Page 17 of Seduced By the Squire (Diamonds in the Rough #1)

Llinos had thought Duncan was fierce before, but it was nothing. She’d thought she’d had felt pleasure, but it was nothing. She’d thought that they shared something, but it was nothing. Now not only was he fierce, but he made her just as wild, not only did he make her mewl, but she forced him to roar. They didn’t share anything, they simply were one.

She clutched at him, cried out, arched her back, dug her nails into his buttocks – and finally, dissolved into a million pieces while he pulsed his release deep inside her, this time on purpose.

And then, as if all this was not enough, Duncan kissed her.

With his body still embedded inside her, with his child warm inside her womb, he kissed her. It was glorious, unlike any intimacy they had ever shared. Then he drew back and she stayed there a long time, panting, gazing into his amazing green eyes, the eyes that had captured from the very beginning.

“I’ll never fuck anyone ever again,” Duncan said, placing his forehead against hers. “I’ll only e’er make love. To ye.”

“Aw. How touching.”

Llinos almost jumped out of her skin when Lord Masterson emerged from the shadows and planted himself in front of them. How long had he been there? Too long, as his next words made clear. She had been right, he was a shameless voyeur. He had not just walked in on them, he had watched everything. Her flesh crawled at the thought.

“Well well well, if the Lady Llinos isn’t the most enthusiastic lover! Enthusiastic and talented. Heavens, but Benedict is a lucky bastard. As is the Scot. It is not every woman who will take a man into her mouth without being made to.”

By now Duncan had withdrawn from her, restored her skirts to a seemly length and tucked himself back in his hose. As for her, she had not moved. She was frozen in horror.

Lord Masterson drew out his sword and placed the tip of the blade at Duncan’s throat.

“Step away, you cur. How dare you touch the lady? How dare you even look at her?”

Duncan didn’t move, he remained between her and the drawn blade. Llinos saw his hand go to the place where his sword should be and heard a muffled oath He had not taken the time to buckle his scabbard around his waist before running to her and he was cursing himself for the oversight. She gasped. Would he really have fought his master for her? Perhaps it was better he was unarmed after all. They both knew he would not have bested a trained knight. He would only have been killed.

“Duncan, it’s all right,” she said, scrambling back to her feet. The last thing she wanted was for him to face retribution when what had happened between them when it was all her fault.

“Stay where you are, my lady,” he said, extending an arm to stop her from placing herself within range of the blade.

“ My lady ,” Lord Masterson snorted. “Who are you trying to fool? You didn’t show her half the respect you owe her when you pumped into her like a man possessed. Not that I blame you, if she’s going to allow anyone to have her.”

“I’m not!” Llinos shouted. “It’s not — ”

“Save your breath. It’s clear you are quite indiscriminate with your favours. No wonder Benedict wanted me to keep an eye on you! Now I understand everything. It was you that day in the room, moaning in that wild, shameless manner… How are you going to explain to your groom that you are not a virgin on your wedding ni ght, that you allowed a Scottish bastard to have you?”

“How are you going to explain that you allowed a lady under your care to find herself a lover?” she countered. “You were supposed to watch over me and you failed!”

“Lass, hush,” Duncan said between his teeth.

Lord Masterson’s eyes glinted. “Let us strike a bargain shall we? I will not divulge your little indiscretion if you allow me to be next.”

“Next?” Llinos repeated stupidly.

“Yes. Your little display got me quite aroused, I will admit, and there can be no harm in it, since you are clearly not a virgin anymore. You allowed the Scot between your legs, so you will have no difficulty letting me take my turn.”

“Over my dead body,” Duncan growled before she could even open her mouth.

“That can easily be arranged. You are unarmed. What are you going to do to stop me?”

“Armed or nay, if ye touch a single hair on her head that will be the last thing ye e’er do.”

“Oh, I have no interest in the hair on her head ,” Lord Masterson said, baring his teeth in a parody of a grin. “Move. Or I’ll make you.”

“Ye’ll have to cut me to pieces where I stand because I’m ne’er going to let ye touch her. ”

The words were spoken with such lethal determination that Llinos barely recognised Duncan’s voice.

“Fye, with that accent I cannot understand a word you’re saying,” Lord Masterson mocked.

“Understand this then. I will never allow her to be hurt.”

“I don’t mean to hurt her. I mean to make her squirm with pleasure. I think I can acquit myself of the task as well as a blasted Highlander.”

Duncan hissed. “I'm not going anywhere.”

“You really want to lose a limb over her? Very well.”

Lord Masterson sprung forwards. Llinos screamed, then screamed again when Duncan kicked the blade away from him. It was a bold, risky move but he didn’t have much choice against an armed opponent. And it almost worked. The kick prevented the sword from slicing through him but it sent him off balance.

When he fell to the floor, Lord Masterson was on him before he could roll away. Llinos screamed again.

“No! Don’t kill him!” she cried, rushing towards the two men.

