The Contract (14 page)

“Ask your questions, wife.”

“Have you bedded Kasta?”

He sighed. “I don’t like this,” he rumbled.

“Please?”

“Wife, what I did before we wed is none of your concern.”

“So you did,” I said as evenly as possible. “Can I kill her?”

Max turned to see me better. “Is that a possibility?”

I shrugged. “I don’t like it,” I admitted.

He chuckled again. “I would prefer it if you did not slay her.  Do you wish me to send her away?”

I frowned. “Am I to take charge of the ladies as you do the men?”

Max seemed to be fighting off a smile somewhat unsuccessfully. “Katrina, bloodthirsty wife of mine, I am in charge of everyone including you. But I have neither time nor inclination to deal with the machinations of the ladies. Handle them as you see fit.” I must have looked upset, for he ran a finger along my chin. “Your eyes spell trouble. What is in your mind?”

“Ever since I came here the ladies, not all of them but many, have teased me and said unkind words. I do not complain to you, truly, nor have I ever.”

“You’ve never complained to me?” he asked, amused.

“Not about the ladies. But that day I served them…well, they seemed to feel it gave them license to mock me ever since. I must think of what to do.” I frowned into his eyes. “I have no skill at the sorts of verbal skirmishes that the ladies use. I would prefer more direct action. Yet, if this is not something I should do, I would that you tell me now.”

“The ladies are yours. But perhaps I would like prior knowledge if you intend to use the knife.”

I glanced over at Precipice, wondering if it was my imagination that it gleamed more than the fire in the room could account for. No doubt I was being fanciful. “I will not use it yet,” I said in all seriousness.

“Good,” Max said. “Yet if you wish me to send Kasta away, that could be arranged.”

I thought about that. “Maybe I do. I’m not sure yet. But I have another question.”

“I’m not surprised,” he said.

“Callista told me you wished her to befriend me. Is she the only one? What other nasty surprises am I going to get in the next few days?”

Max said, “I do not apologize for anything I’ve done with you, except possibly making you serve that day. Anything I’ve done, I’ve done with reason. And as your lord, I had the right to do it.”

“And the nasty surprises?”

“I know of none,” he said.

I let my hand trail down his chest. “Husband, this has been just about the worst day I’ve ever had.”

“Worse than the day you ran?” he asked huskily.

I met his eyes. “Yes, much worse. On that day, I caught your attention. I can’t say now, for all that it has turned my life upside-down, that I regret that.“He smiled. He looked down at my hand, which was drifting further down his chest now, where I was always drawn eventually.

“Yes,” he mused, making me wonder what exactly he was thinking about. “Yes,” he repeated, closing his eyes.  He lay still and let me do as I wished. This was new and to my way of thinking, fabulous. I moved closer to him so I could look closely at what my hand held. So different from me, from anything I’d ever imagined. I couldn’t seem to help being drawn to it, to want to somehow understand how desire worked for him. As he continued to let me do as I wished, I wondered how much it would take to break his control, if that was what he was doing. I played, running my fingers across him, varying pressure, using the tips of my nails. He sucked in his breath at one point, and I made a mental note of that. Yet I couldn’t get him to break.Finally I used my mouth. If this was anything for him like it was for me, he’d let me know. And he did, by emitting a low groan that sounded as if it had been torn from his very soul. I put my hand on his chest, as much to keep him still as to anchor myself. It wouldn’t help if he decided enough was enough, but I wanted him to let me do this. I wanted…I wanted to make him crazy with lust.

For a brace of minutes he let me continue. But then his hands suddenly clamped on my upper arms. “Katrina,” he said in a voice that sounded a little hoarse. “Move on top of me.” He guided me with his hands until I was kneeling over him, one leg on either side. I looked down, fascinated, and slowly sat there where my mouth had been. I shivered at the feeling of him touching me there. He closed his eyes again, and I rocked my hips forward gently, catching him between us, sliding along him. He let out his breath in a long exhale. I did it again, liking both his reaction and my own. I threw my head back, arching my back to bring us into closer contact there, and his hands again tightened on my arms.

