A Knight Of Her Dreams (Knights of Passion) (2 page)

Rowena was going to fall down. The muscles in her legs were trembling, and she felt weak and dizzy with the growing force of her desire. Something was driving her, urging her on, and she could almost see it, almost reach it . . .

“No,” she whimpered, as he pulled away. She pushed toward him, and he let his fingers run over her swollen nether lips, his mouth tense with his own desire. “Please, Roget . . .”

“In time, lady,” he growled. “You must be patient.”

“I-I can’t.”

He gave a huff of laughter, and then he was standing before her, pulling her toward the bed she had thought so small and hard before, but which now she longed to share with him.

She sat down, gazing up at him, her breasts rising and falling quickly with each breath. He took her hand and placed it upon his hard belly, and her fingers trembled as she ran them lightly over his warm skin, feeling the rough texture of the hairs that vanished beneath the fastening of his breeches. The cloth was engorged by his cock, and she hesitated, but only for a moment, then she was pulling eagerly at the ties to free him.

Roget made a sound in his throat, satisfaction and delight, as she reached to touch him, then grasp him, or as much of him as she could manage. The head of his cock was glistening and she ran her fingertip over it, smiling as he groaned. So now it was his turn, she thought. She could make him tremble and be
g, too, just as she had.

Remembering what he had done with his mouth, she leaned to lick at him, and then suck at him. His thick, iron muscled thighs quivered, and his hands tangled in her hair, pulling it free of the neat braid
so that it tumbled about her.

“Lady,” he
groaned, “you will kill me.”

Rowena giggled, something she hadn’t done since she was a child, and then rarely. But she felt light and young and carefree, not at all the grave and proper lady and wife she had been today, and would be again tomorrow.

He was lifting her, setting her back onto the bed, and a moment later he was between her thighs, his cock straining to bury itself deep inside her. She felt the brush of the tip against her aching pussy, and pushed back toward him, as eager as he.

“Lady,” he
said, his voice so serious she stilled and looked up into his eyes, even while she wanted nothing more than for him to take her. “Lady, you are a maiden still? Nell
said . . .”

Rowena felt herself grow cold. He knew! Blast and damn
Nell. What must he think of a woman of her age who was still a virgin? He must believe her so unlovable, so undesirable, that not even her husband would want her.

“Go away.”

She pulled herself back, closing her legs tightly, curling her body around itself like something wounded. For a moment she lay, tears trickling down her cheeks beneath her hair, hiding, alone.

“Lady,” his fingers gently pushed away her hair, and then his lips touched hers through the strands that stuck to her tears. “Lady, you misunderstand. I am glad you are a maiden. I am proud that it will be I who takes you first.”

Rowena stilled. Did he mean it? Could he really feel like that?

Slowly she sat up, wiping her face with her hands, wishing she was one of those women who could cry without being ravaged by it. “You do not think me unlovable? Undesirable?”

His mouth twitched. “Lady, you are perfection itself. Do you really think I could play act this?” and he put his hand on his cock, holding it in his fist. “I want to make you mine. All of you.”

“Oh,” she whispered, and then he was kissing her mouth, rough and as unstoppable as a storm. She grasped him in her arms, feeling his hard skin beneath her palms, the ripple of muscles as he pushed her back once more on the bed and reared up above her.

“I want you,” he growled, “but you must agree. I will not have it said I took an unwilling maiden.”

Rowena gave a half sob, half laugh.
“Unwilling, Roget?” But he was serious and she bit her lip and made herself serious too. She said, “I am most willing, sir.”

It was all he needed. Roget
’s big hands clasped her thighs, widening her legs, pressing his hips between them. His body was so much bigger than hers but Rowena was willing to suffer pain to be taken by him, to be made a woman by this man.

The head of his cock slid along her slippery flesh, and she caught her breath when he brushed against her clit. Passion, momentarily forgotten, came roaring back and she reached to gasp him about the waist. He tilted his head to take her mouth, distracting her, and
she moaned as his tongue slid between her lips, tangling with hers.

And then he was filling her, his cock pressing forward into her core, deeper and deeper, stretching her until she wondered if he could go any further. But it was not unpleasant. Even when he broke her maidenhead there was little pain, and his kisses and his touch
acted as a salve.

“Look, lady,” he said huskily.

She looked down between their bodies, and they were joined, his body deep inside hers. As she stared in wonder, he withdrew almost entirely, and then slid inside her again with an easy glide. Reaching down he fingered her clit, and she felt her sex spasm around him. That sensation of something rushing toward her was back, and now she was determined to allow it its way.

He thrust deeply, and her body tensed about him, holding him, so that he groaned and thrust again, even more deeply. Rowena lifted her hips to give him even more access and
he reached down to grip her buttocks, moving more quickly. Suddenly her body clenched and she cried out against his mouth, and then he was juddering, moving jerkily as his climax took him.

For a time they lay together, lost in the aftershocks
. He stroked her cheek, his dark eyes gazing into hers. “Thank you, Roget,” she said, her voice hoarse from passion.

His mouth quirked.
“My pleasure, lady.”

She wriggled. The bed was too small and her hip was going to sleep. “I suppose you must go now,” she said, trying to sound firm and not regretful.

He looked amused; why was it she amused him so? “I think I will wait a little while, lady.”

“But . . . it is over, is it not?”

Roget bent and began to lick at her nipple, using his hand to cup the flesh of her breast, tipping it up for his better access.

“Oh,” she managed, breathless suddenly. “Do you mean there is more?”

“I do, lady,” he growled.
“Indeed I do.”

