The Northern Knights Series (Boxed Set) Read online

  Alexa was panting short breaths over the close call. ‘Twas Camm.

  “Oh, mistress! You gave me such a start. I thought you would still be abed.” Camm closed the chamber door, her arms full of fresh linens and a clay jug of water. “I am so glad to see that you are feeling better today and moving about. Worried, I am, about your health a great deal. ‘Tis hurtful to see you kept in here like…Forgive me, mistress. It’s just that you are not yourself and- and I cannot bear to lose another in this family.”

  Alexa reached out to pat the maid’s hand as Camm’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Camm, thank you for your concern, but worry not. This melancholy will pass soon enough as will my confinement. Trust in me. ‘Tis going to take more than his Norman ways to knock the breath out of me.”

  “But, mistress, I beg you be careful. We know not all what he is capable of.”

  “I agree on that.” The gruff voice filled the chamber.

  Neither of them had heard him come in. By the look on his face, he had seen her indeed and Alexa forced herself to meet his gaze. She had to show him he could not intimidate her, even if he did.

  “Were you not ordered to only enter this chamber with my permission, Camm?”

  All color had left her maid and Alexa felt her tremble under her hand. Why could she not enter? Camm was her servant.

  “My-My lord, begging your forgiveness. I am so- sorry. I just wanted to see if my lady needed anything.”

  “You deliberately disobeyed me then?”

  His thunderous timbre had Camm shaking harder. It even rattled her and Alexa gave Camm’s hand a hard squeeze, and shot him an angry look as she said, “She meant well. Why does she need your permission to enter my chamber?”

  His murderous glower pinned her to the bed. Something warned her not to correct him in front of her maid, but Alexa disliked his behavior toward the maid. Camm meant a lot to her.

  “Never question what I do.” Her mouth fell open at his words, but he turned to her maid. “Camm, leave our chamber and I will see to you later.”

  Alexa started to protest and Rourke saw it. She seemed to think better of it and gave a reassuring pat to the back of the maid’s hand before the little woman darted out of the room.

  Alexa cleared her throat. It was the he most words he’d spoken to her just then than he’d done all week. She had noticed his correction on the chamber. Our chamber. She watched him walk over to her. Angry and still he looked good. She gritted her teeth over that uncontrolled thought. His eyes blazed brightly as he leaned over her. Alexa held her breath.

  “Your precious people will respect me, Alexa or I will get rid of every single one in whatever manner is most convenient and quick.”.” When her eyes widened with knowing, he was pleased and continued. “Never speak or try to correct me again in front of anyone. Ever.”

  Alexa boiled and shouted back, “I am the lady of my manor and still have a say in what goes on here! This imprisonment does not change that fact. And best the rest of your Norman swine guards need to respect that.”

  His brows shot up. The scar she’d given him near on his throat paled and was the only indicator that her words did not sit well with him. When he spoke, his tone came hard and clipped.

  “Do you not yet know the measure of my impatience? You have no say in anything! Those Norman swine protect you only because I order them to. Otherwise you’d have been dead a long time ago.’Tis a wonder you have survived this long with such a foul attitude. Never underestimate what is before you. I care not what you want. Know this, my men will never accept an Angle-Saxon bitch as their lady.”

  Alexa could not stop the hurtful gasp from leaving her mouth. His words stung. She turned away sharply and crossed her arms. “Think you I care what they think or you? I do not!”

  Rourke knew he had hurt her, but he was too angry to care. The mere sight of her had set off a myriad of emotions in him that he did not wish to feel. “Aye, you care. Rid yourself of the name calling and you just might gain a boon.”

  Alexa whirled and flung the feather filled pillows at him, hitting him in the chest. He smirked not budging and they fell at his feet. His stoic expression only angered her more.

  She swallowed back the burn in her throat. “’Tis not only I that needs rid of the name calling. Are you not guilty too? I want naught from any of you but to be free of the vile presence of you Normans and to have my home back! And never will I ask a favor of you.”

