The Dragon Lord (28 page)

He pulled her gently against him. “Aye, I have suffered, but not as much as I will if I cannot make love to you tonight. Kiss me, Rose.”

Rose’s subtle female scent wrapped around him like a fragrant mist. She pressed her lips to his, but it was not enough. He prodded her lips with the tip of his tongue, and she opened to him. Desire spiraled through him as he savored the sweet taste of her and felt her heat. He broke off the kiss, needing her, wanting to be inside her as he began tearing off his clothing.

“Help me,” he panted as he struggled to remove his tunic. His side hurt like the very devil, but a little pain was not going to stop him.

Rose pulled his tunic over his head and tossed it aside. “I told you it was too soon.”

“Tis not too soon, love. But I need your help undressing.”

Rose stared at him as if unable to believe he intended to go through with this. “You want to make love even though it might hurt you?”

“Aye, more than you know.”

He sat on the bed and lifted his foot. “My shoes first, sweeting.”

His dark eyes glittered like polished obsidian as Rose removed his shoes and hose. When only his braies remained, he stood and untied the string that kept them on. His braies caught on his rigid cock and held. Meeting her gaze, he shoved them down his hips.

An astounding realization suddenly came to him. He was completely, utterly, hopelessly in love with his wife. That startling revelation robbed him of the ability to think or speak.

“Dominic, are you all right? You look so … odd. I knew this was a bad idea.”

“‘Tis a most wonderful idea. Take off your clothes. I want to see every lovely inch of your body.”

He watched through narrowed lids as she undressed. His heart was beating madly in anticipation. Then he lay back on the bed and extended his hand. Rose hesitated no more than a moment before joining him.

Gather the Rose of love, whilst yet is time.

—Edmund Spenser

Dominic remembered with stark clarity the day the king had ordered him to wed Rose and how displeased he had been. It was Veronica, not Rose, he had wanted. But after making love to Rose that very first time, all thoughts of Veronica had been banished from his mind. Each time he made love to Rose, it was a revelation, opening his eyes to how right they were together.

Now, with Rose’s naked body pressed so sweetly against his, everything left Dominic’s mind but the need to taste her passion again, to arouse her with his mouth and tongue and hands, to take her in all the ways a man could take a woman. Grasping her face between his hands, he kissed her.

Rose sighed and gave herself up to Dragon’s searing kiss. She knew with utter certainty they had explored but the very tip of something immense and glorious. Dragon owned her heart. Their future together was bright with promise, and Rose sealed that promise by putting her heart and soul into the kiss.

His lips were hot and hard and insistent, hardly the kiss of a man who had recently been close to death. It was not a gentle exploration but a demand. She strained upward to meet his kiss, inhaling his breath, savoring his taste and essence.

Placing a finger beneath her chin, he tilted her head up to a better angle, kissing her until she was breathless. Their hearts beat in unison. She wanted more and arched closer. He obliged, his hands moving over her breasts, her hips, between her thighs.

He stroked her nipples. Tremors ran down her spine as his restless hands moved downward, sliding between her thighs again, his fingers exploring her weeping center. A cry left her lips, and he muffled it with his own. She tried to be careful of his wound, but apparently Dominic felt no pain, for he pressed her naked body hard against his. She twisted and writhed, her passion mounting to a feverish pitch as he kissed and touched and stroked.

She bit hard into her lower lip to keep from shrieking aloud when he positioned himself between her legs and penetrated her, going deep, so very deep. Exquisite, thrumming pleasure swept through her. Her hips arched to meet his driving thrusts, and she wound her arms around his neck, matching her movements to his.

How strange, Rose thought in a brief moment of clarity, that not long ago Dragon did not exist for her, nor did she realize such pleasure was possible. Then her thoughts skewered as Dragon whispered soft endearments into her ear, calling her his sweetheart, his only love.

Gasping, moaning, she was possessed by sensations too pleasurable to bear. Her throat ached with love, and she wondered how she had existed without Dragon.

She reached up and touched his lean jaw. “I cannot bear for this moment to end.”

“Nor I,” Dominic rasped. “You drive me to madness.”

