Authors: Tencia Winters,Serena Vale
Chapter 4
Aryen stood, nervous as he had ever been in his entire life, at the front of the altar. The priest stood in the middle, a huge tome opened on the pedestal in front of him, and he intoned in a Scottish brogue so thick he had trouble making out some of the words. Not that he was listening anyways. All he had thoughts about for two days was his mysterious bride. She had landed on his doorstep and turned his life upside down with a single sentence.
He had to give her credit. No one else had ever been able to do that. Usually it was the other way around. He clenched his fists when he realized his hands were shaking, actually shaking! He was being ridiculous. This was the girl he’d always known he would marry eventually, he’d just never imagined actually happening.
Finally, the large wooden doors swing open and his breath catches, as does everyone else standing in the great hall. Abigail Cecelia DuBois Castlerey walking towards him was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. He couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t think. It was all he could do not to drool like an idiot, but even still he had to close his mouth with a click of his teeth when he realized his jaw was hanging open.
His hungry gaze drank her in. From the tip of her satin slipper covered feet to the top of her glossy dark brown hair, woven into some elaborate braid that gave her a few inches of height. But even still, he noticed for the first time just how small she was, especially as she came to a stop beside him. Abigail barely reached the middle of his chest and he felt a wave of protectiveness wash over him. This woman was to be his wife, his lover, his family, and she seemed so delicate standing there that he couldn’t resist the urge to hold out his hand. A shock of emotion crashed through him when she instantly slid her palm against his, as if they’d been doing it all of their lives.
The rest of the ceremony went by in a blur. He didn’t remember the words the priest spoke, or the exchange of rings, or the processional. The only thing he remembered was the feel of her small trembling hand in his. He could feel the racing beat of her pulse and the warm skin, so soft against his own calluses. It made him wonder if he was too rough and wild for someone as sweet and delicate as her. It made him aware of just how different they were. And it made him burn for her.
Finally, it was over and as his people cheered he looked down into her eyes and saw them wide and unsure. But there it was, in the glimmering stormy grey depths. The beginnings of trust. It was more than he had expected to be honest, especially considering his less than sparkling reputation.
He hadn’t let her hand go the entire time, and found he couldn’t as they turned to walk back down the long aisle to the wedding luncheon Mira had miraculously prepared. He was struck as they entered the main area of the castle, where long rows of tables were set and overflowing with food. Not only that, but his people were all there, cheering him, clapping and whistling and yelling. How in the bloody hell everyone had been made aware of his hurried nuptials he had no idea, although he did suspect Mira was behind it. He’d always known the old maid harbored secret romantic tendencies.
“Come, Abigail, let’s toast to our happy future.” Aryen picked up a glass overflowing with ale, and handed a much smaller glass of wine to his new wife. Wife. The thought tickled through him.
“A toast!” He said loudly, suddenly lighter than he could remember feeling in a long time. Something had happened to him during the ceremony, although he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. It was like he was whole now. Like he’d been incomplete before and just hadn’t known it. “A toast, to us!”
“To the happy couple!”
“To the laird and his lady!”
“Here, here!”
The cheers all followed in a cacophony of sound and raised voices and he took a long pull of his ale. He looked down to see Abigail had already drained her glass of wine and was looking around for another with the wide eyed look of a startled doe. It all came crashing down on him them. She was still afraid of him. Or of his reputation, anyways. His brow furrowed in thought.
He couldn’t deny that he had dreamed of the wedding night, but as he thought of it a plan formed in his mind. He would show her, prove to her, that he wasn’t the monster he had been made out to be. Yes, he was the Black Lord, but he had built the rumors himself more to keep his people save from attack than anything else. The tales had grown and spread on their own, but at least the people closest to him knew the truth. And he had to make sure that Abigail did too.
He glanced her again, smiling softly and coaxed a tiny, lopsided smile out of her as well. His grin widened devilishly as his plan continued to form. Come to think of it, he couldn’t imagine a better wedding night than spending hours wringing every ounce of pleasure from his bride. He would leave no doubt in her mind that she was a treasure he would cherish for the rest of his days.
