Rhiannon began to feel at ease. As she was nestled against his chest, with his strong arms around her, she took in his scent of musk and leather. She sighed. She was content.
"My lady." He whispered in the chocolate baritone the made her knees weaken in response to it.
She looked up into his eyes. He pulled her back to look at her. With his hands still on her shoulders he returned her gaze and said: "You know, I'm not used to this." He stated quietly.
She looked at him questioningly. The Sheriff elaborated.
"This. Having any kind of meaningful rapport with a woman. Sometimes I may come across as insensitive. It's unintentional, however." He sighed.
"Yes?" she questioned as she searched his eyes with hers. Trying to understand what it was he was trying to say. Was he apologizing?
"Sometimes, when I say things to you, I can see that I've disappointed you." He cleared his throat and continued. "I am who I am. I'm slowly learning, but there's so much about me you don't know - of my life, before you entered into it." He said.
She nodded. She suddenly remembered the stinging words of her captor, when he painted the Sheriff in a completely differently light, describing in detail the heinous acts comprising the man she didn't know – yet the one she was going to marry. She could hear the words as if they had just been spoken. She closed her eyes, in an attempt to shut the voice out of her mind, the terrible memory. The madman was probably lying, but still she wished he never spoke of it. She opened her eyes and looked into her lover's eyes as he waited for her response.
"My Lord." She began. "I don't wish to know. I see the man you are now. The only George, Sheriff of Nottingham that concerns me is the one I've known since last autumn. Who you were before prepared you for who you are now."
He smiled at her. She had such a lovely way of phrasing things.
"I've already heard enough about this anyway." She hesitated a whisper.
He shot his left eyebrow north automatically. "Wait a minute." He began as he squinted his eyes curiously. "What was that you said – you heard enough about this? About me? From whom? You've never heard much of anything from me!" he said as he stared at her commanding a response.
"It doesn't matter, my Lord." She couldn't help but to look away, away from his knowing gaze. She confirmed in that moment what she already knew in her heart. She would never be able to look him in the eye and lie to him.
"It was him wasn't it?!" he exclaimed as he got up abruptly from the cot. He removed his leather coat and swiftly cast it aside. "That little insect is quite a prize isn't he? And you – listened to it." He growled. "I underestimated his powers of persuasion." he said before he turned his back to her with his arms folded.
"What does it matter?" she pleaded. "You'll be executing him when we return."
The Sheriff turned his head and cast a sideways glance at her. She wasn't looking at him, her thoughts were elsewhere, again. He wanted to kill that outlaw. What was it he told Guy? About the slow painful death he was planning for the Fallen Knight? He wanted to make the man suffer for his crimes, but alas, he may need him to locate the child. He turned around to face Rhiannon. His face glowed warmly by the light of a small torch nearby. He took in a breath to calm himself. It was time he told her.
"A few years ago I was not as reasonable as I am now. I was angry most of the time, indulgent, and sometimes ruthless." He exhaled a sigh.
She looked up at him. "Don't. Don't tell me my Lord." She said.
"Rhiannon, you need to know."
"No" – she was cut off.
"Yes." He said as he began to pace. "You shall hear it from me alone. No one else. Least of all, that insufferable outlaw who abused you!"
"I told you already, it does not matter to me." She said.
He walked toward her and stopped a few feet away. "Rhiannon. Do you still wish to give me your hand?" he asked.
"Yes." She replied.
"Then you need to hear about the man you're marrying, from my lips alone." He said as he advanced closer. He lowered himself on bended knee in front of where she was seated, taking her hands in his.
"If I don't share this with you, I shall never forgive myself." He said in a raw whisper.
"Alright, my Lord." She relented.
He cleared his throat. "I have made some changes, it's true. Some of which began even before I met you. I'm attempting to become more tolerant. Still you need to know who I am." He got up and slowly began to pace in front of her. "I will never be a completely noble man. That I know now. Because the rage has begun to surface." He paused a moment to look at her, realized she appeared somewhat startled and continued. "So now, my lady, do not be frightened. But to understand me now, let me tell you a little about the man I used to be." He began.
And so he spent a good length of time sharing some of his story with her. Rather the story he chose to share with her. He skipped over some of it. The point was to enlighten her, not to overwhelm her.
