Viola Grace - Saguinary Seduction, page 39
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“If you prove yourself worthy, I will return this to you one day.”
“Worthy…what do you mean worthy?”
He shook his head. “Not everything is as it seems. Some things remain in shadow and cannot be explained until the right time. Some things you will have to take on… faith.”
His voice became very low and almost haunting as its smoothness buried itself into my very soul. I shook my head to clear the cobwebs, knowing it would not take much to ensnare me in his trap. “You talk in riddles. What things must this shield maiden take on faith?”
He replaced the sword in his pack. “At the moment, it does not matter. We have not reached our final destination. We will in the next day or two.”
I looked around and realized we had reached the mountains of the highlands. It would be hard to track someone through these. And I knew my sister would be tracking me. She would use every means available to her to find me, to find this man.
But if she had the true right of it, she would have found another, this man’s total opposite in almost every way. But watching him, there was something that did not match what she had told me about this one. While this man had some evil habits, he was not truly evil. He did not go out of his way to kill people. It was more as if they got in his way, then challenged him to a battle that could only result in death.
Theirs.
There was just something about him that put people on edge, vowing to defend themselves to the death even if they had been the ones doing the transgression. Not once did he raise his hand in anger, just a bitter knowledge of things which had to be removed from his path. In some places, where it was obvious that his prey had been, he would destroy everything the taint had touched. It was as if he were lancing a boil, but deep at its roots, to make it so it would never rise again.
While I did not get all of this from him, I got enough pieced together to come to my own conclusion. Warrior to warrior, I could admire what he was doing. On a person to 356
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person level, I could see where everyone would see him as the harbinger of evil. I understood now why Clarise had said he might need to be killed if things did not work out. It had passed the time when I would let her do it because there was something more to this man and I intended to find out just what drove him on.
Sighing, I knew I was going to have to tell him the truth sometime. He had trusted me enough to untie me, maybe he was right. Maybe it did take a little faith. “I have a sister.”
He turned to look at me. “And what does that have to do with me?”
“I know that she will be following us as soon as she can.
Only the two of us are left and she thinks that you killed everyone else. I can sense her when she is near. That is why I know she is not following us. Yet.”
Instantly by my side, I could feel the breeze off his movements. “Good thing for your sister. And you do not think I kill for pleasure?”
Swallowing hard, I turned to look at him. “Look—you have been dragging me around for almost three weeks now and not once have I seen you take a life without provocation. Everyone you have killed would have killed you if they had a chance.
Then there is the fact…” I trailed off not knowing if this would be a good or bad thing to say.
“Why do you not just say it? I would rather know what you are thinking than have to kill you in the night in self defense.”
I smiled then. There would be no secrets between us.
“Again, I am not stupid. It would serve no purpose for me to try and kill you. It would result in my death.”
“And?” He stood there waiting patiently.
I had never seen this man have patience in any form. “I have yet to see you feed.”
His rapid intake of breath scared me and he tilted my head back to look into my eyes. “I have never seen anyone with violet eyes. Yours are quite unique and quite observant. I do not kill to feed and do not feed to kill. There are other ways to get what I require.”
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Suddenly, my heart beat rapidly in my chest, his nearness touching me in ways I could not fathom. Glancing at him sideways, I realized I had an attraction for him. It was something new, something I had not had in a very long time.
There was something in the way he looked at me, the way he touched me that felt wicked and right.
I shook my head slightly. Clarise had told me that he could put me under a spell of sorts, but I had been with him almost all the time and he had never done anything questionable.
“And that would be?” I asked a little breathless.
Suddenly, I found myself thrust against the length of his body in a very predatory way. This man could snap me in two and all I wanted was to feel him against me, skin to skin. I just knew my heart would leap from my chest any moment.
“Do you really want to find out, little one? Or would you just be content to gaze at me from afar?” His face dipped even closer to mine. “Or would you rather I take you right here, right now?”
My eyes opened wide and I could feel the betrayal of my body. I might not be a lady, but surely anyone could have a tight reign over their feelings. “I truly think that the decision would be yours, m’lord.”
“Aaargh…I have never been a lord…nor will I ever be.”
“If truth be told, sir, I have heard you were a very fine lord at one time.”
Slowly, he pushed himself away from me, making sure I could feel his body as he went. “That, my dear girl, was a very, very long time ago.” He then went back to setting up camp and eventually turned back to me. “Just what have you heard they called me.”
Swallowing hard, I knew I must take the next step. “You were called Duncan Munro, but you were the Lord of Castle Dounna in the north. You ruled the place with your brother until something terrible happened.” I could tell by the look on his face I had opened an old wound.
He turned away from me and, if I had not known the man, I would swear he cried for things lost. “Yes…something 358
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terrible happened.”
Quickly I moved to his side. “Let me help make it right then.”
