The Lord of the Clans (6 page)

The tumult of excited conversation cranked down a notch when they reached the counter. Always ready to indulge important guests, the innkeeper bobbed his head in a respectful manner.

“I hope everything will be to your satisfaction, my lord.”

“Thank you. Have a good night.”

Without even a glance at the loud surroundings, the Lord of the Clans rushed up the stairs as if driven by an irresistible urge. She climbed the steps after him, but didn’t catch up before he disappeared into their room. What prompted this sudden odd behaviour?

As soon as she crossed the threshold and shut the door behind her, she understood what kind of instructions the innkeeper carried out for him. A lively, warm fire burned in the hearth. Candles lit the four corners of the room. The table had been set for two, and the food looked savoury. A tub full of steaming water sat in front of the fireplace.

He had already thrown his sheepskin coat over the back of a chair. He kicked off his boots while she studied the new settings, then he stretched his arms like a warrior in need of a moment of peace.

“By the Mighty Gods, I’ve been waiting for this since sunset.”

He flung his shirt over his head. The fabric fell to the floor as she realised he meant to bathe in front of her.

As much as she wanted to look away, the sight of his broad shoulders and bulging muscles held her in thrall. She longed to stroke his taut chest, to glide her hand over the tattoo on his hard belly.

Yet reality caught up with her when he dropped his pants. Cheeks so hot they must have turned crimson, she spun round to face anywhere but the place where he stood naked. He chuckled at her back, and his words sent her spiralling into a whole new whirlpool of humiliation.

“Oh, please, don’t put on your righteous looks. Not after handling my cock for half the night.”

Chapter Eight

She prayed to be struck by the wrath of the Creators. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, and she wished they’d swallow her forever. Spirit her away from the derisive gaze burning the back of her head. Deliver her from the intolerable ordeal of facing him after what she had done.

He’d played her all along. Although she recalled the sound of his regular breathing and his motionless body against hers, he had feigned sleep and let her tamper with his manhood. Why would he do that?
To achieve what?
Searching for answers wouldn’t help her right now, and she’d better find a way out of her misery. She blinked and tried to control her voice.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

No sound of splashing water came from behind her. In all likelihood, he still stood naked beside the tub. She laced her hands together and squeezed her fingers when she heard his amused chortle.

“Look at me.”

She couldn’t do that. Not when her mind didn’t understand his request. Not when her legs refused to move, and her feet felt made of lead. Besides, she still had a good half of the opposite wall to observe.

“Ariana, look at me.”

Did he make a living out of being annoying? Why wouldn’t he let it go, just pretend the disgraceful scene never happened? She attempted to move, but her numb body failed to respond.

“I will command you if I have to.”

The harsher tone of his voice fractured her trance. Now he probably thought her slow in the brain, on top of being ridiculous. Drawing air through her clenched teeth, she turned round. His intense gaze hit her full force as she used all her strength to withstand it.

“Did you really imagine in that pretty head of yours that I wouldn’t notice your hand around my cock? You masturbated me.”

“But not half the night.”

Did this statement stand as her best defence? He expected an apology, yet all she seemed able to focus on was the duration of the act. She might as well tell him that a part of her had enjoyed the shameful contact while she was at it. After all, the position she found herself in wouldn’t get worse.

“I humbly apologise, my lord. I didn’t mean to...” She waved a hand toward the top of his thighs. “It’s true I woke up holding you, but in no way have I ever intended to disturb your sleep.”

“Yet you troubled me greatly.”

Was he trying to tell her he hadn’t been able to go back to sleep after her indiscretion? That he lost hours of much needed rest because she couldn’t keep her hands to herself? She gnawed at her bottom lip. If only he’d get into that tub and conceal his nudity.

The ease with which he discarded his clothes in public stupefied her. How could anyone enjoy disclosing his private parts, and parading like a stallion? She figured the possibility that he knew he looked magnificent must help. As though her pondering reached him, his cock hardened.

