Chapter Ten #2
She took a step forward and squelched. ‘Plenty of time to change once my trunks arrive. No need for sleep yet.’
She crossed to the small iron brazier, which was beginning to give out some heat. She put out her hands and the fur slithered to the floor. She cursed.
‘Your words miss the solid good sense I’ve come to expect.’
He spoke as if being sensible was a compliment. She hated that she wanted to think it was, but she also knew from her nurse’s teaching that sensible meant dull.
‘Do you even know what that sense is? That sense tells me I need to remain upright and not go to sleep.’
‘I’ve seen the deep cold in action a number of times.’ He handed her a cloth. ‘I don’t want to fight you. Dry your hair.’
‘That is good to know.’ She wrapped the linen cloth about her hair, but her hands seemed very numb. She whispered a small plea for help.
He picked up the fur, put it about her and briskly towelled her hair. ‘Better?’
‘I would win any argument,’ she muttered, but her mind had become thicker than day-old pottage. ‘But thank you.’
‘Strip and get into bed. I won’t allow you to sleep. Promise.’
She put a hand to her throat. ‘Strip? In front of you? Without the torches being doused?’
‘I can turn my back, but the bed with the furs should help. Without clothes, you won’t be trapping in any cold.
I should have considered the possibility back on the boat.
All that leather cloak did was to allow the cold to seep into your bones.
And then, on our journey here, you became wetter and more vulnerable.
We should have stopped at one of the fishermen’s huts instead of pressing on here. ’
‘I agreed with your suggestion. We require horses.’
Rand gave a half-smile. ‘Proof that you were not thinking straight.’
She walked quickly to the bed, stripped and dived under the furs and hugged her knees to her chest. The simplest action suddenly appeared far more complicated. ‘Are you going to leave me here?’
‘Why would I do that? My men are capable of looking after themselves.’ His voice came from the other side of the room. ‘I promised that I’d keep you awake.’
Svanna stared up at the shifting shadows. ‘Someone once told me that human contact, skin to skin, is the quickest way to warm up.’
She internally winced. The words sounded pathetic and pleading.
Not seductive at all. She should have kept to being an Ice Maiden, something she’d excelled at, instead of this needy woman who secretly longed for his touch.
She knew Astrid had counselled her to seduce him, but Astrid had little idea of how truly inexperienced she was.
‘Whoever said that was right. Skin to skin is the quickest way to warm you up.’ His warm voice washed over her. A faint curl of heat began in her belly. ‘I hesitated to mention it as a remedy because of what passed between us. I know where that could end, Svanna, but I want to give you time.’
The tight place at the base of her spine loosened. ‘You’re chilled as well.’
‘I’m not minded to ask anyone else to warm up my wife.’
She unclenched her hands. A small curl of heat tried to wind its way about her insides at the word ‘wife’ said with such possessive assurance, but the cold appeared intent on beating it back. It was her status he cared about, not her per se. If she ever forgot, her heart would surely break.
‘Right now, given the chill I’ve had, I am willing to try anything.’ She forced a laugh, even though the deep cold had grown distinctly less because of their conversation. ‘Please, Rand, don’t make me beg.’
‘What can a man do but comply with his wife’s wishes?’
She kept her head firmly turned away, but the sound of clothing dropping to the floor made her skin tingle with anticipation.
He slid in behind her and pulled her firmly into his arms. Her back collided with his bare chest. His naked body cupped hers, and his warmth slowly seeped into her.
He did not do anything except hold her like precious glass.
She touched his hand, which immediately engulfed her fingers.
She clung to him, attempting to work up the courage to turn around.
A large part of her hoped he’d take the hint, but his hold continued to be considerate rather than lover-like.
Shivering racked her, but still he held her and allowed her to cling to his hand.
‘I was far colder than I thought,’ she whispered as the shivering decreased.
He stroked her hair. ‘It creeps up on a person. You will have to be more careful. Sleep would not be a good idea.’
‘What shall we talk about?’ She tried to make her voice sound bright. ‘Court gossip that I will need to know when we reach Tara? Or something else?’
‘Anything you want.’
