The Unlovely Bride (Brides of Karadok Book 2)

by Alice Coldbreath

  “I did,” he said huskily. “If you weren’t bruised, I’d bite it too.”

  “You would bite my bottom?” she asked as if unsure what she was hearing.

  He gave a muffled laugh. “Yes, but only very gently.” Then he was turning her over again, onto her back. “Hold up your arms. We’re getting rid of this.” He tugged at her shift and she held her arms aloft as he stripped it off her. Obviously, she was not getting the all fours treatment today, she thought with some relief. “Open your legs, Lenora.”

  After a heartbeat, she did so, and he moved down the bed. “What are you doing?” she quavered. Was he looking at her there?

  “Shhh,” he said, trailing gentle fingers over the curls between her legs. “Let me familiarize myself with you. Did you know your hair down here is nearly as blonde as that on your head?”

  “I have seen myself naked for many years,” she pointed out. “Besides, that’s no different to you.”

  “No different to me?” She could hear the amusement in his voice.

  “The hair on your body,” she clarified. “I-I noticed when I came to your room that first night.”

  “What did you notice, Lenora?” His voice was rich and warm. “Tell me.”

  Greatly daring, she reached down to his belly button and lightly touched the tip of her finger to the dark blonde trail of hair that started below it. “Here,” she whispered.

  He sucked in a breath. “You’re telling me the Flower of all Karadok had her eyes fixed on me down there?”

  “I doubt anyone would call me that these days,” she said ruefully. “But yes, I had never seen such body hair before,” she admitted. “I thought about it the next day.”

  His lips twitched at that confession. “Touch it,” he invited, pressing her hand to that patch of hard flat stomach. She felt the muscles tense and flex as she tentatively ran her fingers over his warm skin and tickled the scattering of short hairs. She had to be careful, for Garman’s engorged manhood was standing straight up and practically knocking against the back of her hand at this point.

  “Where does it…?”

  “It runs all the way down.”

  “I wonder why.” She frowned. “For ‘tis not enough to keep your tummy warm.”

  His breathing hitched. “Maybe it’s to draw our female’s attention to what’s below,” he suggested.

  “This wasn’t standing to attention like this before,” she said, deciding to take the bull by its horns and boldly reaching for him. His breath hissed between his teeth despite her gentle touch. “I could hardly fail to have noticed it.”

  “No,” he said shortly. “I was too surprised to get hard.”

  “And I did not tickle your fancy,” she said softly. “Not then.”

  “You can tickle it now, any time you want, Lenora,” he rasped.

  She laughed. “Why thank you, kind sir.” She ran her hand up and down his length in gentle exploration.

  “Harder,” he gritted out. “Take me more firmly in your grip.”

  Eyes wide, Lenora gently squeezed him. “You’re sure it does not hurt when I do this?”

  “No,” he answered.

  “It feels good?” The expression on his face was a strange mix of pleasure and something else.

  “I’ve got as much hard cock as you can handle,” he promised.

  “I’m struggling to handle it now,” Lenora admitted frankly, bringing both hands now to circle his girth.

  “Open your legs, I want to touch you too.”

  Her face aflame, Lenora bent her leg so one knee was raised in the air. Garman reached across and cupped her mound, running his thumb through her hair before sliding his thumb down and dipping inside her there. His eyes flew to meet hers when he found her wet and he groaned. “Just from touching me?”

  She nodded then drew a ragged breath as he touched that sensitive spot concealed there and circled it. “Oh!” she cried out softly.

  Garman muffled an oath. “Your hand feels good, really good.” He shuddered. “But this.” He slid his fingers inside her and Lenora whined. “This feels fucking incredible. Tell me now if you’re too sore to take me, Lenora, and I’ll spend in your hand.”

  “I- It’s not too sore,” she said, blushing hard.

  He shifted over her, not breaking eye contact even for a moment, then reached down to line up their respective parts. Feeling the broad head of his manhood poised at her entrance, Lenora squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself, her hands clutching at his back.

  “Wrap your legs around my waist.”

