When the light around him faded for the second time, Mandrak rose to his feet and left the circle of trees. He walked across the courtyard, barely noticing Ulrich's eyes wide and watching. He stopped, lifted his hand and looked at the leakage of light, then up at Ulrich.
"What do you think of it, Ulrich?"
"Y-your face, my lord."
Mandrak touched his face with one hand.
"Your skin is ripped away, my lord sorcerer."
Mandrak smiled. "But it does not matter." He pressed his palms over his face, then lifted them to the top of his head. "Now?" he asked, smiling.
Ulrich blinked, stepped back. "Your face is once more as fresh as a young man's."
"Of course. I have the power to heal myself." He looked up into the night sky. "It is glorious to feel this power pulsing through me. Glorious." Slowly, his face changed back to the rotting flesh. "Await my further orders," he instructed briskly.
"Yes, my lord."
¤¤
Iliana moved quietly through the keep, up the stairs and along the short hall. She knocked upon Erik's door, then gently pushed it inward.
"Erik?" she called softly. He stood at the window embrasure, the linen covering pushed aside as he stared out into the dark night. Naked from the waist up, with merely his leggings in place and barely covering his well muscled calves, his bare feet were placed upon what had to be an icy stone floor. He turned at her entrance, a smile lighting his eyes and then his face.
Iliana studied his well muscled chest, the light tracing of hair which ran down into his leggings. Hard muscle and brawn, and a fearsome scar on his neck and chest. He was a man that would make any woman crow with delight and yet she was finally able to see deeper than the surface. Behind his handsome face lay intelligence, gentleness and a care for those around him. Iliana felt a deep warmth begin inside, centering in her stomach and reaching out to create a heat of desire between her legs.
She moved into his chamber. "Erik -- how fares your wound?"
Erik turned his arm so the wound was more easily seen, the flesh knitted together, but still pink. "It is healing well," he said dismissively. "Sorenta's powder." He smiled. "That, and your healing touch."
Iliana reached for his large hand and examined the wound herself, touching the surrounding area. "Good, there is no heat under the skin."
"Do not worry over it," he said, smiling down at her, the light and desire in his green eyes her undoing. It was what she also felt inside. Seeing it on his face fanned the spark in Iliana. Desire had lain dormant and suppressed for her, for a very long time. However, Iliana had more pressing matters on her mind and would not be distracted. She stepped back.
"Erik, Thomas told me he's been helping you decipher Sir Robert's letters."
"Yes, and I'm disappointed to report there appears to be no mention of the gem."
"You have reached the same conclusion as myself." She nodded, hope extinguished. "I had hoped for more, that perhaps I had missed something. I will leave you then."
"Wait, Iliana."
Erik closed the small gap between them, reached out and grasped her shoulders. Slowly, he urged her toward him, the heated warmth of his embrace.
Tentatively, she touched the warm skin of his back, closed her eyes and inhaled his scent, but then pulled back slightly. She touched the scar on his neck which ran down over his chest.
"Erik, the scars you bear are most fearsome. Please tell me how this occurred." Gently, she traced the scar, its once puckered skin now flat and white. Up close like this, she could see where the skin had been torn and then pulled together. Her desire of only moments before gave way to a shiver of fear. "You could have died from such a wound."
"Iliana, it is not a pretty tale. I have lived a life full of danger, I will be the first to admit that to you. Overall, I have been successful in my quests, but I have not always followed the prudent path."
She gave a slight shiver. "Please, Erik, I would know now."
"William?" he asked.
"He sleeps with Rowenna by his side."
"Then let us be comfortable instead of by this drafty window." He took her hand and led her to the bed. He clasped her around the waist and she gripped his arms as he lifted her onto the high bed. She settled against the comfortable furs, and he half-reclined beside her, his fingers tracing up and down her arm. Iliana tried to concentrate as he began his story.
