Claiming(5)

“I made your father do nothing, my lady. I spent many months with him five years ago, in France. He was a tough man with a hard heart. He did nothing on a whim. He knew me well, knew what I sought, and believed I could be of use to him. And of use to you.”

“And what is it that you seek?”

“Lands, a wife, children.”

She pressed her hand flat against her chest, trying to come to terms, now, with the idea of lying with this stranger. It was unthinkable. She’d lain with a man years before and had had her heart broken. She’d vowed then and there to never allow herself to be vulnerable again, to allow the needs of her body to lead her to destruction. She’d fought off any suitors, much to her father’s amusement. And he’d let her. All the while knowing that he planned her marriage after his death. It had been convenient for him to have the attentions of the daughter with whom he was closest. That was all.

She took a deep breath. “Well, you have the first two on your list. Do you care to make a start on the last item? The solar is empty. You could throw me over your shoulder and take me to bed, now. No-one would know. In fact, forget the bed, pull up my robe now and be done with it.”

He sighed, strode up to her and gripped her arms. His fingers dug into her skin but she refused to look away from him, or to flinch. He dipped his head to hers. “Now, that is an idea.” His breath was unexpectedly warm and pleasant against her cheek and sent a ripple of sensation across her skin that travelled beyond where his breath touched her. She widened her eyes, suddenly alarmed, suddenly out of her depth, suddenly aware that he’d noticed her reaction. His lips upturned into a slow smile as he swept a finger along her jaw line. “I was wrong. Your softness isn’t in your heart—there, you are like your father—it is in your body. You think you don’t want me, you believe you are impervious to men—you are mistaken.”

She didn’t move. She couldn’t move. Her whole body was held in thrall by the stray touch of his hand on her face. It was as if his touch delved deep into her body, like the last quivering note of a lute, designed to transport the heart to a different place. Then he withdrew his touch and the magic was broken. She stepped away, feeling as if she’d drunk too much of the Bordeaux.

“I think… I think, I should know my own mind, my own heart, my own body.”

“Aye, but you don’t.” His finger insolently stole round her neck and she gasped. “Do you? Look at how the blush creeps up your neck and fills your cheeks. At how your breath quickens and the indentation in your neck flutters.” He shifted his hand up until it rested on a hollow and she felt the quickened movement under his fingertips. “Just here. You are not immune to me in the least. You want me. And you shall have me.”

She brought her arm up and pushed his away. “I will not. Go, sir. Go now. Leave me at once.”

“I will not be leaving here, my lady. Didn’t you hear Sir William? I just need to bed you and we will be married.”

“Then we shall never be married because I will not sleep with you. I will never lie with you, never have your children.”

“Listen here, lady. We will live together, we will sleep together and everyone will believe we have lain together. It will be enough for others. But for me? No. I will not leave you until I’ve bedded you.”

“You would not force yourself on me?”

“I won’t have to. I’ve plenty of experience with women. I know an aroused woman when I see one. I know the look of a woman whose eyes explore the lips of a man they wish to kiss and whose thoughts stray to a man’s body, wondering and wanting.”

She swallowed and forced a low laugh. “I’m sure you would believe every woman wishes to bed you. However, in my case, your knowledge has proved faulty. I would sooner bed an adder; I would sooner lie in the filth of an animal’s pen; I would sooner kiss a leper.”

He smiled. “I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but, by the Lord, I had no idea it would be such entertainment.”

Before she could reply, he’d slipped his hand around her head and pressed his lips against hers in a kiss designed to dominate. But his breathing quickened, his lips moved as though he wanted to explore hers, and a groan of pleasure, ran through his body, under her hands that were pressed against his chest, ready to push him away. Ready… but not pushing.

For one long moment neither of them moved. Then a shout from outside brought them both to their senses. She raised her hands from his unyielding chest and slapped his face.

“How dare you, sir.” She stepped away, horrified at his response… and hers.