Free Telepathy of Hearts by Eve Irving Page A

Dropping from his standing pos i tion he lay down. His hands behind his head. Looking up at the sky, humming a rhyme, he yawned a little as he settled himself and closed his eyes.
    â€œ Please, ” she whispered, her head straining to see him without leaving the water ’s protection and revealing her charms.
    â€œI ’m sorry, did you speak , my dear Lady? P ray speak louder , for I cannot hear you , ” Matheus replied, struggling to subdue his laughter.
    â€œ Please , my lord. ” She sobbed her reply.
    The sound of her cries stirred him still further, the coil of his groin responding to the soft sound. Matheus su c cumbed to her tears and rose up. Picking her clothes up, he took them to the edge of the lake, just shy of the water, and lifted his face to look at hers.
    Eleanor ’s big eyes blinked back , starry with tears. Her nose had turned red with cold and her skin still paler. Little ripples surrounded her as she agitated the water, trembling as the chill went right through into her bones. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she pouted .
    Oh priest ’s bones, that pout. His heart awakened to the vision of vulnerability his eyes were enjoying and pounded his ribcage, begging to be let free to fly. It was challenging yet powerful to view her suffering as she cried. Try as he might , not to let Eleanor take a piece of his heart, it was to little avail; this was a battle he feared already lost.
    Speaking softly, he shook his head in bewilderment. “Jesus, woman, for this day you are wrecking me. ” Then, whistling loudly, Matheus turned his back.
    His destrier raised his head and whinnied. Hooves cla t tered on the pebbles as Matheus ’s mount cantered to its ma s ter ’s side. Opening the pack on his saddle, he pulled out a wool blanket. Patting his horse on the back he signalled the horse was free to wander back up the water ’s edge towards some grass. “If only my Lady, you did my bidding with as much good grace as Simon. Now I will bring your clothes and this blanket. I will turn my back on you. I give you my word I will not turn and take in the naked sight of you. I have enjoyed a little taste of what treasures await me. The full pleasure will be a gift revealed to me on our wedding night. ”
    From the lake came the sound of a loud intake of breath as he spoke. Funny. For a maid who had risked skinny di p ping alone, why was she was so afraid of her deflowering? And quite wickedly, he delighted a little in her reaction and laughed.
    â€œWill I be rewarded with a pat on the back, sir? ” she quipped.
    Matheus smiled. “My dear Lady , if you are as compliant as Simon I will even give you an apple. ”
    It was good to hear her so agreeable. Feelings of prote c tiveness overwhelmed him as his body smiled in recognition. Perhaps she was more willing than wild after all.
    Eleanor stepped from the water. With only the sound of her steps, Matheus imagined what a wondrous sight it would be. Dripping wet and naked, her harvest hair cascading down her back. OH and that skin, the smell of her. Priest ’s bones , what would she taste like?
    Fearing he was dwelling a little too long on Eleanor ’s obvious charms, he requested. “Are you dressed yet , my L a dy? ”
    There was no reply. Not even the sound of her breathing as she shivered in the cold. Eleanor was silent.
    â€œ Come now , my Lady, you will catch your death. Pray , are you dressed? ”
    Matheus shook his head, rolled his eyes and sighed, re c ognising the sound of light feet on pebbles. Turning to watch, he did not stir to catch her. His eyes followed her up the water line, with nothing but her chemise upon her back. Eleanor was running up the water ’s edge with such a desire to flee, it was as if the devil himself had designs to catch her.
    Turning her head over her shoulder , she look ed straight at Matheus, with quite an unholy expression of glee. From under a fringe of