Claiming by Saskia Knight Page B

tower, of the room, high above the ground floor which had been her mother’s solar and the small hall where she’d lived the last years of her life. “It’s gone…” she muttered under her breath. “Saher,” she shook her head, “I didn’t know.”
    “No. ’Twas something I thought you’d like. ’Twas also something I didn’t want here. You see, Rowena, the tower stood for something I am also deeply against.”
    She frowned. “Tell me.”
    “I tell few people. I abhor violence done to women. I know the results well. I was raised by a woman whose every move was driven by fear. She’d been raped and I was the result. I adored her and was determined to never be the man my father had been.”
    “But you were your father’s heir?”
    “After my mother died, my father claimed me and adopted me. I hated him, but I was prepared to use his connections to get me out of the poverty my mother had lived in. And so I went into the world full of ambition to prove myself and make a life away from my father, with an abhorrence of violence to women. Rowena, I swear by Almighty God that I will never hurt you as your father hurt your mother. I destroyed the tower as testament to that.”
    The walls of defence she’d built around her heart crumbled under the onslaught of that fierce, honest gaze. Tears pricked her eyes. “Saher… I’m so sorry. I was scared you would take everything that I had and leave me with nothing. I did not know—”
    His fingers came up to her mouth and touched it gently, stopping any further words. “And how could you? I am still a stranger to you. I wanted your trust but all I’d done is claim your lands, and then claim your body.” His fingers gently swept around the outline of her lips that opened in immediate response. “Now, come, ’tis getting late. We’ll return to the castle tonight and then, tomorrow, if you wish, I’ll escort you back to the priory to take the silver.”
    His words came to her through a haze of desire that the trail of his fingers over her skin had ignited. “The silver? You’d allow me still to do this?”
    “I bring silver of my own and your estates are prosperous enough without me gaining your own…” He hesitated as he searched for a word, a slow smile resting on his lips. “ Savings , shall we say?”
    She looked at him quickly. “Yes… savings.”
    “Savings the King should probably not know about, eh?” His smile broadened and she smiled back, shaking her head.
    “No. ’Tis best. My aunt will keep the silver safe until… we need it.”
    “Good.” He unlooped the horse’s reins from the tree and lifted Rowena up onto its back, his hands lingering around her waist. “So tomorrow we will travel, but tonight—”
    “Tonight.” She reached out her hand and moved it over his chest. “I would show you my gratitude.”
    The immediate flare of lust in his eyes and its corresponding flare inside herself made her shift in her seat. He jumped up behind her and pulled her bottom until it was tight against his hardening groin. “I like a grateful woman.” His whispered words made her shiver with anticipation.

CHAPTER TWELVE

    It was still early when they retired to their chamber. The lazy, flickering flames of the brazier illuminated his eyes, hooded with intent. She stood, unmoving as he undressed her. First unlacing her bliaut which clung tight to her body, and then lifting it from her shoulders. She shivered, but not from cold, as he unclasped the silver brooch at the throat of her robe and despatched that in the same way. Now she stood simply in her linen chemise.  
    His hands swept up her body, pushing up her breasts before grabbing the chemise and lifting it away from her. Then he took her breasts that spilled on to his large hands, and dropped a kiss on top of each one before moving his hands to her bottom, pulling her hard against him, and claiming her mouth with his until she was dizzy with desire.
    She whimpered against his mouth, as