"When I was a lad at sea barely into my teen years, I began working for my government. This government is similar to the courts as you know them today in your world. I began by doing a little spying. I was very good at my job but it was fairly secretive work. As time went on, I received increased responsibilities due to my diligence. During this time I met my brother Darien in a tavern fight."
She looked at him wide-eyed. "You fought with your brother?"
He smiled in reminiscence. "Yes, we were caught up in a fight. As we were about to beat the tar out of each other, we really looked at one another. We knew right away something unusual was happening. We exchanged our stories, and decided in the end we shared the same father. Darien knew his father until he was fifteen, where upon his -- our father -- just disappeared one day. I never knew the man. As far back as I can recall it was just my mother and I."
"I find that sad, Erik, that you never had your father. And yet it is a familiar story, is it not? Look at my own little William," she mused. "And yet you and your brother found each other, that is surely a reason to rejoice?"
"Yes -- and it was a chance encounter. My route to the sea was chosen by me, whereas Darien's was not. The woman he loved -- loves -- Elise, had a mean bastard of a father. He had Darien impressed and sent to sea as a lad. When we met, he'd been on the sea several years and had just quit the sea that day. As my adventures for the government grew more dangerous, I began to track a treacherous fellow who went by many names. I was not even sure of his real identity, only the current name at any given moment. There was nothing he would hesitate to do for money, no deed too evil. I had been tracking him for six years or more. One night he and four men jumped me on my own vessel as we sat docked in the harbor. He killed two of my men that night. We fought and he laughed as he slit my throat with a dagger. He swore to cut off my head, and he nearly succeeded."
His eyes were the darkest green she had ever seen. She moved closer to him to feel his living, breathing warmth, the tale upsetting her.
"I did not think I would survive that night," he added somberly. "I had been left for dead, but not before I had turned his own dagger on him and struck him in the heart."
Iliana's hands felt ice cold, and she buried them in the bed furs. "Erik, how did you survive?" she asked, pressing a light kiss along the scar on his neck.
"My brother Darien came looking for me. I had tried to staunch the flow of blood but it was going badly. He found me, packed the wound tight with cloth and got two men to carry me to land. I vaguely recall the carriage ride as he dashed through the streets of Virginia to a surgeon friend of his. I was lucky that day. The surgeon patched me up as best he could and I wavered between life and death for ten days. Much of it I do not remember, but when I finally awoke, I could not speak."
"Erik." Iliana soothingly pressed her lips to his neck, moved along the scar with her lips, tears filming her eyes as she thought of what he had suffered. "And yet you recovered," she said, "although it must have been a painful and often disheartening journey. What happened to the one who did this?"
"The last I knew his ship was lost in a storm far out to sea."
"Justice may have been served upon him," she said, pressing a soft kiss just to the side of his mouth. "Perhaps he was eaten by a sea creature."
Erik looked at her, grinning. "I see you are a bloodthirsty woman."
"How can you laugh about it?" she asked. "I hate the idea that he hurt you," she blurted, "so it is fitting that he should meet such an end."
Gently, Erik splayed his fingers along her jaw. She drew in a deep breath, closed her
eyes as his mouth touched hers. Need rose to the surface, engulfing Iliana, heating her body to liquid fire. How could she have been so wrong about this man? She had come to his chamber for information, but had this been her goal all along? "It has been so long my life has been without a tender touch," she murmured.
Iliana had thought him her enemy and now she craved his touch. So much had happened in the short time since he'd arrived. She yearned to be a part of him, feel the breath in him catch as hers did the same. She wanted to make love with him among the bed furs, as the chill air outside threw frost upon the morning grass. If Mandrak got his way, their time together might be limited.
"How long have I waited?" he murmured against her lips. "How long have I yearned to find you again, Iliana?" He smiled against her mouth. "To have you in my arms. Do not tremble, my Iliana, do not fear me."
"I would not be here if I feared you, Erik. All I fear is that I may disappoint." She firmed her lips, allowed him to lift her face to his. "You say I spent seven nights in your bed. Why then can I not remember?" she asked with frustration. "What if your memory of that woman is of someone else?"
