Page 31 of Promise of a Knight
Alex laughed. “I would lay my head beside ye anywhere.”
Alaric nuzzled her nose and kicked the door closed behind him. “I know you would.”
He walked her straight to the bed and set her down, lying on his side next to her. Hand on her belly, he teased a path up her to the spot between her breasts.
“It will take hours to undress you,” he complained. “’Haps I should cut you out of these clothes so I can admire you quicker.”
“I have no objection if ye plan to see it mended,” Alex said, feeling bold and naughty.
Alaric grinned, tugged his dagger from his waistband and held it to the fabric near her breasts. A heavy sigh escaped him.
“If I were to mar your flesh, I would never forgive myself.”
Alex laughed, sat up and kicked off her slippers. “Then help me to undress.”
Alaric worked on the pins at her sleeves and the ties at her back. Luckily, as it was a riding frock, it as much simpler to remove than a formal gown.
He kissed her shoulders and the back of her neck as the last of the fabric pooled at her feet, leaving her in her chemise and hose.
“Even dressed like this you are a gem for this explorer to behold.”
Alex felt heat creeping into her cheeks and when she spoke, her voice was more throaty than before. “Discover me then.”
Alaric reached for her, when a loud knock sounded at the door.
“Go away!” he shouted.
“’Tis the bath and refreshments, my lord,” the servant on the other side said.
Alaric raised his brow at her in question. Alex shook her head. “I bathed at the inn this morning and I am only hungry for one thing.”
“Come back later,” he shouted, coming toward her.
Alex reached for him as he reached for her, their mouths clashing in a heated kiss. Finally. A week married and they were, at last, going to have this delicious moment.
“I am nearly naked and ye not at all,” Alex chided.
Alaric chucked. “Let’s undress at the same time.”
Alex nodded, stepping back and slowly peeling off her chemise, her eyes glued to Alaric who divested himself of his doublet and shirt, standing only in his tight breeches. The length of his arousal was visible, jutting beneath the fabric. His chest and abdomen were just as magnificent as they’d been when she saw him shirtless in the stable. She swallowed hard, nervous and excited all at the same time.
His fingers moved to the ties on his breeches but paused. “Are you all right?” he asked. “Should we slow down?”
Alex shook her head. “We’ve waited too long.”
“I can slow down if you want.”
“Nay, husband. Not another minute.” She dropped her chemise to the floor just as his breeches fell, leaving them both mostly naked, save for hose.
Neither of them seemed to care. They crashed together, warm, soft flesh on heated, hard flesh. Their mouths fused in a carnal, maddening kiss, and Alex felt herself being carried, the mattress touched her back and she was lying down but flying all the same. Alaric settled himself between her thighs, his arousal pressing with urgent need to her sex. Would he claim her now?
But he didn’t. His hands stroked her breasts, her waist, and his mouth… Oh, his mouth. He licked her neck, kissed her breasts, teased her nipples. She gasped, arched against him. Sighed. Moaned. Held tight to his shoulders, and then grew bolder, exploring, too. His fingers slid over the slickness of her mound, finding the little nub of pleasure that had her hips bucking and her insides flaming. What was that?
“You like that,” Alaric taunted, stroking her again.
“Oh, aye, verra much.”
His fingers found the opening to her sex and pressed forward, the pressure and a tiny pinch of pain minuscule as he slid in and out and stroked over that small nub. Oh, the pleasure of it…
