The Concubine (Unexpected Circumstances 5)

Though my mind was still reeling from all that had transpired,

my body yearned for him. My hands could not get enough of his skin, and I pushed his robe from his shoulders so I could feel the strength of his muscles under my palms. I was hungry for him, and as I rose up on my knees, I pressed my lips tightly against his.

Branford’s hands were under my robe, and he caressed and stroked me slowly but with increasing pressure. I reached down and pushed both our garments away from our legs, searched and found his hard male flesh. His mouth opened in a gasp as I gripped him and guided the tip to my entrance. I lowered myself slowly, claiming him as mine as I gave myself to him.

Our arms wrapped around each other as I pushed down, and he angled his hips up to meet me. Over and over again we came together as one. I knew in my heart that this was for us alone, and even if he had to touch another, it would never, ever be like this. This was us together as we were meant to be. Nothing and no one could take that from us no matter what happened outside of our rooms.

He was mine.

I was his.

I held his head to my breast as I cried out his name and felt him grip my backside with his fingers as he poured not just his fluids but his heart and soul into me. I rocked slowly against him as my tears fell down my cheeks, and I felt wetness from his eyes on my skin. His body shook as he sobbed against me.

“Shh…Branford…shh…” Again I took his face between my hands and calmed him as only I knew how—with my lips and my tongue and my hands against his skin. This belonged to me and me alone.

“I love you, my wife…my love…my life…”

“I love you…always.”

After many long moments, he calmed and quieted. His breathing returned to normal, and his head rested lightly on my shoulder as his fingers stroked up and down my arm.

“I will not give her what I give you,” he said quietly. “When we are together…it is…it is…”

“I know,” I told him.

“Indescribable,” he finally finished.

He leaned back against the chair and reached up to wipe the wetness from my cheeks. I trailed a finger over the edge of his bicep.

“Regardless of the muscles in my body,” he said, “you are so much stronger than I.”

I shook my head, but he stopped me with his hands and his kiss.

“You are,” he insisted.

I closed my eyes and rested against the warmth of his body, and he pulled the robe back up around me to warm my back.

“When will you…when will you…be with her?” I asked with a shudder.

I heard his sigh.

“She will return to Hadebrand for whatever things she wishes to bring to Silverhelm,” he said. “She should return here permanently in a few days.”

There were many, many questions still in my mind, but considering the state of my husband, I decided not to ask them now. Perhaps I would be able to speak to Sunniva about all of it before she went to bed for the night. It seemed the right thing to do but not at this moment.

For now, I would tend to my husband.

*****

Branford had only just left to speak to Camden when Hadley entered the morning room with her head down, and I knew there were tears in her eyes. She was unable to look at me.

“Hadley,” I said softly, and I opened my arms to her. She came to me, her sobs escaping as she clung to my shoulders.

“How can you not hate me?” she cried.

“It is not of your doing,” I replied. “You will be a child of Silverhelm, and you—like all of us—must perform your required duties for the good of the entire kingdom.”

We sat on the couch and hugged each other. I continued to reassure her, trying to listen to my own words and believe them as I attempted to convince her. I did not blame her in the slightest, for she was as trapped in this situation as both Branford and I were.