Jasmine"s eyes were wide with horror. She knew de Burgh"s temper, knew his reckless daring. Any second now he would murder the man who had dared take what was his. The naked steel would plunge in and come out covered with b.l.o.o.d.y entrails. She saw her two tormentors through blurred, tear- fil ed eyes. "Devils!" she sobbed, "savages!"
De Burgh looked at her directly for the first time. "Me? I abhor violence," he said.
Jasmine had an uncontrol able desire to laugh and cry and scream and curse. It al came out on a sob.
De Burgh advanced upon Chester. He saw clearly that he had gone pasty gray and was convinced he"d drawn his last breath. "Take her," Chester offered desperately. "I renounce al claim."
De Burgh was amused. A great bark of laughter rang out. "I intend to take her. You never had a claim. Your dear friend King John is under excommunication. His attending the ceremony made it il egal and invalid."
A great relief rushed over Chester. His strength was sapped; his knees buckled.
Jasmine looked upon him with contempt. "Where are you holding Estel e?" she demanded.
"I am not holding her," he denied quickly, fearful y. "I never harmed her. She left Gloucester ran off somewhere."
Now it was Jasmine"s turn to be weak with relief.
De Burgh gagged Chester, then trussed him up so tightly he looked like a boar ready for the spit. Then he looked at Jasmine. "You"ve had the mock wedding, now we"l have the real one." He was a frighteningly poten image, one of real flesh and of real blood. Falcon de Burgh wasn"t used to the pa.s.sive role. From the moment he had set eyes on the enchanting girl, al his keenest instincts as a hunter had been aroused. Her heart started its wild war dance as he reached for her, but he simply ushered her through the door with a possessive hand at the smal of her back.
In the hal way he beckoned his men. "Put this door back on its hinges and make sure it wil take a great effort to reopen it."
He looked down at Jasmine. "Where is your chamber?"
She was trembling and could not find her voice, so she pointed to a door farther down the hal .
"Here is the good bishop risen from his bed just to perform the ceremony," he said silkily.
"Falcon, no, I"ve been through so much," she cried.
He said ominously, "You"ve been through nothing yet." He led the way to Jasmine"s chamber. The Bishop of Gloucester fol owed on his heels thinking irreverently that the bride was already conveniently naked beneath her fur.
De Burgh"s strong hand kept her at his side. "I"m sorry to press you, my lord bishop, but I"m afraid our time is running out. Say the necessary words, then you can get back to your safe bed."
Jasmine glanced up at de Burgh. His face was as hard as granite. The dark arrogance lay on his face as if his very soul was fierce and wild. It was his arrogance that always unnerved her. The thin white scar from brow to cheek gave him such a slanting, devilish look.
It was as if he read her mind. "You put it there," he pointed out.
The Bishop of Gloucester aided them in exchanging their vows. Jasmine felt she had as little choice now as she had had earlier in the evening.
"We"l need witnesses," reminded the bishop.
De Burgh opened the door and cal ed to his men who had just finished securing Chester"s great studded door.
"Do you want witnesses for what comes next?" Montgomery asked with a good-natured leer.
De Burgh flashed his wolf"s grin. "I don"t want you watching, but you can listen if you"ve a mind to. I"l need you to stand guard at the door."
Al the necessary signatures were obtained, including the Bishop of Gloucester"s, then at last Falcon was alone with his bride. She clutched the ermine wrap about her desperately as he began to divest himself of black cloak and doublet. He removed the heavy chain-link vest and final y his lawn shirt.
Stripped to the waist, he advanced toward her.
"Jasmine . . ." He put his finger under her chin. "Look at me while I explain things. There is no time for pretty speeches.
You deserve to be wooed with a flower, a poem, a sigh . . ."
His thumb caressed her cheek. "A stolen kiss ... a soft embrace . . . but you wil have none of these. Ja.s.sy, forgive me for what I am about to do to you. It seems like al my life I"ve had to do the expedient thing, and tonight I"m again forced to be strong, decisive, practical, and unfortunately for you, quick!"
"Falcon, please." Her hands came up to his chest in supplication.
"This marriage must be consummated, and consummated now. It must be made legal so that none can take you from me, do you understand?" he demanded harshly.
