A Year & a Day (16 page)

dawned on him she had no bedgown and this must be the handiwork of Thomas, trying to improvise.

His mouth went dry as she walked across the room toward him. As she passed in front of the fire, her body was outlined through the fine silk, displaying her long legs and her lush breasts. Lynx picked up his wine and drained it, then he handed Jane her half-empty goblet and watched her do the same. Lord have mercy upon him; how would he curb the rampant desire he was feeling?

Lynx de Warenne rose to his feet, looming above her, dwarfing her."Jane,do you know what a man looks like; how he is fashioned?"

"Not a naked man, my lord." Suddenly, inexplicably she was wildly curious.

He took a deep breath. "Then it is high time that you learned." He sat down in the chair and lifted her onto his lap.

Jane sat perched on his knees, which were covered by his black velvet bedrobe. She looked at him expectantly, both dreading and desiring him to make the first move. He removed the wreath from her head and combed his fingers through her long, red hair. When he brought a handful to his face to inhale its scent, she gasped, expecting his tongue to come out and lick her cheek as the lynx had done in the forest. When it did not happen, she gazed into his green eyes, then dropped her gaze to his beautiful mouth. Surely that was relief she felt, not longing.

As Jane sat unmoving, Lynx prompted, "Are you not curious?"

"Yes, my lord," she admitted innocently.

"Then I suggest you explore me."

She looked into his eyes to see if he meant it. He did. Slowly, her hand came up to his chest to peel back the black velvet. His chest was covered by a thick pelt as tawny as his long mane of hair. Jane wondered if he realized the startling contrast the black velvet made against his bronzed skin and tawny hair,

and suddenly, she knew that he did. That was why he had deliberately chosen it.

Delicately, she raised her bottom and pulled the bedrobe from beneath her. He was now divided in half down the center of his body. One half was soft black velvet, the other smooth bronze skin. One half was soberly clothed, the other blatantly bared. Yet even more startling was the feel of his thigh beneath her bottom, with only the thin layer of silk separating their naked flesh.

She tried to fight the feeling of excitement that rose up inside her, but it was so strong she felt as if she were being carried along on a tidal wave. As her fingers unerringly reached to lift the other half of his robe, Lynx once more began to harden. She looked down with wide-eyed curiosity as his shaft became fully erect.

Jane knew enough about male animals to know this happened before they mated, but his size surprised her. "Do all men grow this big?" she asked in wonder.

Lynx felt his balls tighten. He had never considered the question. "More or less, I suppose."

A ghost of a dimple appeared beside her mouth, then it vanished. "I think
more
,rather than
less,
my lord."

Lynx shrugged out of the bedrobe. "Are you warm enough now?"

"Oh yes; actually I'm overheated," she admitted breathlessly.

His shaft pulsed and he cautioned himself to go slow. Lynx took her hand and brought it to his groin. After a moment he placed her fingers around his cock and moved them slowly up and down.

"Rapid movement creates friction," he explained swallowing hard. "And both of our bodies produce a natural lubrication to ease entrance into your—" he caught back the word he was going to use and substituted, "body."

As she listened solemnly, it pleased him greatly that he detected neither repulsion nor dread for the physical act he was leading up to. He wondered briefly if she really was virgin. He

swallowed the question; there was a surer way of discovering if she was untouched than asking.

Some women were consummate liars.

Lynx slipped his hand into the open side of the silk jupon to touch her hip, then moved it down between her legs. When he came into contact with the soft curls covering hermons he said, "Open for me, Jane."

No! Never!her mind cried, but slowly, sensually, her thighs yielded to his questing hand.

He saw her blush as she opened for him and heard her gasp as he slid a finger up inside her. She was unbelievably small and tight, unquestionably virgin, and for her sake Lynx almost wished it were otherwise. With his other hand he stroked her beautiful hair. "Jane, you do realize there will be pain the first time?"

"When you mount me, yes."

Lynx felt his phallus jerk, then he felt Jane contract on his finger and his cock reacted shamelessly.