“Llinos, get back! Run, damn ye!” Duncan ordered .

“I’m not going to kill him,” Lord Masterson growled. “I’m going to make him watch while I take you. It’s only fair. After all, I watched him.”

“Ye think I’m just going to stay here and watch while ye rape her, ye sick bastard!”

“Oh but you won’t have much choice.”

Before Llinos could wonder what he meant, Lord Masterson raised his sword and planted it into the ground – through Duncan’s hand. It took her a moment to comprehend that he had pinned him in place. She screamed, and abruptly stopped when the man stamped on Duncan’s other hand with the heel of his boot, crushing all the bones.

“Here. I’d like to see you get out of this, Scot.” He turned to face her and smiled. “And now, my lady, I’m all yours.”

*

The pain barely registered.

Duncan knew he should be in agony, and he was, but it had nothing to do with the blade stuck in his flesh, or the throbbing in his right hand signalling at least one of his fingers had been broken. No, the real pain came when Masterson threw Llinos to the ground and tore the front of her dress open.

“I would be a pity to leave these covered up, I think,” he said as he yanked the shift out of the way to expose her breasts. “I have fantasised about them more than once, and wondered how they would feel in my mouth. Finally I will get my fill of them.”

“No!” Llinos screamed when he placed his lips on her, and Duncan roared at the same time.

“Stop struggling! You liked it well enough before, there is no reason to think that I cannot give you as much pleasure as a low-born Scot,” the bastard said, as he freed himself. “Hearing your moans got me all hard so it’s only fair you help relieve the ache in my balls. Come. Moan for me. Let me hear your pleasure.”

“All you will hear is my protest!” Llinos spat, as she tried to push him away. But the man was a warrior, he would be heavier than a horse, impossible for her to move. “Let go of me!”

Jesu, Duncan was going to go mad. Right here, right now, as he was forced to watch the woman he loved being raped, he was going to lose his mind.

He rolled onto his side and tried to get to the sword hilt. In vain. His right hand was useless, and the hilt too high off the ground for him to use as leverage anyway.

Perhaps he could kick at it to try and dislodge it…

Llinos’ screams pierced holes at the base of his spine. The bastard would pay for this, Duncan swore to himself, he would not live to see another dawn. And where was everyone? They were not that far from the bailey and dawn had broken a while ago. Hadn’t anyone heard her protests? Then he stilled when he understood that, yes, someone had.

Someone furry and scraggy.

Furious barks resounded, followed by the sound of paws rushing over the portcullis. A heartbeat later Cwtch launched himself at Masterson, biting his bare arse with undisguised hatred. The man howled like the animal he was and rolled into a ball to protect his vitals, finally, blessedly, letting go of Llinos.

Duncan closed his eyes and swore never again to utter a single disparaging word against the beastie who had just done what he, Duncan, had been unable to do.

“What’s going on here?”

His eyes snapped open. Sir Benedict was standing a few paces away, eyeing up the scene with understandable disbelief. For a moment no one moved then Llinos covered herself and scrambled to her knees. Duncan could see she was shaking badly. Oh, how he wanted to wrap his arms around her!

“Sir Benedict, oh, thank God!” she said in a sob. “I’m so glad you found me! ”

“I didn’t. That dog did,” he said, nodding towards Cwtch who was still growling at Masterson. “I assume it is yours? He was making an awful racket in the stables when we arrived, so much so that we had to set him free. He then all but forced us to follow him. I imagine he heard you scream, even through the din of activity in the bailey.”

His voice took on a distinctive cold edge as he looked at his friend who was still clutching his bare, bleeding arse.

“Yes, he must have,” Llinos murmured. “Thank God.”

Indeed. Duncan could have kissed the clever mutt.

Llinos stood up and placed a hand on Sir Benedict’s arm. The gesture tugged at his heart. She was placing herself under another man’s protection when he should be the one making her feel safe! But he was pinned to the floor, as helpless as a bug turned on its back. Damn it all! He had failed her. Now she would never trust in his ability to protect her.

“Lord Masterson forced himself on me. I’m afraid he… he despoiled me.”

“Despoiled! Ah! I didn’t even — ”

Disliking the anger in the scoundrel’s voice, Cwtch cut him short by barking furiously. Llinos took advantage of the respite to carry on with her explanation.

“He did attack me, you all saw it. Forgive me, but I am not a maid anymore. I think you won’t doubt my word, considering what you just witnessed, but I will submit myself to an examination if you require proof. Old Bessie will confirm that I am not a maid any longer and that I have…” She blushed furiously but she raised her chin. “I have a man’s seed inside me.”

Duncan blinked. Jesu but the lass was incredible. Clever, resourceful and utterly brazen.