“Rise up,” he said in that same strangled voice. I rose again to my knees, wondering what he wanted.He reached between us and positioned himself below me, so as I let myself go down, he slowly entered me. It was absolutely incredible. I could control how fast it happened, and I wanted slow. I wanted to feel every inch as it slowly filled me. As I seated myself fully upon him, I brought my head forward and looked at him. I expected him to tell me what to do next, but he didn’t. He just watched me with those amazing slate eyes of his. I experimented, rocking at first, then rising to let myself fall back down. Finally I found a rhythm that made me worry less about making him crazy and made me try to catch my own pleasure. I began to moan, letting some of my weight go to my hands on his chest. I flexed my hands, unconsciously digging my nails into his skin. He let his hands go to my hips and urged me on—faster, faster until I let out a sharp cry stiffening and arching as the feelings rocketed through me. One more deep thrust and Max groaned as he stiffened as well. I let the feelings fade slowly, not opening my eyes until they were mostly gone. Max’s eyes were watching me. I held his gaze for a full minute. “Husband?” I asked, not sure now.

He moved me, helping me turn so I was now lying next to him, uncoupled. “Such a surprise,” he said so softly I thought I might have misheard him. I started to ask if that’s what he said, but he shushed me, moving me so I was curled around him in the way we usually fell asleep. I let the day end, sated and sleepy.

Chapter Thirteen

 Disappointment hit me the next morning as I woke alone. I knew now how Max had felt when I’d been gone and didn’t begrudge him his anger. I wasn’t angry, but well, I was a little hurt. Silly, I know. Max had already been so much more than I’d ever hoped he’d be. I wasn’t sure he actually liked me—unless we were in bed, and then I was feeling pretty confident that he was pleased. I know I certainly was.

I took a change of clothes and went up to the bathing chamber. It looked like the women were mostly finished, and I made my washing quick. I hurried down to breakfast, but Max wasn’t there yet, thankfully. So at least I wasn’t late.  I saw Devlin, but walked about looking idly for Max, and thought I heard his deep voice in that same office where he’d taken me. I went to the door and hesitated, wondering if I should interrupt or not.

“My lord,” I heard Callie’s soft pleading. “Please.”

I froze.

Max’s voice was low and mean. “You were warned, Callista, what would happen to you if you spoke to her of this.” He seemed to be getting angrier as he spoke. “Not to mention you helped her run from me? You had one task—one! Keep her safe.”

“I know, my lord, I’m sorry,” she almost whimpered.

“Yet I allowed Devlin to see to your punishment, so I could concentrate on Katrina, and I strongly suspect that it was absolutely nothing. Am I correct?”

I could almost imagine Callie with her lip in her teeth, her beautiful face looking up at him with tears in her eyes.

“He…he was angry.”

Max made a sound of disgust. “My brother doesn’t get angry.” His voice sounded as if he was moving about the room. Pacing?

“And now my brother—he…asked for you.” Max sounded angrier than ever. “For you! Should I tell him your background, my lady? I chose Gregory for you because I thought you two would suit,” he sounded mocking.

“My lord, no!”

Max gave her a snort. “You want my brother? What have you been up to, you manipulative bitch? You knew—
knew
you owed me your very life!”

“Yes!” Callista had broken down. “I knew, and I know it now. I’m sorry!”

“If I cannot trust you I cannot even give you to that bastard Gregory. You know far too much that could be extracted from those sweet lips of yours. No, you’ll go, all right, but not to him.”

I shivered as I realized it sounded like Max was going to kill her. I couldn’t fathom the rest of it—secrets I’d never suspected, obviously, but no matter what I couldn’t just let Max…I thought of Devlin, and turned to run full out to where I’d seen him. I ignored the startled stares as the lady of the castle ran like a three year old from a bad dream. Devlin caught my arms as I nearly threw myself at him. “My lord, please!” I was pulling on him, trying to get him to follow me.

“Katrina? What….”

“Please, my lord! Your brother!“Devlin didn’t ask any more questions, just followed me as fast as he could. I led him to the doorway and pointed. He frowned and listened.

Max was saying, “…for a time. You’ve far outlived your usefulness.“Callie’s soft pleading sounded as if she had no real hope now.  The moment Devlin realized who was in there he pushed open the door. I didn’t have time to get out of the way as it swung wide and Max and Callista turned to us in surprise.

Devlin strode in. “Max, what is this?” I’d never heard Devlin sound like this.

Max looked at his brother, letting out a deep breath. Then his eyes fell on me. “Katrina, Devlin, go. This doesn’t concern you.“His look and tone was such that I’d automatically started to turn to leave when Devlin stopped me with a hand on my arm.

