Strangclyf Secret (37 page)

Geno lifted the trencher,
slammed it against Bernon’s chest, and rubbed the food into his
tunic. “The wine is excellent tonight, Bernon. You must have some
of that too.” He picked up a flagon and emptied the contents over
Bernon’s head. “Now, my friend, you too appear in need of a bath.
We all hope you will allow the little wolf to help, so you will be
less
surly
on the
morrow.”

Bernon casually lifted his
napkin and wiped his face. After glaring at Geno, he eyed his wife,
who was having a hard time controlling her mirth. The imp looked as
pleased as if she had put Geno up to the deed.

He came off the bench with
a growl and lunged at her. She lifted her skirts on a shriek,
avoiding capture, and dashed for the lord’s tower.

Aurick hugged Brianna to
his side and laughed, watching the new lord chase his lady from the
hall. “Our lamb was right, love. We have a bear at Strangclyf
again.”

Bernon dodged the many
courtiers who tried to trip him and hinder his pursuit amid a
cacophony of laughter. He finally caught up to his giggling wife on
the landing outside their chamber, threw his arms around her, and
pulled her back against him. “I have you now, little vixen. ‘Tis
time you learned to show proper respect for your lord and
master.”

He spun her around and
lifted her from the floor. His lips crushed down on hers in a
hungry kiss, slanting provocatively until she opened for him. He
thrust his tongue inside, stroking the contours of her mouth and
savoring her sweet taste. Honestly, she was a delicacy for a
starving man to savor.

Barwolf clutched at his
shoulders, arched against him, then released a groan filled with
frustration. He noticed her skirts trapped her and prevented her
from hugging him with her legs.

Bernon nudged open their
chamber door, entered, and kicked it shut. Turning around, he
pressed her back against the closed portal and continued his savage
possession of her mouth. Her tongue boldly stroked against the
length of his and he growled, letting her know he liked her
response. With one hand supporting her bottom, he reached down and
bunched up her skirts to her waist. He slipped his fingers between
her feminine folds, eliciting a whimper from her as her legs came
around him and she tried to buck against his hand.

He growled into her mouth.
His hand left her and found the string holding his braies. After
freeing his engorged flesh, he firmly gripped her hips and surged
inside her then held her still, enjoying the feeling of her tight,
moist heat clamping down on him.

A strangled cry caught in
her throat and she momentarily stiffened.

Bernon broke the kiss,
breathing hard. “Did I hurt you?”

She opened her eyes and he
gazed into the passion-filled orbs. “Move, please.”

“
What?”

“
I have a mighty ache and I
need you to move like before. Please, Bernon.”

Her plea stoked his ardor
and he drew in a ragged breath. “Cross your ankles and try to keep
your legs around my waist.”

She followed the gruffly
given command and more of him stretched inside her. A moan slipped
from her lips and she clutched at his shoulders, trying to rise and
start their rhythm.

Bernon felt about to
explode, but he was teaching her a lesson, damn it, and he would
give her no satisfaction till the lesson was done. He stilled her
movements against the door then gripped her hands and held them
against the wood above her head.

She arched her back,
rubbed her taut nipples over his chest, and squeezed her legs
tighter. “Bernon, please! I need you to put out the
fire.”

The pulses in her feminine
core stimulated his arousal. Fighting her husky plea was making him
daft. Lesson be damned! He wanted this as much as she did. With a
groan of defeat, he captured her mouth in a feral plundering,
pulled his shaft out almost all the way, and then he slammed back
inside her.

She moaned with pleasure
and quickly joined his demanding thrusts, matching his rhythm as he
surged inside her again and again. Her whole world consisted of
only Bernon and the rapture of his power flowing into her. The
pressure in her womb exploded and her senses reeled. Crying out his
name in a guttural release, she clung to him as ecstasy became her
only reality.

He relished her heat
convulsing around his shaft and growled his satisfaction as his
seed shot within her womb, culminating his own release.

