Denise Lynn

by Pregnant by the Warrior

  Perhaps, but she wasn't a little girl still under her father's thumb.

  'He'd also make certain you wed the man regardless of your wishes on the matter. Since he isn't here, I am obligated to step in.' David's scowl deepened as if he could frown her into submission.

  'Forgive my bluntness, but you seem to have forgotten something, my lord. The church requires that I come willingly into this union.' Lea returned his glare. 'And I will never agree.'

  'Then you will never leave this chamber.'

  'You can't keep me prisoner here.'

  'Now you've forgotten something, Lea. I am the king here. I can do as I please, when I please.'

  David turned to Jared. 'Until she agrees to this union, neither of you will leave this room.'

  If the look on Jared's face was any indication, he wasn't pleased with that decision. But he didn't argue. Instead, he nodded. 'She'll be ready to agree by morning.'

  As the king headed for the door, he told her, 'Don't try to leave. My men will be at either end of the corridor.' He paused with the door partway open. 'You brought this on yourself, Lea. You may as well make the best of it.'

  Jared watched as emotions of anger, confusion and horror played across Lea's face as she stared mutely at the closed door.

  Certain it was going to be a long night, he saw no point in being uncomfortable. He sat on the edge of the bed to remove his boots. 'Give up, Lea, you've lost this batde.'

  She turned to glare at him, stadng, I am not sleeping with you.'

  Iam not were her favourite words of late. She was so certain she wasn't going to do a lot of things. In the end, she had no choice. Eventually she'd come to realise that for herself.

  For now, however, he was tired of arguing and had every intention of going to bed. 'Sleep where you wish, Lea. Just don't leave this chamber.'

  Jared circled the room, feeling her gaze on his back as he doused the candles and moved the oil lamp to the bedside table before disrobing. He smothered a laugh when she turned her head away as his last garment hit the floor.

  She'd been married—how could she still become embarrassed so easily?

  Once he'd climbed beneath the covers and stretched out on the bed, he patted the space next to him. 'Come to bed, Lea.'

  She huffed away from the bed to push a bench into the far corner of the chamber. He watched as she sat down with her back propped up against the wall and her legs outstretched along the bench.

  'You aren't going to sleep like that.'

  For an answer, she crossed her arms against her stomach and closed her eyes.

  This woman was far more than just impossible. If he had the leisure of time, he'd leave her right there. She could sit in her corner and pout for days on end as far as he was concerned.

  But he didn't have the leisure of time. He couldn't be away from Montreau for any length of time.

  With a curse he threw back the covers. 'Damn it, woman. I've had enough of your pigheadedness this night.'

  Her eyes flew open and she nearly lunged from the bench. Jared crossed the chamber before she could put anything between them.

  Without pausing, he swept her into his arms, carried her to the bed and dumped her on the mattress.

  'If you touch me, I'll scream.'

  'You do that.'

  'Jared, I mean it. Don't you dare touch me.'

  He crawled over her to the other side of the bed and pulled the covers up to his chest. But instead of stretching out on his back, he rolled on to his side, facing her.

  'What do you think will happen if you scream? Do you think any of David's men will come to your rescue?'

  She shuffled as close to the far edge of the bed as she could and kept her arms wrapped tightly across her chest. 'Is that why you sent my men back to Montreau?'

  'To keep them from protecting you? No. That should be their duty. Unfortunately, it's one they are still ill equipped to perform. They had no business escorting you on this harebrained journey.

  Especially not without my permission.'

  ' Your permission?'

  'Now we're going to argue that point? You don't think we've covered enough topics already?'

  'They are my men.'

  'And they always will be. But when it comes to your protection, they wdl answer to me and me alone.'

  The line of her jaw tightened, but she remained silent—-too silent. He saw her throat work and heard the unevenness of her breath. He remembered enough to know she was fighting to keep from crying. He also remembered how quickly she would lose her batde.

