Текст книги "Enemy of My Enemy"

Автор книги: Carm Nicosi

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Chapter 13

The following day, Isabel was in the hall with the babe in the cradle, beside her chair. Lady Ann, Esme, and Hannah, were with her, chatting about various mundane matters, when the arrival of another guest was announced. Isabel watched as a youth entered, and spoke briefly to Brant. He cast a nervous look in her direction, before moving closer to the entryway, to await the new arrival. She continued to watch surreptitiously, until the door opened to reveal the Duke, Niles. Isabel was instantly assailed with a panicky feeling, that she quickly tamped down. She watched Brant quickly escort the blackguard into a receiving room, off of the hall.

Then, Isabel saw Nora coming up from the kitchen, and rose to meet her, hoping to get some information about the guest.

Nora asked, “Have the new guests arrived?”

“Aye, Nora. The Duke, Niles, is here. Do you know if the Lord was expecting him?” Isabel asked, hoping she had kept the distress she was feeling, out of her voice.

“Actually, Niles is the Lord's cousin, Me Lady. I have not heard, or seen anything of ‘im, since right after His Lordship, and Lady Esme, both disappeared,” Nora explained. “I believe ‘e was helping His Lordship, by spying on Avery. The Duke sent ‘im a message, but he was not around to receive it.”

“Do you recall what the message was?” Isabel asked, trying not to sound too interested.

“Aye. It was something about a bit of fluff, Avery was trying to pedal, that the Duke hoped he ‘ad sent running to ‘er sire. Oh, and that Esme should have extra guards, as she might be in some danger. Unfortunately, Esme ‘ad already left for her mother’s,” Nora said.

“Well, Brant has taken him into the receiving room, so I do not know if he will be staying,” Isabel said, as calmly as she could.

She moved away from the housekeeper, who continued on her way, to check on the new guest. As Nora tapped on the receiving room door, Isabel retrieved her son from the cradle, and took the child upstairs. She had been informed that Niles was back from Normandy, but she had been hoping, he would stay away from his cousin.

While his wife was heading upstairs, Brant was questioning his cousin, Niles, about what had happened with him, Avery, and Isabel.

“As you will recall, I was playing the debaucher with Avery, so he would let his guard down, right?” Niles paused, until Brant nodded. He then continued, “Avery said he had an alliance with the girl’s father, and was helping arrange a strategic betrothal. He claimed Isabel was one and eight, and a prime piece. She certainly was the latter.”

“She was only one and six,” Brant interjected.

“Well that explains some of it. I had never seen the Lady at Court, or any other function of the gentry. The girl would have been paraded everywhere to find a husband, unless her family was lowborn, or of ill repute. It did not occur to me, that she might be younger. Even in debauchery, my position would not allow me to fiddle with a girl that young. Avery must have realized that,” Niles explained, attempting to defend his actions.

Brant noted the supreme effort Niles was making, to gloss over his actions. His cousin really was not saying anything pertinent, to what actually transpired. Niles appeared to be implying, that he felt his actions were necessary. While at the same time, avoiding being specific about what those actions were.

“Exactly what happened, Niles,” Brant asked. “I know it upset Isabel, quite badly. She told her maid if she ever saw you, again, she was going to slit your throat, or castrate you.”

“She sounds dangerous. You will protect me, will you not, cousin?” Niles asked, flippantly.

When he received a stern look from Brant, Niles reluctantly continued, in a much more serious tone, “Anyway, Avery took me up to the girl’s room, and ordered her serf to leave. She had her head covered, so Avery tried to pull the mantel off, so I could see her. The girl kicked him, and then yelled at us to get out. Avery slipped a rope around one of her hands, and she elbowed him in the gut. So he put the rope around the bedpost and tied her other hand, just so she could not hit him, again. She was still yelling at us to get out, so he threatened to gag her. Though she did lower her voice, she continued to verbally defile him. Twas Avery taking down her braids, so I could get a look at her. I was really in a spot, with the roll I was playing, and him expecting me to look the girl over. So I moved up in front of her, and she started reviling me. Isabel is quite attractive, and I must admit that by that time my little soldier was at attention. To my shame, I acted the debaucher I was playing, and undid my laces, so she could see what she was doing to me. Then, she called me a disgusting pig. Somehow, I could not resist brushing a finger across the exposed side of her breast, thinking to scare her. She is quite bold. The girl just called me a disgusting little man, and spit at me.”

