Heat rose to her cheeks. How was it he could enflame her body with a simple look and a few words?
Elspeth opened her mouth to speak but the heat in his eyes stopped her. His thumbs stroked her hands and she reacted as if they were bellows swelling her flame. She squirmed on her chair to ease the tension that built between her legs. His eyes grew wide and he released her hand and stood.
Magnus stepped away from her and raked his hands through his hair. God’s breath, he was magnificent! Through his tight tunic his back rippled with corded muscle and she didn’t doubt for a moment he could fling her over his shoulder and have her anyway or anywhere he wanted. And she’d let him. Elspeth shook her head and stood to smooth her skirts. She didn’t know what God had intended for her when it came to her visions, but she was certain he did not intend for her to become wanton.
She pushed thoughts of his hard body aside, no easy feat with said body so delectably on display before her. “We should explore your idea,” she said, obviously not meaning ripping one another’s clothes off and ravishing each other until dawn.
Magnus turned to her and chuckled. “You will be the death of me,” he said.
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“It means we will make a visit to the armoury and see which weapons are most suited for a woman of your strength and stature.” His smile faded. “There may come a time when despite all my efforts, you still have to defend yourself.”
Elspeth thought about Saga who was quite accomplished with weapons. Word had spread quickly about the lessons she conducted with the servants at MacDomnail Castle. Any new staff here were expected to go through training in order to learn how to at least protect themselves. And what about Vigdis? Was she trained in battle too? The thought of learning how to wield a sword versus stitch a pillow almost made her laugh.
The air was warmer than usual for late afternoon during the fall harvest. Elspeth and Magnus made their way across the bailey and to a long stone structure. Elspeth had never been inside before, though she’d spied the building many times when crossing the bailey to approach the keep.
Magnus appeared to know where he was going and so she followed him to the structure and inside. He lit torches along the inside which revealed more weapons than Elspeth had seen in her entire life. She’d never been interested in them, though her brother possessed an armoury, she never bothered to look inside. Now she wished she had for there were items there she did not know what to call.
“If you had to choose just one,” she asked him, “which would it be?”
Magnus took his time touching the various swords and axes until he came to a long rod with a metal ball on the end. Spikes protruded from the ball. He turned to her with a wide grin.
“I like this one.”
She’d never seen the like in her life. “What is it?”
“It’s called a mace. I prefer to call it ‘destroyer of my enemies’. Would you like to touch it?”
She wasn’t sure if he was jesting or not and preferred to think he was, though he did seem to be quite enamoured with the object. “Perhaps you and destroyer would like some time alone?” she couldn’t help but ask.
Magnus tilted his head back and laughed, a deep rich sound that resonated through her body. She could spend many pleasant hours listening to him talk or laugh; she wasn’t fussy.
“I apologize. I am in admiration of good workmanship. But these are tools, and are only as good as the one wielding them.”
That made sense. If one didn’t know how to use the ball with the spikes on it, what was the point in owning it?
“Come, look at this one,” he said and drew her to a series of swords that were thinner and longer than the one she’d seen him carry. He lifted it up and gazed directly into her eyes then spent a moment or two finding a particular spot where he could balance the whole thing on his finger. “Weight balance is critical in sword play,” he said, never breaking eye contact with her. With a flick, the sword swirled in the air then landed in his confident grasp. He pointed the blade downward and directed the handle toward her.
Did she really want to learn how to use a sword? She kept a small dagger in her skirts and imagined she could use that if given the opportunity. But in reality she didn’t quite know how to use that either.
Elspeth reached into her skirts and pulled out the dagger. Magnus’ eyes went wide then narrowed. “Has that been there the whole time?”
“Aye,” she said with a grin.
“I believe I shall have to pat you down, Lady Elspeth, for my own safety.”
Her heart flip flopped in her chest as he placed both the sword and her dagger on the table beside them. Magnus’ hands encircled her waist and drew her tight to his body. His hands slid down to cup her buttocks causing her to suck in her breath. They were alone, she was unchaperoned, and his hands were on her again.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Magnus had to get his wits together. It seemed like every time he came within two feet of this woman he wanted to devour her and that would not do. But perhaps one little taste wouldn’t hurt. He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers and groaned when she slid her hands up his chest.
Pulling back, he met her gaze. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips parted. Loving her would be so easy.
“I apologize again. It seems that’s all I am offering you these days,” he said and turned to pick up the dagger and sword. He handed both to her and reached for his broadsword.
“Let us remain focused, shall we?”