  Rourke bent and picked up the pillows. He tossed them back on the bed and crossed those bulging arms over his massive chest with a shrug. “Never, hmm? We shall see. Suit yourself.”

  Emotions warred in her at his towering form, the mockery in his tone unbearable. Seething, Alexa could not stop herself and mumbled, “Bastard.”

  His green eyes stormed and he closed the small space between them in one giant step. “Did I just not warn you to tame your vile tongue?”

  Alexa too infuriated and her pride wounded to care that he was riled, did not think before she flung the sharp retort, “Have I not told you enough that I will not obey a murdering Norman?”

  His hand circled her throat. “Do not speak!” She opened her mouth and his fingers tightened as he repeated slowly through clenched teeth, “Do-not-speak! Seems you deign to remain chained to this bed.”

  She struggled against him and matched his glare of fury with her own. She could feel his restraint. She would not yield any more than she could hold back the unbidden words.

  Her time in this room was driving her mad and the bastard forbidding Camm audience with her was the last straw. She tried to yell her words, but they came out strangled with his large hand pressing against her throat. Her eyes watered and burned as she dared him. “Throttle me or tie me back up if you must, least it will end this torment of confinement and your presence. But, never, ever will I be cowed under the likes of you.”

  His hand tightening and the feral growl that exploded from between his lips had her wishing to take her words back. He dragged her close to him. So, he would choke her. Good, Alexa thought. . She would be free of these alien feelings, this room and him. Her chest burned on that.

  But he didn’t. Instead his head dipped and he kissed her, hard.

  Heat flamed in her immediately as he forced her lips apart to accept him. By the time he lifted his head, both their breaths were ragged and Alexa glimpsed the passion in his eyes and knew his intent. With his hand around her throat, she had little room to scramble away, but she did her best.

  When he leaned down to sprinkle hot kisses on her exposed chest, she twisted beneath him. He soon covered her body with his and heat ignited wherever he touched. When he took her nipple into his hot mouth, her struggles ceased and she knew he knew it. She cried out at the delicious ache and welcomed his caress. Damn his Norman hide, she had wanted it. Wanted him.

  Rourke bathed both tips with devoted fervor and when he felt she would struggle no more, he let his hands sweep over her soft curves. His hands reached under the hem of her chemise to caress her lean thighs. The moans coming from her throat encouraged him and he kissed her down to her navel. Her scent drove him mad. She drove him to such fury as she did him to uncontrollable and enflamed passion. She was just a woman and any woman could draw the same result from him. Rourke blew out a hot breath on her inner thigh and knew his words to be a lie. The soul rendering, almost violent lust this woman stirred in him was nigh madness! No other could withdraw such an emotion from him and Rourke lowered his head with a growl.

  Alexa shouted when his hot mouth delved between her thighs. Again, her hips had a mind of their own and undulated against that expert mouth.

  This act he’d introduced her to, was one she craved almost as much as when he joined their bodies. His tongue darted out and soon drove her into a pleasurable abyss of madness. Her trembles shook the whole bed as the exquisite pleasure consumed her.

  She vaguely felt him move and was brought back when she felt him nudge her tingling swollen flesh. Cowed be d
amned, she had to have it and she arched up against him and shuddered her joy as he filled her in a single thrust.

  Rourke caught her satisfied cry in his mouth. Moving on her, he kissed her over and over, as he teased them both. Her hands clutched and unclenched clumsily at his shoulders when he pulled all the way out, the head of his shaft brushing gently over her nub of pleasure before he then thrust back in. She clawed at him in frantic need, quivering beneath him, but matching him hard thrust for hard thrust. .

  Alexa writhed wildly beneath him as the pleasure built and held on as the tidal wave once again stole her breath. All too soon the fire coursed through his limbs and came to a head in his shaft.

