Free Keeper of the Stone by Lynn Wood Page A

priest?”
    She nodded reluctantly.  “Do you intend to keep them?”  He watched the flare of annoyance at his gentle reminder flash across his gentle bride’s face a moment before she swallowed nervously and took a hesitant step forward.  Nathan remained where he was by the door.  It was important to both of them she come to him willingly.
    He considered himself a patient man.  His little wife seemed intent on putting that conclusion to the test with each tiny, tentative step she took towards him.  It seemed as though it took her an hour just to cross the width of the room separating them.  With each cautious step his body’s needs rode him harder, reminding him of his long abstinence.  The campaign into Saxony was an intense one, with little opportunity for dalliance.  He’d gone long months without the comfort of a woman’s soft flesh beneath him, surrounding him. The thought he would soon have this beautiful woman’s tender flesh and untried body beneath him was like the burn of a lash spurring him on, testing his hard-won self-control to its very limits.  Sweat broke out on his forehead and beaded on his skin.  But it wasn’t the heat from the fire in the hearth eliciting such a response from his body; it was the heat of the fire burning in his loins.
    When after a seemingly endless trek across the room, his bride was finally close enough he could see the outline of her erect nipples through the transparent gown and robe, she abruptly stopped her forward progress.  Her eyes were filled with both tears and terror at the unbridled lust he was unable to conceal in his own.  Nathan raised his gaze back from his perusal of her perfect silhouette almost bare to his lustful gaze beneath the transparent gown, and returned his eyes to her face. 
    “Closer.” He commanded softly. She took another tiny, barely discernible step towards him.  Her vivid green eyes were like saucers in her white face, filled with both terror of him and the unknown awaiting her this night.  She trembled noticeably. Her hands were wrapped around her waist as if in anticipation of some blow and clenched the sheer robe in a death grip.  The fabric was so delicate he was surprised the garment was still intact and hadn’t already shredded in her hands. He reached out and lifted her chin with hand so she was forced to meet his intent gaze.
    “Closer.” She bit her lip and took another tiny step forward.  He breathed in her womanly fragrance and was forced to restrain the urge to sweep her off her feet, lay her on his bed and force her innocence in one fierce thrust.  He drew an unsteady breath, clamping down on his manly inclination though the effort cost him.  Just drawing breath into his lungs was a painful alternative to his body’s insistent urging. His voice was therefore less than gentle when he demanded, “Take off your robe.”
    Tears filled her eyes until they became emerald pools, shimmering in her stark face.  His bride shook her head, denying him. He could tell the small act of defiance cost her for her trembling was more pronounced now.  No doubt in anticipation of his retaliation.  Nathan therefore adopted a gentler tone. “Did you not promise to obey me?”
    The shimmering tears spilled from her eyes and slid slowly down her cheeks as she loosened her tight grip on the thin robe and reached up to untie the ribbons holding it in place. She could not bring herself to meet his intent glance as she shrugged out of the robe and let it fall in an iridescent pool at her feet. When he was unable to control his sharp intake of breath at the sight of her perfection revealed through the thin layer of the gauzy material of her night gown, she flinched as if he struck her.  The garment was masterfully designed to entice a man to succumb to his lustful thoughts and concealed little from his avid gaze. 
    His bride was perfectly formed, a gift for him from his maker and his king.  A thin waist rose above gently curved