“You did what any young lad would have done. If the woman hadn’t abducted her that day she would have found another day to do it. She’d probably been planning it and she took advantage of the moment and your vulnerability. This scar is not for you to carry. But I would share that with Oria. She should know how you feel. It will make a difference in how she feels about you.”
“I don’t know if I would agree with that,” he said and heard his wife’s stomach grumble. “You’re hungry.”
Raven wasn’t about to deny it. “I am.”
“I’ll have Ida bring food to us,” he said and turned to leave the bed.
“Wolf,” she said softly and he turned. “I can’t be someone I’m not.”
He didn’t respond. He got out of bed, partially dressed, and left the room to find Ida, the question she didn’t ask echoing loudly in his head.
Can you ever accept me for who I am?
How did he accept her independent, spirited nature that was sure to get her into endless trouble and that would drive him completely mad with worry?
He stopped abruptly when a response resonated in his head.
Love her. Simply love her.
Chapter 17
Raven stood by the hearth in her shirt, staring at her sleeping husband. She had become accustomed to every little sound waking her. It was how one stayed alive while traveling the dangerous roads. If one slept too soundly, you could wake to find a knife at your throat or what little belongings you had gone.
She turned her eyes to the flames in the hearth. The wind whipping around the longhouse had been responsible for waking her. Though it hadn’t startled her awake like most sounds had done. Instead it had poked at her sleep until she woke in the warmth and comfort of her husband’s arms. A smile woke along with her, recalling last night and the three times they had coupled. The two quick ones had been as enjoyable as the lingering one. Even now she felt ready to couple with her husband again. She feared she would never get enough of him. But first there were some things they needed to discuss. If this was to work between them, trust and truth were essential.
“Regrets, wife?’
Raven’s eyes went quick to her husband lying on his side, his hand stretched out to her.
She went to him, though stopped before she got close enough for him to touch her, not trusting herself. She’d be distracted too easily if he touched her and while she would welcome that, she first needed to talk with him.
“We need to talk,” she said, reluctantly keeping her distance.
He lowered his outstretched hand. “I’ll ask again, regrets, wife?”
“Never,” she said with a smile that confirmed her word as truth.
Wolf bolted out of bed, yanked her shirt off her, without little protest from her, and had his wife up in his arms before she could make a fuss. Though, he realized if she had wanted to make a fuss there would have been no stopping her. He rushed them back into bed, tucking the covers around them and snuggling himself around her.
“Talk,” he said, though he would rather make love to her.
Raven felt his shaft hard with need pressing against her and that he ignored his need to let her talk touched her heart.
“You gave me what I asked for, for me to trust you,” she said.
“And do you trust me, wife?” he asked, her response far more important than he expected.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I do trust you,” she assured him. And since you did as I asked, it’s time for me to do as you asked, confide in you as I do with my men, in essence be as truthful with you as I am with them.”
It pleased him that she would honor her word without him reminding her of it. “I see the way you talk and whisper with them and that is something I want us to share. It’s part of trusting me and I trusting you.”
“Then I will share something with you now that has troubled me” She paused a moment, thinking how the news she was about to share might affect their newly found closeness. She began cautiously. “Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to reach out to those who may be able to help me discover the truth.”
His brow furrowed. “What truth? Tell me, for you have me curious and perhaps we can solve the problem together.”
That was what she had hoped for and it relieved her to hear it. “I think it would be wise of us to do so, for I think someone manipulates us.”
His eyes narrowed, causing his brow to knit tight. “Tell me,” he urged.
“You remarked that I was the one who initiated the proposal that we wed, but I was told it was you who proposed it and that the King looked favorably on it.”