“And do ye ken, my worldly lass?”
“Nae. I dunna.” She pointed to his groin. “I think it has to do with the condition ye’re experiencing with yer prick.”
“And ye’d be right.”
“I saw a man and a woman sneak down these stairs when the redhead was… enticing ye.”
“I wasna enticed.”
“Are ye certain? Ye looked quite enticed earlier.”
To be honest, he looked like he would have enjoyed jumping on her right then and there and… sticking her with that prick. Pain spread through her chest.
She’d heard a little of what happened between a man and a woman but not much. She was too young when her mother had died and there was no one else to tell her. Her father said little about anything. He preferred the drink to her company.
“Ye can go to her if ye want.” A sob rose in her throat. She swallowed it down. “I can stay here without ye.”
When he’d held her close to his body there had been a promise of something wonderful.
“Get to sleep,” Sean said. He turned away from her and removed his sword, placing it on the little bench in the corner. He pulled his leine over his head.
She nearly gasped at the wide expanse of his back. The muscles rippled with the movement as he placed the shirt on the bench as well. The heat intensified between her legs. A longing to touch him made her palms itch. She gripped her hands together and exhaled. She crawled onto the bed and gave him her back.
He had stopped whatever was about to happen. She didn’t understand why but watching him was not helping her settle down. Was there something about her that was an aversion to men? Mayhap her father was right. Mayhap she should return and let him marry her off. That man seemed interested. At least then her father’s debt would be paid and she’d be doing something beneficial with herself.
Chapter 7
Ahigh-pitched screech jerked Sean awake. He stood, sword in hand, before his eyes were opened all the way. A woman screamed again. He remembered where he was and glanced toward the pallet. It was empty. His heart leapt into his throat.
Sean yanked open the door. Laughing and loud talking drifted to him. Men up to no good. He walked soundlessly down the stairs, pausing to secure his sword and tuck the dagger from his boot into his belt, wishing he’d thought to don his leine.
Stopping a few steps from the bottom, he peered around the opening. The back door stood ajar. The red glow of the fire gave off little light. The owner no longer visible. Helmets, leather, and weapons were dropped by the front door as if men had entered in a hurry. Norman soldiers. There had been no soldiers earlier. The men that had been there were gone. Thomasina was not there either.
The red-headed wench was bent over the trestle table, her naked buttocks facing him. A tall, thin man kicked her feet wider and flattened her against the wooden surface before blocking Sean’s view.
“Come on now, ye Saxon bitch.” He yanked down his trews, his filthy, bare arse exposed. “One for me now.”
The men around them laughed. He covered her and the men cheered him on. There was a movement outside. As if in a dream, the scene unfolded before Sean. Nell screeched again. Thomasina came through the door and froze, her eyes locked on the man with Nell. Her mouth dropped open.
“Stop!” Her words held the ring of authority but sounded distinctly feminine.
The men turned toward her. Their surprise visible in the frowns and raised eyebrows, and they quickly sized her up. An eerie assortment of grunts, grumbles, and what he’d swear were groans of appreciation filled Sean’s ears. Dagger in one hand, sword in the other, he leapt into the room with a thud.
The men’s attention quickly diverted to him. Their eyes widened with surprise and fear. One little man with a nasty grin that had shifted toward Thomasina halted and faced him.
“I believe the lad said to stop.” Sean’s booming voice filled the small space.
The soldiers glanced around as if to ask what they were supposed to do. Their eyes came to rest on one man. A blotchy-faced, chicken-chest of a man sitting off to the side, watching. His greasy, brown hair streaked with gray pulled back from his face. Their leader.
“Step away from the woman,” Sean ordered.
The man stepped away with slow movements as if afraid he might be run through before he complied. His stiffened cock wagged in front of him before he thought to pull his trews up.
Sean walked further into the room. He signaled with his head for Thomasina to get up the stairs. She listened without comment.
“The woman is for hire.” Sean lowered his weapons just slightly. A signal that if they wanted to be reasonable, he was willing. “Why force her?”
The leader stood, adjusted himself, and walked toward Sean. His head only came up to Sean’s shoulder which he grasped before he spoke. “My friend, the problem is… we don’t want to pay.”
