Chapter 13 #2
“I only made love once before,” she told him. “It was a few years ago with the son of a visiting noble.”
“You did?” He didn’t know what to think of that, nor how to respond.
“I was seduced,” she told him.
“So he forced himself on you?” he asked, needing to know.
“Nay,” she said, shaking her head. Her eyes remain locked with his. “We both wanted it. I was curious and so was he. I thought it would be exciting and satisfying, but it wasn’t.”
“It-it wasn’t?” he asked, causing her to shake her head.
“I didn’t feel anything for the man, and ended up feeling used. Afterwards, we both realized we meant nothing to each other, and that was the end of it.”
“Did your father ever find out?”
“He didn’t,” she said. “However, I did tell my mother about it.”
“Oh no,” he mumbled. “What did she say?”
“We discussed it and thought it best not to let anyone know. Especially not Father.”
“Yes. I agree. That is something that should remain a secret. Forever.” Why the hell was she telling him? He didn’t want to be privy to this kind of knowledge. He didn’t want anything to ruin the perfect angelic image he had of her in his mind.
“Jonathon, please make love with me,” she all but begged.
“I don’t know. I want to, Raven, honest I do. But I can’t.”
“Why not?” she asked. “Because I’m a noble and you are a commoner?”
“Yes, that has something to do with it. Plus, the fact that if your father or brother found out, I’d be beheaded. Not to mention, I have no idea what your new husband would do to me or to my family. I just can’t take the risk.”
“No one has to know.” She reached up and kissed him, causing him to lose his resolve.
“I’ll know. So will you,” he answered, not stopping her when she kissed him once again.
“I don’t want to be naught but the grand prize of a silly competition,” she told him. A tear streamed down her cheek. He reached up and gently brushed it away.
“Neither do I want that for you,” he said softly, feeling the love in his heart swell for this woman. “You deserve so much more.”
“I am about to be handed off as the wife to someone who might be horrible, old, ugly, and disgusting,” she told him. “What if Lords Whitehead or Belmouth win the competition? I don’t want to be either of their brides.”
“Nay. Neither do I want that for you.”
She was crying now, and Jonathon didn’t know how to comfort her. He wanted her so much that if he touched her again, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to let go and walk away.
“Raven, darling, stop crying. Please,” he told her.
It felt odd to just call her Raven without her title.
Still, it felt right in a way. They were together and alone, and he didn’t want her status to come between them.
Even if just for a night, dropping her title would help him cope with the fact that they were so different from each other.
Her arms went around him and she rocked back and forth as she continued to cry. The strong, rebellious, boisterous woman, who seemed afraid of nothing or no one, was now vulnerable and frail and he didn’t know what to do.
“At least give me one night of pleasure before I am imprisoned in a loveless marriage for the rest of my life. Please, Jonathon. At least allow me that.”
“It’s not right, Raven. We don’t belong together and you know it.”
“I wish I could marry you, not any stupid noble.”
“What?” he asked in surprise. “Raven, you don’t mean that.”
“I do. I think I am in love with you, Jonathon. I have never felt this away about a man before.”
“Ohhh,” he said, wondering if he could have gotten himself in any worse position.
“Don’t you want me?” she asked with a sniffle.
“More than you know,” he answered, stepping back, trying hard not to touch her, when all he wanted to do right now was to scoop her up in his arms and take her to his bed.
“Do you love me?” she asked. “Please, tell me the truth. I need to know.”
He wanted to lie to her and say he didn’t love her. If he could discourage her, mayhap she’d turn and leave right now before it was too late.
“Yes,” he said instead, his voice coming out in a breathy whisper. His eyes closed and he found it hard to breathe.
“Then I see no reason to stop ourselves from doing what we both want so badly.”
When his eyes flittered open, this time his jaw dropped.
Raven stood there completely naked, with her night rail pooled around her feet.
Her ebony hair was loose, falling softly over her shoulders.
Her perky, but full breasts stood at attention, her hardened nipples begging to be suckled.
Raven’s waist was small, her hips delectably curvy.
And in the juncture of her thighs was a nest of midnight curls that he wanted more than anything to touch.
“God’s eyes, what are you doing to me?” he asked in a shaky breath, doing his best to keep from running to her.
“Jonathon, we were meant to be together, and you know it.” She stepped forward, reaching out to touch him. His hand shot out to stop her. He stepped backwards, hitting up against the wooden table.
“Tell me you really want me to leave, and I will,” she said, her voice trembling. “Tell me you don’t want to give me one night of bliss that will have to last me a lifetime, and I’ll go.”
Jonathon’s apron became tight with his erection poking out from beneath it. He removed the apron and threw it to the side.
“I’m losing control, Raven. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to conduct myself like a gentleman around you.”
“I’m not looking for a gentleman tonight,” she told him, sounding like a sexy, wanton siren of the sea.
She walked up to him and took his hand in hers.
“I am looking for a lover.” She placed his hand over her bare breast, offering what he so desperately wanted.
“I love you, Jonathon Armstrong, and I mean it.”
