He pulled her into his arms. “This will be as exciting.” He nipped her lower lip and slid into a devouring kiss.
She inhaled his scent and slowly slid her tongue into his mouth. She pressed against him. “Duncan,” she whispered.
“We need to take this inside before I forget.”
She nodded and moved away. After rising she held out her hands to him. “I want you.”
‘You drive me crazy.”
She gulped a breath. He made her want the things she wasn’t sure he could give…a home, a family and a commitment that he would be beside her every night.
He guided her into his bedroom. The maleness of the room engulfed her. Huge bed, dark mahogany furniture. Browns and blues in the carpet and draperies. He circled her waist and pulled her hips against his. She felt his erection and raised her head for a kiss.
He groaned. “I’ve been like this ever since you got out of your car.”
She tasted his lips. “I think I can handle what’s to come.”
“Keep on talking like that and I’ll forget I owe you one and take what I want.” He slid his hands beneath her top and ran a finger along her spine. “Front fastener.”
“Why don’t you check?” She pulled the clingy material over her head.
Duncan sat on the edge of the bed. “Undress for me and then I’ll return the favor.”
Astrid watched his face as she unfastened her bra and let the straps slid down her arms. His eyes darkened and his gaze focused on her hands. She cupped her breasts. Then she opened several buttons on her skirt. The soft cloth slid to the floor. As she moved her hands to the top of the thong, he shook his head. “Leave it. I’ll do that later. Come here.”
She glided toward him and stood between his spread legs. He ran his hands along her ribs and then took one throbbing nipple into his mouth. She rested her hands on his shoulders and purred. “Duncan, I want you. All of you.”
“And you’ll have me.” He lifted her and set her on the bed. “My turn. Never done this before.”
“Want music?”
“I can manage without.” He kicked off his shoes and socks and rose from the bed. He stepped back and pulled his shirt over his head.
Astrid moistened her lips and itched to stroke his chest, to feel his muscles contract and expand beneath her fingers. When he unbuckled his belt, she sucked in a breath and then laughed. “Your briefs match mine.”
“Blue’s one of my favorite colors.”
She gave him a once-over and studied his briefs. “You better prepare now. This time I want all of you inside.”
He sauntered toward the bed and took a condom from the bedside stand. Astrid leaned forward and ran a finger along his silk briefs. “Take them off.”
“Why don’t you?”
She slid her fingers under the elastic and peeled the briefs down. She caressed his scrotum and stroked his penis.
He stepped back and kicked off the briefs. Then he grasped his shaft and slowly rolled the condom over the length. “Ready for payback?”
“And eagerly waiting.”
He grinned. “Just lay back and enjoy.”
Astrid settled against the pillows. When he knelt on the bed, she reached for his erection. “I want all of you.”
He sat on his heels. “You can look but not touch.”
“You’re cruel.”
“We’ll see.” He drew one of her feet onto his knees and massaged the sole. She groaned. He moved to her other foot and stroked her calves, inching toward her thighs. When his fingers slid into her cleft, she moaned.
“Duncan, now.”
He shook his head. “Patience. Isn’t that what you told me?”
She made a face. “Guess I did.”
He brushed his lips over the flesh above her thong. As he slowly inched the cloth away, his mouth followed.
She sighed. She whimpered. She bent her knees and braced her feet against the mattress. He drew the thong over her legs and tossed it on the floor. His fingers played magic on her clit.
“Duncan, come into me now.”
His mouth replaced his fingers. Her body thrummed with need. He nipped, licked and sucked. Heat rose like the fiery tale of a rocket and sent her soaring. While her body pulsed with after shocks, he thrust inside. He captured her mouth and thrust his tongue in synchrony with his rocking movements. When he raised his head, his thrusts grew harder and faster. Astrid felt her body prepare again. She cried his name as he shouted hers.
He collapsed atop her. She stroked his back and his arms. He slid to the side, cupped hr face and kissed her. “Never been like this before.”
“For me either,” she whispered.
“Astrid, I…”
She curled against him. If he said more, she didn’t hear. Sleep claimed her.
* * *
The noise, the voices, the strains of classical, rock and country blended into a cacophony of sound. Astrid looked at Duncan. "I love street fairs.”
He laughed. “Never had the pleasure. My grandfather called them the invasion of peasants for the junk fair. He was a bit of a snob. Dragged me off to the mountains or the shore every summer. Avoiding street fairs became a habit.”
“You missed a lot of fun. Every summer when I stayed with Dad I was in the thick of the action. After my mom died and I came to live with Dad, my friends and I looked forward to street fair Sundays. This one’s on Monday, though.”
He clasped her hand. “I should have come. We might have met years ago.”
“Or passed each other as strangers in the crowd. Come on, to the park and food.”
Duncan shook his head. “Don’t you want to look over more of the booths?”
“We will.”
“I would like to buy you something to mark the day.”
She tugged on his hand. "Food first.”
A short time later they sat on the grass and ate hot dogs smothered with everything, greasy fries and soda. Duncan chuckled. “If my grandfather could see me now.”
“He would avoid you. You’ve catsup on your chin.” She leaned over and flicked the spot with her tongue.
