Chapter 34

"Well, now at least I know why you were so insistent I wear the corset today," I said, smiling as Guy led me out of the shop on his arm. "Though I did enjoy shocking Morrison to his core."

"Regardless, that was the most beautiful wedding dress in the shop; far better than what Sabine was ordering from Paris," Guy replied, glowering. "You should have seen it. Frills, ribbons, explosions of fabric everywhere, and nothing left to the imagination. And lastly, which is far better, love, you robbed Morrison for that dress."

I snickered. I had chosen a classic A-line dress with a high waist that complemented my own small frame, but highlighted curves as well. The front was decorated with two silver panels laced with beading, and the neckline by real jewels. Morrison shuddered when I offered what I knew he had probably paid for it, but left his complaints behind when he looked over at Guy. I had smirked all the way through the fitting and was glad to be done with it now. We were headed back outside and to the horses, when Guy suddenly pulled me into an alleyway a few feet away from the main street. I nearly tripped and fell, until he caught me in his arms, and began to hold onto me desperately.

"Nyssa," he said, holding me between himself and the wall, "I don't know what is going to happen when we meet the correspondent. There will likely be violence, perhaps even death. Hood will most certainly be there. Will you not consider letting me go to meet him, and staying behind at the Manor where you will be safe?"

I rolled my eyes at him and shook my head. "If you are to be killed, I may as well be too," I said gently, touching his face. "You know I am not going to stay behind, Guy."

He looked at me, his bright eyes even more intense than usual, and then pulled me roughly into his arms. "God, I love you so much, lioness," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. He began to kiss me then, urgently, and with a passion that reminded me of our first kiss at my house. I responded, wrapping my arms around him, but also glancing at the alleyway, aware that we were practically in public. Guy continued his assault on my lips until they were swollen, and I was mightily roused. As I glanced nervously down the alleyway a second time, I felt his heartbeat quicken and his own arousal spike. He pressed me against the wall, breathing hard. "I have to have you, Nyssa," he practically gasped. "If we may die today, the last thing I want to do is to be with you and give you pleasure."

"Guy, no!" I whispered. "Someone could come by…" And even as I said it, I felt damp and moist with want for him, despite my own soreness.

"So you will have to be very quiet," he said, laying a finger over my lips. "You can't make…a sound." I groaned at the thought of this torture, and yet was thrilled by the thought of making love to him again. As this thought passed through my head, Guy's hands worked extraordinarily fast, unlacing the front of my gown. He pulled the outer layer open, and reached inside to caress my breasts, cupping and kneading them until I closed my eyes, frustrated that an undergarment still lay between his hands and my throbbing flesh. Guy then lowered his head and deftly licked the thin fabric around the tips of my breasts until it was wet and translucent, and my nipples stood up tight and hard under it. He cupped the fabric against them, looking at the hard, pink knobs of flesh that stood out beneath his hand and I felt his stiffness nearly burst out against my womanhood. I gasped, and he slammed his hand over my mouth, crushing me against the wall and pressing himself into me.

"Not. A. Sound."

My eyes met his as I nodded, but oh, it was so difficult. I held his rear in my hands, pressing him closer to my womanhood that was so full of ache and want, and saw his eyes close in pleasure at the pressure. He then returned his attention to my upper body, pulling down the undergarment, baring my breasts for any passerby to see, and began suckling with an urgency that made me bite my lips to keep from screaming. I pulled his head closer to me, and it was always then that he chose to back away. Frustrated, my hands sought the opening of his breeches, and fumbled until he was unsheathed, and unseen in the folds of my dress. Guy abruptly grabbed my hands and put them around his neck, then took hold of my rear and raised my skirts. "If I hurt you, tell me," he said evenly, his eyes never leaving mine.

His first thrust was a shock, even though I was so ready, and my body protested at this invasion yet again. At the same time I nearly exploded with mutual pleasure and agony as he entered me and stifled another cry. Guy's mouth was smirking, then opened as he continued his sexual release. His breathing became ragged and heavy, his rhythm fast, and then slow, as he saw me about to climax, always holding himself back. In one of those peaks and valleys, I heard the laughter of children and a family passing on the main road. I glanced back at the alleyway opening, horrified and aroused simultaneously. As Guy heard them, he stopped his thrusts for a moment. The family moved slowly, not seeing us, the children dawdling. Guy waited for them to pass, his eyes locked with mine. We remained torturously still, breathing hard as they moved on, and Guy covered my mouth with his hand. His manhood twitched inside of me, desperate for friction and I clenched myself around him, making him utter a guttural sound. Once the family had passed however, Guy drove me even harder against he wall, his rhythm fast and desperate, my breasts shaking from each shocking thrust, both of gasping and trying to keep silent. Neither of us could do so during the final crest of pleasure, Guy whipping me against the wall as he held me, and a rough cry escaped both of our lips. Once still, we remained like that for a moment, half conscious but uncaring about our public spectacle. Finally, he breathed out slowly and released me, gently letting my down from my perch on his body. Legs trembling, I stood and quickly attempted to fix the top of my gown, and he readjusted his clothing as well. Both of us began to take slow, deep breaths to calm down, and then I could not help but kiss him again, and was rewarded by his soft, gentle response.

"Did I hurt you, love?" he asked me when we had finished kissing.

