Warriors Of Legend (31 page)

Carefully he settled over her, pushing her legs apart with his knees, ravishing her mouth with his tongue. Kate felt him prodding between her legs, the tip of his hardness stroking the soft folds.

Kate moaned and arched her back, instinctively allowing him entrance. Micah bit back a curse and stopped, trying to retreat, but Kate’s head spun and her body ached. She wrapped her arms around him, lifted her hips, and pulled him down.

“Kate—” His breath caught and he groaned.

Fiery pain shot through her.

Her body felt like it had been torn in half. Her womb burned and her moan turned from desire and into agony. The pain threatened to take her back to that terrible place she had tried so hard to be free of, back to defeat and misery. Kate clawed at the sheets, trying to retreat. She had to escape. There was no joy in this only agony.

Micah remained unmoving. His body covered hers, pinning her to the bed. His hands cupped her face. “
Ma chérie
,” he whispered, kissing her lips softly. “
Ma chérie
, listen to me.”

The burning pain increased, and she tried to squirm away.

“I can’t, Micah.”

“You can,” he said firmly. “You have defeated other fears, you can defeat this one.”

Kate closed her eyes. His voice echoed in her memory.
You never have to face your fears alone.
His lips lightly brushed hers.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.

Her eyes flew open. How could he think her beautiful with the terrible scars? But this magnificent warrior wanted to love her, to be her husband.

Micah kissed her again, gently shifting his hips forward. Kate tried to unclench her jaw. What happened to the glorious pleasure? Micah’s muscles shook as he restrained himself for her sake. He stared down at her, his blue eyes rich with lust and worry. He had no desire to hurt her. He cared about what she felt. She touched his face, her fingers traveling over his handsome features then down his chest.

Kate closed her eyes concentrated on the solid power that flexed under his skin. She was safe in Micah’s arms, pinned under his body. He moved again; his fingers stroking her breast. Pain crumbled into hot desire as he filled her.

Her body responded to his touch in a way she never thought possible. Fire burned within her and Micah’s passion fed it like dry kindling.

He wrapped his arms around her, his lips brushing her ear. “Hold me,
chérie
.” His body flexed over hers.

She clung to him. His breath rattled in his throat. His hardness thrust again into her, filling the aching void, molding her flesh to his, his rhythm increasing.

“Micah…” Kate did not understand the sensations careening within her. She could not control herself with conscious thought.

Micah tightened his hold on her. Kate felt only his driving hardness and the glory of primitive desire. The hot energy in her womb began to build again. Her fingers dug into his muscular back, clutching for some sense of sanity but there was nothing sane about this. Pure desire, pure emotion surged through her veins. He pushed hard and she gasped as he entered her untouched depths. Waves of pleasure crashed over her threatening to send her spiraling into oblivion.

The pleasure peaked and possessed her, nothing less than exquisite torture. The hot energy within exploded, tearing through her. The seizure claimed her with shattering intensity and she moaned his name. Micah drove himself down, strangling a cry of release, his muscles stood out in sharp relief under his glistening skin. For that moment Kate knew absolute perfection. Then Micah collapsed on top of her, breathing hard, and his body shaking.

Kate closed her eyes, also trying to catch her breath. For a long moment, they simply clung to each other.

***

Micah tried to push himself up but his shaking arms would not support him. He lay on top of Kate, sucking air into his lungs. Her hair caressed his face, and he nuzzled her ear.

Micah chided himself, a warrior who could wield a sword in battle for hours, turned into a puddle after a few minutes with his wife. He knew he should move, before his weight crushed the poor girl. Yet his limbs refused to obey him. Micah savored the feel of Kate’s soft body underneath his. Her hands caressed his back, sending shivers over his spine.

As Micah’s pulse steadied, his mind started to function again. Never had he experienced such magnificence. For the first time, his reasoning abandoned him in the riot of pleasure. He propped himself up on his elbows and looked down at Kate. His gaze halted on a red mark over her collarbone. Micah blinked and pushed himself up farther. He saw small marks of his ardent affection spattered over her skin.

The demon had escaped.

