Lady Knight

by Marisa Chenery

  He released her breast, inched his way down her body, and placed feather-light kisses against her skin as he went. In his dreams, he had done that to Ariel over and over again. He spread her legs and tasted her. She moaned as he laved her clit. The taste of her drove him wild.

  A keening moan escaped her lips. Not wanting to push her over the edge, he moved back up her body and kissed her. He needed her hands on him. He took hold of one of one and led it to that part of him that craved her touch the most—his throbbing cock. He closed her fingers around him, showing her what he liked as he moved them up and down his length. He released her once she squeezed his shaft and pushed down on him.

  Broc groaned. He could not take too much of that. He was already on the verge of exploding. Unable to wait any longer, he pulled her hand away, slid between her legs, and joined their bodies in one thrust.

  At the feel of Ariel’s hot, slick opening closing around him, Broc groaned in ecstasy. There would be another opportunity to love her again at a much slower pace. He pulled almost out of her body and then thrust back into her. He could not slow the pace, and from the way she clawed his back, she did not seem mind. She wrapped her legs around his waist, taking him deeper. Her climax claimed her as her hot channel squeezed around his cock. It pushed him into an intense release. He slid home one more time, then groaned.

  Once his breathing returned to normal, Broc rolled onto his back and pulled Ariel until she snuggled against his side. He cushioned her head on his chest.

  He pushed her white-blonde hair aside and kissed her forehead. “Does this mean you have forgiven me?”

  Ariel smiled against his chest. “I suppose I best. Every time we make love, I end up with child. You better make an honest woman out of me.”

  “Let us hope this joining does not bear any fruit. I would like to have you to myself for a little while.”

  “Aye, that would be nice. We always seem to have obstacles between us.”

  Growing serious, Broc lightly rubbed the pad of this thumb across Ariel’s bottom lip. “Nothing will tear us apart again—ever. I give my solemn word. You are my wife. The love I have for you will never die. I only hope you can learn to love me as you did before. That would be my greatest wish.”

  Ariel went up on one elbow and kissed him. “I love you, Broc. My feelings for you never changed. Aye, you hurt me, but I am willing to forget. My life would not be complete without you by my side. I need you—always.”

  Broc pulled her head down and thoroughly kissed her, leaving her breathless. With a groan, he pulled away and then slipped out of bed.

  Ariel frowned. “Where are you going?”

  He donned his tunic and trews before he searched for his boots. After finding them under the table, he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled them on. “We need more wood. What little I brought will not last us throughout the rest of the day. I will return. Do not worry about that.” He flashed a cocky grin.

  Ariel returned it. “You want to stay here all day?”

  “Of course. I have not had you to myself for a very long time. I intend to make the most of it while I can.”

  “What about Brianna? She will need to be fed.”

  “When I get the wood, I will stop by the hall and tell Lily to bring her here when she grows hungry. Relax. It will not take me long. I am not through with you yet, not by a long shot.”

  * * * *

  With Broc gone, Ariel lay back on the pillows and pulled the covers up. She felt drained and satiated, but happy. Very happy. Happier than she had been for quite some time. A smile formed on her lips as she allowed herself to drift off to sleep.

  The door creaked open a short time later. Ariel did not stir. Figuring Broc had returned from his errands, she waited for him to slip into bed beside her. She stiffened at what felt like the cold steel blade of a dagger pressed against her throat. Wrenched fully awake, she opened her eyes to see a face she had hoped never to look at again.

  Theodoric sat on the edge of the bed and smiled maliciously. “Did you think you could so easily escape from the plans I painstakingly made for you? If you did, then you were mistaken. I will remove the dagger from your throat. Please do not give me cause to use it. Get dressed like a good girl.”

  Once more Ariel found herself in a situation she was powerless to prevent. With Theodoric’s hard eyes watching her every move, she hurriedly pulled on her clothes. She bent to retrieve a stray boot, and her eye caught the sparkle of a gem stone. Her sword lay half under the bed with the hilt easily within reach. She gave him a furtive look before she lunged for the weapon.

