Then Sigimor's brother and cousins encircled her, welcoming her to their family and helping themselves to some rather hearty kisses. Their good humor began to banish her confusion and that touch of sadness she had been unable to shake. Just as Liam took her into his arms and placed his lips against hers, she felt a strong arm curl around her waist. She yelped in surprise as she was yanked out of Liam's embrace.
"Keep your lips off my wife,” Sigimor said as he took her by the hand and led her out of the church.
"I was but welcoming her to the family,” replied a grinning Liam. “Tis an old custom to kiss the bride."
Sigimor made a very rude comment about what Liam could do with that custom. Jolene blushed even as she felt like laughing. Her new husband was obviously feeling possessive. It was no real indication of any deeper feelings, but, added to the desire he felt for her, it caused Jolene to feel a glimmer of hope for their future.
After helping her settle Reynard into his blanket sling, Sigimor set her on her horse, then took her hand in his and scowled at it. “A bride should have a ring."
"It matters not,” she said. “With Harold nipping at our heels such things become of little importance."
"Ye will have one as soon as we reach Dubheidland."
He kissed the finger a ring should have been resting on, then strode away to his horse. Jolene inwardly shook her head. She never would have thought Sigimor would be troubled by such a thing, yet it was obvious that he was. And everyone thought women were difficult to understand, she mused as she nudged her mount into a pace to equal Sigimor's. As they rode, Jolene hoped that she could think of enough complicated problems to fully occupy her mind. If she was very lucky, she would not spend every minute from now until they halted for the day fretting over her wedding night.
Jolene stared at her new husband and tried very hard not to swallow her tongue. They had stopped in a village when the sun had only just begun to set. Sigimor had been very efficient in getting them a room, a bath, and a meal, as well as in enlisting his brother Tait to care for Reynard for the night. They had bathed and eaten their meal, then she had undressed to her shift and climbed into bed. Now Sigimor stood beside the bed prepared to join her beneath the covers and he was completely naked.
She was not sure where to look. There was an awful lot of Sigimor to see. Having never seen a fully naked man before, she did feel curious, but that did little to soothe her nerves. This particular naked man was about to climb into bed with her and consummate their marriage. Jolene dearly wished she knew exactly how that was done. She had the feeling it concerned that rather large protrusion at his groin and she found that thought a little alarming.
He was beautiful though, she admitted as she looked him over while carefully avoiding his groin. All taut, smooth muscle and a well-proportioned body. There was very little hair upon his broad chest. A small feathering of dark red curls there, then a little line of hair starting at his navel and leading down to a thick nest of curls around that protrusion. She quickly looked at his long, well-shaped legs and noted the rather light covering of hair on them. Jolene forced her gaze back to his groin and blushed furiously. It had not seemed quite so intimidating when she had felt it pressed against her as they had embraced, but then they had been fully clothed. Surely men did not walk about with it like that all the time? She was certain she would have noticed it before if they did.
Sigimor sighed even as he felt himself harden even more beneath Jolene's gaze. He had known she was a virgin and that he would have to move slowly and gently when he bedded her. It was apparant, however, that she was also a highly sheltered virgin. He had the sinking feeling he might even have to explain what was about to happen. That could require a great deal more patience and delicacy than he possessed. The prize was worth it, he told himself firmly as he slipped into bed beside her.
"What is this?” he asked as he began to unlace her shift.
"A shift,” she replied. “Something a woman wears beneath her gown. You claim some worldly experience. Did you ne'er take off—” She was unable to finish for he was pulling her shift over her head.
"A wife doesnae need to wear her shift to bed,” he said as he tossed it aside. “Wives come to their husband's bed naked."
"Then why do some women spend coin on night shifts trimmed with lace and ribbons?” she demanded.
"I have ne'er understood that. To let their mon ken they are interested, I suppose. Then, they both get naked."
Jolene found it all rather astonishing. She was lying in bed, naked, with a very large, naked man and she was trying hard not to giggle. Sigimor was being outrageous and the gleam in his eyes told her he knew it. She refused to encourage him by laughing.
"Lass,” he said quietly, and brushed a kiss over her mouth, “I willnae hurt ye.” He grimaced slightly. “Weel, mayhap a wee bit, but ‘tis as nature intended. I can do naught about that. Howbeit, ‘tis only the first time. Do ye understand?"
"Not one word.” He looked so dismayed she had to smile. “I am sorry. I think, mayhap, I was kept very, very sheltered. Since I was ne'er close to being wed, no woman was sent to tell me what happens in the marriage bed. I think the best solution may be for you to just set about it. I will follow where you lead."
"That sounds a fine plan."
Sigimor wanted to just look at her, to study and savor the sight of her slim body. He wanted to taste that soft, pale skin from her lips to her toes and back up again. There were a lot of things he had dreamed of doing once he got her into his bed, but fulfilling those dreams would have to wait. This time he would have to bow to her innocence, would have to be as mindful of her modesty as he was of the need to stir her passion. He could only hope that he could stir her passion until it was hot enough to make the breaching of her maidenhead of little consequence.
He kissed her and kept on kissing her until she was clinging to him. Sigimor silently thanked God that his little wife was so responsive, that her blood was so quickly heated by his kisses, and he took ruthless advantage of that. Slowly, he began to caress her, giving her another kiss whenever he sensed even a hint of tension in her body. By the time he judged her ready for the next step, he was praying that he could find yet another thing that stirred her passion swiftly and fiercely for he was not sure how long he could play this game.
Jolene threaded her fingers through his thick, soft hair as he kissed his way toward her breasts. She was surprised that such a big man with such strong hands could have as gentle a touch as Sigimor had. There did not seem to be a single part of her body that did not tingle from the stirring warmth of his caresses. A few parts ached and she knew it was because they too craved his touch. When he licked the spot between her breasts as he stroked them, lightly rubbing his palms over her nipples, Jolene heard herself make a noise that sounded very much like a moan.
"Sigimor,” she murmured, hearing a plea in her voice, but not sure what she was asking for. “Should I ache?"
The feel of her soft skin beneath his hands, the taste of her upon his mouth, and the soft sounds of pleasure she made were pushing Sigimor to the limits of his control. He was not sure he was capable of having a conversation, let alone of answering questions, especially not after discovering that her beautiful breasts were so sensitive. Lifting his hands, he stared at the taut rosy nipples adorning her breasts, and felt a shudder go through him at this further sign that he could stir her passion.
"Aye, ye should ache,” he replied, “as I ache. And I ken for what."
Jolene's eyes widened almost painfully as the moist heat of his mouth enclosed the hard tip of her breast. Her whole body arched up, seeking his. The feel of his tongue caressing that aching spot had her clutching at him. When he began to suckle her, she felt every tug of his mouth deep inside her. The gruff words of flattery and encouragement he muttered against her skin as he feasted upon her breasts were nearly incomprehensible to her passion-fogged mind, but they stirred her almost as much as his kisses did. She wriggled with delight as he stroked her belly. She tried to return caress for caress, but somehow he eluded her touch whenever she attempted to move her hands away from his back and arms. There was a fine tremor going through his body and the knowledge that she caused it only heightened her desire.
Then he slid his hand between her legs and her whole body stiffened in shock. “Sigimor?"
"Ah, my wee wife, ‘tis permitted. Can ye nay feel how yourbelle-chosewelcomes your husband's touch?"
