Transitions #4
When they reached the water’s edge, Ilona urged Rathnon to go first since she wanted to wash clothes first and let them dry briefly before they returned.
Rathnon undressed completely while Ilona occupied herself with washing her clothes and hanging them on the sunniest branches to dry.
She walked into the loch wearing her linen shift, effectively washing it while she swam.
Ilona saw Rathnon at the other end of the loch swimming with powerful strokes.
Mayhap he enjoyed the vigorous exercise, and it must have soothed his muscles after digging and cutting peat.
She had helped her parents do it to prepare for winter but wrinkled her nose in disgust at the smell and how dirty yer clothes got.
Rathnon raced as if being chased, for lurid images of Ilona haunted him.
He was glad she had left her shift on since he feared losing control of his intense desires for her if she had swum naked.
He observed that she demonstrated excellent swimming skills.
Ilona swam parallel to him across the breadth of the loch.
The cold water felt heavenly to Ilona after her labors of the day. Now that she kent how to get to the loch, she could visit anytime she desired—when she did nae have work. Ilona longed to tease Rathnon and challenge him to a race, but she did nae ken the words to use.
Rathnon stilled in the water and swam up behind and under Ilona, who shrieked and thrashed as if a monster of the deep attacked her. Rathnon pulled her up to his chest as she sputtered and tried to get free. Then she relaxed in his arms as he laughed a big hearty laugh.
Not caring that he didn’t understand her, she said, “Rathnon, ye scared me to death. I thought a fierce animal was attacking me. Ye frightened me terribly.”
He chuckled in delight. “Fenir, Ulf,” he laughed. Fenir was a powerful wolf in Norse mythology, but Ilona was unaware of this.
His playfulness had gotten the reaction he desired.
She paid attention to him and was at his mercy.
He stopped laughing and became tender, smoothing the loose tendrils of hair from her face.
Then, lowering his face, Rathnon pressed a featherlight kiss to her lips in apology.
It was not enough. He held her tightly to him, feeling the soft imprint of her breasts pressed into his chest. He ran his hands over her skin, legs, and buttocks.
Then, as if he wanted to devour her whole, Ilona felt the ardent press of his hot tongue to the seam of her lips.
She gasped as he thrust his tongue inside her mouth and deepened their searing kiss.
This kiss was unlike any other Rathnon had given her. She didn’t ken men kissed women like this. His kisses and caresses awakened heat, and the flames of desire coursed through her body. She kissed him back, and their tongues tangled in an intimate dance.
To her surprise, Ilona felt something hard pressed against her abdomen, and her eyes widened.
She realized Rathnon was nae wearing any clothes while swimming.
She stroked his back, feeling the defined ridges of his muscles as he tensed and flexed.
Her hand drifted lower toward his buttocks, and as her hands stroked over his hips, she felt his hot bare skin.
She confirmed he was indeed naked. What does that mean?
Will he undress me here in the woods before we wed?
She now realized how dangerous kissing could be, especially with a man as handsome, skilled, and charming as Rathnon.
Ilona broke their kiss and pulled back. “I need to go to the shore to dry my dress.”
Rathnon reluctantly let her go but had felt her trembling in his arms, confirming either her fear of him or that she was a maiden yet—or both.
He did not want her to fear him. He wanted only to give her pleasure, and he could barely restrain himself from doing so.
How can I continue to resist her enticing charms?
Rathnon watched her as she emerged from the loch and dried herself and her hair while sitting on a rock.
He resumed vigorous swimming back and forth in laps across the loch, for now he had even more images and experiences to banish.
Would he tire himself sufficiently that he could sleep beside her again?
He had missed her and her heavenly heather scent as he held her in sleep.
He had become protective of her when he had first seen her, and his heart claimed her, belonging only to him. Ilona was his to protect and cherish.
He finished racing and called to Ilona. “I’m coming out of the loch to join you.”
Her eyes widened as it became clear he had finished swimming and was emerging from the water. Even though curious about his body, she hung her head. Ilona gazed intently at the earth at her feet, nae wanting to gaze at him brazenly,
Rathnon smiled at her maidenly modesty. He looked forward to the time when she would look at him with hunger in her eyes and desire for him in her blood.
For now, he would let her desire smolder.
For he kent underneath she was a passionate woman.
Her ire with him had showed him that easily enough.
At first glance, something in him cracked wide open.
He felt powerless against the intensity of his desire for Ilona.
Never had he longed for a woman more. He yearned to awaken the slumbering dragon of desire inside of her and let her unleash her passions upon him.
It was not enough to possess her. He wanted to claim her—heart, body, and soul.
He dried himself and put on his pants, then sat on the rock beside her to put on his socks and shoes.
And Ilona gently let go of the breath she had been holding.
Rathnon stood and pulled her to him and held her in his arms for a long moment before kissing her softly. Before Ilona could gather her damp clothes, Rathnon picked them up and slung them over his shoulder.
He placed a dry cloth over her shoulders, covering her damp shift, and picked up the baskets of berries. Rathnon held Ilona’s hand and pulled it to his lips to kiss, taking her by surprise. His tender kiss undid her, and it felt like part of her heart melted as it filled with warmth.
Back at the longhouse, Ilona hung up her clothes to dry and took Rathnon’s clothes with her into the house. He remained outside with the men, while the women readied for bed and put their bairns to sleep. Ilona hung his tunic on the wall and folded his pants and set them on a bench with his socks.
Ilona settled on the floor to sleep and hoped Rathnon would join her tonight. She missed his presence next to her and being held securely in his arms. But Ilona had also discovered how traitorous her body could be with Rathnon.