|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
would have done more than threaten them. "Oh, aye," Avelyn said wryly. "I am so beautiful you have yet to consummate our marriage, and 'tis more than a week after it was done." Paen gasped in disbelief, then held up his bandaged hands. " Tis a bit difficult to bed you just at the moment, wife." "Hugo said 'twas not your hands that were im-portant, and that if you could ride a horse, you could ride me," Avelyn snapped, then realized what she'd said and blushed at repeating the crude words. "Hugo," Paen said with disgust. "Why would you believe him?" "Because he is a man and more versed at such things," Avelyn said quiedy, then tilted her head and asked, "Is it not true, then? Was Hugo wrong?" "Aye, he was wro " Paen came to a sudden halt as he realized he would be lying. He could consummate the marriage with her, of course. It would be difficult but not impossible. While his hands were useless, his manhood was not and had let him know it several times since the fire. He couldn't sit on a horse behind her without ending up as stiff as a sword, and when he'd had to take her to bathe in the river& Dear God, he hadn't even had to see her, just the sounds of her disrobing and splashing in the water were enough to have him erect as a post. Paen had avoided sleeping next to her at night because the idea of being close enough to smell her and reach out and touch her, but still unable to, had been unpalatable. He'd had no choice the night they'd stayed at Hargrove Paen would never have humiliated her by asking for his own room but other than that, he'd slept as far away from her as he could and had intended to do so until he was recovered enough to finally do all the things he'd been fantasizing about. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Apparently, that decision had led his wife to believe he couldn't bear to be near her. He'd merely added to the poor image her cousins had worked so hard to instill in her. Sighing, he tried to explain. "Without my hands to help, it would be uncomfortable for you, but aye, it would be possible to consummate the marriage. We could not do it in the normal way, of course. You would have to perhaps sit on the window ledge, or bend over something& " Paen's words slowed as his mind was immediately filled with images of the possibilities. Avelyn sitting on the window ledge, him urging her legs apart with his body, then moving between them, his body brushing against hers as he kissed her, then drove himself into her. This picture was quickly followed by an image of her bending over the ledge as he drove into her from behind. "Are you saying you have neglected to consummate our marriage out of consideration for my discomfort?" Avelyn's voice drew him from his imaginings and Paen scowled at her. Much to his annoyance, she didn't sound as if she believed him. "Well, aye, of course, and 'tis why I have not been joining you in our bed. Did you really think I preferredthe hard-packed earth to the soft warm furs in our tent?" "Nay, of course not," she said, and her voice too was becoming impatient. "Which is why I assumed you prefer the hard-packed earth to my company." Paen opened his mouth, then closed it again. He could understand that her cousins had affected her confidence, but he thought his desire for her on their wedding night had been pretty obvious. He'd been as stiff as a sword and eager as a lad his first time out. How could she have missed that? Paen pursed his lips as he considered one reason she might have missed it. "Were you sotted on our wedding night?" "No!" Avelyn said, appearing shocked at the question. "Well, then surely you noticed my" Paen paused, seeking an alternate term for the crude one that came to mind to describe his erection "eagerness." When Avelyn just stared at him, Paen heaved his breath out on an exasperated sigh. "Trust me, wife, if my hands were not injured I would be consummating our marriage every chance I could. But I will not cause you unneeded pain." Avelyn bit her lower lip and paused a moment before responding. "Well, my mother did warn me of what to expect, and she said that the first time could be quite uncomfortable and even painful. I appreciate your concern, but if you wish to " "Avelyn," Paen interrupted. "You do not know what you are asking. The first time is not always pleasant for the woman, but without my hands it could be downright unpleasant." "I see," Avelyn murmured, then jumped at a knock on the door. Turning, she opened it to find David standing there, looking uncertain. The boy glanced from her to Paen. "Did you still want your bath, my lord? Or shall I ?". "I will leave you to your bath," Avelyn murmured and slipped out of the room. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html With a sinking heart, Paen watched her go. He was sure he'd seen the sheen of tears in her eyes before [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
Odnośniki
|