The Tempest (12 page)

“My lord, is there anything you require this evening?”

He heard the familiar sound of an invite in her voice, and for a moment he considered her. Perhaps a mindless encounter with a willing female was what he needed to ease his frustration. Perhaps he could close his eyes and pretend it was the woman he wanted, and not just some convenient piece of flesh. Cassia would not have to know about it…not that he required permission to do as he pleased. Without turning to look at the maid, he called her overfont>

“Come here, wench.”

He listened to the sound of the door closing…the sound of her slight footsteps as she slowly approached him from behind. A moment later he felt her hands upon his shoulders, gently massaging them. Then she came around his chair to face him, and she wasted no time in undoing the laces of her gown, exposing her ample breasts. Moving herself close she placed herself in his lap. She brought her lips to his ear and softly nibbled his lobe, while reaching down with an eager hand to fondle him. Her lips were full and moist, and she tried to bring them to meet his…but he turned his head away. Kissing was much too personal, too intimate for this. He wanted no emotions between them. He didn’t even wish to know her name. She was here to slake his lust, and nothing more.

But even with her fingers stroking him, and her mouth dropping hot, wet kisses on his chest, he found himself responding with only the slightest twinge of excitement. She was lacking in several ways that were making him lose interest quickly. Her hair was much too light…not the rich chestnut tresses that felt like silk when running through his fingers. The face was a bit too round, the eyes an uninspiring shade of hazel. He wanted to behold a pair of eyes that were dark and deep in their color, glittering like two onyx jewels. Staring at the inadequate form before him, with her eyes now meeting his, he saw how her lips were parted slightly in anticipation. Using her free hand, she linked her fingers with his and guided his palm to her breast. She began thrusting against his hand…and he found both the feeling of her body and the expression in her eyes to be repulsive.

What he saw was pure, selfish lust. No real feeling. He could have been any man…any nobleman, particularly…and it would not have made a difference. How many other men had she spread her legs for, all in the hopes of seeking some kind of personal gain? Her lewdness was appalling…and he’d had enough of her.

“Get out,” he growled at her.

She blinked in response, confused by his sudden demand. He pulled his hand from hers. He gripped her roughly by the shoulders, shaking her.

“I said get out! Now!”

Her face turned quite red, and she fumbled with the ties of her dress as she slid from his lap. When she was gone from the room he went and slammed the door, bolting it, lest there be any others who would try their hand at tempting him. He wanted none of them. He turned instead to the bottle of wine on the table. Partaking of wine wouldn’t solve his problem. But perhaps if he got roaring drunk, he might pass out and find some measure of peace.

*****

It had been more than a month since his return, and in that time he had not forgotten the bargain made between he and Cassia. The incident with the maid had not been without benefit. It had served to erase his doubts on one particular point…that he wanted Cassia back, more so than he’d realized before. He
needed
her back. He would not be satisfied otherwise. He had vow***

Forcefully he gathered several villagers together, giving them the task of making the necessary repairs to the house in the glen…and threatening them with punishment if they dared tell anyone what they were working on.

According to the carpenter he’d found to assess the property, it would take some time to dig a new well and rebuild parts of the house that had fallen in, as well as to clean and refurbish it. At hearing of such an impediment to his plans, he growled with impatience and anger.

“Find a way to get it done, or you shall find yourself on the executioner’s block.”

His frustration was reaching its breaking point, particularly after a long night raiding and half a day of being ordered about by Briwere. He would fall into his bed exhausted, only to find that his rest disturbed by vibrant imaginings. Those few hours he’d spent with her…he relived each delicious moment, only to wake and find himself alone in his empty bed. It was a torment the likes of which he’d never known, and he didn’t know how much more he could take.

He had to be with her again. Being without her was almost a form of starvation, slowly wearing away at him until the hunger became unbearable. Perhaps it was foolish…even unmanly…to be in such great need of someone, particularly a woman. But his obsession had a hold of him. Whether or not it was foolish, he did not care. He would have her again, one way or another.

But how could he go to her? To simply appear at her door would be ridiculous. He gave thought to sneaking in to see her during the dark of night, and for a moment the salacious thought brought a little grin to his face. He imagined himself moving about in the night like a prowler, crawling through a window…sneaking into her bed.

But then his smile faded away, for the fact still remained that her father would be there…and as much as he and Cassia longed for each other, it wasn’t likely they could keep their activities quiet. It seemed that until the cottage was built, he would just have to wait.