Turning back to me, he looked at me, judging me. “Do you know what you ask?”
“I think so.”
“Huh…what if it can never be made right? What if we can never fix what we have wrought?”
I placed my hand on his arm. “At least you would have tried.”
“Tried? I would have tried? What is it, girl, that you think I have been doing all this time?” His voice took on a very sultry tone, wrapping me up in its heat. “Playing tiddles?”
I stepped back. “No, m’lord. But I do know that you have done nothing to save your reputation, your honor.”
“Where is the honor to see one’s family killed and not be able to do a thing?” He grabbed my shoulders and shook me slightly. “Where is the honor in having the one person you need by your side think you are a monster and wants to kill you? Where is the honor there, girl?” His voice boomed at the end.
I did the only thing I could think of and leaned in, touching his chin with my lips. “Shush, do not listen to what I said. You need to explain it to me someday. Maybe now is not quite the right time.”
Lifting my chin, he swept down on me like a bird of prey, his strong hands holding me to his hot body. I could either deny the feelings that rushed through me like a rapidly moving river, or I could act on them. His mouth covered mine and nibbled on my lower lip. Soon he invaded the inner recesses of my mouth, his tongue warring with mine in a battle he seemed to know he would win. His caresses became more bold as he moved one hand down my back to press me the full length of his body.
I knew what happened between a man and a woman. I had just never been privileged enough to be in a situation that warranted such an act. I could feel the hard bulge between his 359
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legs come more alive as his other hand rubbed over my breast to pinch the nipple beneath my bodice.
“Has anyone ever told you that women wear too many clothes?”
I chuckled wryly. “I would not know, m’lord. I have never had the privilege of having my clothes off when with a man nor being loved by one either.”
He sucked in a quick breath. “You are a virgin.” It was a statement of fact, not an accusation.
“Is that not in the definition of being a shield maiden?”
When I could see no answer forthcoming, I continued.
“Remember, I told you I had more sisters than brothers? It was either I become a shield maiden or they would send me to a convent.”
Duncan laughed long and hard then. “You? In a convent?
That would be the day.”
I pushed him slightly. “That was not something to laugh at.
It was serious. And a decision I had to make on my own. I was very young when I had to choose. My father would not allow anyone to give me advice. Not even my priest.”
Brows knitted, he looked at me for a few more moments.
“Why did he think you would make a good shield maiden?”
I smiled wryly. “Because he always found me at the blacksmith’s, helping with the sword making. I was better at it any of my brothers by the time I was eleven, even besting the older ones. He made me chose at twelve when he realized no one had given him an offer for my hand. There would be no money exchange for me. But then again, I was taller than most of the men.” I sighed and hugged my arms to my chest.
Grabbing my arms, he forced me to look at him. “Do not ever feel inferior to anyone. Do you understand, lass?”
I nodded as his head swooped toward me again. It was as if we were the only two people in the land as he caressed, nibbled and kissed me. My heart beat faster as I realized I had been made for this man. I fit to him like a hand to a glove. I quivered as I wrapped my arms around him and returned kiss for savage kiss. Soon he pushed me away a little.
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“Be very sure this is what you want as there will be no going back.”
“I am sure…this is what I want…this is what I need.”
Turning, he lead me to a blanket not far from the fire ring.
He had obviously put it out when my attention was elsewhere.
“I do believe we need to get a fire going first.” He snapped his fingers and the flame leaped in the pit.
This was more than my sister even knew. “How will we be protected, m’lord?”
He smiled slyly then. “Protection wards. I know you did not know that. Very few people know what I can really do.”
He chuckled and sat on the thick blanket, then reached his hand to me.
I hesitated just a fraction longer than I should.
“Is there a problem?”
I shook my head. “Not really, you are just such a fascinating man. How could I have not seen it before?”
He chuckled. “You cannot see something you are not meant to see.”
I looked at him confused, letting him pull me down to him.
“What are you talking about?”
“I will be honest. I do not know how you knew I was there.
The only other who knows about me is my brother. He thinks that I bring death to everyone I meet.”
“Siblings can have the wrong opinion of us at times.”
“I think we have both had that experience, have we not?”
He flashed a brilliant smile, then and I saw that women would flock to him if he gave them half a chance. Yet, here he was, lying on a blanket in the middle of the woods with me, a lowly shield maiden. Running his hand up my arm, the feather-like touch jolted me to an awareness of my body unlike any I had before. Reaching up to my bodice laces, he hesitated.
“Do you mind?” He watched me and waited.
I looked deep into his eyes and my stomach fluttered with excitement. Not wanting to spoil the moment, I shook my head and watched his hands expertly undo them in record time. Spreading the bodice open, his hands gently cupped my 361
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breasts in my shirt. Muttering to himself, he pulled my shirt out of my skirt and encountered my shift. I chuckled because I had forgotten that I had dressed with armor in mind.
