Page 88 of Lionheart

Panting,sweating, aching with raw need, he pounded into her hot center. Again andagain. She cried out, shuddered, but he barely heard above the thumping of hisheart. He gritted his teeth, thrust hard and deep. Erupted. The relief thatfilled his body was blinding, the heat gut-wrenching. He had known many womenin his lifetime. None like her. Was it his fate to spend the rest of his lifewith a woman who satisfied him like none other?

A woman hecould not trust?

A womanwho wielded a sword like a man?

ChapterSixteen

Vanorasnuggled against Lionheart, waiting for him to speak. When he said naught, shetouched his chest. "You would be more comfortable if you took off yourtunic."

Her wordsmust have awakened his demons, for he jumped out of bed and glared down at her."Damn you! You must be feeling smug right now. I know not what you did tome, but it will not happen again." He groped for his chausses and yankedthem on.

Vanorafelt as if her world had just exploded. "Why did you make love tome?"

"Werutted, Vanora. There was no love involved. I but followed the dictates of mycock. You wanted me, and I obliged."

"Getout! Get out and never come back. I cannot bear the sight of you."

Lionheartstared at her a long, silent moment, then stormed off.

He couldnot believe what had just happened, what he had allowed to happen. 'Twas as ifhe had no will where Vanora was concerned. This could not go on, he toldhimself. He needed to get away for a time, to clear his mind and heart of hiswife's influence. Aye, 'twas what he would do. He would escort Althea back toEngland himself and . . .

Nay, thatwould never do. He could not risk losing Cragdon. Daffid and his cohorts werestill a threat to his holdings; he could trust no one but himself to defend thekeep. Sir Brandon was a good man but he had not Lionheart's experience. Withonly twenty men at his disposal, Lionheart knew it was not going to be easy todefend the fortress against Daffid and an army of Welsh savages.

Hisdilemma loomed large before him. Vanora pulled him to her on an invisiblestring, and he liked it not. But Lionheart could do naught to control hisunruly body where Vanora was concerned. When she fluttered her sooty eyelashesat him, his heart did flip-flops and his loins tightened. What was he to do?The answer, he decided, was to avoid her and spend more time with Althea.Mayhap with time he would be able to summon enough desire for his former lemanto bed her.

* * *

Vanorawent about her normal duties with a heavy heart during the following days. Trueto his word, Lionheart made a point of ignoring her. It was as if she did notexist. Even worse, he and Althea were growing closer. Vanora knew not if he wasbedding his leman, but all the signs said he was. She had too much pride to askMair or one of the servants about Lionheart's sleeping arrangements. Duringthose trying days, Vanora made an effort to avoid Althea, but when their pathshappened to cross, Althea was quick to boast about Lionheart's attendance upon her. Though Althea's anklehad healed, Lionheart had made no attempt to return her to England.

One dayFather Caddoc was called to the village on a mission of mercy, andVanora decided to go with him. Bundling up in her warmest woolen tunic andfur-lined mantle, she rode through the outer bailey where Lionheart wastraining his men.

Despitethe cold, he had stripped to the waist, the exposed parts of his bodyglistening with sweat. Her gaze lingered on his bronzed torso, admiring hisbulging biceps and the muscles rippling across his back. Magnificent was too tamea word to describe him. How she missed him: their verbal sparring, thedarkening of his silver eyes when he made love to her, his hard body coveringhers.

She wantedto hate him for his blatant disregard for her but could not. He allowed her noopportunity to get close to him, to try to make things right between them. Sheunderstood his pride; why could he not understand hers? The man was impossible.

Draggingher gaze away from his impressive form, Vanora tried to concentrate on hermission in the village. A villein's wife was dying, and she was bringing warmblankets and food to the family. Mair had already used all her knowledge ofhealing to treat Bretta, but she had not improved and death was near.

Vanora'smind was still on the sick woman when she heard Lionheart roar for her to stop.She reined in and waited for him. This would be the first time he had spokendirectly to her in a fortnight, and she wondered why he deigned to speak to hernow.

"Goon ahead, Father," she instructed. "I shall follow after I havespoken with Lionheart."

"Areyou certain?" the priest asked worriedly.

"Aye.Gordy's wife needs you more than I do."

Lionheartloped easily up to her and grasped the reins. "Where do you go?"

"Tobring food and warm clothing to a villein's family. The wife lies near death,and I would offer what comfort I can to the family. May I go now?"

His eyesnarrowed. "Aye, as long as you do not go to Daffid."

"I amnaught to you, Lionheart. You said I could go where I pleased."

"Doesit please you to go to Daffid?"

"Notunless you drive me to him," she taunted. "I would have been contentas your wife if you had not cast me from your life."

"Youare still my wife."