Page 32 of Knight of Chaos
Ingrid awoke fromher nightmare disoriented. She clutched the linen night rail around her trembling body whilst her gaze took in her whereabouts. How the devil did she manage to leave her bedchamber and find herself in one of the many passageways of the castle? She had heard that there were some who walked about restlessly in their sleep, but she had never experienced the affliction before.
Distressed that she would be found in such a state, she tried to get her bearings as to her location inside the keep. She shook her head in wonder as she stared in disbelief at the door that was in front of her. She knew who slumbered inside—Lady Eden had given her an account of who was in each room when she had walked the passageways with Ingrid to get her acclimated to the castle. She knew she should not wake him. Yet she could not bring herself to walk away. She felt torn between what she knew was right inside her heart, and what she knew was now expected of her. What should she do?
A strangled sound left her lips. The answer to such a question was obvious, was it not? She should get her sorry self back to her own bedchamber before her reputation was ruined any further. Had not last eve at the banquet proven that most of those who attended the Empress’s court thought of her as nothing more than a whore? Whispers followed in her wake when she had made her way through the great hall. Most of these elegantly gowned knights and ladies were well aware Ingrid had spent her time as a knight fighting for the Empress and living unwed in a tent with a man. She tried to ignore their gossiping. She cared not what they thought of her. They knew nothing of her life and ’twas none of their business what she did now or in her future.
Pondering her memories of earlier this eve did not solve the dilemma that was now put before her. The wooden portal that beckoned to her loomed at her as though the man inside was her salvation. But if she were to be found in his bedchamber, any chance of pleasing the Empress would be ruined. She should return to her own room and forget how she came to be standing in front ofhisdoor. That was what she should do.
Common sense and the responsibility of being prudent again warred with what her body craved. But she had not come this far in her fight to become her own woman to back down now. Inside her heart, she knew where she belonged and ’twas not as a lady in waiting for the Empress. Nay! She was meant to be with him!
Her feet cold from the stones beneath her, she took a hesitant step forward and then another. Biting her lip in indecision, her hand poised itself over the large wooden door. All ’twould take would be the briefest of knocks and she would then be in his arms. Safe. Protected. Warm. So why could she not make her presence known? She hesitated. Waiting. She told herself that she was not certain why…but that was not true. She waited because she wanted to know if he could feel that she was near. If he, too, had some inner sense that she had come to him. She had her answer when the portal was flung wide, bringing joy to her heart.
Ingrid gasped at the view before her, the sound echoing down the drafty passageway. Theobald stood there in all his glory and her eyes devoured every glorious inch of him. From his broad shoulders and bulging biceps, down to his furred chest where the hair disappeared into his braies. Her eyes continued their descent to the shapely toned legs and bare feet. He was magnificent and her fingers itched to reach out to skim their way down his glorious, muscled body. He had the physique of a warrior, and her dreams of him were now a reality.
He thrust his sword forward, scanning the corridor for danger before he realized that none presented itself. Setting his blade aside, he reached for her hands. His thumbs made small circular motions across the tops of her skin, causing the rest of her body to shiver in delight.
“By God’s Bones, Ingrid,” he swore whilst searching her face, “whatever are you doing outside of your own bedchamber at this hour?”
“I had a bad dream,” she murmured stepping closer to the warmth of his body.
“A glass of wine would have settled your nerves. You should not be here. What if you are discovered?” he asked letting go of her hands whilst stepping back from her. A frown marred his features that became shadowed in the darkness of his room.
“I must have walked in my sleep for I awoke outside of your chamber. Surely such a course of action must mean something.”
“Aye! It means we are both fools to be in each other’s presence with barely a stich of clothing on between us.” He went further into the room and Ingrid shut the door, sliding the bolt into place. The sound disrupted his footsteps and his head swiveled in her direction before a growl of outrage left him. “Are you mad, Ingrid? Open the door!”
“Theo—”
“Where is my damn tunic?” He began searching his room for his missing garment when Ingrid rushed to his side, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her head rested on his back whilst she tightened her hold.By St. Michael’s Wings!The warmth of his skin was like an inferno causing desire to rush through her veins.
“Please, Theo… I wish to be with you… in all ways…” Her heartfelt plea must have softened his mood for his body rose as he took a deep calming breath. His calloused hands from holding a sword for years slid over her arms.
“Ingrid… the Empress will not—”
“—I care not what the Empress may wish formylife!” she finished before stepping around his tall body to stare up into his face. She reached up to cup his cheeks. One fingertip traced the white line of his old wound running down his face. “Are you not at least a little bit happy to see me? To have me here?”
He hesitated for only a moment before one hand wrapped around her waist and pulled. Her eyes widened at what was obviously apparent when his erect manhood pressed intimately into her body. She may not have the experience of coupling with a man but she had been raised on a farm and was not ignorant of the breeding practices of their animals. Aye! He was more than glad to see her.
“You have your proof how much I want you, Ingrid,” he murmured with a clenched jaw.
She gulped, raising her chin to challenge whatever doubts he might yet have that would surely pass his lips. “Theobald…” His name, once it left her mouth, lingered in the air between them and she waited to hear what she knew was coming.
“But I am no saint, as I have told you before. If you stay here much longer, I will no doubt forget about any sense of chivalry I have left in me and take you to my bed,” he warned with a gleam in his eyes that all but told her he was barely hanging on as it was now.
“Take me,” she answered honestly. “I freely give myself into your tender loving care.”
His free hand came up to weave its way through her hair, down her cheek, until his fingers started to leave a trail above the mounds of her breasts. “You have no idea how tortuous it has been to not touch you. I have longed for you since we laid together in my tent.”
Her hands found their way around his neck. “We have waited long enough, Theo. Make me yours in every way,” she purred with a seductive smile.
“Once we start this journey together, we can never go back,” he said, giving her one last opportunity to change her mind. “You will be mine, forevermore.”
“I know,” she whispered softly. The slight pressure on the back of his neck had him leaning down until his lips were just inches from her own. “Kiss me. Kiss me and show me how much you want me, too.”
She could see his uncertainty flash across his visage, struggling between his scruples and his desires. A low moan left him when the last of his restraint collapsed. Arms of steel lifted her up on her toes when his mouth descended upon her own taking full possession of her mouth. His tongue darted inside to dance with hers as she followed his lead, intent on proving that they belonged together.
He yanked at the linen covering her body before he grew frustrated. Another gasp escaped her when the fabric was ripped from her body leaving her shivering when the coolness of the air hit her naked flesh. His braies came next and before she could make any sort of comment as to the magnificent view in front of her, he lifted her up in his arms, carrying her effortlessly to his bed. The need to have him inside her was urgent even though a part of her feared the pain she knew their coupling would initially cause. But her love for the man whose hands started to explore every inch of her suddenly hot skin outweighed her anxiety of the unknown. How could anything that felt so right be so very wrong in the eyes of those who might condemn her and her wanton actions?
Theobald seemed to no longer be in such a hurry whilst he took his time touching every inch of her body. She trembled in delight at this exploration. The wait was unbearable and yet all Ingrid could do was moan in pleasure when his lips left a trail from her neck and moved ever downward. Then he moved lower still. Horrified at what his destination appeared to be, she grabbed a hold of his wavy brown hair, halting his progress between her thighs. Those fascinating green eyes pierced her into place upon the bed.
