Chapter Thirty-Eight

Blackmore Castle

E lysande took hold of her cloak and began to make her way from her bedchamber. A rumble of male laughter filled the room when Reynard playfully grabbed her from behind. The warmth of his naked chest sent a thrill through her as it always did, making her long to return to bed with him, but there were chores that needed attending to so she could begin her day.

Reynard nuzzled her neck. "Where do you think you are headed, wife?" he purred into her ear, giving the lobe a tiny nibble.

She turned in his arms to face the man who meant all to her. "Where do you think, husband? The daily chores will not get done by themselves. You have already distracted me for nigh unto an hour with our play this morn."

He began to trail kisses down her neck and she softly sighed. "Chores can wait. I, however, cannot."

As much as she wished otherwise, she would have to deny him. "Tell that to the cow waiting to be milked in our stable. I swear I can hear the poor animal bellowing her discomfort from here," she said whilst running her fingers over his muscled chest.

"'Tis just a cow, Elysande, and the empress sent enough servants that any one of them can see to the animals in the stable. How can you deny me when the bed awaits our pleasure?" he replied, and the husky baritone of his voice almost convinced her to stay.

"Deny you? Surely you jest with me, my lord, for did we not just tumble between the linens once… nay… twice this morn?" she teased, giving him a quick kiss.

He gave a heavy sigh. "Then if you must go, wait for me to finish dressing and I will accompany you."

She raised her hand to cup his cheek. "I am certain you can survive a few minutes without me. Take your time and meet me in the stables when you are ready."

"We have servants now for that, Elysande," he reminded her again.

"Some habits are hard to let go of." She gave him a bright smile.

"I will miss you," he murmured and bent forward to seal his words with a long kiss.

She could not deny him another kiss and more minutes passed before he at last allowed her to find her voice and continue their conversation. "I will not be gone from your company for long." Her arm wound around his neck, and she held him to her as though he was the only reason she remained upright. A moan left him when his tongue began to dance with her own again and she finally had to give a push against his chest to remember what was required of her.

Her breathing was ragged, and she wished she could take her husband up on the offer of the pleasure she would receive if she only gave into his demands. "You are trying to distract me again," she whispered, twirling a dark strand of his hair between her fingers.

"Is it working, my love?" he asked with a roguish grin.

"If only…"

"Are you certain?" Reynard once again pulled her up against his rock-hard body causing parts of her to swoon from the heat radiating from him.

She waved one finger at him. "Stop tempting me, Reynard," she teased although she was certain her eyes sparkled in delight. What wife would not be pleased that her husband wished to keep her in their bedchamber?

"Then go if you must but know that I am not happy you are not giving in to my demands." He finally released her and as she turned, he playfully swatted her bottom.

She abruptly twirled back around only to see his amusement upon his visage. "Really? Is this how our lives together are to be?" she teased whilst rubbing her only slightly abused backside.

"Most likely, but feel free to stay here with me in order to make it up to me," he said laughing.

"I am the one who has a sore bottom. Do you not think you should be the one to apologize?"

He stepped forward and kissed the tip of her nose. "Apologize? I believe, little one, I was thinking of something more than just having speech together."

There was a promise lingering in his gaze, and she wished with all her heart she could give in to his offer. But she could imagine the loud bellow in the distance, and she could not put off her chores any longer.

"Later?" she asked in a seductive whisper that had him pulling her up against his erect manhood.

"Most definitely, my lady," he growled in what sounded like complete anguish.

"Do not worry, my lord. You shall survive the briefest of partings until I can see to your needs again," she called over her shoulder as she headed toward the door.

A chuckle left him. "Then you best take care of that blasted cow quickly, wife, because I shall be down to the stables shortly. I believe there's a nice new pile of straw in the loft that might suffice for a bed."

"You are impossible."

"Aye," he said grinning, "but you love me anyway."

"Aye… that I do. I shall see you shortly."

Elysande watched him give a short nod before he turned and went to a table that held several parchments for him to read. He would be busy far longer than he intended if he were to peruse all that required his own attention as lord of the keep.

Closing the door behind her, she made her way to one of the turrets to descend into her hall. One day, she would create beautiful tapestries that would grace the walls to replace the ones that had been burned by Stephen's men. She shook her head at the thought of the damage they had created months ago. She should not look to the past but only to her future with Reynard. There was much to look forward to now that they had returned home.

Aye… who would have known when Reynard stumbled upon her at her grandfather's gravesite, that she would eventually set aside her misgivings for the young knight and fall in love with him? He was an unexpected blessing and she had much to be thankful for. She would remind him each and every day how he had stolen her heart almost from the very beginning.

She swung around in joy that she was home and was very much loved. Quickly, she grabbed a hold of a bit of cheese and bread that was sitting on one of the tables, nodded to one of the servants serving the knights who had returned to Blackmore, and then hurried out the keep's front door. The heavy wood banged shut behind her as she scurried to reach the barn and the animals who were needing to be taken care of. She knew these simple chores she had once performed should be a thing of her past. After all, she was now lady of the keep—and as Reynard had mentioned, she had servants to see to the animals in the stable. On the morrow, she would set in place arrangements for others to handle this from now on.

She had just reached the barn and rounded the corner to head toward the door when she was once again grabbed from behind. 'Twas a firmer grip than she was used to with their play, and she could not help but flinch at the unexpected unpleasantness of Reynard's touch. He had never hurt her before.

"Easy, Reynard, else you will bruise me all over," she huffed, trying to face him to no avail. But she froze in fear a moment later when the voice that reached her ears was not the sound of her beloved husband.

"Did you miss me, my pet?" the voice asked as he inhaled the scent of her hair. She was immediately spun around so she could face her tormentor.

"You!" she cried upon seeing the face of none other than Gerold Morcant. Any thoughts the empress may have had that this miscreant would hide himself away were proven false for he stood here before her.

"Aye! Me. And this time you will not get away so easily. You and that whoreson Norwood owe me," Morcant promised as he put his gloved hand over her mouth so she could not scream.

Elysande tried to dig the heels of her boots into the dirt, but he continued to pull her along until they reached his horse. As he made quick work of gagging and binding her, she could only ponder why these things kept happening to her. When he tossed her up onto his horse, she tried to jump back down but Morcant was too quick for her. With her held in his tight grip, Morcant took up the reins and put his heels into the horse's side.

Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, Morcant was galloping out the unmanned gate of Blackmore. She could only wonder how long 'twould be before her husband realized she was gone.