Passion's Twins (6 page)

“When I am with Gerard and pretending to be you, he seems
diffident. As if he does not know me well.”

“Do you think they know?”

“No. Maybe.” Edina giggled, sounding uncertain even to
herself. “If those who’ve known us all our lives cannot tell us apart,” she
shrugged, “how can they?”

Rowena shrugged, but looked hopefully at Edina. “Perhaps—in
their hearts—they see us as different from one another.”

Comforted, Edina nodded. “Perhaps their hearts
do
recognize our differences. ‘Tis their cocks I worry about.”

“I wish I knew enough about Edgar’s cock to know the
difference between him and Gerard.”

“You’ve never touched him? His shaft?”

“Well…I have, but only through his breeches.”

“What does he—it—feel like?”

“Edina!”

“We expect them to tell us apart. Why shouldn’t we be able
to tell them apart? After all, it is possible they will mistake their beds and
try to make love to the wrong twin. In the dark—”

“All cats are black.” Rowena sighed. “Very well, I shall
tell you. When Edgar is fully aroused, his cock curves. It lies almost flat
along his belly and—” Hearing Edina’s gasp, she stopped. “No. No, no, no! Tell
me Gerard’s cock is different! Please, Edina.”

“I cannot. Gerard’s shaft also lies nearly flat against his
belly. Its head almost reaches his bellybutton. It curves. It is thick and
long. His balls are hairy. Perhaps, given Edgar’s bare chest, that is a
difference—a way of telling them apart in the dark. If we chance to touch their
cocks before touching their chests.”

“Edgar lacks chest hair, true. But I have yet to see him
naked. What if I never see him that way? He may sleep in his shirt and hose!”
She wailed, “I cannot yet say anything about his balls or his sex hair. I may
never know!”

They lapsed into unhappy silence.

Edina squared her shoulders. “There is nothing else to do.
Much as I abhor betraying Gerard, for your sake I shall do what needs doing.”

“Oh no. I won’t allow you to seduce Edgar, Edina. If anyone
seduces him, I shall be the one.”

Edina giggled. “I knew you had it in you.”

“Not yet. But I shall. Tomorrow Edgar will be mine—soul and
body!”

* * * * *

Yvonne’s Tower—The Next Day

Gareth turned from the window in his wife’s solar. “I
believe the ruse is about to end,” he said as he drew Yvonne into his arms for
a kiss.

“Good. Once your brothers are wed, we can leave for Puttupon
and begin training the rest of your men.”

“Our men.”

Yvonne followed his anxious gaze to the young woman striding
through the bailey. “Who has need of a blanket in this heat?”

“Not married a month, yet my wife has forgotten trysting
beneath the willows.”

“We did not tryst, m’lord. We—”

“Swived. The ground was hard and cold.”

“Which is why you—gallant king—permitted me to ride.” She
laughed and snuggled against him. “Which woman is that? Can you tell?”

“Rowena. See how she bears her bundle in her right hand? She
leaves her left hand free to lift her skirts or ward off an unwanted suitor.”

“Hmmm. Have you informed your brothers how easy it is to
tell the twins apart?”

“And spoil the ladies’ game? Nay. Edgar and Gerard must
recognize their differences without assistance.”

“As Vinn and Banan did? When they finally saw Willa and
Pippa together?”

“Vinn and Banan were ignorant of the game you and your
sisters played. Gerard and Edgar have known about the twins from the
beginning.”

“Which apparently has gained them little advantage. Oops,
there goes Edina—carrying…whatever in her left hand.”

“Paints, I believe. She carries with her splashes of
color—discernable to an astute observer.”

Yvonne laughed. “The twins appear to be headed in the same
direction. It seems the game is about to draw to an end.”

Gareth held out his arm.

Placing her hand upon it, Yvonne asked, “Where are we going,
my king?”

“I think we shall punt upriver. Perhaps join in the
activities.” He kissed her.

“There is a soft, wide bed here, m’lord.”

“Later, my queen. I am curious to see how this farce will
end.”

* * * * *

Gleeful, Kerrie rubbed her hands together. This game brought
her so much pleasure she might allow it to continue forever. But no. Sooner or
later, the twins would recognize their folly and confess their sins. Until
then… She followed Yvonne and Gareth, eager to see what might happen next.

