The candle's soft glow illuminated the sparse intimate space, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The room's simplicity was almost monastic, with only a few pieces of furniture: a small ornate dresser, a worn armchair, and the bed where a woman shrouded in a thin white nightgown with her round breast pressed firmly on Ryder's chest. The delicate fabric clung to her curves as her raven hair surrounded her like a waterfall of night, and her eyes gleamed like dark jewels in the candlelight.
One look at Clara was enough to make a man drool. The woman was splendid in bed. Sex with her was beyond mind-blowing and he was glad that hadn't changed one bit. She was still as skilful in bed with a man as ever.
Clara was an old friend. Okay, more than an old friend. She was a friend he usually shared his bed with on cold and hot days before he was sentenced. It was a no-string-attached affair where they both had the liberty to have other people warm their beds if desired.
On days they were not tearing each other's clothes apart, they usually talked like normal people. She was smart and funny and a good listener on rare occasions he wanted to talk about something. He had once considered making her his mistress, but knowing she was going to turn down the offer, he kept it to himself. Ryder liked her free spirit. She called herself a free woman. According to her, she came to the world free and must go back free.
She didn't want to be tied down to a man or woman. She was a woman who didn't play by the societal rules instead she broke them, and that was exactly what attracted Ryder to her. She didn't give a damn about what people thought of her, unlike someone he knew. He halted his thinking as one name rang in his mind, Calantha.
The girl was too societal conscious for his liking, and what amused him was the fact she expected him to play a part in it, which was why at every little chance he got, he would say or do something that would get on her nerves, and enjoy watching her trying not to lose her composure.
"What is that frown for?" Clara's slender fingers drew circles on Ryder's chest, enjoying the feel of those hard muscles under her fingertips, "Already missing me?" She purred.
"You have no idea," Ryder leaned in and captured her lips for a brief kiss. He looked at the woman and smiled. He still couldn't believe she was there in his arms. He had been surprised to see her at the pub two days ago, looking all ravishing and heavenly. He was smitten by her beauty once again and was ecstatic to know she was still a free woman. His joy didn't know no bounds when she suggested rekindling their old fire, and that was how he had spent the last two days with the woman as they filled each other in with what had been happening in their lives for the past five years.
"Are you sure you want to embark on the journey tomorrow?" Clara asked,
"Yes, I am worried about my sister. I haven't seen her in years. I have been writing to her, but she is not replying."
"I understand," She smiled up at him, "Will you take your aristocratic wife with you?"
"Do I have a choice? I can't leave her all alone, she might get herself in trouble before I come back,"
"You sound like you really care about her,"
Ryder let out a scoff, "Ha, not even a chance. She is infuriating. I am scared that she might burn down my house before I get back."
Clara chuckled, "That's new. Since when did you start fearing women?"
"Oh, Clara, don't get it twisted. That girl is crazy."
"How about you leave her with her brother? You can get her back when you come back."
"The young man is out of town to sort out a few things."
"How about you leave her with me?" She insisted,
Ryder adjusted himself on the bed, eyes set on the woman, "If I didn't know better I would think you don't want me to take her with me."
Clara smiled gently, "I don't want her to worry you. She might delay you."
"True, but it wouldn't be wise of me to leave her here alone when I had already given her late father my word of protection."
"What does she need protection from?"
"Now that is between me and the deceased man."
Clara wanted to ask more questions but knowing it would piss the man off, she kept them to herself. With time, she would know everything. "So, when will you be back?"
"I have no idea. Five days on the road with a good speed. Trying to reach her might take another two days. I will have to convince her to come with me if the need arises."
"It would be great to have Eleanor back. I have missed the young girl."
"Me too." His face softened.
"What if she doesn't want to come back?"
"If she is comfortable, then I won't force her. I don't mind visiting her from time to time."
"Will you come back to me when you are back?" She asked, hoping she wasn't sounding as desperate as she felt for the man.
"Once again, do I have a choice?" His words were accompanied by a wink, causing the woman to blush like a teenager. "Come here," Happily she obeyed his command, straddling his waist.
"How about I give you a nice treat that would last you for a few weeks."
"Aren't you generous, my love?" He grabbed her buttock, feeding his palms with its firmness. She laughed at the gesture, the man knew her well enough, and that includes in and out of bed.