“I am afraid we will have to stand to get out of our clothes.”
“Sorry, m’lord, I dressed as if I were preparing for battle.”
He grabbed me around my neck, forcing me to look at him.
“I guess we all were in some way.” Leaning in, he captured my mouth again, kissing me deeply and my crotch trembled with awareness. Slowly he stood and pulled me up with him, tearing off my bodice and dropping it next to the blanket. “Lift your arms,” he commanded and I did as I was told.
Dragging it so far, he made it so I could not see as he plundered my chest with his hands and mouth. “Stop,” I murmured. “I have not other clothes if something happens to these.”
I could almost feel his chuckle on my skin even though the thin fabric of my chemise separated the two. “What if I said I think I would like you better without them?”
Gasping, I begin to struggle slightly then. “M’lord!”
“Patience, girl.” He stopped my movements and moved the shirt the rest of the way from me. Untying my skirt, he let it pool around my feet. “Step out, please.”
“Flora…my name is Flora Norman.”
He ran his hands up my arm yet again to cup my cheek. For a man bent upon mayhem and murder, he certainly was gentle to me. “I like it.”
Breathing in deeply, I tentatively touched him back. “It was my grandmother’s. She and grandfather always called me Florrie.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Florrie Norman.”
He leaned in and kissed me again. Pushing him away slightly, I reached for his buttons. “Not yet,” I murmured, unfastening his leather jerkin as fast as I could. “And you say women have a lot of clothes.” I hesitated a moment before I reached for the tie of his trews. Of course, I had seen men before, but never one up close as maidens of any kind were 362
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denied contact with anyone not their betrothed and even then there was no contact really until the wedding night. Swallowing hard, I pulled on the leather of his trews, making it gap slightly.
Pulling his shirt out of his breeches, I brushed against his bare skin and was surprised with his reaction.
“What are you doing to me, lass?”
“Taking off your clothes.”
“I think we need to lie down. We can finish it there.”
Forcing me under him, I felt his hand go under my shift and up my thighs, caressing the tender skin. Thankful that I was no longer required to wear a chastity belt, I pushed myself into him, loving the feel of his calloused fingers as they rounded my body to squeeze my backside. Moaning, I felt the bulge in his breeches get even bigger and ran my hand boldly down his body. Groaning, he, too, pushed himself more into contact with my hand.
But I wanted more, I wanted to touch him, to feel that part which would soon be in me. Putting my hand down the back of his trews, I was surprised at how soft yet muscular he was.
He grunted as I moved my hand around to the front where I encountered a mass of hair not unlike that which was on my own body. Pushing my hand even further into his clothes, I managed to free him and was surprised to feel the softness of this part of his body. Mother had always said it was hard and harsh. But then again, she had had a loveless marriage.
Pulling myself back, I realized where my thoughts were taking me. Did I love this man…this creature of the night?
Soon, I could not think as his hands reached the vee of my legs, pushing into the now slick folds of my body. Arching up into him, I moaned, knowing that nothing would ever eclipse this moment, this man. Rubbing his thumb on my hard nub, I almost came undone with one stroke.
“Duncan…Duncan…” I muttered. “Please…”
“We have only just began your lessons, lass. This will be the first of many. Remember, I made sure you understood. From the moment we are joined, we will never be apart again.”
Nodding, I turned my head from side to side and each 363
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stroke brought me closer to some place I had never been before, some place that only he could take me.
“And here is your first lesson. I am going to kiss and lick every inch of your body. I will expect you to return the favor.”
“Yes, m’lord,” I said breathlessly. The feelings were so strange and new…and just like I had predicted…wicked.
Reaching down for the bottom of my shift, he pulled it over my head as the cool evening air nipped at my body. His eyes burned with what I could only guess was desire. Leaning in, he nipped at my collarbone and moved down to my breasts.
Laving each nipple to a peak made me want to scream as he pinched one, then the other. It was as if they were connected to that place between my legs, the one deep inside me, which waited to be discovered by a lover as skilled as this one was.
Moving down even further, he continued to caress my breasts with his hands while his tongue moved on to my navel and even lower. I grabbed his hair.
“M’lord, I do not think…”
“That is the problem with you women. Do not think, just feel the rightness of what I do.”
Laving my lower stomach, he continued on down until he hovered over my crotch. I could feel his hot breath on my body and it was driving me wild. Soon he moved a hand down, spread the lips of my nether region and blew gently on me as I gasped a response. His mouth followed his breath and I knew in that moment what heaven must be like. Swirling his tongue around my hot nub of pleasure, he stayed clear for a few moments. When he touched me, I exploded in a million pieces of fractured light. This was heaven, this was what it meant to be loved by a man.
“We are not done, lass,” he murmured and pushed a finger inside me. I stiffened at this first invasion of my body. “Relax, girl, it will bring you even more pleasure.”
