Warriors Of Legend (32 page)

“I will not tolerate fighting in this house,” Kate said sternly. “I’m sure the baron would not either. You two will work out your differences civilly while you both scrub chamber pots for a sennight.”

“What I do not tolerate is my wife disciplining one of my squires without consulting me first,” Micah said.

Kate’s heart lurched and she looked up to see Micah standing in the middle of the great hall. His tunic again soaked with sweat and plastered against his massive chest. But his stance appeared awkward with his left shoulder dipped and his arm pressed oddly against his belly. Kate’s gaze locked on his face, his expression darkened like a thundercloud.

Anger sparked within her and she shoved the boys toward Micah. “I,” she said tightly, “will not abide fisticuffs in my home.”

Micah glared at the boys. “Get out, I will deal with you two later.” The boys ducked and ran out the door.

Sarah scrambled to pick up the fallen parchment, then sprinted away, disappearing into the kitchens.

Micah took a step toward Kate. “Would you care to explain?”

“Explain?” she screeched, her hands fisting into her skirts. “I stop a fight and you want me to explain?”

“You have no right to discipline my squire without first asking me.”

“I have every right! I am your wife, Micah, whether you choose to acknowledge me or not. As your wife and the chatelaine of this house, I may discipline anyone as I see fit, including one of your squires.”

A muscle in Micah’s jaw twitched furiously. He shot a glance at the door to the kitchens then stepped forward. Despite his obvious anger, his fingers closed gently around her arm. “We will continue this in private,” he said between clenched teeth.

Kate bristled but allowed him to lead her upstairs and to the solar, where he shut the door behind them.

“How dare you challenge me in front of others,” Micah snapped.

“And how dare you question my authority,” Kate retorted. “I have every right to discipline those boys for fighting. Because of your actions, now they will no longer respect me. You may hate our marriage but what’s done is done.”

Micah’s expression softened slightly. “I don’t hate our marriage, Kate.”

Kate folded her arms across her chest, tears burning her eyes from her fury and frustration. “Is that another jest, my lord?”

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “Nay.” His indigo eyes snared hers for a moment, then he looked away.

“Micah, what is wrong?”

“I…I cannot find the words. It is nothing you have done.”

Anger and hurt boiled within her and Kate clenched her fists again. What was the problem? She did not want to be ignored or slighted any longer. She was sick of being alone and tired of Micah trying to hide from her.

He needed to respect her as his wife, and acknowledge her feelings as well.

Kate stepped forward, forcing down her anger, and trying to control her shaking voice. “Micah, I do not like this division between us, especially since I do not know the reason for it.”

“I know, Kate,” he said softly. “I do not like it either.” He stared at her a long moment then bowed his head. “Damnation,” he muttered. “I have been such an idiot.”

Kate’s eyebrows flew up her forehead.

Micah slowly lifted his gaze. He took a step forward, his fingers lightly brushing her cheek. Kate shivered against the sensation his touch ignited within her. He stared into her eyes for a moment then gently pulled her closer. His right arm wrapped around her and he held her to his chest.

Kate stiffened then felt his cheek settle against her head as his embrace tightened. She closed her eyes hesitantly wrapping her arms around him. His hand stroked her hair and back, soft and gentle. For a long moment they remained unmoving and silent. Confusion rioted within Kate. Micah’s actions did not make sense but the silent peace between them helped ease her frustration. She sighed, listening to his heart beat a slow and even rythymn then opened her eyes.

Kate noticed Micah still held his left arm oddly against him while his right wrapped firmly around her. She blinked and lifted her head. “Micah, what’s wrong with your arm.”

He released her and Kate felt suddenly abandoned. But he rubbed his shoulder tenderly. “I fear I may have pulled it. I thought I should have Marjorie look at it.”

Kate’s frustration melted into concern. “Take off your tunic. Let me see it.”

“I will have Marjorie—”

“Micah, my mother and Marjorie trained me in healing. Now let me see it.”

Slowly, Micah untied his belt then tugged his tunic off, wincing as he pulled it over his left shoulder. Kate steeled herself, trying to ignore the sight of his well–sculpted body. She stood on her tiptoes to see his shoulder. It did appear a little swollen.