“No, Max,” he said evenly.

Max glared at us. I swallowed, thinking he looked, well, he looked deadly.

“Devlin….” he began.

“No, Max.” Devlin shook his head. “I’ve always done as you wished—but not this time.”

Max made an angry noise in his chest that sounded almost like a growl.Callista was on her knees, as I’d suspected she’d be. With a sudden burst of spirit, she rose to run to Devlin, but Max caught her and threw her to the ground.

“Stop it!” Devlin said, limping to Callista to kneel awkwardly at her side. “What could she have done that would deserve this?”

Max gave a harsh laugh. “Will you tell him, Callista?“Callie looked up at Devlin and lowered her head into her hands, sobbing. Max looked down at the two and then snapped at me. “Wife, leave us.”

“Max,” I started. In three strides he was in front of me, tall and magnificant. “Leave,” his voice was as cold as I’d ever heard it. I simply stared at him, trying to reconcile this furious leader with the man who had shared passion with me last night.

Devlin said, “Tell me.” He looked at Max, and then at Callista. “What have you kept from me now, Maximus?”

Max looked back at Devlin, then shot me an angry look. Had I any sense at all, I’d have left as he’d commanded, but my feet seemed to be stuck to the floor. “Callista is not who she seems. She is, quite frankly, a traitorous bitch to whom I gave a second chance.” He looked down at Callista as if waiting for her to protest. She didn’t even look up.

I couldn’t help it—there was so much misery in the room I had to do something. Devlin was with Callista, so I went to Max and wrapped my arms around his waist.

He grabbed me in order to push me away, but then he just…didn’t. Slowly his hands loosened until one fell away and the other went to my hip to hold me there against him. I looked up at him, and he simply shook his head at me. Some of the fury seemed to have left him, though.

Devlin said softly, “Callista?”

“I’m sorry, my lord,” she said yet again. “It’s true. I didn’t deserve the chance he gave me, and I…I thought…Katrina became my friend, not my…I love her like a sister.”

“Max, explain,” Devlin said a little guardedly.

Max leaned against the desk. His arm was still around me. He looked down at me. “This may be one of those ugly surprises you dislike,” he warned me. “I want you to go but will not force you. Make your choice.”

“I’ll stay,” I said decidedly.

He sighed as if he’d expected as much. “There is too much here to go into right now. Devlin, have them serve breakfast without us.”

Devlin shook his head, looking at Callie. “I won’t leave her with you.”

Max gritted his teeth. “Katrina will stay. Surely you trust her if not me.”

Devlin rose and nodded stiffly. He walked out, leaving the door wide open.

Max snarled at Callista, “Rise off the floor and find a seat. Cease your crying or I’ll….” He stopped as I tightened my arms around him. He began again, “Sit, Callista. Enjoy your station while you have it.”

I watched Callista slowly and unsteadily stand up. I would have gone to her, but Max’s arm tightened, holding me against him. As much as Callista needed me, I thought Max needed me more. Not that he’d ever admit that. And it wasn’t really me he needed, but someone who believed in him. That’s how it felt to me in that tense room.

Devlin was back in minutes and closed the door tightly behind him. He noted that Callista was seated and sat in another chair. He seemed calm but reserved, as if he dreaded the news to come.

Max settled himself more against the desk, me tight against him. “Callista is not a lady. She had her lands and title stripped from her when I found out she helped her sister bed other men.”

Callista nodded as he spoke.

“Her sister was my second wife,“Max said in an emotionless voice.

Devlin looked over at Callista. “Is this true?”

“Yes, my lord,” she said softly.

“What?” I said. “Callie? You…but you told me all about your family, and they…”

“I’m sorry, Kat. I lied. I had to.”

Devlin’s eyes turned to Max. “Why did she have to lie, Max?”

Max said tightly, “Don’t you dare look at me as if I have been cruel, brother.“I wondered if he would have said that to anyone else. He truly cared about Devlin. Maybe…maybe someday he’d feel like that about me.

Devlin said, “Tell me you were not cruel, then.”

Max said slowly, “Callista aided her sister when we visited her home. She made a scene, engaging my attention, so that my wife could go off with another. Once I discovered my wife’s true nature, I went back to her house to find out who else had known. Her father, of course, had known when he gave her to me she was no virgin. I killed him,” he said bluntly. Callista winced.  So Callista’s father had died. But Max had been the one to kill him. Dear Lord.