Page 39 of Lionheart

His hipspounded, his breath grating harshly in her ears. She tightened her muscles onhim. He swore loudly, then pushed once more, holding himself inside her, hispowerful climax filling her with the vibrant warmth of life.

Breathingdeeply, Vanora closed her eyes, aware that something momentous had just takenplace. Everything in her world had changed. She was truly and irrevocably awoman now, and to her surprise, she did not regret the loss of her maidenhead.She felt not the pain of ravishment but the joy of being loved. Not loved inthe true sense of the word, for Lionheart did not love her with his heart, butloved nonetheless.

Lionheartstared down at her. Her hair was spread in a tangled web of rich sable acrossthe pillow, and her body still gripped him tightly. Reluctantly he left herwarm softness and rolled to his side, wrapping his arms around her and bringingher against him.

"Thatwas not so bad, was it?"

His smugexpression galled her. "How did you accomplish that?"

Hegrinned. "Accomplish what?"

"Iwanted you not, but you did things to my body that made me ..." Shehalted, unable to say the words.

"Madeyou want me? Admit it, sweeting, I gave you pleasure, just as I promised.

"Youhurt me."

"Thepain is a woman's burden to bear, but 'tis a small price to pay, is it not? You will experience that samepleasure without the pain many times before I leave Cragdon. I shall see toit."

"Yourarrogance appalls me, sir knight." She tried to rise, but his armtightened around her.

"Whereare you going?"

"I amfamished. I should go below and see what has become of our meal."

"Nay,I suspect 'tis waiting for us outside the door." He rose and pulled acoverlet over her. "Stay as you are while I fetch it."

Risingnaked from the bed, he strode to the door. Vanora's gaze went to the tautmounds of his buttocks, remembering how his muscles had flexed beneath herhands as he drove himself inside her. Her gaze roamed upward, noting the scarnear his left shoulder and another on the right, only lower, and another stillon his left thigh.

His was awarrior's body, strong and muscular without the sturdy bulk of her own countrymen.No doubt about it, Lionheart was a man without equal. Were he not an Englishman. . . The thought slid away as Lionheart opened the door and found the tray hissquire had left for them. He returned with it to the bed. Her appreciative gazewas riveted on his loins.

Even atrest his manhood was impressive. Were all men as magnificently endowed? shewondered. Somehow she doubted it. Her gaze followed the line of hair risingfrom his groin to his chest, admiring his trim waist and the width of his shoulders.But it was his face to which her attention was drawn: dark, elegant brows, lipsthat could turn hard at will, and changeable eyes that varied in intensity fromglittering silver to smoky gray. The combination was lethal. No wonder womenwent eagerly to his bed.

Lionheartset the cloth-covered tray on the bed and sat down carefully so as not to upsetit. He whisked off the cloth and inspected the contents. The tantalizing aromaof roasted hare and venison pie made Vanora's mouth water. There was also cheese,fresh bread and butter and mugs of ale.

Lionheartretrieved his knife from the night-stand and cut the meat into small chunks.Then he offered the trencher to Vanora. "Help yourself," he said."It looks delicious."

Vanorapushed a piece of meat onto a hunk of bread and popped it into her mouth,chewing and swallowing with relish. " 'Tis good," she allowed.

They atequickly, devouring nearly all the food that had been left for them. When theyfinished, Lionheart set the empty tray on a table and walked to the washstand.He poured water into a bowl, wet a cloth and washed his hands and face; then hecarried the water and cloth to the bed. After Vanora washed her hands and face,he took the cloth from her, dipped it into the bowl and pulled aside the coverlet.

"Whatare you doing?"

"Cleansingmy seed and your virgin's blood from your thighs."

She triedto grasp the cloth from his hand, but he would not let her. "I can do itmyself. What you intend is not decent."

He senther a stern look. "I shall decide what is decent and what is not." Hespread her thighs, stared at her until she began to squirm in embarrassment,then applied the cloth to her tender flesh.

Mortified,Vanora averted her gaze. When he finished, he used the cloth on himself andreturned the bowl to the washstand. Then he lay down be side her. Vanora rolledaway and tried to rise, but once again he stopped her.

"Whereare you going now?"

"Tomy chamber."

"Thisis your chamber. We are wed; henceforth you will sleep with me."

Vanora hadno intention of continuing this intimacy between them. Lionheart had succeededin seducing her, but now that she knew how responsive she was to him, she wouldtake steps to protect herself. She would never forgive herself for falling intohis arms like a ripe plum.