By the end of the wedding feast, Abigail had to admit that she was feeling much better. Maybe it was the food, or the joviality, or the third glass of wine she’d just topped off. She gave a slight hiccup as the alcohol started to move in bubbling swirls to her head. She knew what was coming. She’d learned long ago what happened between a man and woman on their wedding night, but still, she couldn’t contain the shiver that tripped down her spine and raised goose bumps on her skin.
She was equal parts desire and trepidation, and Aryen’s thumb tracing lazy circles on the inside of her wrist wasn’t helping matters. He hadn’t let her hand go. Not since she had first met him in front of the alter and they had said their vows. At least, she thought they must have, even though she couldn’t remember a moment of it.
Before she knew what was happening, the fourth glass of wine, already half empty, was being taken out of her free hand and Aryen was helping her to rise.
“I think I’ve had enough food and drink, my wife. But I am still hungry. Starving, in fact.” Aryen whispered the words softly in her ear and those goose bumps were back en masse. It would be so much easier not to be affected by him if he wasn’t so all together too handsome. It really wasn’t fair. She didn’t have a chance against him.
“Well, why don’t you eat some more, then? There’s still plenty.” Abigail said wide eyes as she gestured toward the food laden tables. Everyone around them was eating and drinking merrily, and would be for the rest of the day. It wasn’t everyday that their lord got married.
“I’m not hungry for food, sweetheart. I’m hungry for you.” He whispered the words so soft and rough against her cheek that she almost didn’t hear them, but the breath backed up in her lungs and it look a full minute for her to exhale again.
“Oh.” Abigail said, multi syllable words completely beyond her at that point. He was invading her senses, stealing her capacity to think, to speak.
“Let’s go to our room.” He pulled her by the hand he was still grasping and she bonelessly followed him, unaware of the cheering and winks shot their way as Ayden tried to sneak out through a back hallway.
Before her thoughts had even caught up with her they were in the large, ornately decorated room. But it was tasteful, and refined, so much like the man she was coming to realize was so much more than his reputation made him out to be.
That didn’t stop the flicker of all out fear that flooded through her as her eyes caught on the massive bed dominating the center of the room.
“Abigail, come here.” His voice was as soft as a feather and she was helpless to resist as he pulled her close. “Have you ever kissed someone before?”
All she could was shake her head, staring at him with her eyes wide and full of all of the doubts and insecurities flooding her mind.
“It should be soft, and gentle, at first. Like this.” He leaned down his head slowly, so slowly until his lips just brushed hers. He felt her sigh hit him all the way down to his soul and it was all he could do to keep things light. He had a plan. This was all about her pleasure. Building the budding trust between them. Slowly he deepened the kiss until she was melting against him, teaching her how to use her tongue to duel with his, ringing every sweet moan out of her lips until finally he couldn’t take it anymore.
“Abigail, sweetheart, I know this is all new for you, and the last thing I want to do is scare you anymore than you already are. For now, you can stay in the adjoining room, and when you’re ready, I’ll teach you the next step.” He grit his teeth together as he stared down at her beautiful flushed cheeked face. He just prayed that he would be strong enough to keep his distance and his promise.
Chapter 5
Aryen paced the bedroom nervously. He was agitated. He was frustrated. He was loosing his bloody mind! Almost two weeks had gone by since his wedding day and he was reaching the end of his patience. He’d thought things were going well between him and his new wife. Really quite well. Splendidly well. But still, she hadn’t shared his bed, and from what he could tell, wasn’t planning to anytime soon.
He was a red blooded man, with red blooded man’s needs. And yet, she deserved his patience. He knew how terrifying it must have been for her, especially after he’d heard the whole story of her dastardly uncle and his unconscionable plot. As if he’d thought he could just barter his wife. His wife! He growled as his thoughts came around to the same point they always did.
