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  Achilles could hardly contain himself, but contain he did. It took every ounce of his self-control not to plunge into her. It was a supreme effort to move slowly, withdrawing himself and then pressing into her again, gaining headway in minute quantities. He would have been doing quite well with his controlled efforts had Susanna not bucked and sighed beneath him, fracturing his concentration. His control held firm until the unexpected happened – in a blinding flash, he suddenly found himself seated to the hilt.

  Susanna yelped quietly with the shocking swiftness of the action and Achilles’ eyes flew open, looking at the woman in utter surprise. He would have laughed had he not been shocked with the realization that she had thrust her pelvis forward in an attempt to force his manroot deep into her waiting body. While he was trying to be patient, she was the one who was impatient.

  “What did you do?” he asked, incredulous.

  She sighed heavily, her hands finding their way onto his buttocks. “I was tired of waiting,” she whispered guiltily. “Forgive me… I was eager to be done with the pain I knew was yet to come.”

  He couldn’t help the disbelieving grin on his face. “So you are setting the pace, are you?”

  She wrapped her long legs around his hips. “Not really,” she said softly. “But the anticipation was worse than the actual event. Do not be angry.”

  He snorted softly. “I am not,” he said. “I should have expected such a thing from you. You have never met any challenge or situation without bravery, have you? You are a remarkable woman, Sparks.”

  “Is this all there is?”

  That brought more chuckles from him. “There is much more,” he said. “May I proceed?”

  “Please do.”

  “Are you sure you do not want to do this for me?”

  Her eyes narrowed and he chuckled, dipping his head down to kiss her softly and then watching her face as he withdrew from her. Then he thrust into her again, seating himself fully.

  After that, he began to move.

  His thrusts began to build, feeling her body draw at him. Every thrust, every withdrawal, pulled them closer together, building a world where Achilles was master and Susanna was his willing student. He knew what he was doing, and she trusted him, and the friction building was driving them both to greater pleasure. When Susanna finally experienced her first release, Achilles had to put his hand over her mouth because she was becoming quite loud about it. He put his forehead against hers, shushing her softly, before finally taking his own pleasure with her.

  Then, she was the one putting her hand over his mouth.

  It had been loud, athletic and sweaty, but oh-so-satisfying. When the heavy breathing died down, Achilles shifted his weight so he wasn’t on top of her. Wrapping her up tightly in his powerful embrace, he draped a big leg over her hips, pulling her in even closer.

  “Sparks,” he murmured, his lips against her forehead. “I am not entirely certain I can leave you. Without you, my days will be wrought with misery and my nights will be starless. There will be no joy, no beauty. Only longing.”

  She was dozing in his arms, wildly content. Slowly, her eyes opened. “Starless,” she whispered. “It sounds so… empty.”

  “It is. And I am at the thought of leaving you.”

  She sighed contentedly. “This is not something I ever believed would happen,” she said. “I would watch Cadelyn and how men were attracted to her, and I would stand next to her like a shadow. When she and Kress began to draw closer together, I suppose that I was envious deep down. In my years at Castle Rising, I would see women marry, of course, but I always felt I was on the outside looking in. There was never any hope for me when it came to men.”

  Achilles pulled her closer because she sounded so vulnerable, a rare state indeed when it came to her. “I remember when I first saw you,” he said. “You were dressed in skirts, like a peasant, but you tossed those skirts up to reveal breeches and a broadsword underneath. You looked like a wild, untamed creature. But in that vision, there was beauty there. Even then, I could see it.”

  She snorted softly. “No one else could,” she said. “You are the only one. Achilles, swear to me that you will return. Swear to me that this will never end.”

  “It will never end. I swear to you upon my own life that I will return for you.”

  “Do you think… do you think that, mayhap someday, we may even come to love one another?”

  He pulled back to look at her. “Do you mean to tell me that you do not love me now? Truly, Sparks, you should be far gone in love with me by now. What is the delay, Woman?”

  He said it with such drama that she grinned. “Who says there is a delay?” she said. “And who says I am not?”

  “You just asked me if such a thing was possible someday.”

  “Who is to say that someday is not today?”

  A smile spread over his lips. “Is it true, then? Do you love me just a little?”

  The flush was back in her cheeks. “It is possible.”

  “Tell me. Let me hear you say it.”

  “You say it first.”

  “I will not. It is your duty, as the woman, to tell me how much you love me first.”

  “You have taken charge in all things. You should be the first. I would not deprive you of that privilege.”

  “Tell me or I will kick you out of my bed.”

  She threw her arms around his body, holding on tightly. “You cannot do it.”

  “Can’t I?”

  Not surprisingly, they wrestled around until they ended up on the floor, where Achilles proceeded to take her a second time, very carefully. Knowing she was new to this, and having just lost her virginity, he didn’t want to cause her any undue pain or discomfort. Susanna, to her credit, hardly cared. She relished every stroke, every touch.

  In the end, he was the one to tell her first.

  I love you, Sparks.

  The next morning, at dawn, Achilles and Alexander thundered from Aysgarth’s outer bailey as Susanna watched from the walls. Wrapped in a cloak against the cold morning, she watched them until they were out of her sight. Even then, she continued to stand there, her gaze on the last place she had seen Achilles.