Sagging against him,
Barwolf marveled over the strength encased in his hard body. She
smiled, marveling over the gentleness this huge, powerful warlord
exerted whenever he touched her. He made her feel safe and
cherished. Was it any wonder that she loved him?

She tensed and opened her
eyes. Merciful heavens, she meant that! Barwolf pushed back, so she
could look at his face. She couldn’t mask her horror as she studied
his handsome chiseled features. What could she do now? She was in
love with him and ‘twas forbidden. She shook her head, trying to
deny the truth.

Bernon drew his brows
together in concern. “What is wrong,
cheri?”

Bursting into tears, she
threw her arms around him and sobbed into his neck.

“
Did I hurt you.” he asked
while tenderly stroking her back. “My intention was to be gentle,
but with you my intentions seem to desert me as soon as you
moan.”

She hiccuped and tightened
her embrace. “Please do not send me away. I didn’t mean to
disappoint you.”

He tried to lift her chin
to see her face but she stiffened too much. “What brought this on?
You did not disappoint me and I am not sending you away. Why would
you think such a thing?”

She sobbed harder then
blurted out, “I disobeyed you.”

“
How did you disobey
me?”

She stilled and whispered,
“I love you, Bernon.”

He tensed then shifted her
in his arms. “Look at me.”

In the clear depths of her
emerald gaze, he read the truth of her confession. A feeling of
rightness settled about his heart, and he realized he had needed
those words from her, needed to know that the heart she had given
him in her wedding vows truly belonged to him. His heart, bound by
betrayal for so many years, beat free of resentment. He had been
lying to himself by saying he only cared for her. His feelings ran
much deeper. He loved his valuable, rare, and precious wife with
every fiber of his being.

Barwolf lowered her gaze
and sniffed, raking her fingers through her hair and knocking the
tiara to the floor. “I am sorry, Bernon. I didn’t know until just
now and I cannot help it. You told me to always be honest with you,
so I have to tell you that I shall probably get clingy too. Could I
maybe live in the ruins instead of—”

Bernon nudged up her chin
and silenced her with a kiss. “I do not blame you.”

“
You don’t?” She sniffed
and looked at him in surprise.

“
Of course not.” Bernon
arched an arrogant brow. “After all, I am looking fine and I have
big muscles.”

Barwolf stiffened in his
arms.

“
I am also tall and I make
you feel safe.” He nodded contemplatively. “Aye, I cannot blame you
for loving me.”

“
You mock me,” she accused
in an anguished voice and bowed her head.

Bernon put his mouth
beside her good ear and whispered, “Your name is
Melita.”

She gasped and looked up.
“I know this name. ‘Tis Greek.”

“
Do you know what it
means?” he asked in a caressing tone.

“
Sweet…like honey.” Her
brows furrowed with puzzlement. “And you are giving me this name
for my own?”

“
Aye, and do you know what
else?” He rested his forehead against hers.

She shook her head,
looking dazed.

Bernon smiled. “Bears love
honey. It makes us nice and docile.”

He held her gaze captive
as his meaning sunk in, then she flashed her dimple and tightened
her arms around his neck. “I am glad you married me,
Bernon.”

“
I am glad too,” he said,
hugging her close and stroking her back.

“
Would you say my name
again?” she asked in a breathless voice.

“
Melita,” he purred,
pleased by her reaction.

She giggled as he
tightened his hold and walked toward the hearth. “Where are we
going?”

“
To the bath,” he replied
in a voice full of mischief. “You are covered with
food.”

She pulled back and let
out an outraged gasp at the horrendous sight of her once beautiful
clothes. “My fine new gown! ‘Tis all your fault!” She glared at
him. “And you still have not bedded me.”

“
True. I doored you.” He
grinned at her mood swing. “But the night is young, ma Melita, so
rest assured that before morn, I will. Grab the torch and turn the
lever.”

