Page 55 of Lionheart

She waskilling him. She arched her neck and he kissed her there. His heartbeatthundered as they moved toward completion. He wanted to grasp her hips andhasten the pace, but he gritted his teeth and persevered. Instead he moved asshe commanded, so near to bursting he groaned with each stroke. He was going todie a happy man . . . a victim of sexual excess.

At lastshe cried out, her body convulsing with each contraction. He watched her throughnarrowed lids, enjoying the sensation of her sheath clamping around his cock.Not until she collapsed on his chest did he allow himself to plunge deep andfill her with his seed.

Vanorasighed and relaxed against him, waiting for him to stir. He made no move toleave her, remained inside her still, a part of her. After a time, she couldfeel him growing hard again. Her eyes, still glazed from his lovemaking, flewopen, surprised to see him gazing up at her curiously, as if puzzled by hisresponse to her.

A tiny hope bloomed in her bosom, a flickering flame of yearningthat he might care for her, that he would miss her, though he would never loveher, she was sure. Then suddenly she found herself on her back, with Lionheartlooming over her, his expression fiercely possessively and his eyes aglow withrenewed desire.

"Surelyyou cannot. . ." Vanora gasped. "You just..."

"Youcontinually misjudge my prowess," Lionheart hissed as he began to movestrongly inside her.

Wantonlyshe locked her legs around his back and arched her hips to take him deeper, tomeet his thrusts again and again, until her loins quickened and her breathseized. Shock waves rippled through her entire body, sending her reeling towardcompletion. How could she respond so quickly after her strong climax justmoments ago? she wondered before her thoughts scattered. What magical hold didLionheart have over her senses?

Then theearth dropped out from beneath her. Sensation burst through her like a volcanicexplosion. It was only dimly that she felt the shudders undulating throughLionheart's body before he collapsed atop her in a boneless heap.

She heardhim groan when he pulled out and rolled over to lie beside her. She rose up onher elbow, her eyes filled with concern.

"Youhurt yourself," she chided.

" Tisnaught."

"Youhave not given your ribs enough time to heal. Men," she snorted."They are as randy as goats and ever ready to rut."

"'Twas well worth it," Lionheart said, wincing as he shifted positions.

"Letme check your bandage. You may have opened your wound."

Hoppingout of bed, Vanora lifted the candlestick and held it above his bandaged chest."No blood," she said with a sigh of relief. "Cracked ribs taketime to heal. You did not wait long enough before"—sheblushed—"engaging in strenuous exercise."

"DidI not tell you I intend to make the most of the fortnight left to us?" Hesent her a mocking grin. "You did beg me to make love to you, did younot?"

"Yourconceit is boundless," Vanora charged. "As you well know, I had nochoice in the matter. You have the experience and knowledge to make me wantyou. My body is not my own, but yours to command."

"'Tis as it should be," Lionheart said with the arrogance of one aware ofhis own appeal and proud of it.

Vanoraknew better than to argue the point, for she knew it would do little good.Instead, she changed the subject.

"Thinkyou Edward will accept our marriage?" She felt him stiffen. "Is thatwhat you want?" Vanora grappled long and hard with his question. Nay,'twas not what she wanted, she decided. She opened her mouth to reply when asudden thought occurred to her. What if Lionheart left her with child? His seedhad not found fertile ground yet, but the possibility still existed. If theirbrief union produced a child, she wanted Lionheart to acknowledge him or her.

Swallowinghard, Vanora said, "Mayhap 'twould be best if the marriage stood."

He gaveher a blank look. "You want to remain married to me, even though 'tisinevitable that we will part?"

Shenodded. "If we create a child during our brief marriage, I want him or herto be legitimate." Lionheart did not respond. He could not. Speech haddeserted him. He had never considered children, for he'd never intended to wed.Marrying Vanora had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. Admittedly, he enjoyedbedding her, even liked their verbal sparring. But children had never been apriority with him. He had naught to leave a wife and child but his name. Hisfather had seen to that.

True, hewould inherit his father's title upon his death, but he never intended to useit, for he preferred to be recognized for his deeds as a knight and not for anempty earldom. 'Twas not that he was penniless, for knighthood had its ownrewards, but he was landless.

"Lionheart,did you not hear me?" Vanora prodded. "Do you agree with me?"

"Achild never crossed my mind. Are you . . . have I given you a babe,Vanora?"

"Notthat I am aware of." Her chin tilted upward. "I care not what youthink of me, but I would have you acknowledge our child should there be one. Icannot bear the thought of our child being branded a bastard. I think 'tis bestthat we let our marriage stand."

"Mayhapyou will not conceive," he ventured.

"Mayhapyou are right, but only God has control over that. You may have already plantedyour seed inside me."

His gazeslid down to her stomach. "I suppose having a child would not be the worstthing to happen to me."