  She did so and felt him shudder as her body opened up to him. He entered her, edging slowly forward, biting his lip. Suddenly she realized he was exercising a good deal of will to go carefully with her. Of a surety, this was not the bestial taking he had described to her that first night at the inn.

  Perhaps then… perhaps, after all… her thoughts scattered as he surged forward, and she expelled all the air in her lungs in surprise at finding him seated so deep inside her. She blinked up at him. She had not felt that tearing flash of pain like last time or that jarring burn.

  “All is well?” he asked tersely. She nodded and he thrust again with a deep groan, sinking into her by the last few degrees until their nether hair touched. “Gods,” he uttered, his eyes rolling back as though indeed he were having a religious experience.

  While it did not hurt, Lenora reflected, it definitely felt strange and a little uncomfortable to take him into her body like this. She wondered that men liked it so well. Then his hands were smoothing the hair back from her brow and he was kissing her there very gently, then down her jaw—oh.

  Without him bidding her this time, she closed her eyes and felt his lips softly touch her eyelids. Then he kissed her mouth, lazily, as if he had all the time in the world and as though his loins weren’t quivering below and his hips weren’t pressing forward hard against hers, demanding and insistent for all they were still.

  In spite of herself, Lenora allowed herself to relax, to be delighted by the stroke of his teasing tongue. She almost jumped when she felt one hand close around her breast, his thumb pressing against her nipple in a toying manner that made her catch her breath. He had not really lavished much attention on her breasts before, though he had once called them a pretty pair, she remembered as he plucked it now between finger and thumb. She bit back a moan at that, feeling an answering squeeze between her legs which startled her.

  Garman’s hips gave an involuntary jerk and he broke their kiss, staring down at her with wild, tormented eyes. “You liked that?” he panted.

  She gazed up at him with parted lips. “What?” she asked confusedly. Still watching her, he squeezed her nipple hard and Lenora gave a strangled cry, digging her heels into his back as she felt herself tighten around his girth, squeezing him tight. Again, he gave a harsh groan and his hips thrust harder this time and she felt him jerk deep inside her. Oh… gods that felt strange.

  “So sweetly sensitive,” he said hoarsely and nuzzled his face against her other breast. Lenora’s breathing grew ragged as he kissed it, first sweetly and then with increasing lasciviousness, touching his tongue to her nipple and finally sucking it wholly into his mouth.

  “Oh!” she wept, clawing at his back and now she was the one pressing her hips hard against his, straining to get closer and closer. “Please!” she implored, tears starting from her eyes. Was she crying? Her mind reeled as her whole body quickened with overwhelming sensation, most of which seemed to emanate from where they were so intimately joined.

  The next thing she knew, he was looming over her, his hands at the backs of her knees, holding her pinned open to him as he slammed into her again and again, his face dark, his expression stormy. Lenora sobbed with relief and pleasure. He could not thrust into her hard enough. Her body’s clasp on him was so tight she was feared she would cause him an injury.

  After his initial lust was spent, he released his grip on her knees and collapsed heavily over her, one hand in her ha
ir guiding her mouth to his. His hips were still moving fitfully, and he released a harsh, continued groan into her mouth as he shuddered above her. She held very still until she felt him stop trembling. Then he began breathing again at a regular pace and pulled his face back from hers. He was flushed and had a strange look in his eye.

  Suddenly an awful thought occurred to her. “Did I hurt you?” she blurted in concern. Maybe all that groaning had been in pain? She relaxed her furious grip, resting her hands instead on his shoulders. His lips trembled and then he did the oddest thing. He gave a low breathless laugh. Lenora stared. She didn’t think she seen him laugh before, at least not like that, she hadn’t. He looked utterly relaxed, his eyes half-shut and his lips still quirked into a smile.

  “You half-killed me,” he said hoarsely. “But I’d have died a happy man.”

  When he untangled himself from her moments later and collapsed on his back at her side, Lenora let her eyes drift shut. She only meant to rest them a minute, for the room was growing light, however when next she opened them, the sun was high, and she was alone in the bed. Lenora gasped, threw back the covers and made haste to wash and dress. The water was lukewarm at best, so she guessed she had been asleep at least a couple of hours after Garman had his way with her.

