Lord of Misrule (Below the Salt #8)

Chapter 13

“ S ister, are you really going to Lord Tolin’s solar? Now?” Brenna spoke in a hushed voice so others wouldn’t hear their conversation.

The night’s festivities were over, and the mincemeat pies were served. Kit had purposely eaten one, because it was said one could make a wish on a mincemeat pie at Christmastime and it would be granted. Her wish had been for things to be better between her and Tolin.

Kit’s gingerbread had been one of the highlights. Both the nobles and the commoners complimented her on her baking, making her feel good inside. The musicians had finally stopped playing and all the Christmastide games were finished for the night. The trestle tables in the great hall had been removed and everyone was settling down for the night.

“He wants to see me,” Kit told her sister. Her hands shook as she filled a decanter with red wine. “I saw him leave the great hall earlier so I am sure he has retired for the evening. He will be waiting for me to join him in the solar.”

“Mother, I’m tired,” said Parker, stumbling into the kitchen with his eyes half closed. The boy had been a big help tonight serving the gingerbread and assisting in cleaning up from today’s main meal as well. “Lord Tolin took King back to his solar for the night, so I think I’ll go to bed now.”

“You do that, sweetheart.” She reached over and kissed Parker on the head. “I’ll be there soon.”

Parker left and Brenna spoke to Kit again in not more than a whisper.

“Kit, if Lord Tolin is asking you to come to his solar alone, with wine, and at this time of night, you know there is only one thing he is expecting from you.”

“I know what you think, but I am sure he only wants to talk. To get to know me better, like we did at the hunt.” She picked up a goblet in one hand and the decanter in the other.

“Mmm hmm,” said Brenna, with a knowing look in her eye. “And what if he wants to couple with you? Will you turn him away or give in?”

Kit froze. She was wondering this exact thing and wasn’t sure what she’d do. “Do you think I should bring one goblet or two?” she asked her sister.

“I think you should stop ignoring my question with one of your own,” scolded Brenna. “Tell me, sister, are you interested in Lord Tolin? I mean in a romantic way?”

If her damned body would stop shaking, mayhap she could think about this with a level head.

“I’m...not sure,” she finally answered, releasing a deep calming breath that seemed to do little to push away her anxiety. “All I know is that whenever I am around a handsome man that I am interested in, my body shakes. Just like it is doing now.”

“Did that happen with Crispin too?” asked Brenna, speaking of the man who had sired Parker.

“It did,” she admitted. “And it hasn’t happened since then. That is, until I met Lord Tolin.”

“I guess that is your body’s way of telling you that you truly are attracted to the man.”

Kit put the goblet and decanter down, holding on to the table with one hand, pushing back a stray lock of hair with the other. “Brenna, I admit that I am attracted to the man. I also need to tell you that I have dreamed of—of making love with Tolin.”

Brenna smiled widely and rubbed her large belly. “Be careful, sister. You remember what happened last time you felt this way about a man.” Her eyes shot down to her belly. “You ended up with Parker.”

“Stop it, Brenna. I’m sure nothing is going to happen.” She released a deep breath, feeling a little more in control. She picked up the decanter and goblet once again. “It was a request that I join him, not an order. That means, whatever happens tonight is up to me. I say, we are only talking. I will be sure to thank Lord Tolin for letting us stay here at the castle. For now.”

“I thought you told him that you didn’t want his pity or his charity.”

“I don’t,” she spat. “But I realize now that he only did it because I think he cares for me. And for Parker too.”

“He is a noble, Kit. We are commoners who have nothing at all right now but what he has given.”

“You don’t need to remind me of that, I am quite aware. It bothers me immensely.”

“Even if something does happen between you two tonight, you won’t end up together, you realize. You can’t. You know that. Don’t get your hopes up, because if so you will end up with a broken heart.”

Emotions stirred within Kit making her feel as if none of this was real, nor was the situation fair. She never asked to be a commoner. And she certainly didn’t intend to have feelings for a noble. For a man who could never be anything to her but her lord.

“That is why I told you, nothing is going to happen. Now stop worrying. Go to bed and keep an eye on Parker for me, please.”

“Good luck, Kit,” she heard her sister call out from behind her as she left the kitchen and headed to Lord Tolin’s solar.

Once outside his door, she transferred both items to one hand, raising her fist to knock. That’s when her thoughts turned to fear. What if Brenna was right? What if this man wanted to bed her? In a way that frightened her, but in another way it pleased her immensely. She hadn’t made love with a man in years now. Even after marrying Gerold, the coupling had ended abruptly when she and Gerold realized they weren’t attracted to each other at all. They’d stayed married for her sake and the sake of her son. But sometimes she wished they hadn’t. True, Parker had a stepfather growing up, but honestly Gerold had little to do with the boy and it was only Kit raising him. Just like now.