*****

Spring was changing into summer, and with the change came a blessing that seemed to come from somewhere up above. Briwere was plagued by a stomach ailment and fever, leaving him confined to his bed. Guy was now in temporary control of Nottingham…and he used it to his advantage. Rather than carrying out orders he now gave them, putting the burden of work on the rest of Briwere’s men. And in doing so, he now had a bit of time to do as he pleased.

He would go to see her. The only trouble was finding a way to encounter her when she was alone, to avoid trouble with her father. He stood before his window one morning, trying to think of a way…when inspiration suddenly came to him from one of the servants. She tapped on his door, and in a grumbling voice he bid her to enter. Her voice was small, fearful.

“Would you like a bath, my lord?”

He started to refuse…to throw something at her and shout at her to leave. But then he changed his mind. Without turning to look at her he answered. “Yes I would indeed. And make haste with it.”

As the tub was dragged in and pitchers of hot water poured to fill it, he recalled overhearing a conversation between Cassia and that old witch, Sophie.

I miss my Saturday bathing in the lake. How I long for the warmth of summer and the feeling of water all around me…

Tomorrow was Saturday. And the weather had been quite warm of late. She might very well be making a journey to the lakeside. And perhaps he would be there waiting for her.

It seemed a perfect situation. He had no worries about being missed in town. Briwere was still abed with his illness, so there was little fear of repercussions if he went away for a little while. As he sank into his steaming bathwater, his scowl changed to a little smirk…full of anticipation of the day to come.

The June day was warm and bright, the birds making merry noise in the trees above. But Cassia only paid it all a small amount of attention. Her mind was on Guy, of course…as it had been for nearly six weeks. It had been that long since she’d seen him.

He’d vowed to come back for her. The intensity in his expression, the fire in his eyes, had made her sure that he’d meant it. He’d certainly not wanted to go, and it had taken every ounce of willpower she’d had to send him away. Nothing in her life had ever felt as incredible as being in his arms, feeling the heat of his kisses and the thrilling strength of his body. Every night she dreamed of him, and every day she secretly listened for the sound of hoof beats that might signal his approach. She watched the path that came from Nottingham, hoping that at any moment he would appear, sitting astride his dark horse in all of his imposing and beautiful glory.

But even while she longed for him, she wondered how they could be together as they wanted to be, and yet keep the world from intruding on their happiness. She was quite aware how the world would see their relationship. She, a simple peasant girl, and Sir Guy of Gisborne, a high-born nobleman…people from two completely different worlds. They were not meant to be together in this way. In the eyes of society, a woman of her low birth held only two places for a man like Guy. She was either his obedient servant, or she was his whore. There was no middle ground to stand on.

It was impossible that there should be any sort of feelings between them, for it was not only scorned upon, but it could be very dangerous. If someone in a higher social standing…the Sheriff for one…discovered their amour, they could threaten her with any means of punishment for disrupting the strict moral code. If they wished, they could even strip Guy of his title and his lands, leaving him with nothing. They both played with fire by giving in to their desires.

But her heart was winning over all that her head was warning her about. She was certain he did not love her…and perhaps he never would. Perhaps his heart had been stripped of the ability to love. But she loved him now more than ever, and at the very least, he desired her. Compared to the notion of having his heart, it was a small substitute…but in a cruel and unjust world, she felt fortunate to have any measure of happiness at all.

But it had been six weeks since she’d last seen him. And in that time, while she waited and dreamed of him, she had heard rumors about the goings on in Nottingham. One of the rumors she knew to be ridiculous…that Guy of Gisborne was a demon risen from the grave. To that she had simply shaken her head in disbelief. But what she did find troubling was how quickly he had fallen back into his old ways, terrorizing villagers and following Briwere around like a loyal dog. Had the months under her care done nothing to change him, even in the smallest way? And if he was reverting back to those behaviors, was he falling into other old routines as well…routines that involved chamber maids and other kinds of female company?

It hurt deeply to imagine him in the arms of some unknown woman. And as the days went by, with no word coming from him, she began to think it quite possible that he’d changed his mind about coming back for her. What was there to return for, anyway? She was just another woman, and there were plenty of those to be found in Nottingham. Perhaps it would be better if she faced the truth…that he’d gone back to his old life, and there was no place in it for her.

