by Amber Dane
Her eyes dropped back to the parchment, "Do you not wish to share with me the contents of the king’s letter?" Curiosity burned in her with the need to know and she was not even aware that she had walked around the table and now stood before him.
"No worries.” He tucked the rolled parchment into the breast of his tunic. “I will see William’s deed done and the matter will be over."
Alexa shot him a harried look and added with disgust under her breath, “What further sort of punishment does William wish to mete out now?”
His dark frown remained and he eyed her with a stoic gaze.
He looked dangerous, but his shoulders soon relaxed and he said coolly, “I owe my allegiance to William and my services sworn for his use. I am expected to fight. Even when the time comes and he relives me of that duty, ‘tis my job to supply him with well trained and equipped soldiers.”
"How long do you plan to be away?"
“Until the matter is completed. You will take your place as lady of the manor, of course.”
Running the manor in his absence was of no consequence to Alexa. She had done it before he had come. It was the skittish nature of the herald that still had her on edge. Why was he not bothered? This caused her to reply crossly, "I can well manage what I was doing before your arrival whilst you are away doing William’s bidding."
He took a step toward her. Alexa held her spot and his gaze for a moment more, and then walked across the room, giving him her back. His next words had her turning back around just as quickly.
“Did you speak truth when you said you'd not escape me again?"
Alexa frowned at him and watched him approach. Why was he speaking of this again? She studied him for a silent moment. He had hurt her a great deal. Aye. But she had no wish to run from him.
"I told you nay." Alexa fisted the sides of her kirtle in her hands and skirted around him. He didn't follow, but his eyes did. "Why do you ask me of it again?" she turned back to him and asked.
He spoke with his penetrating hard gaze watching her. "I do not know how long I will be away seeing to this matter for the king.”
Her brows lifted in confusion. He made a noise with his tongue and added, “This strife between us I would wish resolved before I leave. Think you ‘tis possible?”
Stunned by his unexpected words, Alexa at first could not respond. His brows furrowing told her, he’d read wrongly into her brief silence. His jaw set and his green eyes glittered in aggravation. “Well. Then we shall think upon it whilst we are apart and perhaps come to a resolution upon my return. I must see to a few things. I ride out at dawn.”
Alexa stood there gawking after him.
See if she cared if he ever returned. It would be the answer to end this marriage. Was it not what she'd wanted all along? Alexa huffed and stormed up the rest of the case to their chamber.
Once inside, she paced with her racing thoughts. She would get no sleep this night. Her menses had stopped at dawn. Should she tell him? His apology had been lacking many kind words and sincerity.
But from him- the Dark Axe- had she expected aught less? From a man who used brute strength ofttimes to get his way.
Alexa tossed and turned some more among the soft pelts in the bed.
Tonight could be their last night together.
Disagreement between still unresolved. Was it the way to send him off? Untruths and hurts yet lay between them but Alexa was intent on her purpose.
If he was intent on going on this mission, it could be the last time she'd see him. She refused to think he'd not return. His earlier words came back to her. Alexa’s heart stung.
So many emotions she was unfamiliar with she struggled. To take from him did not mean she pardoned his behavior. But the fear that he refused to heed the bad feelings on this latest matter worried her deeply. What she felt for the Norman was nigh overwhelming. Alexa did not know if 'twas love that caused her heat to beat fast. She didn't think she was capable of loving him.
Fond of him?
Aye.
That she’d readily admit and it was strong enough so that she was aware that she no longer hated his Norman hide.
When he came to their chamber a look of surprise crossed his handsome face to see that she was still awake. He made a grunt and went in one corner to disrobe and prepare for bed. Alexa watched his every move.
He did not look at her again. She could see the tired lines across his forehead. He glanced quickly in her direction when he climbed up on the bed. No words were spoken and she waited. Disappointment twanged inside her when he lay on his back with a muscled arm thrown over his brow. So he would not touch her once again. Alexa would have none it this night.
This night was hers and she would have what she sought even if she had to take it.
She leaned up and lay a hand upon his bare chest. One large hand quickly clamped around her wrist in a tight vise.
"What do you do, hellion?"
"My time ended at dawn." Alexa felt him flinch beneath her palm. When he remained silent she exhaled a deep exasperated breath, continuing, "I wish to spend this night with you in case there is not…."
She could not bring herself to finish. If she spoke the words aloud, she may as well put a blade to his chest now for it would bring ill luck. But she need not worry for as he was prone to do his eyes changed and she knew he knew her meaning. Seducing him was not as easy as she thought. The hand around her wrist loosened and he pulled her closer.
"Do not play with me."
"It’s not a game, Rourke."
"'Ere you make your next move, Alexa, I warn you to think. Your seduction may be awkward, but it has the effect you seek. There will be no turning back," he warned her.
She said nothing. Instead she leaned down and pressed her soft lips to his cheek. Rourke rolled and had her beneath him in seconds.
"I am hungry for you and my balls ache to be inside you. I shall try to go slow but I fear I cannot promise that will hold true."