Rowena woke to the morning and for a moment was aware of the ache of her body and the weariness of her muscles, and could not understand why. A moment later she remembered and a smile curled her lips. After she had thought he was leaving, he had taken her again, and then again as she dozed, his arm tight around her middle as she lay with her back spooned into his chest and hips. His cock had slid easily into her from behind, and his fingers had splayed over her mound, delving down into the warm, slippery folds, finding her clitoris.

They’d moved slowly, sleepily, until the ecstasy made their bodies shiver and arch, and she’d turned her face for his deep, passionate kisses
.   

Alone in her bed, Rowena
stretched and, with a wince, sat up.

Roget had shown
her what it was to be a woman; he had given her such pleasure. And now he was gone.

Well, she told herself briskly, that was as it must be.
Her one night. Her one
glorious
night, she corrected herself with a sigh. It would have to make do for forever.

The door opened and
Nell peered in. Her smile couldn’t have been more satisfied if it was she who had spent the night with Roget and not Rowena.

“My lady.”
She skipped into the room, beginning to pack Rowena’s belongings into her trunk. “There will be water to wash with in a moment,” she added, with a sly sideways glance. “We will be leaving as soon as the men and horses have eaten.”

Rowena kept her face as blank as she could. “Thank you, Nell.”

But then Nell came and stood before her. “Well, lady? Don’t tell me you are disappointed!”

Rowena’s mouth curved into an unwilling smile, and her eyes gleamed.
“Oh no, Nell. I wouldn’t tell you that.”

The maid giggled, and hurried to fetch the water.

Outside the hostelry the men at arms were ready, their horses moving restlessly, the litter awaiting its occupants. Rowena nodded to the grizzled captain in charge, Hugo, but despite herself her eyes strayed down the line, looking for
him
.

She didn’t see him, and disappointed she moved toward the litter. And it was then that she saw him, waiting to help her inside.

“My lady,” he said, holding out his hand for hers.

She had no desire to smile at him or press his fingers or anything else, because he seemed so different. His face was stern and cold, his eyes focussed on a point just beyond her shoulder, and his manner respectful but distant.

Rowena knew this was how it must be, and if he were to show they were known to each other then the consequences would be catastrophic, and yet . . . She must be a fool, because she wanted more from him.

Inside the litter, she sat back among her cushions, hardly noticing
as they started off down the long road home to her cold husband and her fine castle. Home. Was it? It didn’t feel like home. Rowena moved restlessly, hating the confines and the rocking of the litter even more than usual. Why couldn’t she ride her own horse, with her men? She could ride, unlike many women of her day, but it was the custom for a woman to sit before a man when on a horse.

“Like a simpleton.”

Nell was staring at her, and then she gave a giggle. “My lady, what did you say?”

Rowena blushed. “I’m sorry, I was . . .” She waved a
hand. “I was wishing I could ride instead of sitting in the litter.”   

Nell was thoughtful a moment. “You could ask Roget to take you before him,” she suggested, with a sly glance. “Say you are feeling unwell.”

Rowena frowned. “But that would be rather unlike me, would it not, Nell?”

Nell shrugged. “You are Lady
Rowena, you can do as you wish. No one will question you, no one will dare.”

Rowena thought a moment. She’d never been a
nything other than a conventional woman, but last night she had felt reckless and she still did. She nodded to Nell. “Stop the litter and tell them,” she ordered. “I will ride with Roget.”

Nell looked delighted as she moved to stick her head from the litter to call a halt, but Rowena caught her arm.

“Don’t make it obvious I want him, Nell. Don’t let Hugo suspect—he will report to my husband.”

“Yes, my lady.
I will be discreet.”

It was so much more comfortable with the sunshine and fresh air in her face, Rowena decided, smiling as she closed her eyes. When instructed, Roget had murmured a toneless ‘Yes my lady’ and lifted her indifferently upon his horse and climbed up after her. She didn’t care. She had felt his warm hand touch hers, just for a moment, and it was enough.

After they had ridden with the others for a time, she asked if he would take her forward, away from the dust and sweat, and he had complied. Now they were a little ahead of the main troop, and she could pretend they weren’t there.
Just her and Roget, riding in the sweet sunshine together.

“Lady, you should not think your husband is a fool,” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. Her veil fluttered and
tendrils of her hair tickled her skin. Roget wore no helmet and his curling dark hair framed his stern handsome face. His eyes bored into hers, and there was no laughter in them.

“I know he is no fool,” she answered quietly.

“If he discovers you have played him false he will kill you, or send you from his gates with nothing.”

“Yes. And he will have you taken to the dungeon. I know he sends men there, and watches while they’re tortured. He is a cold man, except when there is cruelty, then his face grows flushed and he licks his lips.” She shuddered.

“He has never hurt you?” he demanded with a low intensity that made her search his eyes.

She shook her head.

He smiled, but there was no humour in it.

Behind them the jingle of spurs and reins was getting closer, as the troop of men caught up
, Hugo at the forefront. Rowena knew she could not ask for more than this, and was not surprised when Roget came to a halt and suggested she return to her litter now she felt well.

“Will you come to me again?” she whispered, ducking her head so that no one could read her lips.
“Tonight?”

For a moment she didn’t think he was going to answer, and then he said, “Yes,” before she was helped down to the ground. She didn’t dare to look up at him, but simply walked away.

The hostelry tonight was larger and cleaner, but the bed was still mean. Roget put the bedding down onto the floor, spreading it out so that they could both lie there in comfort, and then he covered it with his cloak.