Page 25 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

He took the cloth from her and finished scrubbing his legsand what lay beneath the water. She was grateful she would not have to touchthat part of his body.

“What is the Welshman to you, Sarah?”

The question surprised her. Why would he care?Reaching for the pail of rinse water, she considered how to answer. She did notlook at his naked form but her fingertips touched his warm flesh as she pouredthe water over his hair and his back. The heat of his body made her keenlyaware they were alone in his chamber and he was unclothed. She had nevertouched a man like this, never felt her heart race at the nearness of sopowerful a warrior.

She managed to say, “He is a friend and my teacher of thebow as he is to many at Talisand.”

“Nothing more?”

“Nay, my lord.” Her voice was calm but his words caused heranger to rise. What business of his was her relationship to the Welsh bard? Buta servant would not ask so she said naught.

“That is good.”

Still behind him, Serena reached for the drying cloth,bringing her head near to his. He turned to look at her. His eyes, only ahand’s width away, flashed liquid silver, and in them she glimpsed raw desire.Like a mouse caught in the fixed glare of a snake, she was unable to move. Thedrying cloth slipped from her hand.

His gaze fell to her lips. “Sarah…”

He reached out his hand and pulled her towards him as hismouth closed the short distance to hers. His lips touched her own ever solightly. His tongue followed the curve of her bottom lip, causing her skin totingle. Had he tried to force her she might have fought, she might have fled,but his slow seduction lulled her into remaining still. His hand moved to hernape where his fingers curved around the tingling skin and held her tenderly.She responded, willingly offering her mouth to him and closed her eyes.

A feeling of pleasure she had never experienced swept overher as his lips softly teased and his tongue slipped between her parted lips tofreely explore her mouth. His slow deliberate movements tantalized as theypromised pleasure, a pleasure for the first time she very much wanted. Sheentwined her tongue with his and moaned.

When he pulled her tightly against his chest, the touch ofhis wet skin and the edge of the tub pressed against her breasts awakened herto what was happening. She wrenched back, frightened at how close she had cometo giving him what he sought and angry with herself for allowing such intimacy.

“My lord!” Still on her knees, she scurried backward andhastily rose.

“Sarah…” His voice was deep and coaxing. “Come back.”

“Nay!”

She raced to the door, flung it open and fled, letting itslam behind her. He called her name but she did not respond. Flattening herselfagainst the wall next to the door to what had once been her chamber, her heartpounded in her chest. Pressing her palms against the wall, she willed her heartto slow.

Her mind reeled, alarmed at what had transpired. No man hadever kissed her like the Norman had—no man had ever made her want him.

How could the Norman knight affect her so?

She reached one hand to her lips; the soft flesh stillthrobbed from his kiss. Hearing voices below, she stepped away from the wall topeer into the entry where a few men lingered. One of them looked up at her. Maugris.The old man’s gaze held hers and a slow smile spread across his face. She fellback against the wall, her heart still racing as she sought to hide in theshadows. Did the old man know what had transpired?

Chapter 8

The sun was nearly at its zenith when Renaud set aside hissword and wiped his face with the back of his hand. After the night before whenSarah had fled his bedchamber, leaving him hard and wanting, he relished thephysical activity of sword practice with his men. Besides, he would need tokeep up his skills for battle.

“Good work, Alain. You have wearied me,” said Renaud.

His banner carrier, the knight who always reminded him of alarge bear, smiled. “And you have me sweating like a pig in a slaughterhouse,my lord,” said Alain, sheathing his sword.

Renaud looked around at his other knights. All were sweatingin the heat of the midday sun from hours of heaving their swords in mockbattle.

“Take a break and get some food,” Renaud urged his men.“This afternoon, some of you will hunt while others have duties supervising themotte construction.” Then to Geoff, who had just sheathed his sword, “The menappear ready, even eager for an engagement.”

“Aye, they do. They enjoy the peace they have found here,but they are trained for war, so a short excursion to join in one of William’scampaigns would appeal. Do you think it will be long ere the king calls us toattend him in some skirmish?”

“There are rumors of rebellions in the south, so it mightnot be long.” William had not conquered all of England and, knowing his sire,Renaud thought it was only a matter of time before they were summoned to putdown some rebellion. In the meantime, he had duties here.

“Geoff, this afternoon I would see the village. I intend totake Maugris with me, but I need someone who can accompany me who knows thevilleins well. Can you identify such a one?”

“Maggie knows everyone. She will have a name.”

“I will bathe first, then join you in the hall. And, yea,ask Maggie.” Renaud liked the cook and her easy acceptance of him and hisknights. She could have poisoned them all, but instead, she fed them well.