But eventually it had to end. Dragon had taken her to the brink, and there was no pulling back. She reached the top, touched the beckoning splendor and clung to it for several breath-defying moments. Then she plummeted, shattering as she fell. The storm in Dominic broke at the same time and he thundered to his own climax, joining her in the swirling void of pleasure.

Much, much later, cozily snuggled against Dragon’s uninjured side, Rose was amazed that she had attained that ultimate peak of splendor a second time, but Dragon had made love to her again and she had responded. He would have loved her again the following morning if Rose had not hopped out of bed just as he reached for her. Dull morning light revealed the drawn lines of Dragon’s face, and Rose feared he had overtaxed his strength.

Her husband, she thought fondly, recognized no limitations when it came to feeding his lust. Not that she minded. She had enough of her own to match, but it was not she who had barely escaped death but a short time ago. She washed quickly in the pale light and pulled on her clothing.

“Where are you going, wife?”

“The keep does not run itself, husband.‘Tis early yet. Go back to sleep.”

“Come back to bed.”

She shook her head. “Nay. You are not a temperate man, and I fear you will do yourself harm if we make love again. You are still weak.”

A wicked grin stretched his lips. “Did I appear weak to you last night?”

“You know you did not, but you could have a relapse.”

He started to rise, then fell back against the pillow with a sigh.“Very well, but do not expect me to remain in bed. I will join you in the hall. I thought to test my strength at sword practice today.”

“Men,” Rose muttered as she let herself out of the bedchamber. Did they think of naught but war and sex?

Yawning, Dominic lay back on the pillow and recalled every blissful moment of the previous night. He had unleashed a wildness in Rose that filled him with insatiable hunger.

He smiled as he recalled the startling revelation that had come to him last night. Had he told Rose he loved her? He had whispered so many endearments during lovemaking,he could not recall his exact words. He did know, however, that Rose had not returned his sentiments. Had the oversight been intentional? Could Rose make love to him with such abandon if she did not love him? He did not think so.

Dominic climbed out of bed, stretched and winced. Rose was right about one thing: Though his wound was healing and he was on the road to full recovery, he was still weak. But it was not his nature to coddle himself. He had no intention of limiting his exercise because of a small wound.

Rose was worried about Starla. Now that Dragon was no longer at death’s door, she felt it was time to return to Westminster Palace. She confronted Dragon with her fears when he appeared in the hall to break his fast.

“I have been thinking about Starla,” Rose ventured. “‘Tis time I returned to Westminster.”

Dominic paused with a spoonful of porridge halfway to his mouth. He set the spoon down carefully and said, “You cannot leave until I am well enough to accompany you.”

“Dominic, you do not mean that,” Rose said reproachfully. “It may be weeks before you are fit for travel, and Starla is out of her element at court. I cannot abandon her.”

“Nevertheless, you are not to go to London without me. If something were amiss, Raj would have let us know. You worry for naught, Rose. We will leave Dragonwyck together, when I am able to travel. The king is aware that I live, for a messenger was sent to Westminster with word of my recovery,” he reminded her.“Now that John knows I am alive and well, Starla has naught to fear from him.”

“I cannot help how I feel. Starla and I are so close, we sometimes feel each other’s fear and pain. I must go to her.”

“Nay, Rose. I forbid it. Each day I feel myself growing stronger.I will be fit to travel very soon.”

Rose’s mouth thinned. Soon was not good enough. She needed to return to Westminster now. Getting there without Dragon’s permission, however, posed a problem.

Rose knew that her father’s vassals were loyal to her and thought she might be able to convince a groom to accompany her. Aye, it was a thought that bore consideration.

“If you are plotting something devious, Rose, forget it,” Dominic warned. “You have the look of a woman scheming mischief.”

Rose gave him an innocent stare.“I plan no mischief, Dominic.”

Though Dragon gave her a suspicious look, he dropped the subject. Rose heaved a sigh of relief and concentrated on her porridge. She hated lying to Dragon, but he was being exceptionally obstinate. She refused to place Starla’s life in peril any longer than necessary.

