by Marie Hall
Lifting the covers, he moved to settle over her, forcing her flat on her back. She drew in a deep breath and huffed, even as she spread her legs so he could settle down more. "Do not start the day scolding me, my lord."
"Do not start the day keeping things from me," he countered, watching her peek open one eye. "Come tell me what troubles you."
She huffed again, "Do not scold me." Her arms lifted and pulled him down so she bore nearly his full weight. "It occurs to me, now I am free again to attend matters in person."
"You are," Xavier confirmed that much but said no more.
"It also occurs to me, it is not at all necessary I do so."
"It was the point of the lesson."
"But if I can, but do not have to, am I necessary? Do I still have purpose?"
It wasn't unreasonable Io would need to ask this. And had they not been interrupted last year by the chaos that was Charlotte Brice, Io would already be completely certain of this. "Io, who is responsible for the training of all the knights and soldiers in this house?"
He almost laughed when her face screwed up at the question. "You."
"Do I personally oversee all training, everyday?" He could tell she already comprehended what he was telling her.
"No, you set others to see to different things."
"Have I purpose still, with others seeing to the many, many aspects of training men for war?"
"Yes," she said, and her body went soft beneath him.
"Yes, because I must decide who will train at what and under whom. I also must be the one who sets the day and duration of the training and ensure all leading training are themselves competent."
"I did have to change a few people around, some seemed more suited for some tasks than others. And some hated doing what another loved to do. It was better when someone enjoyed what I asked them to do."
"It often is that way, though I believe everyone should try everything at least once. Warfare is not the same as domestic fare." Io giggled. "It may not be a good way to run a house," he said to assure her that her methods were fine with him.
"No, I do not think it would be."
"And do you even know what I do when I am letting others oversee training?" Now he would push her to the next lesson.
"Of course; you deal with the higher matters from the shires that I cannot settle alone..."
"There are few of those, but yes," he said, offering her praise.
"You attend to correspondence and concerns about matters from your other holdings and lands under your protection. You do a great many things, Xavier."
"I do. And I only do so much because I have others doing things. too. But there is one more thing I use my time for. It very well might be the most important use of my time."
He watched her face as she thought about what he might be talking about. And was a little saddened when she shook her head, indicating she couldn't come up with the answer. "Io, I use as much of my spare time, and even some of my not spare time to attend you, to see you, we, are well. And I also take some time only for myself so I am refreshed and more capable of being lord to this house and husband to you."
Her smile nearly brightened the room. "You do this."
"I do, and more now than before, I work to give more duties to others that I have more time for it. I do not want always to come to you with burdens on my mind, thinking only of what I did not accomplish or what I must still accomplish."
The smile vanished. "I do that."
"You did, but I think now you'll not. Perhaps not all at once but a little more every day. You will need to decide who to set to what, and need to see to other matters that only you can attend properly, but now you should find more time and flexibility in your routine. You should have time when you will be able to do more things for the pleasure of doing them," he paused to still her wondering hand, "than the need." It was a bit of a struggle, but he managed to bring that hand to his lips for a kiss.
"Time for my garden?"
"Yes, exactly." He settled more of his weight on her to still her shifting about.
"More time for my rabbits."
"And your little red chickens." Io's leg lifted and rubbed against his. He was losing this battle and defeat was never so sweet.
"But not Otho." Her leg dropped away and a frown marred her features.
"No," Xavier said and wrapped his arms under her so he could roll them over. He took a moment to brush the hair from her face. "Not Otho, but Io, we can get you a new goat."
"Not one as good as he," she pouted but rested her head on his chest before slipping back and aligning their bodies better.
"Maybe not as good to start, but you can train one to be comparable. You will have time now." He set his hands on her arse and rocked her forward then let her natural positioning rock her back so he could do it again.
"Perhaps if I find one I might like. I have not." When he rocked her forward this time, she arched into it.
"You will," he said, knowing she hadn't really considered any she'd seen because she wasn't yet ready to replace her loyal little goat. Summer would change that, he was sure, as she'd need a goat to pull the little cart she used to collect food stuff from around the lake and forests. A groan slipped when she lifted so his hardening cock could lay in a better way and she again rocked forward and back against him.
"Well, until then…" She slid much further forward and, when she moved back, set herself on his throbbing shaft. He groaned again and lifted to seat her better. From that point, it was Io who controlled their pleasure.
Setting her hands on his chest, she lifted up with a near painful slowness, holding him barely within her heated flesh for several heartbeats before using her weight to take him in almost to the hilt. She kept the more than leisurely pace for a long while, allowing him time enough to utterly admire and worship what he had because he had her.
