The Crusader: Faithful Choices

Cayden reached down to free the laces of her trousers without breaking the pace of her attention to Ava. She pushed her pants down her hips and flipped Ava over, changing pace again. She started at the woman's ankles, kissed her way up strong legs, avoiding the damp haven the wench thrust forward in offering. Lazily, Cayden's tongue circled Ava's navel before gliding beneath each heaving breast. The tip of her tongue explored each peak, dancing around the swollen nipples. She flicked both nipples, and then slowly dragged her tongue against them, prolonging her lover's pleasure as she lifted and teased each sensitive button.

Cayden inched up, her mouth hovering over Ava's as she settled her hips between the servant's thighs. Her breath was warm and her lips curved in an inviting smile, but when Ava lifted her head for a kiss, Cayden stayed out of reach. She braced her arms on either side of Ava's head and began rocking her body, pressing against her lover's mound in a steady, rhythmic motion. Ava gasped in surprise at the delicious, slick friction. She wrapped her legs around Cayden, deepening the contact, and the warrior whispered encouragement. Cayden smiled at her and shifted positions, increasing the pace. Ava began moving in a counter motion, her body obeying the sensations.

Both women were panting, the sound of their ragged breathing and their bodies slapping together filled the tiny cottage. Ava's fingers dug into Cayden's arms, leaving red welts on the warrior's tan flesh. Ava gave voice to her pleasure, emitting a small yelp with each contact. "Oh God," she whispered as Cayden increased the pressure. "Oh God, Oh God, Oh God." Cayden threw her head back, feeling release build in the pit of her stomach. A vein pulsed in her temple as she drove toward her pleasure. Her mouth fell open as she quickened again, pushing deeper with each downward thrust.

Ava exploded first, releasing a primal yell as Cayden pushed her over the top. Cayden followed, adding her voice to Ava's song. Cayden collapsed beside Ava, both women gasping for breath. Ava released a short laugh. "That was amazing." Cayden smiled and did not answer. "Your brother never . . . you made me feel beautiful, not just an outlet for your lust."

"You are beautiful," Cayden answered. "You deserve so much more than my brother. He needs to attend to his wife, anyway."

"What are you going to do, Cayden? Take me away when your father expels you again? Let me go with you to Breathwood?"

Cayden recognized the disbelief and doubt in Ava's tone and knew that Ava was right. The woman couldn't follow her to Breathwood. Sophie would never tolerate the presence another of Cayden's lovers at the Baron's estate. Cayden didn't think she could handle the presence of both women. "Leave the Barony, Ava," Cayden said. "I'll give you money and you can go to another part of the country. You can tell them that the bastard's father has gone to the Crusades, or even that he died in the plague. You may even find someone who will marry you if they think the boy is legitimate."

Ava sat up, looking into Cayden's face with a frown. "You make me feel that incredible, and then promptly dismiss me? Is this all an elaborate plot to get me out of Hayden's life?"

Cayden sighed. "I'd rather get Hayden out of your life. He's ruined it enough for you, and I'm not the answer to a better life for you." She trailed her fingers over Ava's stomach. "You can't move forward with any connection to the de Witte's."

"Get out," Ava growled. "Get out of my bed and out of my house."

Cayden smirked but obeyed, hoping that she had angered Ava enough to spur the woman to action. She pulled on her trousers, her eyes following the kitchen wench as the woman got out of bed and walked naked across the room. Ava felt Cayden's eyes on her, so she glanced over her shoulder. "You are beautiful," Cayden stated.

"The de Witte family needs to begin thinking with another part of their anatomy," Ava answered, trying to keep the spiteful tone in her voice despite the slight smile that betrayed her pleasure at Cayden's words. "Will there really be a war?"

"There will be a march on Jerusalem," Cayden replied with confidence. "Baron von Streit has made a promise to God, so he will lead his army to the Holy Land."

"Hayden may die."

Ava's voice was so soft that Cayden took a moment to interpret them. She crossed to her new lover, placing her hands on Ava's smooth shoulders. "Do you love my brother?"

Ava didn't answer immediately and Cayden was not sure the serving woman would reply. The warrior pulled her tunic on. "It wouldn't matter if I did, and there are times that I think I do. Most of the time, though, I loathe him." She turned suddenly, her eyes intensely focused on Cayden. "Why don't you take me with you? I could go as your maidservant. I know that your father would release me to you."

A half smile formed on Cayden's lips. "I don't think Sophie would take too kindly to me having another lover at Breathwood, especially while Otto is away playing soldier. She'd make your life miserable." The Lady de Witte moved across the room to Ava, her steady hand caressing the tall woman's cheek. "You will go with me, though. I'll see you have safe passage to another Barony. Let me do this for you, Ava, in retribution of all that my brother has taken from you."

"Shouldn't he be the one to pay that debt?" Ava asked, kissing the inside of Cayden's wrist.

"I have sins that need atonement as well. He'll pay his debt reclaiming Jerusalem." Cayden leaned in, her breath warm on her lover's face. "I'll pay mine." Their lips met in a tender, intimate kiss, Cayden's tongue exploring inside Ava's mouth.

Ava moaned weakly and leaned into the warrior. "How can I say no?" she whispered. "Will you steal my heart, M'Lady?"