She listened to him, she knew he spoke truth. Even though his words told of a man who was very capable of manipulating and lying for the benefit of his own advancement, she knew he was speaking truth. She understood it when he said he thought the rebellious nature started in boyhood over his anger at having no parents unlike his friends. She understood it because she sometimes had a propensity for rebelliousness herself. He was so intent when he spoke, she couldn't take her eyes off him.
The Sheriff was tactful about his choice of words and the events he chose to share with her. He quickly glossed over his childhood and fast forwarded to the era that was roughly three years ago. He spoke about how unpopular he used to be with the people of Nottingham. Because that time was the height of his infamy he told her of his old nemesis, Robin of Locksley. The insufferable outlaw who nearly succeeded in driving him to madness. He told Rhiannon that he now realized why it was he hated him so much. At that time his people practically worshipped Locksley, yet all that the Sheriff ever heard from them were complaints about needing tax relief and safe passage through Sherwood Forest. Locksley had cost him a fortune – in fact the entire treasury. The people suffered for it, yet they treated the outlaw like the messiah. He told her he was so nearly driven to madness by Locksley that he came very close to seriously harming his own cousin, his Lieutenant, for failing him. Failing to protect the Sheriff's men, for losing the gold that was meant to pay the Barons for their allegiance, and for not capturing the outlaw when he had the chance – all in the course of one cursed afternoon! He chose to tell her about that era because he believed that was probably when he was at his worst. He briefly told her about the day he ended Locksley's reign of stealing and leading a revolt against him. He admitted to killing him, but he didn't describe how. He never mentioned the Lady Marian. The pretty maiden he pursued at the time in order to gain access to the throne. It was redundant information since he released her from the castle soon after Locksley was slain. He had feelings for her he discovered, but he knew she would never forgive him since she was hopelessly in love with the hooded viper. That was the day he realized if he would ever take a wife, he wanted that woman to love him in return. Rhiannon was not likely to run into her, since Marian later moved to London seeking her mother's comfort. He didn't bother to mention his two consorts, Catherine and Hecate, or any of the other lovers, if he could call them that. There was no love involved, only lust and need. He couldn't begin to tell her about some of the people he very easily ordered to be executed. He would never be able to reveal his whole self to any one person, not even her. In his mind it was a futile waste of energy anyway. He was beyond absolution, and wise enough to know even she could not grant it to him. He told her the pertinent bits of information. He needed to be up front with her. He didn't need to change who he was, however. He would never allow himself to be weakened, especially in front of a woman. Most especially in front of this woman, when there was so much to lose.
"And that is my story, my lady." He stated at the conclusion of it. She looked up at him.
"Can you live with that?" he asked.
She looked down a moment then raised her head up to meet his gaze. She arose from the cot and walked slowly toward him. She stopped when she was inches away from him.
"My Lord, I love you despite the deeds of your past." She began. "Yes. I will live with that." She said as she searched his hazel eyes with hers.
He ran the back of his hand softly down her cheek, then reached around to the back of her neck and pulled her in close to kiss him. His kiss was soft, gentle, and languid. It almost brought her to tears.
"My Lord!" she cried out softly as she kissed him.
"What about you, my lady?" he whispered as he tasted her soft full lips. "Do you have anything else to tell me?"
She broke free, breathless, and looked at him curiously. "Regarding what, my Lord?"
"Well, I just told you of my past. You already told me a little of yours the first day we met. Is there anything else you wish to share?"
"Well, no my Lord. My life was rather tedious before I met you. You are my first love if that's what you mean. Alas, my days were not as full as yours." She said.
"Indeed."
"It's true." She said.
He brought his hands to her shoulders. "We shall be home soon, my lady. In the upcoming days I shall need to discuss some matters with you. It won't do any good to speak of it now because there's some information I require." He said, choosing his words carefully. Once he was certain the infant was well, he wanted to marry her. The sooner, the better.
"Regarding what matter?" she asked.
"We shall talk more then." He said. His expression told her to let it lie. He wasn't willing to budge. There seemed to be too many questions surrounding her of late.
"My Lord, have I displeased you in any way?" she asked tentatively. Her voice was calm and gentle, yet her green eyes were pleading with him.
"No. Absolutely not, my angel." He said as his face softened. "All I will tell you about it now is that it concerns you and I and our future." He smiled, then added "My Lady Nottingham."
She smiled radiantly and embraced him. "It sounds divine when you say that to me." She said.