She looked into his eyes and saw only green fire and knew that he would not relent. She nodded mutely and her lashes swept down to her cheeks.
"Your eyelashes are thick as feathers," he murmured as he reached out a firm hand to take her wrap. It fel to the carpet and he kicked it aside. For a second or two he feasted upon her, his devouring eyes sliding al over her flowing body. Then he swept her up in powerful arms and took her to the bed.
She turned her face from him as he stripped off the rest of his clothes and towered above the bed. He closed his eyes momentarily and offered thanks that the flower he so desired had not been plucked by another, then he opened his eyes, expecting to fil them up with the lover"s vision of a lifetime.
The bed was empty. Jasmine was kneeling on the floor on the opposite side of the bed, her hands pressed together, her eyes closed as she begged her G.o.d to deliver her from men"s evil. His blood ran hot in his veins. His emotions swung wildly with unrequited desire. He had wanted, nay, craved her for so long, banking the fires that had threatened to consume him for months. He had s.n.a.t.c.hed her from the arms of another man and now instead of sweetly yielding up her prize to him, she was invoking the power of G.o.d against him.
He bit back an oath and vaulted across the bed to stand before her. She opened her eyes, saw his bare muscled legs inches from her face, and closed them again, sobbing "No, no!" He reached down strong hands to clasp her sweetness to him, but the moment he touched her she screamed and he realized this deflowering would be no easy task.
Stili on her knees, she turned from him and rol ed herself into a bal with her arms crossed tightly about her body. She was so tightly coiled he feared there was no time to coax her into a loving response, but he knew he must try. He desperately wanted to make her first time good for her, but he knew the precious minutes were ticking away. He deeply regretted that he did not have al night to make love to her, to arouse her, to play with her. This was no game. This consummation was an absolute necessity for her own good, her own safety. He knelt down behind her and lifted the silken ma.s.s of her hair to his face. His rigid, throbbing shaft pulsed against her back, and she bit down on her lips to stop herself from screaming. He swept aside her ma.s.s of hair to kiss the exposed nape of her neck. She knew the closeness of their naked bodies and the warmth of her smooth perfumed flesh was driving him to such a pitch that he would soon be out of control.
"Jasmine, I want you to like it when I caress you, I want you to like it when I kiss your lovely b.r.e.a.s.t.s, I want you to like it when I make love to you."
She raised her head from her knees. "I don"t like it, I hate it!"
Stil on the floor, he lifted her into his lap, his back resting against the great bed. "My little flower," he murmured huskily, "unfurl your petals for me." He knew that the nipples of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s could be made erect for he had done it before. He dipped his head and caught the tip of her left breast between his lips. His tongue caressed it and circled it slowly, then he sucked hard, hoping this would stir the tiny bud between her legs to awaken and ache to be stroked.
Her sobs had subsided to little mewling cries, so he lifted her b.u.t.tocks to al ow his erection to slide along the cleft between her legs. She was so sensitive she could feel his heartbeat through his hot maleness with each and every pulse of his blood. She reached down frantical y to dislodge his weapon before it sheathed itself inside of her, and she gasped with renewed terror as she realized its size. Falcon gasped also as her tiny hand closed over him. The intensity of his pleasure almost tumbled him into the sensual abyss.
She stood up and tried to climb upon the bed to escape him, but as she did so the golden curls of her mons brushed across his cheek. In a flash he had her soft thighs imprisoned in his hands as his hungry mouth covered the secret place for which it had hungered and thirsted for what seemed like a lifetime.
Jasmine was appal ed by his animal maleness. Everything about him was hard as iron. His arms, his chest, his legs, even his thighs were corded with rigid saddle mus- cles. She experienced none of the first delicate moments of the journey to intimacy when everything is new, veiled in mystery and promise of the pa.s.sion that was sure to come.
Desperately she struggled to free herself from his hot, possessive mouth. Final y she knelt upon his shoulders and climbed onto the bed. He was upon her instantly.
"Falcon, stop now . . . please stop now, or I wil hate you forever."
He said regretful y, " Tis a pity, darling, I must force you, but I cannot stop now. I know what is best for you. Please, love, try to understand you won"t be safe unless I make you my wife completely." The words he spoke were the truth, but he couldn"t have stopped himself from making love to her in that moment if his life itself was the price he"d have to pay.