  Pain shot through her head as Theodoric grabbed a handful of her hair and roughly pulled her out of reach of the sword. “Now, Ariel, did you think I would allow you to gain possession of your sword? Remember, I have watched you on the practice field. I would be a fool to allow that to happen. I do not seek my death by your hand.”

  Theodoric yanked on her hair and brought her to her feet. Her eyes watered with pain. Ariel pulled her cloak around her as she followed the older man out the door. He seemed to have a destination in mind. He unhesitatingly led her deeper into the forest.

  A wave of sickening panic washed over her. In the forest, they would be much harder to track. Their passage through the woods would go almost undetected. Her only chance was Broc’s ability to track them from the hut. Hoping to leave some sort of sign of their passing, she dragged her feet and brushed against trees, breaking off leaves and branches.

  Deep inside the forest the air seemed cooler. Very little sunlight managed to penetrate the thick cover of foliage that rose high about their heads. It gave the impression that the day was further along than it truly was.

  With a jerk on her hair, Theodoric came to a halt. Just as quickly, he released her and then pulled her hands behind her back. He proceeded to bind them with a piece of cord he carried with him.

  He searched the shadows and wiped the sweat that trickled down his face. “It would appear we are alone for now. I will feel better when we have reached the deepest part of the forest.”

  He took hold of her arm and once more dragged Ariel through the bush. With her hands bound behind her, she had trouble keeping her balance over the rough terrain. Theodoric took no notice. When she would begin to fall, he would only pull her up onto her feet and push her ever deeper into the trees.

  Finally, after what seemed like hours, Theodoric stopped their travel. His breath came in pants and sweat dampened his hair as well as his tunic. Ariel guessed that was probably the most walking her captor had done in quite some time. His soft body gave testimony to his easy life.

  Ariel looked around and realized Theodoric had to have been there before. He had set up a makeshift camp. A small lean-to type shelter sat off to one side in the natural clearing. A ring of stones filled with ash gave her the suspicion he had been there for more than one day.

  After forcing her to sit with her back against a large tree, her captor took a few steps away. Theodoric reached for a saddle bag and then pulled out a length of rope. He walked back to her. He wrapped what he held around her chest and the trunk, binding her tightly to it. Unable to move, she would have to wait for another opportunity to escape.

  * * * *

  Broc stepped with a light heart and a small amount of anticipation as he hurriedly walked across the meadow. In his arms, he carried the needed wood. The others who had been at the hall where not too surprised to hear of his and Ariel’s reconciliation. Swein had clapped him on the back, saying she had needed the time to see what she had been missing. She was not a stupid girl. She knew when to hold on to something of great value.

  Broc had been knocked speechless at his father-in-law’s words. He had thought Swein did not think too highly of him. It came as a surprise to find himself held in such regard by his wife’s father, considering Broc had taken Elmstead from the man. Broc had said as much to Swein. The older man had chuckled. He had said he was getting too old to run Elmstead, anyway. Swein made it quite
clear he preferred to pass the responsibilities on to a much younger set of shoulders. He had no complaints with Broc’s ability in running the land.

  With the pond in sight, Broc broke off his musings and lengthened his stride. The thought of Ariel lying naked in the bed was all the motivation he needed to hurry.

  The door to the hut stood open. Broc came up short. Something was not right. A sense of unease washed over him. A feeling of Ariel being in trouble overwhelmed him the more he looked at the open doorway.

  Broc dropped the wood and then ran into the hut. As he had feared, Ariel was nowhere to be seen. A quick inspection proved his uneasiness had not been unfounded. She would not have left willingly on her own. What they had shared told him he had not been wrong in his thinking. She had accepted him back into her life as well as into her body.