  Rourke drew back, pulling her with him and reached down to place his hands on either side of her hips. He lifted her and guided her on him; each slow, penetrating stroke brought strangled choking sounds from them both. Soon he roared with his hot release into her, drowning out her delight filled cry as she went over the edge with him.

  Panting and sated he rolled off her onto his back. Immediately he missed her heat and he growled over the abrupt sensation. They said naught as they fought for normal breath.

  Rourke was taken aback when her fist came down on his chest.

  “You rutting beast! Is that your answer for everything?”

  Her anguished outburst was thick with her sobs. Rourke jumped up from the bed and stood. Rage instantly in place of the explosive passion they had just shared.

  Her words brought back another’s so long ago. He looked down at her as though she was crazed. Fat tears streamed down her flushed face as she struggled to right her clothes. Her unseemingly behavior shocked him. Something pulled at him and he tamped down the twinge of regret, too lost in that haze of memory her words had conjured.

  Swiftly lacing up his breeches, he said brusquely, “Seems the only way to get through to you Saxon wenches. Do not lie, I know and felt you enjoy it. Call me a rutting beast again and you will die.”

  Her amber eyes widened in shock on the steely calm in which he spoke and he read the hurt in them.

  Her throaty and mirthless laugh made him wince as she managed to choke out, “Fine! Kill me then and know that you will be setting me free. Anything would be better than to have to suffer through this ghastly deed with you again.”

  Rourke's boot came down on one corner of the bed and he kicked it with a loud roar, the heavy bed slid across the room, leaving Alexa stunned.

  He left the room before he carried out his threat. Painful memories blinding his path, he stumbled down the stairs, past servants, past Goran and without stopping, Rourke threw a quick command to his friend over his shoulder. “Stay! And make sure that bitch does not leave here.” And out to the stables where he mounted and rode out.

  TWELVE

  Oh, how she hated him! Handsome and nothing but brute strength to get his way. Her body had betrayed her again. Melted within moments under his skillful and artful caresses. He’d manipulated her flesh and Alexa shuddered with angry tears because she had enjoyed every minute of that ghastly deed. Immensely. Damn him to hell!

  The man had not spoken to her in nearly a week and thought to command all she did and took what he wanted when he wanted it.

  She should be ashamed for wanting his hulking body. But, she was not. She liked every inch of it, craved it more and more. A fool she was indeed. She exhaled heavily.

  Never had she been one known or prone to weep and since she’d met him, she’ done nothing but. Alexa wiped the angry tears away from her eyes as she quickly finished her toilette and bath that had been sent up after he had disappeared. She glanced over to the bed; it still sat where he had kicked it.

  In the middle of the room.

  The four postered bed of heavy oak had been crafted and built right here in this room. Four strapping men had been needed to push it against the wall.

  And he managed to move it with just one leg. The look in his green eyes had been crazed. He’d looked at her as if he’d not recognized her and for the first time since he had darkened her doorstep, Alexa had known true fear. He looked like a madman over her words and Alexa winced and eased her hands from rubbing the cloth too vigorously over her still tingling flesh. He had really wanted to kill her in that moment.

  He had been in the room with her when he was inside her, but when she had hurled her cruel words at him, his mind had been somewhere else. Something had happened to him and whatever it was had cut him deeply. The scars of it, still visible and painfully raw and she’d seen it first hand in his stark expression. Rising out of the now cool bath, she wrapped the cloth tightly around her body. That wounded look touched something deep inside her heart and she wished badly that she could ignore it. But, she could not. She wondered what type of woman had gotten so close and under his skin. What had she done that still had the power to cause the Dark Axe’s soul to be so deeply and dangerously tortured?

  One guard still had yet to return from the small group of bushes she’d seen him walk into a long time ago. And now this one, his hand down the front of the serving wenches russet gown, laughed and snorted like a pig as they tried to hide their entwined bottoms behind the barrels stacked neatly along the south side wall of the manor. If they were any louder, Alexa sighed, ‘twould be more than she whom heard their coy giggles and whispers of an intimate nature. The couple’s passionate tryst would be discovered.

