Page 14 of A Husband for Esyllt
“The burn is here, just under my pectoral. It is not so low that you might be tempted to take me into your mouth.”
At the words his cock protested vehemently.
I’m not so far!it seemed to scream.I want to be licked as well!
“Take you into my mouth? What do you mean?”
Esyllt sounded so bewildered Connor knew she had no idea what he was talking about. How was that possible? She’d been married for years, had she not? How could her husband never have mentioned such an act to her, even if he had not demanded that she perform it? Apparently, the Welshman had not been an adventurous husband. The fool. It was hard to believe he would not have wanted to make the most of his beautiful wife in every way. Helen had always denied him this delight, but at least she’d been aware it could be done, and he’d genuinely thought that all married women knew about it.
Well, Esyllt clearly didn’t, if her furrowed brow was any indication.
Instead of answering, he arched a brow and glanced at his groin suggestively. It seemed it would be his responsibility to show her that there were many ways men and women could enjoy each other’s bodies. When she blushed, he knew she had understood what he hadn’t said out loud.
“You m-must be jesting?”
“I’m not. Some women like to pleasure their lovers in that way,” he explained, doing his best not to imagine her on her knees at his feet, performing the act. Doing so would only make him even harder than he was. “And some men like it very much.”
She seemed at a loss as to what to say, so she hid her embarrassment under a scoff. “By ‘some men,’ I’m guessing you mean you.”
Yes. He did. In fact, he didn’t know a single man who didn’t. Even Matthew, who shared surprisingly little about his personal life with him, had alluded to the pleasure he’d gotten from a bold lover on occasion.
“Why don’t you come over here and see? That would be one way to make me forget about the burn on my chest.”
In truth, he hardly felt it anymore, but his shaft was definitely throbbing. He would like nothing more than for her to easethatburn.
Alas, it was not to be.
“Good night, husband.”
“I take that for a no.” Despite his aching groin, Connor could not help a chuckle at the ice in her tone. “Good night then, wife.”
As had become her habit, Esyllt snuffed her candle and got undressed in the dark, so as to ensure Connor could not get any glimpse of her wearing only her shift. She slipped under the covers and was instantly hit by wonderful warmth. In spite of everything, it was hard to resist the impulse to snuggle up to the body stretched next to her. Her new husband was like a furnace, a welcome discovery, considering the temperature outside, and he ensured she was never cold at night.
But heat the bed was all he did.
They had been married for four days now and had yet to consummate their marriage. Although he joined her in her room every night, Connor had not tried to touch her once, and he avoided her during the day. They lived like strangers who sleptin the same bed, like husband and wife who barely exchanged a word. It was all very weird, and the worst of it was, instead of being relieved that he left her alone, Esyllt resented it, which in turn annoyed her. Surely she shouldn’t be pining after him thus? If he chose to spend his days with his men instead of with her, then it meant she was free to live her life the way she wanted, and if he had not bedded her yet, then it was for the best, given what had happened the night they’d met.
Nonetheless, it was hard to convince herself that was really what she thought.
In the morning, Connor usually woke before her. For all that he slept with the sleep of the dead, he was always up before dawn. Today, though, she opened her eyes to find him staring at her. The gleam in his eyes unnerved her. How long had he been staring at her thus? What was he thinking?
“Is anything the matter?” she asked, clutching at the covers. Was her shift revealing more of her breasts than she would have liked?
For a moment he looked on the verge of a confession, then he shook his head.
“Nothing is the matter, but I’m famished. Shall we go and break our fast together for once?”
Esyllt didn’t see a way of refusing to go with him, and in truth she didn’t want to. They might exchange more than a few perfunctory words if they ate together. It would be good to finally get to know him better. “Very well.”
She didn’t have time to avert her eyes before he got up. He had slept naked, as per usual, which meant he was now standing in front of her in his full glory and bathed by the first rays of the sun. How was she supposed not to be unsettled by such a sight? Connor, on the other hand, didn’t seem embarrassed in the least. Esyllt focused on her hands. Never had her nails appeared so fascinating than they did right now.
“Look at me.”
“I b-beg your pardon?”
“Look at me,” he repeated, coming to stand at the side of the bed. “I’m your husband. I will not have you avert your eyes as if you could not bear the sight of me.”
“I... You know that’s not what I think.” She had told him she found him beautiful, and she could not believe for a moment he had forgotten it.