Her nerves got the best of her and won out. Kit decided she had no business being here and that she should turn right around and go back to the kitchen where servants belonged. Slowly, she lowered her fist, not knocking on the door after all. Just as she started to leave, the door swung open and Lord Tolin stood there looking more handsome than ever.

“Kit. I thought I heard something.” One hand on the door latch, he leaned his other arm on the jamb opposite the open door. “Well, aren’t you going to come in? That was your intention wasn’t it?”

“I—I,” she couldn’t find the words to speak as she drank in the sight of his toned, manly body.

He was dressed in a simple tunic that was open down to his waist. Her gaze swept down that sturdy chest with the dark curls of hair teasing her, making her want to reach out and touch them. At his waist, she saw he wore no weapon belt but only a pair of tight breeches. Her gaze slid down his long, lean legs until it got to his feet, which were bare. How, she asked herself, could she possibly even consider stepping into the room with this handsome, half-dressed man?

“Here. Let me help you.” He reached out and took the decanter and goblet, putting them both in one large hand. Then he took her arm and gently guided her into the room. “Why didn’t you bring two goblets?” he asked, closing the door behind her.

“I wasn’t sure, my lord, who all would be drinking the wine.”

“It’s for you. And me. Both of us,” he told her with a smile, holding up the wine. “I suppose we can share the goblet. It doesn’t really matter.” He walked over to a small bedside table and poured a goblet of wine.

“Share the goblet,” she repeated, feeling anxiety getting the best of her again. Her body started shaking.

“Are you cold?” he asked, looking over his shoulder. “I can stoke the fire on the hearth.”

“Nay. I’m quite warm,” she told him, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.

“You looked flushed. I hope you are not feverish.” He walked over with the goblet, reaching up to touch the back of his free hand to her forehead. “I’ve never been good at telling if someone is feverish from a touch. I can summon the healer if you’re not feeling well.”

“Nay, please.” She held up a halting hand. “I am fine. Just a bit...flustered, that’s all.”

“Flustered? Whatever for?” he asked with a deep laugh, taking a sip of wine. “Do I really make you that nervous?”

“I—I’m not sure. My lord,” she added quickly.

“I see.” He nodded slightly, drinking her in. “I do make you nervous. I didn’t intend that at all. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. My body always shakes when I’m near a handsome man.”

He was drinking again and stopped abruptly. His gaze lifted and he looked at her from over the rim of his goblet. “So you think I’m handsome?”

She bit her lip and squeezed her eyes closed. “Yes, I think you are very handsome,” she admitted.

“Well, I must admit that I am feeling a little nervous in the presence of such a beautiful woman as you. If that helps make things any easier.”

Her eyes popped open. Now that he’d called her beautiful, her knees shook uncontrollably too. This was more than she could handle. She felt as if she were going to fall.

“Please. Sit down,” he told her.

She looked back at the only chair in the room, but his weaponbelt and clothes were thrown over it. “There is nowhere to sit.” She became wobbly.

“Just sit on the bed.” He grabbed her arm and led her to his bed, guiding her to sit. This only made her anxiety worse. “Here, take a sip of wine. It’ll help you relax.”

Needing to relax, she did as instructed. She half-expected him to sit down next to her, but he didn’t. Instead, he removed the things from the chair and sat upon it, stretching out his long legs and plopping his bare feet on the bed next to her.

She took one more sip of wine before handing him back the goblet. “Thank you, Lord Tolin.”

“Please, just call me Tolin when we’re alone. Do have another drink of wine. I will refill the goblet.” He got up to do so.

“I think I will,” she mumbled, finding her attraction to the man growing. The firelight from the hearth flickered, causing his face to almost glow. He quickly retrieved the decanter, refilling the cup and handing it back to her.

“I should be refilling the cup, not you, Lord Tolin.” Kit held the goblet of wine with two hands.

“I told you, it’s just Tolin when we’re alone.” He put the decanter on the floor, sitting back down in the chair. “And you are off-duty for the night, so there is no need to serve me.”

“I’m afraid there is, my lord. I am a commoner and you are a noble. Nothing will ever change that.”

“You don’t need to remind me.” He retrieved the goblet from her and took a big swig of wine. “That is what I wanted to talk about, Kit.”

“It is?” She didn’t understand what he meant.

He finished off the wine and put the cup down next to the chair. “I like you. I really like you. You are a strong, beautiful woman, a good mother, and a fantastic baker.”

“Thank you,” she said, blinking several times in succession. The wine started to help her to relax. “You are a handsome, interesting lord.”

“Interesting?” He raised a brow and chuckled. His blue orbs reflected the warm hue of the fire from across the room. “I’m not sure what that means, but I’ll take it as a compliment, I guess.”

“As it was meant to be,” she quickly added.