Niles paused, trying to judge Brant’s mood, but his cousin revealed nothing. He merely motioned to Niles, to continue his story.

“I am sorry to say I lost my temper, and slapped the girl. Realizing that things were getting out of hand, I told Avery I had seen enough. After that we moved to the side, and discussed what he had in mind for the girl. I told him I was due to leave for Normandy for a few months, so any arrangements, would have to wait until my return. That was when he mentioned having a plan to kidnap his enemy's sister, to draw him out. That was why I sent you word, to guard Esme. With our talk done, Avery cut the rope on the girl, and I told her I hoped to see her again, in a few months, as we left the room.” After another short pause, Niles said, “My actions were quite awful, with Isabel. I can only plead that it seemed appropriate, with the roll I was playing.”

He did not tell his cousin, that had it not been for Avery, Niles might very well have forced himself on the girl.

During Niles lengthy explanation of his encounter with Isabel, Brant observed that he continually emphasized Avery's poor treatment of the Lady. At the same time, Niles tried to downplay his own behavior, as largely necessary to maintain his cover, so he could spy for Brant. Somehow, his efforts to minimize what he had done, left Brant questioning his cousin's character. While his high position in society, required that Brant show Niles some deference, he could not shake the feeling that Niles was someone he needed to watch. Brant's sire had never totally trusted Niles' father, for some reason he would not explain, and now, Brant was suspicious of the son.

Trying not to give any indication of his doubts about Niles, Brant said, "If you were not my cousin, who was spying for me at the time, this would be an easy matter. I could just kill you." He paused for affect, then continued, "You really shook Isabel up, and now she is my wife. Now I know why she dislikes you so. But since I cannot kill you, how am I supposed to deal with this?"

"I do not know," Niles replied. "At the time, it seemed benign. When I ran in to Richard, with Lady Ann recently, they were discussing her daughter. He reminded me of the war you had going with Avery, and the fact that Avery likely murdered the girl's father, to gain control of her resources. When I figured out who they were talking about, and that you had wed the girl, it was quite awkward. I merely said the polite things, and got away from them, quickly."

He paused, trying to look properly embarrassed. Niles was hoping Brant would accept his explanation as sincere, and let him off the hook, but his cousin said nothing. After a short time, the silence was becoming awkward.

Niles continued, "I treated the sole heiress to a huge fortune, like some dock side strumpet. I know full well, my appalling behavior could destroy the reputation of my whole family, if the story gets out."

“I think the first thing, is to talk to Isabel. I doubt that your being my cousin, is going to endear me to her,” Brant said.

“How did you manage to wed the girl, anyway?” Niles asked. “How did she get away from Avery?”

“Let us just say, Richard arranged it,” Brant answered.

“Avery seemed quite taken with the girl. Was she actually a virgin, as he said?” Niles asked.

“She was,” Brant answered, wondering why Niles was so interested. “Now she is my wife, and mother to my son."

"You must be quite pleased, with the lad," Niles said.

“Aye, I am,” Brant replied. “Nora should be back shortly, with some refreshment.”

“Right now, I could use some strong spirits. This is a nightmare,” Niles replied.

Brant merely nodded, before exiting to go speak with Isabel. The look that crossed Niles face, when he mentioned the lad, did not look like happiness for his cousin, to Brant. Twas more like he was trying to say the polite things, what he thought he should say, about something that really displeased him.

Brant stepped out of the sitting room into the hall, and quickly crossed to where Ann, Esme, and Hannah, sat by the hearth.

Looking to Lady Ann, he asked, “Where did Isabel go?”

“Right after the Duke arrived, she spoke briefly with Nora, then took the babe upstairs,” Ann answered. “You know, she looked a little shaken when she saw him.”

Brant acknowledged her reply with a nod, and turned to go upstairs. Upon arriving in the Solar, he found the inner chamber door blocked from the inside, so that it would not open.

“Isabel, open the door, we need to talk,” Brant ordered. When there was no answer from inside the chamber, he continued, “He told me his version, of what happened with Avery. Open the door.” Still no response came, from inside the bedchamber. “Isabel, say something.” After several more seconds of silence, Brant said, “If you do not say something, I am going to have this door knocked down.”

He listened closely, but there was no sound from inside the chamber. Brant returned to the passageway, where the guard who was assigned to keep an eye on Isabel, at all times, reclined on a bench.

