The Northern Knights Series (Boxed Set) Read online

  Camm continued to brush her hair and whispered back. “They came with the new lord, mistress. That one that looks at you so without a care, came this morning.”

  Alexa cast a glance over to her bed. The redhead lowered her gaze, but not before Alexa noted the loathing in them. “I get the feeling she might have a problem with me.”

  “Aye, that one is a special one to the new lord or so that is what has spread throughout the manor, mistress. I don’t like her too much myself. She is rather high and mighty, when she should know her place.” Camm scoffed and held out the cup to her for Alexa to drink to cover their talk as the one soldier eyed them suspiciously.

  Alexa moved her gaze from him back to the redhead and felt something sting her chest. She ignored it. Good, she was probably his whore. That would be the reason for the girl’s obvious dislike. Alexa turned away. The wench could have him. She was glad. She told herself she was glad. Maybe he would, once he had her with child, quickly find his way back to this one’s bed. He would leave her be after all.

  That’s what got her through the next few minutes as the women finished preparing the room for the wedding night and soon they left with the soldiers in tow. At four and twenty, Alexa never thought she’d marry nor had she wont to or ever the desire. Her father had treated her as the son he never had and she was glad of it. She could wield a weapon, her favorite, the sword as well as most men and ride just as well. She had no thoughts of love as had Lisbeth. Sadness and longing shot through her. All this should have been for Lisbeth. Not her. Even though Lisbeth would have fainted dead away from the sight of the man alone. , she was more of a lady than she and surely, Alexa knew that her sister would not have had to be bound and gagged on her wedding day. It probably would have gone a lot smoother.

  Rourke sat in the high back chair at the lord’s table lost in deep thought over the day. His foul mood was all over his face and he looked more like he was at a funeral than his wedding feast. The wedding celebration was a somber one. Yet all within the dining hall still indulged and made merry. The room, with tapestries hanging behind the raised dais, was lined with intricate carvings on pillars and notched arches that ran the length of both sides of the room which was sparsely filled with trestle tables and guests. His arrival had been without all the fanfare and he cared not to befriend the neighboring nobles at this point.

  “I knew you would be the last one to have a lavish wedding, Rourke. But, even you still deserve one better than how this one has begun.” Goran said next to him. Rourke said nothing but Goran was used to it. They had been together long enough.

  “Perhaps ‘twould be somewhat better- a lighter affair, so to speak, if you allowed your bride to attend. After all, is it not her feast too? A chance to make amends…” Goran knew he was pushing his limit. The new lady had drawn first blood on the Dark Axe and Goran knew it would be a long time before Rourke would let that go. He knew the fierce knight would eventually, but not just yet. Nonetheless it did not stop him from making an attempt.

  Rourke turned his head slowly toward his friend whom he’d grown up with side by side since they were lads of six. “Goran, I think you abide in your cups too deep. This should have been her sister’s wedding celebration. So, nay, it is not her night. She deserves naught.” Rourke said calmly. He’d glimpsed the family portrait briefly when he’d carried the hellion to her chamber. On his way back down the circular stone stairwell, he had paused in his angry stride to look at the family portrait again. He’d gotten the short end of the stick. The hellion was not as comely as her sister. Lisbeth had not been a raving beauty either, but she’d been blessed with handsome features more so than the ones his wife possessed.

  Goran took a deep drink of the warm, bitter mead and waved away a serving wench who came to refill it. “But, you did not marry her sister, Rourke.”

  Rourke slammed his fist on the table. The few eyes in the hall turned their way. Goran did not flinch and simply continued to sip from his cup.

  “And I had to force the hellion to do so. Never have I been pushed to such lengths as this to what this wench has forced me to do, my friend. Her parents gave her too much free reign and it has proven to be a grave mistake for her. She is too willful and knows not when to keep a still tongue.” Rourke’s irritation rose higher as he stood. Nay, despite their terror of him, most women threw themselves at him, even the ones he did not want. Except Jacqueline.

  After her, he’d vowed never to force a woman to do anything ever again. Until now.