At least there was one good thing to look forward to, now that the weather had turned for the better. The lake water would be cool, for it was only early June, but it would feel like heaven after bathing from a bucket for so long. In her arms she carried a change of clothes, a comb, and a bar of soap, and she couldn’t wait to wash away the grime from her body.

At the water’s edge she put her bundle down, and reaching out a bare foot she tested the feeling of the water. It was lukewarm, and that would do well enough. She loosened the ties of her dress and untied the sash at her waist, and as the gown fell away along with her shift, she gave the pile of clothing a slight kick, glad to be free of their confines. Stepping into the water she wasted no time in dunking down below the surface, coming up with a sigh of contentment as she ran her fingers back across her scalp. She washed and rinsed her hair, and cleaned the rest of herself quickly to be done with it. Then she dove under the water and swam for a while, enjoying the complete freedom of movement and weightlessness. For several moments her eyes were closed as she took in the peaceful feeling all around her.

Then a familiar voice broke the silence…a deep, velvet voice that brought her back from her dreaming and made her look frantically about. She turned to look behind her…and there he was, watching her.

“All alone, my lady Cassia? Perhaps you could use a bit of company.”

Her heart went wild with joy at seeing him. But she felt a nervous tremble creep up her neck. It was much too bold of him to be here in the open, in the broad light of day…looking at her the way he was. What if someone came upon them? And besides, he was being so smug, his lip curling slightly in that roguish way. Not that it wasn’t the most alluring thing she’d ever seen. But it would not do to let him see her eagerness…not just yet.

“I think I need no company,” she replied. “I am quite content with being here alone.”

She saw him wag his head, smirking in the devilish way that said he would not stop until he had what he wanted. That look of superiority, of complete self-assurance, was infuriating…and downright thrilling. She watched as he sat down on a fallen log, reaching down to remove his boots

“I beg to differ,” he said. “I do believe I should join you.”

Her heart beat a little faster, knowing his intention. But tempting as he was, he was also the most stubborn human being on earth. He was spoiled and selfish, and someone needed to challenge him…even if, in the end, failure was inevitable. Her answer to him was simple and firm.

“No.”

She saw how he raised his eyebrow at her defiance.

“No?” He had removed his tunic, revealing the loose undershirt beneath it, which he was slowly raising. “You should be aware that I do not respond well to that word.” He pulled the shirt over his head and cast it aside.

Her breath grew short at the sight of him clad only in his breeches. Still, she held back her interest, at least for a little longer.

“That hardly concerns me, Guy of Gisborne. Methinks you should be gone and leave me with my privacy.”

She turned away, wondering if he would really continue with his shocking behavior…and the answer was a loud splash. When she turned to look he was surfacing a few yards away from her, a predatory look in his eyes. He moved towards her…and she swam away quickly, feeling a mischievous desire to taunt him. He had stayed away for so long, and it didn’t seem fair to allow him instant indulgence.

“Stay away,” she warned him. And feeling especially bold, she splashed water at him. The look of shock he wore gave her great satisfaction, making her chuckle with glee.

Until the light in his eyes became fierce…almost primal.

He lunged for her, and she just managed to evade him, swimming closer to the edge of the lake where her feet touched bottom. The water was still at neck level, enough to cover her, but with her feet on solid surface she felt that escape was easy enough.

But where had he gone? She knew he was lurking somewhere below, waiting to pounce…and yet he took her completely by surprise when he came up from behind. She gave a startled shriek when he threw his arms around her.

“Gotcha!” He placed a hot, wet kiss on her ear, holding her tight against his chest. She felt a familiar ache between her legs, knowing that when he was as close as he was now, her resistance would not last long. Still, she felt she had to try. She turned in his arms, intent on pushing him away…but the hard muscles of his chest were pressing against her, making her breasts tingle. She could feel him hard against her thigh, and her insides pulsed with anticipation. Her protest was small, her voice weak.

“You should not be here this way. Not in the clear light of a morning.”

“I am quite aware of the time of day.” He brought his head down, his lips hovering over hers, his breath warm and his voice seductive. “I am quite aware of where I should not be. I am quite aware of many things.”