Sir Benedict stared at her for a moment. “Well, that is…” He coughed in what Duncan assumed to be embarrassment. It was not every day a lady talked about a man’s seed so openly. “That is certainly — ”

“She’s lying! I was not the one who — ”

Once again Masterson’s protests were cut short by Cwtch’s angry barking. It was clear that, as long as the mutt was here, the man would not be able to get a word in edgeways. Perfect. Llinos might be able to twist facts to her advantage.

“I’m not lying. You all saw what happened.” she carried on, soothing the dog. Duncan saw that her hand was trembling and that she was using the pup to draw strength from. Mo chreach ! He wanted to do that for her! “Why do you think Lord Masterson ended up with half his clothes off? Why do you think my dress is torn? Why do you think he was on top of me? His squire, Dylan, happened to be walking by when I was attacked. He came to my aid but here was no stopping the scoundrel. I need not describe what he did to the poor unarmed man to neutralise him.”

“No, indeed.” Sir Benedict’s eye roved over him, taking in the way the sword pinned to the ground. “It is all perfectly clear. You have my thanks, Dylan.”

“My name is actually Duncan,” Duncan said, barely repressing a smile. Llinos was a marvel. What better way to establish they were strangers than to get his name wrong so casually?

“Forgive me. I will take the lady back inside now,” Sir Benedict said, glowering at his erstwhile friend, who was still writhing on the floor. “Shall we?” he asked, extending his arm to Llinos. “After your ordeal, you no doubt wish yourself well away from here.”

“I’m sorry,” she answered, instead of taking the arm he was offering. “But I cannot marry you now.” To Duncan’s utter shock, she fell to her knees. “I know how important my virtue was to you and your family. Now, not only am I soiled, and therefore unworthy of you, but I may be carrying a child who will never be the legitimate son you need. Its paternity will always be in doubt, and a weapon in the hands of your enemies. I cannot in all conscience allow you to marry such an unsuitable woman. I will retire to a convent to expiate my sin.”

“Not your sin, my lady. In this instance the blame lies elsewhere. And you being assaulted doesn’t make you unworthy,” Sir Benedict replied, offering his rather unexpected support. The man had some honour, Duncan had to admit. Nevertheless, he could see that Llinos’ arguments had hit a nerve. He knew that Sir Benedict needed a virtuous wife and could not afford to have the legitimacy of his children put in question. “If you wish to join a convent I cannot go against your wishes,” he added, gratefully accepting the way out she was suggesting.

Duncan’s heart sank to his chest. Llinos had called herself soiled, unworthy. The words pierced at him. Was that what she really thought? Did she really wish to go a convent? The mere idea made his stomach churn.

No, his mind must be addled by what had just happened, and his stomach unsettled by the pain radiating through his body. He could not have dreamed their earlier conversation. He had told her he loved her, and instead of pushing him away, she had fallen into his arms, asked him to kiss her, and made love to him with as much passion as she was capable, there on the ground for all to see.

Llinos turned to him. Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears, and filled with love.

No. He had not dreamed any of it. She was only doing what was needed to sever the ties chaining her to this man. In the end she hadn’t had to have any awkward conversation with her betrothed. He had seen for himself that she was no virgin – and why. Her reputation was safe.

“Please,” she said, turning back to Sir Benedict. “We need to attend to the squire.”

“Yes, of course,” he said grimly. “And call someone to see to Masterson’s wound.”

*

A fresh wave of nausea roiled in Llinos’ stomach when Sir Benedict yanked the sword from Duncan’s hand. Closing her eyes, she swallowed it back. Now was not the time to falter. The man she loved needed her. She had to be strong for him.

“Let me see to the wound,” she said, coming forwards with a strip of cloth she had torn from her already ruined dress. “‘Tis woman’s work.”

No more needed to be said. No man would agree to be seen performing women’s tasks.

She pressed the cloth against the wound to stem the blood. Oh God, the pain would be excruciating. Would Duncan ever be able to use his right hand ever again? Or his left? It was swollen and bruised, and at least one of the fingers would be broken. She bit the inside of her mouth to repress a sob.

“Do not fret over me, my lady. I shall be all right,” Duncan said in his best squire’s voice. His eyes, for her only, were bright with intent. “But you should go and rest. You’ve had quite a shock and…”

The rest of the sentence was contained in the glance he threw in her stomach’s direction.

And in yer condition ye should not get agitated.

He was the one with the horrific injuries and yet he was thinking only of her and the babe. She almost threw herself into his arms. She desperately needed to be held, to feel safe, to know that it was all over. But for her gamble to work she needed to carry on with the pretence that they barely knew each other. Besides, he needed his injuries tended as soon as possible.

“Will you be able to walk back to the bailey?” she asked, straightening up. “I will call for Bessie to see to you immediately.”

“Thank you, yes. I should be able to manage.”

With the help of one of Lord Masterson’s men he got up and made his way to the inner bailey slowly. By the time they entered the great hall, he had gone pale as a sheet.

Just as Llinos was asking for the healer to be summoned, he collapsed.