He asked, “Did Isabel go in there?”

“Oh, aye, My Lord,” the guard said. “She went in there with the babe, about half an hour ago. I have been watching the door, and no one has gone in, or out, since.”

“Go down, and ask Lady Ann to come up here, please,” Brant instructed the guard.

He went back to the blocked door, to wait.

“Isabel, answer me, so I know you are alright,” Brant said, while he waited for Ann.

Still no reply came from behind the portal. Within a few minutes, Lady Ann entered the antechamber. Brant quickly explained that the door was blocked, and Isabel would not answer him.

Ann tapped softly on the heavy door, and said, “Alisa, please open the door, so we can talk.” When there was no response, she continued, “Do you remember what you told me, last night? Do you not think that this is childish?” When no answer came, Ann turned to Brant, and asked, “Are you sure she went in there?”

 “The guard followed her upstairs, and saw her go in. He has been watching the door, and she has not come out,” Brant answered.

Ann, looking doubtful, stepped back to examine the top of the high door. Apparently, seeing what she was looking for, the Lady got a chair from the small table to stand on. Reaching up, she grasped a short length of heavy twine, hanging at the top of the door. She pulled the string down, and pushed on the door, which opened freely. Brant slipped past Ann into the chamber, only to see a length of wood had been lowered into place, between the bed and door, from the outside. The room was empty. Isabel and Nathaniel were not there. Brant looked around the room, quickly noticing that the small box with Isabel’s crest on it, was missing from the table.

When Ann’s presence had been requested upstairs, Niles had followed, to see what was going on. Ann saw him standing in the antechamber doorway.

She asked accusingly, “What did you do to my daughter, that has her hiding out?”

Not wanting to tip Niles off, Brant said, “Niles, could you wait downstairs, while we sort this out.”

That blackguard, not wanting to deal with Isabel’s angry mother, nodded and withdrew. Brant waited until he was out of earshot, to correct Ann.

“She is not hiding. She is gone. The wooden box with her crest on it, always sits right here. It is gone, and she is gone," Brant said.

He indicated the spot on the table, beside her brush, where the trinket always sat.

“What?” Ann asked, not understanding his point. She indicated with her hands, “That wooden thing, about so big? That was her father’s. I recall it was quite heavy for its size, but I could never figure out any use for it.”

Realizing that Isabel’s mother knew some, but not all of her daughter’s little secrets, he explained, “There is an inconspicuous clasp, on the bottom of the box. It contained two rows of coins. Maybe one hundred pounds. A goodly sum of money.”

Ann shook off her surprise at Brant’s revelation, and looked around the room.

“Last night, I saw the deer skin duffle her father had specially made, one for each of them. That is gone, too. If there was money in the box, there is no telling what may have been in the duffle. I walked in on him once, to see a compartment in the handle of the bags. Oh, my, Rosamond said Isabel had a dagger. What else do I not know about my daughter? Do you know what the problem is, with the Duke? Last night, Isabel seemed at least resigned, to being here for a while. He walks in, and suddenly she has fled?” Ann asked, angrily.

“You need not concern yourself with him. I will handle that. Right now, we need to find Isabel, and Nathaniel,” Brant said.

He immediately set about looking for a lead, as to how Isabel made her escape. Hopefully, the how, would help figure out where, she was off to.

After questioning the knights around the Castle, the sentry at the drawbridge, and the serfs at the stables, Brant had no leads. A search of the Castle, and grounds, turned up nothing. Once again, Isabel was gone, without a trace.

Chapter 14

Nearly two months had passed, since Isabel vanished from the Castle with Nathaniel. Brant had all angles covered, to see that he got word if her, or the babe, surfaced anywhere. No one had seen them, or at least no one, who would tell Brant. His wife and son, were never far from his mind, and he often found it difficult, not to sink back into the black moods he had suffered, after he had been released by his kidnappers. Fortunately, he had Esme, and Hannah, at the Castle, to keep him occupied. Since it was summer time, there were fields to tend, and travel was easy, so there were a good number of visitors coming and going, during the day. However, at night in his Solar, Brant was haunted by memories of Isabel, and Nathaniel. Sometimes in his dreams, he would hear the babe cry, or feel his wife's soft body against his, only to wake, and realize he was alone.

So it was, on the morning that Hannah asked, if she could have some pretty coins, like Cora had.

