He had a gentleness in him too, despite the way he had lived. She had seen it in the way he dealt with others, in the way he treated her. God had gifted Thayer with a large, strong body, yet Thayer never abused the power that gave him.
Thayer’s abrupt entrance into their chambers ended her musings. However, she faintly resented the intrusion, for she felt she was getting somewhere, was finally nearing an understanding of her own feelings. Inwardly promising herself she would return to those contemplations, she sat up in bed to watch Thayer prepare to join her.
Glancing at her, Thayer stripped to his braies and then began to wash up. “You look as if you kept your promise to go more carefully today,” he murmured.
“Aye, I did.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“I was most dutiful and obedient.”
“And pert,” he drawled, smiling faintly.
“How fares your work?”
Another good trait, she mused, a sense of humor. He also liked to gently tease her. She could appreciate both of those aspects of his character.
“Well enough,” Thayer replied. “In truth, good enough to plan our next move. Soon, I believe, we can travel to your bridal lands.”
“I have heard that the Western Marches can be a dangerous, trouble-laden place.”
“So have I.” He snuffed all the candles save the only one by the bed.
“Do you think it true?”
Shedding his braies, he slid into bed, then gently tugged her into his arms. “Sometimes the tales are not quite true. I cannot be certain of what awaits us there until we are there. I need to look about the place for myself. Often the troubles are caused by the very men who decry them, who complain about them the loudest.” He frowned down at her. “Mayhap I should leave you here until I am more certain of what awaits us at Riverfall.”
“I should rather go with you.”
“Oh? Do you mean to argue with your husband then?” he teased.
“Well…not exactly.”
“Not exactly? What do you mean to call it then?”
“Simply talking over the matter?”
He laughed softly, then brushed a kiss over her forehead. “Save your rhetoric, little one. I should rather you go with me as well. If naught else, I will be more at ease knowing exactly how your journey fares. I may see to your comfort and protection myself, not just sit at River-fall awaiting your arrival.”
“I have never heard my father speak of any great troubles at Riverfall. Mayhap all will be well.”
“Mmmmm. Mayhap.”
Gytha did not really need his distracted reply to tell her his interest was no longer on conversation. The way he stroked her with his hands as he removed her nightrail told her that. She smiled as she slid her arms around his neck. A faint shiver of delight rippled through her when he pressed her naked body against his.
“Weary of chatter, Thayer?” she murmured even as he teased her lips with soft nibbling kisses.
“Aye. How clever of you to notice.”
“A good wife should know when to cease belaboring her husband with conversation.” She tried to look righteous when he grinned at her and failed miserably.
“We can talk later.” He gently rubbed his loins against hers, her soft sounds of pleasure increasing the need he always had for her. “My interest lies elsewhere.”
“Indeed. And where is that?”
Pushing her onto her back, Thayer growled, “I mean to show you, wife.”
Her soft laugh was ended by his hungry kiss. As always, she was quickly lost to passion. It was not until she lay sated and recovering from that passion, Thayer sprawled on top of her, that she wondered why she even bothered to try and sort out her feelings. Whatever they signified, they were good ones, not ones that needed fretting about.
