“The weather is best for sailing in the summer,” he explained simply.
That comment instantly shattered her composure, for she knew exactly where his father had beenâ??away stealing what other men had earned! Her revulsion showed clearly in her expression as she responded in a vicious whisper, “Traders, your mother swears you all are. Is she so foolish as to believe that preposterous lie?”
Reacting instantly to her insult, he snarled angrily, “No one could tell more preposterous lies than you!” As she turned away, ready to spring to her feet, he pulled her back down beside him. “I promised you would never escape me any time I wanted you, and I find your anger a most powerful aphrodisiac.”
Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her with such savage passion that he left his own lips bruised as well as hers, but he did not release her from his confining embrace when he at last lifted his mouth and leaned back to judge her reaction.
She attempted to break away but he was much too strong to elude, and he pushed her down upon the grass with only a slight effort. Not one to take such mistreatment without a fight, she continued to struggle, making his task a near impossible one, despite his far greater size and strength. But she knew it would take only one good blow of his fist to end her resistance, and her panic increased tenfold.
She could scarcely breathe, let alone scream, but, suddenly remembering the knife he always carried she ripped it from his belt and raised it to his throat as she swore, “Damn you, I’ll kill you before I’ll let you rape me!”
Mylan stared into the defiant young woman’s brilliant green eyes and in that instant saw the horror she imagined. He felt her outrage as well, and drew away, shocked where his passion for her had led. Releasing her swiftly, he rolled over on his back, stretching out upon the grass as he forced himself to take several deep breaths. She continually drove him to distraction, but he could not believe what he had almost done, for he took great pride in the fact he was a man who could control his emotions so they would not betray him as brutally as they almost had.
“I have never raped any woman, and I had not meant to begin with you.”
Celiese kept his knife close to her body, suspecting some trick to which she had no wish to fall victim, but as time passed and he did no more than lie quietly by her side she began to relax. “I would rather you killed me than used me so badly. I could not bear that from you.” Indeed, it would have broken what little remained of her heart, for she had always given herself willingly to him. The only beautiful memories she had as a woman were of the love they had shared.
“Please do not destroy the happiness I’ve found with you. Please do not do that to me.”
“And I’ll thank you not to tease me with a knife in your hand, that is too dangerous a sport for both of us.” He waited quietly for her to make the sudden move he planned to counter with a vicious jab, for he knew she could not stab him without lifting her arm and putting her whole body behind the downward thrust. While he appeared to be resting, all his senses were attuned to the motions of the slender woman by his side. He wondered why she was hesitating so long before moving to kill him.
As confused by his words as he had been by hers, she tossed the sharp dagger aside before reaching out to lightly caress his deeply tanned cheek. “I have never teased you, not ever, so why do you persist in teasing me so cruelly?” When he did not immediately begin to argue with her over that question she lay down beside him, placing her head upon his shoulder so they both might rest more comfortably. “I wish…” She stopped abruptly, unable to express the desires filling her heart. She knew he would scoff at her dream of a marriage between them rather than the bondage holding a slave to her master.
Puzzled to find himself in the arms of a woman who had so recently sworn to kill him, Mylan prompted the reluctant beauty to continue. “Wish what? Since the day is so pretty, and I am in such a pleasant mood, I may grant your request if you’ll make it.”
“Just hold me in your arms as you sometimes do, that is all I’ll ask of you now,” she replied softly, unwilling to beg for more.
Lifting his right hand to her hair, he slowly unfastened her braid, letting his fingers slide through the silken tresses with a gentle caress. She fit so naturally against him, and he found himself as content as she until she reached up to brush his lips lightly with hers. That subtle invitation was all he needed to recall swiftly what his original purpose had been, but this time he moved far more slowly, holding her gently in his arms as he continued to savor the sweetness of her kiss.
He waited until she drew him near, pressing her body closer to his own before he slid his hand down the curve of her thigh and beneath her shortened gown. The coarse wool had scratched her tender skin, leaving it flushed, but his touch was light, as delicate as the early afternoon breeze, and he caused her no further pain, but gave her instead a warm, soft glow of pleasure that swelled through her loins and then sped along her spine to the lengths of her graceful limbs.
