The Crusader: Affairs of State

The girl quickly put Cayden's hair in order and stepped back, grateful to be away from the intoxicating scent and enveloping heat of the virile warrior. The longer she was in Cayden's presence, the harder it would be to resist the advances. She knew that she would eventually give in to Cayden's pursuit. Cayden was relentless. She was impossible to resist for long. "Will there be anything else, Miss?"

Cayden turned and gave Amalie a slow, appreciative smile. "I believe that will be all. You are dismissed. Tell the Baron and Baroness I will join them shortly." Amalie bowed and quickly retreated, her cheeks burning as Cayden's eyes lingered on the cleavage at the neck of her simple dress. Cayden was pleased with Amalie's reaction. She prided herself on being able to read people and was pleased to know that she had not misread the maid's fear. Amalie didn't run because she was physically afraid. She ran because she feared the desire that Cayden's nearness created. Cayden knew how to help the girl overcome that fear.

She reached up and ran her hand over her hair as she rose from the stool. Amalie had swept Cayden's hair into curls that flowed down her back and over her shoulders. Cayden smiled, pleased with the girl's skill. She couldn't help but think about what other talents Amalie may possess. She took a deep breath as she imagined Amalie's talented fingers on her body, then shook her head in an effort to clear her thoughts. She planned to take her time with Amalie and if she dwelled on the possibilities, it would be harder to maintain that resolve.

"You look beautiful," a deep voice said from the doorway. Cayden lifted her green eyes to see Otto standing just inside her room. He crossed to his friend and glided his hands over her bare shoulders and impulsively dropped a kiss on one. "Delicious. You don't play fair, Cayden. You make yourself stunning but refuse my advances."

Cayden allowed Otto's lips to continue the caress for a short moment before pulling out of his reach. She smiled teasingly. "Do I need to remind you that you have a wife?" she asked as she eluded his grasp. With a playful smile, she started walking toward the door.

He did not answer immediately and she slowed her step at the door. She turned her head enough to glance at him over her shoulder and was surprised to find his face inches from her. "You should have been my wife, Cayden de Witte. I sent a dowry to your father and he rejected it. Why did your father not think I was good enough to be your husband?"

She turned and placed a hand on his cheek. She knew about the generous dowry that Otto had offered to her father. Travor de Witte had encouraged her to accept the Baron's proposal, but she had pleaded with him to refuse. Otto was her best friend, but she did not love him. To have been forced into a loveless marriage would have led her to hate him.

He pressed into her hand, kissing the inside of her wrist. "We would have made beautiful children, Cayden. They would have been beautiful and brave and intelligent. Sophie . . ."

"Sophie is a wonderful wife to you," Cayden interrupted insistently.

"Yes, she is, but she is not you. You should be the Baroness." He closed the distance, his voice soft but urgent. "Sophie has not given me a child. It's not too late for you to be my wife."

"Sophie is the perfect Baroness," Cayden answered. "I would detest the role." She kissed his cheek softly and lingered there, rubbing her smooth skin against his rough flesh. "We will be missed. Eyebrows will be raised. Rumors will be whispered."

She walked away from him, ignoring the pounding in her heart as she hurried down the hallway. The truth was too close to the surface and Otto was too easy a confidant. She paused before going down the steps, pressing her fingertips to her forehead. When she lifted her eyes, she saw Sophie standing in the foyer at the foot of the steps with the Vicar. Otto stood in the hall in front of her room, also watching her. Cayden felt the two pairs of eyes on her and wrestled with the unfamiliar emotions stirring in her heart. She closed her eyes, attempting to shut out their stares, took a deep breath, placed a steady smile on her lips, and started slowly down the steps, certain that she was in complete control.

Cayden de Witte was always in complete control. She was the author of her relationship with Otto. She had befriended the young Baron when he had come to her father for training. She had teased him enough to keep his interest and always been confident in his ability to be a gentleman when she withdrew. She had known he would request her hand in marriage and had been prepared with her reasons that it would be a poor idea. Her father, who adored her, had listened and accepted her reasons for refusing the Baron's offer. He had regretfully declined Otto's offer and began preparations for sending his rebellious daughter to the convent. She had manipulated her invitation to Otto's court, and the invitation had come at the right time.

