Storm Trilogy

by Ria Cantrell

  Without thinking, Erik leaned in and kissed her mouth softly. He heard her gasp but she did not seem to want to prevent it, nor did she pull away. That’s good! He lifted her chin with a strong finger and he kissed her gently again. She allowed it, but then said, “I do not think you should do that.”

  With a teasing grin, he said, “Why? Was it horrible?”

  She shook her head and said, “Nay, but….”

  “Well then, what harm is there? I mean we are going to wed, after all.”

  That broke the momentary spell. Erik found himself gazing into eyes of a woman who suddenly did not look like she wanted to kiss him at all. She looked like she wanted to run. Well, I’ll be damned, the girl is scared, Erik thought. He said, “I did not mean to frighten you. I know this betrothal has been rather sudden…for both of us.”

  Her big fathomless emerald eyes were wide and Erik thought it was not unlike the look in a deer’s eyes when an animal knows it is doomed. Was the prospect of marrying him so horrifying? He wanted to laugh. It was only just a day when the thought of marrying her terrified him as well. His grin widened and he said, “We do not have to marry tomorrow, Rhianna. I am not an unreasonable man.”

  Erik was sure the king wanted the wedding to take place as quickly as possible, but he did not see a reason to rush it. He wanted to get to know the woman and allow her to learn some things about him, as well. Suddenly, he wanted her to know that he was an honorable man, albeit one that wanted to do dishonorable things with her. Well, not dishonorable things exactly, but things that would more than make her blush, no doubt. For now, he was content to try to kiss her again. So before she could answer him, he leaned in and kissed her honeyed lips less than quickly. When he did not feel her pull away still, he let his lips press a little more firmly to hers until he felt them part.

  Rhianna could not believe this was happening. Only moments before, she had been daydreaming of kissing Sir Erik Ragnorsen, Viking usurper. Well, not exactly a Viking and not necessarily a usurper. She wanted to believe the worst about him but at the moment Rhianna could not think of anything that was truly horrible about him. And he was kissing her. It was gentle. It was nice. It was more than nice. She was out of her league. Yes, she was capable of running her own household, but she did not have a clue about how to behave with a man. She had seen maids sneaking off to kiss when they thought they were being discreet, but she had never actually done it herself. She felt like a fool. She murmured against his mouth, “Why?”

  “Why, what, Rhianna?”

  She liked when he called her by her name. Concentrate, fool; he asked you a question.

  “Why did you kiss me?”

  “Well, I think you are…well, you are beautiful.”

  She blushed and actually laughed nervously.

  “So if I was ugly, you would not want to kiss me?” It was a silly question, but Rhianna was feeling a little giddy.

  “Well, I don’t know. I really admired what you did with that family today and I think that now that I am learning a little about you, I may have wanted to kiss you even if I didn’t think you were beautiful…but the point is that I do think you are beautiful.”

  “You did not seem to like me yesterday. And you thought I was an urchin. You said so yourself and yet you still kissed me.”

  “So I did, didn’t I?”

  “You kissed me to punish me.”

  “Mmm, yes, a little.”

  “But you aren’t punishing me now.”

  “No.”

  Her innocence was almost childlike and it dawned on Erik that perhaps in this sort of thing she was like a child. He was quite certain she had never kissed a man before and that thought saddened him a little, but also forced a tender feeling to wash over him. Touching her face and looking into her eyes, he said, “Punishing is not what I want to do at this moment.”

  Rhianna lowered her head and Erik thought he heard a playful giggle. He said, “So, you find kissing me funny?”

  “No. I am a woman who is not used to games. I am used to speaking my mind.”

  “Yes, so I remember.”

  “Well, then I think perhaps I should tell you the truth.”

  “Yes?”

  Erik could not imagine what she was going to say. His shock at her words was like he had received a punch to his middle. She said, “I was not mad at the weeds in my garden.”

  “I thought you may not have been. Go on.”