"What kind of coins does Cora have?" Brant asked.

"They are shiny," Hannah said. "I do not know what kind. They are just coins. Cora said that Bell gave them to her."

Lady Ann had spent most of the past months that Isabel had been missing, at the Castle, waiting for any word on her daughter's whereabouts. The child's mention of Bell got both Ann, and Brant's, undivided attention. Bell was the child's name for Isabel.

"Did Cora say why, Bell gave her the coins?" Ann asked.

"I do not know. She just said Bell gave them to her," the little girl answered. "They are really pretty. I want some, too."

Brant quickly dispatched a serf, to find Cora. They waited for only a few minutes, before the serf returned to the hall, with the maid.

"Hannah has been asking for some coins, like the ones Isabel gave you. What did she pay you for?" Brant asked, in a stern tone.

Cora squirmed around looking guilty, momentarily, as if she were debating trying to lie, before saying, "She gave me money to take messages to ‘er knights, what were staying at the Inn, in the village. They were there three, or four weeks. Then she left ‘ere, and the other knights come to get ‘er, and the babe."

"Her knights came to get her?" Brant asked when the serf fell silent.

"Are ye going to punish me, Me Lord?" Cora asked. "Isabel said if ye was going to punish me, I should not tell ye anything."

Ann laughed at this bit of information. It was common knowledge around the Castle that Cora used to be Brant's favorite tart. Apparently, Isabel had enlisted the aid of his former tart, to help her cross the Lord, and gave the serf advise, on negotiating with the him, on punishment.

Brant momentarily thought about threatening the serf, before thinking better of it.

He instead said, “If you tell me everything you know, I will assign you to work in the stables for the next month. If you do not, I am going to give you ten lashes.”

Cora glared at him, before replying, “William, what were staying at the Inn, said ‘e was from Kellanhym Castle. She hid in one of the rooms they ‘ad there, until the other knights and the supply wagons, come to take her back there.”

Brant looked doubtfully at the serf, as he told her, “I was there less than three weeks ago, over night. They said they had not seen, or heard from her.”

The serf replied, “It is her Castle, and ‘er people. They come here to your village, to get ‘er. I think they would lie to ye, about seeing ‘er, don’t you? If ye were there, she might have been right under yer nose.”

"That will be all, Cora," Brant said, dismissing the serf. "I believe I will be returning to Kellanhym Castle, to check on preparations for the harvest," Brant told Lady Ann, before turning toward the stairs.

Cora, who had remained there, smiled at Ann conspiratorially, and said, "He does not treat the Lady very good, at all. I sure wish I knew what she ‘as planned, when ‘e gets there. She promised she were not going to maim, or kill ‘im."

Then the serf turned, and left the hall. Ann laughed softly, realizing that Isabel had somehow engineered summoning her husband, for some unknown purpose. Apparently, Isabel was safe, her son-in-law, only time would tell. She momentarily thought about warning Brant, but decided to trust that Isabel knew what she was doing. Clearly, the girl was involved in something that Ann knew nothing about.

Brant reminded his men of the plan, as they approached Isabel's Castle. They were there, merely to see to the progress of the crops, and harvest preparation. So when they rode through the gate, between the huge drum towers, everyone was prepared to be inconspicuous, about looking for indications that the Lady was ensconced at the Castle.

When Brant entered the Castle compound, he rode straight up to the stairs into the hall. A serf came around the building to greet them. Brant handed the serf the reigns to his destry to take to the stables.

"Good day, Me Lord," the serf said. "Will you be staying a while?"

"We plan to be here overnight," Brant answered. "So we will need the horses taken to the stable."

"Aye, Me Lord," the man replied.

He entered the hall with his squire, Vernon, several steps behind, carrying the Lord's heavy duffle. Brant was greeted by the Castle Mistress, Gertrude, who managed the serfs.

"Good day, Me Lord," Gertrude said. "Will ye be staying with us long?"

"Nay, we only plan to be here overnight," Brant said. "Are there any other guests, here at the Castle?"

"Nay, Me Lord," Gertrude answered.

"Have you had any word from Isabel?" Brant asked.

"Not a peep," the serf answered. "I do hope she is well. I ‘ave been greatly concerned, for ‘er safety."

"Aye, Ann and I, have been, too," Brant replied. "I will be taking the Solar for tonight. Could you have some water sent up, so I can wash up a little?"