  “Our king’s warning need not come true. This is not the way to start what could possibly be a good union.”

  Rourke gave him an incredulous and sharp look and said sarcastically, “Methinks that mead has made your thick skull even more thick. Who says I wish for a good union with her? Besides there is no good in that Saxon bi- Nay. Enough.” He frowned, irritated with the conversation and shook it off. “Good eve, Goran. I have to get through the rest of the night and I will without a blade in my back. Pray that I do not suffer impotence and my seed takes so that I can quickly put this night behind me.”

  Rourke quit the hall in a few quick long strides and did not see the smile light on Goran’s face. Goran’s gaze fell upon the red-haired wench who was just now entering the hall. Rourke had stormed right past her without acknowledgement and her cross expression spoke volumes of her upset. Goran watched her disappear around the corner heading for the kitchens. Aye, it had already begun. Goran downed the last of the bitter mead with a grimace.

  THREE

  Rourke stood outside her chamber door, Nay! His chamber door now. He had been surprised at the different look of his wife when she had appeared in that cream colored gown. Although it was a bit snug in the arms and back, it enhanced and brought too much attention to her more than ample breasts.

  He’d found his eyes drawn there more times than he wanted to count. For with her hands tied together, they pushed them together and out. His mouth had gone dry. Lust had slammed into him like a fist and caught him off guard, causing him to grow angrier as the ceremony had gone on. And even now, he was plagued with the lingering feelings.

  He had felt nothing but awe when he had first spotted her at the gravesite. Anger, aye, he’d felt that too, but not lust. She was not the usual type he sought for pleasure in his bed. He did not want to feel anything for her. Surely it was just eagerness to get her with child and secure his fiefdom, and be done with it. After all, he needed to be aroused to complete his duty. Satisfied with that conclusion, Rourke entered the chamber.

  Alexa held her breath as he entered. The Norman stood at the door watching her, his back against the door.

  She wanted to look away from his deep penetrable gaze, but found she could not. Camm, against the other three servant’s disapproval, including the red- haired wench, had covered her with a fur to shield her nakedness. The Norman had given the order for her to be stripped bare, strapped down as before, but this time, with her legs in a spread eagle pose and tied to each post.

  At the humiliating position, especially in front of one that had been so intimate with him, the red flush had spread from Alexa’s face down to her naked toes. It had been a battle to fight back the mortified tears. This ultimate shameful act had been too much for her, yet, she’d be damned to hell before she’d let these women see her shed one tear at the disgusting and vile way their savage lord was treating her.

  She knew the flush still clung to her flesh because she felt the heat in her cheeks. But, watching him now as he walked over to the side of the bed, she prayed for strength to get through this night. Camm had said it would hurt briefly and that more times than not, a man could spill his seed once and get a woman with child.

  Only once and the seed could be planted, Alexa breathed in a shallow breath and swallowed a strangled sigh with some relief. She hoped Camm was right, for looking at the Norman’s large body now it was all she believed she could withstand, she was sure of it. The man was so large, once probably would still be too much
, if he didn’t kill her first.

  Alexa prayed fervently it would be over fast as she watched the handsome warrior began to undress. Her breath quickened as he peeled his tunic over his head. His chest was bare, massive, heavily muscled and defined, with arms to match. His right arm had a bronze band around his bicep. The muscle looked as though it would pop the band right off.

  Camm had told her that the more she relaxed the less it would hurt and Alexa knew in that moment it was going to be quite painful for her. How was she supposed to relax when the man was undressing in front of her and caused disturbing things to flutter in her belly? Still, even bound, she’d planned to make it as difficult as she could for him and she found herself hating him even more for making her find his large body attractive. Alexa did not know that as her eyes followed his movements, his eyes watched her.

  She bit down on the gag. Rourke pulled off his braies, and her eyes followed as he slid them slowly down past his hips. Alexa’s breath hitched as his semi-hard member burst free. Her mouth parted. Oh God, he was going to kill her.