She was in complete command of her relationship with Sophie. She had no doubt that she pulled every string with the young woman. Cayden had begun her seduction of the girl on Otto's wedding day, pursued it slowly until Sophie was convinced that she was the instigator, and brought enough pleasure that the Baroness was unable to resist. Her relationship with Sophie was secure because if the wrong person discovered it, they would both be destroyed.

Even though Amalie feared her, Cayden was certain she was in control there, too. Cayden de Witte was always in complete control. The one time she had lost control had almost led to devastation.

She reached the floor of the foyer and made an effort to forget her indiscretions. Instead, she slipped her hand into the Vicar's elbow and guided him to the great hall with the table filled with succulent treats. She ignored the tension in the room and overlooked the fact that she had been the one to create the strain. Conversation flowed easily during the meal. Amalie hovered in the dark corner, emerging only to help the cooks serve and then disappearing altogether as the meal ended.

"How was Clermont, Father?" Otto asked after they had all finished eating and Sophie had retired to supervise the servants. Father Josef lifted his solemn dark eyes to Cayden situated across from him. Otto waved away the Vicar's concerns. "Lady de Witte is one of my trusted advisors, Father," he assured. "She is not inclined to gossip, as many women are, and I value her wisdom. Please, tell us what you learned at Clermont."

"As you know, the Turks have been attempting to strangle Constantinople. They have raided our travelers and taxed our pilgrims in their treks to the holy city of Jerusalem. Lord Alexis has sent out pleas for assistance from the west, but they have largely gone unheard. The king of Constantinople has finally reached the ear His Holiness, Pope Urban. At Clermont, the Pope preached about the need to protect Jerusalem and to rescue it from the infidels. He has called for armies to march to the Holy Land." Father Josef paused, allowing the information to settle in Otto's head. Otto glanced at Cayden and saw her watching him. He could not read her expression. "Baron von Streit, can I inform His Holiness that you will organize your men?"

Otto remained silent for a long moment. He did not look at the Vicar or toward Cayden. He leaned forward, folding his hands together and resting his forehead on his knuckles. When he spoke, his words surprised Father Josef. "Cayden?"

Cayden did not hesitate to answer. "Your men are the best trained in the kingdom. They are strong and brave. Taking Jerusalem would be no small undertaking, but I believe they would rise to the occasion." She paused, longing to touch her friend in assurance but unable to offer it in the presence of the Vicar. "The decision must be yours, but I can assure you that your men would support you."

Otto released a deep breath and lowered his hands, focusing his attention on Father Josef. "Send a messenger. I will issue a call to arms among the nobles, but you can also inform His Holiness that I will not rush into battle. Our movements will be deliberate and we will not advance out of this kingdom until I am certain we are prepared to tackle the task before us."

Father Josef nodded with a pleased expression on his face. "Good. Excellent. I would expect no less, Baron. I know the Holy Father will bless you for your willingness."

Otto gave the Father a cold look. "I'm not responding for the Holy Father, but for Jerusalem. It will be a wonderful Crusade to reclaim the Holy Land for the Christians."

Cayden changed the subject, rescuing the Father from Otto's pensive mood. She found her friend later staring across the rolling fields glowing in the moonlight. The Vicar had left after finishing the ale that Otto had provided and thanking the Baron again for his promise to organize an army. She paused at the doorway, unsure if she should intrude upon his reverie. His silhouette was outlined against the pale light and she allowed the image to settle in her memory.

"We've been playing soldiers," he said when he broke the silence. She jumped, unaware that he knew of her presence. He continued, "My whole life has been in training to lead an army into battle, but I don't think I ever believed the day would come."

"You'll do fine, Otto," she assured, crossing the stone balcony to stand beside him. She still wore the gown, but even the revealing hint of her skin did not pull him from his dark trance. "The men respect you. You are intelligent. My father trained you well. You'll return a hero."

"What if I do not return?" he asked with an urgency in his voice. "Franz would become Baron. He would destroy everything our father built." He paused, shaking his head with a frustrated sigh. "I don't want Sophie to have to marry him. My brother is a cruel man and Sophie is a good woman. I would hate to see her spirit broken."

