Jasper leant against the door with his arms folded, watching her. Rowenna could not take her eyes off his face – a marriage of beauty and brutality, with its slightly crooked nose and pale scar lines. The one on his mouth drew her attention time and again. Was it because she was always looking at his mouth? He was clean-shaven for the occasion and had tied back his hair, making him more severe but less of a ruffian.
‘Stop looking so fearful, lass. I don’t bite. Well, not unless you ask me to.’ He grinned and pushed off the door with easy grace for such a burly man. ‘I have something for you, bonnie lass,’ he said.
‘I’m sure you do,’ said Rowenna, inadvertently glancing at his groin.
He burst out laughing. ‘No, not that. Here.’ Jasper reached into his pocket and took out a velvet pouch. ‘Take it. My wedding gift to you.’
Rowenna approached gingerly and reached out a hand. The pouch was heavy, and she opened it to reveal a gold, heart-shaped pendant surrounded by little pearls and, at its centre, an amethyst. Its colour reminded her of the heather blanketing the moors in spring. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and Rowenna could not help but blurt out, ‘Oh, it is exquisite.’
‘So are you,’ said Jasper in his deep, dark voice, heavy with lust. His blue eyes were blazing in their intensity.
He was trying to buy her. ‘It must have cost a pretty penny. Is this what my virtue is worth? I told you I would not sell myself for trinkets.’ She held out the pendant for him to take back.
Jasper frowned, and a shadow of hurt crossed his face, and then anger twitched along his jaw. ‘It is a wedding gift, that is all. And you’ve no need to sell yourself because your father did a good enough job of that.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I gave him money to sway his hand. He needed it. The man has many debtors beating down his door, not just me.’
‘That is despicable.’
Of him, maybe, but not me. I would have paid whatever he asked because I want you, lass. Is that so terrible?' He took her hands in his. ‘I can be a refuge from your verminous family who seek to use you.’
‘You are using me too.’
‘Ah, but I am also raising you up, giving you safety and wealth. In return, is it so terrible that I ask you to share my bed?’ His words were persuasive and gently said, but there was a ruthless determination behind them.
‘And if I refuse to lie down with you, Jasper, will you pummel me with your fists as you did with Bran?’
‘It won’t come to that, though I want you so hard, it is an effort to hold back. But Rowenna, if you trust me this night, I will try. I will take you slowly and gently and not hurt you beyond what is necessary to consummate this marriage. If you let me, I can make your body sing.’
It was a bald statement of intent, far too direct, shattering her fragile resolve. ‘Do not speak so, please.’
Jasper held onto her hands tightly. ‘I want you as a man wants a woman. I will not hide it or dress it up as anything to do with love. I will not lie, and nor should you. Do not ever tell me what I want to hear, Rowenna MacCreadie. It is all I ask of you, so you must swear it.’
Looked at coldly, he was right. Was he asking that much of her? Was he asking more than any other man on his wedding night? There was no escape from this castle, this room or this man.
‘I will swear it.’ She took a deep breath, looking up at him, and for the first time, she noticed his lashes were darker than his hair. ‘And I am Rowenna Glendenning now.’
‘Aye, God save us, you are,’ he breathed, steering her over to the bed.
Rowenna’s legs turned to jelly. The side of the bed hit the back of her knees as Jasper tilted her chin up and kissed her. It was a greedy, lustful kiss, though gentle enough, and sent a surge of pleasure to her belly. Jasper may be awful, but she liked him kissing her. A small moan escaped her lips – part guilt and part pleasure. That seemed to encourage Jasper. He swung her around, took her against him around the waist and swept her hair up into one hand. She felt him press his face to it and inhale its scent like the wolf he was. His arousal was evident, digging into her back. Jasper swept Rowenna’s hair over her shoulder and began to undo her stays with deft hands.
‘Best just to lie there and let him do as he will. That way, the ordeal will be over sooner.’
Osla’s words were no comfort as her bodice fell away, followed quickly by her skirts, hitting the floor with a sigh. Her heart was hammering so hard that Rowenna thought Jasper might be able to hear it. He buried his head in the nape of her neck and kissed it, the rub of his stubble raising goosebumps on her skin and stoking a fire deep in her belly.
‘Jasper, please don’t.’
His hands roamed up to her breasts, the palms hot through the thin fabric of her shift, raising her nipples to hard nubs.
‘Why not?’ he breathed.
‘I…I am not ready.’
He sank his teeth gently into her flesh, making her shudder. ‘Gather your courage, lass, or you will never be ready.’
Flashes of desire shot down Rowenna’s belly as he continued to nuzzle her neck and stroke her. It was as if she was melting from the inside out, and when his hand roamed lower and pressed between her legs, she could not contain a little cry. He grunted into her neck in response, and his fingers worked on her through her shift, sliding over her as her body betrayed her and became slippery with wanting him. Rowenna throbbed with pleasure, wanting to push back against his hand.
