Page 69 of Saxon Blade Norman Blood
“It’s hardly surprising you should share your coloring as you are both Saxons but that’s as far as it goes, trust me.”
Rowena’s mouth twisted. “Mmm, yes, you have a point. Sharing physical attributes does not necessarily mean you lookthe same. After all, your coloring is similar to that of the other Norman barons, yet I have never seen a man like you.”
“Good. I would hate to think you considered me unremarkable.”
“I wouldn’t dare. You are nothing if not remarkable.” Her gaze wandered over his chest in clear appreciation—and then froze. “But… You didn’t tell me you’d been hurt last night!” she cried out, brushing a finger on a red mark running all the way down the side of his chest.
Goosebumps covered his skin. It was the first time she had touched his naked body and he would make sure it was not the last.
“’Tis nothing,” he rasped.
“Butthisis not nothing.” She touched his cheek, where he knew the cut she had inflicted him was still very visible. “Will you ever for—”
“Forgiven. I do not want to talk about the reason why you came to me ever again. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you did come to me.”
He kissed her, running his hands along the wet skin of her thighs before forcing himself to draw back. They would have to take this slowly.
“Can I?” he asked, before taking one of her feet in his hands.
“Why ask the question? You already have,” she mocked.
But when he started to caress her toes, her head rolled backward to rest on the edge of the tub. She closed her eyes and let out a long whimper of pleasure.
Pleased by her reaction, William worked his fingers over the arch of her foot, all the while looking at her, reclining in abandon against the tub. Her breasts were half submerged, glistening wet with their rosy tips peeking just above the water. It was such a tantalizing sight that he lowered his head to look atthe foot in his hands instead, for fear of going to her there and then, whether she was ready or not. He certainly was ready for her. His whole body ached with the effort it took him to keep his urges under control.
When his fingers slipped between her toes Rowena begged him to stop. “Enough. This is heavenly, but I want something else,” she croaked.
“If you want me to love you, I will. But you are a virgin. I do not want to hurt you, yet I will when I first enter you.” It was inevitable. He gritted his teeth. Why did she have to be the one to suffer? Why couldn’t it be him? “All I can promise is to do everything I can to make the rest as pleasurable as possible for you.” He already knew he would hate to see her pain.
“I know.”
“If you want me to stop at any point, you will only have to tell me.”
Even as he spoke the words William hoped he would be able to honor this promise. He did not want to hurt Rowena but his desire for her was so strong, he feared he might not be able to keep a clear head. He was painfully hard, overwhelmed by his need for her. Would he be able to stop once he had buried himself inside her flesh?
He was not certain.
“Have you bedded many virgins?” The candor with which she asked the question left him quite speechless.
“A few,” he answered cautiously, not knowing if she would be reassured by the fact or appalled at the extent of his depravity.
After all she might think he didn’t have the right to deflower a woman he had no intention of marrying. But if that was the case, what was she doing there?
“Did it hurt them?”
“As far as I could tell, not unbearably so. And they seemed to forget the pain rather quickly.” This was true at least. “If you trust me, then—”
“I do, I do trust you.” No hesitation showed in her clear eyes. She was once more the fierce woman he had come to love. “Make love to me, William.”
It was the first time she’d used his name. As soon as she said it, he knew he wanted to hear her say it again, then again and again, for the rest of his life. In this instant, his decision was made and he marveled how he had not thought to ask her before.
He lifted her onto his lap, making sure to keep her away from his throbbing hardness. “Before I do, please tell me something.”
“Yes. Anything.”
She came closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, the look in her eyes blazing. Was she about to kiss him? He spoke before she could, because he knew as soon as she placed her lips on his, he would be lost.
And he really needed to speak.