* * * * *

“Which tree? Which tree?” Rowena muttered, feeling lost and
frustrated. She was certain Edgar had said the third tree beyond the split in
the path. But she had never used the path before today and had just discovered
a second split. Or was it the third? Perhaps Edgar meant the first willow
beyond the third split. On the verge of tears, she slumped on a convenient rock
and hugged blanketed Ariel to her chest.

And shrieked when two rough hands over her eyes blinded her.

“Hush, Edina,” a voice soothed.
Edgar’s voice?
she
wondered as a soft cloth replaced the unknown man’s hands. But why would Edgar
call her Edina when she carried Ariel? Had he been expecting Edina? Had he
believed
her
to be Edina when he made this assignation?

“Come with me,” he—whoever he was—whispered.

“I cannot see.”

“Then you must trust me. The path is level and there are no
obstacles to trip us.”

“Why have you blindfolded me?” Yet she stood and took a
cautious step forward. With his hand on her elbow she felt less unsteady.

“To heighten your awareness of sound and scent and…touch.”

She thought he brushed against something. “Duck,” he
whispered.

She bent, obeying his silent command to step forward. A soft
shhh
made her imagine the willow branches falling into place behind
them. Yes, they must be beneath the willow. It felt cooler here and the river’s
flow sounded muted.

“Sit.”

He took Ariel from her, holding her steady as she sank to
the ground. But this ground felt surprisingly soft—like silk and velvet—and a
subtle scent drifted upward from it.

She drew a deep breath.

“Sandalwood,” the man explained. “’Tis said Yvonne’s father
seduced her mother on these very pillows.”

Those words—those softly murmured words—flowed over Rowena’s
body like a lover’s caress. Her breasts ached. Her nipples hardened. Moisture
seeped between her thighs.
Edgar
, her mind whispered. Surely this must
be Edgar for her to feel these strange yet wondrous sensations.

“Did you enjoy my brother’s kisses, Edina?”

“I…I…” Was this a trap? Did the brothers know they were
dealing with twins?
Of course not!
When she and Edina played this game,
no one knew the difference. But that didn’t mean the men were unaware of
dealing with sisters.

Unwilling to admit duplicity, Rowena said, “I think you
think to trap me, m’lord. If I say I did enjoy your brother’s kisses, you might
become angry. Perhaps desert me and leave me to find my own way back to the
castle. My sense of direction is so poor I might never find my way. I could
starve or take a chill. Even d‑die.”

“Let me put it another way then. Did you enjoy
my
kisses?”

“Another trap, m’lord. For the same reasons I just told
you.”
Whoever you are.
His silence made her nervous. Had he left her
without her hearing him? She reached for her blindfold. His hand, warm and
calloused, stopped her.

She had held both brothers’ hands. Gerard had calluses on
his fingertips. But so did Edgar—his put there by his constant training for war.

She sighed. “I pray you will not think me brazen, m’lord,
when I propose a solution to this kiss dilemma.”

“What do you propose, Edina?”

She could grow to hate her sister’s name! Especially on
Edgar’s lips. If this man
was
Edgar.

“I believe… Were you to kiss me now I could say whether or
not I enjoy your kisses.”

She felt a blush flood her entire body. Could she make love
to this man who
might
be Edgar but could be Gerard? This man’s voice
sounded lower than Edgar’s normal tone, but he could be disguising it. And if
Gerard made love to her—Rowena—would Edgar ever forgive Gerard or her? Would
she forgive Edgar for making love to Edina? She could bear no more of this
uncertainty.

Tearing off her blindfold and glaring into Edgar’s laughing,
golden-brown eyes, she cried, “You cad. You knew ‘twas me all along.”

She swung at him, but he caught her hands. Pressing them to
his chest—his sculpted, naked, hairless chest—he laughed. “Aye. I knew ‘twas my
Rowena. But you might have switched places with Edina. I had to be certain.”

She read his intent to kiss her and leaned away. “Moreover,
you
think
you have taught me a lesson.” Her shoulders slumped. “Which
you have. But…how did you know? How did you know we are twins? We could have
changed places. Edina and I do so often.”
Damn! Does Gerard know as well?

“You are left-handed.”

“So? Even our parents have not noticed that about us.”

