You took me into your lap, and I took you into my body. You rocked me in your arms. Slow, deep motions till you could take no more. Then you laid me down again. You never left my body…

He stood inside their chamber, now aglow in candlelight. Daylight shut out behind the closed shutters. His wife sat in the tub before the fire, her back to him.

“I thought you had a busy day,” she asked without turning.

“I do have a busy day,” he returned, walking toward her. “It seems you need to be reminded of a few things.”

“Oh?” She feigned surprise. “Did I forget something?”

“Aye.” He breathed on her neck. “And this time you’ll not soon forget.”

He spent the next two hours reminding her of everything he did to her that day.

He took her to the brink of Eden.

And gladly went with her.

Chapter 29

Autumn gave way to winter and with the passing months, Greylen threw himself into his duties. With his full strength at last returned, his mornings were spent on the practice fields. Hour upon hour training with his men, oftentimes until he was the only man standing. His afternoons were occupied riding the land, his gaze scrutinizing the horizon in futile hope that Gavin would return.

On the occasions he wasn’t away from the holding in the afternoon, he withdrew to his study, with his wife. Gwen had begun to oversee many of their household chores, but on their completion, and at his insistence, she spent her time with him there. He felt ’twas imperative that she learned his system of documentation. For in light of her feelings of helplessness when he lay unconscious, he wanted her to feel more involved.

Gwen was also beginning to understand Gaelic and asked that he read and speak to her only in his native language. She always seemed to throw herself into each task, and in this, she was no different. She’d master it before long. His pride for her only grew.

On days when the time allowed, he would take her to their chamber before supper. Sometimes they would sit by the fire, while others he carried her straight to bed for a nap. No matter where they sat, however, he always undressed her, his hands roaming possessively over her body. Her stomach was rounded now, and he’d smile when she teased that she now had breasts, real breasts. She was so sensitive, though, he could do little more than brush his knuckles against their fullness.

She always fell asleep for a short while, sometimes embraced in his arms while he remained clothed. If he felt she wasn’t too tired, he made love to her first, then he’d smile in pure male satisfaction as she instantly succumbed to sleep after their leisurely trysts.