Telepathy of Hearts (13 page)

Matheus put his fingers to his mouth and whistled. His destrier whinnied in response and set off back to its master, moving at a fair lick.

Eleanor screamed. It was unlikely a scream of fright. She was an excellent horse woman and rarely unseated. It was more likely to be one born of her frustration.

Laughter rang out as Matheus could contain himself no more.

Eleanor was enraged. Her features twisted and her lips pouted. She glared at the master of her folly.

His smile had become more of a winner
's grin. He saw well from Eleanor
's expression that if she could reach his sword, she would be drawing it. The destrier stopped at his master
's feet. And was rewarded with a pat and an apple. Still chuckling, Matheus told his horse.
“You get my Lady
's apple, Simon, for she struggles
against
train
ing
to the whi
s
tle.
” Raising his head, he grinned at a very sorry looking E
l
eanor.

“On this occasion I will ignore the fact you are seated astride. It is most unseemly for a Lady to ride so, let alone my future bride.
”

Eleanor did not reply. Her face was sour and her bottom lip protruded.

He grinned at her and his eyes twinkled with a wicked intent. He said in a matter-
of-
fact tone,
“You are even more beautiful when you sulk, Eleanor. Your mouth is quite lov
e
ly as it pouts and the best bit
…yep
,
that
's it
…pray listen do you hear it? Silence. Whilst you sulk, you are not arguing with me.
” With that Matheus pulled himself up onto his mount just behind Eleanor. Gripping her waist, he pulled her back so far she was almost in his lap.

She gasped. He wanted her to.

You
're held by a man, Mistress, not a boy.

Eleanor struggled in his arms. But he just gripped her tighter, soaking up all her rage.
Pressing his mouth to her neck he breathed softly, smiling upon her fine skin.

She quivered.

Matheus knew full well what he was doing. He wanted her to feel the awakening he had felt. Matheus was an ex
p
e
rienced lover. He sensed
she may not have completely u
n
derstood what was happening. But her body did and was preparing itself accordingly. For the first time in her life, he knew she found herself having to fight the overwhelming desires of her body. And he delighted in it.

Matheus wanted her to acknowledge the female force in her. He want
ed her to relax into his hold, a
nd succumb to the scent of man, muscle and horse.

Trembling slightly from the confusion of her sexual awakening, Eleanor was wriggling and writhing against him, trying to break the bonds that held her. Her whimpering only excited him more.

Feel it
… My little She-
Wolf; you
're all mine. Even your body answers mine.

Matheus was not shocked by her panic. In his arms, pressed to his chest, he held an untried maid. Of course she wanted to break free of him and run a
s fast and as far as she could,
away from the realisation that a man could touch the very core of her. Just as he was not Edmund, she was not Elizabeth. Matheus understood the feeling of guilt and b
e
trayal any stirring of passion would provoke.

He knew too
he had to be masterful with her. Like it or not she needed a strong hand.
“I am warning you
,
I will not hesitate to use this cord and bind you. Do you understand that if you try my patience once more I will tie you behind this saddle, strapped down firmly?
” He let his lips linger on her neck as he spoke.

She does feel it,
he thought as the vein fluttered slightly under the heat of his breath.
There is telepathy in hearts
, E
l
eanor; let yourself feel it,
he pleaded silently
.

Ever so softly
, he nuzzled
his face into her neck, brus
h
ing her skin with his lips and displaying the gentlest of int
i
macy. Eleanor was inexperienced in the ways of men.
he
Pulling
her further into his lap
,
Matheus
toyed
with her
, wil
l
ing her to recognise it
was
not the male
arousal she could feel hard against her
that she feared
as
much as it was her own arousal.

“Let me ride my own mount, my Lord, for this is
…well, it is too
…your lap
…
'tis uncomfortable.
Pray where is my mount? Where is Arthur?
” she asked with an edge of co
n
cern.

