When it finally faded, he collapsed over her barely able to breathe and though he didn’t want to move off her, he feared his weight too much for her and rolled off her onto his back. He felt her hand slip around his and he squeezed it tight.
“I didn’t know it could feel that wonderful,” she said, her breath still a bit labored.
“Either did I,” he said and he did something that he didn’t think he’d ever do again—he smiled.
Oria released his hand and turned to snuggle against him and her heart swelled with joy when she saw the smile on his face. The smile she had put there.
“Truly?” she asked, though his smile said it all.
“Aye, wife, truly,” he said. “I’ve never known it to feel this satisfying.” Worry suddenly creased his brow. “Oria, if I did anything that yo—”
She smiled. “I enjoyed everything you did to me. You made our first time together a beautiful memory I will forever cherish.” She poked him in the chest. “Though you must promise me it won’t be the last time we do it.”
“I know now why I fell in love with you. You have the kindest, most unselfish, and loving heart I have ever known.” He rolled her onto her back. “And you’re mine, all mine, and I’ll never let you go, not ever.” He kissed her gently and he wrapped himself around her, something he’d been longing to do.
It wasn’t long before she fell asleep and he laid there thinking how he’d protect her if they ever suffered another attack like the one that had separated them. It stirred in him again—the savage that lurked in the darkness—and he was glad to feel him. He’d never go away and oddly enough he didn’t want him to. He’d let him loose when necessary and never again would anyone harm Oria or take her from him.
He fell asleep, glad the savage still lived.
Chapter 14
Royden woke with his wife tucked snugly against him. He kept his eyes on her, thinking if he looked away he’d wake and find it all had been a dream. Given time, he knew he’d accept the fact that he was truly home and that Oria was his wife, truly his wife now.
He smiled and almost touched his face to feel it. His wife had been the one to make him truly smile again and it was another debt of gratitude he owed her.
She stirred beside him, her leg moving over his to rest near his groin and since he’d woken already aroused it didn’t help any.
He had been woken in the middle of the night when Oria had stirred restlessly in her sleep. Fearing it was the beginning of another nightmare for her, he had stroked her gently and whispered reassuring words. The next thing he knew they were making love again and it had been more than amazing. It made him realize that the many women he had been with through the past years had soothed a need, but never had he known true satisfaction until Oria.
Thinking on that flared his desire for her. He told himself to leave her be. She had to be tired and possibly sore since this was new to her. Then he felt her hand on his shaft and he smiled again.
He turned his smile on her. “Can’t keep your hands off me, wife?”
She was already smiling broadly. “Do you want me to?”
“No. Never,” he said with a light laugh. “I’m glad you like to touch me, but you know what will happen if you keep touching me.”
“Why do you think I’m touching you, husband?” she said with a light laugh of her own.
Royden rolled over her, pinning her on her back with his body. “You’re sure about this? You’re not too uncomfortable?”
“If you’re asking me if you’ve left me worn out and sore from last night, the answer is no. And you should be aware that I’m no delicate flower you need to treat carefully.”
“So I’m beginning to realize,” he said.
Oria ran her hand gently over his shoulder and down along his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You may have changed some, but you’re no savage I need to fear. There are new things we need to learn about each other and we have the time to do so. One thing that hasn’t changed about either of us is that we still love each other and that—dear husband—is all that matters and is something I’ll keep reminding you about.”
He kissed her. “I do love you, wife.”
She ran a finger faintly over his lips. “Show me.”
And he did.
A cart meandered through the village later that day, Penn waving a welcome to the man holding the reins.
“Who is he?” Royden asked, brushing his hands free of debris after placing another stone on the hut. It was almost finished and would soon be ready to use. He had wanted it done, that and the fields ready for planting, so that his clan would see that winter would pose no problem for them.