Rose did not mention Starla or her desire to return to London again, but she did not give up. Contrary to Dragon’s wishes, she visited the stables soon after that conversation, hoping to convince a groom to accompany her. Unfortunately, the grooms were either too old or two young for her purposes. Rose needed a man capable of defending her should the need arise. Disheartened, she left the stables to rethink her plan.

“My lady, do you remember me?”

Rose glanced up, surprised to see Piers, the man she had championed at the manor court. “Of course I remember you. What are you doing in the stables, Piers?”

“‘Tis my time to serve Lord Dragon. Every vassal owes his overlord a certain length of labor each year, and Sir Braden put me to work in the stables.” He shrugged. “I do not mind. I owe you and His Lordship more than I can ever repay.”

Rose smiled. “How fares your wife? Are you getting along with your father-in-law?”

Piers’s face lit up. “Vella is well. She prays for you daily, my lady. Without your intervention, she would have been forced to wed the man her father chose for her. Algar and I are not friends, but he accepts me.”

As Rose stared at Piers, she realized she had before her the man she’d been looking for. Though she expected her journey to London to be without mishap, the need for a protector made an effective argument for asking Piers to provide escort.

But the notion of asking Piers to do something that was likely to anger Dragon made her hesitate.

“You look troubled, Lady Rose.Is aught amiss?”

After a long pause in which Rose wavered between revealing her dilemma and saying nothing, she decided to take Piers into her confidence.

“Can you keep a secret, Piers?”

“For you, anything, my lady.”

“I am desperate to return to London and have need of an escort. I had thought to enlist the help of a groom, but I saw no one who met my requirements.”

Piers’s face wore a stunned look.“Lord Dragon has many knights at his disposal, my lady. Any one of them would serve you better than I.”

“Not so, Piers. You see,” she confided, “Lord Dragon has forbidden me to go to London until he is able to accompany me. You have seen him. He is still recovering, and it could be weeks before he is able to travel.”

“Can you not wait? I do not mean to question your motives for traveling to London before Lord Dragon is ready, but will he not be angry if you leave without his permission?”

Rose heaved a sigh. “You will understand when I explain why I cannot wait.” Then she told him about changing places with Starla and why she could not wait for Dragon.

“Will you accompany me to Westminster and escort Starla back to the convent, Piers? I will inform the head groom that I asked you to serve the remaining time you owe Lord Dragon at the castle, so that he will not think you have abandoned your post. I will not order this of you, Piers; it must be your decision. You have naught to fear from Lord Dragon, for I will shoulder the blame. What say you?”

Piers remained silent so long, Rose feared he would refuse. He was her last hope, however, and she would not give up.

“I will not blame you if you refuse, but whatever you decide will not change my mind about going to London.”

“I can refuse you naught, my lady. I will accompany you on your journey.”

Relief shot through Rose. “Can you wield a sword, Piers?”

“When your father was lord, he taught all his vassals how to use a sword in case Ayrdale came under attack. Aye. I am not as proficient as a knight, but I can hold my own.”

“Do you own a weapon?”  

“Alas, my lady, I own no weapon, not even a cudgel.”

“I will bring my father’s belt and sword. Can you be ready to leave tonight?”

“Tonight, my lady?”

“Aye. Bring my mare around to the postern gate at Matins. I cannot leave until Lord Dragon falls asleep. All I ask is that you wait at the gate until dawn. Should I fail to arrive, return the following night, and the night after that, until I show up.”

A troubled frown furrowed Piers’s brow. “What troubles you, Piers?”

“You should not travel without a maidservant to attend you. I am naught but a lowly villein, but tongues will wag nonetheless. May I be so bold as to speak my mind, my lady?”

“What is it, Piers? Are you having second thoughts?”

“Nay, but might I suggest that Vella accompany us?If you do not want Vella, mayhap one of your maids will suffice.”

Rose considered Piers’s suggestion and thought it a good one. “Will Vella agree?”

“Aye, she will agree,” Piers said with conviction. “She is in your debt, just as I am. We will be waiting for you at the postern gate tonight at Matins.”

Piers took his leave, and Rose spoke to the head groom about the villein before returning to the keep, content that everything was in place for her departure. Dragon would be angry with her, and she regretted that, but she hoped he would understand her reason for defying him. The feeling that Starla needed her was too strong to ignore.