  When he bent at the waist, Alexa saw the many scars, some deeper than others, but the one that stood out was the deep and ugly gouge that started at his navel, circled round his waist and up to the middle of his upper back. She swallowed a horrified gasp with the wonder of how he had received and been able to survive such a deep wound.

  He must have heard her for she caught the briefest hesitation in his movements, but he did not turn to look at her. His back, taut, and bronzed from the sun, rippled with muscle as he finished disrobing. He reached behind his head and with a flick of his wrist, removed the leather strap, his golden-hair spilled around his shoulders and Alexa was in awe.

  If she thought he was beautiful before, he was a Norse God now. What was wrong with her? She could hardly breathe. Mayhap the gag was not only cutting off her breath, but also any sane thought. She wanted to turn from that large body of perfection and muscle. Never had she seen anything so beautiful. Could a man be beautiful? She did not know. But he was, to her. Her eyes had a mind of their own and moved up to his chin, over those full lips and stopped at his green eyes.

  Rourke grew to full attention when her eyes met his. He was so hard, it was almost painful. He was irritated still by it. Had he not just lain with Lina a little more than a month ago? And now, he was almost ready to explode over his Saxon bride before he was even inside her. He shook off the odd feelings that seeped in again. Her amber eyes had grown darker as they’d bored into his and drew him to the bed. He read open passion in them and it angered him just as much as it pleased him. He did not know why it angered him so. Aye, he did. There were two reasons.

  He didn’t want to want her. The other, she was a bit long in the tooth, well past the marrying age. A sudden thought hit him. What if she were not a virgin? Rourke swallowed. What did it matter now, it was too late. She was his wife and burden now and she would give him an heir. Yet,something stirred at the back of his brain. It did matter and he scowled.

  Rourke knelt one leg on the bed and reached for the gag, then paused, his hand hovering over her mouth and he said, his words clipped, “If you scream or curse me, I will shove this back into your mouth. Understood, hellion?”

  She wanted to scream through the gag to just remove the bloody damn thing. Their gazes warred with each other for a moment. Then, she nodded slowly. He removed it.

  “I want this over just as you. So, will you fight me or will you let it go easy?”

  “Just get it over and be done with it. I will not make this easy for you, Norman bas-“ Her words stopped when his hand returned again to hover above her mouth with the gag.

  Alexa inhaled deeply, her eyes storming with anger. Her mouth was dry, her tongue heavy. Nay. She did not want that damn thing back in her mouth. She met his gaze.

  He laughed, although the smile did not reach his eyes. “I don’t see how you plan to do that considering your current position. I spoke the truth. You don’t fight, the quicker it will be over for us both.”

  Alexa didn’t know why, but his words stung. She had imagined all the hateful things and threats she had planned to spew upon him while she had lain here waiting for his arrival. Not knowing if he would come or not, with a part of her hoping that he wouldn’t as the other part hoped he did. The part that had thought he’d not come, she had believed he was taking pleasure in knowing that she lay here in this position, naked and would leave her thus so just to extend her punishment. The other, she’d wanted him to come. She told herself it was so the deed could be done and over, put behind them. But, she’d known it was a lie. Something about this brute of a man captivated her. Anger and shame had swept over her for even thinking such thoughts. Now that he was here, she wanted to shake herself and the shame away.

  She could not think past that body of his- it was so close to hers now. His man part bobbed near her face. She blushed even deeper. It looked like the size of his arm, but she knew that was untrue, for his arm was pulling back the fur that covered her chest. She wanted to protest, but she was mesmerized by his tanned flesh and his organ seemed to grow even larger right before her eyes and her eyes grew with it. The skin smooth, veins filled with blood and pulsing, she had the urge to reach out and touch it and for the first time since he had bound her, Alexa was thankful that her hands were tied.

