Storm Trilogy

by Ria Cantrell

  Erik did not know what to do, because Rhianna had sunk into thoughts that took her far away. She was remembering something; something that frightened her about storms. He said, “It’s alright, Rhianna. I’ve got you, you are safe now.”

  At his words, she looked at him with a strange expression on her face. She said, “It was you.…”

  “What was? What was me?”

  “In that dream, when I was just a girl, I dreamed I was drowning and a man with golden hair and eyes like the North Sea saved me. It was you….”

  Even as Erik recalled that he had most recently dreamed of a raven haired temptress that he had saved from drowning, he discounted it to be purely coincidence. He said, “It could not have been. We never met before these days.”

  Rhianna shook her head vehemently and she said, “No, it was you. It was! I remember it all now.”

  She did not tell him about the prophesy of her parents’ ill-fated journey, but she was absolutely certain that he was the one who had pulled her from the throes of death. Why would he have been sent to her childhood dreams? Him! The man who had just spanked her as if she was a naughty child. The man who made her heart flutter when he looked at her…the man whose kiss robbed her of all sense and reason.

  It was too much to ponder, really. Erik tipped his head to look into her eyes. He saw that she spoke the truth and that she was convinced that he had somehow come to her in a childhood dream. He thought dreams were quite fleeting so it must have been something that stuck with her a long time. He asked, “Why would you remember a dream from so long ago? What about that dream caused you to remember the details of it?”

  Rhianna surely did not want to answer that question. Erik already thought she was a witch and if she said she dreamed the prophetic dream which foretold of her parent’s demise, he would surely have her tried for sorcery. She just shook her head and she said, “I cannot speak of it.”

  As if he somehow put the pieces of the puzzle together, Erik asked softly, “How did your parents die?”

  Rhianna’s eyes widened and she did not really want to tell him about the worst night of her life. He said, “They drowned, didn’t they?”

  She nodded.

  “In a terrible storm?”

  Again, the barely discernible nod.

  “At sea; they drowned at sea, during a storm?”

  “They…they were sailing to my mother’s homeland in Wales. She had been quite ill and my father thought that if she was home, she would recover, but they sailed during Martinmas and though they were warned that the seas were perilous at that time, my father sought to help my mother. He thought she was homesick and he wanted to do anything to make her happy. I suppose her days were numbered, as she had the wasting sickness, but he had to try. They both perished during a terrible squall.”

  “Ahhh,” Erik said. The full measure of understanding hit him like a punch to his gut. “That is why you do not like storms such as this. You saw it in your dream, didn’t you? The dream when you were a child and thought you were drowning, too, only someone who looked like me saved you, instead.”

  Rhianna tucked her head onto her arms and softly said, “Yes.”

  “Rhianna, do you have the Sight and gift of Prophesy?”

  Pulling her hood over her face, as if to hide from the truth, she said, “T’is more like a curse.”

  “It is not. It is a gift.”

  “But you said…never mind.”

  “I know what I said and for that I am sorry. I don’t care if you were a witch.”

  “I am NOT a witch.”

  “Well, I think, even if you were, I would no longer care. You have so many gifts, and beauty is not the least of them. I am a lucky man.”

  She laughed sardonically. “Ha, lucky, why it is all you can do to not spank me at every turn.”

  He chuckled as he was reminded of her luscious derriere prized beneath the smacks of his hand. He suspected it unnerved him more than it did her, for he could barely walk from the level of arousal it had caused.

  “I did not wish to; I felt pushed to it. My men must respect and obey me or people tend to lose their lives. If I allowed you to speak to me thus, they would no longer obey my commands. I could not have that happen. But I am a lucky man, for like it or no, you agreed to the betrothal. I did not realize that I would be marrying a woman with so many wonderful….”

  “What was that about my gifts and beauty not being the least?”

  “Ah, vain, as well.”

  “I am not vain, Erik Ragnorsen!”

  “I think you heard me perfectly. You must know you are beautiful. Has no one ever told you before?”

  “Nay. Well my chatelaine has mentioned it, but she is like a mother to me.”

  Erik wanted to kiss her so fiercely, but not as punishment. Nay, to take away some of the hurt and sorrow that had been ever present in her life. She had no mother or father to raise her, only a brother. Erik suspected that her brother clearly did not tell her she was beautiful. She may have seen her reflection but she did not know she was beautiful. Well that was going to change from this moment forward. He wanted her to know she was beautiful; and not just pretty. She was a man’s dream. He would make her know she was beautiful and he would make her feel beautiful.

  Rhianna felt silly; fawning over his claim of her beauty. She would rather he felt lucky to wed her because he thought she was a good person. She supposed there was slim chance of that because of the rude way she treated him. He was right. A strong leader had to gain the respect of his men and she had undermined him in front of them on more than one occasion.

  Erik did not know what was causing her to look so forlorn, but he suspected it was the memories of the loss of her parents. He slid his arm around her and pulled her closer to his side. He said, “I think we have a lot to learn about each other.”

  “I know. I keep hoping we will form a truce of sorts, but then….” Her voice drifted off.

  “I annoy you.”

