Chapter Three

Nori woke alone, but she swore the touch of her husband lingered on her skin, on her lips. As memories of the night before flooded in, she groaned and hid her head in the bedding. Not only had she allowed his touch, she'd enjoyed it. Even now, she hated he wasn't with her when she'd awoken. His hands had done things to her breasts that had set her whole body afire with something she'd never felt. She had a feeling, if she hadn't fallen asleep last night, they would have consummated the marriage. There was only one thing to do now. She had to avoid her husband at all costs.

She rose from the bed and hurriedly dressed, brushing her hair until it hung in waves down her back. She quickly opened the door, stepped out and nearly shrieked when a male stepped directly in front of her.

"Good morning, my queen." He bowed before her. "I'll escort you below to break your fast."

"Which one are you?" she inquired, immediately recognizing him as one of the twins who served Gavin. Crispin and Conrad, or Cris and Con as Gavin had told her.

"Cris, at your service, my queen."

She waved that away. "I'm Nori."

He smiled but shook his head. "Though I appreciate your offer, my queen, calling you by your name would not be appropriate. You are my queen or Queen Montrose of the Dread Lands."

"Well, that's a mouthful," she muttered as she turned to walk toward the stairs.

"Indeed, it is," Cris agreed.

"How long have you and your brother been with Gavin?" she asked. If he had to trail along with her, she could at least use him for information.

"We met when we were all sent to earn our keep under a brute of a lord here in the weak king's lands. More than once, your husband stepped in to defend those too weak or injured to defend themselves."

"You'll not refer to my king as weak," she charged, turning to face him. He gave her a confused look.

"I've just stated your king defended those who needed it most. He's not weak."

"I'm talking about my king not Gavin."

Cris cleared his throat. "Your husband is your king now. As he is mine."

She rolled her eyes and turned to walk away again, but his next words stopped her.

"Your grandfather, Phillip, is the weak king."

"Don't confuse kindness with weakness," she corrected him.

Cris barked a laugh. "Phillip is many things to many people, but I can't imagine any would use the term kind to describe him. Don't confuse absence and neglect to be anything other than what it is, my queen."

"And what is that?"

He opened his mouth, glanced over her shoulder, then pressed his lips together. She knew Gavin stood behind her before she felt the delicious heat of his body surround her. He didn't stop until she felt the full length of his body along her back.

"Are you okay?" He nudged her until she faced him. She noted Con was with him.

Though the brothers were twins, and at first glance appeared identical, she noted Cris had a hint of honey in his brown eyes akin to the golden mead they drank, whereas Con's were a richer, darker shade of brown. She was sure if she paid close attention, she'd find other tells to help her know who was who between them.

"We're fine," she answered Gavin. "Cris and I were having a private conversation while he escorted me below to the hall."

"Cris can go check on the men," Gavin ordered. "I'll escort you."

"I'd prefer Cris."

Gavin glared. Cris stilled, and Con's mouth twitched with a grin.

"You'll be obedient, like a good little wife."

"You wish," she muttered and went to move around him. She'd barely gone two steps before he caught her arm and pulled her to his side.

"Keep that up, and I'll take you back to the bedroom to spank some obedience into you," he warned.

She inhaled sharply, cheeks burning as she glanced toward Cris and Con, who were thankfully already heading in the other direction and halfway down the hallway. Noting it was only her and Gavin, she jerked her arm from his touch.

"I'm not a child, and I won't be threatened with a spanking."

Her breath caught in her throat at the heat in his stare as he raked it over her before settling on her face. "I know you're not a child. When I take you over my knee, you'll be naked." He leaned in, his breath tickling her ear. "Once I show you the pleasure to be found in the strike of my palm on your buttocks, you'll beg me to spank you."

"Never," she whispered as a shudder went through her. Her nipples were hard points as she remembered the feel of his fingers and the way that touch had made her ache between her thighs.

"Is that a challenge?" he murmured.

"Stop it!" she ordered, jerking away from him again and heading with quick steps toward the stairs. "I won't be intimidated by you, Gavin."

He caught her arm at the top of the stairs, wrapped her hand around his elbow and held it there while he escorted her down to the main floor. She was relieved when they entered the main hall and there were others at the table breaking their fast. One of them yelled out as Gavin led her to join them.

