Serpent (20 page)

He shook his head. “Nay,” he murmured. “I would be proud of those qualities, too, but you will admit that most men would not understand such a thing. I do not want to see you ridiculed and I do not want to be ridiculed. I am sure you must understand that
. Men in Wales are different from the
Saesneg
… they are defined by the women they marry in many ways, and also by the character of those women. I will be judged by your actions.”

Her head came up, the hazel eyes narrowing. “And you do not wish for me to embarrass you?”

“As an ap Gaerwen and a de Shera, I have a reputation to uphold.”

It was an arrogant statement and she wasn’t surprised by it. Bhrodi was a very prideful man, although he was also one of great understanding.
Still, she wanted to argue the point; God’s Blood, she wanted to very much, but she knew in her heart that she could not. Her mother had told her to be a wife and not a knight. Penelope knew that times were changing for her; it was time for her to outgrow the knighthood and become a woman. It was so very sad for her to realize that.

“As you wish,” she muttered.

Bhrodi could see how sorrowful she was. He couldn’t honestly believe that she would have expected him to let her continue in her knightly ways, but evidently she had hoped for it. Leaning forward, he uncapped the cut quartz pitcher and poured her a measure of the rich red wine inside.

“You are now the Lady Penelope de Wolfe ap Gaerwen de Shera, hereditary Queen of Anglesey,
Lady of Ynes Mon, and Countess of Coventry,” he said softly. “Have you ever heard of a queen riding to battle?”

Penelope knew he was trying to comfort her in his own way. It was a kind thing to do when he really didn’t have to. She accepted the cup.

“Papa told me once of an ancient queen named Boudicca that led her troops to battle,” she said.

Bhrodi made a face. “She was a barbarian,” he sniffed. “Her chariot was pulled by slaves and she drank the blood of her enemies. Surely you do not wish to be compared to
that dirty witch.”

Penelope fought off a grin
because he had a very humorous way of speaking when things did not suit his tastes or he was expressing his disapproval. She had seen it before; the man might have been an arrogant and powerful warlord, but he had a comical streak in him that bordered on the dramatic. It was a surprising trait.

“I did not say I wished to be compared to her,” she clarified. “You asked me if I had ever heard of a queen riding to battle and I told you that I had.”

He poured himself a cup of wine and drained the entire thing in one swallow. “Hmpf,” he grunted. “No more talk of barbarians in my presence and especially not on the eve of my wedding.”

“It is my wedding, too.”

He poured himself more wine. “That is true,” he agreed, downing the second cup. “Therefore, I suppose I should clarify my wishes as we have discussed them. It would make me very happy and proud to have a wife who is an accomplished chatelaine, a wife that would make me the envy of all men. Would you be willing to learn these things, my lady?”

It was an honest request. After a moment’s hesitation, Penelope nodded. “I will
try,” she said. “But on one condition.”

“What is that?”

“That you take me hunting sometimes when it is not too much trouble.”

He smiled faintly. “I would like to do that.”

“And I would still like to ride and train horses.”

He thought on that, eventually nodding. “If that would make you happy, I am sure we can come to terms.
However, I do not want you training chargers any longer. That is a man’s job.”

Her face fell somewhat but she agreed. “
Very well.”

He was still smiling faintly as he watched her expression. “May I ask something else?”

She nodded, staring at her hands. “Of course.”

“Would it be acceptable for me to kiss my bride on the event of our wedding?”

Penelope’s head shot up, her eyes wide on him. But, quickly enough, she stilled herself. She knew this time would come, physical contact between the two of them. She hadn’t allowed herself to think much about it because it made her sick to her stomach. She had no idea what to do or how to behave even though her mother had explained the ways of men and women to her. Still, it was a terrifying mystery and not one she wished to explore, but she had no choice. She now belonged to a stranger, a man she barely knew, and he had every right to her body. Nervousness began to overtake her.

“I… I have a confession,” she said.

“What is that?”

“I have never…,” she struggled to find the correct words, “that is to say, I have never even… other than my father, I have never had any manner of contact with a man. Ever.”

She said it haltingly and Bhrodi struggled to suppress a smile. “I understand,” he said. “But you realize that I have been married before, of course.”

“Of course,” she repeated nervously.

He bit his lip to keep from grinning. “Being married, I have indeed kissed a woman before. And more.”

Penelope’s cheeks flamed a bright red and she lowered her gaze so he wouldn’t see her dull red face. “That… that is to be expected.”

“I would be honored if you would allow me to lead you through this,” he said as carefully as he could. “I promise I will be very gentle.”

Penelope truly thought she was going to burst into
flames from embarrassment. Her cheeks had never felt so hot. With quaking knees, she stood up and immediately began fumbling for the stays on her gown. Bhrodi stood up and went to her.

“Here,” he put his hands over
hers, stilling her fingers. “You do not have to do that right now. Come sit with me on the bed.”

Big dress and all, Penelope allowed him to lead her over to the bed that was covered with mounds of furs and linens
. He pushed her gently to sit and sat down beside her. Reaching over, he took one of her hands in his big, calloused mitt. It was very warm and soft and he inspected it, turning it over and running a finger over the callous on the palm. Penelope watched him, feeling the newness of his touch with the most electrifying of reactions. She could hardly breathe as he touched her and her mouth ran dry. It was both frightening and exciting.

“
This is something all newly married couples must contend with,” he said softly, studying the shape of her slender fingers. “My mother and father, in fact, met for the first time on their wedding day. At least you and I have had a few days to come to know one another.”

