“Then feel this, my beloved,” he murmured.
He pushed hard and fast, forcing suddenly deeper. Immediately reaching the tightness he sought far within, he stopped moving. The moist heat closed around him and he stayed quite still for one sweltering moment, gripping her to him. She felt his strength pulsating and filling her. He caught his breath, then subsided, shuddering. She gasped, and clung to him.
They collapsed together, close entwined. He wrapped the covers up around her shoulders and kissed her hard and long. When he finally released her, she smiled and whispered, “I feel scorched.”
He rolled away a little, his head laid back on the bolster. Finally he closed his eyes. His hair, usually a bright sheen straight cut to his shoulders, was now tangled as if after battle. His laugh sounded tired. “Like branding a heifer?”
She sat up a little, tracing the tiny damp curls across his chest. “Perhaps it is,” she said. “They say wives are just useful as brood mares. Bought like any good breeding stock to produce heirs. And then, like a baker’s bonus, to look pretty in church on saints’ days.”
His eyes snapped open then, as if to reassure himself she was teasing. “So forget being a wife,” he smiled. “I need no breeding mare. Be my mistress. Can a man take his own wife as his mistress?”
“I don’t see why not. Men usually think they can do anything they want to. And this time I don’t need to think about it first. I’m not modest or nervous anymore. I’ll say yes, right away.”
Ludovic chuckled, one eyebrow raised. “That’s mighty helpful to know beforehand. It seems you’ve become most improper, my love.”
Alysson sat up a little straighter, cross legged on the soft mattress, blankets discarded. “Oh, I hope so. I’d like to scandalise the matrons at court. Though I suppose if they know anything about me, they’ll be scandalised anyway. So can I wear my gowns cut very, very low, and my headdresses very high? So when I curtsey to the king, I shall almost burst out of my fichu, and make all the dukes stare. And can I flirt?”
“Only with me. And at Westminster, a woman who flirts with her husband will seem the most scandalous of all.”
“But you said I’m not going to be your boring sheltered wife anymore, Ludovic. I know tricks I haven’t used because I think you’ll laugh at me. Jenny taught me ages ago, when I was supposed to snare you. I was so uncomfortable about it then. But now I’m going to be your mistress, so I can be outrageous and amazing and shock you, and I can practise all those strange contortions and special squeezes and other surprising things I learned, just as long as you promise not to snigger. I’ll try to be an interesting mistress.” She lowered her eyes. “Only you haven’t actually asked me yet.”
Ludovic’s eyes half closed, the lids heavy. His mouth curved up very slowly, the smile sensual, barely tucked. He reached out, caressing her, his hands warm and intimate again on her body. Her breasts responded immediately.
“So be my mistress, beloved. Indeed, it’s no longer something I ask of you,” he breathed. “I demand it.”
Dear Reader,
Ludovic’s journey was quite dark at times, I hope it didn’t upset you too much? On a slightly brighter note, why not try ‘The Deception of Consequences’?
This time we are at Henry VIII’s court. A time of excess, intrigue and corruption. Henry's advisor Richard Wolfdonn, is about to enter a web of death and conspiracy…
You’ll love meeting this new cast of characters. And what a cast it is, with a pirates eccentric parcel of mistresses lined up to mourn him, Richard struggles to find the truth.
And do remember that when a reader leaves a review, an Author Angel gets their wings!
About the Author
My passion is for late English medieval history and this forms the background for my historical fiction. I also have a love of fantasy and the wild freedom of the imagination, with its haunting threads of sadness and the exploration of evil. Although all my books have romantic undertones, I would not class them purely as romances. We all wish to enjoy some romance in our lives, there is also a yearning for adventure, mystery, suspense, friendship and spontaneous experience. My books include all of this and more, but my greatest loves are the beauty of the written word, and the utter fascination of good characterisation. Bringing my characters to life is my principal aim.
For more information on this and other books, or to subscribe for updates, new releases and free downloads, please visit barbaragaskelldenvil.com
Also By Barbara Gaskell Denvil
Historical Mysteries Collection
Blessop’s Wife
Satin Cinnabar
The Flame Eater
Sumerford’s Autumn
The Deception of Consequences
The Stars and a Wind Trilogy
A White Horizon
The Wind from the North
The Singing Star
Box Set
Crime Mysteries
Between
The Games People Play
(A serial Killer Trilogy)
If When
Ashes From Ashes
Daisy Chains
Time Travel Mysteries
Fair Weather
Future Tense
Children’s Bannister’s Muster Time Travel Series
Snap
Snakes & Ladders
Blind Man’s Buff
Dominoes
Leapfrog
Hide & Seek
Free Download
After Ludovic became an Earl, Captain Kenelm decided to look for other work, taking his nephew with him. Their next job is not quite what you’d expect!
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Sumerford's Autumn Page 60