Page 84 of The Consolation Prize

A spark kindled in his eyes. “You will always be my wife and my princess, Una.”

She inclined her head in acceptance of this. “Very well, then you must likewise accept that to me, you are both my husband and the very best friend I have ever—”

She got no further than this, for he scooped her up, crossed the room in three long strides, and flung her onto the bed. She watched flat on her back as he stripped off his tunic and unlaced his crotch. To her surprise he didn't strip off his braies, but instead came to the mattress with his legs still clad in the tight black leggings.

“Maybe talking is not the best way forward, just now,” he uttered. Reaching for her, he ripped her thin shift in two and flung it off the bed leaving her totally naked before him. Then he roughly grabbed her knees and flung her legs open before settling between them.

Una felt a pulse of alarm along with something else, a sort of breathless, wild feeling when his hands slid possessively over her full breasts and down over the slight swell of her stomach to cup her between her legs. When his fingers slid into her, she bit her lip and arched into them, finding with faint surprise that she was already wet, despite his lack of tender ministrations. She panted in excitement as his own eyes narrowed and gleamed dangerously before her. This was not playful Armand right now, but it was still her husband.

“Tell me you want me, Una,” he said tightly.

“I always want you.” He seemed to shudder slightly at her words.

“Don’t you dare to even think about leaving me now,” he said thickly. “I won’t stand for it.”

Una watched the rise and fall of his heaving chest as she looped her arms about him. “I have never once contemplated leaving you and I never will,” she responded truthfully. She did not think it prudent to ask if this meant there would be no more talk of his going off and leaving her at Lynwode. To her surprise, she found herself saying it anyway. “And what of you?”

“What of me?” he asked huskily. His thumb was circling that spot that made her pant and twist against him.

“What of you going off adventuring and leaving me alone?”

He gave a short laugh. “Not happening.”

Una’s heart raced. “No?”

“I will drag you with me,” he promised darkly. “You will soon regret calling me your ideal traveling companion when you’re forced to pee in a field and sleep in a wet pavilion.”

“Do you think I will?” she asked breathlessly, arching against his questing fingers.

His hand stilled a moment. “No,” he admitted, his voice thick with emotion. “I think, my darling Una, that you will be cheerful and sweet, whatever fresh hell I put you through.” His mouth was on hers again, hot and urgent, as he aligned their bodies and without more ado, thrust into her. His mouth on hers muffled her cry.

“Ah gods,” he groaned, closing his eyes. “I could have lost you tonight. I so very nearly lost you.” When he opened his eyes again, they were brimming over with both passion and emotion. “And you’re everything,” he sounded shaken. “When did you become everything to me?”

Una caught her breath. She was everything to him?

“It happened—I’m not sure when it happened,” he sounded bewildered. “Before I knew it, you were already—” He breathed out again, his body starting to move against hers. “You were already there and there was nothing I could do about it.”

“Armand,” Una breathed raggedly. Did he even know what he was saying?

“I have never known anyone like you. Anyone who made me feel like you do.” He paused, one hand at her jaw, tilting her head up so he could look into her eyes as he stroked deep inside her. “You’re so beautiful to me, Una,” he shook his head slightly. “I should have told you that before now, but I didn’t know how to say it to someone, when I truly meant it.” He looked frustrated.

“And it’s not just the way you look. It’s who you are. You ought to be bitter and distrusting, but you’re not.” His words broke off as his voice thickened. “You always think the best of me and defend me, even when every impulse must tell you I’m undeserving. You make me want to deserve your good opinion, Una. To deserve you.”

Una bit her lip, her breath coming fast. Was he telling her that he loved her? Or merely esteemed her above other women? Or was it much the same thing? It was hard to concentrate when their bodies were joined, and he was moving in that way against her. She stroked her hands over his back, feeling his rippling muscles, as her eyes fluttered closed.

As she lifted her legs to wrap them about his hips, she felt the dull ache at her waist where Waleran’s knife had grazed her skin. Despite that slight discomfort, the pleasure was coiling low in her belly and climbing higher by the moment.

“Una,” Armand groaned. “I want to hear your voice, my love.”

“You do deserve it,” she told him breathlessly. “No one could suit me so well as you. From the start, you gave me everything I needed. Every time.”

He lifted his head. “I did?”

She nodded and she felt him pulse deep inside her.

“I can’t hold off,” he groaned, his hips thrusting against hers vigorously. “Come with me.”

Una’s eyes flew open as she blazed and caught fire and convulsing around him. Armand held her gaze, his own turning molten as their passion consumed one another. Afterward, the only sound in their room was their mingled panting breath. They lay in a close embrace, for several long comfortable moments, before Armand started kissing her again, very tenderly.