Page 28 of Bold Angel
“If what you see is to your liking,” he said, noticing the way she stared, “I would be happy to stay.”
Heat shot into her cheeks. “’Tis only that I have never seen a man the size of you. You are an oddity, nothing more.”
His gray eyes raked her, burning into her with scorn. “Were you not such a tiny little wench, I would show you my size in truth. I would ride you long and hard this eve, and tomorrow would see you well broken.”
Cheeks flaming, Caryn backed awaybut Ral merely followed, a cool smile curving his lips. “You’ve nothing to fear,cherie.I only mean to help you with your clothes.”
When she started to protest, he sat down on the edge of the bed and trapped her between his legs. “Hold still. ’Tis difficult enough undressing one so small.”
With neat, efficient movements, he stripped off her tunic and chainse, but left on her camise. Pulling the pins from the coronet atop her head, he let down her thick auburn braid, unbound the end, and raked his fingers through her hair.
“’Tis as soft and silky as I had imagined,” he said, and the words tugged warm and low in her belly.
Standing, he walked to the side of the bed and drew back the covers. “One of us may as well rest. The day has been a long one. You may sleep late in the morning. I will try to return before the others awaken. Should I fail, do not forget the blood.”
“I will not.”
He waited until she climbed in, then pulled up the covers, the gesture almost tender. Caryn closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, but watched him as he crossed to the chair beside the brazier and sat himself down, stretching his long legs out in front of him. Mayhap she did sleep after a while for when she awoke, Ral stood at the door.
“Already ’tis time for you to leave?” she asked, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
“Should you wish me to stay, you have but to ask.”
Caryn said nothing, but her heart thumped hard within her breast.
“Remember, ’tis you who set the course between us this night. ’Twill be up to you should you ever wish to change it.”
Caryn still said nothing, but as Ral strode outside andclosed the door, she suddenly wondered why she had worked so hard to be left alone.
***
Ral checked the passage, found several drunken men so deeply into their cups he knew they would not awaken, made his way down the back stairs, skirted the hall, and left the keep.
Two of his guards caught his shadowy figure as he moved toward Lynette’s sleeping quarters in the bailey. He had hoped no one would know he had left his bride alone this eve, but in his heart he had feared that they would find out.
Ral sighed. There would be gossip. They would say the little maid wasn’t woman enough to keep him in her bed. Ral wondered if indeed that were the truth and found himself doubting it. He had tasted her passion that night outside her door. She would have been a fiery little minx once he brought her to fulfillment.
Ral swore an oath into the darkness. He would have spared her this disgrace had he been able, but not at his own expense. She had laid the rules—there was no help for it now.
He knocked on the heavy wooden door and Lynette swung it open.
“So… ’twas as you said after all. You pierced her maidenhead and left her alone.”
It wasn’t the truth, but the girl would not be safe unless the marriage was deemed one in deed as well as fact.
“She hasn’t your fire, my sweet. I have come to you in grave need of soothing.” That much was true. His blood still raced from the feel of his small wife’s near-naked body, the sight of her nestled atop his big bed.
Lynette slid her arms around her neck. “Have no fear. I will see you well-pleased this night as always.” She was tall, reaching well above his chin, her blond hair loose to her waist.
“I am certain you will.” It wouldn’t take much this eve, not in the state he was in. He pulled the tie on her robe and slid it off her shoulders, leaving her naked before the fire.
“You’ve bathed away her virgin’s blood, I trust.” Lynette leaned forward, teasing him, brushing her heavy breasts against his chest.
Ral merely nodded, uneasy with the lie but knowing he had no choice. “I told you marriage would change little between us.” Sliding an arm around her waist, he dragged her against him, lowered his mouth and kissed her, running his tongue over her cool thin lips. Her long slim fingers were also cool where she slid them beneath his tunic to rub the hair on his chest.
“You said that it would change nothing and ’twould certainly seem that is so.” She nibbled his ear and he cupped a breast, wishing he didn’t see an image of a high lush pair with dusky nipples. He thought of small warm hands and fiery lips as sweet as berries.
Furious that his tiny wife’s image should intrude at such a time, Ral stepped away and began to strip off his clothes. “Get in bed,” he said gruffly. “I would have you now—this minute. I would cleanse the feel of the auburn-haired wench from my blood.”
