His back itched where the wound healed and he stretched back and forth several times before he got settled. He was about to pull his wife into his arms and let her sleep against him, but Elizabeth had the same idea and was quicker. She turned and snuggled up against him, throwing her leg over his thighs too quickly for him to dodge or protect himself. The result was a loud groan, as her aim was most accurate.
Elizabeth tried to stop the giggle but found it impossible.
'You are awake, wife?' The surprise in his voice made her laugh all the more.
'How could I not be?' she asked him.
'For how long?' he asked, pushing her onto her back so that he could look into her face.
'From the moment you opened the door, my lord,' Elizabeth admitted. She grinned and tried to roll back into his arms but Geoffrey pinned her to the bed with his hands, a look of exasperation in his eyes.
'And yet you let me undress you when you should have undressed me?' he asked, his voice gruff.
'Is that another rule, husband?' Elizabeth teased.
'It is,' Geoffrey announced. 'And you have broken it.' His eyes teased, as did his chest, rubbing against her breasts in slow motion.
'And the penalty, husband?' Elizabeth whispered, finding it difficult to continue with the teasing tone. His nearness was making her warm all over, and she found she wanted him to kiss her.
Geoffrey read the desire in her gaze and smiled. 'I will let you decide the punishment, wife,' he said in a husky voice.
'I shall have to kiss you, my lord,' Elizabeth said with a mock sigh.
'And that is a punishment?' Geoffrey inquired with a raised eyebrow. His voice was gruff, his eyes full of golden chips.
Elizabeth did not answer, only continued to look at her husband with a look that made the fire in his loins explode into passion. Slow down, he told himself, go easy for her benefit. He took a shuddering breath and rolled onto his back, 'Then give me a kiss, Elizabeth. But first, first you must call me Geoffrey.'
'Why?' Elizabeth asked. She leaned up on one elbow and considered her husband.
'I like the sound coming from you, and you do not say it enough.'
'As you wish, Geoffrey,' Elizabeth whispered into his ear. She pulled back, saw that he smiled, and was pleased. 'And now I shall kiss you,' she told him. 'Do I have your permission, Geoffrey?' she teased.
'You have it, Elizabeth,' Geoffrey replied.
'Then come here, my lord,' Elizabeth said, waiting.
Geoffrey did not move. Elizabeth began to drum her fingers on his chest, but that didn't get much of a reaction either.
'I am too weary,' Geoffrey announced. 'You will have to come here.'
'Too tired to turn to me?' she asked, trying to sound irritated.
'Aye, that is the truth,' Geoffrey said. 'Besides, you are to come to me. Always, Elizabeth.' His voice grew intense and Elizabeth puzzled over what he was trying to tell her.
Elizabeth sat up in bed and pushed her hair over her shoulders. Geoffrey had to stop himself from reaching out to touch her. He wanted her to be the aggressor but could not explain his reasoning, only that he wished her to take from him. He placed his hands behind his head and smiled at her.
The anticipation of touching him excited her. Still, it was best not to appear overly eager, she cautioned herself, for if he knew his effect on her, he would have another weapon to use against her. No, that would never do, she concluded. First, before she showed her emotions, she would make him want her as much. Perhaps, she thought with newfound confidence, even more.
She placed her hands on either side of his chest and slowly leaned down toward his mouth. But when she was just a breath away from touching him, she changed her course and kissed him on his chin. He was in need of a shave and his new growth of whiskers tickled her lips. She smiled to herself and kissed him again, on his chest, allowing her breasts to caress as her hands could not. Geoffrey did not say a word but his breathing became more rapid and Elizabeth knew he was not impervious to her. Her mouth moved lower, to the nipples hidden beneath the thick mat of hair on his chest, and her tongue circled each in a motion that caused her husband to flinch. But still he kept his silence, and Elizabeth let out a low, throaty laugh. She felt like a temptress and a nymph too, full of absolute power over the man responding to her. It was an exhilarating feeling.