He covered her mouth with his, and it felt like a gift from heaven. All things seemed to vanish around them, her mind thinking only of how exquisite his taste was, how deliciously his tongue was sweeping hers as he kissed her. She held fast to him, not wanting to lose one moment of contact, her arms locked around his neck as she felt herself being lifted up. One arm under the bend of her legs, the other around her waist, he carried her the few steps to the bank and laid her down on the soft grass. A moment later she welcomed the weight of his body on hers…the rough feeling of his hands roaming everywhere. When she felt him pulsing against her, seeking entry, she parted her legs wide and welcomed him, gasping her pleasure when he moved fast and hard, filling her completely. Impatient, seething with need, she ran her hands down his spine and grasped his muscular backside, silently pleading with him to move. She felt his mouth at her neck, his breathing hot and rapid as he drove into her, and she met each and every thrust with her own. Her thighs gripping him tightly, her legs hooked around his hips, she cried out as her peak gripped her with fierce intensity. He thrust into her once, twice, three more times…and called out her name as he exploded within her.

*****

The tremors slowly faded, the world around her ceasing to spin so wildly…but she kept her eyes closed, as though it would somehow shut out reality. She wanted to hold him this way forever, and be held by him in return. Tenderly she stroked his dark head where it lay upon her breast. He had slipped from her body and shifted his weight to one side, but his arms remained about her. After several long minutes of quiet,he spoke softly.

“For so long have I dreamed of this.”

She smiled at his words, though the skeptic in her wondered if they were really true. “Have you now?”

She heard him sigh, feeling the stubble of his jaw as it stroked the sensitive skin of her breast. She felt a rush of pleasure and desire at the contact…and at hearing his admission. He sighed.

“You cannot fathom how often my sleep has been disturbed these many weeks.”

Moved by his admission, she still could not help but tease him. He lacked light and humor in his life, and she so longed to hear him laugh or see him give a true smile.

“Did you not try counting sheep?” she asked.

He lifted his head to look at her…the slightest smile coming to his face, and she could not help but smile back. She closed her eyes for a moment as she felt his lips at the hollow of her throat. But then she stiffened slightly. When he brought his eyes to hers, questioning her slight resistance, her expression became somber.

“I am sure there were plenty of ways you found to ease your mind. You have never lacked for company, if the stories are true.”

He reached out a gentle hand to caress her cheek. “It may please you to know that of late, many a female has been very disappointed with me.” His eyes looked deep into hers. “You have bewitched me, woman. I can find pleasure in no one but you.”

Joy flooded her heart and soul at his confession. Looking in his eyes she knew it was the truth, and when he brought his lips to hers she responded with a rush of fervor, clutching his head to kiss him back with all the passion she had within. He had thought of her…just as she had thought so often of him. He’d had no one else while they were apart…and the thought made her almost possessive. Pushing him to his back, she straddled him and leaned down with her face close to his.

“I am yours and you are mine, Guy of Gisborne. Have me now. Show me what you feel for me.”

With his hands guiding her hips he positioned her, showing her just what to do and how to do it. She hadn’t touched his manhood until now, but from the way he arched his neck, making a sound of joyful agony, she knew she was doing something that pleased him. She grasped him gently but firmly, easing him into her body, and raising herself up fully she felt him inside her more acutely than ever before. Eyes closed, head thrown back, she moaned in delight as she rose and fell with him, and when her end came she dropped into his arms, panting breathlessly. But it was not yet over. Still joined with her, he rolled her to her back and took her again, ravishing her with powerful thrusts, making her world shatter once again before he reached his own raucous finish.

*****

As she lay against his sider arms embracing him, his hands lazily roamed her warm figure.

Gone was the emptiness. That slight ache, which had plagued him for so long, was replaced by a deep feeling of contentment. Never in his life had he known such a feeling of happiness. And something within him knew it was more than the feeling of her soft, warm body against his. It was everything about her…her boldness, her humor, her wonderfully giving nature. He ran his hand along the swell of her breast, moving along her side and down to the flatness of her belly, admiring the beauty of her delicate form. He didn’t want to be without her again, and he felt a sweet pain in his heart as he realized his growing feelings for her. He’d been so certain that his soul was too damaged, his heart too often broken to be capable of affection. But it was full now, filled with feelings much too powerful to remain unexpressed.

“I want you with me, Cassia. Not just in my bed, but in my life.”

She gave him a little smile of amusement.

“I am in your life now. And as for a bed, I certainly would not mind something a bit softer on which to lie. Which begs the question. When will you be taking me to the cottage?”

It was a question he had hoped to avoid, for he knew that the answer was not one he wished to give. But there was no way to get around it.

“Soon, I pray. It is nearly done.”

He heard her little outlet of breath, and knew that what she would say now was not what he wanted to hear.