"I never thought I'd ever utter those words." He spoke in a barely audible whisper as he caressed her silken tresses.
She sighed and pulled away from his embrace. "Will anything change once we're back in Nottingham?" she began.
"No. What do you mean?" he asked.
"I don't know. Just anything, now that we're…" her words faded out into an empty space.
"Going to be wed, you mean?" the Sheriff asked pointedly.
"Yes."
"No. Whatever changes occur, I hope you agree they're for the better."
She sighed than looked away. "I shall need to return home."
"No, my lady." He said.
"I must return…" she was cut off as he put his fingers to her lips to silence her. "Rhiannon. No. You shall stay with me. I have people at the castle I've assigned to your care. It was not that long ago you were gravely ill. I will not hear of it. You are staying with me."
"But we are not married, my Lord?"
"Do you think that matters? You stay with me." His eyes burned into hers.
"Very well." She relented. It was clear he wouldn't change his mind.
"My lady, we will be married soon." He said.
She smiled at him, yet she couldn't help but add: "If you weren't so insistent on my staying with you, we wouldn't have to rush into marriage."
"My lady?"
"Truthfully, my Lord, we really haven't known each other long enough." She stated.
"That may be true, my lady, depending on how long enough 'long enough' is to you. Yet I cannot explain it. I am not one to make hasty decisions, but I knew with you. There was a connection I could not explain, and I knew that asking for your hand was the right decision to make. But when I proposed to you I didn't mean a wedding in a year from now. Naturally, I meant very soon. And if it weren't for the circumstances we found ourselves in, my proposal to you would have indeed meant: marry me now!"
"My Lord." She blushed.
He grabbed her and pulled her close to him. Then in a velvet growl next to her ear he breathed "Yes. Now. I don't want to have to sneak into your room at night. And I shall need to do that when we return home. I don't care what the staff think of me, but I care what they think of you. I cannot let you go. Rhiannon, you are meant to be my wife. You're the woman I dared only dream of. In reality, I didn't think I deserved this." He kissed her neck, slowly, sensuously, tickling her with the soft hair from his beard.
"Of course you do, my Lord. I am not so perfect." He was beginning to make her tingle.
"Yes, you are." He whispered. "My reality is now a blissful dream. You are my reality."
"My Lord…"
"Yes, it's true…" he breathed as he devoured her mouth. She broke free.
"We can still do this, if that's what you fear." She said.
"What?"
"I think that you have it in your mind that I won't permit this - this intimacy, until we are wed. That's why you're pushing me into it. Well, into a wedding awfully soon." She stammered.
"No, my lady. I would have waited, though I would have continued to persist. My Lady Rhiannon, I…" he paused a moment, then quietly continued "I'm in love with you. That's the reason I wish to marry you soon. Because for once in my life, it's the right thing to do."
"My Lord." She sighed. "Oh, to hear you say those words…." She said as she touched his face. "I'm delighted you wish me to be your wife. I couldn't be happier about it. But why such haste?"
"I don't think we're rushing, my Lady." He said.
"In truth, we spent many months apart. We really haven't spent much time together."
"True. However, I just told you the reasons why I wish to do this. I am sure about this. Yet, you are not are you?"
"I'm sure I love you." She said. "I'm sure I want to be your wife. But we could do it in six months. Perhaps a year from now?"
"Rhiannon, we'll be the only couple in all of England to remain happily engaged. Who do you know waits a year to marry?" he chuckled.
"Well, I – nobody, but…"
"Think about it, my love. Let's not talk about this anymore now." He whispered as he placed his fingers to her lips. "We have this moment together. Undisturbed. We shall be leaving again on the morrow but for right now, give me this night." He breathed as he kissed her earlobe. The soft hairs on his face tickled her jaw line.
"I give to you all of my nights." She smiled as her spine tingled in response to his feather light kisses.
"Good. Then no more discussion of our nuptials right now?"
"As you wish, my Lord." She agreed.