  He searched the room for any kind of sign, something that could have caused Ariel to leave. All he found was her sword half hidden under the bed. Broc had all the proof he needed. His suspicions had been correct. She would never have left her sword behind. It was as much a part of a knight as was his sword arm. A knight would feel lost without it hanging at his side. The same would be true for her as it was for him.

  Finding no other clue as to what had befallen Ariel, Broc searched the outside of the hut. He noticed the scuffed footprints that led to the back of the hut. He followed them and found others that headed into the forest. The prints in the fore were large, a man’s boot possibly. The other set had to be hers.

  Needing nothing else to persuade him that Ariel had indeed been taken without her consent, Broc ran back to the hall. The day faded fast, and soon it would be too dark to see the trail she had left for them to follow. Time was of the essence. If they did not move quickly, his wife could very well be taken from him once again. This time he might not be so lucky in finding her. She could very well be gone from his life for good.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Night descended, leaving Ariel cold and stiff. Theodoric had tied her to a tree that was not even close to the fire. Her lightweight cloak did not offer much in the way of warmth, especially on a frosty night such as that. She shivered uncontrollably.

  Shifting around, she tried to find a more comfortable position, which was impossible given the circumstances. Her hands were numb, and her breasts ached with too much milk. Another reason she needed to return to her daughter. Ariel could just picture Brianna screaming with hunger. That thought alone made her feel all the more anxious to be with her.

  Her movements drew Theodoric’s attention. He stepped from the fire and came to her. He smiled. There was no warmth in it. Ariel silently wished him to hell.

  “How is my lady holding out? Cold? Good, we would not like you to forget your place, now would we?”

  “Why are you doing this to me?”

  Theodoric chuckled, but no mirth was in the sound. “You have not figured it out yet? It is quite simply really. I dislike being denied the pleasure of seeing Broc suffer. He gave Alwen a grievous insult by annulling their marriage.”

  “You know Broc will come for me.” At least Ariel hoped that was true, but the fading light made her doubt Broc would be able to find her.

  “He will not find you. The forest at night can be your enemy, or in my case, a friend. Broc does not know these woods very well. He will become lost very easily, and by morning we will be gone.”

  “What are going to do with me?”

  “I have not decided yet. For now, I will keep you with me. Having you separated from your new daughter should cause Broc some upset.”

  Ariel’s blood turned to ice. He knew too much about her family. She had to wonder how long he had been watching them. If he did not succeed, would he go after her children next? She shivered just thinking of what could happen to those two innocents.

  Theodoric laughed, making him sound deranged. Ariel cringed at the sound, which caused him to laugh all the louder. She could still hear him laughing even after he returned to the fire.

  * * * *

  Torches held high, Broc, Swein, and Ranulf slowly walked through the thick forest. It was decidedly getting harder to see. Broc, who led the small group, lost the trail on a number of occasions. Once that happened, they would have to backtrack until they picked it up again, which caused unwanted delays. It did nothing to calm his already strained nerves.

  The deeper they penetrated the forest, the more of a struggle it became to walk. Branches seemed to claw at their clothes and hair. Fallen tree limbs, or whole trees, had to be stepped or climbed over. In the dark, Broc would sometimes miss seeing them, causing him trip or come up short in surprise.

  After losing the trail for what seemed like the hundredth time, Broc took his frustration out on the trees surrounding him. He savagely swung his sword, causing leaves and bark to fly into the air. Swein stepped forward, catching Broc’s arm in a grip he could not easily ignore.

  “Enough, Broc. I think it is time to call it quits for the night. It is too dark to see clearly. We can return on the morrow.”

  Broc pulled his arm out of Swein’s grasp and shook his head. “Nay, Ariel will be out of reach by then. I will continue on. If you and Ranulf wish to return to the hall, you may go, but I am staying.”

  Swein looked at Ranulf, who gave a quick nod. “We will stay with you. It would not sit well with me to leave Ariel unfound throughout the night.”

