Page 87 of Ironling
She managed to doze for about an hour, but before long, she inevitably grew bored. Never good at sitting still, her mind turned over everything she should be doing. Fates, Brenna was probably hunting for her. Aislinn thought she was likely safe ensconced in Hakon’s bedchamber; Brenna might think to lookin the smithy but wouldn’t check his room.
Still, the illicitness of not only laying the day away but doing so naked in the blacksmith’s bed held its own pleasure. Although she was bored, she nevertheless delighted in the slowness of the day—and promise of the night.
Curiosity was a sharp complement to her desire to finally see what this rutting was all about. She thought she’d heard Sorcha mention something similar, that orcs often sequestered themselves away with their partner and didn’t emerge for days.
She squeezed her thighs in anticipation. Aislinn couldn’t fathomdaysof lovemaking, let alone staying in bed that long. She hadn’t spent so long in repose since the last time she was ill.
As the morning waned, Aislinn pushed out of bed, not sure she could lay down any longer. She wanted to honor her promise, but there was nothing to do. It was a bit of a conundrum—she could dress in her nightclothes again, but there was no chance of sneaking back to her own bedchamber without being caught. Late morning and early afternoon was the busiest time of day within the castle, and even waiting for the midday meal, she risked being seen.
The staff had seen her in odder attire, to be sure, but nightclothes would garner questions. Inquiries she wasn’t sure how to answer.
She wasn’t ashamed of Hakon, nor of what they did—or would do. Now that she’d had her curiosity sated, Aislinn was determined to have more of him. He wasn’t just a curiosity or craving; she wanted to spend her time with him, her nights with him. Fates, she didn’t sit around bored for just anyone!
None of that answered what to do about this new thing between them. Their friendship had been one thing. She was friendly with all the staff to varying degrees—mostly determined by the other person. She could confide in Fia, joke with Morwen and Hugh, but wouldn’t dream of that with Captain Aodhan,who insisted on a level of decorum in their exchanges.
Aislinn and Hakon were far beyondfriendlynow.
Her past liaisons had been kept secret, too. The fear of being found out with Brenden had had its own kind of thrill, and she and Sir Alaisdair had eventually been found out. Both had felt good in their own ways, but eventually it was the romance itself that withered.
Do I just like the secrecy?she had to wonder. Aislinn couldn’t deny that three made a pattern, nor that she found the secret nature of the relationships stimulating.
Yet, she didn’t like reducing Hakon to that. If she wanted a secret romance with staff, she had many to choose from, all of whom she’d known before Hakon.
Logically, then, Hakon was special.
Yes, she liked that much better.
Hewasspecial—in his own right and to her. She liked how his mind worked, and his hands, too.
The memory of how his fingers ran circles over her clitoris had her holding her heated cheeks in her hands.
Fates, focus!
She’d burn away to coals at this rate.
She liked how talented he was and how devoted, too. It took both to be successful, and Hakon rose to every challenge. He was kind, good-natured, and had a sense of humor. She could list so many excellent qualities—but he was more than them and their sum. He was Hakon, and right then, he was hers.
Aislinn could think herself in circles over the question of what their futures held. Her stomach clenched with nerves over it in a way it hadn’t with Brenden or Alaisdair. Somehow, even in the throes of early, passionate love, she’d never considered that she had a long future with either of them. When the end of their romance came, she hadn’t been surprised nor overly hurt.
It was different with Hakon. She couldn’t say she envisionedanything specific, nor that she suddenly longed for marriage and children. This new, beautiful thing with Hakon didn’t change who she was fundamentally.
But she was willing to give it room to grow. She wanted to be with him, in whatever way she could.
And perhaps that was best done in secret. She didn’t need furtive glances and malicious comments poisoning what they had before it even had time to develop.
Hands on her hips, Aislinn nodded to herself, decided. She would—
“Iknew it!”
Jumping in surprise, Aislinn threw her hands over her breasts and whipped toward the narrow window. Two hands clung to the outer side of the sill, and Fia’s copper hair glinted in the daylight. Just her arching brows and wide eyes were visible over the stone of the sill.
Heart sinking, Aislinn didn’t know what to do with herself as her maid dropped back down into the bailey and out of sight.
Fumbling, she grabbed her nightgown and tugged it over her head. She’d just gotten her arms through the sleeves of the dressing gown when Fia came marching through the door with all the confidence of a conquering general.
Closing the door quickly behind her, Fia took a long look at Aislinn.
Aislinn held perfectly still, as if Fia wouldn’t see her if she didn’t move.
