Arissa groaned when he rolled her onto her stomach, his mouth moving to consume her delectable backside. She could feel his teeth on the swell of her buttocks, nipping at her, licking her. He moved down the back of her thighs, worshipping every inch of her silken flesh as she thrashed and twisted beneath him. Just when she was sure she could stand no more of his attentions, anxious to feel his manhood fill her, he grasped her hips and pulled her to her knees.
Buttocks in the air as her nipples grazed the furs, she turned to look at him through the wild web of black hair that covered her. “What are you doing?” she rasped.
He smiled wolfishly, running his hands down her smooth buttocks, moving to grasp her thighs. Pulling them apart slightly, she was aware of his throbbing erection pressing against her from behind. Without a word, he thrust deep, driving into her, sliding his full hard length until he was completely sheathed within her tight little body.
The ease of his entry into her slippery passage fed his lust like nothing he had ever experienced, and he did not afford Arissa a chance to adjust to the new position before he was driving into her with unearthly force.
In the grip of passion, Arissa cried and gasped, biting off her screams as his pulsing shaft created a scalding friction deep within her loins. The harder he pushed, the harder she wanted him to push. She began to work with him, meeting his rocket thrusts, grunting with pleasure each time their bodies collided. A faint sheen of perspiration coated their bodies in response to the physical demonstration of their love.
Richmond could feel the tiny muscles of her sheath fluttering in preparation for her fulfillment. He released her hips, running his hands up the front of her torso until he came to her beautiful breasts. Grabbing hold, he pulled her into an upright position against him and continued to thrust.
“Give it to me, Riss,” he rasped into her ear. “Give me all of it. Let me feel it.”
She whimpered, shaking her head incoherently. Knowing she was unable to comprehend his meaning, he maintained a grip on her breasts with one hand as the other hand moved to the triangle of moist dark curls between her legs. Stroking her hard, he could feel her tiny bud of pleasure, hard and taut, awaiting release.
Arissa’s climax burst forth in a deafening roar as Richmond manipulated her swollen nub. Feeling her muscles contract around his engorged member was all of the encouragement herequired to spill his seed, hard and long and lingering. He was barely aware of her shrieking gasps, hardly cognizant of her heaving body as she swooned against him. As his tremors died, his reeling senses struggled to return to the world at hand and he collapsed onto the furs with Arissa clutched tightly against his chest.
He could not help but ponder the fact that he had neglected yet again to use the pessaries. Somehow, she had taken control of his common sense and he had been helpless against her. But the deed had been done and now he was lingering on the fact as the night passed in icy stillness around them.
He found himself praying to God that she had not conceived, cursing himself again for his own stupidity and weakness. He knew better than to allow her demands to overshadow his wisdom, but God help him, it would have taken the strength of Samson to deny her heated little body the bliss of his uncontrolled passion. What troubled him the most was the fact that he knew it would not be the last time.
Unaware of Richmond’s fear and remorse, Arissa pushed the stray hair from her eyes and raised her head, focusing on his beautiful blue eyes.
“Did I give it to you?” she whispered.
He erupted into low laughter, shaking with mirth. “You did indeed, kitten. You gave me everything I asked for.”
She smiled sleepy, satisfied and content as his chortles faded. “Good. ’Tis my pleasure to grant your requests. Even if I do not understand exactly what I am granting.”
He kissed her hair. “Your body understands even if your mind does not. But that will come with time.”
She sighed with contentment, falling silent as she listened to the sounds of the cold December eve. In truth, they were both at a loss to find the correct words to voice the imminent separation that would face them come the morrow. They had spent the pastweek in complete ignorance of the future, living day to day as if nothing else existed.
But reality was upon them, whether or not they were ready to accept it, and Arissa savored the feel of Richmond against her, tucking the sensation of his heated body deep into the recesses of her memory when the nights at the abbey grew particularly cold and lonely. The thought of the sun rising, bringing forth the new day, brought stabs of agony to her heart and the sting of tears prickled her eyes, threatening torrents. But she refused to give in to the pain; for tonight, she would feel only the pleasure of his love. Come tomorrow, there would be tears enough to drown her.
Richmond began kissing her ear tenderly, distracting her from the thoughts of the pending morrow. Remembering her vow to maintain a brave front, at least for the duration of the night, she gave into his kisses, twisting in his arms until his heated lips came to bear on her own. Whimpering softly as his warm hand found her breast, she wrapped her legs about his narrow hips in preparation for accepting his scalding manhood when another low, mournful wail penetrated the night sky.
Richmond suddenly paused, sighing heavily into Arissa’s mouth as he raised his head as if to see Gavan through the thick oiled tarp. Arissa, her arms wound around his neck, followed his gaze and she could sense a change in his mood. While he was tucked away, warm and content to enjoy all that love had to offer, his best friend was in the midst of the greatest agony he had ever known.
For a few blissful moments he had been completely oblivious to all but his own needs; now, however, hearing Gavan’s testimony of grief as it carried on the damp night air brought a measure of guilt.
“We cannot leave him out there all night, Richmond,” Arissa whispered, reading his thoughts. “We must try to bring himback, if only to keep an eye on him so that he does not hurt himself in his anguish.”
“Gavan would not hurt himself,” Richmond replied, stroking her skin and feeling her life as desperately as Gavan wanted to feel the life of his beloved Kathryn once more. He refocused on her pale green eyes, drinking in her exquisite features. “But I fear for his sanity. I have never known the man to lose control.”
Arissa gazed into his eyes, seeing his terrible indecision; he wanted to remain with her, loving the night away, but deep inside he harbored a fierce desire to comfort his friend. Even if they were on the verge of separation, one factor remained clear; they would be together, eventually. Their brief respite from one another was nothing compared to the picture of their overall future. They would be together again, eventually. But Gavan could not look forward to the same with his wife.
Pushing her own wants aside, she tapped Richmond lightly on the shoulder. “Get up and find your clothes. We must comfort Gavan.”
He looked surprised and uncertain. “But… Riss, this is our last night and….”
“I am well aware that this is our last night together for a short time,” she said as bravely as she could manage. Another pitiful wail wafted on the salty air and Arissa gave him a second pat, encouraging him to rise. “Up, I say. After we put Gavan to bed, we shall still have until sunrise for our own pleasure. We must take care of him, Richmond. He’s all alone now.”
He’s all alone now. Richmond saw the truth of her words, the selflessness of her manner, and his decision was made for him. Kissing her gratefully, he pushed himself up and went in search of his clothing as she fumbled for her soft woolen undergarments. Securing his hose and heavy tunics, he turned to help her finish fastening the lamb’s wool surcoat he was so very fond of. Securing a new woolen cloak about her slendershoulders, he grasped her hand and quit the tent in search of Gavan.
He was not hard to find. On his knees in the middle of a muddy clearing, his massive broadsword had been driven into the ground before him and Gavan leaned against the weapon as if praying to it. Richmond and Arissa emerged onto the mucky field, their manner silent and hesitant. They approached to within several feet of the grieving man before Richmond released her, silently beckoning for her to remain in place as he moved closer.
Richmond was reluctant to speak, lest he interrupt whatever prayers Gavan was offering to God on Kathryn’s behalf. After several doubtful moments, he cleared his throat quietly.
