The Master and the Sorceress

by Bernadette Rowley

  Kat took his wrist and steered his hand from her throat to the side of her breast, the quick gasp from James confirming he was entranced. His hand continued its downward slide to her waist, and he tugged her against him.

  “Oh!” She couldn’t help the whoosh of breath that escaped at the feel of him against her. She was almost naked, and his breeches were so fitted she felt every last hard inch of him. Kat looked up into eyes black with desire. Her arms crept around his neck and up into his hair. His eyes slipped closed at the caress.

  Kat kissed her way along his jawline to his ear. She gave it a small bite, and James’s control seemed to snap. He let go of her waist and seized her face, his lips branding hers with a fierce kiss that did not speak of control but of abandon and reckless desire. Too soon, he tore his lips away and peppered her neck and shoulders with frenzied kisses that drove her wild. Kat whimpered, desperate to be close with him, to be one with him. Everything within her strained to give itself to this man.

  He devoured her with his eyes as he undid the buttons of her chemise and drew it off her shoulders. He slid his hands down the sides of her breasts and then upward to rub his thumbs over nipples made hard with longing. Each movement he made screamed of his experience and Kat almost lost her nerve. What did she know about the act of coupling, and how could she ever satisfy him?

  James scooped her up and laid her on the bed, climbing over her, his mouth descending to her throat. Short stubble sent shivers coursing down her body, and she arched her body against his. Her fingers seemed to move of their own volition, down his shirt, unbuttoning it, and pulling it from his breeches. Her exploration came to an abrupt halt when his lips landed on her nipple, suckling and flicking the hard nub until Kat discerned a rising pressure in her core. He moved to the other breast, and Kat thought she might die of pleasure.

  She could barely concentrate on him she was so taken over with his attentions. He seemed to be everywhere, and then his fingers landed on her waist and began sliding her pantaloons over her hips. Kat groaned and bucked her hips off the bed. In seconds, she was unclothed and lay before his ravenous gaze. He nudged her legs apart and looked at the place that throbbed for him.

  “James,” she gasped. “I want…”

  His greedy eyes caught hers, and she tingled all over at the longing in them. “I worship you, Katrine. You have the body of a goddess.”

  “Please…” She couldn’t articulate her desire, so desperate was she for completion. If he touched her she would explode. And she didn’t care what came after.

  He pushed her legs wider and leaned in to kiss her in that most secret place which, until now, had been hers alone. His questing tongue found a hard nub and sucked on it, sending her even higher—so much higher than she could ever have imagined. The pleasure and pressure within her mounted to almost painful heights then James inserted two fingers into her, and his lips encased her nipple.

  Kat was lost. Her body exploded. Her mind burst with a thousand tiny pinpoints of light. She forgot where she was, forgot herself in the delight of completion. She came to a while later, and his lips were on her neck, his tongue drawing a line along her jaw. Kat turned to him, and their mouths met in a fury of kisses that made her press against him, wanting all he was able to offer. She pushed his shirt from broad shoulders, and her hands traced each muscle, every hard line and valley. He arched over her, and she pushed his breeches down, freeing him. He was magnificent. And large enough to make her pause.

  Kat placed her hand around him, marveling at the contrast of hard strength and soft suppleness. A bead of moisture gathered at the tip, and she licked it off. He drew a ragged breath, his eyes revealing a desperation that surprised her.

  “You like?” she asked, licking him again.

  “You’ll never know how much, Katrine.”

  As she watched, horror replaced desire. “What’s wrong?” she asked

  “We should stop.” He slid off the bed. “This is no way to treat a lady.”

  Kat scrambled to the edge of the bed on her hands and knees. “What? Come back here and make love to me. We are only half finished!”

  He stood with his back to her. “It would be taking advantage. Please, put your clothes on.”

  Kat got off the bed and walked up behind him. She gripped his waist and rained kisses down his spine all the way to the globes of his backside. He groaned.

