by Alexa Aston
Kenric swallowed. “But I thought to catch your attention and win your favor. In doing so, I lost focus.”
Her rosebud lips parted. Confusion filled her face. “You wished . . . for my favor?”
“Aye.”
Then the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile. “Do you believe it worked?”
He held her glance. “I hope so.”
Before he could think of the consequences, Kenric lowered his mouth to hers. Avelyn squeezed his hand as he slowly brushed his lips against hers. She started to speak and he took it as an invitation. His tongue eased into her mouth, running along her teeth. Then her own tongue met his and playfully dueled with him, causing his pulse to jump.
He brought a hand to the back of her neck and grasped the soft skin as he drank in her sweet taste. The heat of the sun burning into his back seemed to light a fire within him.
Avelyn’s hand gripped his more tightly as her free one flattened against his bare chest. Her fingers seared into him as if branding him as hers for all time. His hands moved to cradle her face as his tongue now warred with hers, fighting for possession of her. Her hands crept to his shoulders, the nails sinking into his flesh as she anchored herself.
Time stood still.
Kenric knew not how long the kiss went on, only that he finally became aware that he must stop it before he lost control and took her right there on the ground. His hands slipped to her shoulders and gripped them as he tore his mouth from hers.
At once, an emptiness filled him, as if he’d been cut adrift at sea with no companions in sight. He looked into her blue eyes and saw the heat and desire that must be echoed in his own. Her mouth, so tempting, called out for him to return.
He stood and then gripped her elbows, pulling her to her feet. Avelyn swayed and fell against him, her palms flattening against his chest, causing his manhood to stir.
“I am . . . so dizzy,” she uttered, sounding confused.
Kenric tightened his grip but pushed her away till he had hold of her an arm’s length away.
“Can you walk?” he asked, not knowing where to begin.
“What just happened between us?” she demanded, her voice low but her tone urgent.
He shook his head. “I wish I could say. I . . . I have no words.”
“My body is humming—like a lute which has been stroked for a last note that reverberates throughout a still room.” Avelyn gazed up at him. “My lips tingle, as does every part of me. These strange feelings . . .” Her voice trailed off.
Kenric never opened up to another soul, never sharing what he thought or felt. But then again, he had never experienced this reaction with any woman—and they had only kissed.
Yet, it was as if he was under her spell as he said, “I feel the same. I am as taut as that lute’s strings, yet unknown ripples pour throughout me. I long for you, Avelyn Le Cler. With a depth and breadth that is unfamiliar—yet seemingly has lain dormant within me my entire life.”
Her hands reached out and touched his face in wonder. She stroked it gently, then boldly, causing desire to flicker again within him. Kenric lowered his mouth to hers and lost himself in their kiss.
Avelyn leaned against him, her breasts pushing close. He could feel her nipples teasing him through her layers of clothing. He brought a hand to one breast and massaged it, causing her to moan. The sound almost undid him.
Yet, it brought him to his senses—again.
Kenric grasped her wrists and forced her hands from his chest. “We must stop. Now.”
She shook her head. “I know. I know,” she repeated. “And yet, I want nothing more than to touch you—and to have you touch me.”
He took her chin in hand and brushed a soft kiss upon her lips. “I must return you to Lady Merryn. She needs to tend to your ankle.”
“Oh.” Avelyn glanced down and tried to take a step. “Ouch!”
Kenric bent and placed an arm behind her knees and swept her up close. One of her arms went about his neck. The other rested against his chest, her fingers softly stroking and then teasing as she pulled against the hair there.
“Stop that, wench,” he said playfully.
She sighed. “If you insist. Take me to Merryn.”
He started back in the direction of the training yard.
“No, she and Alys will have tended to Alaric by now. They have probably returned to the keep.”
“Then I will take you there.”
Kenric walked more slowly than he usually did, for he did not want to release her from his arms. He grinned down at her like some love-struck fool. That almost caused him to halt in his tracks.
