
He still didn't trust her, but knowing she had regretted leaving him had changed his attitude dramatically. She was a gloriously lovely treasure, and should be treated as one. He would protect and coddle her, and take her to bed as often as possible.
It didn't matter that she couldn't be trusted. Perhaps no woman could be. He wouldn't give her a chance to betray him again.
He'd keep her too busy to even consider it.
**********
Emeline had no idea what to make of Rowan's behavior. He was being so kind, almost like the boy she used to know and love. Well, he had never tried to kiss her like that before. Their kisses had been chaste for the most part, with just a hint of what was to come when they were married. Now he was pressing her against his big strong body in an intimate way that made her feel warm and off center.
She didn't know what had accounted for the change but it was wreaking havoc with her resolve to fight him. She simply couldn't resist him when he was smiling at her the way he was now. She knew she shouldn't capitulate so easily but she was so starved for affection that she felt herself giving in. She desperately wanted to accept what he was offering. She stared up into his dazzlingly blue eyes. Those eyes had been so cold for the last few days. Now they blazed with warmth and desire for her.
Love.
Surely she was mistaken. He wouldn't have done any of things he had done if he cared for her at all. She had such little experience with men. Desire was one thing, and love was another. That much she knew for certain.
When he lifted her chin and leaned down to kiss her this time, she kissed him back.
His warm lips molded against her and then nudged them apart. She felt his tongue dancing inside her mouth an instant later and sighed. Tentatively she stroked his tongue with hers. He groaned and pulled her in closer, giving her courage to continue her exploration of this new way of kissing.
Long minutes passed before he lifted his head, staring down at her with a sultry expression.
"My god, Emeline. It's a good thing you never kissed me like that before."
She realized her arms were holding his shoulders, holding him against her body as surely as he held her against his.
"Why not?"
He gave her a knowing glance.
"Because I would have tossed your skirts up in the middle of your father's hedges!"
She frowned, not understanding his meaning. He didn't notice though. He was too busy lifting her up and carrying her back to his bed. He set her down on her feet and smiled down at her.
"Turn around sweeting."
Oh dear. He meant to take her clothes off. She should stop him. But she felt certain he wouldn't let her. And she didn't want him to stop kissing and holding her. Perhaps that's all he wanted to do… she had only the haziest understanding of what came next.
She was still confused about everything. What he meant, what he intended, and most of all, what he expected from her at this moment. She turned to face the bed and gasp when she felt his fingers unlacing her gown. He worked quickly, faster than any maid she'd ever had attending her. In moments he was reaching down and lifting her dress over her head, layer by layer. Finally she stood naked except for her thin shift as he leaned forward and slid his hands over her body.
"Oh!"
He chuckled and planted a kiss in the crook of her neck. His hand slid up her body to cup her breasts. She inhaled sharply at the sensation as he pressed his palms against her nipples.
"Hmmmm… I want to see you. Turn around."
She turned to face him shyly. He had a hooded look in his eyes as he leaned down to kiss her again.
"Lift your arms."
A blush seemed to spread over her whole body as he bent down the grasp the hem of her shift. Slowly he lifted it up and over her arms before tossing it aside. She closed her eyes in acute embarrassment, waiting for him to do something, to say something.
"My god, you are beautiful."
She opened her eyes to look at him. He was looking at her body with an expression of awe, one of his hands coming up to touch her breast again, the other grasping her hip. His lids were heavy as he explored her, his hands everywhere, sending tingles of pleasure through her with each caress.
"I can't wait Emeline. Oh god... lay down."
His voice was harsh with need as she obeyed him. He disrobed quickly not taking his eyes from her as she lay back on the bed. She looked at him too. He was tall and slim as always but thicker now, with muscles carved into his chest and stomach. His shoulders were broad, his legs strong and shapely, his-
Her eyes shut when she saw his arousal. It was larger than she'd ever imagined a man could be. Not that she'd ever seen an erect member before, only the peasant boys swimming on the beach. He climbed onto the bed beside her and leaned down, kissing her neck, her collar bone, her breasts.
"Oh!"
