“How?”
“We have yet to trade even a pawn. Let us say that every piece you lose to me, you will kiss me.”
Kassia became very still. Her lips twitched. “And what would happen, my lord, were you to lose a piece to me?”
“Ah, in that case, I suppose I shall just have to kiss you.”
She glanced warily at the board between them. “Do you really wish to?”
“Wish to what? Kiss you?”
She nodded, still not looking at him.
“Let us just say that you will suffer my kisses as I will yours. Agreed?”
“I . . . Very well.”
On Graelam’s next move, he took her king’s knight. He sat back, watching the myriad expressions flit over her face. “Well, wife?” he asked.
“That was not a wise move, my lord,” she said stiffly. “You will lose both a bishop and a pawn.”
“I will suffer the consequences,” he said, and patted his thigh. “Come and pay your forfeit, Kassia.”
What disturbed Kassia as she slowly rose from her chair was that she wanted to kiss him. She stood beside him a moment, then allowed him to draw her onto his lap. She closed her eyes tightly and pursed her lips. She felt his large hands holding her loosely about her waist. Slowly she leaned forward and pecked him on his mouth.
“That, Kassia,” he said, his dark eyes mocking, “is hardly a kiss. Try again.”
She ran her tongue nervously over her lower lip. “I believe,” she said, “that this game could last a very long time.”
“Aye,” he said softly.
She looked deeply into his eyes, very aware of him. She wanted to ask him why he was being so kind to her. Was it possible that he finally believed that she hadn’t stolen the necklace, that she hadn’t tried to escape him? She parted her lips slightly and leaned against him. He allowed her the kiss, leaving his hands about her waist, not forcing her at all. He felt her small breasts pressing against his chest, and wondered as her tongue touched his lips if she could feel his hardness beneath her hips.
She was breathing more quickly when she broke off her kiss. He made no move to continue it, merely smiled at her. “I believe you are learning,” he said.
He felt her leaning toward him again, her eyes upon his mouth. He quickly tightened his hold about her waist and lifted her off his lap. “Onward, wife. I believe it is your move.”
Kassia felt slightly dazed. She shook her head as she sat again in her chair, forcing her attention back to the chessboard.
Her wits cleared, and she gave him an impish smile, the dimples in her cheeks deepening. “ ’Tis now your move, my lord!” she said.
“Perhaps not such a long game,” Graelam said. She had not taken his bishop, merely moved her king pawn forward another square.
Without a thought, he took her pawn, laying himself open to at least a check. He said nothing, merely patted his thighs again.
When Kassia leaned away from him this time, she wondered vaguely if he could hear her heart pounding. She squirmed a bit on his thighs, and felt his muscles tighten beneath her. She flushed at what she had done, and hung her head. “I . . . I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she whispered.
“We will see,” Graelam said, and again lifted her off his lap.
She was forced at last to take one of his pieces. She raised her head. “I do not believe I can hold you in my lap, my lord.”
She looked so very worried that he was hard pressed not to laugh. “Then you must come here, I suppose.”
When she was settled again on his thighs, he said softly, “Remember, wife, this is my kiss. You are not to caress me or move against me.”
“But I didn’t!” she began, only to draw in her breath when his mouth closed over hers. She felt his hand on the back of her head, tangling in her hair, bringing her closer. “Just relax,” he murmured in her mouth. “You have nothing to do but close your eyes and let me kiss you.”
He didn’t press her, merely deepened the pressure slowly, as he felt her begin to respond to him. Very slowly he eased his hands around toward her breasts. To his utter delight, when he gently cupped her breasts in his hands, she moaned softly into his mouth, arching her back. He released her immediately.