"Eleanor!" the one she thought was Rory called out to her. Nori remembered her saying they were related. Cousins of some sort. She knew Gavin and his brother considered Rory their little sister even though they had no blood relationship.

"Gavin, your brother said to tell you to meet them in the courtyard. He'll have your horse saddled and ready to go." This was from Theo's wife. If her memory was right, the woman was named Jo and was the sister of Rory's husband, War King Jamie Drake.

"Sounds like someone is requesting your presence," Nori muttered. "You should take advantage of that. Not everyone does."

Gavin laughed, spun her around until she faced him, then lowered his head and kissed her. Not a chaste peck either. He used his thumb on her chin to tug her mouth open then swept in and consumed her. There was no other way to describe it. She wasn't even sure when he broke away. Her eyes were still closed. Her legs threatening to collapse beneath her. Until she felt the tap of his hand against her buttock. Her eyes flew open and met the devilment in his gaze.

"I'll be back soon, and we'll spend the afternoon together," he promised.

"Take your time," she told him but doubted it came out the way she intended since she was breathless from his kiss.

"Miss me," he ordered then turned and walked away, giving her another pat on the butt. Why? So, she'd think about the spanking he'd threatened her with? Good lord, he would drive her insane.

"Are you okay?" Rory asked, rising from the table.

"Sit," Jo ordered her. "Jamie will kill me if you get up and walk around when you were dizzy this morning."

"You were dizzy?" Nori asked, finally moving to join them.

"I was bent over, throwing up, and stood too fast," Rory said. "My husband worries and is driving me crazy. So crazy this might be the only child we have."

Jo snorted. "Good luck with that."

"You're pregnant? How exciting! I've always dreamed of having a family," Nori admitted as she took a seat. A servant immediately placed food and drink before her.

"Gavin will make an amazing father," Rory told her with a smile. "And the two of you will have beautiful children."

"Oh." Nori shook her head. "No."

Rory and Jo exchanged a look.

"He's your husband," Jo reminded her. "Once your marriage is consummated, if he's anything like his brother, you'll spend a lot of time working on making a child."

"I didn't need to know that about my brother," Rory muttered.

"Remember that when you talk about Jamie," Jo fired back.

"We haven't consummated yet. I'm hoping to talk him out of it."

They both stared at her.

"I saw the way he looked at you," Jo said. "He won't change his mind."

"You're his wife, Eleanor," Rory added.

"And today is your second day," Jo added.

"Oh, God," Nori moaned. What was she going to do? She couldn't be here when Gavin came back inside. She'd have to find her grandfather and see if he could think of any way to free her from the marriage. Gavin hadn't even been there. How could the vows she'd spoken be held true when the man she'd stood with wasn't Gavin? Plus, her grandfather had mentioned something about having it annulled if there was no consummation.

"What are you thinking?" Jo asked, and Nori blinked as she glanced up and took them in.

"I can't let this marriage be consummated."

"Good luck with that," Jo said with another snort.

"Jo!" Rory reprimanded. "She's afraid. Don't be so callous."

"I'm not afraid," Nori said, but even she knew it wasn't the truth. She was terrified of Gavin and the hold he seemed capable of having over her. She lost all sense of preservation when he was around. "I need to get out of this keep. Clear my head."

"Do you ride?" Jo asked.

"Yes! I love to ride. I was allowed to bring my favorite horse with me when I came."

"I love to ride also," Jo told her. "Rory can't because big brother doesn't want her in any danger."

Rory growled.

"He loves you." Jo nudged Rory when she didn't comment.

"I know. He just drives me crazy, and I'm barely into this pregnancy. Besides, I bet Theo will be even worse when you're pregnant."

"Please, I have that man wrapped around my finger," Jo said with a grin.

"I think it's the other way around," Rory challenged with a laugh.

"About that ride?" Nori reminded them.

"Eat," Jo ordered as she stood from the table. "I'll take care of everything. Meet me at the stables when you're through."

Nori watched her stride out of the room before turning back to Rory.

"You're not going to try to run away, are you?" Rory asked.

"Of course not," Nori lied because she wasn't sure what she was thinking. She just knew she needed space from Gavin. Time to come up with a plan to make him not want her. That was it! She'd come up with a way to make sure Gavin Montrose, War King of the Dread Lands, regretted choosing her for his bride.