But he could feel his climax coming on and he had been for some time; it had been an effort to hold it off, to enjoy the moment. This was the woman he had fallen in love with, that he would marry, and that would bear his legitimate children. That knowledge was the most powerful aphrodisiac in the world to him.
As he carefully lowered her onto her left knee to take the brunt of her weight while he kept the right leg elevated, his left hand roamed her soft and tender body, fondling her sweet breasts, listening to her groan with pleasure. Breasts that will nurse my children, he thought, but a body that belongs to me.
Me!
He found himself wishing she would conceive his son this day; that his seed would find its mark. Surely God would listen to his prayers as he prayed for a strong son to carry on his legacy from this powerful brave woman who was very quickly consuming him.
When his hand moved to the moist junction between her legs, Ghislaine endured her third and most powerful climax yet. It was enough to throw Gaetan over the edge and he released himself deep into her body. But even then, his hips continued to move as if he didn’t want the moment to end, drawing it out, savoring it, gently thrusting into her until he could thrust no more. Then, he lowered himself down next to her and very carefully took her into his arms.
Ghislaine was sure that she was only half-conscious. She was in a dream state, somewhere between life and death and utter bliss. Her eyes were partially open as she lay wrapped up in Gaetan’s arms, staring at a stone wall that had pots and buckets shoved up against it. Gaetan’s mouth was by her ear and he kissed it, gently.
“Considering how ill and injured you have been, I should be considered quite a brute for forcing myself upon you as I did,” he murmured. “I pray you are not injured further.”
Ghislaine put a hand up, holding his head against hers and savoring their closeness. “I believe I am the one who instigated it,” she whispered. “I pray you do not think less of me for it.”
“Think less of you? God, no. I think you are a goddess.”
She smiled, laughing softly when she heard his gentle laughter in her ear. “Thank you,” she said. “You are most kind, my lord.”
“You did not answer me – I did not injure you further, did I?”
“You did not. I am no worse off than I was before.”
“You really should rest. And I should see to my men.”
Ghislaine sighed faintly. “I do not like the thought of you leaving me now.”
He kissed her ear one last time before propping himself up so he could look at her. “Nor do I,” he said, “but unless you wish to announce to the world that you bedded me, I should leave for propriety’s sake. But I do intend to tell my men tonight that you have consented to be my bride. That way, when I tell them we want privacy, they will understand.”
His eyes were twinkling as he said it, bringing a grin to her lips. But that smile soon faded. “What will you tell Aramis?”
Gaetan’s humor quickly left him. “We had an understanding, he and I,” he said. “He would permit me to express my feelings to you first. If you did not return my feelings, then I gave him permission to pursue you. I suppose now he shall simply have to accept defeat gracefully.”
“And if he does not?”
“You will leave that to me.”
Ghislaine simply nodded. It would be more his business than hers if Aramis was not a gracious loser because the conflict would be between them and them alone. She reached up, touching his rough cheek.
“He is a nice man,” she said. “I do not wish to hurt him.”
He leaned down and kissed her on the tip of her nose. “I realize that, but there are things in life we cannot control and this is one of them,” he said as he pushed himself up to sit. “Now, you will stay here and rest that leg. I shall return shortly to see how you are faring.”
“Promise?”
He took her hand, bringing it to his lips for a sweet kiss. “I will never leave your side if I can help it, Mousie. You must remember that. And even if I do have to leave you for a time, you will not come chasing after me. I will always return to you.”
The words comforted Ghislaine deeply. She stroked his cheek, feeling like she was still living a dream. Would she wake up from this only to realize there was no spoken feelings between them? God, she hoped not. She would be shattered. At this moment, this stolen and golden moment, she was happier and more content than she had ever been in her life. She had Gaetan.
She had everything.
But any further words were cut off by a knock at the heavy oaken door. Startled, Gaetan immediately rose to his knees, pulling his trousers up and securing them in a hurry.
“Who goes?” he demanded.
There was a slight hesitation. “It is Lygia, my lord,” she said nervously. “We have come to help the lady.”
Gaetan wriggled his eyebrows at Ghislaine, a comical gesture, as he quickly helped her pull the skirt of her cote down. He also helped her smooth her hair and right her bodice, anything to remove the remnants of their carnal activities. When she was covered and straightened, he rose to his feet and went to the door, opening it.
Three lovely young women were standing in the entry, looking at Gaetan with some nervousness. It was Lygia who spoke again.
“I have come to take the lady to a cottage where she can rest and recover in peace,” she said. “It is not far from here.”
Gaetan glanced over at Ghislaine, who was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall and trying to look quite innocent. Who, me? Having seduced a man? Never! He almost grinned, nearly able to read her thoughts.
“This cottage is fine for her needs,” he said, letting no smile break forth at Ghislaine’s attempts to play the innocent maiden. “You do not need to trouble yourselves by moving her.”
“Forgive me, my lord, but this hut belongs to old Pullum,” Lygia said. “It would be quite crowded for the lady, not to mention the fact that Pullum would not be the friendliest person to live with. The cottage we have prepared will be much better for her.”
Gaetan looked at Ghislaine to see what her reaction was to all of this. Meeting Gaetan’s eye, Ghislaine nodded somewhat eagerly at him before addressing the young women.
“It is very kind of you to do this,” she said. “I will come.”
Lygia moved in to help her stand but Gaetan was already there, sweeping her up into his big arms and carrying her from the cramped cottage. As Camulos trotted out on Gaetan’s heels, Lygia indicated for him to follow her as Verity and Atia followed behind, taking the opportunity to inspect every inch of the massive, very handsome warrior.
Lygia could see what her sisters were doing and she was embarrassed by it. Fearful Gaetan would become wise to what her sisters were doing, she hastened to keep his attention.
“I do hope your leg is not paining you too terribly,” she said to Ghislaine. “My father said that you had a battle wound.”
Cradled in Gaetan’s arms, Ghislaine replied. “We were ambushed while traveling,” she said. “It is an arrow wound and I have managed to tear the stitches, unfortunately. Your healer was very kind to stitch the wound up again.”