"I'll try not to hurt you," he said hoarsely. "I'll try to be gentle."

Jane could not recall ever having seen a gentle mating. The male ravaged; the female submitted.

"Do you feel my finger?"

"Oh yes," she murmured breathlessly.

"Does it hurt?"

"No, my lord."

"Your sheath is very tight—it will have to stretch to accommodate me. It will be infinitely easier on you if you do not resist me," he cautioned. "Will you cooperate, Jane?"

She licked dry lips and whispered, "I'll try, my lord."

He withdrew his finger from her tight sheath and brushed aside the front panel of silk so that she was exposed from the waist down. The sight of her red-gold curls made his cock jut straight up. With his hands on her waist, Lynx lifted her. "Straddle me," he whispered.

As Jane opened her thighs and slid her knees on either side of his hips, Lynx forgot all about the handfasting being a business

arrangement. He was hell-bent on seduction as desire and longing rose up savagely to claim her virginity.

Lynx positioned the tip of his phallus on her pink cleft, held her eyes with his, then slowly surged up inside her. He stopped when he gauged he was a little less than halfway inside her, to allow her to get used to the new sensation. His hands stroked her back, coaxing her lovely young body to yield to him fully.

Jane was surprised that she felt no pain. She felt full of him, full to bursting, but it did not really hurt. She wanted to scream, but it was from excitement at what the lynx was doing to her.

"Take a deep breath; try to relax," he murmured.

She thought she might drown in the depths of his green eyes.

His hands slid down from her waist to grasp her hips. Then he drew her down swiftly and firmly while at the same time he thrust upward ruthlessly, piercing the impediment that guarded her innocence.

A cry tore from Jane's throat before she could swallow it.

Lynx pulled her against him. "Hush, it's done," he soothed. He could not bear the thought of hurting her further and reluctantly decided to withdraw for a moment. Stroking her hair with his big hand, he gently lifted her off his lethal weapon. The white silk garment she wore was now stained with bright drops of blood.

He gave her a minute to recover. "You were very brave. How do you feel?"

"Tender ... I ache a little. Do you hurt, my lord?"

"Nay." He was touched at her concern for him. "Well, perhaps I ache a little too."

She slipped her small hand down to rub his shaft and Lynx almost came out of his skin.

"I thought it would take much longer," she confided, wishing it had not ended so soon.

It dawned on him that she was still in ignorance. "We haven't completed coitus yet." By the look she gave him he knew

that she did not understand his meaning, so he added, "I think we'll be far more comfortable in bed."

Lynx set her feet to the floor and took her hand to lead the way. At the archway, in full view of the bed, he felt Jane's slight hesitation. Overruling her reluctance, he picked her up and carried her the rest of the way.

Jane was secretly pleased that he gave her no choice. The high, wide bed was an experience she longed to sample, but the contemplation of such a thing overwhelmed her. Now it was about to happen, the knowledge that the lynx would share the intimacy of the bed, lying beside her naked, sent a thrill running through her that she could hardly contain. When he pulled down the cover and slipped her onto the snowy sheet, Jane almost screamed with excitement. Her eyes swept over his naked splendor as he stood poised, then she watched him climb onto the bed and stretch his length beside her.

Lynx made no effort to cover them, but rolled toward Jane, resting on one elbow. "Do you still ache?" he asked with concern.

Jane nodded, unable to speak because of his closeness. He had not yet touched her, but she knew he was going to and all her senses were heightened. She held her breath as he reached out his hand and slipped it beneath the silk jupon. When he touched hermons a great shudder ran through her body. Then his big hand covered her pubic bone, cupping her and pressing down firmly. The heat from his touch seeped into her body.

"Breathe, Jane," he murmured, and with a great gasp she took in air then let it out along with all her body's stiff resistance. She had never been aware of her mons before tonight, now it felt sensitive, warm, alive. The heat and pressure of his powerful hand was so delicious she felt as if her core were melting.