  Air hit her naked breasts and a loud gasp did escape her lips then. It mattered not for it was drowned by the grunt that came from Rourke. He feasted his eyes upon her creamy white globes, her stomach and down to that dark triangle between her lean, toned legs. Rourke’s gaze swept over her from head to toe. Pale skin, curved in all the right places. He had been wrong. She was not skinny at all. She was quite muscular and lean, her stomach, his hand reached out and spanned her waist. Her belly quivered under his touch and he liked it. Her body was perfection. Hard, but, ah, soft too. The scowl on his face began to disappear. His hand trailed up, over her ribs to cup one of those warm luscious breasts. He could not wait any longer.

  Alexa stopped breathing. Fear and another emotion shot through her and she could not stop her body from trembling. She explained it away by telling herself it was just her body, nothing more. Sins of the flesh for her to like his touch.

  Rourke slid his palm over her nipple, the hard tip nearly made him cover her body with his and take her right then, quickly. He felt her arch into his palm. He should just end it. But, he held himself back as he realized he had lied. He wanted to enjoy it. He forced the growing need to be inside her back down and to go slow.

  Alexa flinched when he grazed her other breast, pleasure shot through every limb. Nay! What was he doing to her?

  Rourke watched the emotions flit through her eyes. Confusion covered her face. He leaned down, one hand on her breast, the other on the bed, supporting his weight and he kissed her lips lightly. Resistance met him as she tried to turn away from the kiss, but he pressed more firmly until she stopped fighting him. She softened just enough for him to slide his tongue into her mouth. Alexa tried to pull away from his hot invasion, but he held her there and explored the soft recesses of her mouth.

  She did not meet his tongue. He was doing too many things to her at once and Alexa did not know who she was angrier with. Him or herself at the response from her body. She bit her lip and told herself not to feel anything. But, hell, her body was not listening.

  She found herself meeting his tongue with her own as he continued his assault on her with his hot mouth and warm caresses and she heard the groan that seemed to rumble from deep within his chest.

  Rourke deepened the kiss and allowed his tongue to dance with hers in a sensual caress for a long time before lifting his head to gaze down at her. He liked the sweet taste of her mouth and she knew how to kiss. That thought darkened his scowl. Her amber eyes were slightly closed. He wanted to look into those readable depths and asked her who and how many had come before him, but he shoved the aggravating thought aside. Nay. He wanted to see everything she felt when h
e branded her with his touch and made her forget any other.

  “Open your eyes,” he ordered.

  She hesitated at his command then obeyed. Rourke dipped his head and kissed her again. Alexa sighed. He was driving her crazy. Her body was tingling all over, she felt a craving deep inside building, aching. She tried to stop her legs from trembling, but that was hard to do with them half numb. She was near panting. So she fisted her hands into the rope instead and held on.

  Rourke ended the hungry kiss again and she had to bite back a shocked groan of dismay.

  “If I untie your legs, you will behave.”

  It was a command, not a request. She must have nodded in her haze of euphoria for within seconds he had bent and freed her legs. The numbness forgotten, Alexa moved them to ease the ache that was growing between her thighs. But, no, that did not appease it and only seemed to make matters worse and the sensation spread to her center, pooling and meshing with the hungry wave of delight forming there.

  And what he did next did not help. He had that hot mouth of his now on her ear, licking a trail of hot open kisses in a path down her throat to end right above the rise of her breasts. Alexa did not know she stopped breathing. She stiffened and fought to remain still.

  The moment his hot mouth covered her hardened peak, Alexa knew she’d lost and arched her back up from the bed with the deep moan exploding from between her lips she could no longer hold back. .

  Rourke groaned and laved both breasts to a heightened frenzy of pleasure and she felt moisture flood her center. A throaty keening cry reached her ears and Alexa realized that the sound came from her. She should have been angry. She had wanted to be angry. She had tried to reach deep down inside to hold onto it, the hate, but the elusive monster escaped her and moved further and further away as the pleasurable vibrations his tongue was inflicting upon her flesh overrode it. Damn, she welcomed it. Her body could betray her, but her heart and soul would never and so she held on. The betrayer that it was melted more and more under his masterful touch. Her body was working against her and she said between clenched teeth, “Hurry and be done with it, Norman.” The huskiness in her voice shocked her.