“That might not go well,” Flora said and explained. “Word no doubt has reached other mercenaries that Walsh was here when the mercenaries who did strike died. They probably assume he is responsible, keeping others at bay so that he can claim the bounty for himself when he is ready.”
“She is right. None will trust me now,” Walsh said. “Besides, the true person behind a mission, the one offering the coins, is not always known to the mercenaries, keeping him safe from discovery.”
“So, what you’re saying is that we truly have no idea who placed the bounty on my wife’s head,” Torin said. “Which means it might have nothing to do at all with her da’s mission. Then the question begs, who would want my wife dead and why?”
CHAPTER21
“Icannot believe my parents spied for the king. My da did not always agree with him on issues,” Flora said, pacing her workroom or, as everyone referred to it, her solar. “How did I not see that?”
“Your da evidently agreed with him on some issues or he would have never agreed to spy for him, and I imagine your da and mum wanted to make certain you never learned of it to keep you safe,” Torin said, troubled that his wife was upset, though understandably so.
“My dreams,” she said, thinking on them. “The dark figure must be the one who is after me, yet my parents ask for my help… why?”
Torin took hold of her arm and drew her into a light embrace. “You have taxed your thoughts enough today. Let it be for now and think on it fresh tomorrow.”
Flora sighed. “As much as I do not want to admit it, you are right. Too much time spent on it will only bring more confusion.”
“Why don’t we go have a look at that crumbling stone you told me about?” he suggested, hoping it would help ease her mind off her parents.
“A wonderful idea,” she said excitedly and kissed his cheek before she went to flee his embrace.
Torin hooked her around the waist with his arm and drew her against him before she could take a step. “That is not a proper kiss, wife.”
She smiled, seeing a wicked teasing in his dark eyes. “You are right, husband. It is not.”
He did not expect the kiss that landed on his lips. It was a punch of passion that he not only eagerly responded to, but his manhood did as well. And the more they lingered in it, the harder his shaft grew.
Flora found herself breathless when she ended it with nips along his bottom lip, just as he sometimes did to her. She took a moment to let her breathing calm, then asked, “Was that better, husband?”
“Not near enough, wife,” Torin said and winked at her. “Time for another lesson.” He spun her around, bent her over the table, and moved her garments out of the way. He ran his hand over her naked backside, then gave it a squeeze. “Spread your legs, I am eager to slip inside you.”
With the kiss having more than provoked her passion, she quickly did as he asked, though she had to ask, “It is permitted to couple outside of the bedchamber?”
“We can couple wherever we want, wife,” he said and adjusted her stance so he could easily slip into her.
She gasped. “I love the feel of you inside me.”
Bloody hell, if her words did not fire his passion even more. “I will make sure I am inside you as often as you would like.”
“In different places. We must try different places,” she hurried to say before releasing a moan of pleasure.
Torin did not know how he got so lucky in choosing Flora for a wife, but he would spend the rest of his days thanking the heavens for her.
He kept hold of her bare bottom as he set a rhythm for them and when he heard her muffled moans, he knew she fought not to cry out for fear of someone hearing her. Their unexpected passion had flamed fast, and he would see them satisfied just as fast.
Flora let out a harsh whisper, “Torin!”
“Let go,” he ordered, and she did and as she did, so did he. Both their groans filled the room until finally Torin bent down over her planting his hands on either side of her head as the last of his climax dissipated.
“I will never be able to work at this table without recalling this moment,” she said, her voice muffled against her arm.
Torin brought his mouth near her ear. “I will see that this is not the only moment you recall here.”
She pressed against him and shuddered, his words igniting a lingering spark that fired a brief and mild second climax.
“I am so enjoying the lessons,” she said on a sigh.
“So am I, wife, so am I,” Torin said and slipped gently out of her and pulled her garments down. When she did not move, he slipped his arm under her breasts and eased her up, turning her to rest against him.