Chapter 13
Jonathon worked well into the night, having had to complete a few repairs for the nobles before he could get back to working on Raven’s armor.
He enjoyed constructing it, since he had never made armor so fine and detailed before.
It was a true challenge. However, it was taking more time to make it as lightweight as possible.
Still, it was a challenge that he more than welcomed.
Heating and pounding the sheet of metal, he used a curved anvil to help bend the vambrace, the metal plate that would protect her forearm. Once he got the curve right, he would hinge it to the other half that made up the armpiece.
“Hello?”
He was so busy pounding and working, that he hadn’t even been aware that anyone entered the smithy.
He turned around to see Raven standing in the doorway with one of her hounds at her side.
She wore a long cloak with the hood covering her head.
It was late and dark outside. His guess was that it was well past midnight.
“Lady Raven, what are you doing here?”
Raven entered the smithy, being led by Brindy, her male mastiff. Her hounds slept in her bedchamber, so it was easy to sneak out with her dog without the kennelgroom realizing it was gone.
“I couldn’t sleep. I heard the pounding so I knew you were still awake.”
“Come in,” he said with a nod, putting down the hammer and picking up a rag to wipe his hands.
She entered, closing the door behind her.
“I’m sorry, I’m not dressed appropriately, but it was hot in here and I wasn’t expecting visitors at this hour,” said Jonathon.
Raven’s eyes fastened to Jonathon’s arms. They were bare.
His chest was bare as well. Only the leather work apron covered his top half.
Thank goodness he wore trews or she thought she would have swooned.
“You look... fine,” she said, once more letting her gaze travel down his body.
She wanted to say he looked sexy, amazing, exciting, but she said none of those words.
“Brindy, good to see you, boy,” said Jonathon, hunkering down and petting the dog. Brindy got a little excited with the attention and knocked him to the ground. Jonathon fell back on the floor laughing.
“Brindy, nay. Bad boy,” Raven scolded, hurrying over to pull the dog off of him. “I’m sorry I brought my hound along, but it was late and dark and I didn’t want to go out unescorted.”
Brindy sat down and whimpered, his tail swishing back and forth over the floor.
“No problem. I think Brindy should have been made your personal guard instead of me.” Jonathon jumped up, patting the dog on the head.
“I have something for you,” he said, walking over to a table.
“I figured sooner or later you’d come to visit and I wanted to make sure you were satisfied.
” With his back toward her, he picked up something that was wrapped in brown paper.
“Me?” asked Raven, wondering what he had, and how he planned on satisfying her. His comment only made her thoughts go wild.
“Nay, I was talking to Brindy,” said Jonathon, pulling out a big bone and handing it to the dog. The dog grabbed it and ran into the bedroom to chew on it.
“Oh,” she said, suddenly feeling very foolish.
“I saved that from the last time my mother made soup. I thought it was too good to throw away.”
“Of course,” she said, flashing him a smile.
“I do have something for you, too,” he told her, walking back over to the work area, picking up several pieces of armor.
“My armor!” she exclaimed, nearly running to him, so excited to see it. “It is finished?”
“Naaaay,” he said with a chuckle. “I only have the greaves and the plackart finished, and one of the vambraces. I have a long way to go yet.”
“The what?” she asked. “I’m sorry, but I’m not really knowledgeable about the names of the different pieces of armor.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I sometimes take it for granted that everyone knows what I’m talking about.” He picked up a piece that looked like it was to be worn on the leg. “The greaves protect your shins, and the vambraces, your forearms.”
“And the plackart? Isn’t that like a breastplate?” she asked.
“Nay, I haven’t made the breastplate yet. I need to take another measurement for that before I do.”
“Y-you do?” Her heart picked up a beat as she remembered the last time he measured her. It excited her to think he might do that again.
“The plackart is the part that protects your stomach, under the breastplate. Right here,” he said, putting his hand over her cloaked body, right below her breasts. “Since you are here, would you mind trying on the pieces I have to see if they fit properly?”
“Try them on?” Her mouth became so dry that she could barely swallow. All she was wearing under her cloak was her night rail. It was thin and a little sheer.
“Give me your leg. I am anxious to check the fit.” He bent down before her with his naked chest and back so close to her that she could reach out and touch him. She slowly stuck one leg out from under her cloak.