  “Well, to be honest, Sir Erik, I was thinking that I should like to know what a kiss from you felt like when it was not meant to punish me and I was wondering how I could get you to do it.”

  The look on his face was astonished and when he got over his shock, he let go a deep belly laugh. So the minx wanted to kiss him, did she? Enough of this little soft pecking! If the girl wanted him to kiss her; then kiss her he would.

  He pulled her into his arms and he kissed her until he felt her yield to him. Her mouth opened slightly and he nudged her lips apart, darting his tongue against the softer inner part of her mouth. Rhianna knew she should have pulled away, but she could not. Even as she tried to back away a bit, his strong hand eased under her thick tresses, resting gently on the back of her neck. Her head fell back and she looked through her long lashes at him. His mouth hovered just slightly over hers and he whispered, “Say my name.”

  “Sir Erik.”

  “No. Call me by name, Rhianna.”

  As her mouth opened and she said, “Erik…,” he sealed his mouth to hers. She felt the gasp in her throat as his tongue touched hers but she was not horrified. She was lost to the sensation of his mouth on hers and her tongue wanted to find his again. When it did, it was Erik who moaned slightly. The innocent way the tip of her tongue lifted to his was damned enticing. This was truly her fist real kiss and she was enjoying it. It was a pity that no one had ever kissed this beauty before, but Erik was glad it had been saved for him.

  Pulling her across his outstretched legs, he rested her against his arm and chest. His other hand touched her waist and he felt her suck in her breath at the contact. He did not give her a chance to think too much about it and he lowered his head to kiss her again. He nibbled gently on her lower lip, softly catching it between his teeth. Then he planted soft kisses on her chin and jaw, working his lips down the beautiful length of her neck. He placed gentle nibbles there and he heard her breath escape in a loud sigh.

  Ah, the lady likes her neck to be nibbled. He took advantage of this new knowledge and he traced soft bites down her throat to the small hollow between her collarbone, where he could feel her pulse fluttering wildly. This time she said his name unbidden and it was more like a moan. That sound fired him and he felt himself rise hard beneath her. Her eyes opened widely and she looked horrified, but Erik was not going to let her be daunted by it. He kissed her deeply, this time, mating his tongue to hers and he felt her moan against his lips.

  “Erik, I…you…you are…oh God….”

  “Ssh. It’s alright.”

  “But we shouldn’t…I should not have….”

  “Yes, you should have. Hush or I shall have to go back to using my kisses as a punishment.”

  He laughed so she would know he was being playful and he drew her tighter into his arms. He felt her arms rise about his neck and he lowered her to the blanket beneath them. She felt him rest her back and he moved over her to kiss her again. He could feel the rise and fall of her breasts as the kiss deepened and ardor grew. Damn it. It wasn’t the only thing that was growing. His leather trews were much too tight to be kissing this woman this way. He groaned at the pressure he was beginning to feel and Rhianna looked up into his eyes.

  The smoldering passion she saw there scared the hell out of her, but the awakening passion inside herself was scarier still. She felt a moist heat pooling inside of her and she was mortified. She wanted to still kiss him, but she was suddenly more frightened than she had ever remembered being in her life. She was feverish and embarrassed and she tried to pull free from
him. At her sudden struggle beneath him, Erik stopped and sat up.

  Rhianna scrambled to her feet, which was an accomplishment of itself, for her legs felt like they had been liquefied. She was horrified at the compromising position she had put herself in. What would Erik think of her now? Would he think her wanton and wicked? She forced her legs to move and she fairly ran back to the keep, leaving her basket and tools with a stunned looking Erik.

  “Bloody Hell,” he cursed. He should not have let it go so far. She was an innocent maid and he had lost himself in the passion of the moment. He was a fool. He had scared her to death and the pressure in his groin bordered on being painful at the moment.

