Torn (10 page)

“Your foster father? The leader of your Order?”

Torn nodded. “He’s outspoken, and he knows many things.”

They stood and continued walking.

“How many of you are there?” she asked.

“As of now, five thousand Knights. Some are married and their wives and children live in the fortress or in houses throughout Rubyshire. A few are married to Dames from the Opal Order and live with them. Of course, not all of us are there at one time. We travel wherever we’re needed. Your healing skills will be useful to us while you’re there, and they’ll be more for you to learn, if you’re interested.”

“I am,” she said, allowing herself to fantasize about what it would be like to marry Torn, to live and work at the Order. “I guess they’ll be glad to get you back.”

His blue eyes flickered sadly toward her. “I don’t know. After they hear about Redly –”

“Torn, that wasn’t your fault.”

“It was my hand that killed him. No one forced me.”

Honey Wine sighed and shook her head. If all the Knights were like him, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to understand them.

A couple of hours later, Torn stopped suddenly and grasped her arm. He stood still, his gaze shifting through the trees.

“Do you hear that?” he whispered.

“Hear what…” she paused, then met his eyes, panic tightening her chest.

“Dogs, damn it!”

“Up!” he stated.

They grasped the overhanging branches of a nearby tree and climbed. She watched him from where she clung to the branches above his head. Glancing up at her, he placed a finger to his lips.

Below, two muscular dogs with short tawny coats bounded into the water’s shallow edge, barking so loudly she was sure she felt the vibrations through the tree branches.

“Wait a second.” Torn swung down to a lower branch. “I know those dogs.

Melinda! Roland!”

The dogs stopped, their squashed black and tan faces searching around, then upward. Upon seeing Torn, they barked with new enthusiasm, their stubby tails wagging.

“What’s going on you two?” a man’s voice shouted to the dogs. “What have you chased up a tree? Squirrels most likely.”

Honey Wine strained to see through the leafy branches. A large man with curling black hair and a full beard rode a shaggy, big-boned chestnut stallion into the clearing. The man wore black leather trousers and a black thigh-length tunic with a red circle of thorns embroidered over his heart, a single ruby glistening in the center. The uniform of the Ruby Order. A quiver of arrows hung over his shoulder, and he carried a bow.

“Rain!” Torn called, dropping to the ground.

The horse pawed the ground, its movements expressing the surprise on its master’s face.

“Torn?” The Knight dismounted, smiling, his dogs clamoring for attention around his ankles. “Where the hell have you been? We thought you weren’t ever coming back.” Rain’s black-gloved hands jerked Torn’s robe open to inspect his bandaged chest. “You’ve been wounded?”

“Two weeks ago. It’s healing.”

Honey Wine climbed down from the tree and into Torn’s waiting arms.

“Who’s this?” Rain demanded, though not unkindly. Honey Wine noticed he was even taller than Torn and several years his senior. Deep laugh lines marked his mouth and eyes, somehow adding to his charming appearance.

“This is Honey Wine. I’ve been imprisoned in her land of Sophianna. She helped me escape. It’s a long story. I want to get back to the Order because we’re most likely being tracked.”

Rain’s expression became serious as his eyes swept the area. “Lets go. You two take my horse. You look like you’ve traveled hard.”

Honey Wine and Torn mounted the tall stallion as Rain fell into step beside them, Melinda and Roland trotting ahead, their noses lowered to the ground.

She slipped her arms around Torn as they rode, her breasts pressed to his hard, straight spine.

“Mahir will be glad to see you,” Rain said as they moved onward. “They all will. You’ve been missed. Blaze has been very concerned. He didn’t speak of it, but I think he thought you were dead. It’s not always clear for him.”

Honey Wine felt Torn sigh, and she tightened her arms around him as they continued their journey in relative silence.

The trees thinned as the forest opened into a hilly green field. In the distance, a vast gray fortress reached toward the midday sun. A section of the field in front of the fortress, served as a mock battlefield for Knights on horseback, practicing archery, and training in hand-to-hand combat. Even to Honey Wine’s trained eye, the Knights of the Ruby Order were formidable warriors. Their methods of hand fighting were unusual, as they executed strikes, holds, and kicks, used by none of the soldiers in surrounding kingdoms.

