“Oui,and more shelves.” She tugged on the twine and swore under her breath. “And mayhap a cushioned settee to place before the fire, once we get one started.”
“Whatever you want,” he vowed on a ragged whisper as he moved toward her.
“I want”—she straightened and crossed the room to the bed where she left the dagger Llwyd had given her—“to get this sack open.” She stomped back to the bag and knelt before it again.
“Tanon, forgive me for being a—” Gareth’s gaze settled on the bed. The mattress was empty. A poor, hollowed-out shell, stripped of its insides. For one maddening instant, he felt so much in common with that mattress he groaned out loud.
“What did you do to the bed?”
Tanon’s nostrils widened. “The straw was old and prickly.” She ground her teeth together, waiting for him to begin bellowing. “I intend to fill it with fresh feathers.” She swiped the sharp blade across the twine. The tip of the dagger punctured the bag and a cloud of flour erupted upward. She pointed the dagger at him while she wiggled her nose. “And I’ll have you know that I’m good and tired of your unfeeling nature, Gareth.”
He watched the blade waving in her hand when she cleared the flour away from her face. When she wiped her hand across her nose, almost slicing her throat, Gareth moved in a blur of speed.
Snatching her wrist with one hand, he carefully removed the blade from her fingers with the other. He exhaled so powerfully his breath fanned a stray lock of her hair off her cheek. “Woman,” He kissed her knuckles. “You scared me.”
She cast him a narrowed look and then quirked her lips. “Gareth, I had no intentions of attacking you. I may have lost my temper, but I would never—”
He laughed softly and then hauled her into his arms, snatching her words, and the breath right out of her with his mouth. He withdrew slightly to stare into her eyes and smooth her curls away from her face with his palms. “I missed you today. I’ve missed you for thirteen years.”
Tanon blinked into his gaze and smiled at him. He had not only stirred her childhood fantasies of love, he made her desire it again. Who cared if he did a little bellowing every now and then if his apologies were going to be like this? So, he was a bit arrogant. He kissed better than…Well, she had nothing to compare it to, but she was sure no other man’s kisses could have ever tasted so sweet on her lips, along her neck while he brushed her curls aside. His touch made her feel reckless, willing to chance loving him, whatever may come. She surrendered to the fire he’d ignited in her and delighted in the thrill of discovering how to unleash the savage he tried to control, until he left her panting and completely spent, sprawled on her back across his table. Which is exactly what he did. The best part though was that she left him the same way, unable to move off her until his breath returned. They laughed together while they waited.
Chapter Nineteen
The next twodays were the happiest in Tanon’s life so far. She worked alongside Deirdre and Isolde, clawing at soil that often found its way to her face. While they planted leeks and other vegetables beneath the comforting warmth of the sun, Tanon learned that the Norman invaders had once burned this village to the ground. With nothing left but charred timber and ashes, the villagers had grown ill and lost a number of children to starvation. At the time, Ystrad Towi belonged to Prince Cedric, but he had abandoned the people to their own defenses and diseases. After his exile, the village became part of Prince Gareth’s inheritance from the king. From the day he arrived he took his place among them and helped them rebuild what they’d lost, even better than before. He suffered their hardships with them and basked in the rewards of their labor. He went to battle for them, and for theCymrywho lived along the marches, exacting justice asWyfyrnto the cruel Norman overlords who thought to rule them.
Hearing of her husband’s gallant deeds compelled Tanon’s gaze to find him where he stood across the glen watching Cian and Llwyd’s son, Gruffyn, practice with their swords. The music of tabor drums and lute orchestrated their pace. The young warriors looked to be of the same age, but they were not evenly matched. Though Gruffyn was indeed quick on his feet, Cian had almost perfected the art of speed and balance.
Gareth’s eyes followed their every move, every parry and jab. Watching him, Tanon wondered how the weight of keeping this village alive and thriving didn’t crush his shoulders.Non,his responsibility is what drove him. She prayed that William never discovered the truth of who he was. Gareth’s people needed him.Cymruneeded him, and so did she.
Goodness, but he had to hate the Normans for the land they had taken from his countrymen, the suffering they’d caused. But he had put that hatred aside and married one of them. Tanon suddenly understood what kind of sacrifice Gareth had made by taking her as his wife. She admired him for his dedication, but she worried over it as well. Could he ever grow to love her, or did he make her so happy simply to keep the peace between their people? When he turned, as if sensing her eyes on him, he flashed her an intimate grin that convinced her she had come to mean more to him than a vow of peace.
The need to be near him summoned her to her feet just as Cian feigned a jab and struck Gruffyn in the face with his other fist. Gareth stepped forward into the circle while Cian helped his fallen opponent to his feet. Patting Gruffyn on the back, Gareth sent him back to Madoc and the others watching from the perimeter. He faced Cian unarmed and folded his arms neatly behind his back.
Beginning a slow, watchful pace, Madoc called out over the vivacious music to his youngest brother.
“Cian, watch your sword, and stay focused!”
“Aye,” Tomas shouted after him. “Don’t let him get too close.”
Tanon stopped when she reached the men, taking a place beside Madoc. She looked to Cian in time to see his angelic features harden with stern determination as he prepared to practice with Gareth.
Gareth smiled at him. A challenge answered by Cian’s tightened jaw. Gareth’s feet thumped the ground, instantly picking up the rhythm pulsing around them. His legs carried him two steps left, and then back one. Cian matched his movements, advancing on him, yet keeping a careful few feet away. He arched his sword upward feinting a crushing blow to Gareth’s head, but at the last instant, changed direction and stabbed from the right instead.
Gareth pivoted on the pads of his sure feet, crouched low, and came back up almost behind Cian. With a snatch of his hand, he reached over the younger warrior’s shoulder and wrested Cian’s sword from his hand.
Alwyn’s rowdy laughter earned him a shove from Tomas. Madoc only shook his head at his brother’s swift defeat.
There was no shame in Cian’s expression when Gareth faced him again and handed him back his sword. They repeated their previous movements four more times, until Cian learned exactly where Gareth would appear behind him, and how he had arrived there.
When Cian left the circle, Gareth’s gaze found Tanon. His eyes gleamed with the residue of battle practice. He beckoned her forward with a wave of his hand and a slight curling of his lips. She laughed, about to refuse his tempting invitation, when the playful goading of his men urged her on. She entered the circle even while her logic told her she could never learn such complex maneuvers as his other pupils. She expected him to spring away from her when she lifted her hand to his jaw, but he wove his fingers through hers and pulled her closer.
“We’ll start slow,” he promised in a low lilting voice. “Watch my feet.”
She looked down and tried to pull away. “I’ll step on your toes! Let me remove my—”
The instant Gareth moved her she knew his toes were not in jeopardy. He moved with weightless delicacy, though there was nothing elegant about him. His virility permeated the air like musk, heightening her awareness of the breadth of his shoulders, his heated exhalation of breath hovering above her lips.
He brought her hand to his chest and spread her fingers over his strong heartbeat, melding with the beat of the tabors. She let his body guide her as she danced with him around the ring. He swept her up as the tempo increased, and pointed out what steps he took when he hooked his foot between hers and she fell backward into his waiting arms. The pleasure of dancing with Gareth was intense, and Tanon understood why any woman in this village would want to best him at a challenge.