  Broc sheathed his sword, lifted his torch above his head, and went in search of Ariel’s trail once again. The faint markings were their only link to where she could possibly be. As luck would have it, they had not strayed too far off the trail. After picking it up once more, they continued with their quest.

  A short time later, Ranulf stopped in midstride and sniffed the air. He gave a shout to draw their attention. “Wait, I think I hear something. I think I smell smoke.”

  Swein and Broc rushed back to the spot where Ranulf stood motionless, listening intently.

  Smiling, Swein whispered. “Voices, coming from over there.” He pointed to a spot in front of them.

  Broc agreed. “Aye. How far in that direction, we will have to see. I suggest we split up. Try to form a circle around whoever they are. I think we are only dealing with one man.”

  Swein looked at Broc, searching his face. “I have a feeling you know who it is.”

  “Aye. Who else has been a bane of my existence for the last little while? Theodoric. This is something that slimy bug would do. It reeks of his scheming.”

  “You are probably right. He tried this once before. The man likes to hide in the shadows.”

  “Not this day. His petty grudges end here and now. He is not going to get away with this, not this time.”

  Swein nodded. “Theodoric has to pay the price for his underhanded ways. Once we have him surrounded, he should be easy to subdue. If he fights us, I will take great pleasure in forcing him to comply with our wishes.”

  They stealthily walked across the forest floor. Their footsteps were muffled by the cover of fallen leaves. Just before they reached the small clearing, Broc spied the flames of a fire flickering between the trees. He motioned to the others to circle the camp as he inched forward to take a closer look at what awaited them.

  Broc smiled. He had been correct in his thinking. Theodoric sat on a log before a small fire, acting as if he had nothing to fear. The man was overconfident. Quickly scanning the area, he found no other men lurking about. The only other person in the clearing was Ariel, bound to a tree off to his right. That sight gave Broc enough reason to exact some form of retribution from Theodoric’s hide. She appeared to be unharmed, but the sight of her tied like an animal made him see red. He would have to make sure to pay Theodoric back in kind.

  Broc prayed the other two men had had enough time to move into position, then he rushed the camp. He let loose with an earsplitting war cry as he went after Theodoric. Swein and Ranulf came crashing through the woods a few seconds later from opposite sides of the camp. There was nowhere T
heodoric could run. He was theirs.

  * * * *

  The cold and lack of food made her sleepy. She closed her eyes, no longer fighting the drowsiness. Ariel figured no harm would be done if she let her body rest for a little while. There was not much else she could do to better her situation, being bound to a tree as she was.

  In a blink of an eye, all hell broke loose. One moment all was peaceful, and the next, the night was filled with battle cries and men crashing through the trees. Before Ariel could rouse herself completely, her ropes had been cut from her chest. With a dagger at her throat, Theodoric held her before him as a shield.

  Seeing the face of her beloved, Ariel felt confident enough to smile at Broc. Theodoric’s plans would be foiled now. She would be saved. Her husband had come to free her.

  Snarling, Broc stalked Theodoric into the middle of the small camp. Swein and Ranulf took up positions around the other man and closed in on him. There was no other route he could use to escape. He was boxed in, and well he knew it.

  Broc took a menacing step toward him. That action only caused Theodoric to press the blade closer against Ariel’s neck. Broc froze.

  “Release Ariel. You are outnumbered. Neither one of us will allow you to take her. It is over. Give me the dagger and no harm will befall you.”

  “I think not, Norman.” Theodoric snarled at Broc. “Who is to say I will not slit your wife’s pretty throat.”

  “If you do, I will personally make sure you take your last breath shortly thereafter. Enough of this. Let Ariel go. Do not make this any harder than it has to be.”

  Theodoric tried to bolt. He dragged Ariel with him between Ranulf and Swein. The dagger shook in his hand, and was liable to hit the vulnerable vein in her neck. A desperate man was known to do just about anything to escape what fate had dealt him.