Page 39 of A Lover for Lady Jane (The Welsh Rebels #5)

Griffin hesitated. Should he tell her that Christopher had offered to make him a knight?

He didn’t feel worthy of the honor. He was a simple man, he hadn’t had any training, and a knighthood usually rewarded valor in battle.

These men were squires, nobly born. No matter what name was bestowed upon him, nothing would change the fact that he’d been born of a maid and raised by a poor farmer.

But if Jane thought she would be more comfortable with being Sir Griffin’s wife, then he would put his misgivings to one side.

Anything to avoid causing her discomfort.

“The day before I was abducted, Christopher told me he could make me a knight now that he is once again a lord. Would you rather?—”

“No.”

His heart sank when the word darted out of Jane’s mouth. So, she didn’t think him worthy of the honor either. “I see.”

“I will not have you being anyone else other than who you are, becoming anything for my sake,” she said hurriedly, when she saw his face fall.

“If you think I would rather marry a knight, then let me tell you that I don’t.

I fell in love with you, not Sir Griffin.

I want to marry you . I believe I would marry you even if you were elected to be the next Prince of Wales. ”

Even if…

He drew her into his arms. “Oh, Jane, I love you.” After such a declaration, how could he not?

“And I love you too. Now, let me go and announce our betrothal to Sian and Christopher. I don’t think they will be overly surprised.”

In the end, no one was in the least surprised.

Jane had the pleasure of seeing everyone, from her sister to her uncle, accept her choice of a husband.

They started to plan for the wedding that very day, but it took three weeks to organize everything, give Griffin time to heal, write to her family at Castell Esgyrn to inform them of the impending ceremony and allow them time to travel to Sheridan Manor.

For once, Jane and Christopher had been of one mind.

Though a wedding in Wales might have been the couple’s preference, she had been adamant Griffin was not to ride such a long distance after the injuries he had endured, and Sian’s husband had refused to let his wife travel when she was sick every morning.

And so the wedding would take place in England, in the castle of Jane’s birth.

It was just as good a solution, even if the wait was excruciating.

Fortunately, little Alys was here to help pass the time until she became a wife.

Finally, the day came.

That morning, just before dawn, Jane was awoken by a weight pressing down on her. A warm, delicious, masculine weight, one she would know anywhere.

“Good morning, my lady.”

“Griffin! You…you shouldn’t be here.” The rebuke lacked conviction, because there was nothing she liked more than feeling his body against hers.

It was a feeling that had become very familiar in the last few weeks.

Of a common accord, they had decided not to wait until they were married to worship one another’s bodies but despite their numerous encounters, he had not yet dared come find her in her bed at night.

“With you, I have done many things I shouldn’t have been doing. One more is hardly going to matter, don’t you think?” He nipped at her earlobe, the gesture as playful as it was arousing.

“How many times will I have to tell you it is your right to do what you will with me?”

“At least a dozen more.”

“You said the same thing the last time I asked, and the time before that.” She sighed. Was it his way of saying he would never feel her equal? She dearly hoped not.

“Stop arguing with me and listen. Today we are going to get married.” His mouth at her ear purred the words.

He had never sounded more enticing. “Which means we will spend the day either in the chapel in full view of everyone, or in the great hall, surrounded by dozens of guests.” He started to grind his groin against her buttocks in a deliciously provocative manner.

“We will then have to accept their heartfelt congratulations, eat our way through a sumptuous banquet, and even partake in some dancing, I believe. All this while you wear your finery and look more alluring than words can express.” She felt him reach between them and unlace his braies.

Her whole body caught on fire when she felt how hard he was.

“Which means I will only be allowed to whisk you away to our bed in the middle of the night. There is no way I can last until then without going mad. I need you now.”

A moan escaped her lips. “Yes. I need you too.”

After this display of sensuality, she could not imagine having to wait all day to feel him inside her. They had made love many times since he had recovered, of course, but somehow it was never enough. A lifetime would never be enough. Well, they could always start now.

Eager to welcome him inside her heat, Jane made to turn around. A hand between the shoulder blades stopped her. “No. Stay where you are. Let me.”

