Undoing One's Enemy

by Camille Oster

  She found him outside. He looked strong and rested, and handsome with his curls flowing in the gentle breeze. He was waiting for her, holding two horses—a great grey she knew was his and a smaller brown horse.

  “This is Petal,” he said.

  “I’ve never seen her before.”

  “She is from the village. A docile animal, I am told. I have never ridden her myself, but I know she will see you right. I put a normal saddle on her as opposed to a side saddle. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not.” She’d never been a fan of the side saddle.

  “Give me your leg.” She complied and he placed his hand around her ankle. She could feel the pressure of it around her leather boot as she pushed herself up. Once up, he elegantly swung up on his horse and they were ready.

  They rode for a while. There was water everywhere. The bad weather had cleared and it was a sunny day, but there was standing water in every depression in the land. The stream was still over-flowing, but it had retreated somewhat from the highpoint where debris had been left along the grass.

  There were annoyed livestock avoiding puddles in the soggy ground—not that it made any difference, they were covered in mud.

  “It should dry off quickly,” he said after a while.

  “Will it affect the harvest?”

  “Yes, the wheat, but it depends on how quickly the water drains. There were some corners cut with the irrigation over the last few years,” he said quietly. She knew he was referring to her father’s foreman’s strategy of cutting corners to save money and effort. It seems they were having the opposite effect now.

  “We have done what we can. We should be able to salvage some of it,” he said. They continued and he took note of things that needed to be done. They spoke to some of the field hands about the far fields, which apparently had fared well.

  “Let’s go to the village and get some bread and cheese. It will be a threadbare lunch, unless you want to return to the house.”

  “Bread and cheese is fine. I had a decent breakfast, so I won’t suffer with a light lunch.” He smiled at her and she felt herself blush.

  There was typical activity in the small village made up of the farmers and field hands that worked the land around these parts. They were just as cut off from the world and the amenities of the nearest small town.

  Lord Eldridge dismounted and spoke to an older woman in the village which he obviously knew really well because she patted him on the cheeks like a small child. She got him some bread and cheese, and a flagon of ale in a small satchel.

  “She was my nursemaid,” he said with a small cough as he returned to the horse. Amelia almost laughed—as big and forbidding as he was, he would always be an overgrown boy to that woman.

  “She seems to think the world of you.”

  “She is generous with her affections.”

  “Not a bad quality perhaps.”

  They rode out of the village and continued until they found a stone wall that divided two fields.

  “This is likely the only place that is not sodden,” he said and dismounted. He placed the satchel on the wall and came over to her side. “I will help you down.”

  “I’m sure I can manage.”

  “I won’t have you twisting an ankle on this unstable ground,” he said and reached up. Amelia felt a flare of excitement as his hands went around her waist. She slid her legs down the side of her horse and he held her steady as he lowered her to the ground. They were so close, almost as close as they’d been last night. She could feel her heart beating, wishing he would kiss her again, but he stepped away. Disappointment flared in her.

  She joined him on the wall where he tore pieces of bread and cheese for them. It was surprisingly delicious. Such a simple meal, but as tasty as the fine French chef Celeste engaged.

  “I think you enjoy my kisses,” he said and Amelia almost choked on a piece of bread. She wasn’t entirely sure what was going to come out of his mouth next, whether it was going to be derogatory or something else. She certainly didn’t respond—how would one to such a statement? “There is a deep attraction between us. It is a gift.”

  “Or a curse,” she said. She watched as he smiled.

  “Only if you make it.” His eyes lifted to capture hers. “Perhaps because such things should not be ignored.”

  “I’m not sure that is true.”

  “Maybe in your heart, you know what you need.”

  “Need?” she said with surprise. She didn’t need to give into such urges, she needed to resist. She wanted to give in, but she needed to do the exact opposite. They were completely different things. “I’m not sure-“

  She was interrupted by his lips seeking out hers. He just leant over and kissed her. Sensation flooded her, more so as he pulled her even closer, pressing her to him as he deepened the kiss. His tongue played with her lower lip until she couldn’t resist giving him entry to her mouth, where its wicked touches heated and seduced her. Every one of her senses was overwhelmed and the little pulse down in her core exploded into a demanding yearning. She needed for feel more of him—she needed skin.

  He pulled out of the kiss and she groaned as she stretched for more.

  “See, need,” he said and took a bite of an apple. She didn’t know where that apple had come from but it taking that mouth away from her—she hated it. “Want some?” he asked offering the apple.

  “Yes.” She wasn’t referring to the apple.

  “Maybe you should accept that I am often right,” he said with a glint in his eye. He was teasing her.

  “Right?”

  “You do enjoy my kisses. Just admit it.”

  “Fine,” she said, but she wasn’t going to give in that easily. At least on the surface, because she knew she had already given in. He could have her any way he wanted—right here on the ground if that’s what he wanted. She was beyond fooling herself, she wanted him so badly, she would accept any agreement he put to her. “You kisses are enjoyable, kisses generally are.”

