The Falls of Erith (28 page)

She
laughed softly. “Perhaps on occasion.”

He
grinned and kissed her. She tasted so good that he kissed her again. The spark
that ignited so readily between them burst into flame and his mouth claimed her
firmly, his tongue probing the tender places of her mouth.

“Dallas
isn’t the only man with a new wife,” he murmured, his mouth still on hers. “I
have one, too.”

His
hand was on her breast again, the powerful warmth firm against her body. She
could feel his heat through her bodice.

“Is
that so?” she whispered as his mouth moved across her jaw. “And what do you
intend to do with her?”

Braxton’s
response was to latch on to her neck, half-biting, half-suckling. It was enough
to drive her mad, a soft moan escaping her lips.  They fell back on the pallet,
his arms around her, his mouth on her neck.

Acutely
aware of Geoff’s presence, Braxton pulled the blanket up over them both just in
case the man should awaken. At least he wouldn’t see much.  Braxton’s mouth
returned to her lips and he kissed her with ferocious intensity, each suckle or
stroke of the tongue giving way to stronger passion.  His big hands pulled at
the top of her shift, pulling down the surcoat and fabric until the rise of her
breasts was evident. Beyond that, he had to unfasten the back of it. In a
flash, he rolled onto his back and Gray ended up straddled on top of him.

He
stopped kissing her long enough for their eyes to meet. With a glance at Geoff,
Gray reached behind her and unfastened the back of the surcoat.  She pulled it
off with Braxton’s assistance, baring her breasts slowly and modestly. When her
firm, round globes were revealed in the weak light, Braxton reached up to touch
them ever so gently. He was reverent and adoring. Then he pulled her down to
him, his mouth seeking a rosy nipple.

Gray
gasped when he suckled her, gently at first, and then with more force.  Painful
jolts of excitement ran throughout her body and she had to make a conscious
effort not to make any noise. But her ragged breathing told Braxton how much
she liked it, the hands in his hair encouraging him on.  She held him to her
breasts as he nursed between them, his tongue lapping at her soft flesh.

Gray
removed his padded shirt, leaving his broad chest bare.  The moment was not
lost on either of them; Braxton’s mouth moved back to her lips and their naked
flesh touched for the first time, her chest to his. It was a wildly erotic
moment, full of magic. But they knew, instinctively, the best was yet to come.

Somehow,
she managed to remove herself from both the shift and surcoat and Braxton’s
breeches were off and laying somewhere next to them. Completely nude, the touch
of their heated bodied against each other was dizzying. Gray was lost in a haze
of desire, feeling Braxton’s hands all over her, his mouth in tender places.
When he rolled her over onto her back and began to kiss her belly, she put a
hand in her mouth to keep from screaming.  It was the most amazing thing she
had ever experienced.

Braxton
moved lower still, his mouth now on the mound of dark curls. Gray’s legs
instinctively parted for him and he settled his big body in between them, his
mouth loving her most private core.  Both hands went into Gray’s mouth as she
literally bit off the screams of passion bubbling up her throat. His tongue was
wicked, his mouth hot, and she had never before experienced anything so
intimate or powerful.  Every lap of the tongue and she was ready to scream.

But
she was quickly reaching her climax; Braxton could feel her body beginning to
twitch. Lifting himself up, he gazed into her eyes, his fingers on her lips. He
was so overwhelmed that he couldn’t even speak. All he wanted to do was look
and touch and feel.  Gray gazed back at him, trusting, passionate, as he put
his massive manhood at her threshold.  She could feel it lingering there, hot
and pushing against her. She wanted him so badly that her limbs ached. With the
prelude of a deep kiss, Braxton drove deep into her slick folds.

Gray’s
knees came up, her body arching into his thrust.  Braxton was the one who
groaned this time, biting his lip to keep quiet. She was tight and hot and he
withdrew, thrusting hard once again and seating himself fully.  Gray’s pelvis
rocked up against him and he lost his control then, feeling the animal instinct
to mate with this woman. He thrusts were measured, deep, pelvis against pelvis
as they matched each other move for move.  Sweat began to glisten. Braxton
lifted himself up on his arms just so he could watch her magnificent body in
the weak light. It was an awesome sight.

His
thrusts grew deep, harder, as he felt his release approach.  He fell back on
top of her, gathering her against him, his face buried in the crook of her
neck. He could hear someone whispering sweet words to her and he realized it
was him. He was telling her of his desire for her, since the moment they met. 
She was weeping with joy.

My
wife
. He
whispered the words, thrusting deliberately with each syllable.
My wife
.
He thrust hard again, feeling his climax come.
My wife
. He said it
through gritted teeth, feeling Gray’s body tighten in response, a volcanic
climax throbbing through her slick walls. But she never uttered a sound; when
he opened his eyes, her hands were in her mouth. She had bitten down so hard
that she had left big red welts, evidence of the staggering sensations he had
provoked within her.

His
movements slowed to a stop, but his arms remained around her, holding her so
tightly that he squeezed the air from her. But Gray didn’t care; she was in a
stupor, a haze of satisfaction such as she had never known.  Braxton was all
around her, his body still embedded within her. She never wanted to move from
this state. She could hardly believe he belonged to her, and she to him.  The
hands came out of her mouth and wound around his neck, holding him as tightly
as he was holding her. In this position, they fell into a deep, sated,
dreamless sleep.  It was a night to remember.

On
the opposite side of the tent, Geoff lay there with his eyes wide open, staring
at the ceiling and beads of sweat on his forehead.  The night had been an
evening for him to remember, too.

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN

The
morning broke heavy with mist. The fires from the previous night had burned
into low, smoking embers that, by dawn, were being re-stoked by the soldiers.

