She lifted her own spoon and indeed hers was also beginning to turn into a thicker and more viscous liquid. “Are you going to strain it?” she asked, recalling something about jelly bags and dripping juices.
“No, that’s for jelly. I’ll do that later in the year when all the fruit is starting to ripen. It’s a week I set aside, and some of the farmers’ wives and villagers come in to help.”
“I like that. The idea that Wolfbridge is here for everyone, not just us.”
“It’s part of who we are. Everyone here feels the same way. We have a deep need to do good, Gwyneth. It may sound silly, but that’s what the Manor is all about. And the more good we do, the more we get back in return.”
She sighed. “If only more people could understand that.”
“Agreed.”
The pots bubbled on for a few minutes and then Evan left her side to come back with a saucer and a tiny bit of cold water. “Now,” he said, picking up his spoon. “Let’s see how we’re doing.”
She watched with interest as he dipped his spoon into the hot liquid and dripped a little into the cold water on the saucer. Within moments it had thickened considerably and he could push it around with his finger.
“Almost there. I think we should get our jam pots…”
And a few minutes later they were ready, cautiously decanting the hot and thick jam into the waiting pots, pouring a tiny bit in first to warm the glass so that it didn’t crack. It was tricky work, and Gwyneth found herself sweating as they carefully filled pot after pot.
Finally all were complete and Evan tossed several clean cloths over all the little vessels. “They have to cool now.”
She looked at the trays as he carried them into the cold larder and put them on an empty shelf. “And then you put the covers on?”
He nodded, putting the last tray with its fellows. “It will take a while.”
“We should clean up.”
She turned to the stove and carefully lifted an empty pot, taking it over to the sink. It wasn’t hot, but she was still cautious, and pumped cool water energetically to make sure the worst of the heat had dissipated.
She jumped as the water poured faster than she’d expected, splashing a mixture of wet droplets and some of the jam that had stuck to the inside of the pot. It caught her smack over the front of her apron and gown.
“Gwyneth…” Evan rushed over. “Jesus. Is that hot?” He grabbed the apron at her chest and tore it away…taking her bodice with it.
She gasped, not from the warmth of the water and jam, but from the searing heat that flared in his eyes. “No, it’s mostly water. I’m all right,” she whispered.
“You certainly are,” he answered. “But I’m not sure I am…Oh God,” He reached for her breasts, cupped them in his hands and dipped his head.
“Evan,” she murmured, her body igniting as he suckled her, sending arrows of liquid fire from her toes to her eyebrows. “Oh Evan…”
He looked up and stared at her. “So lovely, Gwyneth, you taste like…like sunlight…” He smiled and reached into the sink, his fingers scrabbling against the inside of the jam pot. It was warm but not hot and when he rubbed some on her nipples, she cried out at the wonderful sensation.
Sucking and licking, Evan drove her higher with just his tongue. “Mmm. So much better than toast…I want my jam to be served just like this in future…” He painted her again then returned, his mouth widening and pulling her breast inside.
She was lost in the touches, the licks, the teasing nips to buds that were hard, tight and oh so sensitive. Her body trembled, her loins ached and she wanted—noneeded—him with a fierce passion that she could not deny.
A tremble shook her, and Evan raised his head. “Yes, Gwyneth…”
“Yes,” she whispered, not even sure what she was agreeing to.
He grabbed her and lifted her onto the table, whisking her skirts away and stepping between her thighs as he unfastened his breeches. “Here. Now. I can’t wait any longer.”
She wrapped her legs around him, gripping his shoulders as she did so. “Neither can I. Please. Here. Now…”
It was fast, hard and wonderful…Evan pushed himself into her willing heat, plunging deep, standing at just the right height to touch the places that shuddered and ached in anticipation.
She sighed out a moan of pleasure and clamped his body to hers, knowing that within moments she was going to explode. Evan, too, breathed a lusty sigh as he began to slowly thrust, rocking them both, rubbing them together like flint against flint, striking sparks of yearning and pushing them both toward a peak that drew ever closer.
The heat, her naked breasts wet from his mouth, his deep penetrating massage of places that burned with need…within moments she was shuddering and tensing, her back arching in his arms, her legs locking him to her so hard she wondered if she’d ever be able to let him go.
