"Weel, I cannae believe I have suddenly become a beauty, but does all that mean that we will still be wed?"
"Aye.” He hid his dislike of the match for the first time. “I have just had of ye what should have been saved for your wedding night."
"That doesnae matter, Iain,” she gasped, her voice failing as his lips caressed her breasts. “I will understand if ye cannae abide it."
"Sweet, stupid, Islaen, I cannae keep my hands nor my mouth from ye. Would it be so if ye were at all repulsive to my eyes?"
"Nay, mayhaps not. Oh,” she breathed as his mouth closed over the tip of one breast and his hand caressed her taut belly, edging ever closer to the wine red treasure that he was aching to possess again. “How do ye do that? Make me go all hot and melting?"
A shudder tore through him at her words and he eased his hand between her thighs. “I dinnae ken, lass. How do ye make me crave this when I ken ‘tis the last thing I should seek? How can ye make me break all my vows to myself?"
Her initial shy tension gone, Islaen was turning to fire in his hands. “What vow was that?” she moaned, arching to his touch.
"That I wouldnae touch the women. Ah, ye have a muckle fine touch, lass,” he groaned as her hands moved over his backside. “I vowed I would be careful when we wed for ye maun ne'er get with child. I willnae kill anither woman.” He moved her hand to the proof of his strong, uncontrollable desire for her. “Touch me here, lass. Ken what ye do to a mon."
Her long fingers curled around him, then stroked and explored. She astutely understood his meaning but knew no way to dispel his errant opinions. There was really only one way to prove him wrong. It was soon evident to Islaen that Iain had no intention of letting her get with child, so that she could show him that he was wrong.
It was difficult to speak as her small hand lightly stroked him. Iain wanted to simply give into the strong, exquisite feelings she was able to stir in him but he fought that temptation. Later, when he had made her understand, when she had given him the promise he needed, he would let his passion run wild and free.
Forcing himself to think, he tried to gather the words needed to explain himself, yet not offend her. To tell a woman that she could have the marriage but not the children was not the easiest thing to do. Some women would be very grateful, but Iain sensed that Islaen was not one of those. She certainly had not sounded so on that day they had argued in the gardens.
Looking into her eyes he found that he also had to convince himself again. All he could think of was a sweet, lively girl child with Islaen's pretty eyes. He ached for a family but he tried to fight that weakness. Those thoughts put him into such a state of confusion that he decided not to explain himself. He would simply tell her what she would do. It was, after all, his right as her husband.
"I can at least try to keep my vow that I willnae get ye with child. For me to spill my seed outside is one way,” he gasped as her naturally skillful fingers toyed with the holders of that seed, “but I ken that will be verra hard so I will have ye do this for me.” Ignoring her blushes, he explained the sponge method to her. “Promise me, lass.” He was suddenly fierce as he stared at her. “Promise or we will ne'er lie this way again, I swear it."
Islaen stared at him for a moment. She could not believe what he was asking of her. For only one brief moment did she think he was joking when he threatened to stay out of her bed. That hope faded when she looked into his eyes. He meant every word he said.
It was a sin, both what he asked and what she decided she had to do. Then again he had no right to ask her to commit the sin of preventing conception. So too did he have no right to deny her the child she had every right to as his wife and in the eyes of God. She threw out a hasty prayer for forgiveness and asked that, in the end, she did not simply add to his anguish and guilt. With that done, she looked him straight in the eyes, her hands clutching his hips to pull him closer and proceeded to lie through her teeth.
"Aye, I promise, Iain, an it is what ye wish."
"It is,” he growled and then took her mouth in a hungry kiss.
His response to her promise was all that she could wish. Her guilt was pushed aside as they made their rapid climb to the heights and made the dizzying fall into passion's abyss as one. Sated, they lay in each other's arms. Iain knew he should send her back to her chambers but, instead, he let her rest a while before making love to her again. It was dawn before they both succumbed to exhaustion, Iain's head nestled comfortably on the full breasts that had so long been only a burden to their owner.