  “Don’t tempt me, Katrine. I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

  “I don’t need you to be a gentleman right now. I need you to take me back to bed and take me to heaven again.” Desperation had her in its grip and nothing mattered but the man before her. She laid her face against his back and breathed him in—clean sweat, musk and cloves. She would forever associate these scents with James, no matter what occurred between them.

  He turned, gripped her forearms, and kissed her. Kat clung to him, praying it meant he had changed his mind. But, too soon, his lips were gone, and James was collecting his clothes. She stood, arms wrapped around herself, her gaze upon him, memorizing every small detail. She was still standing thus when he finished dressing.

  “For the sake of the Goddess, woman,” he snapped, “put some damned clothes on. Do you think I’m made of stone?” He gathered up her undergarments and threw them at her. They slipped to the floorboards.

  “I don’t understand what just happened, James.” It was hard to be wrenched from a dream into cold reality. “Make me understand.”

  He deliberately turned his back on her again. “I have no right to be engaging in sexual pursuits with you. It isn’t fair when we can never be more than a brief affair. Even that would be wrong.”

  “How can this be wrong? We are both unattached—aren’t we? I realize you haven’t come, but I would be happy to oblige, whatever way you desire.”

  His head dropped. “Just take my word that this flirtation is not sensible. And I am putting an end to it before I hurt you.”

  Kat placed herself before him, but he growled and began dressing her. She batted his hands away. “Look at me, damn you!”

  His eyes roamed her body, and Kat tingled all over. He wanted her; she saw it in his eyes. “Take me, James.”

  For a long, tortured moment, Kat thought she had won, but he turned and headed to the door. “Get dressed. I’ll wait in the hall.”

  Chapter 8

  James’s head ached from lack of sleep and not a small amount of sexual frustration. On his return to Katrine’s room last night, she had been in bed, thank the Goddess. Her back was turned to him, and she stayed that way. He made himself a bed on the floor just inside the door, stealing a pillow from the bed and wrapping himself in a spare blanket.

  However, sleep was another matter. Each time he closed his eyes he saw her—bare, writhing with desire and fulfilment. He could no longer look upon Katrine without seeing her prone on that bed, naked, her black hair splayed over the white sheets and her nipples rosy from his attention. She was every man’s fantasy, and he wanted her more than he had ever wanted anything.

  He shifted on the seat of the dray and tried to find a comfortable spot for the permanent erection he seemed to have these days. Soon they would stop for the midday meal, and he would have to speak to her. They needed to talk, but could he settle things with Katrine without revealing how deeply he was attracted to her? Perhaps if he could, she would accept last evening as a pleasant interlude that should never be repeated.

  He spied a sheltered spot and pulled the wagon into it, then fed the horse. Katrine dismounted and rubbed her stallion down, then went in search of water. One of the guards followed to ensure her safety, and they returned carrying two water bags. Once their mounts were watered, James took a seat next to Katrine.

  “We’re making good time,” he said. “Two more nights and we’ll be in Brightcastle.”

  “I, for one, can’t wait,” she muttered, her tone bitter.

  “I’m sorry.”

  She laughed, the sound harsh. “Now you’re sorry.” Her voi
ce dropped to a whisper. “We could have had a glorious night and instead you poisoned it. Why?”

  “Just take my word for it. We can never be lovers.”

  She frowned at him. “Why not? Unless you are not attracted to me.”

  Now it was his turn to laugh. “Believe me, that’s not the problem.”

  “Then what? Are you married?”

  James’s gut gave a guilty heave. “Who would have me? A reclusive jeweler who is hardly ever home?” His personal life was none of Katrine’s business. Last night’s indiscretion would hurt no one as long as it didn’t go any further.

  She shook her head. “I would have you, indeed, I almost did last night. Tell me you didn’t dream of me.”

  He couldn’t answer without encouraging her. “Forget me, Katrine. Our attraction to each other isn’t meant to be.”

  “It’s the witchcraft! Isn’t it? I disgust you, and no respectable businessman would tie himself to a sorceress for even one night.”