Cayden felt a twinge of guilt at his impassioned words. If anyone knew about her relationship with Sophie, they might accuse her of breaking the Baroness's spirit. She struggled to find the words to help Otto. "A child," she said suddenly. "You and Sophie must have a child, a son would be best. If you have an heir, there will not be any pressure to create one. Sophie would be allowed to rule as regent until he came of age. That would prevent Franz from marrying her or becoming Baron."

Otto's head snapped around and cold eyes pierced his friend. She faltered a step as he spoke through clenched teeth. "It is a bit difficult to create a child when you occupy my wife's bed every night."

She sank back against the balcony, defenseless against his accusation. She would not deny her affair with Sophie. It was not fair to her lover or her friend. She started to ask him how he knew, but she did not want to insult Otto's intelligence. She sat in guilty silence as his eyes burned through her. "I should go to my father. He needs to know about the Crusade. He has men who will pledge allegiance to you."

Otto growled. "You resist me because I have a wife, but it never seemed to matter that she had a husband." He took a menacing step closer, towering over his best friend. "You should have married me, Cayden. I would have looked the other way regarding your indiscretions."

She stood up straight, pressing toward him. "And I would have hated it when you came to my room. It would have destroyed us, Otto."

"You must be careful, Cayden," he hissed. "If anyone was to ever find out about your relationship, you would both be punished as heretics. I shudder to think of you roasting as Father Josef denounces you and my wife. Franz would not hesitate to report you, especially if it would speed his rise to my position."

"I'll go home," she repeated. "Hayden will want to join you, as well. That will give you the opportunity you need with Sophie."

Otto nodded, stepping away from his friend. "I want to gather the troops on the Udden Plain. We will organize there in six months time. I want you to return to Breathwood. Sophie will need your protection while I am gone."

"Yes, my Lord," she whispered. "I'll leave tomorrow."

"And I'll not go to Sophie tonight," he assured, turning to walk away. He did not hesitate. Cayden leaned against the balcony, her heart hurting for her friend. He wore the expression of a broken man and she knew her affair with his wife had been the catalyst. She shook away her feelings of guilt. Feeling guilty would not change circumstances. She lifted her eyes to Sophie's room and saw the light flickering there. She didn't know how Sophie would respond to her departure and suddenly wanted to only get it over with. She missed her father and her twin brother acutely. She wanted to go home.

She walked quietly through the grand hall and made her way up the winding staircase to the living quarters. She paused outside of Sophie's door, a noise at the other end of the hall distracting her. She looked into the darkness and saw Otto's shadow moving into Amalie's chamber. A smile touched her lips and she relaxed. He may be bitter because his best friend occupied his wife's bed, but his needs as a man were being fulfilled.

Sophie stood at the open door of the balcony, a breeze ruffling her tresses as she stared into the moonlight. Cayden's breath caught in her throat as she studied the silhouette of her naked lover. The soft moonlight glistened against Sophie's blonde hair and made her skin translucent. Cayden almost lost her resolve to follow through with her promise to Otto to leave.

The warrior recovered quickly when Sophie's head turned toward the open door. She felt her blood pounding through her veins. A familiar throbbing began between her legs and all her doubts faded away. Cayden de Witte was once more in control. She moved across the room to her lover, burying her face in the soft, fragrant locks. She inhaled deeply, allowing Sophie's scent to waft through her pores. She wanted it to linger long after she had fled Breathwood.

Sophie turned her body to face Cayden. "I saw you and Otto on the balcony."

Cayden pressed her fingers to Sophie's mouth, silencing her lover. She didn't want to tell Sophie that she was leaving until they had made love one last time. She wanted no sadness in Sophie's blue eyes. The warrior's fingers threaded through Sophie's hair and curled around the back of her neck, pulling the woman's head down so that she could lightly brush her lips against Sophie's full ones. Sophie's lips puckered and returned the warm kiss, stepping forward to close the distance between them. Cayden's lips moved firmly against her lover before opening. Her tongue coaxed Sophie's mouth open and slipped inside, swimming against teeth and tongue.

Sophie groaned softly, pressing into Cayden as their tongues rubbed and dueled. She softly whispered her lover's name, her fingers gliding over the bare shoulders. She felt the smooth muscle rippling underneath her fingertips as they glided along the bodice. She smiled softly as they broke the kiss, her mouth moving on Cayden's cheek. "I rarely get to take you out of a dress."