Was he in love with Avelyn Le Cler?
*
Avelyn closed her eyes and rested her cheek against the rock-hard chest of Kenric Fairfax.
Was she dreaming?
Nay. Her throbbing ankle told her that she was not abed.
But what had just occurred between her and the prickly knight from Sandbourne?
Actually, he’d only seemed troublesome that first day. She’d come to understand, in the short time she’d known him, that he was a methodical man, one who set his mind to a task and would follow through completely. Michael had charged him to bring her back to Sandbourne—not her and two other females. Avelyn knew her thwarting his plans had aggravated him. Yet, by the second day of their journey, they had begun a conversation that lasted throughout that day and into the next. She found him intelligent and amusing—and very, very handsome.
She didn’t consider herself to be shallow like the women who populated the royal court. She shouldn’t take Kenric’s looks into consideration when thinking about him, but she did. And she couldn’t help but think about him all the time. Her thoughts strayed more and more to him during the past few days. And now? After their kisses caused her to burn with desire for his touch, she might never have another coherent thought again throughout her life, be it long or short. Thoughts of Kenric Fairfax would forever linger.
Was that love? Could she possibly be in love with this dark knight?
She had only known him a handful of days.
Yet Elysande and Michael had realized at their very first meeting that they were meant to be together. Raynor and Beatrice had quickly been drawn to one another. And she knew Geoffrey and Merryn had been close companions since childhood. Who knew when their feelings had turned to love?
Excitement filled Avelyn. She wanted—no, needed—to get to know more of this man. She must.
For she wished to spend the rest of her life with him.
But did he feel the same? Was he a man that would even consider marriage? Many knights in service to a liege lord did not, preferring to remain in the barracks and dedicate their lives to protecting the family they served.
Oh, she was getting ahead of herself. Here, she wanted Kenric Fairfax to slip a ring upon her finger and buy a small parcel of land near Sandbourne so they could remain close to Elysande and Michael. She wanted him to make love to her day and night and give her children. She needed to grow old with this man and learn something new about him each day they shared together.
And he had merely kissed her.
What if those kisses did not mean to him what they had to her? Yet Avelyn knew they must have. He had admitted as much—that he felt the same as she had and his body had responded to hers in kind. But did that mean commitment?
Only time would tell.
Avelyn decided, in that moment, that she would not force this knight’s hand in any way. She would make no declarations of love. Instead, she would keep her feelings to herself. If he wanted more from her, then he would have to be the one to share that first.
Pressing her cheek closer against his chest, she relished the feel and scent of him. Her fingers longed to run against his skin and play with the dusting of dark hair resting against her palm. Desire caused her to imagine feeling his muscles as they danced under her fingers.
She did none of that, choosing to lie still in his arms.
; They reached the keep. Kenric headed up the stairs, carrying her as if she were the lightest of feathers. They entered the great hall and Avelyn spied Merryn.
“There you are. Whatever happened to you, Avelyn?”
As they drew close, she saw Merryn’s eyes studying her. It was as if her aunt knew what had gone on between them.
“Lady Avelyn twisted her ankle. ’Tis not broken, but she needs you to tend to it, my lady,” Kenric offered, his voice now neutral, holding none of the passion from minutes ago.
“I see.” Merryn tilted her head and continued looking at them both. “Take Lady Avelyn up to her chamber, Sir Kenric. I’ll meet you there shortly once I’ve retrieved what I need.”
He carried her up the stairs and down the long corridor to the chamber she was sharing with Sela.
“Knock on the door,” she commanded him. “Sela may be within and not ready to receive company.”
Kenric nodded, a slight blush tinging his cheeks. He knocked, but no response came, so he opened the oak door and crossed into the room. Drawing back the bed curtains, he deposited Avelyn upon the mattress.
“Thank you, my lord,” she said demurely.
He stood there, unsure of what to do. Avelyn longed to take his hand, but she had already decided it was up to him to make any intentions known to her, so she refrained from doing so.