"Hmm. Hurt, love, lady, whore…so many labels," I said. "I've decided that labels are the monikers of the tedious and unimaginative. However, one thing I can't say," I added, blushing, "is that I've ever done anything like that before."

Guy had the grace to color a little. "I am sorry if you felt ill-used," he said quickly. "I only—"

"Sir Guy," I said sternly. "Occasional ill-use is exciting, as long as it doesn't become a habit."

"Never."

We emerged from the alleyway, our steps a bit lighter than before, mounted our horses and headed to the lily grove. Both of us listened, on extra awareness as we ascended the hill to the grove and Guy motioned quietly that we should take a different path up than the marked one. I followed him as Aomir picked a steep trail up the side of the hill, and Lily followed them without question. I felt suddenly nervous, my heart beating a frantic pace as we neared the scene of exchange. The air around us felt charged with energy, as if there were many other presences here in the woods that we simply could not see. I watched Lily carefully as she stepped on the way up, only tripping once and quickly regaining her footing, but conscious that we could all tumble down the steep hill together. I felt a small amount of relief when the ground leveled out and Guy led us to a clearing in which we could see the grove. He dismounted and then lifted me off of Lily, tying the two horses loosely to a nearby log. He then sat on it, motioning to the place next to him. "Now what do we do?" I asked nervously.

"We wait."

And wait we did, for what felt like an eternity. The day grew warmer after an hour and midges flocked to Guy and I as we sat under the shade of the trees. A cool breeze would have been most welcome, but the day was still and close, almost eerily so. Every now and again we would hear what sounded like the snap of a twig or the rustle of a branch and Guy's hand went to his sword, but nothing appeared afterwards. There was nothing for us to do but continue watching for our contact to appear. Guy held my hand, glancing at me occasionally with a small smile, then returning his attention to the lily grove.

"Remember the first day we met here?" I said softly to him.

Guy smiled. "Yes, I do. Why do you think I chose it to hide the letters? It is a sacred place to me." He looked at me, took my hand and then kissed it. Suddenly his eyes flew open and he listened intently. I followed suit and heard the rustling sound of three pairs of footsteps getting closer. A finger over his mouth, Guy crept closer to the grove, near on his belly, his sword now drawn, and watched to see who entered. I held my breath in anticipation.

With a swish of leaves, three figures entered the grove, all in long cloaks with the hoods drawn. The tallest man led, followed by the two shorter. Their cloaks were the deep red of King John's crest, and it was immediately clear that they must have been sent by him, one being the mysterious writer on the other side of the pen. Despite myself, I was excited to know what information was to be exchanged. I looked to Guy who motioned that I should enter the grove from the back as they had and that he would watch and wait for me to see what happened. I worked my way down and around so that I could do this, causing as little stir as possible, because it was very likely that the men were armed. Once I was in the proper place, I walked gingerly out towards them as they had stopped in front of the old mill remains. The tallest saw me and immediately drew his sword.

"Are you the correspondent from Gisborne Manor?" he asked, stepping forward.

"Yes, sir. My name is Nyssa. And I assume you are King John's correspondent." I replied trying to sound calm.

The man seemed uncertain, his eyes sweeping over my attire. "We were told to expect a tradesman's daughter, not a lady," he said suspiciously.

"I am a tradesman's daughter, sir," I replied. "Ask me whatever you wish about the wool trade and I can answer it."

"What grade of wool would you use for a lady's cap?" he asked me.

"Very fine, likely merino, and it should be shrunk first before knitting or it will look a fright for the lady in question," I fired off. "And that cap should go for about seven crowns, depending upon bead decoration and pattern."

The man looked both surprised and impressed. He lowered his sword. "Impressive. But why then are you dressed as a lady rather than as your class indicates?"

"Because she is Gisborne's spying whore," a new voice snarled. Startled, I turned to see who it was, as did my three companions. The tall one redrew his sword, as did the second. My eyes searched the grove frantically, and at last lighted on Robin Hood, who had been hiding and watching us from behind the waterfall all along. He stepped out now, his bow and arrow trained on the tall man, and four of his men, including Will, joined him, all with weapons drawn. As a final flourish, Sabine pranced out next to Will, and hung lightly on his arm. She had obviously spent the night with them, as she wore only a corset and overskirt, her finery abandoned, and her yellow hair taken down from its usual lavish style. In fact, our appearances had never been more reversed. I stared at Hood's gang as she grinned at me

"Hello, you upstart slattern," she sang out.

"Who are you?" the tall man called out, advancing forward.

"No friend of John's," Hood snapped back. He then pointed at me, signaling to his men. "Take her, now. And kill the two armed spies, but leave the third for questioning."

Several things then occurred in succession. Two arrows flew, felling John's two correspondents. The third immediately ran for cover, and was given chase by two of Hood's men. Then Will and Little John each had one of my arms and were dragging me out of the grove, towards Sabine and Robin. At the same moment, Guy exploded, sword in hand, from the underbrush. "HOOD!" he shouted. "Take whatever life you want, including mine, but let Nyssa go. Let her go!"

The moment Hood saw Guy, a cruel smile slid over his handsome face. "Gisborne."

He stepped forward, his arrow still drawn, and spun himself to the left so that its point was aimed at my heart. His voice low, eyes icy, he spoke again to Guy.

"You took the life of the woman I loved. Now I can finally repay the favor."