The idea of kissing the pup was not appealing, but far less appealing was not finishing what he had started with his wife. Tarass grabbed his wife’s face and rained lots of kisses over it and she began to moan softly. Before Thaw could growl, he took hold of the pup’s face and kissed him a few times, and cringed when the pup licked his face.

“I think he understands,” Tarass said, wiping his cheek with his arm.

“Go sleep now, Thaw,” Snow ordered gently.

The pup jumped off the bed and curled up by the hearth.

Tarass helped his wife slip under the blankets. “This is a far different wedding night than I had planned.”

Snow cuddled against him and loved when his arms wrapped around her to tuck her close. “Aye, far different than what I expected as well.”

“What did you expect?” he asked, curious. “You intended to stop the wedding to Lord Polwarth, so there would have been no wedding night to expect with him. So it is a wedding night with me you had thought on. So again, what did you expect?”

“I expected to be anxious and fearful, but I’m not.”

“Fearful of what? Not me, I hope. I would never hurt you, ást,” he said, caressing her back.

“What is that name you call me?”

“It means love in my mum’s native tongue.”

“You’ve called me that twice before,” she said, remembering the cottage where she had first heard it.

“I suppose I knew I loved you before I knew I loved you,” he said and kissed her softly. “Now tell me what was there to be fearful of tonight?” He kissed her again.

“I’m not sure, but the fear disappeared as soon as you told me you loved me,” she said and returned the kiss.

“I’m glad. I don’t want you to fear me, at least not in bed,” Tarass said with a slight laugh. “Ouch, did you just poke me?”

“You deserved it. besides, someone has to start poking.”

“We don’t poke, wife, we make love,” he whispered and kissed her as his hand roamed over her intimately and she sighed with pleasure, though it quickly turned into a moan. “Quiet or you’ll wake Thaw and end this before it can start.”

Snow did her best to keep quiet, but it was difficult with his hands teasing her senses awake with his every touch. And when he took one of her taut and sensitive nipples into his mouth for his tongue to tease, she thought she’d scream with pleasure. She kept her moans low, fearful Thaw would disturb them again, an unbearable thought.