Cayden turned, exposing the laces to Sophie's delicate fingers. Sophie leaned forward and moved her mouth over Cayden's back as she loosened the stays. The gown sagged before Cayden shrugged the bodice down. She stepped out of the skirt and turned back to Sophie. A lamp burned on the bedside table, but the flickering light did little to illuminate the two entwined shadows standing in the moonlight.

They resumed their kiss, their mouths hungry for one another as their bodies pressed tightly. Cayden could feel the soft press of Sophie's full breasts and the tingle of the hard nipples rubbing soft circles against her sensitive skin. Cayden pulled her mouth from Sophie's and bowed her head to the full breast. She licked each nipple and delighted in Sophie's shiver of pleasure. Her tongue swam around the nipple, feeling the pucker of the light pink areola. She tasted the sweet flesh, feeling the pliable tissue give against her tongue. Sophie's fingers combed through Cayden's dark hair as the Baroness felt the sweet sensations flood her body. The teasing made her long for more intimate contacts.

Cayden's hands moved down Sophie's rib cage, the touch as soft as a ghost's caress. The rough fingertips moved around the Baroness's full hips and glided along her buttocks. They danced at the opening as Cayden's mouth switched to the other breast, her teeth nibbling on the pale mound. Sophie moaned softly, her body a slave to her lover's desires. Sophie glided her hands down Cayden's shoulders and arms, pulling away from the teasing mouth to kneel at the warrior's feet.

The brunette dropped her eyes as Sophie knelt, cupping the woman's face in her hands as her green eyes burned with tenderness. Sophie leaned forward, inhaling deeply. She breathed in Cayden's damp scent before extending her tongue. The tip of it glided along the slick lips, tasting Cayden's salty desire. Cayden opened her legs for the Baroness as she stroked the woman's blonde hair and whispered words of assurance and encouragement.

Sophie's tongue delved deeper, scooping the moisture into her mouth. She circled the swollen nub of Cayden's desire, teasing it to grow thicker and harder before she dragged against it. Cayden shuddered and closed her eyes, knotting her fingers in Sophie's soft hair. Sophie felt sharp pain shoot through her body as Cayden tugged on her strands, but the sensation only fueled her desire. She began moving faster, lapping hungrily against Cayden's folds. The harder Cayden pulled, the hungrier Sophie became. She pressed her face deep, her tongue beating against the hard button and thrusting in and out of the tight channel. Her tongue moved quickly, pumping Cayden's slick canal.

Both of Cayden's fists were in Sophie's hair, the long locks wrapped around her fingers as she tugged. Her hips jogged against Sophie's face, grinding into the writhing tongue as her lover pushed her body to intense pleasure. She grunted as the wave built and broke, crashing around her. Her cry made her ears ring as her hips bucked. Her hands pushed Sophie's face deeper as she rode against her lover's tongue and face until the crest receded.

Cayden stepped away from Sophie, both women panting in exhaustion. Sophie remained on her knees, her head bowed as she attempted to catch her breath. Cayden reached down and tilted Sophie's head upward. In the moonlight, her face glistened from her labor. Cayden bent and licked the excess moisture from her lover's lips, the taste of the two of them mingling on her tongue. She extended her hand and Sophie took it, allowing Cayden to pull her to her feet and guide her to the bed. Cayden sat down without taking her eyes off of Sophie. Sophie's knees straddled Cayden's thighs, her arms wrapping around her lover's shoulders.

Sophie slid forward, pushing her mound toward Cayden and rocking on her lover's lap as their mouths met. Tongues twirled as their lips ground against each other. Their bodies moved, breasts and mounds and hands and mouths brushing, moving, and tantalizing. Cayden placed her hands on Sophie's hips as she lay back, keeping her lover's mouth captive. Sophie lay over Cayden, her hard nipples creating lines of fire on Cayden's chest as they moved. The warrior lifted her hips, grinding against Sophie's dampness.

Sophie joined the motion, moving in unison with her lover, feeling minor shockwaves rush through the pit of her stomach. Cayden's voice was a constant in her ears, the warrior whispering encouragement. Sophie extended her arms, bracing her hands on either side of Cayden's head as she moved. Cayden lifted her head and captured one of the swaying breasts in her mouth, her teeth clamping around the nipple. Sophie screamed in gratification, the sound echoing off the stone walls of the bedchamber.