Conquering the Dark Axe (18 page)

Never had he thought eating the way she chewed the
beef could be so sensual. Rourke did not know that he leaned forward as she
slowly continued to eat.

But Alexa noticed. She watched him with a hot open
gaze as she pulled more and more meat from the platter.

Soon enough it was clean and she reached for the
pitcher to fill her cup. She drank half; the warm wine warming her senses and
belly, all the while her eyes on him.

Posed in that position he seemed to favor after
eating, Alexa let her eyes rove slowly over his large frame. 

Up his legs, thighs, over his hips and flat stomach,
to the open collar of his tunic showing his bronzed skin and a few light golden
hairs on his chest. Then up to his whiskers to those  red lips- more red
now from his drink of the wine and eating berries, to end at his green
eyes-which were open and aflame on her.

Alexa swallowed hard the last of the wine in her
mouth and nearly choked.

Rourke’s lips parted. “Good to see your appetite
back.”

His deep husky tone sent shivers of warmth down to
the pit of her belly. Alexa let out a sigh and was disappointed when he jerked
back with a groan and closed his eyes.

She knew he was awake.  She did not wish for
the remainder of the evening to be spent in silence as it had been the past two
evenings and heard herself asking, “Were you born mean?”  She knew he
heard her, but he took his sweet time in responding.  She wanted to talk
and needed him to.

“Is it not written somewhere that all of us Normans
are born that way and with a fork from hell in each hand?”

Alexa would not let him steer her down a path to
make her lose her temper. If this marriage were to work, she wanted to know
about this man that had invaded her home and her body. 

“That is not so. You jest when I try to be serious.
‘Tis obvious one must be reared in that way to turn out like-“she stopped. One
green eye popped open and glared at her.  She licked her lips. 

Then with a look of boredom, he closed his eyes
again, “I do not remember much about the man that claimed to be my father other
than the fact that his fist was like iron. And I felt it plenty in my young
years when one should not.” 

His tone was flat and Alexa waited, hoping for more.
But he said naught. 

“Your mother?”  She prodded nervously as she
picked among the nuts and berries. He had touched upon his mother briefly the
other night and Alexa held her breath, hoping he would take the moment and
expand upon it.

An annoyed sigh came from between his parted lips
and Alexa did not think he would say more.

But when he opened his eyes, burning her with his
stare, she let out the breath she held as he said.  “My mother was a
favorite tanner and bleacher of William’s wife Matilda as well as a
friend.  She had taken us in when my bastard of a father left us on the
side of a road to starve.”

Alexa gasped and his jaw clenched. But he went on,
“I was a fast learner. Big from the beginning, agile and caught William’s eye.”

Rourke went on to tell her how he was soon called
into the king’s court with a few other wayward bastards like himself to start
their training.  His knighthood came early due to his fast agility, quick
learning skills and growth.   

“So, you grew up a favorite of William’s, the court
at an early age?”

He shrugged. 

‘Twas like pulling teeth!  Alexa picked up the
carafe.

 “More wine?”

“Nay. But, I tire of this conversation.”

She licked her lips and returned the carafe back to
the table, then fisted her hands in her lap. “It is good we talk, it helps ease
the…the not knowing with this person wishing to do me harm…out there.”

“Conversation will not catch him. I will. Now come,
I am ready for bed.”

Alexa expelled a long frustrated exasperated breath
and glared at him. He lifted a golden brow, adding, “And I am too weary for a
fight.”

Alexa tensed. He normally left the chamber after the
meal, then returned after he’d believed she’d slept the past two nights.
Something ignited within her. She did not wish to fight either.  Would he
touch this night?

She inhaled sharply when she realized how much she
wanted him to. She blamed her crazy thoughts on the angst she held over not
being able to find this person and everything else that was going on. But she
knew it was more than that.  Being so close to him, smelling his musky
scent, feeling his hard body against hers the past nights-

‘Twas utter madness and she didn’t know how much
more of it she could stand. Was he not affected?

She wiped her hands clean and moved over to the
bed.  In a matter of minutes he seemed to be naked and at her back whilst
she still had yet to remove the thin shift. 

“Do you need my help?”

“Nay.”  She swallowed nervously and removed it
quickly with shaky hands and made to pull the thick furs across to cover her
nakedness.  She was startled by his light chuckle.

“There is naught to hide. I have seen everything
quite thoroughly already, Alexa.” 

Alexa’s gaze shot to his.  Passion flamed
inside her at the smoldering look he gave her. She asked boldly, “Must you
always be so brutish?”

A finger touched her nipple; she flinched and bit
back a moan.  “Only you make me that way. Come, lie back. This time you
start calling me by my given name.”

Shock had her stare at him. “Is that so? Why?”

“Because I wish it so and I want to hear it on your
tongue before my weary bones put me to sleep. Speak it.”

The pad of his thumb brushed over her nipple as the
heat in her belly uncurled and Alexa stared down at him and knew what he was
doing. Conversation would not catch the killer, but he was trying to ease her
fear. She sighed when he pinched her nipple and she heard herself say it.
“Ro-Rourke.”

And she repeated it louder again when his hot mouth
replaced his fingers and he suckled her and she knew no more.

He had lied. He’d said he was weary yet he made
passionate love to her twice like a man possessed through the long night before
he allowed the both of them to rest, totally exhausted.  Snug and holding
her up against his side, his snores soon reached her ears. Alexa rested a hand
over his heart.  He had opened up to her in more ways than he’d known this
night and her heart blossomed. The unrest in her was gone and she smiled as
sleep welcomed her.