  She had offered him an out, and, no matter how much it would hurt her, he had to take it unless he wished to tell her the truth. Perhaps this was the lesser of two evils?

  “I don’t wish to be linked with magic, however beautiful and desirable you are.” It was the truth. Any connection with sorcery might ruin him in business. The King had declared all magic practitioners be arrested. He risked everything associating with this woman. She didn’t have to know the real reason he had stopped last night. To reveal the truth would be to expose himself as the worst hypocrite and risk all of his carefully laid plans.

  Her body stiffened at his words. “I see.” She stood. “Then let us get back on the road and finish this association as swiftly as possible.”

  Katrine didn’t speak to James for the remainder of the day. The afternoon journey was uneventful, and the horror of the night hounds faded as if it was just a bad dream—as had her encounter with James. Of course, it had been glorious at the time, but he had tarnished it with his declaration earlier in the day. She should have kept her distance, as her mind urged her to, but it was so hard to ignore the sexual attraction that zapped between them. She sighed. Distance from him would see her life return to normal, and, at least, she had not given herself to him. That would have been too much to bear—for her first coupling to be tarnished by his rejection of her sorcery.

  Nearing sunset, they turned off the road and made camp in a clearing surrounded by tall fir trees. A nearby stream provided water, and the horses were soon fed. Kat lay dozing by the fire, her head propped on her saddle and her thoughts naturally drifting to last night’s love-making. Her cheeks grew hot remembering what she had allowed James to do, remembering what she had wanted to do to him. She stood and took a bowl of steaming rabbit stew from the guard who was cooking dinner.

  She glanced over at James, only to find his attention on the trees.

  “Did you hear something?” she asked.

  “I thought I did,” he replied. “There was rustling in the undergrowth. Might be a small animal.” James took his plate too and began eating.

  The stew was just what Kat craved after a long day of travel. She enjoyed every spoonful and partook of a small glass of claret. It might calm her nerves. I never used to be this jumpy! A wolf howled, and the hair stood on the back of her neck. Her eyes snapped to James.

  “We have nothing to fear from wolves, Katrine.”

  “I hope it’s only a lone wolf out on a hunt and not a pack intent on man for dinner,” she said, pulling her cloak closer. She finished her wine and stood stretching the kinks from her spine. She moved to the dray and rolled out her bedding. Might James insist on sleeping with her tonight? Was that what she wanted or would it be sweet torture? She placed her bed to one side of the dray so it would be his choice if he joined her or not, all the while shaking her head at being such a ninny.

  “Katrine!” James’s low growl brought her out of her musing, but he wasn’t looking at her. His eyes flicked around the campsite at the trees bordering it. A chill settled in her stomach as she followed his gaze. Three night hounds stared at them from the northern side of the clearing and another four stood at the western side. How many others are there? Kat drew on her magic, ready to blast the beasts if necessary, while James pulled a knife from his boot, and the two guards drew arrows to their cheeks.

  “Stay in the wagon!” James snapped as the first hound stepped into the clearing. Two arrows struck it in the heart, but it still bounded three yards before falling. The death of one of their number appeared to be a sign for the others to attack, and all six remaining hounds flew at James and the guards.

  James dragged a burning brand from the campfire and brandished it at two of the dogs while one of the guards did the same. The hounds were now too close to fire arrows. The scrape of short swords being drawn from scabbards cut through Kat as she tried to get a clear shot at one of the hounds. They had backed the men up against the dray.

  A noise made her glance over her shoulder. A monstrous beast hurtled through the air toward her. “Watch your backs!” she cried, ducking.

  The hound flew over her head and into the back of one of the guards, pushing him to his knees. But she didn’t have time to worry about the men as she faced her own battle. Two more hounds stood in the trees on her side of the clearing, slavering, their blood red eyes fixed on her. Even as fear as solid as a wall hit her, Kat drew on her power and sent two fireballs in quick succession, one to each of the hounds. One hit and the beast screamed and threw itself to the ground, writhing and howling. The other fireball missed its target.