“I slapped his nates and sent him home. I tied my neck scarf to his stirrups. Do not fear my Lady, no will come searching for you. When they see my scarf, they will know I hunted you down and caught you as I always will when you try to run away. I cannot trust you, so you will ride with me. Why in God
's name do you do it?
”

“Do what? Enjoy the freedoms of the lakes? Ride like a
man? Refuse you?
” she snapped, t
he magic moment of her passion waning

Matheus pulled up. Twisting her so he could see her face
, he cupped
it in his large palms
and
stroked her cheek.
“Run from me,
G
od damn it. Eleanor
,
why pray do you run from me, up to the hills and lakes
?
Will I have to bind you all through our marriage and set my hounds to find you?
”

“
I didn
't run away from you; a
ctually I rode.
” Looking him straight in the eye, holding his gaze she added,
“You
…men
…you all want something from me. As a girl it didn
't matter if I rode astride off to the hills and swam in the lakes. Now as a woman, the king wants an heir and you want not only my maidenhead but my submission. So is it any wonder I run from you?
”

As a terrier worried at a bone, Eleanor had a way of prickling Matheus
's nerves. He growled gutturally, and his eyes flashed in temper as he kicked his mount. The destrier was in full gallop in moments.

Audibly, the breath of shock left her body. Thrown back into his chest, Eleanor was startled. But if Matheus had thought to frighten her a little, his plans were fruitless. Ri
s
ing up the horse
's neck, she sat better than most men. Her style was a damn sight braver. Wind blew her hair back, so it streamed like golden ribbons about Matheus
's shoulders. Dropping his head, he could smell the scent of it fresh from her lake swim.

Giggling with delight
,
Eleanor clung to the destrier as it covered the ground, thundering into a full battle charge.

As her singing had done, the sound of he
r pleasure soothed his temper, h
is soul feeding on every mewl, gasp and giggle. Spooning her body
, he leaned
forward, his chest on her shoulder
,
following her curve
. O
ne hand on the rein
s
and one around her waist, he held his precious little cargo even
tighter as the speed increased.

Matheus was trying to tell himself he was protecting the King
's interest in ensuring her safety. Deep down he knew that was the folly of a fool. He was protecting what his heart voiced
“mine
,
”
f
or he was falling in love with her.

Matheus wrapped his cloak about Eleanor
's shoulders.
“
Cover yourself up woman,
” he said playfully.
“I will not have the eyes of men upon what is truly mine.
”

Reaching the cour
t
yard. Matheus pulled his mount up and was greeted by Richard. Before the men could even e
x
change a word. Eleanor spoke. She beamed, her face brigh
t
ening with obvious pleasure.
“Why Richard, how wonderful. What are you doing here
?

Matheus shot a look of acrimony, warning Richard of his pique. His body was slipping into fight mode. Until this moment, he had not thought himself to be a possessive pe
r
son. But he recognised his reaction. He was going in to ba
t
tle. This time there was no field of play. This was a battle for Eleanor.

Jesus I
'm jealous.

This day had been one of revelations for Matheus. The man known as the Bull of Lincoln had not been nicknamed so because of his obvious attractiveness to ladies. Nor b
e
cause of his muscular physique or the sheer size of him. Not even because he was one of the strongest in the human herd. Matheus was nicknamed so for his ability to stay cool and calm under extreme pressure and then to charge down every aggressor in his path.

* * * *

Richard grimaced. He knew the temper of the Lincoln Bull and he didn
't want to be at the end of it. Nervously he addressed them both.
“My Lady, Matheus
.
D
id you both have a satisfying ride? I-
I mean did you enjoy the beauty of the lakes?
” Flushing red after once more putting his foot in it, he muttered,
“Oh dear
…
well this is awkward.
”

Matheus did not reply directly. His expression remained sullen.

Eleanor spoke.
“This destrier is quite magnificent. Aren
't you
,
Simon?
”
Patting him she continued.
“So fast, Richard, so sure of foot. Dear Arthur is much slower. Is he here? I hope he
's safe.
Perhaps I can try your mount, Ric
h
ard? That would be such fun. Shall we ride out?
”