Great Protector (16 page)

She
shook her head, tears pelting his wrists. "But you are not my
father," she sighed raggedly, her hands gripping the mailed gloves on her
face. "Richmond, I do not want to join the cloister because I love you. I
realize that a man of your importance could not possible return my feelings,
but I will tell you all the same. I am sorry if my confession makes you
uncomfortable, but I cannot stop myself. You must know."

His
mouth hung agape; he couldn't help it. All he could do was stare at her, touch
her, the knowledge that she loved him filling him beyond his wildest dreams. 
He still had difficulty grasping what he was hearing.

"How....
oh, God, Riss...."

He
couldn't think of anything other than his desperate need to kiss her. His
shaking hands clasped her face with savage tenderness, pulling her luscious
mouth to his desperate lips.

As
he knew, her lips were sweeter than he could possibly imagine. A tremulous kiss
that was meant to introduce her into the world of desire suddenly turned
overwhelmingly passionate, blinding by force and nature until Arissa was
practically crushed in his arms. She cried softly against his mouth, sounds and
tears he absorbed.

He
simply was not getting enough of her. He needed more from her. His tongue
licked her lips indecently, parting her lips for his erotic invasion. Sobbing
with joy, Arissa opened her mouth wide to him as if she had been doing it all
her life. He growled as his tongue came into her, tasting the essence of her
sweetness. She was in his arms, finally where she belonged.

Richmond
lost all concept of time. He had no idea how long he had been kissing her, only
that he was no longer content to merely taste her honeyed lips. With Arissa
still seated on his lap, he rolled onto his side and took her down to the
floor. His armor was jabbing them both, but neither seemed to realize it.
Nothing in the world mattered any more.

His
lips began to explore new territory, moving along her cheek to her chin. His
hungry mouth devoured her delicate jawline, blazing a scorching trail to her
ear and down the side of her neck. Arissa sobbed through it all as if her heart
was breaking, so deliriously happy that she knew of no other way to express her
joy. Richmond stopped only once in his quest, grinning as he lapped her tears.
She had simply cried harder.

He
was mindless in his pursuit, only aware of his desire to taste every possible
inch of her flesh. Her deliciously large breasts beckoned his touch, his mouth,
and gently he answered. The yearn to touch her was an overwhelming, seducing
hunger.

Arissa
sobs had faded somewhat, her hands intertwined in his rich brown hair as his
lips nibbled at the ripe swell of her bosom. When a great mailed glove tenderly
traced the underswell of her breast before enclosing it within its grasp, she
gasped with the shock and pleasure of it.

His
passion-creased face came up, his eyes conveying far more emotion and depth than
she ever thought possible. With the deepest of feeling, he kissed her chin, her
eyes, her nose as his hand gently massaged her right breast. She closed her
eyes against his touch, clutching his head against her.

"I
do not want to join the cloister, Richmond," she whispered against his
hair. "I want to be with you. I want to love you."

His
mouth was on her neck, both hands on her magnificent breasts. "And I want
you, Riss. God only knows, I have wanted you for nearly as long I can
recall."

She
moaned as his fingers traced the outline of her puckered nipples. "Will
you talk to my father?"

His
mouth moved down her neck to the valley between her breasts. He was mindless
with the intoxication of her. "I shall do whatever it takes. You shall
marry me, Riss. Not the damn church."

She
smiled, a gesture of genuine joy. "Do you love me, Richmond?"

His
head came up, the beautiful blue eyes focusing on her. "More than words
can express, kitten. I have always loved you."

She
traced his lower lip, new tears springing to her eyes. "Truly?"

He
kissed her finger, her hand as it touched him. "Truly."

She
gazed into his eyes a moment, scarcely daring to believe that a dream that had
been a daily part of her existence had actually become a real part of her life.
Tears found their way onto her temples again, bathing her hair.

"Thank
you."

He
dipped down, kissing her more sweetly than life itself.  "Nay, kitten,” he
murmured. “Thank
you
."

She
wound her arms around his neck as their lips fused once more, becoming familiar
with the taste of one another. After several moments, she realized his kisses
had slackened in intensity and she opened her eyes questioningly.

He
was staring at her. "How is it that you have fallen in love with a man
twenty-two years older than yourself?” he whispered. “Why have I become the
fortunate one, Arissa?"

She
shook her head, touching his face with delicate hands. "I do not know,”
she murmured. “I cannot remember when I haven't loved you. As a child, I used
to dream that we would be married someday and that I would bear you a host of
strong sons."

He
smiled faintly. "Why do you think I have never married? There was only one
woman for me, in spite of the fact that she was pledged to a convent."

"I
have heard you say that before. I thought you were jesting."

He
shook his head slowly. "Nay, lady. I have never been more serious in my
life," he studied her porcelain features for a moment, the enormity of the
situation beginning to saturate his mind. "But I cannot promise that we
will meet with immediate success, Arissa. You have been pledged to Whitby for
eighteen years."

A
look of desperation crossed her features. "I cannot take my vows before
God, not when I love you. I do not want to...."

He
shushed her quietly, leaning on his elbow as he touched her beautiful face.
"You will not have to stay there any longer than necessary. If my petition
meets with rejection, I shall simply abduct you and we shall flee to France. I
have relatives in Normandy, and we can be married."

She
swallowed. "You would give up everything you worked for? Richmond, your
reputation is flawless. To end a brilliant career by abducting a novice nun and
fleeing the country is certainly no way to cap off your success."

He
stroked her hair. "I have waited my entire life for you, Lady Arissa. My
success, my reputation, means nothing without you."

