"No, as you pointed out, you could have used it at any time. You didn't. That showed honour." She turned to look at him over her shoulder. "Why exactly did you want to marry me? Is it the land, the property? The craftsmen that I have lured here?"
He did not answer her with words. In an instant she was in his arms, and then his smooth lips were caressing hers, coaxing them to open.
She leaned her head back to facilitate the kiss and smiled against his lips when she didn't have to tilt far, their heights being closer than she had first guessed. When her lips parted and he swept his tongue in to tangle with hers she growled in response. It was not a maidenly growl. It was hunger and wanting something she had only heard about from whores and warriors.
Her belly heated and a warmth bloomed between her thighs. The wetness that began to seep out was startling and she broke the kiss. As she pulled her head away, he moved his mouth to her neck, nuzzling and nipping at the soft column of skin.
Shivers ran down her spine, her flesh craving the satiny touch of his lips. She had never known how sensitive her neck was, but just having him against her, trailing his mouth against her jaw, weakened her knees.
Rose clutched at him and her fingers tangled in the folds of his tunic. Muttering to himself, he quickly peeled it off and dropped it at her feet. Without the fabric to conceal it, the ridge in his hose showed that his interest in her went far beyond her property.
He wanted her. Her body against his. Nothing more. The heat in his eyes spoke it truer than words. She thought about it for a moment and came to the conclusion that taking him as her first lover would not be such a bad idea after all. He certainly had the necessary enthusiasm.
With that decision made she stepped back into his arms and rubbed her breasts against the smooth plane of his chest. His eyes closed as she dragged her nipples in slow circles up and down across his ribs. Her pulse beat faster and she felt a wet heat make itself evident between her thighs.
)
