Telepathy of Hearts (7 page)

You have cornered me, a little wild creature, and now you think you are taming me.

Matheus dropped his head. Eleanor could feel his smile against her d
écolletage as he kissed her there, the hot breath tickling her senses. Once more raising his head, with the tip of his fingers he lifted her chin to his face and kissed her with a forceful passion. He purred deep in his throat.
“Be
t
ter?
” He loosened his grasp on her and let his hands trickle lazily down her back, stroking her spine until he rested them upon her hips.

Eleanor
's hearing was as sharp as her tongue and she heard him mutter under his breath.

“Now for your undoing, my Lady. Let
's see how the bud blooms. When I take your virginity, little one and claim you as mine. You will be as weak as a kitten and sweet to my touch.
”

Eleanor was not beaten yet. She had the blood of the She-
Wolves in her veins and their fire in her belly from a
n
cient
Celtic Queens who knelt before no man.

I have the ears of a hawk, careful what you whisper. You think me so weak, do you? Well, wolves bite, Master Bull.

Eleanor met his kiss. Opening up to his invading tongue, pulling at his lip with her teeth, she sucked his tongue deep into her mouth with a vigour she could tell su
r
prised him. But excited him also. He was panting, his body writhing as he caught up with maddening delight. Listening to the throaty groan he made, she felt confident in her plans.

Matheus
's appetite was growing ever stronger. She let him lose himself to her, continuing to meet his kiss, pulling his lips into her open m
outh, meeting his passion, fuell
ing his fire. Eleanor felt his muscles relax. Ears ever alert
,
she listened once more as he voiced his thrill at her submission with a growl of pure delight that vibrated between them. Her hazel eyes glittered green with a wicked delight.

Matheus pulled back a little and looked upon her face, then obviously delighted at her compliance he returned her smile. Gathering her face with his large palms once more, he rubbed her cheeks with his outstretched thumbs and laughed at her a little.
“Better? See, it is not so frightening. You will find it easier to call me husband now
.
”

He was laughing as he dropped his head to her cupped face and gently brushed his lips upon hers and kissed her.
When his grasp slackened an opportunity had arisen. Eleanor met his kiss. Drawing breath to steady her nerves she pulled on his lip once more. Sucking it deep into her mouth.

Now then, sir knight, this might better help you know me.

She bit his lip. Not a nip of play or passion but in war
n
ing. She tasted the blood as it beaded on his lip.

In shock Matheus pulled off her.
“Damnation woman, what in hell?
”

He growled as his hand went to his bloodied lip. He looked at the blood on his fingers. His eyes narrowed and his shoulders rose.

Using all the force her tiny frame could muster, Eleanor raised her hand and slapped his face. It was a blow a man would be proud of.

Matheus grabbed her by the wrists. His grip unyielding. He tightened his fingers till they bit into her flesh. His neck tendons had pulled taut. His stare was intense, emotional and almost cruel.

Panic gripped her. Every muscle in her body coiled and hardened, tense with trepidation. Fearing the embers flicke
r
ing in his eyes she found herself fearing that raw need he had of her lost to her just as much. Eleanor was awakening to the whispers of her subconscious, delighting in
the
masculine fire she had ignited. If there was a risk of getting burnt, well burnt be damned. She was driven by desire to fan it further.

There was a strange alchemy at work somewhere deep inside of her. A heady brew of passion and panic was co
n
fusing her, body and mind. She was lost to it. Unsure if the urges that goaded her had encouraged her to kiss him, slap him or simply do both.

He snarled at her through clenched teeth.
“Eleanor, I let you have the nip. I pressed you
…perhaps too far, and as a maid, I realise you were in fear of your virtue. But I will be your husband in a matter of weeks. Mistress, I will not let you strike me
again
, ever!
”

With an urgency of movement, temper-
driven Eleanor believed, Matheus manhandled her. And she now lay unce
r
emoniously positioned over his shoulder. Eleanor lashed out at him, hitting his back with her fists and kicking her legs.
“No wonder they call you a beast
…put me down!
”

Matheus strode to the fireside chair.
“It is a bull actua
l
ly, my Lady. They call me a bull, not a beast. You
will
call me husband soon enough and I shall enjoy making you do so. Do not worry, my Lady, I will be putting you down very shortly
…across my knee.
”

She was quite out of her depth, and the creeping bra
m
ble of concern coiled in her belly, scratching and twisting her guts. Fully aware that she was unsure of the ways of men and unprepared for this reaction, Eleanor quietened
, h
o
p
ing
—
nay praying
—
Goody would return to lash him with her tongue and demand he unhand her.

