Suddenly she was floating toward the bedchamber.
Dragon’s arms were all that anchored her to reality as he lowered her onto the bed and came down beside her. His lips brushed hers, than slid along her jaw until he nuzzled her throat. A ripple of excitement shivered down her spine. She felt the weight of his hand settle on her breast and caught her breath. The unleashed power of his body lay heavy upon her, but it was not enough. She wanted all of him.
He raised himself up slightly and caressed her stomach, then buried his fingers in the blond thatch between her legs. His fingers delved into her moist cleft. Rose moaned, clutched his shoulders and arched against him. He caressed her, over and over, until she screamed for him to end it.
“Not yet, love.”
He lurched away and turned her onto her stomach. Rose glanced at him over her shoulder, one brow raised.
“Before the first rays of daylight stream through the windows, I intend to make love every way possible for a man to love a woman.” He caressed her bottom. “Up on your knees.”
Trusting that Dragon knew what he was doing.Rose offered no objection as he assisted her. Placing his hands beneath her thighs, he hoisted her bottom in the air and positioned himself behind her. Rose’s breath hitched as he opened her, and a rush of heat surged through her. Never had she felt so open and vulnerable to a man. He leaned over her back, pushed her hair aside and kissed her neck. Her heart pounded in her throat, and a shocking spear of anticipation streaked through her.
His fingers splayed along the curves of her bottom, kneading and massaging. Then his hands seemed to be everywhere at once, sliding around to mold and cup her breasts, gently squeezing her nipples, pressing against her stomach and down into the nest of curls below.
He spread her, and then his fingers dipped inside her. She quivered and made helpless noises deep in her throat. He slid his cock between her legs and pumped his hips, inch by slow inch, stretching her, filling her. Her body felt taut and raw with need as mind-blinding pleasure coursed through her. Never had she felt so brazen, so abandoned. She pushed herself up to meet his downward strokes, taking everything he had to give and wanting more.
Her fingers dug into the mattress as he lifted her higher. A sound escaped her throat, a sigh, a moan, as he rode her harder, faster, higher. Their flesh came together again and again. The pressure built; her heart pumped furiously and a scream clawed at her throat.
She felt his hot breath in her ear, pleading in a strained voice, “Come on, love, come on, come on.”
His body was wet, straining; granite hard against her, in her.
The end came on her suddenly, like a shock wave, hot and uncontrollable, pushing her into oblivion as spasms that seemed to go on forever rocked her. She was only dimly aware that Dragon still pumped furiously inside her, his tension building, his breathing erratic. When the climactic end came, he plummeted over the edge, joining her in sweet splendor.
Rose’s knees buckled, flattening her against the mattress. His body lowered and he followed her down. His chest heaving, he lay heavily on top of her, whispering love words into her ear.
Finally he rolled onto his back, his breathing harsh and uneven. Rose turned onto her side, a smile stretching her lips.“I never knew.”
“There are many things you do not know, love. We have a lifetime to explore the various paths to pleasure.”
She caressed his chest. “Must we wait a lifetime?”
Dominic groaned. “Give me a few minutes to recuperate, sweeting.”
Rose blushed. “I did not mean … now.”
He rolled over on his side, his eyes gleaming mischievously as he caressed her breasts. “Mayhap I do not need a few minutes. Shall we test my stamina?”
The challenge to his stamina was met, not once, but twice.
Exhausted but happy, Rose and Dominic entered the hall to break their fast later than usual the following morning. Rose ate heartily, causing Dominic to comment, “For a woman, you have a hearty appetite, love. Could it be due to the excessive amount of exercise we engaged in last night?”
“Mayhap,” Rose answered.
She thought of the secret she harbored and smiled, praying that Dragon would be as happy as she was about the babe she carried. She had so few symptoms, she sometimes doubted a child grew beneath her heart.It appeared that she was one of the lucky few to escape the morning sickness so many women suffered. Her health was robust and she felt wonderful. According to her calculations, however, it would soon be two months since she’d last bled. As soon as she returned to the palace, she intended to discuss it with her mother.
“Does that smile mean you are planning something wicked?” Dominic asked.
