“Ah,” Dwyn said, smiling faintly, but said, “And yet it does no’ sound as though ye want marriage and bairns fer yerself.”
“Do you?” Geordie countered.
Dwyn considered that seriously, before saying, “Most women do, I should think. We are raised preparing for the day we marryand have a home o’ our own, a husband to care for and bairns to love and raise as we were raised.”
“So ye do?” he asked.
She grimaced wryly into the darkness, but it was that very darkness that allowed her to answer honestly. “I am no’ sure. Ihave many fears about that.”
“What kind of fears?” he asked with interest.
“Well, I used to fear the marriage bed,” she admitted, blushing despite the darkness, and then rushed on. “But despite that,I still liked to imagine a life with a husband who cares for me, and a dozen sweet children running about. But me mother andsecond mother both died giving birth, and I fear dying that way too,” she confessed. “I suppose, sometimes I think mayhapI was lucky me betrothed died and did no’ come to claim me. I might already have died on the birthing bed if he had.”
Geordie was silent for a minute, but then said, “Ye said ye used to fear the marriage bed?”
“Aye, well.” She grimaced. “’Tis said ’tis unpleasant and painful and such. Hardly something a lass would look forward to.”
“But ye said you used to,” he pointed out. “As if ye no longer fear it?”
“Oh.” Blushing, she peered at his dark shape, and then feeling brave in the darkness, she admitted, “Well, yer kisses thismorn made me think mayhap the marriage bed could no’ be all bad. Whatever follows the kisses may be a bit o’ a trial, butmight be worth it to enjoy the kissing.”
Geordie was silent so long Dwyn began to think she’d angered him with her words, which hadn’t been her intention. In truth,she suspected her honesty had been in hopes that he might want to kiss her again, but that obviously wasn’t going to happen.He’d seen how lovely the other women available to him were. Why kiss her when there were so many other, prettier—
Her thoughts died abruptly when his lips suddenly covered hers.
Chapter 4
Dwyn was so surprised that she froze like a hare spotting a hunter when Geordie’s mouth first covered hers. It was so darknow she hadn’t realized he had even moved. But that darkness didn’t prevent his finding her mouth, and after a moment, shebreathed out a little sigh against his lips as they moved over hers. It was just a feathering touch he gave her at first,his lips brushing, drifting away and then brushing again. It was quite sweet, and gentle, and Dwyn smiled under his mouth,her eyes closing as she leaned forward to press her mouth more firmly against his. The moment she did, she felt Geordie’stongue slide along her lower lip. When she parted to allow it entrance, he caught her lower lip between his and sucked gently,then let his tongue glide into her waiting mouth.
Moaning in response, Dwyn twined her arms around his neck and kissed him back, shyly meeting his tongue rather than retreat,and sucking on it as well, inviting it deeper into her mouth. She heard the low growl that came from his throat, and all thegentle teasing stopped abruptly as he tangled his hand in her long hair and used it to shift her head so that his mouth slantedover hers, his tongue now thrusting with demand, conquering rather than exploring.
Dwyn groaned in response. Forgetting they were sitting in a tree, she tightened her arms around his neck, and wiggled forward,trying to get closer. She was reminded of their precarious situation when her behind slid right off the branch and she startedto drop. Before she could do more than gasp into his mouth, Geordie curled his arm around her, catching her upper body firmlyto his chest, but leaving her hips and legs dangling between his knees as he continued to kiss her.
With her breasts straining against his chest and a cool breeze gliding up her legs under her hanging skirts, Dwyn tightenedher arms around his neck and moaned into his mouth. The long low sound seemed to invigorate Geordie and she heard him growldeep in his throat as his mouth became more demanding on hers, his tongue thrusting almost violently now.
When he suddenly broke the kiss, Dwyn moaned again, but this time with disappointment. She feared he was about to set herback on her branch and leave as he had that morning, but instead he shifted his hands to catch her by the waist and lift heras his mouth settled on her neck and began to nibble and suck the tender flesh. A startled gasp slipping from her lips atthe tingling that sent through her, Dwyn tilted her head to give him more room to work, her hands clutching at his shouldersnow.
“Put yer knees on either side o’ me, lass.” The words were mumbled against her throat as he nipped and suckled there, andDwyn obeyed automatically, raising her legs to brace them on the branch on either side of his hips so that she was astridehim.
“Aye, that’s it,” he growled against her skin, and she felt one hand clasp her bottom and squeeze as he urged her forwarduntil she could feel something hard pressing against her core. It sent a startling rush of excitement and need pouring throughher. They both groaned, and then Geordie used his other hand to urge her upper body back so that he could peer at her.
Feeling his warm breath on her chest, Dwyn glanced down, not terribly surprised to see that her breasts were doing a goodjob of escaping her dress again. Her white skin seemed almost to glow in the darkness,