Xavier spent time touching her every place he could reach. Letting his fingers skim up her sides and stroke down her thighs. Squeezing her fine, high tits and patting her beautiful arse. Her every shifting expression only adding to the pleasure he found when his little goddess was intent on pleasing herself. But no look gave him more pleasure than the soft, lazy smile that curled her lips and made her eyes shine when he set his palm to the side of her face as she leaned into it. He always knew then, for at least that moment, she trusted him fully. That she wasn't thinking of past failures or fears. That what she was giving was being given without hesitation or conditions. No judgments were passed. She wasn't doing this because she felt she had to, but because she wanted to. And when she lay down and stopped moving, it reinforced the knowledge that one struggle they'd endured was finished.
"My turn," he said, moving from under her so she was face down on the bed and he was behind her.
"Nicely, Xavier," Io said, lifting her arse so his reentry was easier.
"Whatever pleases you, my lady." He eased back inside and set the pace only slightly faster than she'd started. Making sure each stroke was purposeful in the reach for the end they both wanted. He waited until Io's climax was certain before giving into his own.
Again settling most of his weight over her, Xavier felt Io wiggle back against him. She pressed her arse back into his groin and gave him a sly look over her shoulder. He managed a laugh but shook his head at her.
"Ah how I might have loved to know you as a boy of fifteen, my lord," she teased.
Again, he laughed and, sliding to her side, put one arm around her and one over his eyes to block out the late morning light now streaming in through the window where the covers lifted. "I think you would not, for while there was quantity, there was little quality."
"I should need to hear that from a source to believe such," Io said, placing a little kiss on his chin.
"Take my word for it, wife. Because you will never have such an opportunity if I have any say," He tried for firm but knew he failed when Io giggled.
"Perhaps I might write Jon or even Alexander for a name I might wri
te and ask how it was with you as a youth." Again, she kissed his chin, and when he felt her coming close for a third, he ducked so her lips met his.
A brief touch then gone. "You will not." He did put more into the reply this time, only because he couldn't be sure how much she teased and how much she might want to know, for whatever reason, of the women he'd taken as lovers before he took her as wife.
"Oh," she huffed, "what should you do if I do? Will you thrash me?" she asked, smartly rolling to her back before he could land his hand on her arse.
"I will do far worse, Io," he threatened, rising up to loom over her. Still, boldness flickered in her eyes.
"What worse can you do?"
Xavier knew when his wife was throwing up a challenge. And he knew when she wasn't. A loud growl was her only warning before he climbed over her and began to tickle her without mercy.
Io's laughter rang out and filled the room and no doubt could be hear through a good portion of the house and even in the yards. She twisted and squirmed and tried to keep her most sensitive spots out of reach. It was no use and she was soon breathless and panting. He eased up only a little before asking, "Yield?"
Io sucked in a deep breath then gave him a wicked glare. "Never," she cried out then resumed her mad struggles to escape his knowing fingers. In no time, she was again panting for air and too tired to move. "Yield. My lord, I yield," she cried and once he'd ended the assault, balled up her fist and punched his arm. "You are a brutal man, Xavier Brice," she complained, gasping for air and trying in vain to brush the hair from her eyes.
"And you are a wicked little scold," he shot back, rolling off and to his back before dragging her half on top of him.
"What a pair we are then, hmm?"
"Yes, what a pair we are," Xavier said, tucking her close and trying to draw the covers back around them. It was well timed on his part as a knock at the chamber doors announced their solitude was going to be disrupted. Io helped adjust the covers then slipped down further in the bed that he might shield her from whoever was at the door. "Come," he called out.
"My lord, my lady has need to eat," Thomas said as he made a quick survey of the chambers then stepped aside so some servants could bring in trays and pitchers. Yes. Thomas was going to make an excellent chamberlain for his house.
"And what about me?" he grumped. "I've a need for food as well." Beside him, Io giggled.
"I believe the kitchens saw to it enough food is there," Thomas said as formally as he could as he ushered the servants out and pulled the doors closed. "But my lady first," he said, causing Io to again laugh hysterically as she pounced on him and wrapped her arms around him.
"I am home," Xavier said and planted a kiss on his wife that had her breathless for other reasons. "I am home."
Chapter 4
Io stopped on the road again to catch her breath. Before she could try to ease the cramp in her side, Sir Roth stepped up and took her elbow, starting her forward again.
"The sun is almost down, my lady." He made sure she'd keep stepping before letting go her arm and moving back in line with the others who walked to her left. Three more men walked to her right and there were two behind her.
"I can see the house from here," Io griped, though she knew she'd be forced to run if she stopped for even a few minutes. As she looked toward the west, the stars were starting to twinkle in the twilight. But the sun was still above the horizon, if only a sliver of it.
"And unless you want to start running, you cannot stop. Lord Brice is not forgiving, ever, when you are not inside by sunset," Gunther reminded her.
Not that she needed to be reminded, but it was days like today, when everything went wrong from the start, she wished her husband didn't set such inflexible restrictions on her. Another look west and Io picked up her pace. She heard the watch call out she was nearing the gate and the grumbling as her group came through and the heavy iron doors were closed behind her and locked. She didn't stop because inside didn't always mean inside the outer bailey. Most days, it meant inside the house itself and as she passed through into the inner yards and saw the torches being lit, her skin prickled. She glanced west once more as she set her foot on the first step and sighed because there was a sliver of sun left.