  She never knew it was possible to feel such longing.

  His return to Aysgarth couldn’t come fast enough.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ~ Excerpt from the epilogue of The Mountain Dark between Christopher de Lohr, Earl of Hereford and Worcester, and the Earl of Pembroke, William Marshal ~

  Three Weeks Later

  Farringdon House

  London Townhome of William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke

  William looked at Christopher before snorting, an unhappy and ironic sound. “First, I lose Maxton of Loxbeare to a woman, and now I lose Kress. My Executioner Knights are falling away, one by one, succumbing to the wiles of women.”

  Christopher fought off a grin. “I believe they have fallen in love.”

  “It is the same thing.”

  “Then you are not going to want to hear that I believe Achilles is next.”

  William scowled. “De Dere?” he said. “What has he done? Tell me this instant!”

  Christopher started to laugh, trying not to let William see that he thought the man’s reaction comical. “He has not done anything,” he said. “But that lady warrior you sent to protect Lady Cadelyn – Susanna de Tiegh – has the man’s affection, I think.”

  “What?” William burst, outraged. “That woman trained at Blackchurch!”

  “I was told that.”

  “She is as skilled as any warrior in my stable!”

  “She is also a woman and from what I have seen, Achilles is fond of her.”

  William scowled. “Where is de Dere?” he demanded. “He came back to London with Sherry. Where is that man, I say?”

  Christopher shook his head. “He is waiting in an undisclosed location for word from me after I speak with you,” he said. “Susanna was injured in the fight at Longton and Achilles escorted her
to her brother’s home of Aysgarth Castle to recover before coming back to London. I am not only here to confirm what happened with Lady Cadelyn and the de Shera betrothal, but I am also here as Achilles’ emissary. Will you listen?”

  William was beside himself. “To what?” he said. “That he has lost his mind just like Maxton and Kress? My God, these are men who were known as the Unholy Trinity. They were the deadliest assassins the world has ever seen but, suddenly, they have become giddy squires? Appalling!”

  Christopher watched the old knight rage, his eyes glimmering with humor. “Do you forget how you felt when you first married Isabel, William?” he asked quietly. “Surely you have not forgotten those feelings of warmth and adoration. I know I haven’t. I feel as strongly for my wife now as I did when I first fell in love with her. More so, even. I would not be the man I am today without Dustin by my side. Surely you cannot begrudge Maxton and Kress and Achilles the same feelings. Surely you cannot begrudge them happiness.”

  William wasn’t in the mood to agree with Christopher even though he knew, deep down, that the man was right. He avoided looking at him.

  “It has nothing to do with begrudging a man his happiness and everything to do with interfering with his duty,” he said pointedly. “But now that you have brought up Susanna’s injury, I was told that it was not too severe and for that, I am glad. She is a fine warrior.”

  Christopher was relieved that William was finally seeing reason. “I agree,” he said. “Now, back to Achilles. He would like your permission to return to Aysgarth Castle to see to Lady Susanna.”

  William’s eyes narrowed. “Did he tell you to ask me?”

  “He asked if I would, aye.”

  “Well, where is he?”

  “I told you that he is in an undisclosed location.”

  William looked at him a moment before shaking his head in disgust. “He is at The Pox, isn’t he?”

  “I will not confirm or deny that information.”

  William rolled his eyes. “God’s Bones, I told him to stay away from that place,” he said. “Is Sherry with him? And Bric? The last time they were there, they lost money to a group of Northampton knights and in retaliation, stripped them of their clothing. I had to not only return their clothing, but I also had to pay them handsomely so they would not tell their liege that my men had ambushed them in an alley and stripped them of their dignity. When will those idiots learn not to go near The Pox?”

  “Do you speak of Achilles and the others, or of the Northampton men?”

  “Both, damnation!”

  Christopher started to laugh, then. He couldn’t help it. “I will find them and bring them back,” he said. But he paused, sobering, before continuing. “Remember that in spite of everything, these are men of greatness, William. You have the finest knights in all of England sworn to you, Achilles included. He would kill for you and die for you, and even if he is fond of a woman, it is not the end of Achilles. It is only the beginning.”

  The Pox, a gambling establishment

  Ropery Street, London, Near London Bridge

  It was a smoky, crowded room, jammed with men of all shapes, sizes, and classes, all of them enjoying what The Pox had to offer.

  Like most gambling hells, The Pox catered to men in all financial states. Rich or poor; it didn’t matter as long as one had some coinage and as long as a man was gambling steadily, the lavish feasts were provided free of charge. A man could eat from morning to night and never have the same dish twice. The wines were quite fine, from Spain and France and points east, and there were dozens of varieties.

  The games were varied, as well. There were games of chance, with wooden dice, but there was also a room that was exclusively for cock fighting. The losers, if they were too injured, were cooked and eaten. Men would find anything to gamble about, including gambling over new patrons coming in to participate in the excitement. On this night, five men sat by the door, betting that an earl would enter within the hour and being disappointed when one didn’t show.