“Sit down,” she said, pointing to a chair. “What happened?”

Micah obeyed. “I worked on the scaffolding of the north tower. I slipped and went over the edge but managed to catch myself with my left hand. I nearly yanked my arm off.”

Kate sucked in her breath. “Micah you could have been killed.”

He nodded grimly. “Fortunately, Hubert hauled me back.”

Gently, Kate’s fingers probed the knot of muscle around Micah’s shoulder. He flinched a few times but didn’t yelp. “I don’t think it’s dislocated,” she said, relieved. “You just pulled a few muscles with the strain.”

“I cannot raise my arm.”

She nodded. “Aye. You will feel as if you fell from a horse tomorrow.” Kate opened the door and called a servant to fetch a cup of mulled wine and her herb bag. A few moments later the servant returned. Kate rummaged through her bag. She mixed a small amount of valerian and chamomile in the wine and handed it to Micah. “Drink all of it.”

He downed it in one swallow.

“Now, I have some oil here that will help.” She dribbled the oil on his back and shoulders and began to gently rub it into the muscles.

***

Micah shivered in delight as Kate’s hands pressed down on his shoulders, spreading the warm oil over his skin. He groaned in surprise and pleasure. Her hands deftly massaged the oil into his taut muscles. Only now did he realize how much his body ached from his near disaster.

Kate pushed his hair out of the way and her thumbs pressed the oil up the back of his neck. Micah knew shouldn’t be enjoying this. He shouldn’t be sitting here. Every moment pushed his control to the breaking point. Kate continued to work her magic and Micah couldn’t move.

“Just try to relax.” She swept the heels of her hands down his spine between his shoulder blades. Then her fingers and thumbs worked the oil outward, first the right side and then the left. Micah’s chin dipped and his eyelids drooped. Warmth slowly replaced the chill within him.

Kate attacked the muscles in his left shoulder with surprising strength, but gently and without pain. She worked all the way down his arm to his hand. Micah tried to hold his arm out for her.

She stopped. “Nay, keep it relaxed, let me do the work.” He obeyed without argument. Kate worked the oil into his hand, flexing the small bones. She even spread it along his fingers, stroking their length. The warmth within him kindled into a small flame.

Kate moved to his other shoulder and again worked the oil down his arm to his fingers. Micah’s senses blurred from the laced wine but he also became inordinately aware. Kate hummed sweetly and the oil smelled faintly of sandalwood. Micah’s nerves tingled, brilliantly alive under her hands. For a moment Micah marveled at his wife. How could she do this? How could she care for him so wonderfully after what he had done to her on their wedding night?

The flame in Micah’s belly burned stronger.

Kate paused only long enough to wipe her hands clean and then tugged off his boots. “Now, stand up.”

Confused but unable to resist her, Micah stood and stared in complete shock as she loosened his braes and tugged them off. The fire in his belly roared to his loins. His body quickened and completely betrayed him.

A soft blush highlighted her cheeks. “Lie on the bed, face down.”

“What?”

“Come on, before you stiffen up again.”

Something was already unbearably stiff but it wasn’t his shoulder. Micah muttered under his breath. “Too late for that.”

The blush on Kate’s cheeks turned rosy. “Micah,” her tone boded no argument.

Micah sighed softly and did as she asked. He almost leaped from the bed when she crawled on top of him, straddling him like a horse.

“
Mon Dieux
, woman, what are you doing?”

Kate sighed impatiently. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. I’ve done this before.”

The thought nearly strangled him and he growled, rising from the bed.

“Oh dear, I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant that I’ve worked with the muscles before. It helps tremendously and right now, you need to relax.”

“Do you always sit atop your patients?”

“Nay,” she said, a note of teasing in her voice. “Only my husband. It’s just easier with me on top because you’re so damn big.”

Micah groaned as a vision flashed through his mind. “Now there’s an interesting thought.”

Kate muttered under her breath, realizing her words. “
Merde
, is that how you say it?”

Micah buried his face in the pillow and started laughing.

She smacked him lightly on the back. “You are a wicked man.”

He laughed harder. “Me? I thought ladies should mind their language.”

“I find it most difficult with you around.”