‘Anything?’ She winced. Her sing-song voice was back. If she was a stronger person she’d turn and capture his mouth. ‘I am fresh out of topics, but this method does seem to be working where others failed. Incredible.’
The soft rumble of his chest with barely suppressed laughter reverberated against her back. ‘I am pleased it meets with your approval.’
His breath touched her sensitive earlobe.
The small flame of desire had become a raging inferno, but Svanna didn’t want to jeopardise their newfound closeness.
There was something satisfying about being wrapped in his arms and held as if she were more precious than any jewel—an illusion, but Svanna found she wanted it, something to hang onto in the coming months and years.
She waited until her body screamed to take a chance.
She flipped over. His mouth was no more than a breath away. She raised her hand and traced the scar. ‘Thank you.’
He caught her hand and brought their joined hands to his lips. ‘My pleasure, but your skin remains chilled.’
She released him. ‘I’m much warmer. Honestly.’
‘It’s important that Agthir’s representative remains safe from such things.’
‘Should I check if you are warm?’ She allowed her hand to trail down his chest. Her thumb brushed his nipples. She pretended to consider. ‘Further investigations are required.’
She traced round and round the nipples, first one and then the other, and felt them harden beneath her ministrations.
‘Svanna…’ His voice rasped in her ear, sending fresh waves of heat through her.
Her body pressed closer to his. And where once he’d been the warmer one, he was now the cooler.
‘What? I am trying to ensure that we are both warm. A wife’s duty, I’d say.’ Internally, she hoped that he would not reject her as she was fresh out of ideas.
He gave a rasping laugh. ‘Is that what you are doing? Warming us up because of duty?’
‘I can’t think of any other reason. Can you?’ She bent her head to his strong neck and ran her tongue up from where his neck met his shoulder to his jawline, tasting him while the heat inside her grew white-hot. ‘Definitely warmer.’
‘Two can play this game, wife.’
His arm came around her and pulled her tighter, making her breasts encounter the hardness of his nipples.
Using one arm, he held her firmly against him while his lips traced downward from her jaw to her shoulder.
Her body bucked towards him. She realised with a flush of heat that his nipples were not the only part of him which had grown hard.
His hand stroked downward and cupped her bottom, holding her against his erect member.
A moan escaped from her throat.
His mouth continued its downward trail and caught each of her breasts in turn. His tongue circled her nipples until heat exploded within her.
Her body bucked forward, encountering his ever-hardening groin. She clawed at his upper arms, asking for more, but he continued his ministrations of her breasts.
Before she could question herself, she plunged her hand further down and touched his member. Silky hardness greeted her. She closed her hand around him and felt him grow harder still.
He caught her hand. ‘Not yet. I went far too quickly the last time.’
‘Did you?’
He stroked her hair. ‘I want to make this good for you, better than the last time. Allow me to look after you. Please.’
She withdrew her hand, knowing that if it was any better than the last time she might expire with pleasure, but finding it difficult to explain.
He eased her onto her back and held her wrists above her head.
His mouth moved lower still, pausing to lap and penetrate her bellybutton before continuing its journey towards her nest of curls.
There, his tongue drew circles as if he was gently searching for something.
Her body bucked upwards again. She twisted back and forth, writhing as wave after wave of white-hot pleasure hit her.
He released her. Her hands clawed at his shoulders.
She wasn’t sure if she wanted his tongue to continue or if she wanted him fully inside.
His fingers replaced his tongue, once again going round and round where she’d become very slick. Her muscles clenched about him, trying to entice him to go deeper.
‘Put me where you want me,’ he rasped against her ear. ‘Now.’
She opened her thighs and placed him near the apex, knowing that she required him inside her. She lifted her hips, tugged at his shoulders and drove her hips upwards, seeking the relief she knew their joining would bring. ‘Here. Now. Please.’
‘Your wish is my command, my lady fair,’ he said against her hair.
He bucked forward and her body opened up to him. He filled her and then they rocked back and forth until her body became drenched with sweat. All the while the heat inside her kept growing until she trembled on a precipice.
‘I believe you were right,’ she gasped out.