“I put straps and buckles on the back to hold them in place.” His fingers brushed against her bare leg, sending a delightful shiver coursing through her. “Ah, I see the fit is good, but I need to make the back straps shorter so it buckles tighter.”
“Yes. Tighter,” she repeated, looking down at his beautiful long hair tied with a band and trailing down his neck.
“Let’s try the vambrace next. I hope that fits better.
Give me your arm.” He jumped up with another piece in his hand.
He reached out and took her arm, almost causing her to lose her grip on her cloak since she’d only been holding it shut and it wasn’t fastened.
He slapped the metal piece around her arm, buckling it quickly.
“Is it good?” she asked, feeling her heart beating in her ears.
“Yes, it is a tight fit. Just the way I like it.”
Why did that sound like he was talking about something else to her? The rousing thought lodged in her brain and she couldn’t shake it.
“Take off that cloak,” he commanded, removing the armpiece and picking up the next. “I want to see how the plackart fits now.”
“Well, I don’t know.” She hesitated, not sure she should do it. Especially since he was looking so naked to her right now, and she felt so naked under the cloak.
“It’s fine. You won’t have to undress. You can try it on right over your gown.
” He took the edge of her cloak, moving it.
When he did, her grip slackened on her covering.
The cloak was resting on her shoulders and fell off, pooling around her feet on the ground.
“Oh,” he said, his eyes fastening to her chest. “I’m sorry, my lady.
I thought you were fully clothed underneath, and not in your night clothes.
” He bent over to get her cloak, but she reached out and touched him on the arm.
“Continue. Please. I want to try it on,” she said, giving him the permission to move forward. Slowly, he stood back up, looking the other way.
“I think it would be better to do this at a later time.”
“Nay,” she objected, reaching out for the plackart. “I’m here now, and you need to get my exact measurements, so let’s do it.” She tried to put the piece on, but didn’t know how it went.
“Nay, my lady. Not like that.” Jonathon reached out and took the plackart from her.
“Please,” she said in a half-whisper. “Just call me Raven when we are alone. I’d like that.”
He suddenly felt as if his tongue were too big for his mouth. All he could do was nod. Carefully, he put the piece on her, reaching around her waist to buckle it from the back.
“It seems to fit?” she said, more as a question than a statement.
“It isn’t too snug, is it?” His hands encompassed her waist. And when he did that, he realized because of where it ended, it made her breasts even more noticeable as they stuck out over the plackart.
Her night rail was thin and white and very sheer.
The plackart pulled the material taut. In the firelight from the forge he saw her hardened pink nipples poking forward, which instantly caused his groin to tighten.
Damn, he wanted her bad. In his bed, on the floor, on the table, it didn’t matter. All he could think about right now was making love to this beautiful woman. He couldn’t stop wondering how it would feel to plunge his length into her tight, warm…
“Jonathon?” she said, breaking him from his thoughts. His arms were around her waist, and his eyes were still fastened to her breasts.
“I think that’s good.” He removed the plackart and turned and headed over to the table. “Mayhap it would be better if you left now.”
With his back to her, he didn’t even hear her coming. She slid her arms around his waist and laid her cheek against his bare back. He could feel her hot body pressed up against his, and he felt as if he were going to combust.
“I don’t want to leave,” she said in a half-whisper. “I want to spend the night with you.”
“What?” He spun around so fast that she fell against him.
He reached out and put his hands on her shoulders to steady her.
Looking into her eyes he could see her need for him and wondered if she could see his need for her as well.
“Nay. You can’t stay. If you do, I’m only going to end up doing something we’ll both regret in the morning. ”
“I promise you, I won’t regret it. I want to couple just as much as you want to,” she boldly came out and admitted.
“Raven, no,” he said in a half whisper, shaking his head, using her name without the title. His arms slid from her shoulders. “I can’t take your virginity. It’s not right. Especially so close to your wedding day.”
“I’m not a virgin,” she said, surprising him even more.
“Y-you’re not?” he asked, running a hand through his hair. What kind of little vixen was she?
“I’m not a whore, either, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Nay! I’m not. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.” He slowly reached up and cupped her cheek in his palm. Her eyes closed and she leaned in to his touch.