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Ral shifted onto his side, tightening his hold on the softly curved woman beside him. He saw that she slept and for a while so did he, a peaceful, dreamless sleep more restful than any he had known in weeks. When he awoke, he heard her crying.

“I have hurt you,” he said, coming up on an elbow, worry slicing through him at what he might have done. “I feared that this would happen.”

Caryn smiled at him through her tears. “You did not hurt me, Ral. ’Twas wondrous and beautiful—like riding a star to the moon.”

“Why do you cry, then?”

“I was thinking of the people in the village. Because of me, they will not get their land.”

He kissed her gently on the lips. “’Tis all right, Cara. Your plan was not wholly successful. The Ferret and some of his men got away.”

“You mean he escaped?”

He nodded.

“Truly?”

“Truly. But not for long. The next time I find him, ’tis bound to mean his head.”

“I will help you,” she vowed. “I will discover where he hides and I will—”

“You will do naught—do you hear? You have done enough already.”

She fell back against the pillows with a sigh. “’Tis not completely my fault, you know. Had you confided in me, this never would have happened.”

He scowled. “’Tis not a man’s duty to confide in his wife.”

“That may be so, but nevertheless, had you done so, the Ferret might now be yours.”

He mulled that over in silence, then he sighed. “I will try to inform you of matters of import.” Sliding an arm around her waist, he dragged her beneath him, pressing her down on the mattress. “And you will do naught without my approval—is that clear?”

She must have noticed his strengthening arousal for she laughed. “Must I have your approval for a kiss?”

Ral felt the pull of a smile. “Nay, vixen, that you may take whenever you wish.”

So she did, sliding her arms around his neck and pulling his head down, pressing her soft lips to his and running her tongue inside his mouth.

She was all soft curves and sweet woman scent and he wanted her with a passion that amazed him.

His hand found her breast, pebbled her nipple, then moved lower, spreading the petals of her sex and finding her amazingly wet and ready.

God might have made her passage small and tight, but he had compensated by making her woman’s place so damp, giving her a different means to accept him. He smiled at the thought, parted her legs with his knee, and slid himself inside with a single steady thrust.

“You are certain this does not hurt?”

“I am filled with you, that is all. ’Tis a most disturbing sensation.”

Ral chuckled. “I hope so.”

He moved within her and felt her heartbeat quicken beneath his hand.

His own pulse beat fiercely, the blood pumping swiftly through his veins.

He forced himself to go slow, reminding himself that she was new to this, for all the quickness with which she learned.

He kissed her deeply as he cupped a breast, then lowered his head and began to suckle her gently.

Her nipple budded at the touch of his tongue, and she trembled beneath him.

Her breast felt heavy and full against his palm, her skin exquisitely smooth.

His fingers moved along her body, which tapered to a tiny waist, then flared to womanly hips and a taut little round derriere.

His loins clenched as he stroked her there, and the fire in his blood spread like flames through his body.

With a groan of defeat, the last of his control slipped away, plunging him headlong into his lusty passions.

He moved faster, deeper, harder. Caryn moaned and clutched his shoulders, her hips coming up to his, release breaking over her like a wave.

It triggered his own, and his seed spilled hotly inside her, the sweetness consuming, cooling his blazing need, if only for a time.

He smiled into the darkness. If ever he had doubted that a woman her size could please him, he would not doubt it again.

***

Caryn propped herself up in bed beside her sleeping husband. She felt different this day, wiser in the ways of the world, more feminine. More womanly. She wondered, did it show? Ral’s eyes came open and she realized he wasn’t asleep, but had been watching her from beneath his heavy black lashes.

“What are you thinking?” he asked. “What has made your lovely brows draw together so?”

Caryn tucked a strand of her thick auburn hair behind an ear. “I would know, Ral, what will happen to the people should you fail to get your land?”

Ral grimaced and sat up in bed, propping his massive shoulders against the carved wooden headboard. The first rays of dawn slanted in through the narrow slit of window. A chill pervaded the room, but it was warm beneath the furs atop the blankets.