It nearly killed her.
The tall knight looked like a lost puppy, unsure of himself in a way he’d probably never experienced. Then he glanced down and picked up the ginger kitten that had scampered over to him and toyed with the toes of his boots.
“Hello, Cattus,” he said to the kitten. “Lady Avelyn has injured herself. You must stay with her and keep her company.” He placed the kitten in her lap.
At that moment, Merryn entered the room.
“Now that you are here, my lady, I will excuse myself.” Kenric turned to go and stopped. “But first, may I ask how Sir Alaric fares?”
“His injury wasn’t severe. Alys cleaned the wound and stitched him up in a matter of minutes.” Merryn paused. “I’m sure he’d like to visit with you so you can tell him how best to avoid making the same mistake twice.”
Avelyn watched Kenric shuffle his feet as a small child might and brought a hand to her mouth to hide her smile.
“Then I’ll seek him out, my lady. Good day to you both.” He left the chamber, closing the door behind him.
Merryn faced her. “So how long have you been in love with Kenric Fairfax?”
She found herself speechless but recovered quickly. “Why would you ask such a thing? I only met him when he came to London to retrieve me at Michael’s command.”
Avelyn shifted in the bed, busying herself by petting Cattus. Still, she could sense Merryn’s eyes on her.
“I ask because you vanished and I wondered where you’d gone. Then you appear in the arms of a most handsome, worthy knight, looking like a cat that has lapped up a bowl of cream.”
She sensed a blush rising on her cheeks but kept her eyes on the kitten.
“And then there are your swollen lips to consider and burned skin where a roughened beard has been rubbed against it numerous times in pleasure.”
Her hand crept up to her face. Her fingers touched her lips. Avelyn finally met her aunt’s eyes.
“You are most observant, Merryn.”
Merryn smiled. “I pride myself on it.” Avelyn caught the twinkle in her eyes. “And for spotting a new love that has sprung up.”
Avelyn cried, “I had no idea, I swear! I thought him rather arrogant at first, but then he grew on me as we made our way toward Kinwick. Then for some reason, I went charging after him once Alaric had been hurt. And . . . then . . . somehow . . . we were kissing.” She shuddered, not in fear, but in pleasure as the memory flooded her.
“I assume that you enjoyed his kiss?”
She fought to keep from smiling and lost that battle. “Oh, very much so. It was as if I truly came alive for the first time in my life. My body buzzed and tingled and felt so unlike it usually does.”
Merryn came and sat next to her on the bed. “It’s the most wonderful feeling in the world.”
“Aye. Exactly. I find it hard to put into words, but I’m not the same person I was when I awoke this morning.”
Merryn stroked her hair fondly. “You never will be, Avelyn. Love changes everything about you for the good.” She stopped. “Do you think Sir Kenric returns your feelings?”
She bit her lip. “He said as much. Then he abruptly stopped his kisses and became very brusque and formal. He insisted he bring me to you so you could care for my ankle.”
Merryn laughed. “Oh, Avelyn. He longed for more, but he realized that you are a lady and not some tavern wench. He had to stop before he carried matters too far.”
Avelyn frowned. “I’m not certain I understand you, Merryn.”
Her aunt wrapped an arm around her. “First, I shall look at your ankle to see if it swells.” She grinned. “And then we will talk of very important matters. I see your lady mother hasn’t advised you.”
“What should she have taught me that she did not?”
Merryn shook her head. “Ankle first. Then we shall speak woman to woman.”
Chapter 10
Avelyn spent the rest of the day within the guest chamber. After Merryn examined her ankle, she told her it only had slight swelling. Merryn even said that Avelyn could walk on it starting tomorrow. She would experience a little discomfort, but no real pain should surface. She elevated Avelyn’s leg and wrapped it in cold rags to bring down any potential swelling.