Jane didn't think anything could feel more exquisite. She was wrong. When he began to rub the heelof his hand slowly across her pubic bone, she closed her eyes and moaned sofdy with pure pleasure. When she opened her eyes she saw that Lynx had grownhilly erect in a heartbeat.

For her sake, Lynx didn't wish to draw it out this first time. There was no need to tamp down his desire to make it last. His knowing hands had worked their magic so that Jane was not in great discomfort, but she could be by the time he was done. It would be unkind to spend an hour arousing her body, then leave her unsatisfied. He doubted it was possible for a virgin to be orgasmic her first time.

Purposely leaving her breasts covered by the silk, he played with them through the sleek, slippery material. He rose up on his knees, straddling her thighs, then reached down to position his jutting erection against her cleft. To tear her hymen, Lynx had used a brutal thrust, this time, however, he entered her with care. He pushed inside her gently, an inch at a time, until he was seated to the hilt, then he forced himself to remain still so that she might get used to the fullness. Lynx had never experienced a woman so tight and scalding hot in his life. When he began to move, he knew it would not take many thrusts before he spent.

When Lynx covered her, Jane put her hands up against his chest in a defensive gesture, but she realized immediately she might as well push against the stone walls of the castle. As he slid slowly into her, she held her breath, afraid he would stretch her beyond her endurance. When at last he stopped and held himself motionless, she was shocked at how much she enjoyed the feel of him inside her. Jane took a deep breath and yielded herself to him, welcoming his great power.

Knowing she held Lord de Warenne inside her filled her with awe. His massive chest brushed against her cheek and she could hear the thud of his heart. Then he began to move against her and she was enveloped in his male scent. Jane felt empowered. Lynx de Warenne was the most magnificent man she had ever encountered and he had chosen her for his mate. It gave her a new feeling of confidence.

Suddenly, she felt him stiffen, heard him gasp, then his body arched as his white-hot seed poured into her.

It was the most cataclysmic thing that had ever happened to

her, and yet she yearned for more. She gazed hungrily at his mouth, longing for him to lickher from neck to knees. She wanted to put her mouth on his body and learn the taste of it. Her breasts and belly and lips ached and quivered for his touch. It took a long time for the fire in her blood to cool. Because of the strangeness of the bed and because she was unused to lying with another, it was a long time before Jane slept. But she did drift off to the edge of sleep, where thoughts became entangled with wishes and dreams. How strange that he had not kissed her. The corners of her mouth lifted. It was just as well. If his lips had touched hers, she would have devoured him.

Lynx lay on his back, his arms crossed above his head. Jane Leslie was unbelievably desirable. He was well content with the choice he had made, though he chided himself for letting passion rule the night.

He had thought it would be so easy to keep a formal distance between them and not allow his emotions to become involved. He had promised her the handfasting would be a simple business arrangement, but already he had stepped over the bounds. From now on he vowed to have better control over himself.

When he was certain she slept, he dropped a kiss on the top of her head, swung his long legs to the floor, then climbed to his own chambers to sleep in his own bed.

Eleven

In Carlisle,Jory and Robert Bruce did not have the luxury of a bed. The lovers wished to keep theirliaison a secret and as a result had to ride out from Carlisle Castle for their tryst. Long hours of keeping their eyes and hands from each other made their desire mount to such a peak, they could think of nothing but making love.

Jory kept her late afternoon appointment with a Carlisle dressmaker, but afterward she did not return to the castle. Instead, she rode out through the gates of the town to a prearranged meeting place with Robert. It was the mystical time of twilight when he spotted her, but he did not draw rein. Instead he galloped by with a wild whoop, challenging her to catch him.

Jory loved a dare, and soon she was neck and neck with him. "Where are we going, you devil?"

His grin flashed. "There's something I want you to see."

The long grass covered their horses up to their hocks, while a lone kestrel flew overhead toward his roost for the night. Suddenly they rode over a ridge and there before them stood a stone turret, twenty feet high. Robert reined in, dismounted and came to lift Jory from her saddle.