‘Right about what?’
‘The perfect way to become warm is skin to skin with my husband.’
He laughed and nipped her chin. ‘Enough talking.’
His tongue entered her mouth, mimicking what was happening where they were joined.
He moved in her again and she gave herself up to the swirling maelstrom.
* * *
Much later, when the brazier had cooled, Rand looked up at the rafters. Svanna was snuggled into his chest.
Her skin was no longer clammy to the touch and a peacefulness had entered her sleep. He dared to hope that his overeager lovemaking on their wedding night had not ruined her after all. Her enthusiastic response gave him hope for the future.
He’d planned to take his time, make her beg for each new intimacy, but when she was ready and willing in his arms he’d found her impossible to resist, despite his earlier promises.
He stroked her hair and knew it would take a long time for his body to tire of her. But his protective feelings towards her alarmed him.
What the episode confirmed was what he had suspected after she’d helped to rescue Astrid from the burning building.
Svanna had little regard for her own personal safety.
She put duty before her own wishes. Despite her adorable confession that she intended to seduce him, he wanted to believe that their joining had more to it than simple duty.
‘I promised to protect you,’ he murmured against her hair. ‘My heart may be buried, but it doesn’t mean I want to see you harmed or to take crazy risks. As you appear unable or unwilling to, I promise to do all in my power to stop you in the future.’
She murmured something and snuggled closer to him. He chose to take that as agreement. He’d protect her from herself if necessary.
‘Our joining was more than duty for me.’ He tightened his arms about her. ‘I’ll work to ensure it means more to you.’
* * *
The sun sparkled on the puddle-strewn yard when Svanna emerged with Rand from the monastery.
She knew they were later than Rand had planned, but he’d kept stealing kisses as she’d tried to dress.
In the end, they’d returned to the tangled furs because Rand had proclaimed that the floodwaters needed to drop.
She might have succeeded at seduction and ensuring the blood alliance remained, but she was no closer to discovering why Turgeis had targeted them.
Had he known she would be there or was it something else entirely?
Until she knew that Agthir was in fact safe from Turgeis she had to press forward with trying to find answers.
Once she knew why, then she’d begin subtly weaving the binding ties between Eire, Agthir and Islay.
She would have to use all means at her disposal, and that meant ensuring Birdie was there to soften hearts.
‘Remaining still, despite how pleasant it may be, accomplishes nothing. To progress, one must move.’
Rand nipped her chin and said that he would defer to her wisdom on the matter.
‘I believe this will serve your lady well,’ the monk said, bowing to Rand and indicating a covered cart. ‘The abbot is currently using our best one.’
Svanna stared at the covered cart with its heavy wheels and knew it would not make it through any deep puddle, let alone thick mud. ‘Alas, I must decline. A horse will suit our purpose better.’
‘We’ve no horses suitable for a lady.’
‘I ride well,’ she said, daring Rand to gainsay her. ‘My lord Randolfr is anxious to return to his hall.’
‘From what I can recall, you were considered an excellent horsewoman in Agthir.’ Rand nodded. ‘My lady rides.’
The lay brothers brought out a dappled pony who appeared fairly placid. She held out her hand and the pony immediately nuzzled it. She caught a mischievous glint in the pony’s eye and knew that it would try to get the better of her.
‘This one shall suit me fine.’
The monk frowned. ‘That one…’
‘Plays tricks? I like a pony with a bit of spirit.’
‘My lady has spoken.’
Svanna breathed out. After what had passed between them, she dared to hope that he would finally start listening to her and allow her to make decisions.
Somehow, she’d figure out a way to demonstrate to him that she could be a good mother to his little girl and that they should take her with them to Tara.
Despite Rand’s concerns, how could a grandfather’s heart stay hard when confronted with a young child?
Astrid had been right—she had to take advantage of this time.
Instead of remaining hidden, waiting for a rescue which would never come, like she’d done that long-ago day in Agthir, she needed to take risks to prove her worth.
Hopefully, she would be able to do this quickly with Birdie and, if necessary, with the running of Rand’s household.
But the one thing she refused to risk was her heart.