Page 94 of The Blacksmith

“Soon to be your wife.” Idalia smiled. “The wife of a blacksmith. I quite like it.”

He was on top of her so quickly, Idalia didn’t even have time to blink.

“I’ve many things to show you I think you’ll like,” he said, his voice low and incredibly seductive.

She did not doubt he meant every word.

“What, pray tell, are you waiting for?”

His laugh echoed all around them, the sweet sound a balm to her soul.

Epilogue

Idalia thought she felt air float over her body, where a moment ago she’d been warm, snuggled between her husband’s body and the soft coverlet.

“What are you thinking of?” Lance asked.

Idalia opened her eyes.

She hadn’t imagined it.

Her husband actually lay between her thighs, the coverlet pushed to the side. Blinking to clear away the remnants of deep slumber, she attempted to lift her head.

Lance pushed open her legs and kissed just above her knee. Another kiss, this one on her thigh.

“Terric.”

He stopped his ministrations, and Idalia couldn’t help but laugh at his expression.

“I wonder where he found this coverlet. ’Tis the softest I’ve ever felt. I may ask him if we can take it with us when we leave.”

Of course, Lance had warned her that they might be at Dromsley Castle for some time. It was from here their order would conduct its missions. Owned by a Scot, the castle was apt to attract less attention than Conrad’s home, Licheford, might.

“I’ll need you to stop thinking of Terric,” he said, resuming his ministrations.

“But he is quite nice,” she said, attempting to bite back laughter.

“Nice,” Lance grumbled. “Large. Terrifying. Those are the words more often used to describe the chief.”

He was getting closer.

“Well, I believe him to be quite nice.”

Lance had found his mark.

“Do you, then?”

He started with a quick kiss, but then his tongue darted out, finding exactly the right spot.

“And do you believe this to be quite nice?” he asked, repeating his actions.

Idalia lifted her hips toward his mouth, receiving a chuckle in response. She could no longer engage in conversation. Waking up this way . . . it would take some getting accustomed to, but Idalia was a quick learner.

As Lance became more insistent, Idalia attempted to keep her moans as quiet as possible. She did not know how easily sounds could be heard outside of their chamber.

“Oh!” But it was getting harder and harder to do.

Thankfully, Lance shifted his position, moving quickly up her body and covering her mouth with his own.