and small table with an empty basin. The fire had been quickly lit by a maid and a pitcher of water brought in before Holton left them to themselves, promising a hot meal to be delivered promptly.
Marianne went to the pitcher and basin and washed the blood from her hands and neck, scrubbing furiously until satisfied she had no traces of dead men on her.
Her flesh heated when William slid his arms around her from behind and pulled her to his chest. She lifted her cold hands to hold his colder ones. “You smell like the snow outside.”
She felt him drop a kiss in her hair. “I was unaware snow had a scent.”
“Any other day you smell like the autumn leaves. Did you know that?”
She smiled. “Nay, I hope ‘tis a pleasant scent.”
He pushed her hair away from her neck and placed his lips there, his voice dropping. “I worried I would not be in time.”
The confession in her ear brought a shiver.
“Are ye cold?”
He made to move to the fireplace but she held tightly to him.
“Nay, ‘tis not that.”
He looked at her, waiting for an explanation.
How would she explain that his fear for her was a comfort? Perhaps he could not love her like he did Alice, but he cared enough for her to fear for her and send a small army of men to her rescue.
She looked into his eyes and spoke the truth. “I knew you would come for me. I had absolute faith in you.”
A laugh caught in his throat as he covered her mouth with his.
Marianne clutched his shoulders. His large fingers slid across her cheek and into her hair while the other slipped beneath the tight bodice of her gown and cupped her breast. He squeezed, and Marianne gasped sharply. He used the act to his advantage and slid his tongue into her mouth.
Abruptly she pulled away and began fumbling with his breastplate and then his under tunic while he struggled with the strings of her gown and bodice.
“I wish you could rip the retched thing off.” She complained.
“Aye, but ‘tis impossibly strong.”
Finally, he untied it and pulled it from her body. She was left standing in her chemise and Marianne took a breath and relished in the freedom.
She touched him. Stroked his face, his chest, kissed his lips while his hands remained on her breasts and pressing between her legs through the fabric of her chemise. His hands were everywhere yet they touched not enough of her.
She wished to touch more of him but what she was doing was not enough either and this slow building pace frustrated her. She wanted him inside of her, his bare chest on top of hers, heating her in a way the fire behind her never could while she wrapped her legs around his lower back.
She could stand his teasing caresses no longer. “Take me to bed, this instant.”
“Eager.” His pleased smirk spoke many promises to her. William bent at the knees, wrapped his arms under her bottom and lifted her in the air. He took two steps and dropped her on the bed before he settled between her legs.
She did not mind and sighed throatily as he lifted her chemise, adjusted his hose and slipped inside her without removing them or his boots.
Marianne wrapped her legs about his hips eagerly, like she had wanted. Her sighs turned into moans as he moved in a repetitive motion in and out of her, holding her tightly to him as he did and speeding his movements as she tightened her thighs around him.
He kissed her shoulder, her neck and her lips while she threaded her fingers into his hair, and she felt truly loved. She wished it would never end but the building sensation in her belly came too quickly and she threw her head back, closed her eyes, opened her mouth, and released the wail that had built itself within her, letting his silky voice take her the rest of the way.
He breathed hard against her shoulder and she smiled. Stroking his hair and kissing him again.
He tried to roll away from her but her legs held firm.
“Stay.”
She knew she could spend years admiring his lazy smile. “As you wish, my dear. But this position will not be comfortable for long.”
She barely heard his words. Her eyes were closing with sleep. “I doubt that very much.”
He chuckled, trailing his lips down her cheek, across her jaw, and resting on her lips as he slowly felt her legs release