Christina Phillips - [Forbidden 02] (10 page)

He wouldn’t dare. She wouldn’t believe it. But still she remained prone on the bed, unwilling to see the evidence with her own eyes as rage thundered through her blood and pounded against her temples.

Finally she jerked upright and glared at the ugly shackle enclosing her ankle that attached to an equally ugly iron chain that trailed over the end of the bed.

He’d put her in chains
.

An inarticulate hiss spilled from her lips, and her fingers clawed uselessly against her thighs. So much for imagining she’d gained his trust. The bastard had tethered her like an animal, as if she were his property, as if she were—

The door cracked open, as if whoever entered wanted to do so without waking her. She clamped her teeth together and glowered as the Gaul caught her eye, and he kicked the door shut behind him, obviously no longer concerned with stealth.

He approached, as if nothing were wrong. She wouldn’t lower herself to speak to him. Wouldn’t demean herself by engaging in a confrontation. She’d lie down, turn her back and show him just how little she cared that he’d
put her in chains
.

“I didn’t think you’d be awake yet.” He sat at the foot of the bed but the Roman scents and spices or whatever he’d used in the barbaric bathing ritual saturated the air, weaved into her senses, distorted her mind.

Her fingernails dug into her palms. She didn’t care that he no longer stank of horse or travel. It made no difference that his hair was damp, his jaw freshly shaved, or that he smelled like something that had walked out of her most erotic dreams.

He glanced as her imprisoned ankle. She resisted the urge to curl her toes because then he’d know his scrutiny bothered her. Enraged her. Gods, if he got any closer, she’d gouge out his eyes and force them down his bastard Gallic throat.

Unbelievably he reached out toward her enchained leg, and her resolve snapped.

“Don’t you dare touch me.” She jerked her legs across the bed, the shackle a loathsome weight around her. When he turned back to her, as if he was about to justify his act, she leaned forward so he wouldn’t be under any illusion as to how she felt. “How dare you chain me like a
slave
?”

His jaw tensed, as if he didn’t appreciate her accusation. “That wasn’t my intention.”

Injustice bubbled deep in her gut that he should treat her so basely. And although she tried to ignore it, she also knew her pride seethed at the knowledge she’d been unable to gain his trust, been unable to hoodwink him as easily as she’d so smugly imagined.

“How could you have intended anything else?” She kicked her leg, making the chain clank, a hideous sound that reinforced how helpless she was. If he kept her chained the entire time they were in Camulodunon, she’d never have a chance to escape.

“I
intended
to release you upon my return.” He sounded as if he was having second thoughts about following through, but it didn’t matter what he intended. He’d already shown her, more clearly than any lying words, what he thought of her.

“You had no right to tether me in the first place.” Her breath shortened and she gripped the cloth over her breasts before it slithered to her waist. She wanted to hate him, and she did. She wanted to despise him, and she most
certainly
did.

But she didn’t want to still desire him. Didn’t want this ravening lust thundering through her veins or pounding between her thighs. And yet she did still desire him and her body craved his as much as it ever had.

“Are you going to argue the matter all night?” No hint of apology or shame at his actions colored his words. If anything, he sounded as if he believed her in the wrong to question him.

As if he truly did consider her nothing more than his slave.

She straightened her rigid spine. “I wouldn’t demean myself to argue with such as
you
.”

“Then go to sleep.” His voice was harsh and he rose from the bed and strode to where he’d left his pack against the far wall. She caught sight of an iron key dangling from his fingers. “Enjoy your self-righteous indignation.”

Her fingers twitched with useless rage. Had he really intended to unlock her shackles when he returned, even if she’d still been asleep? But he’d seen she was awake and still he’d approached with the key.

Her breath escaped in a noisy hiss. Had she held her tongue, or at the very least not insulted him, she’d be free already.

But at least now she knew how little he truly thought of her. She wouldn’t underestimate him again. Wouldn’t assume a friendly word or disarming smile equaled trust.

Pride demanded she sling one final condemning insult in his face before grandly turning her back on him and feigning sleep. And if she did that, she risked him never removing the chains of degradation. The image of her hobbling behind him, in view of countless others, haunted her, and a shudder crawled through her soul.

What did he want from her? A groveling apology for speaking her mind? A promise to never cross him again? A pledge that she’d obey him in every word he deigned to utter?

Her throat closed, choking on the mere thought of subjugating herself so. Instead she clamped her teeth together, an effective barrier against an inadvertent remark escaping. Rigid with affront, she lay down on the bed, jerked the cover up to her chin and, after a moment’s hesitation, rolled onto her side facing him.

Never turn your back on the enemy
.

In the fathomless black of the abyss, the entire world slipped sideways. Morwyn groaned, burrowed back into the endless silence, but still the world rocked, centering on her shoulder, insistent and relentless.

“Morwyn.” The voice penetrated the darkness bathing her mind and the blissful obscurity of slumber shredded like wisps of summer clouds in a warm breeze. “Wake up. We have to leave.”