A finger lifted the hem of her shift, exposing her buttocks, a knee parted her legs, making room for a hard body, a mouth landed a kiss on her nape, causing goose bumps to scuttle along her spine and then Griffin settled himself between her thighs.

How wonderful to feel him take care of her thus.

She loved it when he took charge, not just because it never failed to arouse her, but because it showed that, at least as her lover, he did not feel unworthy.

If he was not afraid of who he was in bed he might, in time, come to forget the difference between them in life.

“Are you wet for me, my lady?” A hand landed between her legs and started to tease her, the gentle strokes sending sparks deep in her belly.

“Can’t you feel it?” she rasped. Didn’t he know her by now? It only took a few words from him, and some naughty caresses to get her aroused beyond bearing.

“Mm, yes, I can. Wet and hot, ready for me, the best feeling in the world.” The tip of his manhood replaced the probing finger, promising her untold delights.

This was always her favorite moment, when she felt him poised at her entrance.

Knowing he was as desperate as she was and about to push inside, never failed to make her insides melt.

He always made sure to stay there a moment and let her enjoy both the sensation and the anticipation. “Do you want me inside?”

“Yes! You know I do. Stop teasing me!”

A chuckle. Why did the wretched man think this was in any way funny? “Raise yourself on your hands and knees.”

Jane’s breathing caught in her chest. This was new.

They had made love in various ways over the last few days but never like this.

However, as he had yet to do something that did not send her wild with ecstasy, she was only too happy to comply.

Had he asked her to stand on her hands that she would have agreed.

“You will feel me deeper than usual in this position,” Griffin rasped, his mouth at her ear, his body folded over hers. “Tell me if it becomes too much.”

He sounded already on the verge of losing control, which, in turn, sent her arousal to dizzying peaks.

Within moments, he was sliding in and out of her body with scandalous ease, pinning her in place with his hands at her waist. Dear God.

Nothing had ever felt so good. Held in a strong grip, she had little chance to move, which she loved.

There was nothing guaranteed to make her feel pleasure more than to be at the mercy of the man she loved.

In that moment, she knew he didn’t feel he was lacking in any way.

“Not too much?”

The question was little more than a growl.

“Not enough,” she moaned, already knowing she would beg him to take her in this position again and again. Pleasure was building inside her with worrying speed, and she sensed her release would be explosive. It would also have to be soon or she would go mad. “Please. I need… Now. Please.”

She needed to survive this so she could get married to him this morning.

“As my lady commands.”

Griffin reached around to the sensitive place screaming for attention and pinched it lightly, before starting to rub it in time to his thrusts. Perfection.

“Yes!” she cried out.

“Yes,” he echoed. The hand still holding her waist tightened the grip further, forcing her back so she could take him even deeper. “Jane, dear fucking Christ!”

They erupted at the same time, their moans melding into one another.

Stunned by the exquisite release, Jane fell flat to her stomach. Griffin followed her, careful to land next to her as always. He stayed a long moment behind her, panting, holding her tight against his heaving chest.

“Now, my love, now I believe we can go and get married.”

“Christopher tells me he didn’t find Griffin in his bed this morning,” Sian said as she entered the room, carrying the wedding dress.

“Do you have any idea where your groom might be? I don’t wish to worry you but my dear husband, who takes his responsibilities as host very seriously, is wondering if he fled during the night, unable to face the day. ”

Jane flushed red to the roots of her hair. Griffin had not taken fright, thank God, he’d only left his bed to come gift her with the best lovemaking she had experienced thus far.

“I… Erm, no, he did not flee. He’s here, in the castle.” She could still feel his heat inside her and the sheets around her were all in disarray, testimony to the wildness of their coupling. “I saw him earlier.”

“ Saw him did you?” Her sister’s eyes started to sparkle.

“I, erm, we…” Actually, no, she had not really seen him, considering the manner in which he had taken her. But she was not about to talk about that. Fortunately, Sian put an end to her embarrassment by placing the dress on the coverlet.

“Well, if you saw him, then the wedding can go ahead. It is all I need to know. Shall I ask for a bath to be prepared?”