Ramona finished plaiting my hair on the sides, and Janet brought me her special blend of tea. I hadn’t felt much pain from my cycle this day, but the tea was quite flavorful and seemed to have some calming effects as well. Janet said she could make it for me every morning, and it would quell the pain altogether during monthly bleeding.
I entered the hall with Queen Sunniva, feeling quite glad for her presence. There were some of the other noblewomen there as well though I remembered only a few names. I barely took notice of them since my husband stood at the table as we entered, his eyes looking straight into me. His gaze was all I was able to focus upon.
I felt as though I hadn’t laid eyes on him in years though it had only been a few days. He had a nearly full beard now, obviously refusing to shave himself in my absence. There were also dark circles beneath his eyes as though he had not slept well for many nights.
Regardless of my monthly time, my place at dinner was still at his side. While others conversed and ate, I did my best to focus on my food and drink and not on the strange feelings inside of me. I felt compelled to reach over and touch Branford on his face and to feel his hands on me. I wanted to press my lips to his, and I wanted to lie beneath him and be surrounded in his secure warmth.
Branford shifted slightly in his seat, and I felt the length of his thigh against mine. Having been three nights without his closeness, the touch of his warm body against mine—even through our clothing—sent a shiver down my back that seemed to lodge itself between my thighs. I took in a quick breath and held it, hoping no one else at the table had noticed.
I wrapped my fingers around my cup of wine and took a short drink of it to hide the blush I assumed was present on my cheeks. Sunniva began to speak to King Camden regarding the kitchen staff and how they had outdone themselves for the evening meal. I could not concentrate on the conversation, and to make matters worse—or better—Branford placed his hand on my thigh as he leaned close to me.
“I miss you,” he said, his hot breath dancing over the shell of my ear. “Our bed is cold at night without you to warm me.”
I glanced around the table, but no one seemed to pay us any heed. I felt the tip of his nose as it just barely touched the line of my neck. I could hear his long intake of breath.
“I miss you, too,” I confessed as I blushed.
“That is a very good thing,” Branford murmured against my ear. “If you do not return soon, I am afraid I will go mad.”
“You are strong,” I said as I glanced at him. He narrowed his eyes, and I could see his lips smash together. “It is only another day…maybe two…”
“Two days?” Branford growled and sat back against his chair. His grip on my thigh tightened. “I want you now.”
Though the upper part of his body leaned away from me, his hand continued to rub against my leg. Slowly, it crept farther up until his smallest finger pushed at that spot between my legs. I bit down on my lip to keep from crying out and alerting all around us to what Branford was doing, hidden from their view beneath the table. His finger began to rub me in a circle, and my thighs clasped together, but that only served to hold his hand tightly against me.
“Branford…” I whispered as I glanced toward him. His eyes were intense and filled with need. He leaned close to my ear again, careful not to touch where others could see.
“Be silent,” he said in a dark, husky voice, “lest we be noticed.”
He ran his hand down my leg then back up again, his finger sliding down between my legs and dancing lightly over the central spot of pleasure he knew so well. Though his touch was igniting my body in a way I had missed terribly, I also wanted him to stop. At least, I thought I wanted him to stop. I knew I should want him to stop. I looked up at those around us, most of whom were heavily engaged in their own conversations, and tried to control the panic rising in my chest.
As I glanced around the table, my gaze fell to King Camden, who was staring straight at me with his head cocked slightly to one side. I felt heat cover my skin immediately, and I froze. His gaze moved slowly to Branford, and the king’s brows rose in question. I heard Branford mumble under his breath though I could not make out what he said, and then his hand slipped quickly from my leg to rest in his own lap.
“You had best be ready within two days,” Branford murmured a little louder. “If you are not, I’ll
still come and take you, customs be damned.”
I did not reply but glanced at our king again, surprised to find a slight smirk on his lips as he turned to the nobleman at his side and spoke of his hunting trip with Branford. He did not look toward me again that night.
*****
Janet assisted me in carrying my things back to the rooms I shared with Branford, including the shirt I had made for him, the baldric with the embroidered coat of arms, and a few other items I had started but not finished. They were all sealed away in a plain, woven basket so Branford would not see them just yet.
When I opened the door and walked into the morning room, I saw Branford leaning against the open window and looking over the castle grounds. He turned at the sound, and I could almost feel the relief wash over him as he began to step toward me. He stopped short of reaching out for me, hesitating a little. I reached up slowly and ran my hand over his cheek, nearly in full beard now. The texture was soft on his face but quickly grew rough on the skin of his neck.
“Get out,” Branford said. He did not even glance at Janet, and though his voice was not overly loud, the menace behind it was evident. I saw Janet out of the corner of my eye as she bowed slightly and left our rooms quickly
As soon as the door was closed, Branford was on me.
He grasped the sides of my face as his lips crashed to mine. As I began to lose breath, he pulled back, his eyes dark and his chest rising and falling. He crouched down, picked me up in his arms, and carried me to our bed.
It seemed only a moment later that I was pressed against the mattress, naked, my husband’s body covering me in his warmth as he moved steadily inside of me. He slid his mouth over mine, and his hands explored my body thoroughly until I was panting and crying out in pleasure. With his eyes closed and his head tilted toward the heavens, I felt the warmth of his seed fill me before he collapsed on top of me and then rolled us both quickly to our sides. He found my neck with his mouth, and he sucked at my skin as he held me close to him.
“I always seem to be begging your forgiveness for my haste,” he said quietly.
“There is no reason,” I told him. I reached around to the back of his neck and then up through his hair. I held his head against my shoulder.
“I could not bear it any longer,” Branford whispered into my ear, “and I am going to make sure I never have to endure that again!”