TWENTY-TWO

It took only one more day and he allowed her freedom
to roam with guards hidden at every turn about the manor. Alexa was glad to
stretch and her eyes greedily ate up every new change she spotted. From new
furniture added, to his coat of arms on a large banner splayed above the hearth
in the great dining hall, to the servants, Saxon and Norman the like, working
side by side as they bustled about doing their chores.

She wanted to be angry, but found she could not.
Everyone looked healthy, robust and occupied with what it was they were doing.
All greeted her as she passed and Alexa found surprisingly that the changes
were not so bad after all. 

Upon reaching the small room, one of the guards
assigned to her veered off to one side out of sight and the other, stayed
hidden in an alcove within the room with her. With her out in the open, Rourke
had argued mightily betwixt her and Goran until they lost and that one guard
would be visible at all times. Her being out of the chamber was the second part
of the plan and they hoped it might flush the person out.

The plan had produced no one in the two days and
Rourke believed the killer would strike again when they thought his and her
guards were down.

Alexa sighed and unsheathed the wooden makeshift
squire
blade he’d left at the foot of their bed this morning. At first she had been
angry. It wasn’t her true blade, but it was damn better than a candle stick.
Soon enough she would have her own sword back in her hands, she hoped. Alexa
readied for some eager exercise. 

The airy room had always been empty of furniture and
a place for her and Lisbeth to engage in a fun game of chess and for Alexa to
practice her weaponry when thick snow blanketed the grounds or when their
father feared the marauders from the forests might pounce. The wide windows in
this room sucked in the sunlight this frigid day. She stretched this way and
that and practiced. All the while mumbling aloud her thoughts as she attacked
the makeshift clothed dummy in front of her over and over with much skill and
zealous.

“Were it a real opponent, I fear I would be walking
knee deep in blood and you would be the victor, my lady. Your skill is one to
be much admired.”

Goran came into the room with hands clasped behind
his back and a sweet smile on his handsome face.  Alexa found herself
returning it with one of her own. She nodded at him.

“Sir Goran, I thank you for your too kind words.”

She was surprised when he blushed under her words
and adjusted the cloak buttoned at his neck. 

“’Tis true. Who taught you?”

“My father.” Alexa’s hoarse response choked her.

“He was a fine swordsman then. I fear a warning must
be given to one when a true blade is in your hands. A woman should be lauded
simply for picking up a blade. Your father taught you well.”

‘Twas Alexa’s turn to blush. Soon enough the
uncomfortable feeling vanished from them both and he drew her into light banter
and had her thoughts elsewhere and laughing aloud. Alexa found she enjoyed the
time with him and for one moment she wished. Why could Rourke not possess such
a pleasant side to him as his friend?

Their laughter was soon interrupted by the large
presence in the doorway.

Alexa’s breath hitched in her throat as her eyes
fell upon the man that occupied her thoughts. He was head to toe in black
except for the gray fur lining his leather boots. He looked so handsome with
his hair pulled back from his face.  His dark look shot from her to Goran
and Alexa and let out a tense breath.

“Exercise is over. Come, Goran, we have a matter to
see to.”

 His gruff tone shattered the good feelings she
had. Goran nodded and quit the room, but Rourke entered and came to stand
before her.  Alexa let her neck fall back to look up at him. “Where do you
go?”  She asked him.

“A short bit away. We will be back before dusk.”

His throaty response shot a tingle to her belly. He was
standing so close to her and those lips she so wanted to kiss parted. He seemed
angry, but he was looking at her in that way he usually did when he wanted to
be inside her. 

“The guard will see you back to the solar. You will-
nay, Alexa. You will remain there until I return.”

She clamped her mouth shut then opened it
again.  “My first day of freedom cut short. Naught has happened. Can I not
stay just a little longer here?”

Her eyes pleaded with him to trust her and Rourke’s
gut clenched. His jealousy at hearing and seeing the way she laughed and seemed
to be enjoying herself in Goran’s presence ate at him. Yet, he wanted to kiss
her. She looked so beautiful, open and carefree talking to his friend. She had
yet to bestow this side of herself to him. He cursed aloud over his thoughts
and she took a step back from him.

He cleared his throat and fought the urge to reach
out and undo the long braid at her back.  So he bent and picked up her
wooden blade and handing it to her, he signaled the guard.  “Nay. You know
it is unwise until the threat has passed.”

 He waited to see if she would argue. She
didn’t, but the look in her amber pools told him she wanted to. She turned away
from him and followed after the guard. At the door she turned to him.

“I wish for Camm’s company later.”

“Aye, and have your maid help you free your hair
from that ugly braid.”

They said no more to one another and Rourke waited
until she and the guard disappeared from the top of the wooden staircase before
he walked out to meet Goran. A different anger firing his blood this time.

He wanted the bright look of life back in her eyes,
not the dull one he’d seen just before she’d left with the guard. Hopefully
after this errand, Rourke sighed, he would be able to see more of it.

“What do you mean to bring my lord way out here to
see a bag of bones? We cannot get any answers from this. Our source told us you
would have answers. You have wasted our time.”  Goran’s shout was full of
fury.

Rourke squatted near the bones scattered upon the worn
pelts, looking them over. The woman’s skull had been bashed in. The hunter that
claimed to be a witness to who the woman was stuttered as he backed away from
Goran’s wrath.

‘My lords, wa-wait. See. You will see your time was
not wasted.”

“See what old man?” Goran asked through clenched
teeth.

“Goran.”  Rourke’s deep timbre shook the
rafters in the small hut. 

The small fire coming from the pit in the center of
the one room hut left the place feeling as if they were still outside. Rourke’s
breath puffed out a white cloud as he stood. Goran grunted and took a step
back.