Sela brought the noon meal to her and kept Avelyn company as they chatted about what they’d seen that morning during the training exercises. Her friend seemed quite taken with Sir Martin’s prowess and Avelyn wondered if a budding romance might occur between the two.
Alys visited after that, bringing Edward with her. Avelyn enjoyed holding the babe while her cousin changed the bandage and then placed a poultice about the ankle for any lingering pain. She was left to nap after that.
She awoke feeling rested but grew bored sitting in the empty chamber. Alys had taken Cattus with her so the kitten could play with Hal instead of being confined to the bedchamber. Avelyn wanted to get up and walk around but feared Merryn would catch her at it and scold her for not waiting till tomorrow.
A sudden knock at the door had her happy that a new visitor had arrived.
“Come,” she called out, ready to have a conversation with whomever might appear.
It surprised her when her uncle entered, bearing a tray with the evening meal. But it wasn’t all that surprised her. As he closed the door and came closer to the bed, Avelyn sat up, plumping the pillows behind her.
“I can tell by the look on your face that Merryn spoke with you,” she began.
He set the tray on the table beside the bed and shrugged. “That’s the way between husband and wife. Sometimes, we don’t even need words between us. We know each other’s mind and what is in our hearts.” Geoffrey waited a moment and then said, “Tell me about Kenric Fairfax.”
“Actually, I would ask the same of you,” Avelyn replied. “I know you met him previously at Sandbourne.”
“I did.”
“What is he like?”
Geoffrey retrieved a nearby chair and brought it close to the bed. He sat and thought a moment. “I visited Sandbourne with Hal in tow. Merryn was too heavy with child to accompany me. It was only a few weeks before Edward’s birth. In fact, I took Hal with me because she needed a break from him and his wild ways.”
Avelyn laughed. “I know what you mean. He’s the dearest boy in the world, but he can be a handful.”
“Michael shared with me how pleased he was with several of his new knights and one in particular. Kenric Fairfax had arrived and told him that he searched for a liege lord to serve. That he had heard the Earl of Sandbourne was a respected and respectable man who rebuilt the force of soldiers at the estate since he ha
d recently come into the title. Fairfax said he wanted a chance to come to Sandbourne and be a part of everything.”
“Did Michael say where this knight came from? Or anything of Sir Kenric’s past?” Avelyn couldn’t help but think of the missing spurs and wondered why Kenric no longer wore them—or if he ever had.
“He only revealed that Fairfax was from the far north and that he preferred to settle in the south.”
“I know I enjoy the milder winters here after growing up in the north,” Avelyn said. “I can’t blame him for that although I detect the south in his accent. Mayhap he was born here but went to foster in the north.”
“That could be the case,” her uncle agreed. “At any rate, I watched him spar with the other soldiers. Physically, he’s an imposing man. He is quick with a sword and accurate with an array of other weapons. I asked to face him and we engaged one-on-one.”
Avelyn drew in a quick breath.
“Do not, under any circumstances, reveal that to Merryn,” Geoffrey warned.
She grinned. “I’ll hold that piece of information over you, Uncle. Mayhap you can bribe me to keep quiet about it. But go on.”
He gave her a mock scowl, but she knew ’twas all in fun. “Fairfax bested me. Not by much, but he is as seasoned and talented a knight as I have ever seen, and I’ve fought many excellent warriors in the past.”
“Elysande wrote to me that Michael trusted Kenric.”
Geoffrey nodded. “That would be true or Kenric never would’ve been charged to lead the escort party that brought you from London. But enough of my talk. What do you know of him, Niece?”
Avelyn considered a moment. “He is set in his ways. Stubborn. I didn’t want to like him after we first met but, somehow, I came around.” She paused. “He is intelligent and a capable leader. He seems of good character.”
“And?”
She sighed, knowing she could keep nothing from him. “I find him the most handsome man I have laid eyes upon. If he were at court? He would have to swat the ladies away like a horse’s tail does with flies. They would give him no peace until he married.” She snorted. “And even after he took his vows, there would be women that still chased him.”