Braxton
left Gray sleeping soundly, having dressed with extreme quiet before quitting
the tent. He emerged into the cold gray dawn to find Dallas standing near the
larger of the fires. Smoke was heavy in the mist, clinging, as he approached
his knight, now his son-in-law.

Dallas
nodded as their eyes met. “My lord,” he greeted. “How does your lady wife fare
this morning?”

Braxton
eyed Dallas, a smile lurking on his lips as he recounted the night’s
unbelievable passion. “Well enough,” he said. “Though she was terribly worried
about her daughter last night. I trust all went well?”

Dallas’
demeanor moved from that of a professional soldier to one of a new bride
groom.  He lifted his eyebrows. “She stopped crying, if that’s what you mean,”
he said. “I believe she slept well. She is still asleep.”

Braxton
nodded his head as if that was enough answer to his question. But it wasn’t.
“Everything… went well?”

Dallas
knew what he meant. He looked at Braxton, a slightly confused expression on his
features. “It seems rather strange now that you and I are related.”

“Aye,
it does. In private, you will call me Braxton, as befitting my daughter’s
husband. There is no need to be so formal.”

Dallas
seemed rather pleased at the prospect, though it was still a bit odd to him. 
“As you wish,” he said.  After a moment, he answered the original question. “I
did not bed her if that’s what you are asking. She would not have taken that
well at all. That is something that will come with time.”

Braxton
drew in a deep breath. “You would be correct had you the luxury of time,” he
looked pointedly at him. “But you do not. Suitors will be coming from now until
Martinmas and you must consummate your marriage so there will never be any
chance of an annulment or any other breach of contract. You married Brooke for
a reason. Do I make myself clear?”

Dallas
met his gaze, finally lifting his eyebrows in surrender. “You are right, of
course,” he said. “But last night… that was not the night to do it.”

“It
doesn’t matter. For her sake, you must do as you must. She will understand when
she grows older.”

He
nodded reluctantly. “As you say.”

“Before
we leave for Erith, Dallas.”

“Aye.”

Silence
settled between them like the fog, heavy and pensive. They stood and watched a
couple of soldiers tease the embers into a roaring blaze and put water wine on
to boil.  Other soldiers were breaking down the camp and loading the wagons. 
Graehm approached from a cluster of trees to tell them that the men searching
for de Aughton had returned empty handed.  They had searched as far as
Redmayne, several miles to the south, but had been unable to track the man. 
The knowledge made Braxton uneasy.

“He
could not have simply disappeared,” he said. “He must be somewhere.”

“If
he is, he is well hidden,” Graehm said. “We had some of our best trackers
looking for him.”

Braxton’s
blue-green eyes took on a distant look as his mind moved to the knight that had
so boldly gone after Gray. “That may be, but they did not look in the right
place.”

“What
are you suggesting?”

He
was silent a moment, contemplating. “If it were me, and knowing that I would be
tracked, I would not try to run unless I had a very fast horse. And de Aughton
was horseless. Moreover, we have all of his possessions with us – the
saddlebags on his charger were filled with his money, clothes, and other items.
He literally has nothing with him but the clothes on his back.  So perhaps he’s
not run.  Perhaps rather than move away from us, he’s moved closer. Would you
not want to recover what was rightfully yours?”

Graehm
wasn’t following him, but Dallas was. “Do you think he’s watching us even now?”
he asked.

“Perhaps,”
Braxton shrugged. “Where is his horse and possessions?”

“The
charger is tethered with the others and his possessions are with Graehm.”

Braxton
nodded faintly, his mind still working on the possible whereabouts of the
vanished knight. “As far as I know, the men did not search the vicinity of this
camp. They spread out and started looking once they reached Milnthorpe. If De
Aughton is watching us even now, it would be a very clever posture.  He knows
we would be looking elsewhere for him, not in our midst.”

Graehm
looked stricken as it all suddenly made sense. “We should put an extra watch on
his charger.”

“And
on his possessions.”

Dallas
suddenly broke away from them and marched for his tent. Braxton and Graehm
watched him go. “Where are you going?” Braxton asked.

Dallas
kept walking. He looked over his shoulder. “To rouse my wife and put her under
my protection.”

Braxton
had to agree with him. He, too, moved back for the larger tent where Gray was
still sleeping. She was the target, after all, and with this latest development
he was uncomfortable leaving her alone, even just a few feet away from him.  He
pushed back the tent flap, his eyes focusing on his new wife.

She
was fully dressed, rolling up their pallet.  When the flap moved, she looked up
and her gaze locked with Braxton’s. His heart softened at the sight of her and
he smiled broadly.

“Good
morning, Lady de Nerra,” he went to her, putting his arms around her when she
stood up to greet him. “Did you sleep well?”

She
kissed him in greeting. “Better than I ever have,” she said softly, gazing into
his eyes intently. “I do love sleeping in your arms.”

“And
I love having you in them.”

She
grinned and kissed him again. He responded with passion, with force, his mouth
and tongue titillating hers.  She pulled her lips away just to catch a breath,
embracing him tightly.

“Oh,
Braxton, how I do adore you,” she murmured.

He
pulled back to look at her. His expression suggested disbelief and elation.
After a moment, he cupped her face in his hands, the blue-green eyes
glimmering.

“I
adored you the moment I saw you wandering the Falls of Erith,” he told her as
if she should have already known such a thing. “That adoration has turned into
love and it grows stronger by the day.”

She
was speechless, breathless. “You love me?”

His
brow furrowed, but there was a smile on his face. “My God, woman, how could you
think anything else?”

“Because…
because you have never told me until now.”

He
gently squeezed the face between his hands and kissed her on the end of her
pert nose. “You are right. It is my most grievous mistake. I just thought you
would know.”