"Keep your heart," Cayden answered, pulling away slowly. Her fingers trailed off of Ava's face. "Bolt the door behind me," she ordered before slipping into the darkness of the night. She crossed the courtyard and crept into the house, moving quietly through the corridors. The moment she stepped into the dark bedroom, she knew that she was not alone. She pulled a knife from a sheath at her hip and crouched defensively near the wall. "Who's there?"

Cayden's eyes, adjusted to the darkness, quickly took in Deliah's form sitting on the end of her bed. The warrior stopped moving and leaned against the doorjamb, her eyes sweeping over the curves hidden by the long nightgown. When her eyes reached her sister-in-law's face, she saw accusation there. "So, the whore has bewitched you into her bed as well?" Deliah spat.

"Your husband went to bed alone and throbbing tonight, M'Lady."

"I know."

"I'm taking Ava away."

"You are also taking Hayden away."

The silence hung between them. Cayden dropped her eyes, the woman's words piercing her conscience. She could not deny the charge, so she chose to remain silent. She sheathed the sword and removed the sash that kept it secure. She draped it over the back of a chair and began freeing the buttons on her trousers, her back to her sister-in-law.

"You didn't tell me what to do when my body screamed for touch just as loudly as his did," Deliah whispered.

Cayden turned in the darkness and stepped closer to the young woman. "Is your body screaming now?" she asked, sliding her hand to Deliah's breast.

"Y-yes," Deliah stuttered. "Will you show me how to silence it?"

"Silence will not come first," Cayden assured as her talented fingers tugged open the ties of the wispy nightgown. She pushed her hand into the opening and began massaging the delicate breast, her fingertips caressing the soft flesh. "First will come soft sighs and long, low moans, and then will come pleading, and that will be followed by screaming."

"You sound very confident of your abilities," Deliah said in a breathless voice.

Cayden's fingers plucked at the girl's hard nipple. "Your body seems fairly confident of my abilities." She tugged Deliah into a standing position, sliding her hands over her brother's wife. Her palms came to a stop on Deliah's hips, pulling the girl tight to her body as her mouth lowered for a firm kiss. She slid her tongue into Deliah's mouth, the kiss deep and intimate as she tasted and explored slowly. There was a different intensity to this kiss than the one Cayden had shared with Ava.

Without breaking the long kiss, Cayden began bunching the material of the night gown in her hands, lifting it slowly as her tongue swept behind Deliah's teeth and into the deep recesses of her mouth. Deliah met the intruder with her own tongue. Her aggression gave Cayden chills and intensified her desire. They broke the kiss only long enough for Cayden to remove Deliah's night gown. It floated to the floor as the kiss continued.

The warrior's hands cupped Deliah's breasts, squeezing them softly and allowing her thumb to caress the sensitive nipples. Deliah released a moan into Cayden's mouth and the warrior grinned. Cayden guided Deliah until the woman's legs struck the bed. She fell backwards. Cayden stood over her, watching the woman's small breasts rising and falling as she panted for breath. Cayden removed her tunic and finished unlacing her trousers.

She placed her knee on the bed, gliding her hand slowly up Deliah's outer leg. Deliah inhaled softly, her body quivering at Cayden's touch. Cayden bent to lightly lick Deliah's breast, kissing and sucking at the hard nipple. Deliah arched into Cayden's mouth, groaning softly and pleading wordlessly. The warrior's hand shifted to the inside of Deliah's thigh, her fingertips brushing against red curls at the apex. Deliah gasped, her whole body arching as Cayden's fingers pushed inside.

Cayden switched her attention to Deliah's other breast as her fingers sought and found the button buried deep inside. "I'll show you how to silence your body's screaming," she whispered, her voice husky. Her digits found a rhythm and soon Deliah's body was shifting and lifting to meet each shallow, teasing thrust. Cayden was grinning, her body braced over Deliah, watching her sister-in-law respond to the strokes.

When she thought that Deliah was close to exploding, Cayden stopped her motion, completely withdrawing her hand. Deliah cried out in frustration. "Please, Cayden."

"Please, what?" Cayden whispered, her breath warm on Deliah's stomach.

Deliah tossed her head from side-to-side, her sheltered and pious upbringing keeping her from being able to form the words. "Oh, please," she sobbed. She forced her eyes to focus as she felt the bed shifting. Cayden lifted her leg over Deliah's head. Deliah looked up into Cayden's glistening mound. She was smothered by the scent of her lover's desire.

Cayden lowered herself slowly, settling onto Deliah's face. She bent forward, slipping her tongue Deliah's slick lips, demonstrating what she wanted the younger woman to do. Deliah moaned again, her body thrashing at the sensation of Cayden's mouth on her sensitive button. When she opened her mouth, Cayden pressed her hips down farther, pushing her mound against Deliah's tongue. Deliah's instincts took over as she extended her tongue and began licking Cayden in the same cadence that Cayden's tongue moved.

Cayden slowed her pace, her tongue teasing but trying to slow Deliah's build up. She loved bringing pleasure to other women, but she needed completion herself. Deliah was quickly getting the hang of the motion, her tongue lapping quickly against Cayden's sensitive nub. Cayden could feel her body tightening in anticipation, tingling as she moved closer to completion. Each crest she reached caused her to increase her attack on Deliah.

Cayden relaxed and allowed her body to fall over the top, biting and sucking Deliah as she did. Deliah crested and screamed, her voice echoing on the stone walls of Cayden's bedchamber. The reverberations were replaced with the sound of their harsh breathing, and eventually, silence.