"You are to be inside by dark," Xavier said, stepping out of the entrance.
"And I will be if you get out of my way," Io snapped, pushing past him. She couldn't deal with him at the moment. She made her way through the hall and back to the small room serving as her personal cabinet and tossed the papers she'd carried to the table before moving to light a few more candles. She still had work to do if she'd ever settle the strife between the guilds.
Xavier set this space up for her when he decided their chambers needed to be a place only for them. Outside matters could be discussed but not attended to, once they were behind that door. Xavier even moved his more personal correspondence to his own cabinet across the hall from hers. The only consideration given there was to each other. And most weeks, they took at least one day and gave it fully to spending time as husband and wife. Even if all they did was walk around the grounds, holding hands. Of course, with spring coming, she knew they'd be able to soon add distance. For now, though, it was a comfort to know Xavier made this effort so everyone saw his commitment to her was real and unwavering. Even if right now it felt a little stifling.
Pulling a ledger from the shelf, she made her way back to the table then noticed Xavier leaning in the doorway. Again, her skin prickled and her arse clenched. As naturally as she could, she took a seat as he dropped his arms and stepped inside. "Trouble in the shire, I hear," he said, not sounding anything more than curious.
"There wouldn't be if everyone wasn't so greedy," Io said, flipping open the ledger and looking at the pages listing the past pricing of raw wool. She found the entry she was seeking and was relieved she'd not been wrong when she'd told the guild leaders the prices. "I might have settled it today, but I was late getting to the meeting and they were already at each other by the time I arrived. Then I ran out of time…" She cut him a nasty look. "…needing to get back before dark."
He snorted at that last part, but his next words told her he was going to let her have it this time. "Gunther said you will go back tomorrow and try to get everyone in agreement." He fingered some of the papers on the table but didn't do more. He wouldn't unless she asked him directly.
"Yes, and I can only hope they are reasonable because I'd also planned to see if the shares of seed and grains were ready to be handed out for planting."
"You are meeting with the guild leaders in Walsh, are you not?" Io nodded at him. "And aren't the stores still kept in Dorby?" Again, she nodded. "The two are hardly a mile apart, what reason would you have for not getting to both before the day's end?"
Io could tell he already knew the problem, but he wanted to hear it from her before either suggesting a solution, or more likely, insisting on one. With a sigh, she stated what she knew was going to start a disagreement between them. "Because even if I arrive in Walsh at sun up, to find everything settled, Dorby is another mile away and it has never taken less than the entire day to record everything and speak with everyone about the planting schedule. I cannot leave here until the sun is up and must be back before it sets. That extra mile will mean leaving that much sooner if I want to make it back." She glared at him again before lifting her quill and opening the inkwell.
"It is a ten minute ride even from the far side of Dorby back to the house, Io." She raised her eyes from the ledger pages to see his pointed look. "Ride, do not walk."
And now the discourse would begin. "Gabdon said it will be another week at least before he can finish fixing my cart." It annoyed that it took so very little to snap the axle, but Io was told it was common with such light carts. She did wonder how the Romans managed to conquer the world in them if that was true.
"Io," Xavier said, putting his fingers under her chin to lift her face. "Ride."
She pulled away and dip
ped the quill. "Merkin said it will be even longer before he can put a new shoe on Wednesday. Unless you are going to tell him she takes priority over the soldiers' mounts…" He shook his head and that didn't surprise her. The soldiers needed their horses to patrol the lands' she didn't resent them being the farrier's first duty. "Then I will walk."
"Io, there is a stable full of horses suitable for—"
"I do not ride those horses," she said and, at his look, added, "I cannot ride them."
"You can, Io. You choose not to. But I think it is time you start making a different choice," he went on before she could protest. "You have the skill to ride and I have ensured the mounts you might select from are safe for you, though once the snows are gone from the fields, I want you to work on improving your horsemanship. For now, ride one of the others. There is no reason at all for you to be walking to attend matters away from the house. It is as you said, a waste of time and limits what you can accomplish. A ten minute ride verses an hour walk. So ride." He pulled back and, turning, walked out the door.
"I do not ride other horses," Io said to the empty room as her hand moved down to rub at the scars on her left thigh.
The next morning, though Randolph had a pretty dapple filly saddled and waiting for her. Io shook her head as she walked out the gates, her escorts for the day scrambling to dismount and join her on foot.
She came back through again far too close to dark to hope Xavier would let it pass again and with even less settled between the guilds and now with a message she knew was about the planting being handed to her as she entered the hall. Xavier was on her heels this time as she made her way toward their chambers.
"I will not excuse you again, Io," he said as he turned to close the door. "I told you not to walk and, again, you come in after sunset."