  Alexa tested the knotted linens in her fist and tightened her thighs around the bigger knot she had fashioned and now gripped between her thighs.

  Finally! The guard, with a last look over his shoulder, no doubt to make sure he was not seen, went off into the same part of the forest as had his fellow comrade. Alexa shook her head, disgusted. Not waiting a moment longer she lowered herself out the window after quickly grabbing the small dirk from the table, which Camm had managed to steal away and hide for her yestereve and Alexa used her teeth to hold the small blade. Steadying herself on the small bird size ledge, she perched herself there until she had pulled the knotted linens taut. The other end was secured around one end of the bed post. She was glad the bed still sat in the middle of the room, for it assured she would reach the ground now.

  She straddled the makeshift ladder which consisted of his and her tunics. Mostly his. Why should she ruin hers? Besides his were larger and she would need less, telling herself her reasoning had been sound.

  She was just a few feet from the ground when she froze. More laughter came from the forest. Were they coming back already? Damn! She said a solemn prayer and sighed when the muffle turned into a throaty moan of pleasure. Something stirred inside of her and Rourke’s beautiful face swam before her. He’d not returned to her since their fight two nights ago. She pushed the image away and the tension left her briefly when her feet touched the hard earth.

  Letting the rope go, she wasted a moment staring at it. She hadn’t thought that part out. Mayhap she should have asked for Camm’s help after all.

  Alexa let out a deep sigh, grasping the garments yet again and made short and quick work of it by hacking away as much as she could. All the while praying no one heard the last shred tearing as she yanked hard and ripped what looked to be one of his tunics. A very good one at that and the remainder of the rope blew in the cool night breeze as she glanced back up at that window. It was barely enough that remained and the person would have to be taller than her husband to walk right into it and that would not happen, she mumbled under her breath, sliding the dirk now into the folds of her short cloak; for there was none taller on the grounds than he.

  Turning her back on it, already forgotten, she went in the opposite direction of the guardsmen and anticipation beaded on her upper lip. She was almost there.

  She flitted through a group of low hung trees and underbrush as quickly and quietly as she could. Mayhap ‘twas the fear of being caught that made her feel as though someone followed behind her. But, each time she glanced back, no one was there.

  Still, when she came to a small cle
aring before the next group of trees, she could not shake the feeling. It was stronger this time. She thought of Rourke again and a twinge of something she refused to name stung her chest. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Defying him was the only way. Then, if that was so, her inner thoughts persisted, why did she hurt inside? A chill slid up her spine and she rubbed her hands over her bare arms before pulling the cloak more closely around her shoulders. No one other than the guardsmen had been in the yard. No one else had been about and no one was behind her. ‘Twas just her nerves. Straightening her shoulders Alexa sprinted through the trees toward her goal. Freedom beckoned around the corner and she ignored the weight in her chest and the hairs tingling at the back of her neck.

  The image of a woman flinging herself off the moors in trying to escape him filled his vision and Rourke, with a hard shake of his head, shook the painful memory away and swallowed the bile in his throat. Straightening from his crouched position, he focused on his wife. She was like the wind. He had always been quite agile, but even he was surprised to find himself winded, his breath coming heavier by the moment as he matched his pace to hers, just a few feet back. He’d managed to avoid her seeing him for the most part. But, this last time she had turned, he swore she’d looked right at him. But, nay, the stubborn and defiant hellion had not.

  Even with the fear of being caught glowing in the dark night, the wench turned and lit through the forest like a butterfly, her long amber tresses loose, fanned out behind her as she ran and that thin shift, barely covered by the short cloak- God’s blood! How he wanted to choke her.

  He’d just returned from his nightly long and hard ride that he’d taken since their fight. He would have missed her had it been but a moment longer when she’d climbed down that window ledge. At first his heart had lodged in his throat as that horrible image came rushing back to him from so long ago as he’d watched her balance herself ever so carefully.