Page 53 of While Angels Slept
His smile was back and he pulled her gently into his arms once more. “Oh, Cantia,” he whispered. “I cannot tell you how happy youhave made me. I’ve never been this happy in my entire life.”
She clung to him, holding him tightly. He hugged her to him for a long moment, savoring the feel of her warmth against him, her body against his, before his kisses resumed with intensity. Before long, he had her backed against Hunt’s messy bed, laying her gently upon the straw and feather mattress and snaking his hands beneath her skirts. Cantia encouraged him to explore her, feeling his hands on her buttocks and thighs, helping him lower his breeches for his swift and heated entry.
He thrust firmly into her, his hands on her hips as he kissed her with a deep and abiding passion. It didn’t seem to matter that they were still nearly dressed. All that mattered was that they demonstrate their feelings to one another and feel each other, one inside the other.
Cantia panted softly as he thrust into her, feeling her climax build and biting off her cry of passion against his shoulder as she peaked. Tevin answered shortly and she could feel his member throbbing deep inside her as he spilled his seed. Now there was a new element to their lovemaking, with true love involved that magnified the intensity of the act. The emotions involved were overwhelming and Cantia’s eyes swam with tears at the tenderness of Tevin’s touch, the feel of his flesh against her. When it was over, all they could do was lay there and hold each other tightly.
“I love you, Cantia,” he confessed, feeling liberated and free that the truth had been spoken. “Never forget that. No matter how long we are apart, know that my love for you will grow by the day and I will come for you as soon as I am able.”
She gazed up at him as he lifted his head, her lavender eyes glimmering. “Know that I shall be waiting every second of every day for that moment when we are together again,” she whispered.
He smiled faintly, kissing her once more in a painfully sweet gesture before rising from the bed and pulling her up with him. As he secured his breeches, she smoothed her surcoat and returned to gathering Hunt’s things. It was difficult for them to focus on the tasks at hand because they very much wanted to fall back into each other’s arms. Cantia seemed to be the strong one and more than once gently pushedTevin aside or avoided his seeking mouth as she finished gathering her son’s possessions. Finally, Tevin simply stood aside and watched her as she finished. She was mesmerizing to watch.
“When this madness is over and Geoff has returned home, I shall take you and Hunt to Thunderbey Castle,” he told her. “I have a white and brown pony that Hunt might like. Someone gave it to Arabel as a gift but she cannot ride it.”
Cantia went over to him and indicated for him to hold out his arms, which he did. She deposited a bundle of clothing in them.
“Do you not think to ask Arabel first if she would mind giving her pony to Hunt?” she asked, collecting the rest of her son’s things. “Perhaps she does not want to give it to another.”
“She would rather know the pony was being ridden and loved,” he told her, moving for the door to open it. “She is a generous, reasonable girl.”
“As her father is also generous and reasonable.”
She winked at him as he opened the door, passing by him with her arms full. Tevin was in danger of pulling her back into his arms, knowing it might be the last time before their separation that he would be able to do so. Gently, he grasped her arm and kissed her forehead, his lips lingering on her flesh. Cantia closed her eyes with bliss, memorizing the feel of his lips against her. It was a swift, stolen moment of the sweetest measure.
Tevin released her and crossed the hall, knocking softly on the panel. He knocked again a few seconds later when there was no answer.
“Hunt?” he whispered loudly. “Open the door.”
After a moment, the bolt was thrown and the door jerked open. A little blond head and big eyes gazed back at him expectantly. As Cantia pushed past Tevin and her son and on into the room, Tevin put his fists on his hips and gazed down at Brac Penden’s son.
“Well, lad,” he said, a twinkle in his nearly-black eyes. “Are you ready for an adventure?”
He couldn’t recall ever seeing a bigger smile.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It was fortunatethat Cantia knew all of the minute details of Rochester, for when it came to sneaking the group of women and children out of the castle under Geoff’s nose, her knowledge was invaluable.
Within the hour, they were able to pack one satchel per person, including Arabel, so that they could travel swiftly and lightly. Cantia changed Hunt into durable clothing, layers of it, including a little wool cap all the way from Monmouth. She was dressed in durable travel clothing as well, as was Val, who took charge of Arabel and made sure she was ready to leave. The older women moved swiftly and silently, knowing it was essential that timing was everything in this case. Tevin wanted to get them free of the castle when Geoff was the most distracted.
So they chose the evening meal to make their escape even though it would be dark and more difficult to travel. But it would also make their escape more difficult to detect. Tevin had been with Geoff for the remainder of the afternoon, keeping him occupied, until the evening meal was served and then he accompanied the man into the hall. Excusing himself on a pretext, he appeared at the chamber door to find four occupants, ready for travel.
There was palpable fear in the air, apprehension with the certainty of being able to execute their plan without being caught. Taking Arabel in his arms, Tevin led the way down the spiral stairs as Cantia took Hunt in hand plus their two bags, and Val took her possessions plus Arabel’s. They moved quickly, carefully, like hunted animals. Hunt kept trying to get ahead of Tevin on the stairs and more than once, his mother had to yank him back. As they neared the bottom of the stepsand into the range of the great hall where Geoff was in the process of getting drunk, the big yellow dog appeared.
“George, go back,” Cantia hissed. “George, go!”
“Mam,” Hunt grabbed the dog. “I want him to come. He isth my friend. Pleasth?”
Tevin shushed them both. He didn’t want them to be overheard. “Quiet,” he whispered. “Hunt, take the dog. Move along.”
Hunt grabbed the dog by the rope collar around its neck and, with his mother urgently herding him, followed Tevin to the base of the stairs. Sounds and smells from the banqueting assaulted their senses. They could hear the low hum of conversation and the clanking of utensils. Tevin peered out of the stairwell, his dark eyes on the entry to the banqueting hall and the movement beyond. He felt like a fugitive, waiting to be discovered at any moment.
The placement of the table inside the room gave it a view of the doorway but not the entry hall beyond, so Tevin silently slipped from the stairwell and to the keep entry about twenty feet to his right, which led into an enclosed stairwell that sloped down to the bailey. He made sure Hunt, Cantia and Val were into the enclosed stairwell before following. The evacuation of the keep had been successful.
But his heart was still pounding with apprehension as they reached the bailey. It was dark outside as the full moon started to rise. In the shadow of the great keep, Tevin turned to Cantia.
“Get us to the postern gate,” he commanded softly.