Rose seriously considered sharing her secret with Dragon, but decided to wait until they reached London. She feared Dragon would stop her from traveling to Westminster, and she had promised Starla she would return to the palace as soon as she was able.
“Do we leave for London soon, Dominic?”
“I thought to begin our journey on the morrow. Can you be ready?”
“Aye. You know how badly I want to reach Starla.”
“You worry too much, love. Your mother is with Starla; she will let naught happen to your sister.”
Rose sincerely hoped Dragon was right.
They left the following morning, about the same time Dragon’s knights left to join the barons’ army. The weather was good, and all signs pointed to an uneventful journey.
By the time they reached London, Rose felt battered and bruised from the long days in the saddle, but she knew better than to complain. Raj suggested that they wait until it was dark to smuggle Rose into the palace, and Dragon agreed. Dragon bespoke a room for them at an inn, where Rose could bathe and rest until dark.
“When will you present yourself to the king?” Rose asked as she lay on the bed resting after bathing and eating.
Tomorrow,” Dominic said. “As soon as the city gates open.”
“Starla will be relieved to see me, and I know Mama must be eager to return to the convent. You know how she feels about the man who killed Papa.”
“About your mother, love.I believe she should remain at the palace. Her sudden disappearance would raise too many questions. She can leave when we do.”
“Though Mama may not like it, I am sure she will agree,” Rose said. She arched a brow at him and patted the bed beside her.“Come join me in bed.”
Dominic looked torn. After a long pause, he said, “I want to, but I cannot. You look far too drawn and tired. We can wait.”
Rose knew Dragon was right, but she could not help feeling a twinge of disappointment. They had not made love during the entire journey south, and she was more than ready. She sighed, closed her eyes and immediately drifted off to sleep.
Dragon awakened her several hours later.
“‘Tis time to leave, love. The gates will be closing soon.”
“Are you coming?” Rose asked, stretching and yawning.
“Nay, the fewer of us, the better. Raj will take good care of you.”
“I know,” Rose said. Dragon helped her dress and gave her a lingering kiss.
“That will have to do until I see you at the palace. Come; Raj waits below with the horses.”
Deep shadows were creeping along the streets when Rose and Raj rode through Ludgate. When they arrived at the palace, Raj reined his horse around to the left, away from the front gate, and Rose followed. Moving at a leisurely pace beneath the deep shadows of the wall, they reached the garden gate without being seen by the guards patrolling above them.
Raj signaled for her to dismount. “I will go in first. If the way is clear, I will return for you.”
The gate gave a single groan when Raj pried it open. “Weeds have grown over the gate since I last came this way,” Raj commented as he slipped through the opening.
Flattening herself against the wall, Rose tethered the horses to a bush and waited for Raj to return. A short time later, the gate opened and a large hand beckoned her inside. She slipped through and breathed deeply of the familiar scent of herbs.
“There seems to be a great deal of activity taking place in the kitchen, but I doubt the servants will question your presence in the garden this late in the evening,” Raj said. “Go to your sister. I will wait for her by the garden gate.”
Rose wound her way through the garden and paused outside the kitchen. Dragging in a steadying breath, she calmly walked through the door. Raj had been right about the activity. Servants were bustling about their various chores without giving her a moment’s notice.
Cook was the only one who paid her any heed. “My lady, I did not know ye were still in the garden. One of the serving maids said she saw ye at the banquet table tonight.”
“I needed a breath of air, and the herb garden is so peaceful,” Rose explained. “You were too busy to notice me when I came through the kitchen earlier.”
Cook nodded sagely. “Aye, I can believe that. There is no end to the work tonight, with all the guests invited to the king’s table.”
Rose nodded in sympathy, brushed past Cook and headed toward the servants’ staircase. She reached her chamber without mishap, opened the door and stepped inside.
Starla hated the excesses of court life. She was thoroughly sick of the gluttony and debauchery she’d witnessed at Westminster. Tonight the courtiers and their ladies had stuffed themselves like pigs, imbibed until they were falling down and pawed one another like animals. These past weeks had opened her eyes to the vices practiced by those close to the king, and she liked them not.
