Chapter 10
When night fell, the meal was finished, and a tent was erected against the outer wall of the priory, away from the men and the fire, Henry held out his hand to Elisande in the moonlight.
“My lady.”
He had kissed her earlier, and her fears had been dispelled then, but she was utterly out of her depths now that it was time … for after.
He knew what he was doing, Elisande reminded herself. At least, he seemed to have no reservations about what was to come.
She placed her hand in his and realized he had removed his plate and mail, which happened so rarely.
“I thought you’d look smaller without armor. How is it that you look larger and more imposing? Perhaps because I thought it made you look big, but you simply … are big,” she said as she answered her own question.
“Do you fear me?”
“No. Should I?”
“Of course not. I swore a vow before God to protect you, and even if I hadn’t, you would never need to fear me,” he said as he pulled her against him.
She had noticed he had added that extra word—protect—to the vows Brother Benedict had asked them to repeat. “I wondered if that had been intentional.”
“Of course. You must know I am not only your husband, but your protector. Your safety is my responsibility and one I take seriously.”
The heat of his body soaked through her dress and his cloak. Even without armor, he was hard and unyielding.
“You wear armor like a second skin. Does it feel strange to be without it?”
“I welcome the respite from the clanking and the weight of it. Especially with you. Come, my lady.” He paused, “Unless you wish to delay further.”
Elisande shook her head. “No, I don’t mean to delay. I just … you must know, I have never …” She trailed off.
“I know.”
“Well, as long as we’re clear on that.” Elisande took a deep breath.
“Whatever you’re fearing, it will not be as bad as you think.”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“Then my advice is to stop thinking.” He held the flap of the tent open for her.
Elisande crouched down and made her way inside.
He had shown care for her in every other circumstance.
She couldn’t imagine this would be different.
He joined her and settled beside her on the pallet within.
She was grateful it was softer than the bedroll she’d slept upon the other nights of their journey.
She remembered his words from earlier. “I’ll make sure you sleep soundly and comfortably.”
“I am grateful you removed the armor. It would have been very uncomfortable otherwise.”
“Indeed. I couldn’t have done this.”
He lay down and gently lifted her atop him, her legs astride him, like she rode her horse.
But he was an altogether different kind of steed.
His shirt had slid upward, and the naked flesh of her bare thighs burned against the heat of the planes and ridges of his muscular, flat belly.
His hose hid little, and his thick manhood pressed against her naked rear as she leaned backward.
Elisande let out a soft breath at the contact. His large hands squeezed her thighs before sliding down to the hem of her dress and skimming her skin beneath the fabric. His palms glided up her legs before gripping and kneading her muscles.
“I did promise I would take care of your aches, my lady.”
His hands worked her muscles, loosening their tightness, moving higher and higher until he reached her buttocks. He didn’t stop. With his hands nearly spanning her waist, he cupped her and massaged the soft skin of her derriere; it released heat of an entirely different variety within her.
Elisande couldn’t help but rock against him and press into his hardness.
He shifted her directly over the granite length between his thighs.
His soft groan did something to Elisande. She didn’t want even the layer of his hose between them. Purely on instinct, her hands slid beneath her skirt and pushed his clothing down so that her heat pressed directly against his searing skin.
“My God, woman.”
His hands stroked her, urging her onward. Slickness coated her inner thighs as she slid back and forth over the thick ridge of his arousal.
His thumb came around the front of her, slipping between her legs. When he pressed it against her, she had to bite her lip to keep from moaning.
He raised her and his hips, guiding his solid length between her soft folds.
She arched from the pleasure of his member nudging against the opening of her body.
Never before had a man touched her intimately.
But with Sir Henry—her husband—all she wanted was for him to do with her body as he pleased.
His touch unleashed rapture like she had never known as he stroked between her thighs.
“You are ready, my lady.”
Elisande rocked against him, wanting more of this foreign invasion into her body. She didn’t understand what she was feeling, but she pushed herself downward, taking him within her.
He groaned as her body welcomed him. Elisande rocked herself back and forth, seeking more and more.
“My lady.” His words came out rough as he lifted and lowered her over his shaft until he slid deep within her.
Elisande gasped at the sharpness and then the overwhelming bliss that flowed through her. She fell forward against him as their two bodies became one flesh in truth.
Sir Henry moved one hand to cup the back of her head as he held himself still within her.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice deep and husky.
The vibrations seemed to carry within her as he spoke.
“Why did you stop?” she asked on a trembling whisper.
With a chuckle, he said, “My apologies, my lady.”
And then he began to move again, his hips thrusting against hers.
Elisande had never had to try so hard in her life to remain silent. She pressed her lips to the skin of his shoulder to muffle her moans and cries as untold pleasures unleashed by his body within hers became her only reality.
When he gripped her around the waist and boosted her higher above him, Elisande had to bite down on her lip to keep from yelling out as ecstasy overtook her senses.
He lowered her, again seating himself fully within her, and Elisande covered her lips with her forearm to keep from screaming as she felt her mind come apart. Lost in pleasure, she slumped against his body.
He thrust twice more and then tensed, his hand cupping her hair and pulling her into his shoulder as his breath heaved from his lips into her ear.
“Thank you,” he whispered before he fell silent with his arms wrapped around her.
Pinned to his body in a state of exhausted euphoria, Elisande let go and allowed sleep to overtake her.