She sobbed her fear. "Don"t . . . don"t ... oh, please don"t," but he didn"t even hear her. One powerful hand held both her arms above her head and he kissed the intimate hol ows under her arms. His lips covered her b.r.e.a.s.t.s roughly, wantonly, then became more gentle as they nibbled the silken flesh beneath each breast, sending wave after wave of pleasure surging through him as his mouth took possession of places it had never traveled before. The taste of her, the fragrance of her heightened the sensations until his very blood sang with the joy of her.
"Jasmine, open to me," he urged.
"No, no ... I cannot ... I cannot." She honestly believed that if he impaled her, he would kil her. She was crying hard now, her face buried against his chest, her tears bathing his heart.
Falcon felt he was being patient in the extreme. If they had had al night, he would have given her more time, but he did not.
He went up on his knees to straddle her. After forcing apart her soft thighs, he placed one of his knees between them to keep them apart. With firm fingers he separated her pink center covered by the tight golden curls and plunged down. He felt the hymen of her maidenhead give way and heard her terrible scream.
He quickly covered her mouth with his and thrust himself up as hard as he could as he pul ed her down. At last he was buried to the hilt, and no force on this earth could have prevented him from carving out his place inside of her.
He was acutely aware of the tremendous contrast between their bodies. His great size emphasized her delicate smal ness. His hardness made her al the softer. His powerful strength showed her fragility. But the greatest contrast was in their coloring. He was so dark, his tanned body half-covered by crisp black hair, while she was so pale and fair, her silvery gold tresses spread out in a tangle across the pil ows. From above it must have looked like the Devil was ravishing an angel.
For him, magic danced in the air. His powerful hands held her imprisoned and immobile beneath him as he stroked in and out ruthlessly. She was the smal est woman he had ever made love to. She was unbelievably tight, and each time he thrust inside her, he had to stretch her anew. He knew that his first a.s.sault was hurting her, but he also knew that would change a.s.sault was hurting her, but he also knew that would change perhaps the next time he made love to her. He watched her face through half-closed eyes as he moved himself back and forth upon her. He was a skil ed lover and knew just how far he could drive her. Each time she tried to cry out he covered her mouth with his. Final y in desperation she bit down savagely on his bottom lip with her sharp little teeth and he lost control.
His erection erupted into climax, spurting his burning seed deep inside her.
It had been an experience like no other because he had been aroused to the point of madness before he had al owed himself fulfil ment. Falcon also knew he"d nevei have enough of her. Nothing would ever be the same again.
He felt different; he thought differently. He felt ful y alive for the first time in his life. Everything was heightened and he knew at his heartroot that she would belong to him forevermore.
For Jasmine, death would have been preferable. He rol ed off her to catch his breath. She lay stil like a crumpled dol .
Falcon felt a great surge of power. He was triumphant, invincible as a G.o.d. She felt like a doe whose flesh had been torn and impaled by the hunter"s arrow.
He came up from the bed and she saw the smal pool of blood upon the white sheet. She watched in fascinated horror as he dipped his great seal ring into her blood and stamped the sheet in half a dozen places with a crimson falcon. He was leaving his unmistakable, indelible mark showing the king, Chester, and the world that he had claimed the prize.
Chapter 26.
Jasmine closed her eyes, too fatigued to keep them open longer. His kisses had been so demanding she throbbed al over.
He dressed immediately, urging her to rise and do the same, but his words merely floated over her. He came around the bed and, kneeling down beside her, touched her cheek.
"Pouvre pet.i.te, did you receive no pleasure at al from it?"
Pleasure? her stunned mind echoed. She lay limp, un-moving, pale, lifeless.
By G.o.d, he"d have to kindle a fire in her if they were to escape this place. He knew he"d have to make her angry.
She had a fiery temper when roused. He set about deliberately to infuriate her. He slapped her across the bare bottom and said, "Get up from there. I"l give you two minutes to get dressed." He flung open her wardrobe and rummaged through her clothes. He pul ed out a woolen gown and threw it at her. She ignored it and let it lie upon the bed. He realized it would take stronger medicine than his orders to arouse her temper. "If you are lying there in an attempt to lure me back to bed, it won"t work. G.o.d"s love, but you"re not much use to a man yet. Next time ..."