  He swung his leg over the other side of the wall and sat facing her. “Is that right? Do you enjoy all kisses? I think some are a bit more special than others. I would go as far as to say they are the most enjoyable kisses you’ve ever had.”

  “I don’t have much to compare it to,” she stated in defiance. A slow grin spread across his face.

  “Trust me, kisses like that are special,” he said and his deep voice almost had a quality that vibrated all the way down her spine sending sparks of energy down her legs. “Maybe the most addictive thing in this world,” he continued and stroked curl from the sensitive skin of her neck. His fingers lingered and slowly travelled down her neck as his eyes followed. Amelia cleared her throat because she was completely mesmerized by him watching her.

  “There is a barn over there, isn’t there,” she said with shaky breath, indicating behind them. She remembered one being over there.

  “I believe so. “Why?”

  “We should see if it’s damaged.”

  “If you wish,” he said and jumped off the wall. He assisted her to jump down and gathered up the remains of their lunch. He helped her onto her horse and mounted his own. They rode slowly in the direction of the barn, he rode slightly ahead of her and she watched nothing but him during the entire ride over. She wondered if he knew why she’d asked. She didn’t care. She was going to have him and she didn’t care if it made her a whore, or a lightskirt. She needed him and nothing else seemed to matter.

  When they got there, it was a suitably isolated barn that stored hay for the winter. The seed had been planted in her head and it was not relenting—neither was her desire. Her body was vibrating with need. She swung her leg in front of her and slid down before he could help her. He gave her a look that told he wanted to tell her off, but he held his tongue. She had much better plans for that tongue.

  “It looks well,” he said as he walked inside. Amelia reached up and kissed him as soon as he turned around. He was taller than her so s
he had to stretch. He didn’t pull away, and he groaned a little as she left his lips and explored his strong neck. His skin tasted so good.

  She urged his jacket over his shoulders, and he seemed to let her. He watched her as she pushed it off his broad shoulders.

  “Is there something on your mind, Miss Hessworth?”

  “Shut up,” she said and he smiled. He pulled her closer to him while a little grin played on his lips. He sought out her mouth strongly as he lifted her off the ground. Her legs went around his hips and urged him close to her, closer to where she was burning with need.

  She had the buttons of his waistcoat undone and didn’t bother taking it off, instead moving to the buttons on his shirt, revealing glorious skin underneath. She fell back into soft hay and he followed. The weight of him was absolutely glorious. She felt the hardness of him pressing between her legs and she desperately wanted him inside her as she sought out the buttons that restrained him.

  He sat back and for a moment she feared he was going to pull away from her, but he pulled her up and pulled her dress and chemise over her head, leaving her bare. He stopped for a minute and just looked at her. She felt herself tighten even further as she waited for him to touch her. She felt beautiful when he looked at her.

  He leant over and took one of her nipples in his mouth. It shot strong sensations throughout her body. She had to arch to comply with the delicious, devious sensations it wrought in her. She forgot everything she was doing and was just powerless to the sensations taking over her body. He returned to her mouth and she welcomed him, urging him deeper as she urged his body closer.

  She had absolutely no doubt when he was lined up to take her, she silently urged him to hurry because she couldn’t take the tension any more. Powerful sensations filled her as he did. It felt so completely right, like it was meant to be, like this was what she was meant for. He filled her to the hilt and lay still for a while. She almost whined with frustration, she wanted him to move—needing the friction. When he did, her body moved in complete synchronicity, meeting each thrust, trying to get him deeper.

  The sensations were taking on a life of their own and they were taking over her body and her mind, centred around the powerful thrusts and making the tension even more intense. She almost felt like she needed to escape it, but she was captured by its pull until she fell over a precipice and her body shook in violent waves of pure pleasure.

  Every thrust just created new waves, until the last hard thrust where he groaned out his release. Something very deep in her psyche took that release with profound satisfaction.

  She breathed heavily as the pieces of the world started to pull together in their proper order. He didn’t move, instead stayed where he was, still inside her. He was heavy, but she wasn’t complaining, she liked the feel of him laying on her.

  “I think you should stay here, with me,” he said and pushed away from her. She felt weightless as his body came off her. She soaked in the look of him. He was utterly beautiful—solid and perfect.

  “We have talked about this before. It is not what I want.”

  “Then what if we marry?”

  “Marry? I am a fallen woman if you would recall. You were instrumental in bringing me to that state.”

  “Your father must take some of the blame too,” he said quietly. It was true, her father had left her with no provisions for her future. She would have been in dire straits whoever had bought the estate.

  “I will never be accepted in society.”

  “You sins are not grave enough that they would not be forgiven.”

  “I’m not sure I care anymore,” she said honestly. “I have only gained, and lost very little by being excluded from society; I’m not sure I would want to return to that life even if it was open to me. I made a decision; I want love, true love and an authentic life—not some sham marriage of convenience or melding fortunes, or even enhanced status and reputation. Can you offer that to me?”