Horror coiled through him. Micah backed away, noting the blood from his assault on her maidenhead. Kate unleashed a passion within him and turned him into nothing more than a rutting animal. The thought sickened him. Micah looked down at her, wanting beg her forgiveness. Kate had trusted him not to hurt her. She asked him to stop but he had not been able to. Kate stared at Micah with dazed contentment, her eyes blameless in their regard. Just like she refused to reproach him for the kidnapping, she would not accuse him of hurting her. Micah had utterly failed her.

“Micah?” she asked, her voice soft and sweet. She reached up and touched his face, running her fingers through his hair. Micah, trying to seize his torrid emotions, closed his eyes and battled the terrible fiend she loosed within him. Damnation, he wanted to take her again. He wanted to touch and kiss her, to hold her and feel her body under his. Micah had to leave before he ravished her a second time. He couldn’t bear to see the agony in her eyes when he betrayed her faith.

Now Micah knew why he feared losing control. How could he master this power Kate held over him? Loss of control meant giving up something greater within himself – something he guarded with such vigilance he could not define it.

Kate seemed to come more to her senses. “Micah, what’s wrong?” She sat up and winced against the pain.

Micah bolted from the bed and grabbed his clothes. “Nothing,” he muttered. Quickly, he dressed and fled the room.

***

Kate stared at the door. What in the name of heaven upset Micah so terribly? Had she displeased him? She could not think of anything. Her memory of what they shared sent a thrill through her. She never imagined loving a man could be so glorious. Kate did not wish Micah to bolt from the room every time they shared the bed, and she debated if she should try to talk to him.

Kate rose and put on her chemise then changed the bed linens. She sat at the table with her cup of unfinished wine and stared into the flames of the hearth.

What had she done wrong?

Why did Micah react like this? Was it wrong for her to enjoy their lovemaking?

Kate sighed and rubbed her eyes, confusion raging within her and turning into bitterness. She did not know how long she sat, staring at the fire and sipping her wine. The door squeaked open and she jumped.

Micah entered and looked at her in surprise. His jaw flexed and his blue eyes reflected a hidden misery. “The only revelers who remain are those who snore in a drunken stupor,” he said, his voice strained. His lips lifted in a cynical smile. Micah’s gaze stopped on the bloodstained linens in the corner and he scowled.

“I will have to give those to the maids in the morning,” Kate said, her voice laced with rancor. She lifted her cup to her lips, her fingers clenching the metal goblet. “No doubt others will need proof against Henry’s inferences.”

Micah sighed loudly and moved next to her. His fingers stroked the hair away from her face. “Kate…”

She stared up at him a long moment. “Did I do something wrong?”

His expression eased and he crouched in front of her chair, taking her hands in his. “Nay, Kate, it was nothing you did.” Micah’s eyes avoided hers. “It is not something I can speak of right now but the fault does not lie with you.”

“Then what—”

He shook his head harshly. “Worry not over it, Kate.” He pulled her to her feet. “We need to get some rest.”

Micah undressed then tugged her chemise off. He crawled in bed and captured her hand, pulling her next to him. Micah gazed at her a long moment. His fingertip traced the sweep of her cheekbone and sent a tingle of fire through her. He kissed her gently. Although his lips brushed over hers, soft and warm, Kate sensed the tightly leashed emotions within him.

Micah wrapped his arm around her so that she lay with her head on his shoulder and he covered them both with the blankets. But every muscle in his body coiled. Kate wondered if he prepared to do battle rather than go to sleep. Gradually, Micah relaxed and his breathing deepened as sleep claimed him.

Kate squeezed her eyes shut. How could she lie in Micah’s arms, in her marriage bed, and still feel utterly alone?

Chapter Ten

A week after their marriage, Micah awoke at dawn with Kate curled so close she nearly slept on top of him. He would have smiled if his lust hadn’t surged with a primitive fury that bordered on pain. He gritted his teeth and battled his desire with all of his might.

He refused to hurt her again.

Every night they slept in each other’s arms but Micah savagely kept control of himself. He had not touched Kate since their wedding night. Every morning he battled his desire, and every morning the war became more difficult to win.

