Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Her hand went of its own accord to rest on his forearm once again and words tumbled out of her mouth without thought. “I will make you a good wife.”
Bhric stared at her, her words slipping inside him to squeeze at his heart. How did she do that? How did she sneak past his defenses so easily and touch him where he least expected it?
The night wore on without further incident until Sven stood and raised his tankard. “It’s time for Lord Bhric to take his wife to bed.”
Tavia had to keep herself from cringing against the cacophony of cheers and fists pounding on the table.
Bhric stood after swallowing the last of his ale and held his hand out to her. She stood, turning her head slightly so no one would see her wince from the pain, though she failed to realize she squeezed her husband’s hand. She had sat too long.
Bhric made a show of scooping her up in his arms and planting a firm kiss on her lips and more cheers rang out.
No words passed between them as they climbed the stairs and when he went to his bedchamber instead of hers, she turned a raised brow on him.
“You sleep with me tonight.”
“I thought you said—”
“Aye, I did say I will not touch you until after your monthly bleed, but others must think differently. Marta will find us naked in bed tomorrow and she will spread the news that our marriage bed was put to good use.”
Naked.
That was all she heard. She had slept naked with him already but that had been different. He had not known they slept naked together until morning. Not so now. He would get in bed naked of his own volition.
He set her on her feet as soon as they entered his bedchamber and began disrobing once he closed the door. Not so Tavia, she hesitated, then realizing he would be naked well before her and have nothing to do but watch her disrobe, she hurried out of her garments. Once she was naked, she took hasty steps to the bed and slipped beneath the blankets with relief.
Needing to keep her eyes on anything but her husband stripping off his garments, she glanced around the room. It was a good size as was the sizeable, sturdy wood bed taking up a good portion of the room. A multitude of chests, some piled three high, sat braced against two walls. A small table sat against another wall with two benches beneath. Two chests hugged either side of the bed. A sizeable, flickering candle sat atop the chest on the opposite side from where she lay and beside it lay a dagger.
Her eyes accidentally landed on him as her glance took her around the room. He was a fine built man, all muscle and strength that could do her damage if he so wished. And while he warned and threatened her often enough since meeting him, he had not once shown a propensity for raising his hand to her or causing her any harm—except.
He did mention pounding her when they coupled since he believed her no longer a virgin.
She wanted to blurt out that she had never been with any man. That his lips had been the first she’d ever felt. But that would be admitting the lie she had perpetrated to seal their marriage agreement. She could not chance admitting the truth until after their vows were sealed.
He extinguished the various candles before walking to his side of the bed, stretching back his shoulders with a wince, then extinguishing the candle on the chest before getting beneath the blankets and settling himself beside her, his body so close that she could feel his heat drifting off him.
Tavia lay stiff beside him, not moving the slightest, and gripping the blanket high on her chest. Her heart hammered wildly, and she did not dare close her eyes. She hoped he would fall asleep fast only then would she feel safe.
She almost jumped when he turned on his side to face her.
“Your actions forced this marriage and now we are stuck tolerating each other, something I hoped to have avoided in a wife.”
“What did you want from your wife?” she asked.
“A good, strong woman who knew the wisdom of being obedient when necessary and one I could talk with and could offer me good counsel when needed, and one who would bear me strong sons and daughters. A wife I could share the perils and the pleasures of life with, a wife I could trust, I could count on without question.”
It was much of what Tavia wanted in a husband, though she would add love to it, for she believed love was what helped bind a relationship. Love would not have her husband look at her limp as weakness or her small size an obstacle. He would love and respect her for who she was and not who he wanted her to be. Could there be the slightest chance they could share a good marriage together. She had to ask.