Claiming by Saskia Knight

her mind drifting back to Saher during the night—his cock driving into her, taking her to heights of pleasure she’d never imagined. And then, afterwards how he’d drawn her into his arms, arms that were thick and muscled and yet held her gently, as if she were someone to be reverenced. She’d never felt reverenced before.
    She drew in a long breath, trying to calm her heart that raced at the thought of their lovemaking, and at the secretive, dangerous plan she was now undertaking. A man like Saher who’d sworn loyalty to the King, a man who hated deceit—a man like that would not forgive her actions.
    Suddenly she felt a shadow pass over her and shouts from her men. Alarmed, she opened her eyes and looked around. Saher stood watching her, his expression furious. She jumped up and stepped away from him, from his powerful body that cast a darkness over her, away from his glowering eyes and fierce frown.
    “Sir Saher! I did not expect—”
    “That much, my lady, I know. What I do not know and what I wish you to tell me, is where you are going this fine day.”
    She shook her head and tried, unsuccessfully, to tamp down her fear. “To… to see my sister and aunt at the Priory.”
    “Is that so?” He came towards her and she moved back, but her way was blocked by a large oak tree. But he did not approach her. Instead he looked over to the cart, laden with casks. “And you are thoughtfully taking good wine to your family, I see.”
    “I take them gifts when I go.”
    “Really? Generous gifts, too, I should imagine.” He cast an eye around her heavily armed men. “If your guards are any indication.” He walked over and pushed one of the barrels and she heard the rattle of coin. “Enlighten me, lady?”
    She shook her head, trying to conjure up some tale that would withstand his scrutiny. But, before she could speak, he’d walked up to her and pressed his finger against her mouth. “Nay. I don’t wish to hear your lies.” He let his hand drop. “’Tis the coin I heard whisper of at Cley. Silver I’d heard rumour of long before I came here. Your father was suspected of smuggling but it could never be proven.” He raised one angry eyebrow. “Until now.”
    She gasped. “You wouldn’t.”
    “You’re right, I wouldn’t. I’m less interested in that, than I am its destination. The priory, you say?” He looked away from her, his mouth a grim line of disappointment. “You wished to leave me, then.”
    There was something other than anger in his voice now. Something that found its way past her fears and defences, and filled her with regret. “No. I wasn’t going to leave. But I was making sure I’d be able to in the future, if…”
    “If you needed to escape me,” he completed. He nodded and turned away, looking out across the tumbling stream to the swaying willows on the far side. “But you lied, Rowena. You didn’t need to lie. You see”—he walked up to her but didn’t touch her, his eyes roving over her face—“I understand. You should have trusted me.”
    “Trust you? You came to the castle, a stranger, insisting on taking over my life. Trust you, when I hardly know you?”
    He looked around, avoiding her face, taking the measure of her words. Then he sighed. “We were not strangers in bed, in each other’s arms, though were we, my lady?”
    She bit her lip, trying to stop the swell of emotion from totally preventing her from thinking straight, and shook her head. “What do I know of lovemaking? For all I know, the experience with me was the same as with all your other women.” But even as she said it, she knew it to be a lie. The previous night had been more than just two bodies coming together in mutual pleasure. She’d felt it. And she knew he’d felt it. But she’d mistrusted those feelings. “Besides, I am not the only person with secrets. You… you have your own plans, so I hear. Secret plans to demolish estate buildings and to rebuild. Plans I know nothing about.”
    He