  Jared caught the first tear with the tip of his finger. 'Lea, don't.'

  Ignoring her feeble protest, he pulled her against him. As he stroked her cheek, he asked, 'Why do you fight me so? Why have you been so difficult, so damned unreasonable of late?'

  'I could have loved you so.'

  Her hoarsely whispered admission sucked the breath from his chest. His heart ached with a pain he couldn't identify. Nor did he wish to at this moment.

  Tomorrow she would be his wife and while she wasn't his enemy, as far as he was concerned the same rules still applied— he could not risk showing weakness. To do so now would be a mistake he might never be able to correct.

  He tore off the covers and moved over her. Cupping her face between his hands, he reminded her,

  'You threw that chance away, not me.' He lowered his head to brush his lips against hers. 'What do you want me to do, Lea? It was not my fault, so what do you want me to say?'

  She pushed against his shoulders. 'Leave me alone, Jared. Please, just leave me alone.'

  He realised that if he did as she asked, it would only be harder to break through this barrier between them later. He didn't understand her reasoning. To be honest, he wasn't certain he cared.

  'No, I will never leave you alone. You will be my wife just as surely as the sun will rise in the morning.'

  'I can't marry you. I can't. I won't.'

  Strong-headed, opinionated women didn't bother him. In fact, he'd rather argue with a passionate, resolute woman than suffer even a moment of quiet in the company of a meek and virtuous maiden.

  He'd spent his endre life surrounded by strong women, who never hesitated to stand up for what they believed was right. But Lea had far surpassed even his aunt's level of demanding arrogance.

  She'd gone from being strong-willed to callous and selfish, regardless of the cost.

  When had she become so insistent on getting her own way and so spiteful? What had changed her once-thoughtful padence into unreasonable anger? She used to be willing to listen and consider both sides of an argument. Now, her side was the only one to receive consideration.

  'You are not some landless and penniless peasant, Lea.' He brushed at her tears with his thumbs.

  'Your life does not belong to you. It never has.'

  Flickering light from the oil lamp shimmered in her eyes. Jared saw resentment flare to life and knew she'd heard his words.

  'You will do as you're ordered and you will do so with the honour and dignity befitting the Lady of Montreau and Warehaven.'

  'Do not talk to me like you would a child.'

  'Then stop acting like one.'

  Her eyes widened. Apparently no one had dared to order her about in some time.

  'Why, you—'

  Jared cut off her words with a kiss. The taste of lingering salty tears gave him a pang of guilt. But the softness of the curves and swells beneath him quickly turned guilt to nothing but a distant memory.

  Unable to summon the will to fight him any more this night, Lea slid her arms around him and surrendered on a broken sob.

  What was she going to do? He was right. No matter how much the knowledge pained her, she no longer had a choice in this marriage.

  She would wed her childhood beloved. She would bear his son, or daughter. And one day her heart would shatter with the news that he had perished on some far-flung battlefield.

  They would tell her that he'd died a hero and describe his f
inal moments as some great victory.

  Eventually, some lack- witted troubadour would compose a ballad in honour of Jared's valour.

  There would be no body to bury, nothing tangible to mourn. Only an unbearable emptiness that would slowly, but surely, suck the life from her.

  She had called off their previous wedding to avoid the terrible pain that would come with loss.

  But fate was a cruel taskmaster and from this night on she would live in fear of that day. For it would come.

  When Phillip had been killed, she'd spent years wrapped in sorrow. The only thing that had kept the abject terror at bay was Montreau's neutrality.

  Now, even that would be denied her.

  The coming losses wouldn't be just hers. The women and children of Montreau would suffer just as horribly. She had a small army at her beck and call. Losing her husband would not put her life in grave danger—only her soul.

  But for a villager, losing the man of the family would mean they were prey to any who chose to harm them. They would lose not only their protection, but also their ability to make enough money to eat, and to live.

  And it would be her duty to carry the desperate news to their door.