  She laughed a little then and she admitted, “Or I clearly aggravate you.”

  “Well, then, our lives shall not be dull, will they?”

  She giggled and said, “I suppose not.”

  But as her mood lifted a particularly loud thunder clap forced a scream from her throat. Erik was right there with her. He soothed, “Shh, my love. You are not going to be harmed. Not if I can help it.”

  ~Chapter Twenty-Four~

  It was many hours later when the storm abated enough for them to ride back to the keep. Rhianna had worn herself out and she settled with her head against Erik’s thigh, falling into a fitful sleep. The entire time, he watched her; stroking over her back and making sure she was no longer frantic over the flashing lightening or rolling thunder. He observed her and felt stirrings of tenderness fill his heart. Was he falling in love? Drew had said as much, but love? Really? The more Erik thought upon the notion of love; he decided that perhaps this was what love felt like. He wanted to protect her and take care of her, but he liked that most times she did not need him to. Most times, she was quite capable of taking care of herself. He liked that she was strong and able to handle more than most men could, let alone a solitary young woman left to tend the holdings of a keep and its outlying lands.

  Erik felt like he had been trampled by a herd of wild horses. His heart had been opened wide enough to let the girl in. This girl; this woman was just the type of woman he liked…whatever that meant. And the truth was he more than liked her. He could not stop thinking about her. She had distracted him like no other. That thought bothered him. He did not think he liked the idea of someone causing his warrior’s instincts to fail. In fact, he was sure he did not like it; not one bit, but when he thought of how this woman had changed how he thought of finding a mate, Erik knew that no matter what happened between them, he no longer wanted any other.

  When the storm stopped, Erik gently woke Rhianna and he said, “T’is time to go. The storm is over. I think we should try to make it back to the keep before
the next wave. I am not sure it will be the last storm of the night.”

  Rhianna said, “I am sorry, I fell asleep.”

  “It’s alright. Come with me, now. I need to get you back so you can get into something dry and warm. I need to, as well.”

  Rhianna went back to the keep with him and many eyes looked upon them with suspicion as they came back, soaked to the skin. Drew sought out Erik, for he was actually worried that Erik would have lost his temper too severely with the girl. The strange thing was that when they arrived back after being gone for several hours, they no longer seemed angry at one another. They looked like somehow, in the hours that had past, they had become friends. The only indication that Erik had made good his promise was that Drew had not missed Rhianna unconsciously rubbing her bottom as she hurried to get into to some dry clothing.

  Drew caught Erik’s eye and he shook his head, grinning. Erik just shrugged and went to seek warmer clothes for himself, too. Well, whatever had happened, the beautiful and lively Rhianna seemed somewhat subdued. Her anger had abated and for that Drew was glad. He did not know why, but he really wanted his friend to find love and he suddenly thought that there was no one better for him than the Lady Rhianna.

  Rhianna did not realize that riding the horse back to the keep would remind her of the punishment Erik had meted out. Her bum was positively throbbing. She felt her face burn at the thought of it; almost as much as her other cheeks did. Riding had been like getting a second spanking in the exact same spot his hand had disciplined her. She thought it would make her furious to think about him doing that to her, but strangely she was not. Spanking aside, she remembered that the savior of her childhood dream had been him. It was really him.

  The Fates were not wrong about the other aspect of that dream so Rhianna supposed they could not be wrong about this one. He was there to save her…from what she did not know, but she suddenly felt resigned to it. He was such a mystery. He could aggravate her to the point of wanting to commit violence against him and then in the next instant he was protecting her from her fears and showing tenderness to her that she had not thought he would have been capable of.

  Rhianna felt tired. Tired from fighting with Erik, tired from the storm, and most of all, tired of trying to hold it all together since Randall was nowhere to be found. She took herself off to bed and promised to ponder it all again tomorrow. She could not dwell on it anymore tonight for her head was beginning to ache at the implications of that line of thinking. Tomorrow, in the light of day, things may look differently and maybe she would better understand what she felt for the man who had been thrust in her life.

  ~Chapter Twenty-Five~

  Erik paused outside of Rhianna’s door. For the second night since his arrival, he heard the unmistakable sounds of sobbing from within. This time, he was actually plagued with guilt. Perhaps he had punished her too severely. The problem seemed that it was more his fault than hers, really and he felt badly that he blamed her for his lack of discipline and focus.

  The truth of the matter was that there never had been a woman to affect him like this one did. He had enjoyed bed sport with willing women in the past, but none had sparked his desire like this one had. She had not been trying to tempt him when she climbed to the ramparts of the keep, but he wanted to punish her for his lack of self-control. Yes, she had given him a tongue lashing in front of his men and he had not missed their hidden snickers.

  When she had stuck her tongue out at him like a petulant child, he lost all sense of reason. He had wanted to spank her, but that punishment seemed to have punished him more than he cared to admit. Still, he was the one who had lost his focus. She was not near the lists as he had told her. The fault lay all with him, really. He knew he would need to make amends for that.

