Telepathy of Hearts (30 page)
Read Telepathy of Hearts Online
Authors: Eve Irving
She muttered a little and nuzzled back into him.
The baying mob had returned to his door banging and shouting. Godwin, still stationed outside, called to his master.
“They call for the blood sheet, Sire.
”
Matheus slipped from beneath Eleanor
's body, positioning her ever so slightly as not to wake her.
Picking the sheet up, he opened the door and hurled it out. The response was loud and lewd.
Cheers rang out. Matheus could just imagine the fun. He himself had often been the worst perpetrator of bawdy jest.
“Husband
â¦do I
â¦did it
â¦did he
â¦what he
â¦do I displease you?
” Eleanor was awakened by the rabble and smiled nervously as she spoke.
It melted Matheus. Not a smile of humour or delight upon his bride
's face, this was more the fake grimace of nerves and worry.
Crawling on the bed to her, he caged her with an arm on each side of her head.
Pulling himself onto her groin he let her feel a little of his weight.
Smiling against the skin on her neck he whispered,
“Feel
â¦does that feel on your belly like the touch of a displeased husband?
”
She giggled.
Soothing, he responded,
“Dear God in
H
eaven
, for you are exquisite. T
hat is why I placed the cushion between us. For I feared how you would scream at the sight of my lance as you screamed so at my dagger.
”
Eleanor hit him,
Matheus feigned injury and then tickled her until she pledged to yield.
“I told you when you first decided that you would think of another when you laid with me.
”
Eleanor rubbed his hand and mouthed
I
'm sorry.
“That I would be in your body
â¦your mind as you hated me or your heart as you loved me
?
I am
a
patient man
;
you will tell me when I move residence from your head to your heart and it will be then that I
will
couple with you.
”
Stroking her face, he kissed her forehead.
“Because I won
't take anything from you that you won
't willingly give. We are going to make a million mistakes.
”
Placing his hand on hers and putting it onto her chest. Over her heart he whispered,
“Taking Eden from here is
not going to be one of them.
”
Hot on her face she could feel warm breath. A face nuzzled into her neck and her body tightened. Still lost halfway between sleep and awakening, Eleanor stirred as she realised it was Gelert who had made a nest in the crook of her neck.
“
'Tis you who is master of my bed then
?
” She laughed, bringing the pup to her and kissing him.
“For you know
,
Gelert, I was lost in his touch.
'Twas fair dreamy, light as fairy
's fingers yet his weight upon me fair makes me tight. I bid you not utter
,
nay bark
,
a word of it.
”
“I
'm glad to hear it
â¦
Wife.
”
Eleanor swung round, her gaze met with Matheus
's.
Confused she requested his explanation.
“How the
â¦what the
â¦you phantom, you were not here when I
a
woke.
”
“
'Tis my playground, my Lady. There are passages where a knave who wanted to view your naked nates and bosom could hide and surprise you just so.
” He was shirtless. The morning sun cast a warm glow on his olive skin.
Eleanor
's eyes were delighting in the man she now called husband. Standing as if he was cast, a glow painting him bronze; his body sculptured by nature
's skilled hand was a sight to behold. So captivated by the man she viewed, her body enjoyed the visual nourishment too much to blush. Muscles rippled and tendons drew taut, as he flexed.
Is it wrong to gaze so
â¦is it wrong to need him so?
Every inch of her skin tingled. The muscles of her belly tightened. Everything south of her waist ached. She caught her own breath. Her hand went to her chest. Thumping, her heart rose to meet her touch.
“Feel it, Eleanor.
” He grinned and winked.
Matheus sat on the side of the bed. His attentions were not greeted well by Gelert. The wolf hound
's hackles rose. His lips curled, showing little, pointed teeth and snarling in a comical, squeaky way.
Eleanor watched in amusement as he teased the pup, trying to get past it to her.
Bravely patting the pup earned him a nip. Matheus chuckled at the drawn blood.
“Good boy, Gelert. Good lad, you protect your Mistress.
” He congratulated the pup and rewarded him with a tidbit.
“I want him to be fierce, to challenge anyone who tries to get close to you. A hound version of me
â¦warranted he has neither my good looks nor charm. But that has not held Godwin back.
” He winked at Eleanor as he spoke.
She patted the hound. And as she spoke the dog did its Mistress
's bidding.
“Gelert lawr.
”
Matheus raised his eyebrow.