  Muttering an oath again, he got to his feet. Erik picked up Rhianna’s things and made his way slowly back into the keep. What he needed was to plunge himself into the frigid pond behind the garden, but instead he carefully walked back inside. He knew he needed to find her to apologize, but he was quite certain she would run scared again. He hoped he would not encounter anyone that would demand an explanation from him and he hoped no one would see the state he had gotten himself into. He draped the blanket over his arm to conceal the evidence of his excitement, should he run into anyone on his way back.

  ~Chapter Sixteen~

  Rhianna was mortified. She had acted despicably with Erik and she did not know what to do. She closed herself in her chambers and felt hot tears forming in her eyes. She did not understand why she wanted to cry, but she could not seem to stop it. The kiss had been so wonderful. Erik had been so good to show her how to kiss properly. It was better than she expected and she did not want it to end, but when he had laid nearly atop her, and her body had reacted so wantonly to him, Rhianna felt her tightly held restraint crumble. She was innocent, yes, in the ways between a woman and a man, but she felt his body react to her. She knew about what happened to a man when a woman enticed him. She felt so ashamed. She did not know how she was going to face him at the evening meal. She should have never let him kiss her like that. It was not just him, you know. You did your fair share of kissing him back.

  Rhianna put her hands over her ears as if she could stop the voice of her conscience. She had kissed him. She had more than kissed him. The kiss had made her feel things she had never experienced before. It made her body react as one with loose morals. She had brought shame to herself and to her household.

  The funny thing was that he did not seem upset, so why was she? He was surprised when she left him abruptly, but he did not try to pull her back, nor did he come after her. She was a fool. She had made a fool of herself and had once again painted herself in a less than gracious light. She would be wise not to be alone with him again. She would only embarrass herself further.

  ~~~~~

  Andarra had seen Rhianna running into the keep and hurrying up the stairs to her chambers. Sir Erik was not far behind her and was walking slowly, but not chasing after the girl. He was carrying her things and he looked none too happy. What had Rhianna done now? That girl was giving her a fair share of headaches in the last few days. She wondered if she should question Sir Erik, but when she saw his look of consternation, she thought better of it. Well, it was up to the Mistress’ chambers, then and hopefully the girl would confess just how she had displeased Sir Erik this time.

  ~~~~~

  Drew propped himself upon the hearth near Erik. Erik sat brooding once again, and just glanced over to his guard. Drew said, “Are things not going well with you and the lass?”

  “Not particularly. I think I’ve gone and done it now.”

  “You? Really? What have you done?”

  “I kissed her.”

  “Again? And she did not take to it?”

  “Oh, she took to it, alright. In fact, she confessed she had been hoping I would.”

  Drew’s brow creased in confusion. “I don’t understand. So what happened?”

  Erik sighed. “Things went a bit, uhm, too far and I think I scared her to death.”

  “Too far? Erik, she is still a lady. Did you compromise her?”

  “No of course not,” Erik bit out. “I would never do that to her. I just forgot how sheltered she may have been.”

  Drew nodded and said, “Ahh, I understand. But if you don’t mind me saying, you seem a bit more upset about it than I thought you would be. You aren’t falling for the maid, are you?”

  Erik tilted his head and cast Drew a withering look.

  “By the saints, you are, aren’t you? You are smitten with your betrothed, the hag and crone you so vehemently wanted to avoid marrying.”

  “You are a fool.”

  “I am not the one sitting here like a lovesick youth pining over a misbegotten kiss.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Well, what do you portend to do about it?”

  “Well, first I need to apologize to her, only she will not speak to me. She has locked herself in her chambers.”

  “Shall I speak to her on your behalf?”

  Erik shot Drew a menacing silent threat. He still did not like that Rhianna seemed to have no problem talking to Drew. He said, “No. I think I can find a way to speak to her on my own, thank you.”

  “Just trying to help, my friend.”

  “Yes, well your help with the ladies is not needed here.”

  Drew grinned and clapped his friend across his shoulder. “Not to worry, lad, I do not wish to turn your lady’s head.”

  “Well, just the same, leave it to me. If we are to be civil to one another, I need to do this on my own.”

