Brynn had never been with a man this close to her own age. She had wondered during her first marriage but had shut those thoughts down as wrong. But now…
Cenric was young and strong andaliveand kissing her so thoroughly it made her head spin.
His hand found her hip, seizing her in a fierce hold. He took a fistful of cloth and Brynn kissed him harder, pressing closer. She forgot the cold, she even forgot duty as he drew her in.
A howl rang out from the treetops, halting their kiss. A cold gust swept in, making the trees shudder and several of the men laugh as it passed. Down the river, Brynn heard the waves smacking against the shore harder, splashing and roaring.
Cenric held Brynn tight against his chest until the wind settled. He had a solid chest—broad and muscular. She wondered what it would be like to touch it without his tunic between them.
Cenric caressed her temple. “We should sleep,” he whispered in her ear. “We have another long day of sailing.”
Brynn nodded against his chest.
He nipped the top of her ear, not hard enough to be painful, but hard enough that she couldn’t ignore. A jolt shot through her, a shiver that made her toes curl.
“When we get home, I am going to take you to my bed,” he murmured, voice hoarse and low. “And I am going to show you how good it can be.”
Brynn tried to speak, but all that came out was a soft whimpering sound.
Cenric held her, stroking her back as if he understood.
Cenric had been serious when he had said he wanted to get home as soon as possible. They broke their camp early the next morning, then sailed for at least twelve hours the next day until the men were too tired to row.
Daven was so pleased with his repaired boots that several of the other men brought items to Brynn in need of repair. She and Esa had nothing better to do, so she spent her own day mending boots and tunics between speaking with Cenric and learning to play dice. Edric insisted on teaching her and Esa, saying it was a vital skill for sailing.
“Boredom is our most common foe when we’re on the water, you see,” the redheaded man said with a wink at Brynn.
They camped again that night, this time in a small harbor with a village. They were able to moor the ship in a safe enough harbor that they spent the night on board, only going ashore to cook and refill the water barrels.
They slept on the deck of the ship. Esa bedded down on one side of Brynn and Cenric on the other.
Brynn woke on the third morning after their marriage to find him still asleep at her side. He didn’t touch her, but it felt intimate. Maybe even vulnerable.
Cenric barely knew her, but he seemed to enjoy being close to her. His words implied he desired her.
What would that be like? To have a man who wanted her? Dare she hoped for that much?
A nagging voice at the back of her head told her she couldn’t trust him. She couldn’t open her heart so easily. Even if he did find her interesting now, there was nothing to ensure she would keep his interest. She couldn’t let her happiness become dependent on how a man treated her.
But Brynn didn’t need a husband who loved her. She would settle for one that didn’t hate her.
Brynn clambered ashore to relieve herself and splash cold water on her face before climbing back aboard. Everyone was beginning to wake.
The young man called Kalen distributed their rations of bread and fish. Brynn was quite ready to be eating anything else.
They gathered on the deck of the ship as everyone roused. Cenric was now seated on one of the rowing benches and beckoned to her, handing over her portion of dried fish and bread. “Did you sleep well, wife?”
“I’m not used to sleeping on a ship’s deck.” Brynn didn’t want to complain, but her entire body ached. All the same, she had been the one who had committed to this course. She knew freedom would come with some loss of comfort.
“We’ll be home soon,” Cenric promised. “Before nightfall.” He rested a hand on her side. “Then you can tell me if I have done Ombra justice.”
“I’m eager to see it,” Brynn said. “I’ve never seen mountains before.”
Cenric’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, we have those.” His gaze wandered to her lips.
Brynn cleared her throat. “Don’t work yourself too hard today.”
“Concerned for me, wife?”
