“The food was superb,madame.My heartfelt gratitude.”
Startled at the voice mere inches from her, she jumped and put a hand to her suddenly racing heart.She looked up into the gray eyes of the dark-haired knight, her mouth suddenly dry, her mind blank.
Up close he was magnificent.His height added to the perception of power.His shoulders were broad, the material of his dark green tunic of the highest quality.Madelaine lowered her gaze to the rough fabric of her woolen kirtle.Once upon a time she too wore fine clothes, but her husband did not believe in such extravagance and forbade her to wear the garments she’d brought from her childhood home.For the most part, she’d almost forgotten the feel of fine silk against her skin and for a moment, her anger flared that this man made her remember all she had lost.Not only the clothes, but her family, as well.
She looked up into those silver eyes.Her stomach twisted into a knot.If her husband were to discover her speaking to another man she would certainly be reprimanded.“Pardonnez-moi?”
He lifted a midnight-black brow.“My sincerest gratitude, Countess, for a wonderful meal and a roof over our heads for the evening.”
“Anything to serve the soldiers.”It was a sentiment her husband uttered often, but this time she meant it sincerely.At least for this particular soldier.
Her husband appeared at her side.She stiffened her back and lowered her gaze, trying to scoot away from the heavy arm that descended on her shoulder.He effectively anchored her in place so there was no hope of an easy escape.She could tell by the hardness of his voice and the way his fingers dug into her shoulder he was not pleased to see her conversing with a soldier.
“I see you have met my countess, Sir Knight.”
The knight’s contemplative, silver-eyed gaze lingered on her for a few moments longer than discretion allowed before turning to his host.Madelaine told herself she was glad of it.Glad to have his intense scrutiny on someone else and not her, but she was lying.She understood the appreciation and interest in his eyes.Like any young girl, she liked the undivided attention of an attractive man who saw her as something other than a piece of property.
She would pay the price for that as well, for the count did not miss anything that took place in his hall.
“I have indeed, my lord,” the knight was saying.“I was expressing my appreciation for the meal and your hospitality.”
“Were you?”
Her husband’s accusing stare landed on her before it turned to their visitor.The knight’s eyes narrowed a fraction, as if he understood the threat in her husband’s words.This was no man who cowered to his superiors.She liked that, for Madelaine believed a man wasn’t made by the title he inherited, but by the choices he made in his life.
The count lowered his head until his breath touched her neck and she shuddered.“Dear wife, why don’t you retire to my bedchamber.I will be up shortly.”
Her heart sank.She would rather serve any other penance than be summonsed to his bedchamber.Very early in her marriage, she learned her husband held a deep, dark secret.For all his piousness, for all his fealty to the Templars, for all that he lived by their rules, one passion drove him.This was the ultimate punishment and she knew hehadread her thoughts at dinner and heknewshe’d detoured through the gardens on her way from vespers.But most of all, he’d witnessed her conversation with the knight and mayhap even noticed her appreciation of the other man.For her indiscretions, she would receive the ultimate punishment.
Chapter Four
Present Day
Lainie exited the office building and turned right.Lucheux followed at a discreet distance, intrigued by the sway of her hips and the bounce in her dark hair.She kept her head up and looked straight ahead, alert to every person who passed her, yet unaware of who followed.Stupid girl.
She was so much of what she had been and yet so different.Beautiful to be sure.Smart, strong.Maybe she’d been all those things centuries ago, but he’d been too much of a brute to notice.Now he was more discerning.Now he noticed.And like he did centuries ago, he admired her.So much so that a part of him wanted her for himself again.Forget his plan to use her to get to Chevalier.Just take her,a voice whispered in his head.Keep her as yours.
He knew the moment she sensed she was being followed.She clutched the strap of her purse tighter.Her steps faltered and she nervously glanced over her shoulder.Large eyes fell on him, then moved away.He kept walking, not missing a step.Her fear spoke to a darkness inside him, exciting him.He slowed, putting distance between them, letting her think she was safe.He’d been smart in not introducing himself when she started working for him.It gave him an anonymity he would use to his advantage.
Of course that wasn’t the only reason he hadn’t approached her.Part of him feared she would recognize him.Yes, Giselle was correct when she said he feared that Madelaine and this woman were the same.The resemblance was uncanny and there was something about Lainie Alexander that called to him.Something he hadn’t felt for hundreds of years.However, she hadn’t recognized Giselle so chances were she wouldn’t him either.But he wasn’t willing to risk it so he kept his distance even though that evil voice urged him toward what could be a delightful, delicious confrontation.
She crossed the street and put her key in the lock of her building, pushed open the door and stepped in with one final, scared look over her shoulder.
He waited until the lights went on in her apartment before he jogged across the street and let himself into the building with his own key.He paused in front of her apartment door and put his hand to it, closing his eyes.
He had a duplicate key.He could enter.For a moment he let himself think of the possibilities.Of what he would do to her.Of her fear.Her struggles.The thoughts excited him.His blood hummed through his veins, pooling in his lower regions.He snatched his hand away, breaking the ties of a lust he had no business feeling if he wanted to accomplish his task.
He moved past her door and entered Giselle’s apartment without knocking.
Giselle looked up from tying the sash of a white, silk robe around her slim waist.She paused, one delicious knee parting the folds of the silk.He was already hard.Not for Giselle, but for the other woman.The one who’d always looked at him in loathing as if he were never good enough for her.
In a few quick strides he was beside Giselle, shoving her against the wall so her back was to him.He hiked up the robe, pulled his stiff cock out, closed his eyes and pictured Madelaine.He fondled himself, making his erection hard to the point of pain, then shoved himself inside Giselle with one brutal stroke.She was hot and wet and ready for him and she moaned as he pounded into her.
He hated her with a ferociousness that went bone deep and spanned centuries.He hated her, yet he couldn’t stay away from her and his weakness fanned the flames of his hatred.He took her hard, hammering into her until her hips hit the wall and she grunted with each thrust.It excited her.She loved sex like this and her excitement excited him, but it also disgusted him.
She came fast and furious, bucking against him so violently he was unable to control his own orgasm.
Afterward he didn’t waste time with pleasantries.Angry he’d given in to his lust, furious for being so weak he couldn’t control himself, he zipped up.Giselle leaned against the wall with a smile of satisfaction that made him grimace.