“I think I’m privileged,” Honey Wine remarked, her eyes intent on the warriors. “I don’t imagine too many people get to see Knights of the Ruby Order training up close.”

“It is a sight.” Rain smiled, his eyes glistening with humor and pride.

“Tomorrow you can come with me for archery practice.”

“I’d love it.” She looked at the Knight, unable to disguise her excitement. It had been too long since she’d held a weapon. Too long since she’d known freedom.

“I’m watching you, Rain.” Torn cast the handsome older man a sidelong glance that caused Rain to laugh harder.

“So you’re not immune after all,” Rain commented.

“Immune? From what?” Honey Wine spoke close to Torn’s ear.

“Torn’s very serious about his vows.” A smile played around Rain’s full lips partially concealed by his wavy beard. “I trust they’re all still intact?”

“I see you haven’t been awarded extra guard duty since I’ve been away,”

Torn said. “We’ll have to fix that, Rain.”

Rain laughed. “Pulling rank on me, Torn? Perhaps I was closer to the truth than I thought…”

The exchange between the Knights was not only amusing, but it also revealed parts of Torn that had been concealed in the prison. Honey Wine said, “This is the most interesting conversation I’ve heard in years.”

“Thank you.” Torn glanced over his shoulder, an eyebrow lifted, his voice laced with sarcasm.

She smiled and squeezed his waist. One of his hands covered both of hers, and a feeling of warmth spread throughout her body. Now that they were away from the prison, maybe they could explore more deeply the feelings rising between them.

“I’m curious about these vows,” Honey Wine said to Rain. “Tell me more?”

Rain shook his head; his smile fading though his eyes still glistened with good humor. “I’d best hold my tongue or else he really will give me an extra shift.”

As they approached the fortress, several Knights rode up to them, calling to Torn and staring curiously at Honey Wine.

“Back off!” Rain said gruffly. “He’ll be with you soon enough.”

They rode through the open gates of the fortress directly to the stables where Honey Wine and Torn dismounted. Rain placed his horse in the care of a young boy. As Honey Wine walked with Torn and Rain across the courtyard, she admired the beauty of the flowering trees and clipped bushes. A square pool stood in the center of the courtyard, the castle walls, and vegetation reflecting in its crystalline surface. Children played a game of tag under the supervision of a group of women mending clothes. Upon seeing Honey Wine and her escorts, the women looked up from their work, and several of the children stopped their game and pointed.

“Look,” they said. “Sir Torn’s back.”

“Who’s that with him?”

The women’s whispers were much softer, but it was obvious they were talking about Honey Wine as well.

They walked into a spacious hall furnished with rows of long, wooden tables, benches on either side. A fireplace took up one wall, and embers burned, the smoky scent filling the room. Though the weather outside was warm, the enormous stone rooms had the chill common to all castles, and the fire was necessary. They stepped through the hall, into a long, narrow corridor lined with closed doors, and up a flight of winding steps. They stopped in front of a wooden door, and Torn knocked.

“Enter,” spoke a deep, masculine voice from inside.

Torn opened the door, and they stepped into a mid-sized room completely filled with books and scrolls. Shelves lined all four walls from top to bottom, save the space where the fireplace stood. An older man of average height with blue eyes and gray hair hanging past his shoulders sat at a round table also covered with books and maps. He stood, eyes fixed on Torn.

“You’re back.” The slightest smile touched the man’s stern lips as he strode across the room and embraced Torn.

“Mahir.” Torn returned his foster father’s hug.

Mahir pulled back, having felt Torn’s bandage, and inspected the wound.

“It’s almost healed,” Torn shrugged, “thanks to Honey Wine.” He turned to her and said, “Honey Wine, this is Mahir, leader of The Ruby Order.”

“Pleased to meet you, Sir.” She curtsied, unsure if that was the proper greeting for a man of his station.

“Honey Wine?” Mahir glanced at Torn.

“I owe her my life,” Torn said. “Without her, I wouldn’t have made it home.”

Mahir nodded, his eyes fixed on Honey Wine. Though she wanted to look away from his soul-stripping gaze, she met his eyes with determination and a bit of her own discrimination.