Micah buried his face even deeper. The pillow barely muffled his laughter. Kate leaned over and nuzzled his ear. He froze in surprise, his laughter fading.

“Let me finish this,” she whispered, her lips soft and warm against his ear. “I promise you will feel better for it.”

He shuddered, allowing his thoughts to wander where her husky words lead. Micah’s control vanished and he could not deny her. “Aye, lady, do what you will to me.”

Kate sprinkled the warm oil on his back and her hands worked with skill. Micah closed his eyes. He had never experienced anything like this. Pleasure and jealousy tangled into each other. How many men had known the gentle touch of her hands?

“Kate—”

“I know what you’re thinking, Micah,” she said quickly. “My mother taught me this skill but I have never used it on any man. Only you.”

Relief washed over him and his muscles unclenched. He closed his eyes and let his worries vanish.

***

Kate battled with the corded muscles in the small of Micah’s back. She marveled he could move at all. The stress of this day had coiled him like a mangonel preparing for launch. Despite Kate’s embarrassment over their randy conversation, she enjoyed hearing Micah’s laughter buried in the pillow. Now his soft grunts told her he savored her attentions.

Kate slid off of Micah and he muttered a protest. She grinned, after his startled reaction when she climbed atop him he apparently decided that he liked her there. She moved to his lower extremities, her hands sliding over the back of his huge thigh. Good God, nothing about this man was small.

Her fingers brushed against the back of his knee and Micah nearly flew out of the bed.

She jerked away. “Did I hurt you?”

He reburied his face in the pillow. “Nay.”

Kate frowned and returned to working the back of his knee.

“Oh God, Kate.”

Her brows lifted. Micah’s entire body quivered and the huskiness of his voice spoke of a different kind of pain. Kate abruptly remembered how his hands on different parts of her body evoked a powerful passion within her. Could the same be true for him? Was her great knight vulnerable to her touch? Kate traced her fingers lightly over the spot. Micah’s helpless moan answered her question. She marveled at the strange sensation of feminine power. Micah relaxed and Kate continued the massage down his calf, committing the spot to memory and smiling wickedly.

Kate finished Micah’s legs and feet, finding another sensitive spot on his arch. Then she made him turn over. Her eyes widened when she saw the evidence of his desire. She reached for her oil, and Micah grabbed her hand.

“Take your dress off,” he said hoarsely.

Kate gazed at him a moment and untied the laces, letting the dress fall to the floor. Micah’s breath caught and he closed his eyes. His hand skimmed over her breast. She gasped. Her blood thrummed through her veins and Kate stepped back. “I’m not finished yet.”

Micah lifted an eyebrow. “More torture?”

She ducked her head. “I…I did not mean it. I only meant to help, not hurt.”

His arm looped around her waist and pulled her closer. “Nay, lady, this torture is most exquisite. Continue.”

Kate hesitated.

“Continue or I shall go mad.”

Kate spread the oil over Micah’s chest, exploring each cut and curve, telling herself that she did this to ease the stiffness of his muscles, not to satisfy her need to touch him. She carefully avoided the terrible scar over his hip. Their first night together, Micah had pushed her fingers away from that place.

She worked down to his belly and he sucked in his breath. “Touch me, Kate,” he said, his voice nothing more than a strangled whisper.

She stared at his arousal, painfully swollen. “I…I can’t.”

Micah growled and forced her hand down, guiding her to stroke him. Kate marveled at the softness of the skin, and the firmness of the flesh under her fingers. His savage groan filled her with a sense of wonder. The fact that she evoked such a response from him amazed her. She glanced at his face and almost stopped. He squeezed his eyes shut, as if in pain. Micah grabbed her arm, hauling her on top of him again.

He trapped her head and ravished her mouth, his tongue sweeping powerfully across hers. Kate closed her eyes, desire overwhelming her.

***

Micah never realized how wonderful making love to a woman’s mouth could be. Kate’s touch drove him into a wild passion. A longing consumed his body like a raging inferno that would never be quenched. The hunger heightened his senses to the point of pain. Her feminine scent overwhelmed him, her soft skin fed the fire, searing his soul. She tasted sweeter than honey and he only craved more, he would never be sated until their bodies became one.