He would wait, because, and he was surprised to discover this as well, he found he truly cared for her. And he wanted to make sure she knew that fact. He detested the idea of her being frightened or afraid of him, although she didn’t seem as afflicted by that as when she’d first arrived. Her inner spirit had started to shine through and to his delight he’d discovered a strength to rival even Mira. His wife and the intimidating woman had gone head to head on a few items over the past weeks and he’d been forever impressed when Abigail not only came out ahead, but did it all in a way that Mira was smiling and nodding her head in polite agreement the whole time. Mira. Polite! Agreeable! He wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t seen it for himself.
With a sigh at his own rambling thoughts he turned to head out of the room, throwing the door open and jumping back in surprise at the woman standing in front of it.
“Good evening, my lord.” Her sultry voice whispered through the night air and a sinking feeling started in his gut as he found himself staring at Kathryn, one of the more persistent women who had tried to trap him into marriage, and had offered more than once to share his bed with no other intent but pleasure. If he believed her lies. Which he most definitely didn’t. A more ambitious woman he’d never met, and his mind raced with a way to get rid of her, and quickly before his wife appeared from her most recent meeting with Mira and the rest of the staff.
“Uh, Kathryn, I was just checking to see if my wife was ready to retire. I should really go see to her.” He said, trying to make his voice sound as firm as possible. He moved to sweep past her but she blocked his path, her impressive bosom on display as she pressed it against his arm in a less than subtle move.
“Please, my lord, I have heard that things might not be as…content as they may seem between you and your lovely wife.” She smiled up at him like a cat eating the canary. “I thought I might offer my services.”
Aryen’s blood ran cold as her words registered. He couldn’t believe her audacity!
“Kathryn, let me make one thing clear, lass. Very clear. My wife is none of your concern, and frankly, neither am I. I have no want or need of your
services
as you so tactlessly call it. I love my wife and could not possibly be more content. There is nothing you could offer me that would tempt me for a second. I really think you should go, and pretend this unfortunate instance never happened.”
He watched as her face paled with each word but the anger pumping through his veins didn’t allow him to soften the words. He thought he’d been done with all of this nonsense, only to find they were still trying to sneak into his bed and his life. He’d had enough of it. With a quick, but deep curtsy Kathryn turned and fled down the hallway. He gave a sigh, glad to be rid of her but already regretting his harsh words. But when would they learn. With another heartfelt sigh, he turned and went back into the bedroom to wait.
Abigail held her breath until the door was shut before finally releasing it. She’d just come up from speaking with Mira in the kitchens to see that trollop that had been hanging around skulking in front of the bedroom door. Unexpected rage and jealousy had filled her as her sultry words had poured out, shocking her into silence. And then she’d seen Aryen himself step out, and how close that woman had stood to him, her husband, and she’d felt like scratching her eyes out.
The emotions took her completely by surprise, not just by their intensity but by the vivid and instant desire to act on them. Abigail had been trying to take things at a slower pace with Aryen, taking advantage of his patience to get to know him, and to find her own place in this new life she’d found herself in.
But seeing him with another woman pressed against him had steam uncurling in her chest, that is, until she heard his words.
“…I have no want or need of your
services
as you so tactlessly call it. I love my wife and could not possibly be more content. There is nothing you could offer me that would tempt me…” His voice was raised and she could easily hear it from where she was concealed around the corner. Something changed within her as she heard those words fly from his lips with such conviction. He loved her. Her heart melted inside her, leaving her ashamed for doubting him and embarrassed by her own jealous reaction. But she knew better now. She had learned over the past weeks that he was so much more than the blackguard the rumors had made him out to be.
She stared at the dark hallway that Kathryn had just stomped down in retreat, and then at the closed door of the bedroom as a plan began to form in her mind. She had been waiting for the right time to surrender to the desire her husband had stoked in her, and it had finally arrived. He had given her a special gift, even though he didn’t know it, and she intended to return the favor in a way that would he would never forget. Now, she would just have to find the courage to go through with it.