“Kit, what will you do now that your bakery has burned down and you and your family have nowhere to live?”

“I—I’m not sure,” she said, brushing back her hair. She felt tension inside her growing. “But we’ll manage. We always have before.”

“There you go being strong again. I like that.” He put his hands on his knees and patted them. “Put your feet up here, Kit.”

“What?” she asked, aghast that he would even suggest such a thing.

“I see my question has upset you and only made you more anxious. I know of a way to help you release all your worries.”

“By putting my feet on your lap?”

“I like to walk around barefoot when I can. It relaxes me.”

“It does?” She really didn’t understand this. “How is the thought of possibly stepping on a stone or something sharp relaxing?”

“You’ll see. Just give me your feet. Please,” he said, looking her directly in the eyes.

“All right,” she said, not wanting to disobey a noble. She hiked up her skirt slightly and rested her feet on his lap. Tolin took off her shoes and put them on the ground. “What are you doing?” Panic started to fill her.

“Shhhh,” he said. “It feels freeing to have bare feet. But first you need to rid yourself of your hose.”

“M-my hose? Oh, nay. I could never remove them. Not here, not now.”

“Then allow me to do it for you.”

Before she could object, he’d put his hands around one of her legs and slowly slid them upward higher and higher, until he got to her undergarment where her hose was attached. His lithe fingers untied the strings and then he rolled the hose from one leg downward, slowly slipping it off, leaving her foot completely bare. Then he repeated it on the other side. This time when he had his hands up her skirts she felt the tip of his finger flick against her womanly mound, not sure if it was an accident or on purpose. Neither did she care. It felt good and was awakening a part of her that had been dormant for many years now. She moaned slightly and closed her eyes while he removed the hose from her leg.

“You like that, don’t you?” he asked, in a voice that sounded sultry.

“Yes. The air on my toes feels invigorating,” she said, her eyes popping open. He was staring at her with hooded eyes, making her feel lustful.

“If you think that feels good, wait until you feel this.” He took one bare foot in his hands and started rubbing her foot between his large palms. It was absolute heaven! She moaned again in pleasure.

“I figure since you’re on your feet all day in the kitchen, you must need them rubbed.”

“I do admit it feels good, Lord—” He frowned at her. “I mean, Tolin,” she corrected herself with a giggle. One foot was ticklish while the other wasn’t. He smiled.

“That is better,” he said.

She giggled some more. “Oh, please, you are tickling me.”

“It is a good thing to laugh, is it not?”

“You shouldn’t be rubbing my feet,” she told him.

“Then mayhap there is another part of you that needs rubbing instead?” His eyes drank her in and he stilled his hands. There was a connection between them that neither one of them could ignore. It felt right to be here. She liked his touch and longed for more.

“I thought you wanted me to come here to talk,” she said in a mere whisper.

“I never said that. However, we are talking.” He put one hand on each leg and slid them up slowly beneath her skirts, getting closer and closer to her most private part.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I suppose we are.”

“Unless you’d rather not do so much...talking?” His hands slid up to untie her braies from around her waist. He scooted closer to her, bringing the chair with him.

“Perhaps,” was all she said.

He untied her braies and slowly pulled them down until they were lying on the floor. She was naked beneath her skirts now and she couldn’t deny the fact that she liked it.

“Perhaps I am being too bold?” He seemed to be asking her permission in a roundabout way. What she said next would determine how intimate they would become. With one word from her, she could be headed back to her room. Alone. Confused. Unsated. But with a different word, she could spend an intimate night with a handsome man who stirred something inside her, bringing her to life in a most delectable way. A flash of Brenna’s warning went through her mind. The last time she’d made mad passionate love with a man and felt sated was when she became pregnant with Parker. Just remembering her time with Crispin sent a longing washing through her. Her body started to shake again, but this time it was more like a vibration.

Kit couldn’t deny the feelings she had for Tolin. She also didn’t want him to pull away right now. With the feel of freedom under her skirts, she wanted more than anything to accept what Tolin was offering. Still, she felt like she shouldn’t be doing this. Not with a noble.

“You are not being too bold,” she told him, feeling a searing heat from his hands on her bare legs again. “I am just not certain about...about this.”

“Do you have feelings for me, Kit? The way I do for you?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “I believe I do, Tolin.”

“But you are being reserved since we come from two different worlds?”

“I suppose that is true.”

“Then let’s try a little more rubbing and see if it helps to ease your mind. After all, I am a man, just like any other.”

He proved that to be a lie by what he did next. Kit had never had any man do this to her before. Tolin was not only a noble, but he was a man with experience, and she liked that.

He pushed her skirts up to her knees and then parted her legs. His eyes never left hers.

“What are you doing?” she asked, feeling her heart drumming against her ribs in excitement.

“I think you’ve been ignored too much in life. I want to pay special attention to your needs and wants.” He knelt down between her legs, and then he lowered his head.

