strained. 'I was a fool.' He eased one finger gently into her.
Clare moaned. Her body tightened around him. She gulped air. 'It was my fault. I was confused. I thought I wanted to wait.'
'You were confused and I was an idiot. What a pair.' Gareth dropped a string of heated kisses down her throat to her shoulder. He probed her with a second finger.
'Oh.' Clare gasped. 'Oh.'
'So tight. A sweet, unopened bud.'
'Does that diminish your enthusiasm, my lord?' she asked anxiously.
He groaned and lowered his head to kiss the curve of her breast. 'Nay, madam, it does not.'
She smiled, vastly relieved. 'I am glad.'
'I seriously doubt that the combined forces of both heaven and hell could diminish my enthusiasm at this moment.'
Clare could feel him stretching her, making her grow soft and even more damp than she already was.
She was shaking with her need now. The magical tension that she had first experienced last night was twisting her insides again.
Anticipation made her restless and impatient.
'Hurry.' She nipped at his ear. 'Please, hurry.'
Gareth raised his head and looked down at her. His eyes were as mysterious as the mist that sometimes shrouded Desire. 'I have married a tyrant.'
'You must forgive me, my lord. I told you, I am accustomed to being in charge around here.'
'When it comes to this, your wish is my command.' Gareth loosened his own clothing, freeing his erect manhood.
Clare caught a glimpse of his aroused body as he centered himself between her legs. In spite of her spiraling excitement, she experienced a brief tremor of uncertainty. 'Mayhap we should try to diminish some of your enthusiasm before we proceed further.'
'It is far too late to do anything to diminish my enthusiasm.'
'I did not mean to offend you. Tis not your fault that you are not the right size.' She hugged him tightly and kissed his throat. 'I'm sure we'll manage somehow.'
'Aye. We will.'
'I am very enthusiastic myself now, Gareth.'
'I can tell.' He covered her mouth with his own and began to push himself into her.
Clare, expecting a sensation similar to that which she experienced when he slid his fingers into her, was startled by the blunt, hard feel of him.
He pressed harder and she was more than startled. She was stunned.
'Gareth.'
'Trust me.'
'Wait, we must discuss this matter further,' Clare squeaked.
'It was your earlier discussion of the matter that got us this far.'
'Aye, but?'
'Trust me, Clare,' he whispered.
She braced herself and clung to him as if preparing to descend into the Pit. 'I am ready,' she said bravely.
'It is not going to be all that bad, you know.' He thrust deeper. Sweat broke out on his brow. 'At least, I do not think it will be too difficult.'
Clare squeezed her eyes shut. 'Tell me when it's over.'
He gave an odd, half-strangled exclamation. 'Aye, I'll try to remember to do that.'
Clare felt him tense and draw in his breath as if readying himself for a dangerous feat of arms. He surged all the way into her, sheathing himself to the hilt with one powerful motion.
The shock of his entry stole Clare's voice and breath.
When she recovered, she clawed at Gareth's broad shoulders. She was furious at finding herself robbed of the thrilling pleasure she had expected.
'Joanna had the right of it. This part of marriage is, indeed, a great nuisance.'
'Hold yourself still for a moment.' Gareth sounded as shaken as she was.
'Be still, I said. Stop wriggling.'
Clare opened her eyes and scowled up at him. 'I thought it would feel the way it did last night.'
'It will.' Gareth was clearly fighting for his self-control. 'Eventually.'
'By Saint Hermione's little toe, you have tricked me, Hellhound.'
'Nay, 'tis just that I have no experience with virgins.'
'I knew you were too big,' she grumbled. 'I knew it right from the first moment I saw you.'
Gareth rained soft, persuasive kisses across her nose and cheeks.
'Forgive me Clare. I did not want to hurt you.'
The apology mollified her somewhat. 'In truth, I am not in any great pain. At least not any longer. But I am very glad the business is finished.'
'Clare?'
'You may cease now. Surely this marriage is properly consummated. You no longer need fear that I will have it annulled.'
'For the last time, do not move,' Gareth bit out each word very carefully and distinctly.
'I was merely attempting to find a more comfortable position.'
'I will see to your comfort.'
'You will remove yourself?'
'Not just yet.'
She was disappointed. 'Does that mean you have not yet finished doing your duty?'
'Aye.' He began to glide slowly and cautiously back out of her.
'I can certainly understand now why it is difficult for a man to work up sufficient enthusiasm for this sort of thing night after night,' Clare muttered.
'It helps if one's wife does not chatter continuously during the effort.'
'Oh.' Clare was chagrined. 'My apologies,' she said stiffly. 'I did not mean to interfere with your concentration. I was merely trying to?'
'Hell's teeth, that is enough.' Gareth sealed her mouth with his own.
Simultaneously he pushed himself slowly back into her, filling her to the limit.
Clare moaned, but not with pain.
Gareth withdrew almost completely and repeated the process.
Again and again.
Each stroke was carefully measured and delivered with excruciating control. The rigid lines of Gareth's face and the tensed muscles of his body told their own story. He was a war-horse straining at the reins, all leashed power and trembling readiness.
Clare held her breath and closed her eyes. But after a moment or two she realized the slow strokes of his body within her were not unpleasant.
She could feel the sweat on Gareth's back. It dampened his tunic. Yet despite the obvious effort he was exerting, his enthusiasm showed no sign of fading.
Her eyes flew open when he lifted her legs up over his shoulders. Before she could protest the new position, he moved his hand downward between their bodies and touched her.
Without any warning, the coiling tension seized her once more.
'Gareth.'
'I told you to trust me.'
He took the small, swollen nubbin between thumb and forefinger and plucked gently.
Clare screamed. The sound was muffled by Gareth's mouth. She dug her fingers into him and gave herself up to the wondrous ripples of pleasure that washed through her.
She was dimly aware of Gareth's ragged shout of satisfaction. It mingled with her own breathless cries as