“Which means they haven’t looked closely. You walk
differently as well. You always seem about to take flight—never looking for
what pitfalls lie ahead. Edina looks around and her pace is cautious.”

“Not with Gerard.” Rowena huffed. “So you and your brother
can tell us apart. In daylight. How—?”

“In candlelight I should recognize you by the way you look
at me.”

“And in the dark, m’lord?”

“I trust you would recognize
our
bed.”

“And if by chance I mistook our bed for Gerard’s?”

Edgar frowned. Taking her hand, he guided it to his cock. “I
trust you would recognize this.”

Rowena giggled as Edina would. Edgar’s scowl revealed a
momentary confusion.

Good. Let him wonder. Feel unsure.

He slid her chemise down her right shoulder then expelled a
small sigh. “I have the woman I belong with,” he said, his voice smug.

“But I am still uncertain about
you
, Edgar. Edina
says Gerard’s cock—”

“You talk about our cocks?”

“Curves. She says his lies flat against his belly when he is
aroused.”

“While I have never seen Gerard’s arousal…”

His pause made her suspect he had, but would not admit it
now.

“I can assure you
my
cock—”

“Assure me, Edgar? I think you must show me.”

Edgar stripped off his breeches then gathered Rowena into
his arms. Untying the laces of her corset, easing her chemise off her
shoulders, he bared her breasts and laved her pert nipples.

She tied the blindfold over her eyes.

Edgar sputtered. “How can you see me, Rowena?”

“’Tis best this way. If I cannot see with my eyes, Edgar, my
touch will tell me ‘tis you I make love with.” Running her hands down his
sides, she murmured, “If nothing else, Edgar, I would recognize this.”

“This what?”

“Your chest. Your
hairless
chest.”

Finding blindness sharpened her other senses, Rowena felt
Edgar’s hands explore her body as if he too were blindfolded. Using only his
fingertips, he examined her ears. That light touch tickled yet left her
yearning for…a firmer touch, perhaps? His breath, both warm and cool,
whispering over the shell? His tongue making her imagine him licking her
everywhere?

Oh yes!
She’d not experienced that herself. But the
maids whispered about the indescribable pleasure being licked and nuzzled,
nipped and sucked…
there
brought them. Rowena shivered just thinking
about it.

Should I ask him to feast on me? Oh no, ‘tis too brazen.
He’ll think me—

“I love the way your nipples rise when I look at them.”

“They do not.” About to close her arms over her aching
peaks, she felt his hands circle her wrists. He pressed her arms to her sides.

“You gave yourself into my care, Rowena. Trust me now to
pleasure you.”

“I…I do trust you.”

“Then remain still until…until you feel compelled to move.”

He stroked her breasts, all around her aching nipples. She
did not need to see to know they were rigid and longing for his lips. She
shivered with delight and anticipation. Waited for what seemed an eternity.

Unable to stand his silence, she said, “Wouldst suckle me,
m’lord?”

“Aye, sweeting.”

She smiled, sighed and arched her back.

His low chuckle whispered down her belly.

“Open your legs, Rowena. Spread them wide to show how much
you want me between your thighs.”

She felt a blush heat her entire body. Yearning for that
pleasure he’d promised, she obeyed.

Taking her hands, he placed them on her nether curls. She
tried to pull free, but his grip tightened slightly and she stilled.

“Hold yourself open for me.” When she shook her head, he
added, “You will like what happens next.”

“I cannot bear you seeing me.”

“Later, I shall let you look your fill of my cock. It will
show you how much it wants in your beautiful sheath.” He guided her fingers to
her bud, showed her the pleasure she could bring herself.

While she explored her little nub, delighting in the heat
building deep inside her, she felt him part her inner lips then ease his finger
into her channel.

“Hot and wet, sweeting. Juicy and needing.”

“Ohhh God,” she whimpered.

“I can smell your arousal, Rowena.” Withdrawing his finger,
he held it under her nose.

If heat had an aroma she could smell it now. Guiding his
hand to her nether curls, she whispered, “More, Edgar. P‑Please.”

“Hold yourself open and I shall give you more.”

She complied, eager to have him complete this wondrous
lesson. Feeling him shift, his hair brushing her thighs, she thought she might
die before he even began. She heard him inhale. His breath whispered over her pleasure
nub. When his tongue flicked over its tip, she bucked and felt his teeth close
around her.