Chapter 9 #2
Raven felt parched and could barely swallow. She swore she felt her nipples harden just from his eyes on her chest. The light throbbing between her thighs became stronger, and all she could think about was being naked and pressed up next to Jonathon’s naked body.
Her lips felt dry, so she licked them. That’s when his eyes fastened to her mouth.
His body was close to hers, his hands still holding the string around her breasts.
He leaned in closer. So did she. Then, before she had a chance to even think this through, their lips touched and their mouths pressed together in a kiss.
Her eyes closed and her hands slid up his arms and to his shoulders. The kiss deepened and the passion she felt inside alarmed her. His lips started to pull away but she did not want it to end. Instead, she went back for another kiss, craving the taste of this man on her tongue.
Jonathon hungrily took what she offered. Raven’s body tingled and a heat rose inside her belly that had nothing to do with the fire from the forge. And when his palms gently settled over her breasts and he gave them a light squeeze, she lost all her morals and almost her mind as well.
She pushed up against him, lifting her face for another kiss.
A bulge protruded from under his apron, pressing up against her belly.
He was hard and it made her feel wanton.
Raven didn’t care if she wasn’t acting like a lady.
She liked it and wanted more. Then she felt his hands slip down her thighs and snake around to cup her buttocks.
When he pulled her hard against his evident desire for her, she gasped in excitement.
She cupped his face in her hands and hurriedly removed the tie holding back his hair, causing his hair to fall around his shoulders.
God’s eyes, this man looked handsome. Dark and dangerous, just the way she liked it.
“Yes,” she whispered in a breathy voice, ready to pull up her gown and wrap her bare legs around his waist. His erection pressed up against her, feeling so big.
So hard. So ready. She was ready too. All she could think about at this moment was that she wanted him inside her.
If she didn’t find her release soon, she thought she might burst with lust.
To her disappointment, instead of continuing, he pushed away, breaking their intimate connection.
Raven’s heart dropped in her chest. She wanted to shout at him to keep going, but she didn’t say a thing.
Instead, she just watched Jonathon turn away and drag a weary hand through his hair, cursing under his breath.
Then he stared into the dying flames of the forge.
“I-I’m sorry,” he said in a gruff whisper. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
“Well, mayhap I did,” she answered boldly, not wanting him to walk away from her right now. She had felt as if she were coming to life beneath his touch. No one had ever made her feel this way before.
“It’s wrong.” He turned to face her. “For a moment I forgot exactly who you were, my lady.”
The use of her title at this moment brought her back to her senses.
“Mayhap you’re right,” she said, feeling disappointment fill her, as well as a tinge of shame. “I got carried away as well, forgetting that I’m a noble and you’re a commoner. Being intimate together is not allowed.”
“Please, don’t say anything about this to anyone,” he all but begged her.
“Of course not,” she answered, wanting to yell from the battlements that she kissed Jonathon Armstrong and almost shattered in his arms from just his touch. “It wouldn’t be proper.”
“You’d better leave now before someone discovers you’re here.” He turned and walked back to the forge, pumping the bellows to bring the fire back to life. Why couldn’t she get the thought out of her head of him pumping into her, to bring her to life as well?
Raven felt like that forge, being fanned to a full flame by the touch of the armorer named Jonathon Armstrong.
He didn’t look at her again. Instead, he picked up the iron rod with the long tongs and shoved it into the fire.
It was as if nothing had just happened between them. Or perhaps he really didn’t care.
“Don’t you need more measurements?” she asked.
“Nay!” he said, almost too quickly. “I mean, aye, but just for the helm. I’ll get it later. That will be the last piece I make so it’s not important right now.”
“I see.” She stood there for a moment, but he still didn’t turn to face her. “How long will it take to complete my armor? I’d like it as soon as possible.”
“I don’t know,” he said, starting to sound now as if he were getting irritated by her questions, or perhaps just from her presence here in the forge. “An entire suit of plate armor usually takes months to make,” he told her.
“Months?” she gasped. “Nay. That’s too long. I need it in a few weeks’ time.”
“That’s impossible. Unless I just make the necessary plates and not everything.”
“It needs to cover my identity.”
He stopped and glanced over his shoulder. “Did you say your identity? What does that mean?”
“Nay, that’s not what I meant. Never mind. Just please make it quickly.”