“See? This is how you trouble me.”

A resurgence of heat invaded her whole forehead. Palms damp, stomach constricted, she had to make a conscious effort to tear her gaze away from his swelling member. Looking at his face didn’t turn out to be the best solution either because his smirk immobilised her.

“Given that half of your time is devoted to blushing, your days must be very boring indeed. Now I understand why your nights are more active.”

The desire to force his words back down his throat overwhelmed her. He was having so much fun at her expense! To top her extreme discomfort, he made no attempt to hide his blatant enjoyment.

“What do you say we bathe together? I promise you can handle my dick to your heart’s content.”

This side of him wasn’t mentioned in his heroic tales. She had listened to them time and time again, but they only told of honour, courage, and fierce battles.
Never of abashing girls with raised shafts.

“If you’ll excuse me, my lord, I must go down to the stables. I don’t like leaving my saddlebags unattended for the whole night.”

The urge to escape his will almost clouded her judgement. Not quite, though, as she perceived the panic inside her to be born of her own desire. Whereas she feared he might get angry with her, he only smiled.

“By all means, run away. I shall make excellent use of this wonderful hot water anyway.”

Relieved, for the time being, she flew down the hall, dashed outside, scampered across the street to the stables and threw her arms around her horse’s neck. She hugged the animal for a while, murmuring soft words of appeasement, pressing her cheek against his hair.

The violent tide inside her ebbed.
Her chaotic pulse slowed down to a regular beat as the palpitations between her thighs dwindled. The Lord of the Clans roused powerful passions in her but, whatever her state of
mind,
she mustn’t lose sight of the course of her life and of Kelton.

When her frayed nerves allowed her to think clearly, she unbuckled her saddlebags and carried them back to the room. She lingered in the hallway. Would he be decent, or had he decided to have a little more fun with her? There was only one way to be certain.

She closed the door and dropped the saddlebags next to his before glancing around. The tub stood empty. She exhaled a deep breath when she saw her worst fears wouldn’t come true.

Although he hadn’t put his garments back on, he had wrapped a cloth around his waist and sat on a chair in front of the fireplace.

The tip of his sword rested on a floorboard. Holding the weapon by the hilt, he worked on the length of the blade with a sharpening stone. She watched the heavy muscles of his back swell in and out with every stroke, until he broke the captivating spell.

“Do you feel better?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“Good. You can use the tub if you wish.”

She wished. She’d have liked nothing better than to immerse her tired body in the enticing hot water and dispel the soreness of her hard afternoon’s ride, but not with him watching. Although he faced the fire and the tub lay at his back, it would be so easy for him to take a peek behind him.

“I won’t look, I swear. Don’t be a fool.”

In other words, he was telling her to quit acting like a frightened, rosy maiden and enjoy the bath while she could. The road to Frahern would last several days and they might not find comfortable taverns every night. In truth, she’d be stupid to pass on this opportunity.

Without taking her eyes off him, she unstrapped her double sling, undressed quickly, and stepped over the rim. He never glanced back, but kept on cleaning his sword with concentration. Hot water encased her body. A wonderful sensation of wellbeing enveloped her. As she sighed with contentment, the tip of his blade slipped against the floorboard.

“Damn!”

She tensed, but he only bent over to grab an oiled cloth. She caught a glimpse of the side of his face. Light from the candles enhanced his chiselled features and her stomach tightened with desire. She winced, appalled at the confirmation that her flesh dominated her mind.

What could she do to put a stop to this? Although nonsense it might be, she relished the feel of his nearness, the hard lines of his face,
the
delightful view of his brawny back.

Fingers gripping the edge of the tub, she forced herself to calm down and enjoy the warm bath. As she slid her arms under the surface he laid his blade down and got up.

She froze, all her senses riveted toward him. Without looking at her, he walked past the tub, picked up the double sling holding her weapons, unsheathed both her swords and came back to sit on the chair.

