THE WARLORD (7 page)

"I—I've not heard many tales," she said unconvincingly.

"They must have been good ones to instill such fear. You looked near to fainting when your uncle told you my name at Kelso Abbey."

"I was merely startled."

"And I am next in line for sainthood."

Tess frowned. "I was merely trying to be nice. You might try it sometime."

Kenric suppressed the urge to grin. When her courage returned, it returned with a vengeance. Of course, she'd also put away a full goblet of wine and was working on her second. He doubted she'd even noticed that he'd been keeping her goblet filled. "I would not want to jeopardize my reputation by turning nice at this late date."

"You are not the man of those tales."

One black brow rose. It was almost a question.

"I've heard the tales, if you must know," she said with a trace of impatience.
" 'Tis
obvious they are fabrications."

"Most are true," he warned, well aware of the stories. Most couldn't be denied and few needed exaggeration. He was a warrior first and foremost, a man trained to kill. And he was very, very good. Best she understand and accept what he was, not what she would like him to be.

She brushed an imaginary spot of dust from her gown, her eyes evasive.
" 'Tis
said you eat small children for your supper."

"What!"

"Plump girl babies are said to be your preference. Then you wash down your food with a mug of your enemy's blood, the one slain during the meal to provide your entertainment."

"Very well.
I will allow that some have grown beyond the truth." Kenric's expression turned grim. "But I have killed many men, wife. I am ruthless and without mercy. There are reasons behind my reputation."

"Aye, but all in
England know you are Edward's most powerful warlord. The other barons must respect you a great deal."

He smiled over her ignorance. "Do not harbor any thoughts of a grand life at court or acceptance among the other nobles, Tess. Most of Edward's barons are grateful that I fight for their cause, but few are willing to extend friendship to a man with so much blood on his hands. Many at court would rather see me in Hell than at their table. As my wife, you'll be as unwelcome as I."

"Perhaps they are jealous," she said thoughtfully, looking unconcerned by his prediction.

Kenric noticed she was beginning to have difficulty with any word containing the letter's, drawing the sound out until it was almost slurred.

"I am already accustomed to being hated for the name I bear," she went on. "So you may rest assured that my feelings will not be hurt by the opinions of others. Had I a choice, 'tis possible I would have chosen you myself for husband." She nodded, as if to assure him that at least that much was true.
" 'Tis
the only name my stepfather fears."

"So you bear my name gladly," he stated with a wry grin. "All this time I have mistook your overwhelming joy for fear and reluctance."

"I did not say I was overjoyed. My intent was to become a nun, if you will recall. But I have accepted that my king wishes a different life for me, and I will take your advice and make the best of our marriage."

"My relief knows no bounds, Lady." Kenric had the audacity to smile at her indignant expression. He reached over to take her goblet then, and pushed the tray toward the tent flap. "You've had two full goblets of wine, Tess
. '
Tis a long ride tomorrow, made no better by too much wine the night before. Best we find what rest we can before dawn."

He noticed that Tess watched his mouth very closely, as if she had trouble concentrating on their conversation.

"Will we reach Montague soon?" she asked.

"Tomorrow.
Around dusk."

"A warm bed will feel good." Tess smiled as she settled into the furs.

A warm bed will feel good
.

Kenric gritted his teeth. The words echoed again and again in his head until he could think of nothing else. He glared across the tent, watching Tess turn to arrange her bed of furs just so before settling under her cloak.

"Good eve, Baron." Tess ended the statement with a yawn, her shivers visible under the bulky cloak.

Kenric didn't reply. He extinguished the candle, and listened to the quiet noises Tess made as she shifted restlessly. It wasn't long before her teeth began to chatter.

Kenric lifted her cloak and slid down next to her on the bed of furs. The extra weight of his fur-lined cloak fell on top of them. She released a long, satisfied sigh and snuggled up closer to his warmth.

"Hold still," he growled, his hands pushing her hips away.

Tess obliged. "I would like to thank you, husband," she said shyly.

"For what?"
Kenric asked needlessly, knowing he would be thanked for leaving her precious virginity intact.

"For taking me away from the MacLeiths," she said quietly. "For making me feel safe. You've been kind to me, even though I've brought little to this marriage other than the makings of a war. The MacLeiths will try to get me back, you know."

Kenric's sigh nearly parted her hair. "You no longer have any need to fear the MacLeiths, Tess. They will never touch you again. Now go to sleep."

She remained silent almost an entire minute.

"Milord?"

"What?"

The irritation in his voice must have changed her mind.

"Urn, well, nothing.
It was nothing at all."

Kenric grunted and several quiet minutes passed while Tess squirmed restlessly. She turned to her side, then onto her stomach, then rolled over to her side again, always keeping Kenric's arm as a pillow. His arm slid away so quickly that she couldn't react fast enough to prevent her head from thumping right through the fur onto the frozen ground.

"You will say what you have to say then you will go to sleep. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, well, uh…"

"Say it!"

"You forgot to kiss me after the wedding ceremony! I guess 'tis not required, but I thought it was, and I was rather looking forward to… well, it would have been my first kiss, even though you did kiss my forehead. I just didn't—"

She fell silent the moment Kenric's hand gripped her chin. His fingers covered one cheek, his thumb stretched high across the other. She was struck again by how very large he was, yet how very gentle he could be. His warm breath caressed her face and she knew he was close. An eternity seemed to pass before his lips touched hers in a kiss so tender, so exquisite, her eyes opened wide in surprise. She never would have guessed there was anything soft on this fierce warlord. He seemed to be hard all over. But his lips were incredibly soft as they moved
across her own
.

