Claiming(14)

He walked away, down the corridor, down the narrow spiral stairs, back in to the heat and noise of the Hall. He settled himself by the fire with a goblet of wine and imagined Rowena, disrobing and lying on the fur throw in the moonlight, and of the things she’d beg him to do to her.





Rowena waited for Saher to return to their shared solar, awake and cursing the day that Saher had set foot inside the castle. It was a warm night and she could not sleep. The image of the tower haunted her. Captivity—it was the one thing she’d always feared, always thought her father would keep her safe from. And yet, he’d known all along he was condemning her to it. And yet she’d fallen a willing victim to Saher’s clever hands, to his lips and tongue. He was well versed in the art of love and he was using all his charm and skill to bed her. Heat throbbed inside, pushing out to skin that bloomed with a sheen of perspiration. Her breathing quickened and she lay on her side, her hand slipping down over her stomach, cupping her sex that ached and throbbed. She slid up her gown and circled her quim with her finger. It was wet. She hesitated, knowing it was a sin to do as she did. But when did she ever do what was right? She slid her finger inside a small way and gasped, pressing that part of herself that needed to be touched into the heel of her hand. She shifted rhythmically against it, her eyelids fluttering as she dwelt on the memory of Saher’s tongue inside her mouth, his hands slipping around her bottom, his lips on her neck. She plunged more deeply inside of herself and the breath was torn from her as she felt strange tension inside her body, coiling and a sudden release as she spasmed around her finger. She gasped, again and again, pressing her hand against her mouth, while her other hand continued with its ministrations. Then it was over and she rolled onto her back, throwing off the covers until the soft summer breeze could run over her naked legs and breasts. She groaned and imagined Saher there, looking at her, wanting her.

Then he entered the solar but didn’t come to her bed. He lay down on the pallet, with his hands behind his head and appeared to fall asleep instantly.

She could have cried. She’d always imagined she was strong but she was as weak as the next woman. She’d have been able to resist if only she could keep her distance. If she’d not known the magic his lips and hands and hard body could create, then she might have been able to continue as she was, separate, alone… safe.





CHAPTER SIX





It was early morning and Rowena would normally have enjoyed the ride through the beech forest. Saher rode beside her and their men behind. It was still in the forest, the only sound being the softened tread of their horses’ hooves on the thick carpet of twigs and bracken on the forest floor, and the birdsong and rustling leaves of the majestic beech trees above them. But it was not still in her mind which constantly worried about the fortune hidden in casks in her warehouse. The warehouse was under constant guard—day and night—but it wouldn’t be long before suspicions were roused. It had to be moved soon. But it could not be moved while Saher was glued to her side.

“Are you sure you can spare the time to go hawking, sir? Shouldn’t you be in Norwich, on business?”

“I will go when I’m ready. I intend to claim the attentions of my wife before I leave here.”

“And what do you think I will do if you leave me ‘unclaimed’? Raise an army? Bar the door?”

“I’m sure you’re capable of all of those things.” He leaned over and grabbed the reins of her horse, pulling her towards him until their legs were pressed against each other. “But I know how to bring you to my side. I know we will be good together. I just need to convince you of this matter.”

“By seducing me?”

“I can think of no more effective way. And, no way more suiting to my desire.”

She yanked the reins back into her hands and urged her horse on, shooting him an arch look. “So… interesting, if I wish you away, I need to sleep with you.”

He frowned. “Admit it, you do not wish me away. You enjoy our talk, our touches, our kisses.”

She refused to look at him, to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was correct. “I certainly do not admit it. But you have given me a quandary. I have no liking for the presence of a husband watching my every move. I have no liking to share my control of the estate and, contrary to what you may think, I have no liking to be bedded. And yet you will not leave me in peace until you have bedded me.”

“So, ’tis easily solved. Come, we should return at once to the castle solar. There I can do the task at hand.”

Her lips threatened to curve into a smile at the combined look of humour and lust in his eyes. She bit her lip, trying to compose her face into a haughty expression. She feared she did not succeed. “Sir, it would not be proper.”