Already hard from her bare bottom rubbing against his manhood, he quickly discarded her nightgown to fill his mouth with the warmth of her hardened peaks. His action elicited the most erotic sound from the woman as he alternated between the two mounds while his hands roamed her soft body. Already high on ecstasy, Clara didn't hesitate to link her fingers through his thick hair.
He turned them around on the bed and knelt in front of her. Once again, she marvelled at how beautiful the man was. One of the things she loved most about him was how he had a formidable exterior, but a kind spirit. Her breath hitched when she felt him position himself at her entrance and fill her up to the brim the next second, sending goosebumps all over her body in a way only he could do. She had to give it to the man, he knew her body so well, he knew the right strokes and rhythm to make her go crazy. Their moans rose in crescendo as they both climaxed, as usual, he withdrew himself and released on her body. Getting her pregnant was the last thing he wanted. He wasn't sure she would appreciate it.
"Wow, that was awesome." She grinned at him as he fell beside her.
"I second that," Ryder replied as he tried to gather his senses.
"Are you staying over for the night?"
Ryder didn't miss the hopefulness in her tone. Oh, he would have loved to spend more nights in the woman's arms but he had things to take care of before the journey, things like his unofficial wife. "I would have loved to but I can't. I am yet to inform my wife about the travel."
"You just called her your wife."
One of his bushy brows raised in confusion, "Because that is what she is. My unofficial wife."
Calantha paced back and forth in the room. She seemed to have been doing a lot of that lately and it was all thanks to Theophilus. Twelve days had passed since Calantha had sent a letter to her brother using the address he had given her on the day he dropped her off.
In her letter, she had inquired about his well-being and whereabouts, expressing her concern concern since she hadn't heard from him after he had delivered her to the devil's hands. Her primary intention was to learn about his progress of his plans to rescue her from the precarious situation. She desperately needed a glimmer of hope. However, the problem was he had not responded to her letter. There was no answers to her questions. No reassurance that he as safe and well, and no update on his plans to free her.
Every day she opened her eyes and saw herself in the farmhouse, it threatened her sanity. She would visit her friend once in a while mainly to reach out to Duke Harold. The last letter she had gotten from the duke stated his urgent travel to the royal house as the king had called a meeting, requesting all his lords to be present. She couldn't help but wonder if that was why Theo hadn't replied, since he was next in line for their late father's position.
A loud knock startled her out of her thoughts. Her brows furrowed. It was already late if not past midnight, and the last time she checked, she was the only one at home. "Who is there?" she asked,
"Who else would it be?" Came the last voice she wanted to hear.
Ah, look who decided to show up. It had been days since she last saw him. Even though she always did her best to avoid the man in the house after she suspected he enjoyed getting on her nerves, that didn't mean she didn't notice he hadn't been around for two days. She opened the door and stepped out, not giving him a chance to think of going inside. "What do you want?"
"To kill you."
"What?" She asked, all colours draining from her face.
"Relax, I was just joking. Whatever happened to your sense of humour?"
Calantha looked away from the man as she tried to recollect her composure. He needed to get his head checked. "Knowing your reputation of being a bloodthirsty rogue, do not blame me for being frightened, and besides, you have a bad sense of humour, I must say."
He let out an indifferent shrug. "I have been told that before."
"What do you want? I am sure you didn't call me out here to make silly jokes." She spat.
"Can you ride a horse?"
She looked at him quizzically. He wasn't planning on taking her out on a joyous horse ride like a dotting husband, was he? She wanted to say no, but a part of her that was curious blurted, "Yes,"
"Pack your things, we're travelling to the east tomorrow."
"What do you mean by WE?"
"Because we are travelling tomorrow. The two of us."
"Travelling? Tomorrow? East?"
"I believe that those were the words I used."
"What? Why?"
"You are in no position to ask me questions, do as you are told."
"Is it going to be me and you?"
"Yes,"
"Then I have no interest in the journey,"
"Tomorrow morning, not later than seven in the morning we should be on the road to the East." He said in a tone that gave no room for argument.
"You didn't have the decency to at least tell me on time?"
He turned around and walked away, but not before saying, "Remember, not later than seven." Calantha had never cursed so much in her entire life but there she stood, calling him a fool in fifty different ways.