  The tips of her ears burned as she hurried down the stairs. With a bit of luck, her husband would be in the stables or about some business and she would not have to face him just yet. She almost jumped out of her skin when he hailed her from the foot of the stairs.

  “She wakes,” he said with lifted brows. “I thought you’d sleep till midday, you slept so soundly.”

  Hearing the deep satisfaction in his voice, she lifted her chin. “I’m quite refreshed now, thank you,” she said primly and tried to slip past him on the bottom step.

  He caught her about the waist and clasped her to him. “Is that so? It seems I have an effective remedy for when you wake too early, wife.” His finger under her chin prevented her from evading his gaze. “Though now I come to think of it,” he said thoughtfully. “I could use it at bedtime too, to ensure you get a good night’s rest.” Lenora’s cheeks burned. “So silent? It seems I have a cure for your pert tongue too.”

  “I am not pert!”

  He merely laughed at this and planted a kiss firmly to her lips. When she neither made protest nor went to move away, his kiss lingered, then turned exploratory. Lenora’s head swam and she leaned into him.

  A cough nearby had them both turning their heads and they found Gerard Sutton and Huw Hainfroy regarding them both with round eyes. Lenora gave a faint moan of embarrassment, but Garman’s arms tightened around her. After a couple of heartbeats, he swung her down off the step and tucked her into his side. “Huw,” he said shortly.

  “You have a visitor, my boy,” his grandfather said awkwardly. “I will go and ask for some refreshment to be served,” he added and hurried away.

  Lenora looked from Garman’s stony expression to Huw’s one of hang-dog wretchedness. What was going on here?

  Huw swallowed. “Good morning, my lady,” he said, scratching the back of his head and Lenora realized he did not recall her name. Why should he? He had made precious little effort to speak to her on the previous occasion as she seemed to remember.

  “Good morning,” she said pleasantly. “I trust all is well at Cofton Grange. How is Ivo?” she added politely. Ivo was definitely her favorite out of the two brothers.

  “He’s well,” Huw answered, looking startled. “Very well.”

  “And your horse? Pollux, I believe was his name?”

  Huw colored at this, as though aware she was scoring definite points. “Aye, he’s well. The cat too. Tybalt,” he added hastily when she opened her mouth, as though to assure her he knew his stable cat’s name.

  Finally, Lenora graced him with a smile. “Tybalt,” she agreed. Huw blinked. Now Garman was looking thunderous, she noticed, glancing up with surprise.

  “How can we help you?” Garman asked pointedly with a hard stare.

  Had they fallen out? “Let us go into the inner parlor,” Lenora suggested. “Unless.” She looked from one to the other again. “You need to have some private speech about some matter...?”

  “Nay,” both of them objected almost simultaneously.

  Lenora frowned, but took a step in the direction of the parlor and found Garman keeping pace with her, one of his arms still wrapped about her shoulder. After a moment’s hesitation, Huw Hainfroy followed them, and they were all seated at the table.

  “Forgive me, but I have not yet broken my fast,” Lenora said smoothly. “Will you not join me in taking some repast?” She gestured toward the fare of bread, butter, and preserves that were laid out on the table. Ada bustled in carrying a plate of salted cod and pickled herrings to add to the spread.

  Huw was looking warily at Garman, but seeing nothing in his expression to dissuade him, he gave a nod of thanks and reached to tear himself a hunk of bread. Lenora relaxed as Garman poured ale into three cups.

  “How are you finding things at Matchings Farm?” Huw asked with visible effort. “My lady,” he added again in the manner of someone rather rusty with the term.

  “Please call me Lenora,” she told him and again felt Garman bristle at her side. Which was strange she thought, when he had told her several times that the Hainfroys were the closest thing he had to siblings. Without thinking, she laid a hand on his thigh under the table. Garman stilled and feeling suddenly awkward, Lenora went to withdraw it, only to feel his own hand come down on top of hers to prevent its removal. She glanced at him quickly, but his expression was impassive.