  On and on it went.

  Achilles and Alexander were sitting at the window overlooking Ropery Street because they were waiting for someone in particular. Christopher de Lohr was meeting with William Marshal at that very moment and they expected him to show up soon to report on his meeting.

  And a critical meeting it was.

  Seated with Achilles and Alexander were two other knights, one of which they were particularly close with. Bric MacRohan, the enormous Irish knight with pale blond hair and eyes so blue that they were silver, sat next to Achilles with a big cup of ale in his hand. Across the table, next to Alexander, sat a knight by the name of Kevin de Lara.

  Kevin was in service to the House of de Lohr, mostly with Christopher but sometimes with Christopher’s brother, David, who was the Earl of Canterbury. Ultimately, however, he was sworn to William Marshal, as part of The Marshal’s stable of knights. A rather short knight with the strength of Samson, Kevin was young and handsome, with blue eyes, a square jaw, and a bright smile. He had a good deal of charisma and was honest to a fault, and well liked among The Marshal’s men.

  The only chink in Kevin’s armor was the fact that his older brother, Sean, had defected into the service of King John and, these days, had built himself a frightening and brutal reputation as a knight known as Lord of the Shadows.

  Kevin adored Sean and it was no secret that he was greatly disappointed in the path his talented brother had taken even though he was well aware, as were a few of The Marshal’s close advisors, that Sean’s position was actually that of a spy for The Marshal. Sean hadn’t really defected, but that’s what he wanted everyone to think. By the man’s horrible actions as the bodyguard to the king, one would have thought is defection was real.

  It was something Kevin disagreed with wholeheartedly.

  Therefore, no one really spoke of Sean de Lara to Kevin, even though they all knew and greatly respected Sean, because it was such a terrible subject with Kevin. Alexander in particular was a friend of Sean’s, but that relationship went entirely ignored when Kevin was around.

  It was a sad and touchy situation for the de Lara brothers.

  It was the price they paid for serving in England’s greatest spy network.

  On this night, with the full moon shining over the waters of the River Thames, the four men sat at their table, having spent their time participating in various gambling games throughout the afternoon and evening, waiting for Christopher to return for them with news from The Marshal. Achilles, in particular, was anxious because he’d asked Christopher to beg permission from The Marshal to return to Aysgarth.

  As he sat there and watched the moonbeams ripple over the water, Achilles had already made the decision that permission or no, he was going to return and marry Susanna. He’d made that decision the night he’d bedded her and he felt it more strongly than he’d ever felt anything in his life. That brash, bold, courageous, beautiful, and awkward woman would become his wife. They may kill each other in the end, given their history, but they were going to live and laugh and love until then.

  He was very much looking forward to it.

  Achilles’ feelings for Susanna weren’t something Kevin was privy to, however, but both Alexander and Bric were aware of it considering they’d both been an integral part of the failed betrothal mission regarding Cadelyn of Vendotia. They’d seen the building relationship between Achilles and the woman he wanted everyone to think he hated, but Alexander was even more involved given the fact that he’d accompanied them both to Aysgarth.

  Alexander in particular kept glancing at Achilles, who had been unusually silent during their time at The Pox. He’d even brushed off the serving wenches that, prior to Susanna, he would not have turned away. He drank and he brooded.

  Sometimes missing a woman would do that to a man.

  “What do you suppose is taking so long?” Achilles finally spoke in a rare utterance. “I thought de Lohr would have returned to us by now.”

 
Alexander toyed with his half-full cup. “He will be here,” he said. “Remember that he must return for us because we must report what we have seen at Aysgarth. He is not going to even mention that to The Marshal; we are. De Lohr did not see what we did.”

  Across the table, Bric grunted. “A mercenary army,” he said in his thick Irish accent. “And de Tiegh told you that it did not belong to him?”

  Alexander nodded. “That was exactly what he said,” he replied. “Even in our long discussion the night we arrived at Aysgarth, de Tiegh mentioned more than once that he was only housing the army for someone else, but he did not say who.”

  “That brings to mind something Susanna said,” Achilles said. “She told me that her brother was more of a follower than a leader. She believed that there was something much bigger happening. That is part of the reason I did not want to leave her behind. She’s very intelligent and I am afraid that she will try to dig deep to find out what, exactly, her brother is involved in.”

  “Susanna,” Kevin repeated. “This was the female bodyguard for Cadelyn of Vendotia?”

  “Aye,” Achilles said. “Have you heard about her?”

  Kevin nodded. “David and I were in the same room as The Marshal a few years ago when he received a missive from her and that was the first time I’d ever heard her name. She’s the Blackchurch-trained warrior, correct?”

  “Correct.”

  “Seems difficult to believe a woman actually trained at Blackchurch.”

  “She is quite skilled, I assure you.”

  Alexander snorted. “You should have seen how Achilles and Susanna got on in the beginning,” he said. “Bric was there; he can tell you. The animosity was obvious. We were pulling them apart at every turn until we finally had to let them fight it out. Achilles had the height and weight advantage on her, but she was quite formidable. Especially when she got in behind him and started pulling his ears.”