Page 28 of Knight of Darkness
“Nay. I am attempting to persuade you to admit there is something between us that is far more important than a battle of wits or what we think to accomplish upon a field of honor.”
“I know not what you speak of,” she huffed.
He took hold of her waist and brought her even closer. “Then why is your pulse racing with our nearness?”
She moved her arms until she pushed at his chest. ’Twas a feeble effort at best for he budged not even an inch. Her hands continued lingering upon his tunic before she began fingering the fabric. “I know not what you speak of,” she repeated again before dropping her gaze.
He lifted her chin to stare into her aquamarine eyes and became lost. “Aye, you do,” he said and lowered his mouth to meet hers.
’Twas at first a gentle kiss. An exploration… Searching… as though they were looking deep within themselves to find the answers she refused to admit aloud. But the moment her arms snaked their way up across his back to take hold of him, everything changed. Their kiss became possessive… demanding… a yearning for…
Something snapped into place as though this was what Wymar had been missing from his life all these years. He had not even realized until this very moment he craved something beyond monies, prestige, his title and lands restored, or even the Empress’s favor. He needed a woman who would meet him head on and fight alongside him if needed. That woman was the one he held in his arms.
’Twas as though he were a starving man and only Ceridwen could satisfy the craving within him. ’Twas not until they stumbled into her bed that he realized they had been moving at all. His manhood roared to life whilst Wymar felt every inch of the womanly curves lying intimately next to him.
She opened her eyes as the reality of their situation reached her. With her chest heaving, she disengaged herself and flung herself from his arms, moving with lightning speed to stand near her sword. Clasping her robe about her, she nodded toward the door. “You must needs leave,” she gasped, reaching for the goblet of wine she had offered him a while ago. She gulped the liquid down and pointed to the door once more. “Now, Wymar!”
“Listen to me, Ceridwen,” he began.
“Nay, I will listen no more to anything you have to say. You apologize and then attempt to make me your whore by bedding me to prove your accusations of me were true from earlier this eve. I will be damned if you shall have what belongs only to the man who shall one day be my husband,” she yelled.
“Ceridwen, ’twas not like that,” he answered trying to plead his case once more.
In answer, she took hold of her sword and pointed the weapon in his direction. “We shall settle this between us on the morrow. Get out!”
Wymar held up his hands, not wishing to further irritate the lady. With a courtly bow, he left the room without another word and went to seek his slumber. But despite all his efforts to take his rest, the memory of the kiss they had shared would keep him awake for most of what remained of the night.
Chapter Fifteen
Ceridwen had littleto no sleep. Tossing and turning all night upon her bed, her only thoughts had been on that bastard Norwood. How could he have belittled her as he had done in front of the entire common room was beyond her ken. And then for him to come to her room in the middle of the night… Damn his soul to hell!
She had dressed this morn in her regular attire and had wasted little time saying her morning prayers before she made her way outside of the inn. She was surprised to see several men who were still in the process of making wagers. She had hoped this spectacle would have been between the two of them. She frowned as she watched the crowd continue to grow in size. Coins passed hands with most of the men calling for Norwood to be the winner and to put Ceridwen in her place.
But she was used to such taunts and they had never deterred her from her sword play in the past, nor had they spoiled her performance. They would not affect her today. Or so she hoped. Hearing the rumblings of some of the men toward the back of the crowd calling her a whore was nearly enough to bring tears to her eyes but she would not give them the satisfaction of letting them believe she was weak.
She continued to wait for Norwood to make an appearance and was at last rewarded by him appearing before the men. He waved his hand in greeting looking like he had already won their match and was planning to shout his victory for the entire world to hear.
“Shall we begin?” he asked when he at last casually strolled up to her, looking as casually at ease as though he was out for a pleasant walk about town.
“Unless you wish to publicly apologize before all these men and say that you were in the wrong, then aye. This should not take long.”
“Your confidence will be your undoing someday, my lady.”
She chuckled as she withdrew her sword from the scabbard strapped to her side. “My confidence is what has earned me my reputation of being an expert swordswoman.
“Let us put such a statement to the test but not to the death, if you agree.”
“Aye, I agree if nothing else than to hold my winning over your head,” Ceridwen said whilst taking up her stance.
“You have not won yet, my lady.”
“We could settle this now by you claiming that I shall be your champion and you shall be mine,” she mocked knowing he would never agree to such a proposition. ’Twas his manly pride that was now at stake after all.
“I think not.”
“You cannot say I did not give you the opportunity. Let us begin, Knight of Darkness,” she called out for all to hear.
Wymar began to circle her as he, too, pulled his sword from his scabbard. He began to assess her and Ceridwen made every effort to not appear uncomfortable when his eyes caressed her body from head to toe. “I can see for myself you have spent many hours practicing with your blade,” he stated. “You hold yourself correctly to begin combat with your enemy.”