Yet Micah wondered if his refusal caused Kate more pain now. When Micah returned to their room after that disastrous first night, he saw the anguish and confusion in her eyes. Kate didn’t understand and Micah didn’t know how to explain it. This was exactly why he did not want to marry her. He felt like a bumbling idiot who could only get himself in more trouble.

Micah sighed and carefully unwound Kate from him, settling her in the bed and pulling the blankets around her. She slept on, oblivious to his actions. He allowed his lips to lift and kissed her lightly. Micah quickly crawled out of bed, even as his body urged him to kiss her again. He dressed and went downstairs.

A muted gray glow from the weak dawn light, dimly illuminated the halls. Micah’s body remained coiled with the lust still pounding through him. As he had done everyday for the past week, he stalked into the small sleeping area where his knights bunked, throwing the door open so hard it smacked the wall with a loud thud.

“Get up, you lazy dogs,” he roared, shaking them roughly. “We have repairs to complete.”

The knights flinched and groaned. They staggered out of bed and grumbled.

“Move it!” Micah bellowed, clenching his fists. He had to have an outlet for his frustration and working himself to exhaustion on the battlements appeared to be the only answer.

***

Kate tugged the brush through her hair, its lively action reflecting her irritation. She had awakened to find Micah once again gone from their bed. No doubt he would work into the late hours, wolf down some food, then collapse in bed completely exhausted. The next morning, it would begin all over again.

Kate knew Micah did not want to marry her. Yet she also thought once she put the rumors of bedding MacLeary to rest, Micah might be more open to the marriage. Their wedding night had proven Kate’s words to be true. Why did Micah refuse to touch her after that?

She feared she had displeased him in some way. Perhaps Micah could not bear her scars and he spoke only to spare her feelings. Their night together had been only to seal the marriage contract, for without consummation the church would not recognize their union.

Yet, every time Kate thought about their wedding night, a strange warmth curled through her. She had to be honest with herself, she wanted Micah to make love to her again. She missed his touch and his kiss.

It just didn’t make any sense. How could they share something so wonderful only to have Micah push her away? Kate sighed and finished dressing, sick of the same thoughts and uncertainty spinning through her head every day. She hoped to find an end to this.

Kate went downstairs and discovered only Tobin, a young stable hand, and Sarah in the great hall. Micah’s men worked on the battlements as usual. Kate paused, watching the two young people. They sat near the hearth with their heads together, looking at many sheets of parchment. She smiled, quickly spotting the signs of budding calf love.

Kate approached quietly and caught a glance of the parchments. Excellent drawings and sketches filled the pages. Kate saw pictures of herself, Micah, and others who resided at Appleby. There were drawings of horses, dogs, and bare winter trees. Mostly, the drawings focused on Sarah.

“The illuminations are beautiful,” Kate said.

Both looked up startled. Sarah paled and Tobin struggled to his feet.

“My…my lady,” he said, worriedly.

Kate smiled. “Nay, Tobin, do not concern yourself. I think your drawings are very good.”

He relaxed considerably. “Thank you, my lady. Baron Montfort has said I may work on them as long as I do not forget my chores.”

Kate arched an eyebrow, surprised but also pleased that Micah would allow the boy to follow his talents. “Very good, Tobin,” she said and walked to the kitchens.

“What are you doing?” A young man shouted.

Kate stopped at the door, startled.

William barreled toward Tobin and Sarah, taking no notice of Kate. “I told you to stay away from her!”

Kate’s glance quickly took in the situation. “Oh nay,” she muttered as William closed the distance. Kate hurried forward.

William’s fist plowed into Tobin’s nose before she reached them. Parchments flew. Tobin staggered back, wiping the blood from his nose. He charged and tackled William. The boys tumbled on the floor as Sarah shouted for them to stop.

Kate stepped forward and although both boys stood taller than she, she grabbed William and Tobin, struggling to haul them away from each other. “Stop it!”

William looked at her startled, and a red flush crawled up his neck to his cheeks. Tobin also obeyed, glaring at William. Blood still streamed from Tobin’s nose and William’s eye turned puffy.