He chuckled as he pulled her nipple into his mouth, flicking his tongue against it repeatedly. His other hand was toying with her other breast as she reached down for his head. At first she meant to push him away but instead she found herself clutching his head as he worked her sensitive nubs, alternating back and forth until her back arched up off the bed.
**********
Rowan was amazed by how responsive his beautiful Emeline was. She'd seemed timid at first but now she was writhing beneath him. He had already been aroused beyond belief but now the need for her overtook him completely. He forced himself to slow down, resisting the urge to plunge himself between her thighs without further ado.
He lifted his head, staring down at the glorious creature beneath him. She was his, at long last. Her body was beyond perfection. He'd never seen or imagined anything so beautiful. Her breasts were high and round, topped with pink pert nipples. Her waist was tiny and swelled out into gracefully rounded hips. Her legs were long and shapely and between them was a soft patch of dark curls where he directed his attention next.
His finger trailed down her flat smooth stomach to her apex. She jumped and clenched her thighs together. He stifled a laugh and contented himself for the time being with circling his finger in her soft curls.
"Part your thighs for me Emeline…"
Her eyes were wide as she stared at him, shaking her head.
"Come love, it's not as if you're a virgin. Don't tell me your husband never touched you thus. I would have the same privilege."
She opened her mouth to protest but he silenced her with a kiss… and another… and another. For a moment he'd been thinking of Peter but he'd silenced the distasteful thought. If she'd lain with him then that was in the past. Now she was his and his alone. That was all that mattered.
After all, he'd had more than his share of tavern wenches.
He rolled on top of her and used his knee to open her thighs. She was pliable now, distracted by his kisses. He reached down and held his shaft, pressing it against her plump nether lips. He groaned as he pushed forward, sliding into her tightness. She was smooth and so held him so snugly. He'd never felt anything so exquisite in his life. He pushed forward again until he was brought abruptly to a halt. Her passage was honeyed with dew but far too tight for him to gain access.
"Relax for me Emeline… please… sweet Jesu!"
He stared down at her flushed face. She looked surprised as hell by his invasion.
"Sweeting, do as I say. I don't want to hurt you."
He stared at her encouragingly until she closed her eyes. He watched impatiently as she frowned in concentration, trying to relax her body. He rocked his hips back and forth experimentally.
"That's it love… hmmmm… do you have any idea how long I've waited for this?"
Her eyes opened and she stared up at him with surprise and tenderness. He drew back and thrust forward, hard, embedding himself deeply in her sheath. She cried out beneath him in pain and he froze. He'd fel
t her barrier give way, the blood easing his way inside her.
She'd been a virgin.
His sweet girl had been untouched all these years.
But how?
He felt a fierce joy and pride in knowing that he'd been his first. She was his alone. No one had had her. Not her husband. Not Peter. She was his.
"Sweeting, oh god, I can't stop my love-"
He withdrew and plunged forward again. He strove to go slowly, gently, but his passion overtook him. He kissed her deeply as he rode her, faster and faster until he felt his body tense up.
He felt his shaft spasming as his seed erupted from his manhood, filling her womb. He thrust forward wildly, plunging into her again and again until at last he was spent. Finally he rolled off of her, pulling her to his side.
She was his now, in every sense of the word. He could avail himself of her whenever he liked. The thought of having her by his side filled him with a warmth he hadn't expected. He would delay his marriage, perhaps indefinitely. She would warm his bed every night and whenever he desired it. He could give her a child.
A child.
He squeezed her against his side, rolling over to kiss her shoulder. She hadn't moved, just lay there and stared at the ceiling. Her thighs were covered in her blood and his seed. He stood and fetched a damp cloth from the basin. She turned her head away as he pressed it to her juncture. He could see her sex at last, her plump little lips crying out for him to taste them.
He forced himself to wait. He didn't want to get carried away and hurt her. It was too soon to take her again. But he would soon.
Very soon.
**********
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Rowan was rubbing a cool cloth between her legs while she lay there, feeling utterly bereft. When he'd been holding her, kissing her, the weight of what they were doing didn't seem so important. Now it did.
He'd truly done it. He'd made her his whore.
Why was he being so tender and careful with her now? Surely he'd go back to his anger, his coldness. He would tell her to leave only to order her back to his bed when he desired her.
Joanna Davis - Knights In Shining Armor Page 4