"Aye, Me Lord," the mistress said, as Brant turned to mount the stairs, with his squire following.

Vernon deposited the duffle in the Solar, and retreated to recline on a bench, in the dimly lit passageway outside the room. Brant closed the door behind his retreat, and waited inside the room. After washing up from the dusty ride, he rested on the bed for about an hour, before there was a tap on the portal.

Brant opened the door to let Vernon into the antechamber. He relayed to Brant, that several serfs had gone in, and out, of the room right across the passage from the Solar. Vernon also believed, he had heard several female voices, speaking in soft tones, coming from the chamber. Availing himself of the shadows, that were common in Castle passageways, Brant opened the door just enough, to be able to see the opposite chamber portal. It was not long, before a serf went to the portal, so Brant opened the door wide. The startled serf stood holding a basket, looking at him guiltily. He motioned for her to sit on the bench, and for Vernon to stay with her, before crossing the hall to open that portal.

Isabel, his long lost wife, was placing a small stack of the babe's clothing into a duffel.

"Hello, Isabel. What did you want the basket for?" Brant asked.

Though he was pretty sure, she intended to carry Nathaniel out of the Castle, in it.

"Good day, My Lord," she replied, quickly covering her surprise. "I was not expecting to see you until later, but as I have discovered, plans are made to be changed."

Isabel side stepped answering his question. She thought he looked a little tired, somewhat concerned, and really irritated.

Brant questioned dubiously, "You were expecting to see me, later? Somehow I doubt that. More likely, you were preparing to sneak out somewhere, to hide until I left. Though, it is good to see you looking quite well."

"I am quite well," Isabel replied. "Did you doubt, I could take care of myself?"

"Actually, it was more your mother's words, about the root mix, that would likely make you lose the babe," Brant explained, with a hint of anger in his tone. "It was one of those, that likely cost my mother her life. She died just a few short weeks, after she lost the babe she was carrying. Was that what you were talking about, when you told Ann you did not see where you had any other choice?"

"I would ask if that was interrogating Rosamund, or eavesdropping, but it sounds like a little of both," Isabel commented, with a frown over his accusation.

She yelled for Beautrice, the serf who Brant had instructed to wait outside, with Vernon.

When the serf appeared in the doorway, Isabel said, "Take Nathaniel down to the hall, so his sire may spend some time with him. Ask my knights to see that he does not try to leave, with the child. And tell Gertrude I will be down for dinner, as planned."

Turning her attention back to her husband, Isabel said, "I think we can continue this conversation, later. Right now, get out of my room, Brant."

Brant stood still, looking at her coolly for a few moments, before deciding it would be best to keep an eye on his son. In the passage, he instructed Vernon to watch Isabel's chamber, to make sure she did not try to leave. Then, he quickly walked off down the stairs, following the serf who was carrying Nathaniel.

Isabel walked over to shut the door. She had not intended for Brant to know she was here, until later in the evening. He looked as if the last few months, were as trying on him, as they had been for her. She so, wanted this all to be over. In the beginning, it had seemed a simple matter. She and Brant, just needed to get rid of, or get control of, Avery, and both of them would be safe. How was she to know, that there was another person, who wanted Brant gone from this earth, even more than Avery? Or, that giving Brant an heir to his lands, would put her child in mortal danger.

Brant had discovered her earlier than planned, and had arrived with six men, instead of the three, or four, she had been expecting. However, that should not affect her plan, too much. He was upset with her, because he thought she was trying to sneak the babe out of the Castle, and he had overheard her mother's advice, about how to hopefully lose the babe. That was likely good. He would be making accusations, rather than asking questions.

When the evening meal was announced, Isabel left her bedchamber and descended to the hall, hoping her husband would not be too unpleasant. The meal proceeded fairly well, with Brant saying very little.  He largely occupied his time eating, and watching Nathaniel, whom Isabel was holding, gnaw on a few fruits and soft vegetables.

Though the main reason, that Brant was pretty quiet during the meal, was that he was trying to decide how, to go about getting his wife and son, back to his Castle where they belonged. Isabel seemed to be taking very good care of the child. But Brant was his father, and she had no right to take the child from him. A survey of the hall, made it clear that there were two of her people, to every one of his. Cora said Isabel's knights had come to his lands to get her, so they would be taking orders from her, not him. As her husband, they should recognize him, as their Lord. They should follow his orders, but Brant did not think he needed to test it, to prove that was not the case.