She was off the bed in a flash, hands on hips, teeth bared.
"Next time? Next time?" she repeated like a demented parrot.
"There wil be no next time, Falcon de Burgh!"
He hid a smile.
She panted with hatred of him. He had acted like a brutal savage. Wel , no matter how big his weapons she would find a way to return a more stinging fire.
"Wil you hurry, woman," he urged.
"Woman now is it, you silver-tongued devil? How I resisted you for seven long months is a mystery to me," she flung sarcastical y. "Now that we are wed the prize becomes the possession. You expect unconditional surrender. You, milord, are in for a rude awakening!"
He was rummaging among her silken hose looking for a woolen pair. "Perhaps you should put on two of everything. You can take only what is on your back."
"Where are you taking me?" she demanded.
"Mountain Ash, of course," he replied.
"You"re dragging me off through those G.o.dforsaken Black Mountains I"ve been staring at al week? In that case I"l need everything." She threw open an enormous traveling trunk and began to pack her dresses.
"Jasmine!" he protested.
"Lady de Burgh, if you please," she replied.
He tried to hold his patience as she threw everything she could find into the trunks. He said furiously, "You do realize we are trying to escape with our lives? Must you act like a spoiled child?"
"Yes, I must," she retorted maddeningly. "I"m sil y, spoiled, pampered, and what was it you said: not much use to a man.
Wel , more fool you for marrying me."
He picked up the ermine fur and she recoiled. "Til not wear that. I never want to see it again."
Forcibly he wrapped her in it. "You"l be d.a.m.ned glad of that when the snow howls down the pa.s.ses into Wales."
She stood facing him, her color high, he noted thankful y. She scooped up her hedgehog and said, "Don"t forget my pets."
His mouth fel open. "You"re jesting. Honey love, we can"t take p.r.i.c.k and Feather," he said. "If they stay, I stay!" she announced imperiously. He threw open the door savagely and thrust the bird cage and the p.r.i.c.kly bal at Montgomery. "Wipe that b.l.o.o.d.y grin off your face. De Clare, fetch that trunk."
About one hundred de Burgh men had gathered under the trees outside the stables. They held the horses their leader had ordered ready. They stared in amazement at the beautiful creature with gilt hair, wrapped from head to foot in white ermine. Each and every man wondered what use the exquisite little plaything would be to their master. Each and every man would have exchanged places with him.
Falcon helped Jasmine into her saddle, secured the packhorses, and cal ed, "Away, lads, "tis past midnight!"
"Nay," came back the reply, "we"l stay another hour to safeguard your back."
De Burgh"s authoritative voice rang out. "Then we"l meet again at Mountain Ash. Watch your own backs, men."
De Burgh set a steady pace for he knew Jasmine was at the limit of her endurance. Remembering his ordeal of the previous day, he hoped fervently that the River Severn just to the west of Gloucester had not damaged its bridges. Once they crossed the great river, he decided against riding directly west into the mountains, but thought he would go to Wil iam Marshal"s castle of Chepstow on the Welsh border. With any luck Hubert and Salisbury would be there, and he would tel them plainly what he had done this night.
The Severn seemed as it had always been and they fol owed its winding course for an hour. Falcon kept a close eye upon Jasmine, wondering at the pride that kept her erect in the saddle. The long day and night were beginning to take its tol on him but he knew he must keep moving. He stopped only long enough to reach up and lift her in his arms, then, holding her securely in front of him, he remounted and wrapped his dark cloak about them both.
She did not speak one word to him, but neither did she make any protest. Gradual y he felt her relax against the warmth of his body. Though she would have died rather than admit it, she was grateful to drop the role of Amazon, to lean back against his broad chest and draw from his immense strength. She resented that he was so unwearied, yet at the same time it made her feel safe and protected for the first time in weeks.
She closed her eyes and drifted off. Before sleep claimed her total y, she knew she would never make the mistake again of underestimating him. He had come for her, after al . He had kept his promise to wed her if he wasn"t in Hel fire.
To de Burgh"s ears came a faint sound that he had both dreaded and expected. The gal oping hooves gained on him.