Penelope nodded nervously. “We were introduced by the beast.”

Bhrodi laughed softly as he lifted her hand and kissed it. Penelope jumped, feeling as if he had just branded her with his warm lips. But when she settled down, she realized that it had been a tender gesture. He had been very soft and gentle about it; it was her nerves that had caused her to bolt and certainly nothing he had done. Her heart thumped loudly against her ribs and she resisted the urge to ask him to do it again.

“Ah, yes, the beast,” he murmured. “The serpent that lives in the marsh. It did indeed introduce us and chase your entire family to my doorstep. How fortunate for me.”

He lifted her hand and kissed it again before releasing it. As Penelope watched, quivering with excitement and trepidation, he reached out and grasped her by the shoulders.

“Turn around,” he murmured. “Face the fire. That’s a good lass.”

Penelope did as she was told, facing the fire while he moved up behind her. She could feel his enormous body, the heat reaching out to scald her. It was the most exquisite sensation she had ever experienced, having this man whom she was so tremendously attracted to so close yet not touching her. She hardly knew how to react and her unsteady breathing filled the air. Surely Bhrodi could hear it. She could feel his gentle breath on her shoulder as he began to unfasten the stays of the dress, one at a time.

“I realize that this is all quite new to you,” he murmured, kissing the flesh of her back as the dress began to peel away, “but I sincerely hope it is something you enjoy. There is no great mystery about it; God created a man and a woman for this purpose.”

Penelope swallowed hard, trying to bring some moisture back into her dry mouth, as he continued to undo the stays. Her entire body was quivering and the further the dress unfastened, the more she trembled. His kisses against her back were incredibly arousing; with each successive kiss, her heart beat louder. She could hear it in her ears. Coupled with the heavy breathing, she was positive she was going to faint.

Very carefully, Bhrodi peeled the silk dress away from her body and had her lie back on the bed while he pulled it free of her feet
. Clad in only her silk shift and hose, she watched as he draped the big dress over one of the chairs and returned to the bed. When he saw the rather wide-eyed expression on her face, he smiled.

“No need to be nervous
, caria
,” he whispered. “I will be as gentle as possible, I swear it.”

Penelope realized she must look like a scared rabbit so she struggled for some composure
. She didn’t like to show weakness but was aware she had conveyed little else since entering the chamber. Therefore, she squared her shoulders with false bravery.

“I am not nervous,” she lied. “And why did you call me
caria
? That is not my name.”

He sat next to her on the bed again. “It means ‘love’ in Welsh,” he said. “If you do not like it, I will not call you that. What should I call you?”

“My friends and family call me Penny,” she said. “I give you permission to call me that if you wish.”

“You do not like
caria?
”

She smiled with some embarrassment. “It is pretty,” she said. “My mother calls me her love all of the time.”

“I would like to call you mine as well. You are my wife, after all, and I am already fond of you.”

Penelope looked at him with surprise. “You
are
?” she asked. “How do you know?”

He grinned and reached out, putting his big, muscular arms around her and pulling her against him
. She was stiff, startled by the move, and he could see the anxiety in her eyes. Without another word, his lips descended gently on hers.

“I cannot tell you how I know,” he murmured against her lips. “But I can show you.”

Within the first few heated and tender moments of his kiss, Penelope knew she liked it. Already, she liked it and as his kiss grew in intensity, she liked it even more. Wrapped up in his enormous arms, deep within the folds of the first real embrace she had ever shared with any man, she was coming to see very quickly what all of the fuss was about. She was coming to understand why her mother and father embraced frequently, or why her brother and their wives were so affectionate with one another. There was indeed something to be said for such an exquisitely wonderful moment, something that made her heart light with joy.

As the fire in the hearth snapped and crackled, Bhrodi continued to kiss his new wife, acquainting her with the feel and taste of him. Penelope didn’t even realize that her arms had found their way around his neck; she clung to him as his mouth left hers, kissing a scorching trail across her jaw and down her neck
. The sensations were so new and exciting that all she could do was hold on to him as he took the lead, kissing her in places and ways that she had never been kissed. All of it was so fresh and overwhelming, so much so that Penelope began to audibly gasp.

As
Bhrodi’s mouth moved down her arm and began to suckle on her fingers, she couldn’t grasp a coherent thought. Her body was limp and pliable, so much so that he was able to lay her on her back without any resistance whatsoever. He suckled her fingers, her skin, and as she panted and gasped beneath him, he snaked his hands underneath her silk shift and very quickly pulled it over her head.

Naked
. That thought briefly flashed through Penelope’s mind as she lay nude beneath him but for the hose and ribbons still upon her legs. She had always imagined this moment would come with such embarrassment but Bhrodi’s touch had been so exquisitely distracting that Penelope felt no embarrassment at all. He was warm and big and muscular, and he suckled the fingers of her other hand as he yanked off his tunic and breeches. Penelope could really only see his silhouette with the firelight behind him, but when he lay on top of her once more, their flesh against flesh was a searing experience.

Bhrodi’s lips were on her neck once more and he stroked her arms, moving out until he reached her wrists
. Using both of his hands, he grasped her wrists and brought her arms up above her head. Penelope was so wrapped up in the heated sensations he was creating within her body that she was aware he had bound her wrists to the bed well after the fact. Opening her eyes, she looked up and saw that he had tied her hands together and secured them to the woodened post of the headboard.

Eyes wide with surprise, perhaps a bit of fear, she looked at him only to see him grinning quite lustily back at her.

“Do not worry,” he murmured. “You will enjoy this, I promise.”

“But why did you bind me?”