“My needs and wants,” she repeated, mesmerized and shocked by what he was doing to her. “Oh! Ooooh,” she moaned when she felt his fingers playing with her womanly folds, slipping his finger inside. Then he surprised her even more when she felt his hot breath as his mouth took his finger’s place. Her eyes closed and her head fell back as Tolin worked magic with his mouth and tongue, awakening her, arousing her, making her feel so wicked and wanton! His lips were soft and gentle. His flicking tongue danced and dipped, causing sensations that she never wanted to end. She felt the slight scratchiness of the stubble of his face against her inner thighs and she liked it. Damn, he was good with his fingers, his mouth, and especially his tongue!

He pulled away only for a second to speak to her.

“Do you like this, Kit?” he asked.

Her eyes drifted open. Her body was already reacting. She felt excitement and insatiable pleasure like she’d never felt before. “I feel so naughty,” she told him with a smile in a breathy voice. She drank in the sight before her. His handsome face was between her legs, her gown hiked up so high that she was exposed, feeling the cool air against her burning body.

“Naughty isn’t a bad thing. It can be exciting and fun. However, I can stop if you’d like.”

“No!” she cried, her heart racing. “Please don’t stop. I want to feel naughty. I like it. Tolin, please don’t pull away now. I need more. More!”

A cockeyed grin crossed his face and he lifted one craggy brow. “I thought so.”

Without being able to wait, she took hold of his head and pushed it back down, squirming and clamping her knees around him as she felt as if she were about to explode with delight as he tasted her, causing her to feel as if she were about to scream her pleasure out loud.

Before she knew what happened, he’d stripped her clothes away and was laying her naked body back on his bed.

“You are beautiful,” he said, drinking in her nakedness. “Kit, I can’t play this game anymore. I want you badly. All of you. I am going to burst with need if I don’t feel myself deep within you soon.”

His words were only exciting her more. She squirmed in anticipation beneath him as he crawled atop her, looking like a panther, making her feel like his prey. She wanted this more than anything in her life right now.

“I think it will be hard for you to bed me while wearing all those clothes.” It was her turn to raise a quirky brow. She played with him, and didn’t want to stop this game. “I want to go to the finish.”

“Oh, Kit. You have no idea what a happy man you have made me by saying that.” He ripped off his clothes and threw them to the floor. She gasped when the firelight danced upon his manly form. He was hard and straight and so big that she couldn’t stop herself from reaching out and wrapping her hands around him. He gasped and clamped his hand around hers. “Slow down, sweetheart, or this will be finished before we are both sated.”

“Take me, my lord,” she whispered, feeling as if nothing in the world besides this mattered at the moment.

“Oh, Kit,” he said, reaching up and cupping her breasts in his hands. “My sweet, sweet, kitten.” He rolled her nipples in his fingers, causing them to become taut. Then he mouthed her mounds one at a time while he ran his fingers through her downy hair, kissing her passionately on the mouth and thrusting his tongue inside, as his thumb played with her womanly nub and he slipped two fingers inside her below her waist. She arched up off the bed, spreading her legs on her own. This felt so damned good that she never wanted it to stop.

“No one has ever called me their kitten before,” she said through ragged breaths. Her lips tingled from his kisses. Her breasts ached from his suckling. And the heat she felt below her waist made her feel as if she were on fire.

“Then it shall be my endearment and mine alone,” he said, kissing her again. “You are my special girl. My little pussy cat.” He removed his hand and entered her then, filling her completely with his want and need. With each thrust of his hips she rocked her hips back to meet him, and they did the dance of love. Her excitement grew, her body coming to life with Tolin like it never had for any other man.

“Oh, Tolin. Ooooh. This feels so good,” she gasped, as they made love upon the noble’s bed.

“Oh, Kit. Oh, Kit!” he cried as he neared his climax. “I hope you are nearly sated because I am not sure how much longer I can hold out.”

“I was only waiting for you,” she told him, throwing back her head, arching her back, and going for the ride of her life.

She not only climbed that mountain, but she found release from all the fears, all the anxieties, all the worries that had been plaguing her for her entire life. “Oh, Tolin,” she cried.

“Oh, Kit,” he said through ragged breathing, as the thrusts got deeper and faster.

Then she cried out his name as she found completion, and the colors of the rainbow exploded behind her closed lids. She heard him cry out her name as well. When she knew he’d released his desire within her, it excited her so much that she climaxed once again. Then he stilled, falling to the side, pulling her into his arms, both of them sated.

Kit breathed heavily, her eyes closing as she leaned into Tolin, resting her head on his chest. He was silent. So was she. And in the warmth and security of Tolin’s embrace, she drifted off to sleep, where she could only dream that nobles and commoners could be together for a lifetime, and not only for one night.