“There is money still owed for the building of the keep. Once the crops are in, I must once more levy a burdensome tax. ’Twill leave the villeins with less than enough for the winter and little in the castle stores.

I had hoped they could clear and plant new land this spring, but already ’tis too late.

We can survive the winter—though ’tis bound to be a lean one.

The following year, many of the villeins could starve. ”

Caryn shivered. “Is there no other land the king might grant?”

“None close by that would be suitable for planting—’tis all too steep and rocky.”

“What of another demesne somewhere else?”

“The choice ones have all been claimed. Most of the others would require more money to rebuild than could be taken from them.”

Caryn fell silent. When she felt Ral’s weight leave the bed, she glanced up to see he had drawn on his tunic and now stood staring out the window.

“Had you married a woman of property,” she said softly, “you would have all the land you need.”

“I married you. That is all that matters.”

“You could have married Eliana de Montreale. She has more wealth than—”

“What do you know of Eliana?” he asked, whirling to face her. His look was so fierce, she wished she could call back the words.

“Naught but that she was once your betrothed.”

“Who told you?”

She wet her lips. “Her brother, Lord Stephen. He says she will soon come to visit.”

“What else did he say?”

She hesitated only a moment. “That you dishonored her by refusing the marriage.”

He grunted. “Who is he to speak of honor?”

“You cared naught for her then?”

“I cared for her—once. But even had I not, I would have married her if… things had been different.”

“What things do you—”

“Enough of this! I will not discuss Eliana. Not here, not now—not ever!”

She forced herself not to glance away. “As you wish, my lord.”

Ral’s hard look softened and he crossed the room to the bed.

“I do not mean to be harsh.” He bent and kissed her lips.

“Had last night been other than your first night of passion, I would take you again, make you forget your foolish questions.” He placed her hand on the long hard ridge beneath his tunic. “Already I want you again.”

Caryn felt the heat burning into her cheeks. “As you say, ’tis probably best we wait.” She was a little sore, yet even as she said the words, her pulse had begun to quicken.

“Tomorrow will be soon enough for you to resume your wifely duties.”

“Duties…? It seems a strange word to describe the pleasures you have shown me.”

He smiled at her with warmth. “’Twould not surprise me, Cara, to discover your worth is far greater than that I would have received should I have married another.”

***

As the morning progressed, they bathed and dressed, then returned downstairs. It was quiet in the hall, servants and knights alike waiting, it seemed, to see how fared the lord and his lady.

Though her cheeks were bright with color, Caryn smiled at them warmly and Ral squeezed her hand.

He led her down the stairs and across the room to the dais for the midday meal, sitting down to a trencher of meat and a tankard of ale.

Speaking in quiet tones, they smiled often and touched each other with an ease that hadn’t been there before.

Ral spoke softly to Odo, and she guessed her husband explained about the bounty and that she had only meant to help them. Odo only frowned and walked away.

“Since we are well and truly wed,” Ral said, returning his attention to her, “I would grant you a wish. Is there something special that you would like to do?”

Caryn brightened. “I would see my sister, Ral. It has been too long that I have been away. Gweneth will not remember that I am gone, but I remember, and I miss her more each day. I have thought of her much these past few weeks, and I would know how she fares.”

“Your sister is welcome to live here, if that is your wish.”

Caryn shook her head. “I would wish it, but Gweneth would not. She is happy at the convent. In the years she has lived there, she has found peace. I would not take it from her.”

“Then I will take you to see her. We will leave at the end of the week.”

In the meantime, they made love. Ofttimes with abandon, other times with tender loving care.

Ral was a passionate, considerate lover who seemed to take great joy in the pleasure he brought her.

The hours they spent together opened a beautiful new world for Caryn.

A time of sensual awakenings, of a closeness unlike anything she had known.

When the day came to leave for the convent, she found herself torn between the excitement of seeing her sister, and missing the hours of passion she had enjoyed in her husband’s bed.

Thinking of those sweet moments, Caryn smiled as she dressed and made herself ready for the journey then hurriedly went downstairs.