“These things can’t be rushed. Now, I’ll let you know when I need something from you again. Goodnight.”
Raven had never been dismissed like this in her life.
Or at least, not from someone below her status.
The man’s arrogance bothered her. This time, he didn’t even use her title.
Did he think a little intimacy between them granted him permission to be so casual with her now?
If so, he was wrong. Thinking about what just happened between them, Raven felt used and wanton at the same time. It wasn’t a good feeling in the least.
“Next time you need something from me, I might not be so obliged to give it,” she spat.
“Pardon me?” He finally turned and looked at her fully, but any special connection between them was gone. Her anger rose and she felt like hitting something. Or someone.
“You heard me,” she said through gritted teeth. “I suggest from now on you remember just who you are, Mr. Armstrong. You are a commoner and have no right to touch me, speak to me in such a familiar way, or in such a dismissive manner.”
“What did I do?” he asked, honestly looking bewildered.
“Good night. Don’t bother seeing me to the door.” She turned on her heel and ran out of the forge, holding back the tears, not wanting him to know how much he’d truly upset her.
The door to the bedchamber opened and Avery poked his head out. “Jonathon? What’s all the yelling about?” he asked.
“I wasn’t the one raising my voice, and neither did I deserve the chastising tongue-lashing I just received.”
“What do you mean? What’s going on?” He closed the door so Gerold wouldn’t wake up, and walked over to talk to Jonathon. “What are you doing? I thought we were done working for the night.”
“I need something to hit,” snarled Jonathon, picking up a hammer and banging it down against the hot metal, over and over again, filling the air with a loud clinking noise.
“It didn’t go well between you, then?” asked Avery.
“Actually, it went a little too well,” he answered. “However, I won’t make that mistake again.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means that tomorrow I am going to tell Lord Corbett that I no longer wish to stay here at Blake Castle.”
“You’re going to quit your job? Lord Corbett won’t like that. You made a deal with him and need to honor that.”
“I know you are right. Honestly, I don’t know if I can get out of my commitment without losing too many customers, anyway. However, all I know is that I cannot continue to be around Lady Raven anymore. If I am, I’ll lose my mind.”
“I’m confused,” said Avery, looking at Jonathon as if he thought he was already out of his mind. “So, do you like the girl or hate her?”
“A little of both at the moment, but it doesn’t matter.”
“It doesn’t? Why not?”
Jonathon threw the hammer onto the table, picked up a cloth, and wiped his brow and then his hands. “I kissed her, Brother. And I damn well liked it.”
“Well, who wouldn’t?” asked Avery with a wide smile. “So, why did she leave? Oh God, did she slap you?”
“Nay. She seemed to like the kiss and even encouraged more to happen.”
“Really? Nice,” said Avery, nodding his head. “Then, I don’t understand. Why did I hear yelling?”
“I sent her away.”
“Are you mad?”
“I’m beginning to think so. Mad for a woman I can never have. I made a mistake, but it won’t happen again.”
“Oh, you think she’ll mention it to her father, don’t you?”
“Nay. I’m sure she won’t.” Jonathon sadly stared into the glowing fire, thinking of the way she’d moaned.
It was something that he had never expected.
She sounded so full of passion from just a kiss and a touch.
“The wench liked what happened between us just as much as I did. That’s the part that scares me. ”
“It sounds to me like you’re a lucky dog, Brother. Don’t knock it. I’d give anything to kiss a beautiful woman like her.”
“Avery, think about it. I’m supposed to be watching and protecting her and reporting back to Lord Corbett. It’s not like I can I tell her father that I want to bed his daughter.”
“Nay. I’m sure that wouldn’t go over well,” said Avery, finally catching on. “So, what are you going to do?”
“What can I do? I’m committed to this, just as much as I am to making armor for a lady who doesn’t need it and will never wear it.
I’m in too deep to ever get out. I won’t be able to change anything until after the tournament.
Once the wench is married, my job is over and I’m out of here.
I guess I’ll just have to put up with it until then.
” Jonathon plopped down on a chair and rubbed his hands over his face.
“Is it going to be hard seeing Lady Raven marry a noble?” asked Avery.
“Yes,” he answered, his eyes closing. In his mind he saw the beautiful face of a woman he craved but could never have. Just thinking of touching and kissing her made him feel hot all over again. “Harder than you think, Brother. Much harder than you think.”