And so he began to slowly seduce her. His plan was beginning to fail so he had to do something to save it. He had to persuade Rhiannon to agree to marry him within a reasonable time frame. First he needed assurance the child was alive. He wanted to be standing by her side as her husband when she would be told about the child. Especially when the child arrived at the castle. If she didn't agree to marry him before the infant arrived, she may be so angry as to call off the wedding. He could not let that happen. Sometimes her demeanor was so mercurial it made her quite unpredictable. He couldn't begin to imagine what her reaction would be when he would be faced with telling her the truth. If they were already wed however, the worst reaction he might expect is that she wouldn't speak to him for a few days. She'd eventually come around. She would have to. What was she do then – abandon her infant and her husband? Her reputation would be ruined and he knew she'd never submit to that. But the public's perception of the matter would be entirely different if they were not yet married. Thus, it would be easier for her to separate herself from him. The Sheriff knew that his plan for a wedding sooner rather than later would be his best course of action to assure he would never lose Rhiannon. He never had many blissful moments in his life, in fact he slowly realized there were none, so he had few expectations regarding his affair with Lady Rhiannon. In his mind, all hell was set to break loose in the days to come. But he would be damned if he was going to lose her. He loved his lady too much. And so, if a long slow seduction would help in the end achieve his goal of convincing her to agree to his terms on their upcoming nuptials, then he would willingly oblige. This could work.
As he kissed her he touched her hair and ran his hands down her back, slowly to the base of her spine. Then he brought them around to the front, unlacing the ribbons on the bodice of her gown. Once they were untied, he gently grasped the loosened edges of her gown with his hands and pried them open. Her creamy skin slowly came more and more into focus, and then the mounds of her breasts peaked beneath the silky fabric inviting his touch.
"My love." She whispered. She grabbed the hem of his shirt and swiftly drew it over his head. She desired him. He cupped his hand over her breast and rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefingers. Then he bent down to it and took it in his mouth, tenderly tasting her. She cried out. He stopped and raised himself to kiss her.
"Take me to bed, my Lord." She purred.
He picked her up and carried her over to the cot to continue to please her. He lay on his side and slowly outlined her curves with his hand. She moved in closer to him, her breasts were exposed from her loosened gown. She wanted to feel his skin next to hers. She began to kiss him, then nestled against his smooth chest, savouring every moment.
"Tell me you want more of this, my lady." He said in a raw voice.
"Yes. I just want – more of us. Together rather than apart." She said.
"You shall have that." He said. "And, you shall also be the only woman I shall ever need to answer to."
She looked away. He persisted regardless as he continued to kiss her cheek, then her neck. "How can this be wrong, when it's so very right?" he breathed into her ear. "Don't you feel it, Rhiannon?" he whispered as he came around to kiss her lips. "Don't you feel how right this is when we're together like this?"
"Yes, my Lord. When we're alone like this, it is everything I could ever dream." She smiled as she returned his kiss with hers.
"There's a 'but' coming in there, I can sense it." He correctly identified.
"Okay, yes. It's different at the castle. I'm just not used to guards, and being followed everywhere." She looked up at him. "It will take some time, but I will adapt." She smiled.
"My lady, I know it can be daunting to be in the position you're in." he raised himself up on his elbow and rested his chin on his hand to continue. "I've never had success with maids before. If there ever were any I briefly courted who had any ounce of respectable character – and believe me there was maybe only 2 of those, invariably they fled when the pressure became too great for them. They couldn't handle it if I was required to leave. Alas – neither affair barely lasted a fortnight."
"I'm sure I will be fine with that. I'm used to being on my own." She said.
"Indeed, my love. Perhaps a little too used to it." The corners of his mouth turned up in a grin.
"As you said, my Lord, I cannot change who I am." She smiled.
"True." He said as he caressed her cheek then reached around and twined his fingers through her hair. "Don't change a thing, my angel." He whispered as he kissed her. Except your surname, he thought.
His hot kiss made her dizzy and hungry for more. As he tasted her lips, he wanted to take more and more. He realized that he could use this moment of opportunity to his advantage. Should he give to her what she wants? He wanted to, desperately. He debated in his mind whether to withhold from her now, or later. She made it difficult to resist her. As he eased her gown over her shoulders and released her from it until she was bare to the waist, he could feel his body respond. A sudden surge of heat coursed through him then settled, and he could feel himself harden. Her skin was so soft to the touch. He touched her breast, it was smooth and firm. He kneaded it gently with his hand. She moaned his name and shamelessly cried out for more. And that was when he decided he would wait another day to attempt withholding his love for her, unless she would agree to marry him within a fortnight of their arrival in Nottingham.
"Open yourself to me, Lady Nottingham." He commanded in a raw sensual whisper as he swiftly removed her gown. He would have her begging for more. She would be his wife in no time if he strategizes right.