He once more set about sharpening, oiling, and cleaning with the same tools. She’d never liked this task. Grateful to be spared the mundane job, she spoke to the back of his head.

“Thank you for doing that for me.”

“My pleasure.”

His courteous tone brought a smile to her lips. Despite his previous flirtatious behaviour, he hadn’t attempted to see her naked or to touch her. Had he finally realised she would never yield, never succumb to his desires? Then she hastily revised her newfound opinion of him when he halted his work, as if an afterthought crossed his mind.

“Although this isn’t how I envisioned pleasing you.”

She plunged her head under water. She didn’t want to hear his innuendos, didn’t want to be torn away from this relative moment of peace.

Yet she wasn’t a fish, and the need for air soon prompted her upward. Water blurring her vision, droplets sticking to her lashes, she rubbed her eyes to discover he’d kept his back to her.

She’d be drawn into yet another daydream if she insisted on contemplating him. She grabbed the soap instead, and made good use of its purifying quality on her body and hair. When the water turned lukewarm she stood up, draped a piece of fabric around her, and stepped out of the tub.

A small draught from the window gave her goose pimples. Maybe she’d stayed too long in the bath. She tightened her grip on the cloth and went to her saddlebags to retrieve the hairbrush she always carried with her. From the other side of the room, he waved his hand.

“Bring a chair and sit with me. I wouldn’t want you to catch a cold.”

He sounded sincere. Too chilly to deny herself the pleasure of drying off by the fire, she did just that.

The heat from the hearth agreed with her as she shook moisture out of her hair. They sat in silence. He polished the swords while she untangled and brushed her locks. Somehow she felt comfortable at his side.

Pretty soon she felt dry, warm and a little sleepy. Yet the satisfying moment stretched until he finished his work. When flames from the fire glimmered on the blades, he turned toward her.

“Let’s have dinner. I’m famished.”

He didn’t allow her to contradict him or to jump for her clothes, but offered his hand, palm up. As soon as she reached out, he led her to the table. The food proved to be even better than the bath. Now that they had some time to converse, her curiosity woke up.

“Do you always have meetings in that kind of house?”

“You mean the brothel?”

His brow puckered. She lowered her eyes and brought a small piece of goat cheese to her mouth. Although she chewed while looking at her plate, she perceived his amusement.

“It’s anonymous, quiet and private. All in all, the brothel is the best place in town to conduct business.”

“Especially when your business is secret.”

She raised her face in time to catch a glimmer in his gaze.

Putting his knife down, he observed her with interest. “What makes you say that?”

She shrugged. “Just an impression, I guess.”

“As long as you travel with me, I think it’s best to keep your impressions to yourself. Some people wouldn’t appreciate them.”

Far from a threat, his statement sounded like a cautious warning. Whatever he dealt in private, not knowing ensured her safety. Still, she wondered why the tall man in the purple boudoir would give the Lord of the Clans such a big purse. What was he paying him for?

He wouldn’t tell her even if she asked. Actually, she couldn’t enquire about it, given that she wasn’t supposed to have witnessed the transaction. If anything, maybe time would enlighten her.

Not that his having accepted money mattered much to her anyway. She might be young, yet she knew the ways of the world, especially in post-war periods. Something else mattered, though. A little thing she’d enquired about earlier, but never got an answer to.

“Is Coreen your mate?”

He swallowed a bite before clearing his throat. Eyebrows arched in a funny way, he expelled a sigh.

“You won’t let go, will you?”

“I’m curious, that’s all.”

“Yes, I noticed. Well, she was my mate for a while, after I rescued her. Then one day, she stopped coming to my pallet on the grounds that I couldn’t give her what she needed. She married a good warrior the following year. Believe it or not, I still don’t know what she was looking for.”

“Love.”

His sharp glance seemed to burn a hole between her eyes. Regretting her spontaneous reply, she stuffed herself with grapes to avoid his uncomfortable scrutiny, yet she heard his comment.