  Lea's breath caught in her throat as she tried to stop a threatening sob. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't think. She couldn't see past the cold, dark shroud of fear swirling around her.

  Jared broke their kiss. He rolled on to his side, pulling her along. 'Dear God, Lea, tell me what is wrong.'

  'What will I do when you die?' Her voice broke, but she couldn't stop the question from choking past her lips. 'I can't bear that pain again.'

  He sighed, then tightened his embrace, holding her close, her cheek resting against his chest, his chin atop her head. 'Is that what all of this has been about?'

  Unable to speak, she only nodded.

  'I am not your brother, Lea. I was not raised to be a lord of the land. From the time I could hold a sword, I was raised to be a fighter, to be a leader of soldiers. I have trained hard, without pause, for years. You have to trust me on this. You have to believe that I will be successful in all of my endeavours.'

  'How can you ask me to believe in something you can't know for certain?'

  'So now you are telling me that I am not strong enough, or experienced enough, or intelligent enough to protect myself and my men?'

  That wasn't what she meant. 'An arrow can come from nowhere.'

  'And it will play hell getting through double-linked maille.'

  'You can't see in every direction at once. You can't defend yourself if you are outnumbered.'

  'Which is why I make certain that doesn't happen.'

  Lea didn't need to see his face to know his patience was nearing an end. It was evident in the clipped tone of his voice and the rapid pounding of his heart beneath her ear.

  'There may be no logic to my fear. But I am sorely afraid.'

  'In all the years of your marriage did Villaire never face an enemy?'

  Lea stiffened at the mention of Charles. That cur wouldn't have been able to fend off a kitchenmaid had she been inclined to attack him. 'My father chose him because it was apparent from the beginning that Charles would never bring battie to Montreau.'

  He absently stroked her hair. 'Is that your way of saying your dearly departed husband was a coward?'

  'More bully than coward.'

  'And what is the difference?'

  'A bully has no qualms sending in someone else to exact any form of physical revenge.'

  Jared's embrace fell away. He pushed her on to her back and stared down at her. 'What are you saying?'

  Lea shrugged. 'There are some at Montreau who did not mourn Charles's death. I am sure the scars on their backs, or their now useless limbs, ache a litde less from his passing.'

  For a moment, Jared said nothing. His frown deepened with each passing heartbeat. Finally, he asked, 'Did you mourn his death?'

  'No. But not for the reason you are thinking. He never caused me physical harm—only threatened. I think he feared I would slip into his chamber and gut him in his sleep.'

  'Why did you never say anything? Why did you never ask for help? Did you think I would leave you to suffer under that monster's whims?'

  Lea glanced away a moment, seeking words that wouldn't start yet another argument. Unable to find them, she caressed his cheek and said, 'I feared you more than I ever feared him.'

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jared jerked his face away from her touch. 'Perhaps you should fear me more now than you did then.'

  But fear wasn't the emotion he wanted from her. Not even when his need for revenge drove him to the brink of insanity did he thirst for her fear.

  'You are twisting my words.'

  'Am I?' He rested his elbows on the bed. Looming over her, he threaded a hand through her hair.

  'You have told a warrior to his face that he can't be trusted to defend or protect himself and his men. You have just admitted that you would rather be the victim of a bullying lout than suffer my presence.'

  To know she'd been willing to live with Villaire's constant belittling and bullying rather than ask him for help grated. He'd never witnessed her husband in action, but he doubted if the man behaved any better than Markam.

  'You misunderstood—'

  If that were true, it was her fault. He tugged on her hair. The light pressure was enough to bring her explanation to an instant halt. I don't care what you meant. I heard what you said. If you wish not to be misunderstood, perhaps in the future you will choose your words with more care.'

  He wearied of all this talking. Jared tugged again on her hair, easing her head to one side, and took advantage of the expanse of pale flesh along her neck. There were more interesting things to do in a bed. The skin was soft beneath his lips. Her pulse raced beneath his tongue.