The heat of his fingers sank into her blood as he clasped her naked shoulder and shook her in a very unlustful manner. She scowled into the pillow, her eyes still tightly screwed shut, and surreptitiously pressed her thighs together in an attempt to relieve the unwelcome throb of arousal.

And realized she was no longer chained like an enslaved chattel.

“If you don’t hurry, you won’t have time to eat.” He sounded impatient. Good. Why should she care if she made him late? She stretched as well as her painful muscles allowed and smothered another groan at the thought of a second full day in the saddle. By the time they reached Camulodunon, she’d scarcely be able to walk straight.

She rolled onto her back and squinted up at him. He was dressed in tunic and mail shirt and the grim expression on his face suggested he wasn’t impressed by her continued disobedience.

For a moment she contemplated remaining in bed. It would serve him right if he had to physically drag her from the room. Except her pride wouldn’t allow it. It was humiliating enough knowing the innkeeper’s wife pitied her for being in the Gaul’s power, without drawing any more attention to the fact.

And at least he’d removed the shackles. He didn’t intend she look like a slave in public, even if he treated her as one in private.

She sat up and discovered the cloth had disappeared during the night. And the Gaul, who had slept beside her, still hadn’t taken advantage. If she didn’t know better from the way his cock had dug into her when they were in the forest or how he’d looked at her and touched her while she bathed last night, she’d assume he preferred boys.

Scowling, and unable to help it, she climbed from the bed and snatched up her gown from the floor. Had he fucked another woman while in the bathhouse last night? It was the only reason she could imagine as to why he hadn’t taken her upon his return. Surely it had nothing to do with how she’d insulted him?

And even if it had, why hadn’t he slaked his lust at some point during the night? She was no longer covered in dried mud or crusted blood. He’d ensured there was no way she could have procured and hidden a dagger with which to gut him.

As she tied her bodice with savage precision, she hoped it had been a singularly unsatisfactory coupling. And judging by the dark glare on his face and the waves of tension that crackled in the air around them, it certainly hadn’t done much to relieve his frustration.

In frigid silence they walked to the latrines and attended to their needs. She hoped he didn’t bother opening his mouth to her again until they reached Camulodunon. Filthy, lying Gaul.

Despite her best intentions she shot him a surreptitious glance from beneath her lashes. Already his jaw was rough with an overnight beard, but the faintest scent still lingered from his sojourn in the bathhouse.

And he hadn’t lied to her. No matter how she tried to twist his words or misinterpret his actions. How much better she’d feel if he had. Then she could justify her wounded feelings instead of knowing she had nobody but herself to blame for her misguided illusion of having gained a foothold in securing his trust.

She picked up her pack and followed him outside. It was early, the sun still low in the pale blue sky, and the air was fresh as it gusted through her loose hair. With an impatient sigh she pulled open her pack, aware the Gaul watched her. As if even now, after he’d gone through every item before allowing her to touch her own things, he still didn’t trust her not to find a lethal weapon hidden among her possessions.

Her fingers curled around a leather thong and she pulled it free, unable to resist slinging him a scornful glance as she began to braid her tangled hair.

Apparently satisfied she had no intention of garroting him with her strip of leather, he turned to issue instructions to a young stable lad. Obviously he had no intention of allowing her to break her fast, although she was sure
he
had.

And if he imagined she was going to complain or beg him for food, he was delusional. She’d sooner chew on grass.

The innkeeper’s wife emerged, looking exhausted as if she’d been up half the night, and handed the Gaul a package. The aroma of fresh bread tantalized and, despite gritting her teeth, Morwyn’s mouth watered and her stomach growled.

She knotted the end of her braid and glared as the Gaul turned toward her. Let him stuff his face. She hoped he choked. And then she’d take the horse and make her own way to Camulodunon. How hard could it be?

He shoved half the package at her without a word, his green eyes scorching her, before turning around and taking possession of the horse from the stable boy. Part of her wanted to sling the bread at his head. She didn’t need his food. She could fend for herself. And yet she couldn’t because she was his captive. Beholden to his whims. If he decided to starve her, there wasn’t much she could do about it.

Except he wasn’t starving her. He was feeding her. And that annoyed her as much as if he’d stood in front of her and eaten the entire loaf without offering her a single crumb.

Feeling obscurely this was a contest of strength and she’d failed at the first hurdle, she transferred her glare from his back to the bread and, finally, with self-righteous resentment, began to eat.

The sun was sinking on the far horizon as they clattered to a halt outside another Romanized inn. Morwyn loosened her grip on the timber-ridged saddle, her fingers molded into claws from their extended inertia, her head throbbing from the relentless travel without comfort of shade.

She had never believed it possible to travel so far in one day. The countryside and villages merged into a continual blur as the Gaul had urged them ever onward, allowing her only the briefest respite whenever they changed horses. And still Camulodunon wasn’t in sight.

As always, he assisted her in dismounting, as if conscious of her injured leg. But the moment she was on the ground he released her, as if the contact repelled. She slung him a dark look as he hauled their packs from the horse. Not one word had passed between them since he’d woken her this morning. Sometimes she got the impression he was waiting for her to apologize.