Geoffrey's hands touched the sides of her face and he gently pulled her up. 'I am still waiting for my kiss,' he said, his voice deep and velvet.
'Here?' she asked with innocence, pointing to his lips. 'Or here?' she suggested, touching the tip of his nose. 'Or perhaps,' she whispered, sliding her hand below his waist, 'here?'
Geoffrey's gaze told Elizabeth he could not remain passive much longer. She was pushing his control away, touch by touch. He knew her game and was amazed by her uninhibited display; his mind would have allowed her to continue, to see just how far she would go, but his body was demanding with his need, becoming more painfully insistent with each passing second. 'You will kiss me now,' he ordered, caressing her shoulders to soften the harshness in his voice.
'As you wish, Geoffrey,' Elizabeth whispered. She was no longer smiling as she reached up the length of him and touched his mouth with her own. The kiss ended the game for both of them. Her mouth opened for his tongue, her hands cupping his face to hold him still. And then the embers of passion ignited and Elizabeth too lost her control. She couldn't seem to get enough of him, tugging at the hair on the back of his head to keep him prisoner.
Geoffrey rolled her onto her back and covered her with his body while he continued to kiss her. The taste of her, sweetened by the ale, made him thirsty for more. His hands stroked and touched, rough in hurry, and when his hand slid between her thighs and he felt the wetness there, he knew her passion matched his own.
He could wait no longer. Nor could Elizabeth. She parted her legs and arched against him, eager to have him inside her. Geoffrey was breathing so heavily that he could not speak, could not form the words to tell her how very much she pleased him, could only groan with his need. He thrust deep, shuddering for control, and heard her cry out. Her nails scraped his shoulders as she tried to push him away.
'You hurt me, Geoffrey,' she sobbed into his ear as she continued to struggle against him.
He heard her and immediately stopped all motion. Lifting himself on his elbows, he looked into her eyes, saw the tears streaming down her face. 'Shhh,' he comforted, 'it will not last long, Elizabeth. The pain will be gone.' He leaned down to kiss her but she turned her face away.
'I am too sore,' she whispered, 'you must stop.' She was crying now, both from the pain and from the need so conflicting inside her. 'But I don't want you to stop either, Geoffrey.'
He could not stop, wanted to tell her he could not, and knew she would not understand. She was too innocent of men to understand. Sighing, he rolled with her to his side, willing himself to keep his patience, keeping inside of her by holding her firmly by her hips, whispering all the while words he hoped would soothe her.
Geoffrey pulled her leg up and rested it on his hip. 'It will be better now,' he said, and when the sobbing stopped, he knew he was right. He kissed her then, a long, intense kiss meant to melt away her resistance and rekindle her passion, and after a time, Elizabeth began to respond. Her hands quit pushing against his chest and began stroking again. And the soreness was gone, or unnoticed, with her renewed passion.
'It is better?' he asked, thinking that he could not remain still inside of her much longer.
Elizabeth moaned a reply and her hips began to move against him. It was all the urging that Geoffrey needed. His mouth covered hers, capturing her moans while his hands pulled her hips closer. He meant to move slowly but could not, thrusting again and again, deeper and deeper still. He heard her cry out again and thought that he caused her more pain, but still he could not stop until the explosion rocked him from the mountaintop he had just climbed. He felt her shudder beneath him and only then realized that he had rolled her onto her back and that her legs were clenching him with the force of her reaction.
When his breathing calmed and he felt her relax beneath him, Geoffrey said, 'You are all right?'
She nodded against his shoulder and Geoffrey relaxed. He rolled to his side and pulled her next to him, glancing down into her eyes. They were still glazed with passion, causing Geoffrey to think that she remained unfulfilled. 'I have not satisfied you?' he asked, concern in his voice. Elizabeth adjusted herself to his side and settled her head on his shoulder. 'I am most satisfied, Geoffrey,' she whispered. Her voice was full of wonder and sleepy pleasure. He worries that he does not please me, she realized, and felt a glow of contentment warm her. Soon, she thought, he will realize how much he is beginning to care for me. And one day, she considered, one day