  'I am done with your words,' he whispered against her ear. 'You can be fearful for me, or of me. It doesn't matter. In the morning you will be my wife.'

  She said nothing, only sighed softly as he traced his mouth across her collarbone. He paused a breath away from her lips. 'Do you understand me?'

  'Yes.' Her breathless response filled the slight distance between them with warmth.

  'Our marriage may never be easy. We may never discover love. But, Lea, we do share this.'

  When she surrendered to his kiss this time, there was no choked sob, and thankfully no tears. She reached up to wind her arms around him with a throaty moan, and he released his hold on her hair.

  Jared knew that years from now, when her greying hair thinned and wrinkles lined her eyes, he would still find her as desirable as he did now. She was a wanton madness in his blood —one he never wished to cure.

  He unlaced her gown. Impatient to be rid of the fabric between their bodies, he made quick work of removing her garments and tossing them to the floor.

  Between heated kisses, Lea complained, 'That is the only gown I have to be married in tomorrow.'

  'I'll find you another.'

  He loved the way she shivered when he stroked the side of her neck.

  'But that one is mine.'

  Her barely percepdble gasps when he discovered a sensitive spot beneath her ear acted like a siren's song to his senses. He longed to lose himself in her passion, wanted her to share the fire rushing through him.

  'The marriage isn't one you desire.' He followed the faint, lingering scent of lavender between her breasts. 'What does the gown matter?'

  Jared caressed her breast, and teased the pebbled tip, while trying to focus on her concern.

  'I wouldn't want all to think you wed a beggar in a torn and filthy gown.'

  Her breathless reply deserved a response. He traced a line down her torso with his fingertip, before following with his lips. Her skin was so pale, so soft to his touch.

  'You could attend naked. I wouldn't mind.'

  Jared rested his cheek against her belly, wondering when, or if, he'd be able to detect his child inside.

/>   'You might not, but I'm sure David would.'

  He caressed her hipbones, suddenly wishing she weren't so thin. It was rumoured that women with wider hips had less trouble during childbirth.

  'You aren't really listening to me, are you?'

  Training five men at once was child's play. Defending himself against four men could make him yawn. But carrying on a conversation while his mind and body were muddled with lust wasn't an easy task to master.

  Jared dropped a kiss along one side of her hips, then the other, stopping to give her a heated stare.

  'Would you rather we talk?'

  'Talk?'

  'Obviously I'm doing something wrong.' He slid his hand lower to caress the heat at her core.

  'Perhaps a discussion of the weather might be more exciting.'

  She arched into his touch. 'Perhaps.'

  He nearly growled as he came over her to capture her impertinent mouth beneath his. She instantly hooked her legs over his thighs, inviting—demanding—more than just a commanding kiss. A demand he instantly fulfilled.

  It was hard to tell whose groan of satisfaction was louder. And it was near impossible to tell whose desire was hotter, whose lust more desperate as they clung to each other.

  Lea tore free of his kiss, frantically pleading, 'Jared, please.'

  He shifted his weight, slid his hands beneath her, tilting her tighter against him until she curled her fingernails against his back as she found her release.

  His own followed, leaving him satiated and winded. Jared gathered her into his arms, laughing weakly against her hair. 'Now, what were you saying about your gown?'

  Lea's chest trembled beneath him. Trying to talk between broken laughter, she asked, 'What gown?'

  He rolled off her and retrieved the bedcovers. Lea curled halfway across his chest. 'Maybe this whole marriage concept won't be so bad.'

  Jared pulled the covers up to her shoulders, reminding her, 'Unfortunately I won't be in your bed every night.'

  'No.' She reached up and covered his mouth with her hand. 'Jared, don't ruin this moment. Just go to sleep and let me pretend.'

  He kissed the top of her head and held her until her gende even breathing let him know she was asleep.

  'I wish it could be that simple, Lea.'