Kenric meant to give Tess her bride's kiss,
then
order her to sleep. The sweet taste of her mouth and her enthusiastic response made him crave just a bit more. She was a fast learner, quickly imitating his actions and pressing her mouth a little harder against his lips each time he thought to raise his head. It was an easy matter to open her mouth, deepening the kiss, but he was nearly undone by her low moan. Kenric couldn't resist. He used his tongue to taste her, and his loins reacted instantly to the erotic action. She didn't even try to close her mouth against the assault. She waited until he'd stroked every part of her mouth then practiced what he'd just taught her, shyly at first, but just as thoroughly.

Tess's kiss was as heady and exotic as the finest wine. Kenric's senses reeled, overcome by the wild, fierce need to possess her mouth completely. He traced the outline of her lips, then nibbled them greedily, surprised yet pleased when she did the same. He was still leaning down, one hand bracing his weight, when he became aware of Tess's hands sliding up his chest. They rested there a moment and he waited to be pushed away. This kiss had gone far beyond anything a bride would receive at her wedding. His mouth became almost frantic in a quest to enjoy as much of her sweetness as possible before she pushed him away. The slightest pressure and he would release her. He swore he would.

The grip on the front of his shirt tightened and he reluctantly lifted his head. Instead of pushing him away, Tess used all her strength to pull him back to her mouth with a whimper. Kenric couldn't have been more stunned if he'd been slapped. A primitive sound emerged from his chest, and he kissed Tess as he'd never kissed a woman in his life, unable to get close enough or to taste enough of her. Yet a thin shred of sanity remained and he forced his hands to stray no lower than her neck. The sensations of touching Tess, the soft warmth of her skin, the smooth contours of her face,
the
silkiness of her hair, all kept him satisfied for a time. Far too short a time.

He broke away so suddenly that she didn't have a chance to catch his lips before they were gone. "You've had your kiss. Now go to sleep."

Tess lay perfectly still,
then
she rolled to her side and buried her face in the furs. Kenric heard her quiet sobs, knew his harsh words had hurt her feelings.

Why did he feel like comforting her?

That idea was out of the question. He was more determined than ever to wait. He'd made a vow. He was a warrior, accustomed to hardship and discomfort. One night to wait for pleasure was nothing. He wanted to savor Tess in the warmth of his bed, to see her shiver with desire instead of shivering from the cold. Aye, she would thank him one day when she understood the reasons. One day soon.

"You did not like my kiss," she accused between sobs.

He rolled his eyes and sighed, certain she was intent on making him crazed. "I liked it."

"Hah!"

"You are my bride," he said, pulling her stiff body against his chest. "I do not wish to make you my
wife
in this tent. You will remain a bride until we reach Montague and the warm bed you look forward to so much. Do you understand what I am saying, Tess? Your kisses please me greatly, but they make me want more.
Much more."

She was silent, but he felt her body begin to relax.

"I liked kissing you, too," she said shyly.

"I could tell." He stroked her hair, trying to ignore the ache in his loins and the temptation to let his hands roam where they would. "Now go to sleep. We've a hard ride tomorrow and I need to rest."

She wriggled closer and sighed, a long, satisfied sound. Kenric smiled in the dark, amused by his wife's quick mood changes. She was so open and honest with her emotions, a delight to a man raised among the wiles and intrigues of courtiers. That was the reason he was so considerate of her feelings, Kenric decided. She was one of the few women who stirred his protective instinct. Tess was dependent upon him, completely trusting of the security he provided.

Aye, he would give her another day to know him better, to realize what a noble husband he was and how considerate he was being. He closed his eyes, feeling close to that sainthood he'd claimed.

Tess awoke feeling close to death. Stiff and sore, she turned to discover Kenric was gone, relieved that he wouldn't see her in this condition. The cold ground had done its job on sore muscles during the night, and she tried twice before she could stand upright in anything less than excruciating agony. But the cold ground was not the real cause of her pain.

Nearly a fortnight had passed since Gordon MacLeith's last visit to Langston, but the marks of his latest beating were taking longer than usual to heal.
And rightly so.
She'd received her worst lashing yet for the insults she'd hurled at him that day. Luckily, she'd been wearing her thickest wool
dress,
else he'd have marked her for life. She said another prayer of thanks that Gordon carried a slim riding crop rather than a true whip that would be capable of slicing through any gown. As it was, he'd only drawn blood on a few lashes, and those not too deep. The long ride had done little to help the healing process, but in another fortnight or so the welts would fade. Though she'd left her sickbed only a week before her escape, she was growing accustomed to the dull pain, aware that it faded some each day.

She wondered if she could escape her husband before he discovered her injuries. He'd tasted enough of her temper to know she'd courted the beating. Not that she'd accused Gordon of anything but the truth. The man was a catamite and everyone in the MacLeith clan knew of his preference for males in his bed. She was just the first to accuse Gordon to his face.
And in front of his soldiers, no less.
Aye, she'd asked for the beating. But how could she have known she'd have a husband so soon?
A husband sure to see her naked sooner or later.
She had to figure out a way to make it later.
Much later.

" 'Tis
time to ride," Kenric announced.

Tess nearly jumped out of her skin. Her husband was standing right behind her.

"I did not intend to startle you," he said in a quieter voice. "Didn't you hear me enter?"

"Shadows have been known to make more noise, milord." She turned to face Kenric, feeling recovered from the surprise. The sight of him made her rethink that notion. Why, he'd grown quite handsome over the night! She stared openly at his face, wondering how she'd ever thought him akin to the Devil. The color of his eyes was much too soft for a Devil, the chiseled lines of his face far too pleasing. His bemused smile was heavenly.