Striding to the fireside Matheus remained silent. Only Eleanor spoke, her voice quiet almost a whisper.
“
Please
…Sir. My Lord
…
”

Sitting himself upon the chair
,
he pulled her off his shoulder and positioned her so she lay over his knee. She was trembling, her birching fresh in her thoughts and still burning her backside.

As he spoke, he gentled his voice.
“I do not like the feeling that the woman I hold trembles from fear of me r
a
ther than passion for me. You have nothing to fear from me, for as God is my witness, I will never strike you in temper. But if you disrespect me I shall do as I am going to do now. I will tan your bottom. If you act as a child, I will treat you as one, and mark my words, I will not care who sees your n
a
ked nates, so think carefully before you chide me.
”

Eleanor was struggling in his grasp. But it was to no avail. She was held securely across his lap. It seemed to her the more she struggled
,
the more he gripped her.
Pride d
e
nied her tears. With a calm voice that belied the fear she felt she hissed,
“You may be the Bull, sir, but I am no heifer. I will be undoubtedly covered by you, forced by the length of your loins, not the strength of your heart. But you will never claim me because my soul will never be yours. It drowned at sea with my beloved.
”

Eleanor cocked her head over her shoulder to witness his reaction. Matheus
's eyes were flashing with absolute rage. His lips were pursed, and he was shaking with temper. Eleanor congratulated herself. It was one thing to have the audacity to slap your future husband. However, to imply you will always think of another as he bedded you was som
e
thing the Lincoln Bull would not tolerate. It would be safe to say he was
now furious. She met his eyes
—w
olf to bull
—f
rightened and fearless all at the same time.

“Very well Mistress. I thought you a little weak for me
…seems I was wrong. You are badly in need of a strong hand. If I will never own your soul, I sure as hell will own your body, for if I am not in your heart as you love me, I will be in your head as you hate me.
”

Eleanor felt a hand in her hair sweeping the cascade of flaxen curls to the side. Surprised as she felt his hot breath on her neck, she gasped. Readying herself for his kiss her body became rigid.

Both of Matheus
's hands encircled her waist. There was no kiss. The floor came up to her face quick as a flash, her golden curls in her face.

He is really going to do this.

Sunk by her panic, Eleanor squirmed, desperate to be freed. But he held her steady as she felt the pull of her smock as he started to raise it. One tear followed another. The dam was broken, tears started to flow

She heard cries. They were her own. She heard a voice, it was his.

“How displeased I am in you
…you have no idea
…I do not want to do this but holy hell woman, to say you will thi
nk of another when I
—hell woman
!
”

Eleanor stopped struggling. She heard the shocked i
n
take of breath from Matheus. And underneath her his mu
s
cles tensed. His body stiffened. Within seconds he had straightened her skirts, returning her to her feet. Her heart was pounding in her throat, her chest bereft of breath. She looked into the eyes of the knight who held her hands.

Searching and striking blue eyes fringed with the blac
k
est lashes looked back to her, soothing her sorrow. The man who she looked upon had a beautiful face. A square jaw fi
n
ished the line of his chiselled cheeks. A nick had scarred him just below his right eye. Following the gentle curve of his nose her gaze fell upon his lips. Soft
and
sensual
,
they curled as she watched, into a reassuring smile.

He lifted a hand to her face. Eleanor nuzzled into Matheus
's touch as he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, tracing the delicate contours. There was a slight tre
m
ble to his touch. There was a sh
ared connection. At that moment,
Eleanor knew that Matheus understood as well as she the weight of the arrangement thrust upon them and the sacrifice they had been forced to make.

Shaking his head, he exhaled with a heavy sigh.
Pulling at his lip he looked at her with an expression of pity as he struggled to speak.
“What the
…who
…who the hell has marked you so? Did they beat you to this extent just to force your betrothal to me?
”

Eleanor turned her head away from him.

His finger
s gently pulled upon her chin, t
urning her face back to his.
“Eleanor, answer me.
” His eyes were searching hers for answers. The taut muscles in his arm flexed. The muscle in his jaw ticked once more.

There is a reason they call you bull
,
for you are reining in a furious temper
,
my Lord.