She
seemed to be particularly emotional this day, with good reason. She cradled his
face, touching him as she had longed to touch him for years. "I am so
unworthy of you," she whispered. "You are a great man, and I am a
foolish girl with grand dreams.  I simply cannot believe that you would make
such a monumental declaration so easily."

He
leaned down, kissing her tenderly, as tenderly as he had always wanted to kiss
her. "This is not a hasty decision. All I know is that I love you, and I
will do what is necessary. But not a word to anyone, Riss. This must be between
us for now. If your father found out...."

She
nodded rapidly. "His rage would know no limits. My father's temper and I are
well acquainted."

Somewhere,
voices began floating into the small solar and Richmond leapt to his knees, his
ears piqued. When the voices drew closer, he pulled Arissa to her feet and sat
her in a chair. With a quick kiss to the top of her head, he barely had time to
move a respectable distance away before William and Maude were entering the
well-appointed room.

William's
eyes were wide on his daughter. He passed an inquisitive glance at Richmond as
he moved towards her. "I trust Richmond has straightened you out, young
lady?"

Arissa
nearly choked;
Sweet St. Jude, what monumental implications his simple
statement encompassed
! Swallowing hard, she cleared her throat very
lady-like. "He’s, my lord. I apologize for my display of bad
manners."

William
drew in a long breath, offering his daughter a single nod. "Well and good.
I would hope that you would apologize to Sir Tad, as well. You are words
offended him deeply."

Arissa
nodded submissively, looking to her hands. "I shall apologize if that is
your wish, father," she said softly. "But I do not wish to be alone
with him. I.... I do not trust him."

William
cocked an eyebrow and opened his mouth to question her when Richmond stepped
in. "Tad de Rydal was less than courteous with her earlier, William, which
explains her attitude towards him. And I hardly blame her."

William
frowned. "Define his actions, Richmond."

Richmond
shrugged, crossing his arms. "He was rather bold with his language and his
actions. When I intervened, he challenged me."

William's
eyes widened. "Why did you not tell me of this earlier? How dare he call
you out in the midst of a social occasion!"

"It
was of little consequence. A humiliating lessoned learned and he was sent on
his way."

William
turned to his daughter. "What did he say that was so terribly bold,
Arissa? And, more importantly, did he try to harm you?"

Arissa
swallowed hard, glancing at Richmond before she spoke.

"He....
he called you an idiot for pledging me to the church. When I attempted to
defend you, he grabbed my arm and told me a woman of my beauty was made for a
man's pleasure."

William
was outraged and Richmond's expression bordered on pure hostility. Although
Richmond had been lingering in the shadows monitoring the situation, the
muffled conversation between Tad and Arissa had been unclear to him; he had
intervened not as a result of the words spoken but as a direct reaction to
Tad's movements. Had he known the extent of the young knight's statements, he
would have interceded far sooner.

A
fierce sense of jealousy filled his veins. How dare the bastard direct such
harsh words at a woman as fragile and sweet as Arissa.
His
Arissa.
Damnation, he had been aware of her feelings all of ten minutes and already he
was acting the protective husband.

As
Maude moved to comfort her daughter, William turned to Richmond.

"I
want him out," he growled. "I do not care what it takes - I shall
leave the details to you. But avoid insulting Ovid if you can. He’s a powerful
baron and I shall not have the man going to war against me."

Richmond
cocked an eyebrow. "As you and I have agreed, I am not the diplomatic
sort. When I throw de Rydal from this keep, I will not stop to ask him if I
have been offensive in manner. Mayhap you should speak with the father while I
deal with the son. If Ovid understands Tad's offense as you explain it, he will
most likely allow me to complete my duty as I see fit."

William
nodded shortly. "Agreed," he turned to his daughter once more. "I
am sorry, Riss. I had no idea that he had been so terribly brutal with
you."

Her
gaze moved to Richmond, feeling more love and pride than she ever thought
possible. "Richmond saved me, father. Tad never truly had a chance."

Richmond
heard the words, saw the expression. Never in his life had he felt so fulfilled,
as if discovering Arissa's feelings had suddenly made him a whole, undivided
man. It was all he could do not to match her dreamy gaze.

William
grunted as he moved from the solar, intent on dealing with his unruly guests. Maude
remained with Arissa as Richmond moved to follow William. A lingering gaze
passed between them, expressions filled with a thousand words of thanks for
what had occurred between them this day.

Richmond
allowed his gaze to rest on her beautiful face longer than he should have, his
promises to her rolling over and over in his mind. He had promised to marry
her, no matter what the cost. And he would. The fact that she was a princess
far beyond his reach no longer seemed to matter anymore; she loved him, and he
loved her. Lowly knight or no, he would have her.

At
the moment, however, he was forced away from his thoughts to the task at hand.
Richmond tore his gaze away from Arissa, bowing silently to her mother as he
excused himself.

Wrapped
in her mother's arms, Arissa stared at the open doorway long after Richmond had
vacated the room. Still, she could scarcely believe what had transpired between
them. It was still difficult to grasp, even as she continued to taste him upon
her lips.

She
wondered when she would awaken from her most vivid, wondrous dream yet.

CHAPTER
SIX

"I
thought you said Tad was leaving," Emma shielded her blue eyes against the
afternoon sun. "He’s on the field with the others."

Arissa's
gaze lingered on the sun-lit field. The Stick and Ball game was about to begin
and the two teams were catching a bit of practice before the match commenced.

The
men clutched angled sticks in their hands, broad and thin and designed to
precisely smack the object of the game, a small leather ball. The entire
purpose of the event was to move the ball through the opponent's team to their
protected end of the field. When the opposition was conquered, a score was
made.