I wondered if this had to do with not coming into the city today.Perhaps she regretted it and wished to see me about going tomorrow.I wanted to escape to my room and consider everything I had learned that day, but I could hardly ignore the request.‘Lead the way,’ I sighed.
Bethel’s rooms were on the floor above the library.When we got to her door, the soldier opened it without knocking and shoved me through.He closed the door behind me, and I heard a click of a lock.
An excessively large, canopied bed took up the centre of the room, and on it was a completely naked Bethel.She was sitting onthe edge of the bed with her legs spread wide, and in between them kneeled a shirtless man with thick, inky hair.Bethel leaned on her elbows with her head thrown back.Her moans filled the room.
I watched, frozen, as the man’s head moved.I knew that head, those strands of hair as black as night.
My thighs clenched with unwanted desire while the erotic act played out in front of me.I turned, trying to open the door, but the soldier had locked it from the outside.My head twisted, looking again as Bethel’s moans became more frantic.Her hips lifted as she grabbed a handful of her lover’s dark hair.Her hands pressed his head between her thighs as she let out a shuddering cry.She opened her eyes dreamily and looked straight at me.
Torgrin stood and turned.His eyes narrowed when he saw me standing there watching them.His hair had been mussed by her hands, and there was a glistening sheen across his lips from where his mouth had been.My eyes drifted from his face to his scar tracking down his neck and part of his shoulder.I had seen the patterns crossing his body when he stood naked by the river as a boy.But his physique was nothing like it was then.His body was that of a soldier.
Torgrin’s well-defined chest expanded as he watched me scrutinise him.His shoulders were broad, and veins trailed across his biceps and down his sizeable forearms.I followed the cut of his hard stomach to where a trail of dark hair led to his low-slung breeches.I felt my face flush when I saw that he was straining against the laced leather.
My heart thundered when it looked as if he was going to walk towards me, but he stopped and turned to a nightstand with a jug of water and cups.He wiped his mouth on his forearm before taking a long drink.
Bethel surveyed me as she put on a long, flowing robe.She was slim and petite and had that fragile look about her that men liked.Her smirk made me stay rather than run to the door and kick it down.
‘You asked to see me, Lady Bethel?’It surprised me how unaffected I sounded.
‘Oh yes, I just wanted to apologise for not attending the city outing you had organised.’Her saccharine tone made me clench my teeth.‘As you can see, I was rather occupied.’She looked over at Torgrin with a sultry smile.
‘No apology necessary, my lady.’I arched a brow.‘Will that be all?’
‘Oh yes, that will be all.’She waved her hand in my direction, dismissing me.
I turned to the door and called out.‘Open up!’Nothing.I raised my fist and banged on the door.‘Open up!’Bethel began giggling behind me.
A tanned arm reached over my shoulder, and Torgrin banged on the door over my head.
‘Open.’Just one curt word and the door swung open.
‘Yes, Captain!Sorry, Captain!’I pushed past the soldier and hurried down the corridor.
CHAPTER 15
Atlas looked at me and then at Torgrin.Nobody was talking, and no-one was making eye contact.The humiliation I felt over the afternoon’s events was making me sick.It was only what was left of my pride that brought me to the barracks for the evening meal.
Bethel and Torgrin were lovers.I assume Atlas knew all along.I remembered how he had become uncomfortable when Bethel had asked if Torgrin was training with us.Bethel must have felt threatened by my interaction with Torgrin at that morning’s training, and sought to put me in my place.
Their affair must be a secret because she was engaged to King Hared’s son.I thought her an idiot.She had risked outing Torgrin and herself with that stunt – she did not know that I wouldn’t report what I saw to her father.
I pushed my plate away and left without a word to either captain.The people here knew the rules of a game I didn’t know how to play.I suddenly wanted to leave Murus altogether, to go home and see Iain and our little forge by the Red River.The cool night air washed over me, and I paused, taking a deep breath to shake off my homesickness.
‘Caris.’Torgrin had followed me outside.Ignoring him, I started towards the fortress entrance and the safety of my room.
‘Stop.’He headed me off, standing before me and forcing me to a halt.I tried to go around him, but he grabbed my forearm in a powerful grip.
He released my arm immediately when I pulled it away.
‘What do you want?’I demanded.
‘I want to talk.’His black eyes glinted.
‘Well, I don’t.’I folded my arms across my chest and looked over his shoulder.
‘She means nothing to me.’
I snorted.‘Are you telling me this so I don’t run to her father?Because if so, you needn’t worry.It’s none of my business.’