She had done her best to stay out of the king’s way, but she had not been altogether successful. John had insisted that she attend his banquets and entertainments, and she had had no reason to refuse. If her mother had not been with her these past weeks, Starla seriously doubted she would have survived with her sanity intact. The strange way in which the king stared at her when she was in his presence was truly frightening.
Did he suspect she was not whom she pretended to be?
Mama had left the hall after the meal tonight, and Starla planned to follow as soon as she could extract herself gracefully. With everyone’s attention on the entertainers, she felt certain she could slip away without being missed. She edged toward the door, only to be brought up short when a woman planted herself in front of her.
“Lady Rose, has your giant gone missing?”
Starla suppressed a groan. Lady Veronica was the last person she wanted to see. The lady had been the bane of her existence these past weeks. She wondered what Rose would do in her situation. Would she rudely cut the lady off? Would she attempt politeness she didn’t feel? Nay, Starla decided, her feisty twin wouldn’t allow Veronica to intimidate her.
“Raj returned to Dragonwyck,” Starla said.
“How fares your husband? Has he recovered from his wounds?”
“Aye. I expect to see him at the palace very soon.”
A feline smile curved Veronica’s lips. “It will be wonderful to see my dear Dragon again. One does not easily forget a virile lover such as Dragon.”
Flustered by Veronica’s brazen statement, Starla could think of nothing to say. The woman was impossibly bold. Did she have no shame?
“If you see Dragon before I do,” Veronica continued,“tell him I miss him. He knows where to find me should he wish to visit me in my home.” She slanted Starla a contemptuous look.“Marriage to you must be galling for a lusty man like Dragon.”
Starla had heard more than enough. Her temperament might be different from Rose’s, but she couldn’t let this woman insult her sister without retaliating.
“My husband has no inclination to resume his affair with you, Lady Veronica,” Starla replied with a hint of Rose’s spunk. For Rose’s sake, she hoped she spoke the truth. “Attempt a liaison with Dragon, and I guarantee you will be sorry.” She sniffed the air and wrinkled her nose. “Excuse me for rushing off, but I smell something rotten in the vicinity.”
Turning on her heel, she made a hasty exit. Starla couldn’t believe what she had just said. She was rather proud of herself for flying to the defense of her sister. She could hardly wait to tell Rose about the confrontation.
Rose entered her chamber and paused just inside the door. Starla was nowhere in sight, but her mother was seated before the hearth, embroidering a piece of silk. The soft thud of the door as Rose pushed it shut brought Nelda’s gaze up.
Suddenly Nelda’s eyes widened and she rose from the chair. “Rose! You have returned.”
Rose ran into Nelda’s arms. “Aye, Mama. I wondered how long it would take you to recognize me. Thank God no one else guessed.” She paused. “No one
has
guessed, have they?”
“Not a soul, daughter. But tell me, how fares Lord Dragon? Is he with you?”
“Dragon is well. He remained in the city tonight. He intends to present himself to the king tomorrow. Oh, Mama, so much has happened since last I saw you. I know not where to begin.”
Nelda’s attention sharpened. “What is it, Rose?”
“I disobeyed Dragon and set off a series of events that could have had disastrous results.”
That sounds rather ominous. Tell me.”
Rose took a deep breath and launched into the story of her flight from Dragonwyck and abduction by Murdoc MacTavish. “Uncle Murdoc lost more than he bargained for when Robina left him,“Rose concluded.
“Murdoc was always hotheaded, but I thought he had more sense than to attempt something as contemptible as kidnapping his own niece. Thank God for Robina and Thelma. At least someone in that clan was levelheaded enough to know right from wrong. I hope Murdoc’s wits return before ‘tis too late to regain Robina’s esteem and earn her trust.”
“Aye, Robina is a good woman. I believe she loves Murdoc, but he went too far when he tried to force me to wed Gunn, and Robina could not accept it.”
” Twas good of Lord Dragon to forgive my brother,” Nelda said.“I fear we all misjudged your husband.”
“Aye, Mama, Dragon is a good man. And”—she smiled shyly—“he loves me and I love him.”
“I am so glad things worked out for you. Starla is anxious to return to the convent. Will it be soon?”