Alexa reached up and stroked his cheek as she ran her tongue over her lips. He groaned over her and she could feel his body shake with his desire.
"You test me to the very last, hellion and I will see you pay for such sweet torture." Rourke said before he leaned down and began kissing and sucking at her neck, cheeks, chin and lips. When she opened her mouth in delight, he plundered deep seeking her hot response. He groaned when her hands tightened in is hair. His hands left a burning path of titillation wherever he touched. His growl came a hairsbreadth away from her parted lips and Alexa moved and sucked his tongue back inside her waiting mouth.
Hugging her to him Rourke ground his hips against hers and she opened for him. Their bodies moved in unison with her undergarments between them. Within moments she cried out in pleasure beneath him and shuddered her fulfillment. As she fought to catch he breath, she returned his wicked smile.
“Hmmm. Guess I was not the only one who could not promise slowly.”
She leaned up to plant a hard kiss on his mouth. When done, she told him. “I have no balls that ache as you, but I ached down there nonetheless. I’m still hungry for you, Rourke.”
Her sultry words drove him mad and in his urgency to be inside her, he grabbed her shift in his fist and tore it down the middle. She moaned and arched her back to rub her nakedness against him.
Her breast bounced and Rourke’s mouth watered. Burying his head between the globes, he kissed her everywhere. Her hard nipples slipped in and out of his mouth. He suckled at her tenderly and long like a man starved. He nearly spilled his seed when she worked a hand down between them to bring him to her entrance. The wetness of her was too much. And he struggled for a steady breath.
"You want me inside you?”
Her yes came out in a strangled moan. Rourke took in her flushed face and the naked passion in her eyes. He ordered, “Then take me inside you.” Her fingers held him gently as she guided him.
“Take me inside you, hellion," Rourke repeated against her lips and caught her soft c
ry in his mouth as he covered her mouth with his. He moved to withdraw and she gripped him tighter her hooded gaze met his, her hands clutched at his shoulders.
“Don’t.” Alexa whispered.
He slid back inside, filling her slowly, inch by inch. When she wrapped her legs around his waist, Rourke roared and buried himself deeply. He held himself there for a moment and kissed her deeply. She kissed him back with the same hunger. Her body quivered beneath him and he began to move.
Each stroke brought them closer, deeper. His hands caressed nearly every inch of her supple frame and Rourke felt her hands and fingers on him. The intimacy was like no other time they’d shared. She burned for him. She lifted her legs higher, more open and he wanted all of himself inside her.
When her fingers outlined the scar on his back, he tensed but she leaned up and tightened her thighs and rode him hard. Rourke lost it and his thrusts went wild. Soon their mutual cries of pleasure filled the chamber with their soaring ecstasy.
Rourke rested on his back, breathless with her snuggled against his side. He was worn. She had drained him, yet her fingers and mouth caressed his chest seeking more. A quiet moment slipped by and Rourke savored the peace of her softness in his arms. Words still not spoken but their hands, touches spoke volumes. Rourke closed his eyes in rapture when later he was ready and she crawled on top of him to take his hardness inside her wetness, once more.
THIRTY-ONE
The noise wafting up from the courtyard woke Alexa from her deep relaxed slumber. She opened her eyes to see that she was alone and jolted up to run to the window. Her husbands' men filled the yard below readying to leave. A cry caught in her throat. Dressing quickly and donning her slippers, Alexa exited the chamber and ran for the wall walk on the north side.
Cold seeped under Rourke’s cloak when he stepped out from the stables into the yard. Although the skies were clear this morn, frost clung heavily to a few trees. He watched his men kiss their wives and families goodbye. His own thoughts on his wife. He’d not wanted to tell her he'd known something was afoot when the herald had presented him with William’s message alleging an uprising near the river. Had not the same like message been the reason he’d sent Goran out a day ago. Heaven help anyone deigning to overthrow their new overlord, for the penalty was death. Still, Rourke could not refuse what appeared the authentic king’s seal, even if he did believe games were afoot. The reason he’d sent two of his men out immediately to reach Goran before the herald had even exited the hall. He wanted Goran here with Alexa while he was out seeing to this latest upset.
He’d grown quite fond of his hellion. He wished that the gentleness she'd shown him last night was real and true. But Rourke knew better. She enjoyed him bedding her and she simply missed it as had he.
And God's teeth, had he ever! Wanton she had been indeed.
He shifted in the saddle as his groin swelled a little. He grunted. The weeks he'd be away he wondered how she would fare. Had she spoken truth? Would she truly try not to flee him?
Could she live with what had reviled Jacqueline so? Ignore the scars and ugliness that covered his hulk of a frame. See him as more than a rutting beast?
He could only hope.
The memory, feel of her soft hands against his skin last night in their bed told him yes. But they'd not spoken in the aftermath.
He needed a clear head before he rode out the gates.
Rourke closed his eyes a moment and inhaled sharply. The cold air filled his chest and lungs, clearing his senses.
He opened his eyes again when the soldier on his left, a young soldier he'd trained himself queried with an expectant look.
"My lord? Are we ready?"