  “Damn you, I’m not going to die like this!” Kat screamed at the remaining beast. It froze as though listening to her words. Then it yapped twice and melted back into the forest.

  Kat turned to check on James. He stood panting over the body of the huge beast that had leaped over her, while one of the guards held the bloodied neck of the other man. Another hound lay dead before them, making three killed by the men and one by her. The other beasts were gone. She scrambled down off the wagon and ran to James and the others.

  Kat grasped James’s forearms, desperate to ensure he had suffered no injury. He jerked away.

  “I’m unhurt, lady,” he said. “See to Kova.”

  Kat withdrew, his snub hurting more than it should. She turned to the others. Kova, the injured guard, had a deep laceration to the back of his neck that required stitches. Dael, the other guard, was white with shock. “James, get Dael a drink while I tend to this wound.” He could damn well make himself useful if he didn’t need her.

  She fetched her sewing kit and potions, cleaning the wound, and placing neat stitches to draw the edges together. All the while, Kat imbued her work with spells to aid healing and prevent the wound going foul. It was a serious injury and could yet take Kova’s life. When she finished, she mixed the guard a potion for the pain.

  By the time she finished, Kat was so exhausted she imagined a dark-cloaked man standing on the western edge of the clearing. She yelped in fright and rubbed her eyes. He was still there.

  “James!” she hissed. “We have more company.”

  James stood as the tall stranger stepped into the clearing. His face was all straight lines and hard planes, and his green eyes contained prominent gold flecks. Long black hair lay over his shoulders. He was dressed all in black and carried a sword in a scabbard and a long bow. Menace oozed from the man. James prepared to battle this new enemy, his hand closing around the knife in his boot.

  “Don’t think to fight me,” the stranger growled.

  The hair stood on James’s neck at the timbre of his voice. “Who are you and what do you want?” he demanded as the man stepped closer

  “You may call me Anton.” The stranger’s eyes swept the clearing. James got the impression he missed nothing—not the dead hounds, the injured guard, and, especially, not Katrine. He seemed most interested in her.

  “My lady,” he said, sweeping a bow.

  Katrine opened her mouth
, but no words came out.

  “You’ve had trouble,” Anton said.

  “We did,” James replied for the speechless Katrine. He considered how much he should reveal to this man who had arrived immediately after the night hounds. The way he carried himself and his weapons spoke of an ability to handle any foe who came against him.

  He walked around the camp, examining each dead animal. “Night hounds,” he said. “A beast of legend. How come they to be hunting you?” Again, his gaze rested upon Katrine.

  “We were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Katrine said, staring at Anton as if he were a venomous snake.

  He approached her, looking deep into her eyes for a long moment. James’s hackles rose and he knew a desperate need to protect her—to place himself between Katrine and any danger.

  “Those hounds,” Anton said, “are hunters. They are drawn to their quarry.” He looked at each of them in turn. “And so I ask again, why were they hunting you?”

  “They’ve been on our tail since we left Costa,” James said, moving closer to Katrine.

  “Did you chase them away?” Katrine asked Anton.

  She looked almost desperate as she stared at their dark visitor. Perhaps she feared her magic had been revealed, both to the guards and to Anton. He was hardly likely to miss the charred remains of the beast Katrine had blasted with her fireball.

  “The hounds avoid me so perhaps they sensed my approach,” Anton said. “Might I join you?”

  Katrine looked to James. “Ah…that is…”

  James studied their guest once again. Did they have any choice? He appeared more than capable of defeating all of them single-handed. Best to keep him close until they decided if they could trust him.

  “You’re welcome to share our fire,” he said, gesturing for Anton to take a seat.

  He smirked as though he knew exactly where James’s thoughts lay. “That’s very kind of you. He squatted before Kova and placed his hand on the man’s forehead. “It’s bad but I think he will live.”