Shetrembled as her gown slid down her body. Even in the dim light of the candlesshe could read the hunger on his face and it roused her own. Eada knew it wasnot simply fate forcing her to its will, either. It was heady, intoxicating, toknow that she could stir this man to such passion.
Briefly,as he continued to slowly undress her, she scolded herself for succumbing tothe sin of vanity, but that fault was easily shrugged aside. She was not vain,had never even considered her appearance something to be concerned about. Theproof that Drogo wanted her, badly, was there to see in the way his breathinghad increased, the way his features had tightened, and the way his hands shookas he slowly removed her chemise, the last of her covering.
Eadareached out to thread her fingers through his hair. Her shyness andembarrassment were gone, pushed aside by her own passion and the way Drogo soreverently undressed her. When he pulled her even closer to touch a kiss toeach breast, she sighed with pleasure. She then grimaced as her fingers reachedthe abrupt end of his hair and scraped over the stubble of his shaved head.
"Areyou going to let your hair grow?" she asked, making no attempt to eludehim as he wrapped his arms around her, fell back upon the cot, and pulled herdown with him.
"Youdo not like the way my hair is cut?" he asked.
Sincehe was covering her throat with lightly feverish kisses Eada knew she had notinsulted him. "No. I do not like it. It looks as if you had a shepherd cutit and the poor fool forgot that he tended a man and not a sheep." Hiswarm breath caressed the hollow of her shoulder as he laughed.
"Youwish me to have flowing locks like your Saxon men?"
"Ithink you would look very handsome."
"Andnow you try to bend me to your way with flattery?"
Whenhe grinned at her, she grinned back. "Is it working?"
Drogolaughed as he smoothed his hands down her small, sleek back. "It might ifvanity had not already begun its work."
"Whatdo you mean?" She wriggled around until she straddled his body with hersand then gently rubbed herself against his hardness, savoring the gasp ofpleasure he could not fully subdue.
"Manyof the Normans have eyed those flowing Saxon locks with envy. This shorn head serveslittle purpose. One still sweats in one's armor and, with no hair to protect aman from the roughness of his hood or helmet, the skin ofttimes grows raw.There are many good reasons for a man to let his hair grow, but most men willmake their decision because of simple, sinful vanity."
"Isuppose having no hair does lessen the chance of getting vermin."
"No,for half the hair is still there."
Eadagasped with surprise when he swiftly turned and neatly settled her beneath him."You will land us upon the ground. This cot is the largest I have everseen, but I am not sure it is large enough for such swift, unplannedmovement."
"Ifit can hold me as I thrash about with a fever—"
"Whendid you have a fever?" she asked and then felt foolish for the alarm shehad just experienced. It was clear that he had survived that illness with noscars or weaknesses.
Drogosmiled against her collarbone when he heard the concern in her voice. Itpleased him to know that she felt more for him than a heedless passion. Herealized that the speed with which they had become lovers had left himuncertain. Although he did not know what the future held for either of them, heknew he wanted more than desire from Eada. It was wrong, probably even callous,to want such emotions from her even as he fought his own feelings, but he couldnot help himself. There was a greed within him, a gnawing hunger to know thatEada cared for him.
"Ibut caught one of the many fevers a warrior often finds upon a march or thebattlefield. Ivo never left my side and I believe I owe him my life. He nursedme well."
"Heis very loyal to you. Has he always been your servant?"
"Sincewe were small boys together." He framed her breasts with his hands,teasing her nipples into an inviting hardness with his thumbs. "I do notreally wish to talk about Ivo, my past illnesses, or his healing skills."He stroked the tip of her breast with his tongue. "I do not believe that Iwish to do much talking at all."
Eadalaughed, her amusement swiftly changing to a soft gasp of pleasure when hebegan to suckle. She curled herself around his strong body, arching into him.Talking about anything swiftly became impossible.
Hermind finally cleared of desire's haze, Eada looked at the man sprawled on topof her, his dark head resting on her breasts. She felt both stunned andfrightened by the revelation that swept over her. She loved him. Since she hadfirst looked into his eyes and felt drawn to him, she had thought only on fate,destiny, and passion. Eada suspected that she had started to love him then.Although it neatly explained why she had so quickly become his lover, this wasfar more frightening than being a pawn of fate. This was also an appalling timeto fall in love, even if the man she loved was a Norman, one of the victors.The fact that Drogo was William's man only made it a lot worse.
Briefly,Eada cursed Old Edith's prediction and doubted her own shattering conclusion. Amoment later she felt guilty and sincerely apologized to her old friend. Edithhad only told the truth as it was sent to her. It had not been the woman'sfault if that truth caused someone trouble. She also knew that she could nottalk herself out of being in love, no matter how much she might want to. Sheloved Drogo, and the wise thing to do was to accept it and decide what shewould or would not do next.
Onething she would not do, she decided as she idly toyed with his thick hair, wastell Drogo. She felt sure that the man cared for her, but dared not judge whyor how much. Passion and a deep sense of responsibility could make him act in away that appeared to be caring. Until she knew for certain what he did or didnot feel for her, she was not going to bare her heart and soul to him. The manheld enough power over her now, through passion and her deep need to be safe.Eada saw no reason to give him even more. The man had also made no mention of afuture that included her. Although it hurt to remind herself of that, Eada knewshe could not let herself forget it.
Whenhe suddenly lifted his head to look at her, she felt a blush warm her cheeksand inwardly cursed. The man could not read her thoughts, so she had nothing tofeel guilty or embarrassed about. When his eyes narrowed slightly, she knew hehad noticed her discomfort even in the dim light, and she hurried to think ofsome explanation.
"Issomething wrong?" Drogo asked as he propped himself up on one elbow andlightly touched her cheek.
"Ijust remembered something about my journey into the wood last night, somethingI forgot to tell you." Although she had not really forgotten, had simplydecided he did not need to know about Brun, Eada decided that the tale wouldnow serve a good purpose. She definitely did not want to tell him what she hadreally been thinking.
"Somethingelse happened that night?" He frowned at her when she lightly bit herbottom lip, then he tensed. "There was a man out there."