“My wife has been around that godless
Celt too long, for now she speaks his tongue like a native lawr in deed.
Come here, wench.
” Matheus pulled her to him, quite indifferent to Gelert
's attempts to stop him.
He smelled so good. That musk of man and horse now mixed with rosewater and balm. Relaxing into his lead, Eleanor felt once more the clench of her womb. Her body betrayed her fears, preparing her for his lovemaking. Hot breath tickled her throat as he smiled upon her skin.
“Oh,
” she breathed.
Closing her eyes, she succumbed to him, letting his hands touch and feel and caress.
His words were sweet on his tongue as he charmed her and took a lock of her hair to his nose.
Eleanor purred as she watched the pleasure break across his face. As he drank in the scent of the golden tresses freshly washed in rosewater and willow.
“My beautiful Wife, who sings like a lark and has the most beautiful hair in the whole of
Christendom.
”
Delicate featherlike touches trickled down her spine and she shivered in response. She knew now that her lover
's hands were skilled and artful.
Lifting her gown, he kissed the soft dip of her belly.
“I saw this little indent when you bathed in the lake, and it near did for me, Madam for it too is the most beautiful abdomen in
â
”
“
Christendom,
” She interrupted.
He lifted his head feigning surprise, smiled and mused,
“Why yes Wife, how did you know?
”
Her gaze followed him as he left the bed and slipped a shirt over his head. Eleanor felt bereft as the view she had admired disappeared.
Gelert once more snuggled up to his Mistress and narrowed his eyes at his Master.
“The hound disapproves of me. I doth believe it is the cur form of Goody.
” And the lovers laughed. Grinning wickedly, he added,
“I will call Gelert, I mean Goody to dress you as today we ride to my Eden.
”
Shyly she inquired of him,
“Do you not
â¦are
â¦we not to
â¦
”
“
Couple? Well, well my Wife has been miss sold to me by the Earl, for she is quite wanton,
” he jested. Taking her hand, he brushed her knuckles with his lips. Lingered a little and nibbled on her fingers.
Eleanor felt the breath leave her lungs.
I am quite undone.
“When you can bear no longer my seduction
â¦and beg to be claimed
â¦I will have your heart, own every last beat. Then I will touch the very soul of you, laying claim to every damn inch, for then madam you will
be mine.
” His eyes flashed
a look of pure carnal desire.
Eleanor flushed as he walked out.
“Whoa!
”
I am but a hare
frozen in the hunter
's lamplight
.
Eleanor sat cuddling her hound. Gelert nipped, demanding his Mistress
's attention but she was quite overcome. Gripping the pup tight,
she needed something to hold on
to. A tether to keep her from drowning in the well of emotion that was enveloping her. When Richard Sline had touched her, it had felt like a cloud swathed her in a web of fear and panic. Her husband
's touch
was
so different. There was desire and love in his fingers. It was the physical feel of his passion. But of comfort also. Simply, it was the one of Eden.
“Yes, Gelert,
” she whispered to her little protector.
“Matheus is my Eden.
”
Goody came to dress her. Little was said about the night as she robed her in her hunting gown. Eleanor wanted to avoid any questions that might show her innocence and her marriage not consummated. Now dressed to ride in gold and green brocade, she skipped down the stairs.
The blood sheet had been removed from the hall much to her relief. It was embarrassing enough to have the whole of the
Court know you were a maid no more. But if they knew Matheus had not consummated the marriage, he would be ordered by the King to rape her in front of witnesses. Eleanor knew this well and shuddered at the thought.
Godwin greeted her with a knowing smile.
“A lay in this morn? My Lady a little tired perhaps?
”
Eleanor looked at him shyly from under her lashes, batting them just a touch with a wicked glitter in her eye.
No reply was needed. Godwin just nodded and returned the grin.
“I look for my Uncle, the King, Master Godwin, for he rides back today. Does he not?
”
Godwin offered her his arm and said,
“
Pray let me escort you.
”
* * * *
The King sat surrounded by courtiers, nobles and his advisors. The room was full of men who were discussing the imminent uprising by the House of York. As soon as Eleanor walked in
,
escorted by Godwin
,
there was a hush. Matheus stood at the back of the room. He cared little for politics. He would simply do as the King bid him in line with his chivalric oath.
She caught his gaze, and the pair exchanged knowing looks. Eleanor
's tummy tightened. For a moment, it felt like there were just two people. She watched as he licked his lips. And she flushed.