Chapter Sixteen #5
Summer scratched her head, smoothing the hair away from her face. Bose closed his eye, thoroughly exhausted, yet noting from the shift of the bed that Summer was sitting up beside him. Opening both eyes this time, he observed her as she stared thoughtfully into the dim depths of the tiny room.
“What’s amiss, love?” he asked softly, stroking her delicious blond hair. “Aren’t you tired?”
She shrugged, shaking her head and wiping at her nose. After a moment, she sneezed again in the resumption of her chill symptoms that had miraculously seemed to vanish during the peak moments of their pleasure.
“Did I n-not please y-you?”
The stutter had returned and he grew more alert, knowing its return to be an indication of her emotional level. Folding a massive arm behind his head, he gazed up at her exquisite profile.
“More than words can express. What is bothering you?”
Her lovely brow furrowed as she appeared to ponder his question, her reply.
“I-It’s just…I-I…” turning to face him, he could see the blush mottling her cheeks even in the weak light.
“G-Genisa t-told me that when m-men spill their seed, i-it is inside a woman. I-If I p-pleased you, then why did you not spill inside of me? I a-am your wife, after all. ’Tis m-my duty to bear you s-strong sons and if you d-do not give me y-your seed, then h-h-how… h-h-how….”
He stopped her, his lethargy vanished as his black eyes focused on her intently.
God’s Beard, how could he tell her his reasons?
That he was fearful of pumping her full of his massive seed, killing her as he had killed Lora?
Gazing into her beautiful face, he knew as surely as he lived and breathed that if anything ever happened to her, he would be lost forever.
There would be no reason left for him to live.
Reaching up, he cupped her delicate chin, loving and adoring her more than mere words could express but unwilling to divulge his truth. The truth was that he would deny her the chance to bear his child simply because he refused to face the risk of losing her.
“You’re so young, love, so naive,” he murmured, attempting to divert the subject. “Do you always adhere to what Genisa tells you?”
Summer shook her head, the light of uncertainty still in her eyes. “N-Nay. But I-I know….”
He sat up swiftly, kissing her firmly on the lips. “You must trust that I, for now, know more than you do where it pertains to sexual relations. Trust that there is more to this world than what Genisa has told you.”
A nicely skirted answer to the subject, he congratulated himself as Summer deliberated his words. A few twisted words, a measure of confusion, and his wife was easily distracted. Eager to be clear of the subject, he wrapped his arms about her slender torso and drew her down on the bed beside him.
“Now,” he said firmly. “I want you to sleep. We must leave before sunrise and I would have you rested.”
Still pondering his mysterious, somewhat baffling words, Summer yawned and sneezed in succession. “A-Aren’t we going to make love again?”
His eyebrows rose and he fought off a smile. “I could make love to you all night, but I doubt you would derive as much pleasure as I.”
“G-Genisa and Stephan make love three and four times a night.”
“And how would you know this? Wait – do not tell me; Genisa is quite free with tales of her personal habits, I would guess.”
Summer pursed her lips wryly. “N-Not at all. Their bedchamber is next to mine and I can hear them.”
Bose laughed softly, turning in the small bed and catching her against his naked chest comfortably. “Not to worry, love. When you and I are settled at Ravendark, we shall put Genisa and Stephan to shame with our continuous lovemaking.”
Summer sighed, snuggled against her husband and feeling exceedingly weary. “I t-thought you said I would not enjoy making love more than once a night.”
“I did not say that. I merely said that tonight might be an inappropriate night for such an event due to two very good reasons.”
“A-And they are?”
“The fact that you are likely to be sore so soon after your fresh experience. And also because if your cries of passion grow any louder, I expect the priests listening at the door will be forced into an uncomfortable, if not embarrassing, physical situation.”
Summer’s head came up again. “They are listening to us?”
Bose pushed her head down. “Every word,” he kissed her tenderly. “Go to sleep now, love. I’ll wake you in the morn.”
If Bose wasn’t bothered by the eavesdropping of curious priests, then Summer supposed her outrage would be misplaced.
After all, they were a newlywed couple and the men of God’s Holy Order could hardly expect them to refrain from experiencing the intimacy of their union.
With a heavy sigh, she burrowed deep against him.
“G-Good sleep, my darling.”
“Good sleep, love.”
Summer turned her head slightly, facing toward the bolted chamber door. “Good sleep, priests!” she called softly.
After a moment, footsteps that were making an obvious attempt at silence faded in both directions of the hall. Bose and Summer giggled until they could hardly stand the pain.