  Drew shrugged casually, but he said, “I am rather glad you like her. It will make marrying her that much easier.”

  The fact was that Erik did like her. He felt a pull to her that he neither expected nor believed would be part of the marriage contract. He had thought it to be a business deal and nothing more. He did not think he would develop any feelings for her for some time and even then, he thought he would only develop a comfortable fondness if anything. This was madness.

  He was drawn to everything about her; from her sassy tongue to her independent handling of the keep, and still to the innocent passion she stirred within him. He had never experienced anything like this. He was a man of discipline and had learned about self-restraint long ago. When it came to Rhianna, he felt his years of training fall by the wayside.

  God’s teeth, was he falling in love? Was she his destiny? He remembered that blasted dream again, and he thought how vivid it had been. Erik suddenly felt like Rhianna was indeed his destiny, as he would be hers. He silently vowed to protect her. If nothing else, she would learn his intentions were honorable if she believed she could count on his protection. His vow was soon to be tested in ways Erik had not dreamed of.

  ~~~~~

  Andarra heard the girl crying and she tried the latch on the door. Surprisingly, it gave way and the door opened into the chambers. She was startled to see Rhianna weeping. Her stoic charge was not prone to bouts of tears and so she wondered if she had come to scold the wrong party.

  Sitting beside her, Andarra asked, “What is amiss?”

  “It’s Erik.”

  “So I figured. What has happened, now?”

  Rhianna hiccupped a sob and she said, “I m--made a fool of myself.”

  “How? You mean yesterday? I thought you both had spent time together in the village. Surely he has seen you at your best today.”

  Rhianna shook her head. “No, this has nothing to do with yesterday. Oh, Andarra, I am so ashamed.”

  Now Andarra was starting to become alarmed. She would thrash the big Viking herself if he had hurt her precious girl.

  “What happened”, she repeated as calmly as she could.

  “I…I…kissed him.”

  Andarra forced the smile from her lips. Well, that was not what she had expected to hear.

  “You mean he kissed you.”

  Shaking her head again, Rhianna said, “No. I kissed him. I did. I made a complete fool of myself…and shamed myself in the process.”<
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  Stroking down Rhianna’s back, Andarra said, “I would gather you have not. Did he seem to not want to kiss you?”

  “Oh, no. He wanted to.”

  “Then there is nothing to be this upset about.”

  Rhianna sniffled. She still looked stricken and then Andarra understood.

  “You are beyond the age to marry, but that still does not mean you know all. He is going to be your husband. He…will know your body as you do. I think you are afraid of what you do not know; afraid of what is sacred between a man and his wife.”

  Rhianna looked horrified and she said, “Andarra, please, do not say another word. I know what happens between a man and a woman.”

  “Aye, you know for you have aided in the birth of babies; you are not as innocent as you fear, but you are innocent in what your lot is with this man. You do not know what to do with him, when you go beyond the kissing. Erik will teach you what you do not yet know, but trust me. You are a woman of passion. He will learn from you as well.”

  Rhianna was aghast at this improper conversation. It fortified her mortification of the afternoon’s events. She wished she could spend the night in the village so she would not have to see him or now for that matter, Andarra. Her face felt flushed with heat. This had gone from bad to worse. Still, she could not stop the fluttering of her heart when she remembered how it felt to be in his arms or how it felt to have his kiss burn her lips; or how her body had reacted; how his body had reacted to her. Rhianna could not help thinking how it was the most wonderful thing she had ever experienced. That wonder made her vulnerable and she certainly did not like that either; not one bit.

  ~Chapter Seventeen~

  As Rhianna sat quietly beside Erik at the evening meal, she pushed her food around her charger unable to eat it. She tried not to look at him, but she could feel his heat as his arm practically touched hers. He tried to talk to her but she only offered words when asked direct questions. As the meal ended and the trestle tables were cleared away, Erik could stand no more of the awkward discourse or rather lack of discourse that they had shared. He took her hand and he said, “Might I have a word with you, My Lady?”