“You’re welcome here, Lady.” Mahir bowed to her. “A friend of Torn’s is a friend of mine.”

“Thank you. I must accept your hospitality for a time since I can’t return to my home right now.” She glanced at Torn, hoping he’d continue with the explanation of where they’d been and what had happened to them.

“Seems these two have had quite a time of it,” Rain said. “I’ll see about getting a room for Honey Wine. They haven’t slept in nearly two days, and I’m sure she’s tired.”

Honey Wine nodded at Rain who tossed her one of his boyish smiles, rather charming on a man of his rugged appearance. It seemed that not all of the Knights were as serious as Torn, but she had also known him in prison where there was little call for silliness. Though she liked Rain’s easy manor, there was something gentle yet powerful, alluring, and sensual about Torn that drew Honey Wine to him.

Mahir placed a large, callused hand on Torn’s shoulder. “After you’ve rested, I’ll need a report from you.”

Honey Wine wondered if anyone noticed the surprise in her expression at Mahir’s words. His foster son had been missing for months, and he hadn’t even asked where he’d been! He was willing to wait for a report?

Torn nodded, and Honey Wine followed him and Rain to the door. Torn glanced over his shoulder to Mahir who had returned to his reading. “I’m glad to be back.”

“I’m glad you’ve come back, son.” Mahir nodded, the expression in his pale eyes revealing the emotions his calm face did not.

They walked back down the stairs to the hallway lined with doors.

“This one’s empty.” Rain stopped in front of one of the doors and opened it for Honey Wine. The small room contained a quilt-covered bed with a trunk at the foot of it. The stone floor was covered with a rope carpet, and a fireplace took half of one wall.

Rain stepped inside and kindled a fire. “Would you like me to find you something to eat?”

Honey Wine shook her head and thanked him as he left her and Torn alone.

She walked to the bed and sat on the edge of it. Torn stood in the doorway, so tall his head almost brushed the top of the door, his hands folded in front of him.

“My room is next to yours, to the right, if you need anything,” he said.

Honey Wine nodded slowly, her heart throbbing as she gathered the courage to speak the next words. “You’re not married, are you, Torn?”

He chuckled. “No.”

“Thank the Goddess, right?” she grinned. “After all we’ve shared together.”

“Honey Wine,” he walked to the bed and sat on the edge, “I know we were forced into some things, and I regret how it was done, but I don’t regret you.”

“No?” Her smile softened.

“Never. You’re a magnificent woman.”

“If I ask you something, will you answer me honestly?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t want you to do this because you feel that you owe me. I wanted to escape just as much as you did, so all we did was help each other.”

“What do you want, Honey Wine?” His dark blue eyes stared into hers. They were so calm, so powerful, those eyes she’d become accustomed to. What she had once seen as arrogance, she now knew to be strength. She could no longer recall what it felt like to hate him.

“Will you stay here with me today?”

He paused so long that her stomach twisted. He was going to refuse.

Torn locked the door. Shrugging off his robe, he turned down the bedcovers, and stretched out on the mattress. She lay beside him, suddenly hesitant to touch him.

He pulled the blankets over them and tugged her into his arms. Her cheek rested against his smooth, hard shoulder; one of her legs entwined with his.

“Do you know how many nights I dreamed of this?” she asked, tilting her face up to his.

He kissed her. His tongue caressed hers with long, soft strokes while his hands warmed her ribs and belly.

“I want to touch you,” he whispered against her lips.

She took his hand and placed it on her breast, closing her eyes as he kneaded the soft mound. His hands slid beneath her billowy nightshirt so his fingertips could caress her nipples.

Honey Wine moaned and reached for his trousers, tugging his cock free.

“Honey Wine,” he groaned as she tightened her fist on his cock and stroked him. She ran her thumb over the head and her fingertip along the underside, then pumped the entire shaft until he tugged her hand away and pushed her onto her back.

Pinning her hands above her head, he lifted her shirt and took one of her breasts in his mouth, rolling his tongue over the nipple and sucking the hard little nub until she moaned. His hand stroked her inner thighs, slipping higher until his fingers dipped into her wet pussy, gathering her juices before he circled her clit.