Page 72 of Saxon Blade Norman Blood
She held them a moment then started to tease the nipples provocatively. A sigh escaped her lips, charged with ill-concealed desire. She let her head roll backward and looked at William through half-closed eyelids, hoping he would find her teasing as arousing as she did.
Apparently, he did. His eyes had almost changed color. “Rowena. Please.”
He spoke through clenched teeth, but she was not prepared to be merciful. She wanted to see how far she could provoke him.
“As you wish,” she said, choosing to believe he was pleading for more.
Her hands skimmed along her flanks, slowly. William looked about to pounce. The sight of his desire lit hers in turn. Knowing how close he was to surrendering, she lay onto the bed and placed her hand between her legs. A finger came to tease her soft folds and she gave a moan.
Immediately his hands went to his hips. There was rustle as the discarded cloth fell on the floor at his feet. He walked over to her and knelt at the foot of the bed, eyes ablaze, naked and magnificent. It was just like that night at Old Sarum, when he had asked her to touch herself.
“If you dothatthen I will have to watch you,” he breathed, his mouth hovering just above her ankle. “And then I will have to take you again, whether you are ready or not.”
A slow smile bloomed on her lips. “That is exactly what I hoped you would say.”
Epilogue
The coastline was in view, a succession of brown fields and green wooded areas. It did not look much different from the landscape they had left behind. As a matter of fact, it was almost indistinguishable from the countryside of Rowena’s childhood.
“You look surprised,” William murmured in her ear. “Tell me what you are thinking.”
“It’s not what I expected to see at all.”
He gave a smile. “And what did you imagine? A wild and rugged land, home to dangerous, bloodthirsty men? Frightful Normans?”
“Men like you, you mean?”
This time he gave a throaty laugh. “Yes, exactly like me. I am nothing if not dangerous and bloodthirsty.”
She laughed in turn. “I confess I did not think that your country would be so similar to mine.”
“Maybe despite what everyone thinks, we are not so dissimilar after all.”
“No, maybe not.” She placed a hand on the gunwale and caressed the wood pensively. “I have never been on a boat before.”
“There is a first time for everything.”
The words sent a shiver through her whole body, as they put her in mind of their lovemaking that day in the bathtub, when he had taken her maidenhead. “Yes, and as long as they are with you, I am looking forward to experiencing many first times.”
“That is all very well, dear wife.” He engulfed her in his arms to bring his mouth closer to her ear. “But I cannot think of many things left to experiment together.”
She turned her gaze to his, refusing to be intimidated. “I can think of a few. I want to bear your children for one.” The idea of holding a child that looked like the man she loved made her heart melt.
“I can think of nothing I would like more,mon amour.” He kissed her forehead tenderly. Then he drew back, his face a picture of shocked delight. “Wait, are you telling me—”
“No!” She laughed, walking toward the ship’s bow. “Even if I was with child, how would I know it already? It has been less than a month since you first made love to me and I was a virgin, remember?”
“Mm, don’t think I have forgotten anything about that day.” His eyes caught fire. “I remember how your teasing sent me half mad with longing, you little she-devil.”
Rowena smiled and looked into the distance. A new life was beginning, one where she was free to be herself. There was no mission to accomplish, she was now married to a man she loved and who loved her back.
“Why did you want to come to Normandy so soon after our wedding, Rowena, if at all?” William asked as they watched the coast get nearer.
Her decision had taken him by surprise, and in truth, she wasn’t sure of the reason for the impulse herself.
“I want to know everything there is to know about you. You say we are not dissimilar but at times if feels like we are, and I don’t want any misunderstanding to come between us anymore.” A pause. “You are not angry at me for saying so?”
“No, my love, why would I be?” He gave her hand a comforting squeeze. “Are you worried about anything?”
