“I am humoring you, fool. And here is more humor.” She grinned and quickly tickled him under his arms.
With exaggerated annoyance, he slapped her hands away. She laughed and dove for his ribs. He caught her wrists, holding them triumphantly. “You cannot win!” But he was smiling.
“I think I already have, my lord,” Ceidre said.
Rolfe paused in the doorway of the stable, trying to peer into the darkness within. He held up a lamp and saw her. Ceidre sat upon a bale of hay, her hair loose and streaming to her hips, waiting for him. He smiled.
She smiled back.
He came forward, aware of the need to rush. He urgently enveloped her in his arms; she protested. “My lord, you will set us ablaze!”
He laughed ruefully and went outside to douse the oil lamp. He returned, impatience overwhelming, yet because he could not see, his steps were measured. She called out to him, like a siren, guiding him to her, luring him on. He crushed her to him, seeking her mouth fiercely, possessively, demanding a response. She gave it with equal fervor. It was a long time later before they came up for air.
“It feels as if we have not seen each other for days,” Ceidre managed, stroking her hand down his neck.
“From dawn to dusk is long enough,” Rolfe said roughly. “I cannot wait another moment, Ceidre.” Holding her buttocks and anchoring her, he pressed himself crudely against her groin.
“Nor can I,” she returned, running her hands over his arousal boldly.
Their mating was quick and fierce, there in the straw, and afterward they lay panting, curled up together. Rolfe began undressing her. “I want to feel you naked against me.”
“Yes,” she murmured, helping him to remove her garments. She snuggled against him.
“Guy leaves for Dumstanbrough tomorrow,” Rolfe told her. “To build his keep and see to his demesne. I have given him a fortnight’s leave.”
“I know, I saw him, he told me.”
“What else did he say?” Rolfe asked.
“Nothing.”
“He did not query your whereabouts last night?”
“No,” she said hesitantly. “I feel guilty, my lord, even though I know he was himself with Lettie.”
“When he returns,” Rolfe said, stroking his arm, “I will take care of this situation, I promise you.”
Ceidre wanted to ask how, but was afraid to know what he intended. And indeed, what could he do? He might ask Guy to agree to seek to annul their marriage, or he might ask him to maintain their relations as chastely as they were. He certainly would not divorce his own wife and marry her. When Ceidre realized the direction her thoughts had taken, she was stunned. She certainly would never agree to marry the Norman, even if they were both free. He was the enemy! He might arouse her passions, but she was only his mistress to aid her brothers—and she must not forget it for a second. “Did”—she paused—“did Alice remark upon last night? Did she know we were together?”
“I do not know,” Rolfe said. “Alice is confined to her chamber for what she did to you, Ceidre. I am sorely tried by her malicious will. I have warned her to cease her rude maneuverings and plottings. Hopefully she realized I am being very lenient.”
“You do this for me?” Ceidre breathed.
“Who else?” he said gruffly. “She almost killed you!”
“But—but you confined her before I came to your bed last night.”
“Her treatment of you had nothing to do with our relationship, and my punishment of her was independent as well.” He smiled into her hair. “Now ’twould be worse, for I have marked you mine in my mind and my heart, and I am possessive and territorial, Ceidre. Anyone who harms you now harms me.”
“I do not want Alice to know I have become your mistress,” she whispered. “Please.”
“Do you think I am so crude as to toss it in her face?” He stiffened.
“She will find out,” Ceidre said miserably. “Although no one saw me leave this morning, eventually what we do will become common knowledge. Secrets cannot be kept on a manor.”
“It matters not. I am lord here, and no one will dare speak out against you for fear of my wrath.” Suddenly he smiled. “Only you dare to oppose me, Ceidre.”
“Witches are not afraid of mere mortals.” She sniffed.
