But as I am bastard-born and not considered important, I was the one chosen for FitzTudor, who had also been born on the wrong side of the blanket, but dearly loved by his father. And because I brought my husband a title, the Earl of Pembroke could not be insulted or dissatisfied. It was cleverly thought out but for one thing: No one thought to consider how I would feel, being saddled with a husband I did not want.”
“Yet this is how marriages among our class are arranged, Adair. Wealth and the advantages to both parties are the deciding factors in arranging matches among our kind. The duke arranged our union, and you agreed. Why?”
“Because I know I must have a husband, for even I am not foolish enough to believe I could hold Stanton alone against the Scots,” Adair told him frankly. “And as your grandsire pointed out, our families have intermarried before, and we are neighbors.AndI know you, Andrew, and you know me. You were willing to have me, weren’t you? And not just because Uncle Dickon asked you.”
He smiled to himself in the dim light. “You know I planned to come courting you, Adair,” he said softly, and he kissed her brow. “I did not know when I first met you that you were the Countess of Stanton, and that your husband would be the earl. But you were the fairest lass I had ever seen, and I wanted you. I still do.
But had this not been so I would have done the duke’s bidding, for I owe him my loyalty, having served him before. You should understand that I am a man who does what must be done.”
She was silent now.
The fire crackled in the hearth, and there was the faint sound of wind beyond the closed draperies. He shifted their bodies so that she now lay on her back.
Raising himself up on an elbow he slowly drew the coverlet back, revealing her nakedness. She had perfectlyround little breasts, each topped with a cherry of a nipple. Looking down on them he felt a distinct tightening in his groin. Andrew swallowed softly and let his eyes meander down her body. Her waist was narrow and her torso long. Her hips and thighs were shapely. Her Venus mons was plump, pink, and smooth, for a lady of the court, he knew, would have been taught to pluck the hairs from it, as was fashionable. She had dainty feet.
Each foot was slender with a high arch. Her body was every bit as fair as her face, and Andrew found he was having difficulty looking away.
“Am I pleasing to you?” her voice inquired softly.
“Aye, most pleasing,” he told her.
“I have heard it said that men like to touch women’s breasts,” Adair said. “Would it please you to touch mine?”
“Aye.” He nodded, reaching out and cupping the rounded flesh in his hand. It nestled in his palm like a small dove. He fondled it, and heard her indrawn breath. The ball of his thumb rubbed at the nipple, and he watched as Adair’s eyes grew wide. “My touch should give you pleasure,” he said, and, lowering his dark head, he kissed the nipple.
“Oh yes!”Adair replied breathlessly as his mouth closed over that nipple and began to gently suckle on it.
“Yes!”
Raising his head as he released the nipple, he said softly, “I need very much to kiss you, Adair.” And his mouth closed swiftly over hers. The lips beneath his were sweet, and they softened beneath his as she attempted to follow his lead. He coaxed her to caress his tongue with hers, which she did shyly, shivering at first contact. And when he had decided that she had had enough, he drew her into his arms again, holding her close.
“Why do you not just mount me, and have done with it?” Adair asked him.
“Did you not enjoy the kissing?” he responded.
“Aye, but you have not answered my question,” she said.
“Animals mount one another when they breed. There is no emotion to it. Their need to fuck is pure instinct,”
he began. “But we are not animals, Adair. I want to enjoy possessing you, and I want you to gain pleasure from it too. Therefore we prepare each other with kisses and caresses.”
“Oh,” she responded. “I may touch you then?”
“Aye,” he said. “I should like it if you did.” He rolled onto his back.
Adair now raised herself up. Her small hand
reached out to touch his chest. “You are smooth,” she noted. “I have seen men in the fields with furred torsos. I like this better.” Her hand brushed over his skin.
“And you have nipples, but mine are nicer, I think, and I will suckle our children with them.” The little hand moved boldly to his belly. “You are very flat here.” The hand reached farther to touch his muscled thigh.
“What is this?” she asked him, running a finger over a slightly raised scar.
“An old battle wound. I received it in my first engage-ment,” he replied.
“You are very furry here,” she said, fingers ruffling through the black curls surrounding his manhood.
“Why do you not pluck?”