She took the torch from
the wall bracket and opened the wall. “Wait! I dropped the
tiara.”

“
We will get it
later.”

“
Nay, Bernon,” she said,
squeezing his shoulder. “’Tis a rule. I have to put them up when I
take them off and the chamber is not barred.”

She grew so anxious over
the possibility of losing the jewels that he carried her back to
the door. Before she could figure out that meant anyone could have
walked in on their sizzling interlude, he leaned down and dipped
her low. She giggled and picked up the tiara then held the torch
aloft as Bernon descended the steps with her in his arms. Entering
the bath, he lowered her onto a bench, and removed the
emeralds.

“
What do
you think,
ma petite?”
He walked over to one of the statues and held the necklace up
to the throat of the marble woman. “Should I let these stones adorn
the statue while we bathe? Then we shall come down a year from now
and find a chip off the old rock.”

She rolled her eyes,
scrunched her face, and groaned. “’Tis the worst jest I ever
heard.”

He scowled. “Dare you
insult your husband, woman?”

Worry filled her eyes and
she ran her fingers through her short locks, casting her gaze
downward. “I am sorry, Bernon. I—”

“
I was
teasing you,
cheri.”
He set the jewels on the base of the statue and hurried back
to her side. “And you are right. ‘Twas the worst jest ever told.”
He cupped her cheeks and stroked her lower lip with his thumb. “You
can always tell me what you think without fearing me.” A devilish
grin crossed his face. “I’m nice.”

“
You know what I am
thinking, Bernon?” she smiled into his eyes.

“
What?”

“
I am thinking you are good
for me and I am going to enjoy loving you.” She caressed his cheek
then cupped his jaw. “You are my favorite person.”

Bernon kissed the palm of
her hand. “I am thinking ‘tis good to have a wife who thinks
well.”

He gave her a gentle kiss
then gazed into her lambent eyes.

Her breathing quickened
from the heat of his lips then an impish glow illuminated her face.
“You know what I am thinking now, Bernon?”

Honest to God, he liked
seeing her this happy. “Tell me.”

“
Last one naked and in the
bath is a rotten egg.”

~ * ~

After a thorough bathing
and loving, the couple lay entwined on the cushioned bench. Melita
sat up, splayed her hands over her pelvis, and looked
down.

Bernon grunted, missing
her soft warmth in his arms. “What are you doing?”

“
Checking to see if we made
a baby.” She turned, so he could see. “What do you
think?”

Her stomach growled, and a
rosy hue swept her flesh.

Bernon laugh outright.
“I’m thinking you sound empty, and you wouldn’t be hungry if you
had paid half the attention to your food that you gave to my thigh
last eve.”

“’
Twas not your thigh that
occupied my mind,” she muttered. “’Twas your hand caressing my
bosom.”

“
Shall I go fetch food?” he
asked in a martyred tone that told her he would go for her but he
didn’t want to move.

“
Nay. I’ll slip over to the
buttery after I take the emeralds back. You want to come see the
coffers?” She stood up and wrapped a bath sheet around
herself.

Bernon sighed and stood
up. “I could wait, but I dare not let you leave my sight, lest the
mood for magic strikes and I have no one to cast my spell
upon.”

They dressed toga-style in
bath sheets for the excursion. Melita donned her slippers and
glanced at Bernon’s bare feet. “Best put your boots on. The maze is
filthy.”

Bernon grit his teeth to
stop from asking when she planned to clean the passages. He didn’t
want to chance putting the idea into her head if she hadn’t thought
of it yet. He pulled on his boots, hefted a fresh torch from a
bracket, and lit the rushes from the low burning torch they had
brought down earlier. He turned and saw Melita placing the emeralds
in a small ornate chest. She closed the lid and picked up the box.
He slipped an arm around her waist and she smiled up at him.
“’Twill be easiest to go through the ruins and I have something to
show you along the way.”