Page 64 of The Tempest
“She captured the stepmother ye speak of.”
“She did!” Arnaldo said with enthusiasm. “Where is Astria?”
“Married tae my brother,” Declan said. “Maudie brought her all the way tae Devon tae give her over tae my brother, who serves at Blackchurch. He’s a trainer there. He also inherited my father’s titles and lands, so although I dunna want ye tae kill Maude, I would be in yer debt if ye were tae kill my brother.”
Arnaldo leaned on the table, clearly getting more than he’d hoped for in this conversation. “I’m listening,” he said. “What about your brother?”
“He’s the Earl of Lismore,” Declan said. “That means Astria is the new countess. If ye kill my brother, the title goes tae me and ye can have his widow. Yedidwant her, did ye not? Or is it Maude ye want?”
Arnaldo shrugged. “I’ll take both of them,” he said. “But if I kill your brother, what is in it for me?”
“Ye can moor yer ships in Scotland,” Declan said. “The earldom of Lismore has four islands, and I’d give ye one of them. Ye could moor yer ships there and ye’d have an ally in Medusa’s Disciples. Together, we would be a formidable force.”
It was an enticing offer. Arnaldo sat back in his chair as the tavernkeep brought another cup and a big pitcher of ale. As the man scampered off, the smile returned to Arnaldo’s face.
“I will consider it,” he said. “The alliance, I mean. I’ll kill your brother without expecting recompense because he’s married toAstria and I want her. I’ll also take your mother with me and make it so she will never return.”
“Good,” Declan said, satisfied. “But dunna think this will be easy.”
“Why not?”
“Because both women are at the Blackchurch Guild,” Declan said. “Ye know where that is?”
Arnaldo shook his head. “I do not,” he said. “But I know that Blackchurch and Triton’s Hellions are linked by blood. Everyone knows that.”
“They are.”
“Where is Blackchurch?”
Declan pointed west. “There is a road from this village that heads west,” he said. “Follow it until ye come tae a town called Exebridge. Blackchurch is about a mile away.”
“And that is where I’ll find Bloody Maude and the dowager Duchess de Tarragona?”
“Aye,” Declan said. He drained what was left in his cup before continuing. “In fact, I’ll go with ye. Ye’ll need my help finding them or the Blackchurch Guild will let loose on ye and ye’ll not survive. Ye need me for this, trust me.”
Arnaldo didn’t have much of a choice. He wanted something. Declan said he knew where it was. If he didn’t, then Arnaldo would kill him.
It was all quite simple.
Before the hour was up, they were heading west to Exebridge.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
One Week Later
He was inher body again.
Flat on her back, Astria was nude as she gazed up at the ceiling, eyes half-lidded, coming down from the euphoria of her second climax that morning. And the sun wasn’t even up yet. But Payne was lying on her, his body still joined to hers, and her ever-curious hands wandered down his big body, stroking his smooth flesh, before finding their way between them and touching the junction between her legs where they were still joined. Her fingers touched his member and he groaned.
“I have duties tae attend tae this morning,” he muttered into the side of her head. “I canna stay abed with ye all day, as much as I would love tae.”
He shifted so that his weight wasn’t pressing down on her, but she wouldn’t let him withdraw from her body. He ended up half on, half off her. Her breasts, free of the weight he brought down on them, were now available for her to fondle. She did, one hand between her legs and the other on her breasts, until Payne’s big hand joined her in her exploration of her own body. Something she’d always avoided until just a few days ago, whenshe and Payne consummated their marriage and she realized that touching her body wasn’t a bad thing.
Now, all she wanted to do was explore.
Payne finally pulled out of her simply so he could move to a more comfortable position and suckle her breasts tenderly. Astria closed her eyes, feeling the pleasure of his mouth on her flesh, her hand still between her legs, touching herself where it was warm and moist. When Payne couldn’t stand being left out of it, he moved one hand between her legs and pushed his fingers into her, pleasuring her as she groaned softly. When she finally climaxed, he pushed himself up onto one elbow, gazing down at her flushed, lovely face.
“I told ye that I have duties,” he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “I swear tae ye that if I get punished for being late, I’ll tell them it was all yer fault.”
