Free Chained (Chained Trilogy) by Elise Marion Page A

his kiss. “I would hear the name from your lips often. When we walk and talk together of a morning, when we are together in the night, when I am inside of you.”
    Gwen felt her face flushing at the frankness of his speech. He laughed at her wide-eyed expression. “The blood of the Lerrothian runs hot, milady,” he whispered. “In princes most of all. You shiver now with fear, but when we are wed I will tutor you in the ways of pleasing me. Yes, I can see that you will make a splendid bedmate. You are a willful woman.”
    Gwen squared her shoulders. “Does that displease you?”
    Gaiwan laughed again. “On the contrary, milady. I find a woman of high spirit most … stimulating. You are a woman of Alemere, raised with customs far different from those of Lerrothe, but you will like it there. When I take you to Athasi Hold, I will drape you in silk so fine that the curves of your body will be visible, the tips of your breasts an enticing shadow against the fabric. We will lie naked in the sun together, eat our fill of dates, and drink the finest wines. The heat of the island will cause your blood to run as hot as mine, I think.”
    Gwen laughed. “If the heat in Lerrothe is as oppressive as I have heard, I fear I shall spend my time seeking relief in the shade, not sunning naked.”
    Gaiwan chuckled. “The lady laughs, what sweet music. Tell me, Gwen, what could a man do to entice the sound from you more?”
    “Simply speak frankly and never seek to condescend,” she said honestly. “If you treat me in such a way, I believe we will get on well together.”
    “Never fear, Gwendolyn, my heart would never allow me to treat you badly. Now, I would ask something of you, and pray you do not deny me.”
    “What would my prince ask of me?”
    His thumb came up to her chin, caressing slowly before finding her lower lip. “A kiss. Just one, to satisfy me until our betrothal ceremony.”
    Gwen supposed it couldn’t hurt. After all, the bedding ceremony would be far more intimate than a kiss, and there wasn’t much time to accustom herself to the idea. Perhaps if she allowed him to kiss her, Gaiwan would ignite the same passion in her that he seemed to feel. Her hands found Gaiwan’s shoulders as he bent toward her, his arms tight around her. Her lips parted as his came over them, his warm breath caressing her cheek just before they kissed. Gwen had never kissed a man save for her brothers and father upon the cheek. She’d never been kissed in the way a man kisses a woman, and was not sure what to do.
    Gaiwan’s lips were warm and gentle, insistent and probing. His hands weren’t idle, grasping her waist through the open sides of her surcoat. His thumbs circled on her ribs, coming dangerously close to the swell of her breasts and the pin hidden there. He pressed her to the side of one of the stone archways, crushing the pink morning glories as he met her body with his. Gwen tilted her head and held on to him, opening her mouth as he tutored her unskilled lips with his.
    I must try, she told herself. Gaiwan is being forced upon me, but I must try to feel something for him. I am to be his wife, I have no other choice.
    “Yes , Gwen,” he rasped, his hands tight on her shoulders. “What a sweet thing you are. Give me your tongue, sweetheart. No, no, don’t be afraid and don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t proper. ’Tis the way men and women kiss.” Gwen tried it, drawing a groan from Gaiwan. “Aye, that’s it. Gods, you’re good …”
    Gwen closed her eyes and gave herself to the kiss, allowing Gaiwan’s tongue to mate with hers between their joined lips. She had to admit, his kiss was stoking more within her than she’d expected, causing her to feel the slightest fluttering low in her belly and a warm tingle across her skin. It was hardly a raging storm of desire, but it was something. It gave her hope t hat she could come to truly desire Gaiwan in the way he seemed to want her.
    The sound of boots over the