Free Defiant Passion (Sons of Rhodri Medieval Romance Series) by Anna Markland Page B

There was desire in Rhodri’s kisses, and in his eyes, and in the delicate touch of his big calloused hands.
    Was it a mistake to trust him? He could have taken her against her will, but had not. His patient wooing warmed her heart. The bond she had sensed through forces beyond her understanding was becoming stronger and stronger. She wished each day away, longing for the sun to go down, anticipating his summons.
    The parting would be unbearable.
    ***
    Rhodri stood unmoved as Morwenna’s fists beat against his chest. “I defy you to send me back to my father. I defy you to break our betrothal.”
    “I’ll not marry you, Morwenna.”
    She sprang away from him and spat in his face. “My father will kill you. You have no right.”
    He wiped the spittle from his cheek. “I have every right. A bridegroom expects his bride to come to his bed chaste. What will your father say about your rutting with a Norman soldier, a spy at that?”
    She seemed taken aback for a moment, and then sneered, “And what of your precious Rhonwen, will she come to your bed chaste? I think not.”
    Rhodri grasped her wrists and forced her to her knees. His voice was quietly menacing. “Nothing about Rhonwen should concern you. She is light where you are darkness, joy where you are hatred, innocence where you are corruption. Beware what you say and do while you remain here.”
    He released her hands. “Go to your chamber.”
    Morwenna went as she was ordered, but glared at him defiantly, intense hatred in her eyes.
    She’ll seek revenge for my turning to Rhonwen.
    “She must be watched at all times,” he told Andras. “And the Norman.”
    “It will be done,” his friend replied. “I never trusted either of them.”
    ***
    That evening, as she sat on his broad lap, Rhodri told Rhonwen that he had banished Morwenna from his life. The evil woman would be leaving as soon as the weather broke.
    “It’s still many sennights away,” she murmured, returning his gentle kisses.
    “I’m having both her and the Norman watched.”
    Rhonwen imparted this news to the other hostages when she returned to their chamber but did not tell them how Rhodri had lovingly caressed her breasts, or how he had made her nipples harden with the strokes of his calloused hands. She mentioned nothing of the wanton feelings these actions had wrought in her, but she did share that Rhodri had again proclaimed his love.
    ***
    “The Norman sleeps in Morwenna’s chamber nightly,” Andras reported.
    Rhodri shrugged. “I don’t care, my friend. So long as the two of them stay away from the hostages, they can rut to their heart’s content.”
    He wished he could go to Rhonwen’s chamber, but the other hostages were there. Rhonwen would never accept a chamber of her own when her noble mistress had to sleep with her maid. “Bring the healer to my chamber.”
    Andras hesitated. “What is this woman to you, Rhodri?”
    Rhodri chuckled. Andras was one of the few who had the temerity to use his given name. They had grown up together. “She’s to be my wife, Andras.”
    His friend’s eyes widened, but he smiled, nodded and left.
    Rhonwen entered a while later. Would his body always react as strongly to her presence? This time he did not wait for her to come to him at the chair. He strode to her side, lifted her into his arms and returned to the chair. She giggled and put her arms around his neck.
    His lovemaking began with gentle kisses and progressed slowly to stroking and then suckling her breasts. He knew she could feel his erection against her bottom and sensed she wanted to touch him, but was too shy. Slowly he caressed the inside of her thigh beneath the woollen tunic. He had never been overly concerned in the past about a woman’s pleasure, but now he derived great satisfaction out of Rhonwen’s delight in the new found awareness of her body.
    “I want to bring you pleasure, Rhonwen. Let me touch you.”
    “Your touch brings me more pleasure than I’ve ever