Page 108 of Boudicca

“On the morrow, then,” Briallen said. “I’ll see the bairns to their beds.” She followed the girls and their newly dry wolves from the cave.

“It was a lovely day,” said Rhan as she stood.

I snagged her wrist before she could leave. “Stay. Please. I wanted to talk with you about something.” I yawned and then laughed. “Though it is later than I thought.”

“Or you’ve had more mead than you thought,” mumbled Wulffaed. She winked at me, bowed, and then took the final tray of dirty dishes from the cave, followed by the last of her daughters. “’Tis snowing. Again. Get the fire in my chamber built up, Ravenna. The chill is...” Her voice trailed away as the muffling snow swallowed her.

“She’s not wrong,” I said, grinning at Rhan. Then I turned to Phaedra, who had just ducked out of my bedchamber. “It’s been a busy day, Phaedra. I can manage to put myself to bed.”

“Yes, my queen. There is more mead and some fresh bread and the herbed goat cheese you like so much in your chamber. Good night.” Phaedra bowed and then retreated to the little room I’d had sectioned off for her, as her habit of sleeping at the foot of my bed had become rather awkward the nights Maldwyn joined me there.

“Phaedra thinks of everything,” Rhan said as she followed me into my bedchamber and motioned to the pitcher of mead, two mugs, and bread and cheese placed thoughtfully beside it. “Would you like some more mead?”

“Why not?”

“Why not indeed?” Rhan grinned and poured our mead, and then unlaced the back of my dress.

I sighed in pleasure as I stepped out of it, pulled off the heavy winter chemise, and replaced it with one of my soft sleep shifts. Then I tossed a second sleep shift to Rhan, and clutching the mug of mead, I hurried into my bed and pulled the pelts up around me. “You should put that on and stay with me tonight. Unless you want to go out in that snow.”

Rhan grimaced. “I’d much rather not.” Her dark eyes sparkled. “I think I’ve had more mead than usual, too.”

“Here, turn around. I’ll untie your laces.” Rhan did so and was soon out of her Druid’s robes. She pulled on my borrowed shift and curled beside me under the pelt, shivering as she sipped mead and regained the warmth we’d lost when we’d left the hearthfire.

I felt no rush to talk. Rhan and I were used to sharing companionable silences. I thought about how nice it was to have her in my life again. I know it was selfish, but I was glad of the long winter. I would lose her after spring thawed the mountains and we defeated the Romans. I would keep my word. The sacred oaks on Ynys Môn would be replanted. The Druids’ island would thrive again under Rhan’s leadership—and she would no longer be at my side.

I shook off the sadness that followed that thought. Perhaps Rhan’s destiny would allow her to return to Tasceni. I hoped so, but I also knew even a queen must bow to the will of the gods.

“I’ve been thinking of the gods.” My voice seemed loud in the silence between us, but Rhan only nodded, leaned past me to put her empty mug on the little table beside my bed pallet, and then lay on her side facing me. When she said nothing, I continued. “I miss Andraste’s shrine and our trips to care for her and leave offerings. Do you think the goddess would approve if we created a new shrine to her here in the valley?”

Rhan’s fair brows lifted. “I believe she would. But I also believe the other tribes should be allowed to erect shrines to their patron deities as well.”

I drained the last of my mead and placed the mug beside Rhan’s before I lay on my side to face her. “That would be lovely, wouldn’t it? If our artists carved images of our patron goddesses and gods all around the valley.”

“Yes.” Rhan reached out and brushed the length of hair that had fallen across my eyes from my face. “That is a beautiful idea, Boudicca.”

I closed my eyes as she continued to caress my hair. “I’m glad you think so. We’ll have to consider the best time to gather our artists so they can begin the carvings.” I opened my eyes. Her face was verynear mine. “I don’t think I tell you often enough how very glad I am that you are here with me.”

“You don’t have to say it. I know.”

I gazed into her beautiful dark eyes. She was my oldest, dearest friend. Since I’d lost my mother, Rhan was the only person left in this world who had been my companion in childhood. Love for her filled me with such intensity that I covered her hand with mine, stilling it against my cheek. I felt her draw in a breath and hold it as my gaze moved from her eyes to her lips. Had I noticed before how perfect they were? I did not think; I only felt. I leaned into Rhan and kissed her.

Rhan’s lips were like the petals on a flower—soft and sweet. Her body had gone very still and I almost pulled away, almost apologized, but then she released her breath with a trembling sigh and parted her lips, deepening our kiss.

I explored her mouth, loving the warmth of her silky tongue and the pleasure that shivered through my body to pool deep within me as we kissed. I wanted more. My hand found the curve of her waist and I pulled her closer to me so that our bodies pressed together. She was smaller than me, delicate in my arms, but there was nothing delicate about her passion. She moaned against my lips, whispering,“Yes... yes... yes...”Her nipples were taut against the soft shift and my mouth teased them through the gauzy fabric. Rhan arched, gasping with pleasure.

I pulled back, just far enough so that I could watch her face as my hand moved to the hem of her shift and began sliding it up. “Tell me to stop and I will,” I whispered as I caressed the smoothness of her thighs.

“Don’t ever stop,” she begged breathlessly.

The feel of her naked body against mine brought me such a wave of pleasure that it was my turn to gasp. She was hot and slick and we fitted together perfectly. I had never made love to a woman before that night, and the depth of my desire for her was an unexpected gift. I delighted in her body—in the scent and taste of her. It was sodifferent from the pleasure I’d taken from Prasutagus or Maldwyn. Rhan’s pleasure seemed infinite, and because hers had no end, neither did mine. We brought each other to climax over and over, discovering secrets we had never shared before then. And as dawn crept into the lodge we finally slept, wrapped together as if our bodies had become one.

Chapter XXXV

Phaedra seemed completely unsurprised when she entered my bedchamber and found Rhan and me naked and entwined.

“My queen, the lead warriors have begun to arrive. Shall I tell them you are indisposed this morning?” Phaedra asked as she began tidying our discarded nightdresses and gathering the empty mugs.

“No, have Wulffaed begin serving breakfast, then return to help me dress.” Phaedra bowed and hurried from the chamber, and I turned to see Rhan watching me with inscrutable dark eyes. “Good morning,” I told her before I kissed her.