Bhric downed half the goblet. “I need a strong woman with height and weight to her and who can give me many bairns.”
“Aye, I agree,” Tavia said and saw him sway slightly.
It was working. She walked over by the bed and sat on the edge hoping he would follow, and he did. Though, he wobbled on his feet as he did, and he plopped down ungracefully to sit beside her, tilting toward her.
He was blunt with her, though why he could not say. “I like to pound a woman when I couple. You are not strong enough for that. I would cause you pain and I would not want to do that. Though, you are fair enough to look upon.” He reached out and ran the back of his hand slowly down her cheek. “And I like the scent of you.”
She maintained her smile, though a flutter hit her stomach when his large hand touched her so tenderly. Could her husband, as large as he was, have a tender touch? She forced the thought aside, concentrating on how he slurred his words. The potion was working and faster than she had thought, the extra wine helping it along. It also was not lost on her that he at least thought her fair enough to look upon.
He yawned. “I am tired. I need to go.”
She could not let him leave and collapse somewhere in the keep. “I do not know what you mean by pound a woman.” It was a lie. She knew well what he referred to thanks to her talk with Lady Dawn.
“That’s right. You are a virgin. You know nothing of coupling. I would have taught you well and gone easy with you until you grew accustomed to it… to me.” His head lolled to the side closer to Tavia’s. “You have lips that beg to be kissed.”
“I know nothing of kissing,” she said truthfully, his warm wine-scented breath fanned her cheek and sent a strange tingle through her.
“Let me show you,” he said and brought his lips to faintly touch hers.
His lips touching hers sparked the tingling sensation in her and sent it racing through her. His faint kiss turned more powerful and caused her to want to feel more, explore more of the titillating sensation, but she had no time. She had to keep her mind clear. She had to see this through. Her plan had to succeed. She daringly met his demand, her lips pressing eagerly to his in hopes he would linger in the kiss, linger there beside her until the potion accomplished its task.
His hand went to the back of her head, tangling his fingers in the waves of her soft, dark hair. He thought he caught the scent of mint as he took tight hold of the soft strands to keep her from escaping him as he eagerly deepened the kiss.
She tasted far better than he ever imagined, a sweetness of sorts to her as well as a bit of hesitancy and inexperience. His shaft tightened at the thought that no other lips had touched hers but his. He had marked her as his. Could he let her go now?
His hand went to her breast, and he was annoyed the nightdress, thin as it was, kept him from feeling her breast naked. Its full size rested comfortably in his large hand, and he gave it a squeeze, then teased the nipple between his fingers. He felt the tremble that rushed over her. She had known no hand there but his. Had he been too hasty in his decision to abandon this marriage? Could she be more perfect for him than he had first thought?
His hand roamed down to rest between her legs and even against the material he could feel the wetness there. She aroused easily. Could marriage to her be more enjoyable than he had questioned?
More sparks ignited in her when his hand went between her legs, and he gripped her lightly there. To her surprise, she found that she did not abhor his touch. She quite liked it. She let herself enjoy the pleasurable sensation until… his hand fell away and his lips left hers as he collapsed back on the bed.
Tavia stared at him a moment, her lips left aching from the loss of his kiss, and she shook her head. There was no time to waste and no time to question why his kiss and touch had surprisingly felt so good.
She got busy. His boots were the first to go, then she got to work on his plaid and shirt, glad he had worn them, rather than the many furs and hides he had first arrived in. It took several exhausted pushes and rolls until finally one last roll, and it would be done. She went to roll him to his side and her hands slipped and she found her breasts planted firmly against his chest. She hurried a glance at his face expecting his eyes to open, but they didn’t. He was dead asleep.
She took a moment to look at his face. He truly was a handsome man, his face unmarred with the slightest scar and his lips evenly shaped with just enough fullness to them. Was that why his kisses had felt so good?
A spark ignited in her suddenly sending the same tingle between her legs and it had her rushing off him, though she stood beside the bed to glance over him.
He was thick with muscle and his manhood large, even flaccid as it lay draped against his leg. She shook her head not wanting to think of how it would feel inside her when enlarged, and the sensations she had experienced when he had touched her returned with a shock. She shook her head again to clear it. She could not waste her time on such thoughts and yet they lingered, making her wonder if they could share a good marriage since she did not mind his touch.
“Be done with this,” she reminded herself on a whisper.
It took work to try and get him where she needed him in the bed, his size and weight not easy to maneuver. She was breathless by the time she finished and though he was not quite where she wanted him, it would suffice.
Once done, she stripped off her nightdress, threw it on the floor by his garments to make it seem like they had both hastily shed them and grabbed the small bowl of blood from under the bed. Fia told her too much blood would make him fear he had hurt her and might spark doubt. She spilled what she hoped was a sufficient and unquestionable amount.
With a quick rush to the hearth, she dropped the remaining blood and small wooden bowl in the fire waiting until the flames consumed it. She added more logs so that more ash would cover any evidence of what she had done.
She blew out the few candles and afterward stood by the side of the bed for a moment. Once she crawled in beside him, her fate would be sealed, but there was no other way for her. This was her duty, and she must do it. She slipped in beside him and pulled the blankets up over them, then inched closer to him. The warmth of his body startled her chilled skin as she settled against him, and she found herself inching closer as his heat began to chase the cold away.
Sleep was something she did not think she would get this night, for she worried what the morning would bring when the servant she ordered to wake her early found her and her husband naked in bed together. She shut her eyes exhausted, praying for sleep or her endless thoughts would invade her mind and she would question the deceit she had perpetrated on her husband.
Deceit.
Never had she been deceitful in her life, and it did not set well with her now that she had been forced to do so. But what choice had she? And what price would she pay for it?
Her endless thoughts continued to haunt her, and she feared she would not sleep at all, but her body could not fight her exhaustion, and worry and sleep soon claimed her.