"My dear Iliana, your fear is unfounded," he said.
The rich silk of her hair fell between them. Erik pulled her ever closer, enfolded her in his embrace and she rejoiced in the heat of his skin next to her.
Warm touch, fingers trailing over her skin, a rising heat enveloping them. Anticipation curled a tight knot in Iliana's stomach.
Her fingers played tentatively over his chest, daringly moving across a taut, flat stomach. She felt his reaction to her touch, his muscles jumping slightly as she learned his body.
His lips moved across her cheek, lightly caressed the skin of her jaw, touched ever so briefly, too briefly, upon her lips.
Iliana rolled closer to Erik, then leaned on her elbow, her hips sliding across his lower body, her eyes open, watching his face, seeing her own reflection in his eyes.
"Your eyes are green like the emerald I seek," she said in wonder.
Erik's gaze sharpened, and his mouth moved into a grin. "Aye," he said, "you spoke those words before."
"'Tis true," she whispered, then frowned. "How could I think you were in league with him? You speak the truth where he knows only deceit. You are not him, he is not you." A mixture of fear and relief raced through her. "When you first arrived I cursed your arrival, your arrogance, but as I learn about you, Erik, I am not sorry you are here. I am glad you have found me, and I hope a time will come where I regain those memories."
Erik laughed, his arms around her. "It matters not, now does it, my lady Iliana? Tonight is the beginning of our time together. I hope it pleases you so that you never think to leave again." He dropped a kiss upon her lips, his tongue seeking entrance to her mouth. "And never to forget," he murmured, pulling back slightly.
Iliana sighed. "I shall hold dear each touch, each breath, each moment we spend together." She helped Erik as his fingers worked at the tie around her waist, and she wriggled her hips, pulling the linen shift up. She sat up, allowed him to pull it over her head and drop it at the bottom of the bed.
She shivered and he pulled aside the bed furs and nestled her down under their warmth. Quickly, he divested himself of his leggings and she opened the furs and he moved in beside her, pulling her to his chest. She felt dwarfed by his size and she was not a small woman.
He looked down at her within the cocoon he had made for them. "Why do you frown?"
Iliana concentrated on the connection of their skin from breast to toes. "I am committing this moment to memory, your strength enfolding me. It feels so right, so much a part of me. My soul knows my own strength, but also rejoices in yours."
"We are well matched," he said, his palms cupping her breasts.
Iliana sucked in a deep breath, studied his face so close to her own, the green eyes intense as he brought her closer, and she pressed up tightly against him, winding her legs around his longer legs, heat rising unbearably inside. He rubbed his hard body against her softer one, and the friction made it difficult for her to breath. She wanted to feel all of him right now, without delay, but he took his time, his warm calloused hands tenderly tracing her body, making her shiver and jump as one hand moved up the tender skin of her inner thigh. His mouth dropped to her breasts, suckled them gently with his tongue, and pulsing energy flowed white hot to her abdomen and settled between her legs.
"Erik," she muttered, lost in a deep, heated sensation.
She clenched her legs tightly around his hand, then relaxed, lifting her head so that she might kiss his mouth. He dropped his mouth to hers, lightly playing with her lips, tracing the contour of her mouth, and then Erik plunged his tongue into her mouth, again and again, his lower body likewise thrusting against her.
Iliana rode the sensation of heat and desire, craving his body inside hers until neither one of them knew where his hard body ended and her softer body began.
"Iliana," he murmured, kissing down over her neck, kissing her breasts, gently shaping them in his large hands. "So perfect," he murmured, "so perfect for me."
His lips moved down her body, and Iliana shivered as his teeth nipped ever so gently at her skin. She traced the contours of his skull, her fingers beneath his hair, now moving over his shoulders, feeling the flex of his well muscled neck and shoulders. So much hard muscle and strength, and yet he who took care with her.
