Marion did mean it as in her mind if they were courting, they were testing their compatibility and that included kissing. There she let the thought complete itself in her mind.
“I do mean it.”
“And what if I want more than kissing?”
“For that you shall have to wait.”
“Marion, every time I kiss you, I want more.”
She was pleased for his honesty, but it took a great deal of courage to reveal her own truths with him. Still, the constant guessing what his feelings were was exhausting.
“Very well, we shall keep the kissing to a minimum, but there will be some. That is my requirement in this courtship. And you will not hide your feelings for me, nor I from you.”
He took far too many heartbeats to reply, but a slow smile spread across his firm lips. She found herself looking at them and was again distracted by the memory of how they felt pressed against hers.
“Lady Marion, you drive a hard bargain. I accept your terms,” hesaid and reached out his hand.
They shook hands and then he kissed the back of hers. “I do not believe even the most difficult of the king’s tests of skill have challenged me as much as this arrangement with you.”
Marion laughed. “Surely you jest, my lord—”
“Alexander.”
“Alexander, surely you jest. For I have seen you atop your horse barreling toward your next opponent. That, sir, takes great skill.”
“Aye, it does indeed. But the constant need to restrain myself from carrying you off to the nearest bed so I can bury myself inside you until we are both depleted of our strength is much, much harder.”
His lips were so close to hers, all she had to do was lean forward and the entire hall would be privy to a scandal that could only end one way.
The din in the hall broke through then, and she sat back regarding his expression. His eyes were dark like a stormy sea, and he looked like he could devour her. When their time came, and she knew in that moment that it would, she wondered if she would survive it.
She did have some idea of what happened between a man and a woman, but even her limited interactions with him were far more than she could have even imagined. What more did she have to learn?
Alexander gave her one final longing look and then turned back to the next storyteller, making himself ready to please a demanding crowd. Marion drew in a deep breath and prayed no one else in the hall had caught the intensity that had just passed between them.
*
Why on earthhe had agreed to such terms he could not say. But he was certain that if he did not restrain his growing passion for her, there would be no need to wait for her to return to Linlithgow for her parents’ blessing. He would marry her on the morrow and ease hisever-tightening loins by tomorrow eve. God, that thought didn’t help his burden. Merely sitting next to her was becoming torture, and to hear her demand kissing her was about all he could take. How on earth could a maiden and a lady say such things without knowing about lovemaking? Damned if he knew, but he was determined to keep her chaste until such time as they were wed.
The last thought surprised him. He thought his plan was sound. He could court her and then formalize a betrothal and marry sometime in the new year. At this rate, at least a betrothal was out the window. And was it fair to rush this with her just because he needed to be inside her? Had he actually said that? But she hadn’t recoiled from the comment either, so what did that mean? She either knew what he meant and wanted it, or she had no idea what he was talking about. His mind went round in circles.
He would have to confess, he did not pay much attention to the remaining stories that thankfully went well into the eve so that even the queen and king wished to retire rather than turn the evening into a late-night ceilidh. They’d save that for another night. He was sure the king had been somewhat amused, but had not displayed his normal joviality that was visible at his own gatherings.
Once all the guests retreated from the hall and only Marion and Alexander remained, save for a few servants, he turned to her.
“Shall I escort you to your chamber, my lady?”
“Aye, my lord, I believe that would be acceptable.”
All formal in front of the servants, but he had every intention of tasting her sweet lips before heading off to his slumber.
Up the winding staircase they walked together and down the long hallway to her chamber. He’d given up his rooms and Jean had given up hers for their majesties, so he was down another hall and on the opposite side of the castle from Marion. Which was a good thing.
Once at her door, she turned to him and peeked around to see if anyone was about. She then reached up on tip toes and kissed himsweetly on the lips.
“See, that wasn’t so painful now, was it?”
Even something so brief very much was.