“What to go back to the house.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“In due time. About your grandfather. Would he really be upset?”
“He was a gentleman to the core and we had our position to maintain.” Duncan reached for the soda. “He had standards and rules but I loved him.”
“That’s what counts.” She studied her hands. "My mom and dad split soon after I was born yet I always knew they loved me. She taught English and had a dozen lovers. Dad had none I knew about. I always hoped he and Sarah would make a match.”
“They’re friends. Could be they don’t want more.” He wiped his mouth. “What now?”
“We look at the jewelry and visit Sarah. First I want cotton candy.” She walked to where a man spun sugar into clouds of sweetness.
Duncan laughed. “I’ll pass.”
Astrid took a paper cone from the man and took a bite. She held it out to Duncan. “Try.”
He bent his head and kissed her lightly. His tongue swept over her lips. “Sweet. Could be addictive. I’ll just share yours.”
Astrid danced away. “No way.”
Moments later, he had his own. They held hands and threaded through the crowd, pausing to browse at tables where people sold jewelry, crafts and toys. They paused to peer through a variety of kaleidoscopes.
Finally they reached the Antiquities table. Sarah looked up. “Have you come to find a bargain?”
“Maybe,” Astrid said. “Also to give you this.” She handed Sarah a key.
“What’s this for?”
“I had to change the locks on the apartment door yesterday. Had an uninvited guest.”
Sarah glanced into the shop. “Clive?”
“Looks that way. Tell you more later.” Something tugged at Astrid. She studied the contents of the table. Her hand hovered over a tarnished silver cross. Gems had been pried from the setting.
&n
bsp; “Duncan, would you buy the cross for me?”
“That? It’s junk.” He stared at the piece. “Do you think?”
She nodded. “Buy it and we’ll go to your place.” She felt a need to explore another time and maybe find answers to what was happening now. Maybe she could discover for certain Duncan was the lover she had found and lost. Maybe she wouldn’t but she had to know before she tumbled completely in love with him.
Duncan paid a dollar for the cross. “Cheap present.”
“Maybe not.” She held his hand as they strode the street. Shortly they crossed the foyer of his house. She glanced at the portrait. She and Duncan could read the letters later. Then, she would tell him about her grandmother’s uncanny resemblance to the woman in the painting.
They entered his bedroom. Duncan rested his hands on her shoulders. “Are you sure you want to try this?”
“Yes.”
“Promise you’ll come back.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” She kicked off her shoes and lay on the rumpled sheets. Duncan lay beside her. As she grasped the tarnished cross, he kissed her forehead.
* * *
Esther slid her cloak from her shoulders. Though the party was high in the mountains, the sun beat down. She stared toward the alpine slopes. Excitement filled her. She was coming to the place she’d always thought of as home. She glanced at her father who rode at her side. His scowl surprised her. Was he angry that he’d come to the home where his beloved wife had died? Not her mother but his second wife, the one he had married for love. His marriage to Esther’s mother had been for wealth and power.
She turned to look at the carts. One held baggage and the other supplies. Her young half-sister and the aging relative who acted as nurse and companion rode in the second cart. A troop of men surrounded the party for there had been trouble in the mountains. Men had formed bands to fight against the taxes collected by the king and his cousin.
The carts added to the time spent on the road. Esther had had time to remember summers spent in the mountains where the air was cooler than in the lower lands and in Count Rudolf’s castle. Here, she’d had friends who didn’t court her for her father’s wealth and status.
Trude and Berwin had been her playmates. Berwin was the son of one of the town’s elders and Trude, the daughter of one of the castle’s maids. Had the pair married? That had been Trude’s plan to escape the lowliness of her mother’s place in the community.
At the end of the pass, Esther stared at the shining waters of the lake below. Mountains cupped the lake. By evening, they would reach the town on the shore and the castle on a slope above the town. She wanted to race past the dark green firs and the trees just turning autumn bright.
She gulped a breath. Gerald would be here. A distant kin of the count, he’d been sent to gather the taxes. Months ago, he’d cornered her and taken a kiss. Fortunately, she’d escaped before he’d done any harm. She didn’t like him and had no intention of being forced into marriage.
The sun was low on the horizon when they rode through the town. Esther glanced at the shops and hoped Mathilde would allow her to visit places she had as a child. They reached the castle, thought the structure appeared to be a moated manor house instead of the massive structure where she’d lived for most of her life.
Berwin and his father waited in the hall. A fire burned in the massive fireplace. Esther removed her cloak and stood beside the fireplace. She glanced at Berwin.
He was so tall, so broad-shouldered and so handsome. His brown hair held streaks of gold and his eyes were the color of the lake in sunlight. He was nothing like the boy she hadn’t seen for years. He looked up and their gazes meshed. She felt heat shimmer through her body.
He stepped toward her. “Esther, you’ve changed.”
“She’s a lovely young lady,” his father said. “We’ve missed you and your father.”
When the servants brought food to the table, Mathilde came to Esther. “Adelle is nearly asleep. I’ll take her to your suite.”
Esther turned to her father. “Should I go up with them?”
He shook his head. “You’re my hostess. Any business will be discussed later.” He gestured to the guard who stood beside the door. “Where’s Gerald?”
