was a rolled tight mountain of brawn with a spike of iron embedded between his thighs. She’d felt that steely man’s spike rising against her, when Donan held her in his arms.
She'd never lain with a man; however, she couldn't live in Armand’s domain without being aware, more than she wished, of men and women’s couplings. It was one of the avenues Armand had used to shame her, with lurid words and forced watching of coupling servants. Now perchance, she was even glad to have seen the thrusting servants, because if she had been allowed to believe only in Armand’s words, she would have been terrified of the act.
But now she knew with all of her heart what she couldn’t have known before; the man, beloved to her, would never harm her. Not in intimacy or in any other way. Nay, Donan had such strength, but he held her tenderly. And would not Donan be very surprised at all that his Analise did know of carnal intimacy?
Aye, Analise thought tilting her head, and then slowly so as not to be noticed, she pulled the fur that covered her down a bit so the top mounds of her breasts showed nicely. She had a man to lure, didn’t she? Whether she was to be Donan’s mistress or his wife, she didn't care. All that mattered was their new love and attraction for each other, that and being free of Armand.
Donan wondered whether he’d rescued a tender virginal maiden or a tender virginal imp, because if Analise pulled the fur down much further, her twin prizes would be ripe to view again. He kept his gaze averted though, enough so she’d not realize he could see all that she was trying to display for him. It was a warrior’s talent: to appear to not to be looking at what he really was looking at.
He was a fool and he was looking.
Aye, not only looking, but anticipating the flirt. God’s balls, he could remember the young man’s flirt. Back ages ago in his life, when he’d been too quick and randy to know what to properly do with a woman’s body. He could nearly laugh now at the rabbit quickness he and his fellows had employed back then. Oh, but the maidens had laughed prettily at the tumble, never correcting the young lord’s ways.
By the time he’d understood all he was missing, it had been too late. Then for five crippling years, he was left to only wonder about all the sexual mysteries revealed, erotic tales, and intimate techniques he’d learned about during the crusades in native lands. Many a knight returned from those crusades to bed his surprised and much later delighted wife.
Donan felt anticipation raising the heat in his body, and he wondered how far he should permit it to go—or if he should allow it at all. Bloody hell, he wanted to flirt with a pretty lass. He wanted to do all styles of carnal intimacies.
I am a man ... just responding like a man to what is offered. Why should I not grasp this opportunity?
“My lord, you appear cold. You should remove those wet clothes.”
Isn’t this what I asked for? For someone to but try? Donan turned his head, raising a black eyebrow, while his thoughts clamored. Ask just one more time golden nightingale and I would break ... I swear just one more time to be sure.
“Come lay with me, my lord, tis so cold and I’m certain I will fall ill if you do not rescue me.”
Donan’s belly clenched as he watched the maidenly imp falsify a shiver and reach out one of her hands toward him. His eyes narrowed on that hand.
“You’d have to help me take off the braces.” He grabbed Analise’s hand ... too tightly. “You’d have to move my legs. They are dead weight, do you ken?”
“Oh, my lord.” Analise sat upright clutching the fur to her breasts. “You would truly allow me too? I will. I want to!”
“You ken?” Donan tugged Analise’s hand.
“I will ken, my lord. I-I want to ken,” she whispered.
“We would just lie together. I don’t know if I could—”
“Yes, my lord.” Analise smiled. “Just lay together for warmth, you and