Raven moaned when Jonathon’s mouth covered her nipple and he suckled her, causing her to feel a vibrating feeling between her thighs.
Pressed up against him, she felt his hardened manhood against her belly.
She reached out and untied his trews as they kissed, slowly pushing them to the floor.
He kicked off his shoes and stepped out of his trews.
His eyes devoured her. The man looked so hot, hard, and hungry.
“I don’t want either of us to regret this,” he said in a sultry voice.
“I know I won’t,” she assured him. “Will you?”
“Probably,” he answered, picking her up in his strong arms. She squealed in surprise and held on to him, breathing heavily.
“There is no turning back now,” he answered, taking long strides over to the adjoining room where he slept.
There was one bed and two pallets on the floor.
Brindy lay atop one of the pallets, still chewing on the bone.
He gently laid her down, positioning himself above her. “I must be out of my mind,” he whispered, kissing her again, pushing her legs apart with his knee.
“I know I’m crazy, but I don’t really care,” she told him with a giggle.
He used his hand to ready her, playing with her womanly folds.
When he kissed her, he slipped his tongue into her mouth, bringing her more and more to life.
Heat spiraled up from her belly. Then his mouth covered one nipple, his teeth grazing over it, before his hot mouth covered it completely.
His tongue flicked out, licking her, and then he suckled her hard, causing her to gasp in delight.
Her eyes closed and her back arched off the bed.
And just when she thought it couldn’t feel any better, he surprised her by slipping a finger inside her, making her moan loudly in lust and delight as she squirmed beneath him.
“Ooooh, that feels so good, Jonathon. More. I want more.”
He proceeded to slip another finger into her, using his thumb to tease her nub.
The action nearly made her scream aloud with unbridled passion.
She needed him and wanted him. Her breathing deepened and she saw the rise and fall of her own chest pushing up against his nakedness.
It was almost too much to take. The euphoric feeling engulfed her, and she thought she would burst.
“Jonathon, I need to feel you inside me,” she said, as he continued to fondle her and kiss her neck.
“I need you. I want you. I want you to take me right now.” When he didn’t answer, she reached down, wrapping her fingers around his engorged form.
“Ooooh,” she moaned, feeling the thickness of his shaft beneath her fingers.
His skin was like silk covering steel and she couldn’t get enough.
He pulled back a little, and she could see his eyes close as he bit his bottom lip. Still, she didn’t release him. Instead, she slid her fingers down his long shaft, and back up again. Raven’s excitement caused a wetness she felt gathering between her thighs.
“Raven, this is wrong,” he whispered, breathing just as heavily as she. He still hadn’t penetrated her with anything but his fingers, but that wasn’t good enough for her. She wanted more.
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not known for always doing what is right,” she said, reaching up to lick his neck. He moaned and his eyes closed again. “I have a mind of my own, and I say this feels so right, that there is no way it could possibly be wrong.”
“Still, I-I-” He couldn’t seem to finish his sentence. That was fine with her since she didn’t want him to talk or change his mind about making love with her.
“If you won’t be the aggressor, then I will.” She pushed him onto his back and climbed atop him, spreading her legs to take him in. Slowly, she started to lower herself on to him. And just when she felt the tip of his erection at her door, he pushed her to her back and was suddenly on top again.
“If anyone is going to get blamed for being the aggressor, it’ll be me, not you.”
“Blamed? Not exactly the words I was expecting in foreplay, but it’ll do,” she told him.
That caused them both to laugh. And when the tension was broken, he slipped his length into her, little by little, until he filled her completely.
“Ooooh. Oooooh, Jonathon,” she cried out, having never felt anything so wonderful in her entire life.
She wanted to feel more of him, and lifted her legs, wrapping them around his waist, not allowing him to go.
Not that he would at a time like this, but she still didn’t want to take any chances that he’d end up changing his mind.
“Shhhh,” he told her, kissing her again.
He moved his hips in the dance of love, thrusting into her, making her squirm and scream, then slowly pulling out again.
In and out, they found the rhythm, until she felt such excitement well up inside her that she couldn’t stop it now even if she tried.
Her head fell back with her eyes closed, and colorful stars burst behind her closed lids.
Her breathing labored and her entire body tingled and vibrated, making her feel as hot as the fire of the forge.
“Yes! Jonathon, yes, yes, yes!” she cried out louder and louder as she reached her climax.
His mouth came down on hers again making her realize he was probably trying to muffle her cries of passion so they wouldn’t be heard by the castle guards.
Then he growled low in his throat, sounding like a wild beast, exciting her even more.
His rhythm didn’t stop until he released his seed within her.
The thought of it made her so excited that she found her completion a second time, which surprised her since she didn’t know that she could.
Spent and exhausted, they separated, lying next to each other and breathing hard. Brindy let out a groan and rolled over on his back, making them both giggle.
“Thank you, Jonathon. You have made me so happy.” She snuggled up against him, never wanting to leave.
Here was the man with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life.
She didn’t want a noble. She didn’t care if she had a title and he did not.
All that mattered was that she finally found love in her life, and now she didn’t want to ever let it go.