“Gone, my lord. He’s overseeing the harvest and collecting the taxes.”
“Harvest Festival is next week,” Berwin said.
Esther sighed. She would love to go but this wasn’t the time to ask for permission to go. Her father looked so drawn, so old. She felt sure he wished they hadn’t been forced to come.
* * *
Berwin glanced at Esther. He felt edgy. Eight years since she’d last been here. The changes had taken him by surprise. She was lovely but not for him. Though his father was a town leader, she was as distant as a star. While he could adore her, he could never speak of the desire that stormed his body. Her father had taken a young woman from the town as his second wife. Esther wouldn’t be permitted to marry below her high station.
“How’s Trude?” Esther asked.
Berwin grimaced. “She works in the barracks.”
“Then you didn’t marry her.” Esther smiled. “She said you and she would wed when she grew up.”
“I would rather not talk about her,” Berwin said. “She wanted things I couldn’t give her. I’m a forester and trapper. Don’t earn much.” He couldn’t tell Esther Trude was Gerald’s woman or that her friend slept with the man who bragged Esther would be his spouse.
Berwin swallowed. When she placed her hand on his arm, strange sensations flowed from the touch. The light brush of her fingers made his member throb.
“Berwin,” his father said. “George has suggested you escort Esther to the Harvest Festival.”
Esther smiled. “I would like that. Mathilde said town is too far to walk and she hates to ride. Do you remember when we were younger and got sick on apple cake?”
Berwin nodded. “We had fun.”
“So you will escort me?”
He looked away. What should he do? He had agreed to meet with several men from other cantons to talk about how to stage their next act of defiance. Rumors about the shadow leader’s presence had stirred Berwin’s curiosity. He saw eagerness in Esther’s eyes and made a decision.
“I would be pleased to be your escort.” He would find a way to speak with the men. If he missed the shadow leader, there would be other times to learn his identity. Berwin planned to tell his fellow conspirators that Sir George would listen to their petitions. All knew the count’s representative was an honorable man.
A commotion outside the doors brought the guards to attention. Berwin reached for his knife. Had the revels gained entrance?
The door opened. Gerald and his armsmen entered. He stopped and bowed. “My lord, I didn’t realize you were coming. Had I known, I would have been here to greet you.”
Esther grabbed Berwin’s arm. Her fingers trembled. He felt a need to protect her, a need so strong he nearly leaped to his feet to challenge Gerald. He glanced at her. “I won’t let him hurt you.”
She nodded. Berwin’s heart stuttered. He desired her. He had always loved her. The expression in her eyes told him she felt the same. If they had been alone, he would have gathered her into his arms and tasted her lips.
She left her chair and kissed her father’s cheek. “Papa, I’ll retire now. I’m sure you have matters to discuss.”
“Good night, child.”
When she vanished up the stairs leading to the upper floor, Berwin stared at Gerald. The other’s man’s gaze followed Esther. His expression spoke of greed and lust. I won’t let him hurt her, Berwin vowed. Gerald had already ruined Trude by playing on her desire to be more than a servant.
* * *
Esther spent the next few days overseeing the household and avoiding Gerald. Much needed to be done. The servants had grown lax under Gerald’s hand. Her father had been busy. He’d met with the town leaders and had spoken to Gerald. The encounter had produced shoutin
g and a sullen anger had settled in Gerald’s eyes. On the few occasions when Esther was in his company, his manner had been charming but his eyes had remained cold and calculating.
Though Esther knew Trude worked in the barracks, her childhood friend seemed like a shadow, often glimpsed but never met. Esther wondered what was wrong.
Determined to speak to her friend, she hid in a doorway. She saw Trude leave the wooden building where the soldiers slept. When the other girl walked past, Esther grabbed Trude’s arm. “Why are you avoiding me?”
Trude whirled. The scowl made her appear ugly. “You’re always stealing what should be mine. Remember how I wanted to marry Berwin.”
Esther nodded. “I expected to find the two of you wed and with a child or two.”
Trude made a face. “After you left, all he talked about was you. Every summer, he waited for your return. I became tired of hearing your name. I still am.””But we were friends.”
“Hah! I found a man who gives me money and buys me things. Then I learned he plans to ask your father for your hand.”
“Who?”
“Gerald.”
Esther shuddered. “I won’t wed him. I don’t like him. He’s sly and greedy.”
Trude laughed. “If your father says you will wed him, you will have no choice. This I will tell you. Gerald has no taste for maidenly protests. He’s a lusty lover who enjoys having a woman fight and scream.”
Esther shivered. “You can have him with my blessing.”
Trude laughed. “I will have him and when he leaves me, Berwin will be mine. Why did you return?”
“Count Rudolf sent Father. The revenues Gerald sends are not what they should be.”
“Rebels,” Trude said. “They steal the tribute.” Her smile turned sly. “Ask Berwin what he knows of them. It is said in the village he knows who they are and that he’s one of them.”
Esther released Trude. She wouldn’t believe Berwin would do something to bring shame to his father. She knew her father was fair to those who served him honestly.
Past Betrayals, Past Loves Page 19