Bedded by the Warrior. Denise Lynn
Читать онлайн книгу.
ploy had been selfish and childish. And where had it got her? She looked up at him and nearly gasped at the blatant hunger on his face.
Sarah swallowed hard before she whispered, ‘William, I—’
Again he cut her words off with his lips. And all she could do was hang on to his shoulders for support, otherwise she feared falling to the ground.
A part of her briefly wondered what manner of spell he wove around her so easily. How could just a kiss steal her will, her strength and leave her near swooning?
And how was it possible that, while she feared his brand of sorcery, she hungered for more of the same?
Sarah knew without a doubt that if William so desired he could easily lay her down upon the ground and make her his wife in more than name. She also knew that she would not lift a hand, or speak a word, to stop him.
‘Why have you acted so?’
To her surprise his breath rasped hot against her ear. She hadn’t even been aware that his lips had left hers.
Not sure how to answer him, she said, ‘I don’t know, William. I don’t know.’
When he dragged his teeth lightly along the side of her neck, before following the trail with his lips, Sarah felt the ripple of shivers clear to her toes. She tilted her head as if offering him more of her flesh to torment.
‘Ah, Sarah, I will have no more of your half-truths and lies.’
How did he know? What did he mean he would have no more of them? What did he intend to do? The questions flitted about her mind. But before she could make sense of them, he again kissed her.
This time there was no mistaking his intent. He seemed determined to steal her ability to think, or to form any rational thought, from her mind.
Sarah leaned closer against him and wound her arms about his neck. He stroked her side, then cupped her breast, his touch barely grazing the sensitive tip. She moaned softly as her senses fled.
When he held her so tightly, caressed her so deftly, and kissed her so thoroughly, what need had she for rational thoughts?
‘Ah, Sarah.’ He breathed her name against her ear. The heated warmth only fuelled her desire to a fevered pitch. ‘What game do you play with me?’
Unable to form a coherent sentence, she shook her head and leaned into his still-teasing touch.
‘Are you still spying for the Queen?’
Before she could answer, he traced the seam of her parted lips with his tongue. William smiled briefly against her mouth when she shivered. He repeated the movement, then asked, ‘Are you, Sarah?’
‘Yes. I—’At her own breathless whisper, she froze, leaving her sentence unfinished. The desire flowing through her limbs vanished, leaving behind an icy-cold chill.
William released her and stepped away.
Unwilling to look at what she knew would be smuglaced anger on his face, she turned away. He hadn’t wanted her. He hadn’t cared that she’d been ignoring him. He’d only wanted answers, so he’d tricked her.
And she’d fallen for his tactics like some gullible, foolish girl.
Sarah wrapped her arms round her stomach, trying to hold the twisting and churning at bay. Had she followed the Queen’s sage advice and held him at arm’s length, this would not have taken place.
She had only herself to blame.
‘Explain yourself.’ His voice cut through her self-pity as easily as a sword would slice through warm beeswax.
‘Explain myself?’ Without turning around, she shrugged. ‘What can I tell you? That I will most likely die of old age still in the Queen’s service? That there is no escape for me?’
‘Your escape was at hand when you left the court as a married woman. You no longer had to serve Queen Eleanor. So, why? Just tell me why, Sarah.’
‘I—’
‘At least have the decency to look at me.’
Sarah tugged at her lower lip. She didn’t want to look at him. Didn’t want to see the disgust in his eyes—even though his disgust was what she’d been trying so hard to find. But more than that, she had no desire for him to witness her shame.
He pulled her around to face him, giving her no choice in the matter. ‘I said look at me.’
Even as he released her, she kept her eyes tightly closed against the harsh tone of his voice. Her mind chided her relentlessly, It is your own fault.
After taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. What she saw nearly took her breath away as she stumbled backwards.
Instead of the smug rage or disgust that she’d expected, she was almost certain what she saw was the tightly concealed look of pain and confusion. The confusion was understandable, but the pain? Surely she’d only imagined it.
She gritted her teeth, hoping the act would lend her strength against the guilt that seemed to be growing each hour. Certain she could now speak without dissolving into a bout of self-loathing, she said, ‘I—’
The shouts of men and the pounding of hooves cut off her explanation.
William grabbed her and the horses’ reins at the same time. He quickly tossed her up on the saddle, turned the horse in the direction the Earl and Adrienna had gone, and ordered, ‘Go.’
Fear that the men charging toward them could be from the Queen kept her from questioning William. Sarah had no information for Queen Eleanor and she wished not to lose her life, or his, for that lack. So, she leaned as low over her horse’s neck as the saddle would permit and rode for her life.
Over the deafening beating of her heart, she heard the deadly hiss of a sword scraping out of its wooden scabbard. When she lifted her head to look behind her, William shouted, ‘No. Just ride.’
Not in a position to argue, Sarah rode. She flew past trees and bushes so quickly that her stomach lodged in her throat. Yet she hung on, insanely trusting that this man she’d plotted to betray would keep her safe.
She glanced ahead and saw the Earl and Adrienna also riding like the wind. When the Earl turned his head and spotted them, he took the lead, putting the women in the middle, with William to bring up the rear.
Hugh careened to a halt at a small clearing and quickly dismounted, as he ordered, ‘Into the woods.’
On foot they led their horses off the path and into the more protective cover of the woods. Sarah pushed another small tree branch out of her way. “I no longer hear anyone. Why are we leaving the road?”
‘Simply because you do not hear, or see, them does not mean they are not there.’ William explained.
‘So we are hiding from someone we can neither see nor hear?’
William walked alongside her and said, ‘If you would rather wait for them here, you can do so alone.’
The brisk tone of his voice let her know that he was not jesting. She shook her head. ‘No. I’ll stay with you.’
He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Which was fine as far as Sarah was concerned. She’d had enough of his attention for this day.
They plodded along in silence behind the Earl and Adrienna for what seemed hours, or perhaps years. Tired and hungry, she wasn’t certain any longer.
William grasped her elbow and slowed their steps, putting a little more distance between them and the other couple. After a few moments, he stopped.
Sarah held her breath. Surely he wasn’t going to continue their discussion now?
‘We need to talk.’
She glanced toward Hugh and Adrienna before dragging her gaze back to stare up at William.