  He was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know. I could lie and tell you yes, but I don’t know. I don’t know how that is, how it works. All I know is that I don’t want to be with anyone else. I can’t tolerate anyone else. I know I am far from perfect. I have flaws that probably has the devil wringing his hands in glee. All I can do is to promise that I will try. I want you like I have never wanted anyone and I will give you everything I can. You cannot be so determined on poverty that you would reject me because I have means.”

  “It’s not about means,” Amelia countered, getting up on her elbows. She felt no rush in getting dress, she was completely comfortable and loving the languid and sated feel of her body.

  “Then tell me what you want, if it’s in my power I will give it to you.”

  “I want honesty, I want fidelity. I want to associate with the people who amuse and interest me. I want to do things that excite me. I want to be with someone who thinks that relationships are more important that society’s whims.”

  “Society holds not appeal for me. We could live like hermits if you want.”

  “I want to travel.”

  “Fine, wherever you want to go. What else?”

  “I can’t think of anything else, but I’m sure there are some very important things that I just can’t remember right now.”

  “Then you accept my proposal?” he asked. Amelia chewed her lip as she considered his proposition. She was afraid she was agreeing to some trap that she would live to regret. On the other hand, she wasn’t entirely sure she could live without his touch, and she certainly wouldn’t be able to endure him doing that with someone else. “Just say yes,” he said with exasperation. “Let’s not go through the whole thing where I chase you until you do, because I will.”

  “Fine!” she said forcefully. He smiled widely like the cat that got the cream.

  “Now we have much to do—primarily, you will be moving your things into my bedroom tonight.” He traced little circles on the upside of her thighs.

  “That is completely improper,” she said and smiled back.

  “I know, you wicked girl. Good thing we are not sticklers for such things. Now that’s sorted, where were we?”

  Amelia did up the buttons on her riding habit as she watched the man that she had just agreed to marry. He was tending to the horses that they had abandoned to their own devices. He would not make an easy husband or a docile one. She didn’t delude herself that their argumentative relationship would suddenly change. She wasn’t sure she wanted it to. She wanted him to rile her into fury—she had a release for it now. She knew exactly where she would direct all her frustrations, passion and lust. She saw the passion between them, she hadn’t been able to identify it before, but it was clear as day now. He wasn’t sweet as she had expected in her husband, but he was true to his own character—as flawed as he was. He’d never tried to present himself in a light that wasn’t truthful. She didn’t know what else she could possible require in her husband. Maybe he was as perfect as she needed him to be. Or maybe imperfect was the right word.

  He hadn’t quite said he loved her, but she knew she had him in every respect. She would work on making him say it. She would tease it out of him and enjoy doing it.

  Epilogue

  Richard and Amelia got married by special license. He organized it as soon as the stream on his property was passable, and they were at the church at the earliest opportunity. There wasn’t any real rush; he just wanted to get it done before she had any reason to change her mind. They decided to invite the people they wanted to, which ended up being two people, Celeste and Anton—both of whom had to drop everything to attend the sparse ceremony. Even with their hasty marriage, their first son was born within a questionable amount of time from the point of their official union. It served as gossip for a while, but neither of them cared a whit.

  Their social circle did expand somewhat as time went by; although not much at first as both Anton and Celeste undertook voyages to Paris and New York, respectively. Their friends were an eclectic group t
hat as a whole would never be accepted by society—the society that in due course determined that Lord and Lady Eldridge were eccentrics. Their friends never included clergymen or artists, no matter how personable or interesting they were—Lord Eldridge would not tolerate them; he was always unreasonable in that regard.

  Other Books by Camille Oster

  The Game - Jane Burrows knows that the corporate environment is difficult to navigate at the best of times. It is especially difficult when the important account lead hates the very sight of her. Damon D'Arth is a corporate warrior who knows his way around the politics in the world for major infrastructure. Jane needs to stand up for herself and her mentor's interests.

  This job is the key to Jane's future and she's been given a great opportunity, but now she needs to prove that her promotion was justified. She just isn't sure she can survive in this high pressure environment with hidden dangers and equal exhilaration. Her mentor's support is the only thing that is keeping D'Arth from ripping her to pieces.

  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/271723

  An Unlikely Savior - The Revolution is spreading across France and it had reached the stately chateau of Virginie Durmont's guardian in the country side. She had accidentally been separated from the rest of the family and her need to escape France has become paramount, something her sheltered life and refined upbringing has left her unprepared for. Her only choice is to turn to her guardian's belligerent and selfish half-brother, Tomas Sanbonne.

  Virginie is certain that her guardian's faith in his half-brother is misplaced, but her dire circumstances mean she must beseech his assistance. She must reach safety beyond French shores and she will just have to put up with his considerable disapproval of her and everything she stands for. -- Released on Smashwords end of May 2013