When the meal was at an end, the serfs brought refills of wine, and ale, for the diners. Trying to make small talk, Brant commented, "The wine is quite good. Do they make it here?"

Happy to talk about mundane things, Isabel answered, "Nay, but it does come from one of my fiefs. While it is costly to bring it here, I think it is worth the expense. They do make some wine here."

Isabel waved Beautrice over, and handed Nathaniel to her. Brant watched as the serf carried the babe over, and laid him down on a mat, near the hearth. He realized he was beginning to feel a little groggy, and was having some trouble holding his chalice steady. He set it down, clumsily on the table. Looking around the hall, he noticed that Vernon was slumped over the table. Several of his other men, appeared to be in varying states of losing consciousness. Brant watched as mats were laid out on the floor, and his sleeping knights were moved to them. Four of them, he noted. The other men who came with him, appeared to be fine. Or were those his men? Mayhap, not, Brant thought. They were not coming to his aid. He wondered why he was not sleeping like the others, as he turned his attention to Isabel.

"You do not look like you are feeling very well, My Lord," she said, when his eyes met hers.  Reaching her hand out, she said, "Give me your hand."

Brant found himself complying with her request. He raised his arm to place his hand in hers. His arm felt really heavy as Isabel grasped his hand, and squeezed it. Brant tried to return the gesture, but found that his hand seemed to lack strength. Isabel smiled at this and said, “That is good, My Lord. I think you are ready for a little fun, don't you?”

Then, she looked to her men, and said, “Let us get the Lord moved, someplace where he will be more comfortable.”

Two of the knights came forward to lift him out of the chair, by placing his weak arms over their shoulders. Then, they carried his clumsy form out of the hall. At first, confusion assailed his groggy mind, until he realized he was being lead toward the high stone wall surrounding the jail, where he had been held prisoner for nearly three months. He tried to struggle against the determined knights, but his limbs were not listening to his mind. His slight resistance barely slowed them down, and in no time, Brant was back in the cell he had been released from just over a year earlier. They sat him on the bed, and stripped his upper body, baring his chest. That done, he was laid back with his head and shoulders, raised by several pillows that had been added to the bed, since his last stay.

Brant noticed that Isabel was lighting candles around the room. The light revealed that a metal fire pit, had been added to the cell. A hood over the pit, with a pipe, vented the smoke to the high window.

Once the candles were lit, Isabel said, "Alright, I can handle it from here. Please wait in the courtyard, to see that we are not disturbed."

She moved to the edge of the bed, taking hold of one of his arms. Brant felt a soft band tighten around his wrist, and his arm was pulled up above his head. He tried to pull the arm down, but it was held fast. Isabel raised his other arm, so that his hands touched. His mind said that he should resist, but a slight amount of pressure from her, overpowered any resistance.

"I am going to kill you," Brant said, his speech slurred.

“Do not be melodramatic,” she replied, with a low laugh. “I told you, we are going to have a little fun. You always like to have fun, Brant. Over, and over, again.”

She began to untie his laces, and strip the lower half of his body.

“Stop this, I will not do it,” he said.

“Of course you will. I want to. How many times did I say no more? You wanted more, so you pinned me down, and took me, again,” she reminded him.

Brant lay on his back, thinking that he should offer some resistance, but whatever Isabel's serfs had served with the libations earlier, seemed to be preventing him from acting on his thoughts. Fortunately, she did not appear to be intent on pursuing the 'fun', she had mentioned. She was massaging one of his feet, paying close attention to an area right above his heel. Though he thought it an odd thing for her to be doing, it seemed to drain all the tension from his body. Somehow, the slightly painful sensations her ministrations were generating, caused a pleasant tightening in his loins. As if she knew his desire to resist was fading, Isabel moved to straddle his thighs.

"I have been told, that men like to look at a woman's body," she said, slowly lifting her gunna, to reveal her body. As she lifted the garment over her head, she asked, "Do you like that?"

Seeing her naked body straddling him, convinced him that she would soon have him doing exactly what she wanted. He closed his eyes, to fight his body's response to her.

"You do not want to look?" Isabel asked. "You just want to feel?"

She ran her hands up over his ribs, then brush her thumbs over his nipples. He felt her shift her position, to where she could run her tongue over one nipple. He opened his eyes. She slid a hand down to his swollen appendage, gently stroking her hand along it, before positioning him to enter her body.