"Erik, I want you inside me now," she whispered, and opened her legs, pushing up against him, almost beside herself as the desire inside made it difficult to breathe. She caught a quick indrawn breath, her eyes locked with his as he thrust inside her deeply. The fit of their bodies felt tight, and Iliana put her arms around him, felt his big hands at the top of her hips, guiding her, thrusting inside again and again. A deep spiral began inside, a physical sensation that ran like wild fire all the way to her fingertips and the tips of her toes. Like a lightning shock, she felt the thrust of his body, slow and then quicker, touching a place inside so deeply and tenderly she began to shake. She had no control now as sensation took over.
Deeply emotional and trusting, they joined their bodies again and again. Iliana felt herself tense as sensation began to overwhelm her. Erik's arms, body... his scent wound evocatively around her, capturing her in body and heart.
"Erik."
His kisses fell upon her throat and she drew her head back, the tension unbearable and yet so ecstatic. When had making love ever been so wondrous and full of joyous delight?
"Iliana," he said, "come to me. Be mine, Iliana."
She squeezed him tightly as he came back inside her, and he groaned deeply. Incredible sensations took her to new heights, her tension flowing into him, overtaking him also.
Iliana did not contain the cry that escaped, and suddenly as if separated from her body in a moment of true ecstatic coupling, everything came pouring back into her -- it all rushed into her memory. She saw his face, their time together aboard the sea vessel, standing together looking out over the sea.
It hit her with such incredible force, the joining of his body with hers, the flesh of one love calling to another, a final wild crest before they both fell back to the bed. Erik gave a muffled shout, his lips taking her once more as his body gave one final thrust and it took both of them over the edge. They both lay still, hearts pounding, barely able to move. She began to feel the chill air on her damp skin.
Erik stirred himself, pulled the bed furs back over them because somehow they were now on top of the furs.
"Dearest Iliana," he said, tenderly brushing the hair back from her damp brow. Iliana felt as if she could not move, as if every bit of strength had left her body.
"I am gloriously alive," she said.
She touched her palm to his shoulder and then down over his muscled chest. She shook her head in wonder and she smiled at him. "Erik, Erik."
She tried to hold back the flow of tears, but they erupted, and then came the deep sobs. For him, for herself, for everything she had
forgotten or hidden even from herself.
Erik pulled her close, held her, comforted her with soft murmured words.
Finally, she looked up from his shoulder, which was now wet with her salty tears. But she smiled at him. "Erik, I remember. I remember it all." She shook her head and she gave a soft laugh, staring directly into his eyes. "How could I have forgotten our time together? How could I have forgotten you?"
"By all the saints, you have remembered," he said. He did not try to contain his grin. "Against the odds I have found you."
Iliana lay curled against him, her legs entwined with his, her soft skin responsive to his touch. Even now, she longed for him again, but she had never slept away from William and needed to return to her own chamber.
"Erik," she said, sleepily. "I must return to William."
"Lie still," he said. "I will bring William to you."
Erik rooted around on the floor and pulled his leggings back on and walked across the cold stone in bare feet. Even though it was the spring season, the nights were still cold and bitter. He moved across the chamber and with sleepy eyes she watched him as he left.
Soon he returned carrying William in his arms. Iliana saw him pause inside the door, looking down at her child. William stirred and Iliana caught her breath as her son gave Erik a drowsy smile and said, "Da." And still with that smile he closed those green eyes and fell back asleep.
Erik placed William beside her. She smiled and snuggled the child next to her, then Erik lay down, pulling the furs around them once more.
"Now you may sleep," he said.
"Yes." Iliana, rising on an elbow, pressed her mouth to his warm lips in a lingering kiss. "Here I have all I need."
¤¤
Early morn, Ulrich and Erik rode out with a dozen men to check word of suspicious camps in the forest to their south. Upon hearing that news, Iliana had been uneasy. To the south was the place where the shadow had appeared on her tapestry. Such was the distance, she doubted they would return before nightfall. Erik had given her a lingering kiss before he left, and Iliana had drifted back to sleep for a short time, no doubt with a smile upon her lips.
Time Travel Romance Collection Page 64