Her legs were entwined with his, her whole body eager for his loving, and still he waited, wanting her to feel the increasing passion that throbbed within his veins until it was a driving rhythm creating a need he could no longer control. Her gown came off easily in his hands and he lowered his mouth to her breasts, sliding his lips over their creamy fullness before straying lower still. His tongue flicked across her ribs. She was so slender now he could count them easily, yet he still thought her delicate figure superb. The smooth skin of her stomach was pale, and so soft. He tightened his hands around her waist to hold her close as he began to nuzzle the triangle of blonde curls that beckoned to him with an irresistibly enticing promise of delights he meant to savor to the fullest.
Celiese gave no more than the smallest cry of surprise, for the pleasure Mylan gave with his ever more demanding kiss was too great to allow a moment to either question or protest hi
s methods. Her shock was dulled by the sheer joy of her body’s response, and she lay back upon the soft spring grass, unable to do more than wind her fingers in his thick curls so he would not draw away and leave her on the edge of an unbearably delicious ecstasy rather than plunging with her into its depths. His name escaped her throat in a low, husky moan the strength of her need matching his own as she lured him beyond his own desire to an awaking awareness of the beautiful woman who longed to be his wife.
He felt the exquisite pleasure he gave shudder through her and wanted only to give more, to command her loyalty with the most splendid gift possible for a man and woman to share. He adored her in that instant, and when he was certain he had pleased her as greatly as any man ever could, brought an end to his own anguish, conquering her vibrant body without the slightest bit of resistance this time. She welcomed his loving with a tenderness that made his pleasure as great as her own, deepening the bond that had grown between them. He would not speak of love, and she dared not give voice to her feelings.
When at last he could again think clearly, he trailed teasing kisses down the inviting curve of her throat and whispered, “I have been alone too long, for it was this wonderful devotion I meant to inspire within your heart, not a knife fight to the death that I craved.”
A devilish gleam lit her green eyes as she reached up to tousle his curls. “Why, Mylan, was that an apology?”
She was teasing him as an equal would, as any beautiful woman would tease her lover, but he was appalled, his blissful mood shattered, and he shoved her away as he snarled, “I seldom apologize to women, and never to slaves, most especially not to you.” Rising quickly to his feet, he yanked his clothing back into place and strode off to get the horses so they might continue their ride without any more of her maddening distractions. Apology indeed! If she did not feel the apology in his kiss and caress, in the way he held her and made love to her, then mere words would never pierce the steel of her heart, and he would die before he would speak them!
Astonished to have lost the most tender of lovers with a question she had not thought unreasonable, Celiese made no effort to hurry to follow him. The warmth of his love filled her still, and she was sorry hers had meant so little to him. Finally, she pulled the gray wool gown over her head. Leaving her hair free, she went to join him.
*
Mylan awoke the next morning to find Celiese sorting through his clothing. She had laid the garments in neat stacks, but what she had hoped to find he did not know. Not wishing to frighten her as he had before, he yawned loudly so she would realize he was awake before he spoke to her.
“The porridge is ready. I thought if I hurried I might be able to fashion something I could wear today. I want to go hunting with you.”
He swore under his breath. “When it takes all your talent to prepare porridge, I do not think you can spare the time to hunt, Celiese.” He turned away as he rose from his bed, grabbing his soft suede trousers but not bothering with his tunic as he went outside to the stream.
Ignoring his taunt, she chose a honey-colored tunic and trousers that appeared to have had considerable wear and laid them aside. She was not at all certain she could make his clothes fit her and did not want to ruin any of his finer garments if she could help it. When he returned, she showed him her choice. “I think you can spare these, Mylan, may I take them?”
“No, the color is faded, and there is no point in your wasting your time on garments that are already worn out.” Bending to lift another tunic from those she had laid out, he made a suggestion. “This green is nearly the color of your eyes; take this and the trousers that match instead.”