  “I am still finding my feet, I think,” she answered Huw’s question belatedly. “Garman’s grandfather is helping me find my way.”

  Huw nodded, his mouth full of bread. He swallowed. “It will take a while, no doubt.”

  Lenora remembered that she had used to leave this kind of small talk to others and wondered what Eden would make of her spinning out polite conversation in this way. She fancied her cousin would be much impressed at her progress in such matters. “You must be looking to engage a new servant at Cofton Grange,” she heard herself say aloud as she helped herself to a bread roll. “Now that you have dismissed Martha.”

  Huw froze with his cup of ale halfway to his lips. “Heard about that, did you?” he said, glancing at briefly at Garman. “Didn’t exactly dismiss her, if truth be told. She took umbrage and left us to keep house for some fat widower in Upper Lenton.”

  “I see,” Lenora murmured, reaching for the butter dish. “Well, perhaps Hawise might know of someone looking for a situation?” she suggested.

  Garman looked doubtful at this, but shrugged a shoulder and Lenora promised to enquire. Huw thanked her for this, and Garman expressed his intention of setting up a quintain in the stableyard and spending the better part of the day in training there with Bria’ag. After a moment, Huw cleared his throat and asked if he might stay and watch. Garman agreed and they set off for the stables.

  Lenora was stood at the window, still wondering what the visit had been about, when she spotted Garman striding back from the stables alone. She turned from the window in surprise as he came back into the room. “I’ve left Huw at the stables a moment,” he announced as soon as he crossed the threshold. He stopped before her, with a heavy frown. “You won’t have any luck finding them a new servant, so I wouldn’t even try.”

  “Why?” she asked with surprise.

  He paused a moment before replying. “It’s not a respectable position,” he said. “In a household with two bachelors.”

  Lenora considered this. “Servants come in all shapes and sizes,” she pointed out. “They could have a manservant or a mature widow. Or even a married couple.” He grunted at this. “Of course, the place is sadly run-down,” she conceded. “Whoever they took on would have to have plenty about them.”

  “That’s not the half of it,” he said forthrightly. “They swear like sailors, pract
ically live in the stables, get drunk every night and walk muddy boots throughout the whole house.”

  Lenora snorted. “Berta would soon knock their heads together.”

  He looked thoughtful at that. “Berta, you say. Would you spare her though?”

  Lenora straightened up with alarm. “Certainly not!” She flushed. “I did not mean to suggest her for the world. You misunderstand me. I mean to keep Berta close by me for the past service she has done me. I asked her when we left Caer-Lyoness, if she would throw her lot in with mine, and I meant every word of it! “

  “No, I do understand that,” he said, reaching for her hand. “You may not have noticed, but—” Lenora waited as he absently turned her hand over and then engulfed it between his own two hands. “Berta is not particularly happy here.”

  Lenora started. “Why, what has happened?” She remembered guiltily that she had observed as much herself over the past week. “Has there been some falling out among the household staff?”

  Garman shook his head. “Nothing of that sort. She’s too fierce and my grandfather’s servants far too mild.”

  “What then?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t think it suits her, fitting into a household that is already established. Then too, she has no family here and seems to feel the loss.”

  Lenora bit her lip. She remembered there had been some estrangement. “She has several sons,” she said slowly. “But I seem to recall the last of them had recently left her to take a wife Berta did not like. I think they must have all set up their own families and she got left behind to fend for herself.”

  “Think it over,” Garman recommended. “She would be in her element scolding the Hainfroys and bringing order to their mess. She could carry on like a fish-wife there and no-one would so much as raise an eyebrow.” He glanced at her shrewdly. “She could keep an eye on the cats too.”

  Much struck by his argument, Lenora said nothing. His words made sense, but she hated the thought of releasing Berta from her service. Had she not told Eden that the woman would have a home with her for life? “Let me consider the matter,” she said at last, withdrawing her hand from his. “For, while ‘tis true that she may not fit in particularly well here at the farm, we will have need of her ourselves when we set up our own household.”