Alexa’s gaze swept over the yard filled with over fifty men armed and dressed for battle. Some carried long spears, hand to hand metal axes, battle hammers, and maces. A dozen archers were just coming from around a side building with their weapons strapped to their backs. Triangular shields bore her husband’s emblem. His men stood proud and fierce awaiting his leadership. Anger and dread filled her as what she had feared the contents of missive held unfolded before her eyes.
She found herself leaning forward, nearly mounting the thick wall in her search for a glimpse of him below.
Oblivious to the frigid air and breathing heavy, Alexa did not know that she gripped the stone wall until her knuckles turned white and the stone dug painfully into her skin.
He was not hard to find and was armed to the teeth.
The biggest horse and man there and in all black save the brown leather covering his destrier and the flash of silver of the small daggers at his calves.
Those too were soon covered as his squire attended him and pulled down the flap concealing the deadly weapons. Her heart raced in anguish. She held her breath, tried to control her breathing and damned herself all in the same painful breath. Would the man not look up?
Look up, Alexa screamed inside almost willing him to turn in her direction.
A young soldier rode up next to him then moved away to lead the procession out. Her heart dropped.
Damn him.
Images of their heated and explosive passion came back to her and her legs weakened. She swallowed. Her throat resisted filling with the sobs she refused to release. She hated the man.
She stared at the back of his golden head. She hated him for making her love him. Alexa gasped over the revelation.
She did love him so.
He turned and looked up in that moment. Alexa let out a breath. The feeling in her stomach told her his gaze had found her.
She stared at him long and hard. His emerald gaze impaled her where she stood. The moment seemed suspended in time as she shook under his hard glower. Then she watched as he pulled his great helm down over his head. He remained looking up at her for another moment before he finally turned away and followed after the troop.
She wanted to scream for him to come back.
She watched him long after the forest had swallowed him whole with each step of Black taking him farther and farther away from her. Knives cut into her heart.
A school of raven birds squawked and came from the top of the trees where he had entered. Alexa watched the birds as they flew toward the manor.
One swooped down and landed on the pole that stood at the high end of the wall walk; its glassy eyes looked down at her before it turned to clean its shiny wing. Alexa’s hand flew to her chest, a gasp escaped her lips and she shivered with a prayer ‘twas not a sign of a bad omen.
She did not realize that tears streamed down her face until they ran down her neck and inside her gown. Stepping away from the wall, she slid her hands down over her belly. She'd thought she would not miss him. But her heart yearned now, longed for him to turn back now.
She had wanted to scream for him not to go and stay here with her. Now as she moved back toward the steps, her gaze on the preening raven, she cursed herself for her stubbornness and willfulness since meeting him.
She had a feeling Rourke rode toward a faceless foe worse than northern Saxon barons.
Would he fight hard to come back to her?
He may not love her, but he wanted her, that she knew. Her head hanging low, the raven forgotten, Alexa went to their chamber overcome by the depth of the misery that assailed her.
THIRTY-TWO
Unease did not come to Rourke until several days later as they crested the rise. Something in the trees far off to the side drew his attention. They weren't a few miles yet from the river when he’d spotted the approaching small army to his left. He held up his hand and stopped his men.
Sneaky Saxon bastards.
As he'd suspected, they’d been tracked. He’d spotted two riders a few miles back over an hour ago.
The splash of color flitted through the trees once again before the first enemy emerged. Rourke cursed.
He’d done what he'd sworn never to do. Let a woman get under his skin again and in doing so he'd carried thoughts of one into battle. A dire distracti
on that caused him not to trust his judgment.
Alexa had ensnared and won his heart and Rourke only hoped that he could make things right when he returned from this tiresome journey. Her face up there on the walk came back to him.
He’d wanted to take her into his arms, hold her against his chest and never let her go. Lose himself in her tender embrace and let her lick his wounds.
She was the only one fascinated and bold enough to have asked how he’d gotten his largest scar. He had wanted to ignore it then, nay!
He had not wished to see it then, the wounded look in her amber eyes when she’d listened to his tale. She had not looked at him with disgust. She had gazed at him with eyes that said she’d been stricken too.
Her eyes had wanted to take his pain away. And how had he’d repaid her?
He’d turned her away and acted a fool.
She was beautiful and at the mere thought of her smiling face, warmth filled his chest. ‘Twas just now in all his thirty-one summers, he was ready to settle down and be done with all of it.
This was his last year, his debt of military service paid above and beyond. And not a moment too soon, for he was more than deeply fond of Alexa.
He was falling in love with the hellion.
Absently he rubbed a large hand over his heart through his chain mail, just as the first wave of combatants emerged from the trees.
Rourke was not worried. His estate and peasants huts were just over the rise. The bloodshed would remain here and away from his people.
Their weapons held high and flags waving in the brisk wind as their horse’s hooves kicked up dust as they moved into formation.
Just by looking at their small number, Rourke cringed. The battle would be quick and many of the fighters were on foot, swords drawn. He sat, feeling his men behind him awaiting his directive.