  He tried the door to Rhianna’s apartments and once again, found it unlocked. Letting himself into her chambers, he saw that she was in her bed, but was again asleep. The crying was so heart-wrenching that Erik had to hold her and comfort her. He once again removed his boots and he climbed into the bed beside her. Upon feeling him there, she did not start awake, but she mumbled, “Go away, Erik.”

  “Shhhh, I just want to ease your dream. Was it the same as it was the other night?”

  “It is the same most every night.”

  Erik touched her shoulder and she turned to face him.

  “You have the same dream every night? The same bad dream invades your sleep every time you rest?”

  “Most times, yes.”

  “Oh, sweetheart, that is terrible. Please tell me.”

  “I don’t want you here, Erik. Despite our truce, I just want to be left alone.”

  Erik leaned down and kissed her mouth softly. He asked, “Do you?”

  “Yes. I want to be left to my own defenses.”

  “I think you have cried enough tears, my love. It is time to let some of that burden go. You can trust me.”

  “Trust you? I have never been spanked in my life until today.”

  “Aye, but I told you it was necessary…and this has nothing to do with that. This is between a man and a woman; between you and me. Now, do you really want me to go,” he asked kissing her again. When he felt her arms snake around his neck he realized despite what her answer would be, she would mean no. He kissed her and felt her respond. She was opening to him but then as her teeth lightly grazed his bottom lip, she said, “I hate you.”

  “I know.”

  Her eyes widened and he laughed. Then he said, “But you don’t mean it. You are very confused and very vulnerable right now. Besides, Rhianna, I don’t hate you.”

  “Don’t you?”

  “No.”

  Erik trailed kisses down her throat and he said, “No, my love. Try as I might, I cannot hate you.”

  He nibbled over her nightrail and gently closed his mouth over a peaked nipple beneath the soft fabric of her sleeping garment. He felt her gasp as his mouth tortured her with sensations that were both new and exciting. He continued, “The reason I cannot hate you, Rhianna, is because somehow, beyond all reason, I think I am falling in love with you.”

  “Love,” she spat and she tried to push him off of her. “You do not love me. You are just trying to trick me into bed with you.”

  “Nay. I want you, t’is certain. I want to be with you; here tonight, but not if you don’t want me to, for I will never force you. I am a man of honor, despite what you think of me. It’s just that today so many things became clear. You have had to fend for yourself while you were still a small girl. You did the best you could and I admire you so much.”

  “Y-you admire me?”

  “Yes, Sweetheart. But you do not have to fend for yourself any longer for I am here to share it with you, now.”

  Rhianna did not know what had come over her, but at his words she pulled Erik down to her and kissed him fiercely. This time, she heard him moan as her mouth seemed to plunder his. Her tongue lifted against his and he was pleasantly surprised at her reaction to his words. He pulled away long enough to tease her with soft bites down her neck and onto her collar bone. His hand slid into her nightrail and softly cupped a breast. Rhianna arched up to his hand and although she knew she should stop him, she could not. She wanted more. The feel of his hand upon her sent a tremor through her and she could only succumb to his mesmerizing touch. He moved away momentarily and she almost protested when his hands left her. Her eyes watched him and she felt she could not speak. He lifted his tunic off of his body, exposing his muscular torso to her gaze. This time, her breath did catch in her throat. He was magnificent and outside of a few old scars, he was perfect. Rhianna had not had time to give the male form much notice. She had heard maids talking and outside of a cursory wonder, she did not have time to give merit or to savor such thoughts. She had a fleeting notion that she was entering a point of no return with this man and once done, there would be nothing she could do to change it. She also knew that if she asked him to stop, he would. He said so. She also knew she would not ask
him to.

  He came back to her bed and he could see she looked a little frightened, so he assured her, “I will not hurt you, my love. I promise to be careful with your heart most of all.”

  Rhianna was not certain but she somehow knew that when Erik Ragnorsen gave his word, nothing could make him break it. Swallowing up any fears, she allowed the bedding to slip down her body and she sat up, holding one hand out to him. His eyes raked her form, which was illuminated with the soft glow coming from the dying fire in the hearth. Erik sat beside her and he touched her, through the sheer shift of her nightrail. He began to tug at the hemline of it, and he slowly and tantalizingly lifted it up her legs. His hands brushed against her skin, which suddenly seemed sensitized. Everywhere his hands made contact seemed to electrify her flesh. She was not even aware that she held her breath until his hand rested on her hip and he whispered, “Just let me get this. Rise up a little.”

  She sucked in her breath harder, but she obeyed, raising herself slightly so he could lift her gown over her head, but not before he teased her as he went. He said, “Beautiful. You are so beautiful. You are perfect.”

  She laughed a little nervously. She was just thinking the same thing about him. He kissed her, taking her into his arms and he deepened the kiss, till he felt her again respond to him. He had taken his fair share of kisses from her these last few days, but this time, she held nothing from him. She met him, nibbling against his lips and her tongue greeted his. While he kissed her, he slid his hand down her middle, and she nearly bolted at the feel of it. Instead, he just drew her back into the kiss and he moved his hand between her tightly clenched thighs. She was still guarded, but only for a moment. He felt her legs part and he carefully stroked lower. Before he continued, he asked, “Will it be alright for me to touch you now?”