Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30228 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
“Get in there, Raven, and tell Da you were listening,” Royden ordered even though he couldn’t see her when he stepped into the hall. “And don’t ever involve Oria in your antics again or you will feel the sting of my hand.”
That had Raven stepping out of the shadows. “Da would never permit it.”
“My wife, my rules,” Royden said.
“Raven didn’t involve me. I chose to listen to what all you men had to say on my own,” Oria said, refusing to let Raven get blamed for something that was not her fault.
“Perhaps, but her influence can have dire effects,” Royden said.
Raven opened her mouth to argue.
“Not a word,” Royden warned. “Get in there and tell Da you’ve been listening to the conversation.”
Raven went to do as her brother said, seeing no other way out, but first, she said, “Oria is right. You two shouldn’t wed. It could mean your death.”
“In the room,” Royden ordered tersely and once the door closed behind her, he hurried Oria through the keep, up the stairs, and to his bedchamber.
“I can’t be here,” she said when he shut the door behind them.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. We’ll be husband and wife tomorrow. In that bed,” —he gave a nod toward the sizeable bed wearing fresh linens— “is where we’ll seal our vows. It is where we will join in love. Where you will birth our children. Where we will face joys and sorrows, and where we’ll grow old together. I want that with you more than anything in this life and I won’t let it be taken from me.”
“If we’re attacked you could die,” she said, her voice quivering with fear. “I couldn’t bear that.”
“And I couldn’t bear death knowing I didn’t make you my wife,” he said. “You will stay here at the keep tonight and before noon tomorrow we will become husband and wife. And we’ll share that bed tomorrow night and for all the years to come.”
His loving words wrapped gently around her heart and she stepped close to lean against him, praying he was right, that they would share the years to come.
His arms drifted around her as they so often did and hugged her tight, and he gave no thought to what he did next. It was sheer instinct.
With strong arms holding her tight, he walked her to the bed and dropped down on it to lie side by side.
“This isn’t pro—”
Royden kissed her silent, her lips too tempting to ignore. His hand inched down slowly to her backside and he eased her against him, nestling his manhood firm between her legs.
It didn’t frighten Oria being here in his bedchamber with him. Royden would never force himself on her. He was an honorable man. However, she wasn’t sure about herself. Her need for him had been growing stronger by the day and lying here so intimately with him, feeling how he swelled hard against her, left her far too vulnerable to temptation.
One night. One night. That’s all that was left and they’d be wed.
“One night,” she said reluctantly, not only reminding herself, but him as well.
“I know, and after all this time one night seems like an eternity. But I wanted to bring you here for you to see our future together and that future starts tomorrow when we join as husband and wife.” He brushed his lips faintly over hers, as if not trusting himself to do more.
The delicate touch of his lips sent her flesh prickling. Good Lord, but she wanted to make love with this man so badly. This man she had loved since as long as she could remember.
“We will sneak away from the celebration early tomorrow,” he said, wondering how he had ever made it this far without coupling with Oria. But then it wasn’t a quick poke he was looking for, it was something far more meaningful.
Oria rested her hand to his cheek. “Please know that no matter what happens, I love you and only you forever. Nothing, absolutely nothing will ever change that.”
“Nothing will ever come between us, Oria. Our love would never allow it,” he said. “I love you more with every moment we spend together and that will never change. So tell me now that you will wed me tomorrow, for I will not have you wed me against your will. You come to me freely, of your own accord, your own choice, or not at all.”
His words melted her heart and nothing could stop her from saying, “I will proudly marry you tomorrow, Royden.”
“Good and no more sneaking around with my sister,” he said.
“Would you have told me what was discussed?”
“You need not worry about such things,” he assured her.
“I need to be as prepared as you to protect my home and those I love. Don’t treat me like a child as you do your sister. I am to be your wife and I want to share everything with you; the good, the bad, the worry, the joy. All of it.”