“Of course.”These things were always the man’s fault.Husbands never came after their wives when they were cuckolded.They came after the other man.
“But…I invited ye to this chamber, aye?”
“Aye.”
“And I asked ye to lie naked with me?”
“You did.”
“And who is loomin’ o’er ye right now like a bloody conquerin’ hero?”
He smirked.He could see her point.But he didn’t have to agree with it.
“’Tis a matter of honor,” he explained.“I should have prevented you.A man can’t expect a woman to control her sexual impulses.’Tis up to the man to…” He stopped, because she was giving him the most curious smile.“What?”
“It seems to me ye’re the one lyin’ in a pool o’,” she said, glancing down at the mess he’d made, “sexual impulses.”
That was a bit unfair.Indeed, he’d managed to curtail his sexual impulses at the last moment and pulled out before he could risk planting a bairn in her.Not all men would be so careful.
“Nonetheless,” he said, “I apologize for neglecting my responsibilities.I can’t undo what’s been done.But I can assure you it won’t happen again.”
“It had better happen again,” she said with a frown, “because there’s somethin’ ye should know.”She crossed her arms over her breasts, which only made them look plumper and more tempting.“This was my idea.Allmy idea.Iwantedthis to happen.Imeantfor it to happen.”She lifted her chin proudly.“I’m weary o’ waitin’ for criminals and kings and monks to steer my fate.”She shrugged.“So did I seize the reins and ride away on a wild horse?Aye.Maybe.But ’twas my choice.And I’d do it again.Iwilldo it again.Many, many…many times.”
Hew couldn’t help but be moved.Carenza looked like a goddess, sitting astride him as if she rode into battle.Brave and beautiful and determined.Full of righteousness and rebellion.She might not be a warrior maid.But in this moment, he believed she had the strength of ten men.
Still, he wasn’t convinced.No matter how tempting the thought of making love to her “many, many, many times” was, in their world it would brand her a wanton.That he wouldn’t abide.He scowled and opened his mouth to counter her.
But she wasn’t finished with her diatribe.And she wouldn’t let him get a word in.
“We love each other, aye?”
He nodded.
“And we’re married where it counts.In our hearts.”She placed her hand over his chest, where that utterly smitten heart pounded.“Whate’er we do with our bodies must be right and pure, because we love each other.”
She wove her words like a net around him.Lulling him.Luring him in.Trapping him.
He knew she was wrong.Things were never that simple.But he was already caught.And he had to admit he was not unhappy to be entangled in the net of her affections.
“Findin’ this bed here…” She shook her head in wonder.“’Tis as if my mother herself has given me her blessin’.”
“You think so?”
“I do.”
Hew had other ideas about that.The pallet was horribly uncomfortable.If he hadn’t been distracted by the lovely maid riding him, he would have moved to the floor.
“Because I’ve ne’er had a pallet poke me in the backside with such enthusiasm.”
“What?”
“It feels like ’tis stuffed with sticks and stones.”
“’Tis stuffed with goose feathers.”
“Are you sure they plucked them off the geese?”
She moved off of him.“Let me see.”
