Medieval 01 - Untamed

against him. She would be inside, waiting for him, wearing the spicy fragrance that was hers alone.
    Eadith made a startled sound as Dominic appeared in the doorway to the inner chamber.
    â€œLeave us,” he said.
    The handmaiden dropped the jeweled comb she had been wielding over Meg’s hair and obeyed with unusual speed. Dominic wore the bleak calculations of the battlement like a dark aura. Only his eyes were alive, and they saw only Meg.
    As soon as Eadith left, Dominic shot the iron bolt. When Meg rose from the stool where she had been perched, bells stirred and murmured sweetly. Meg barely noticed the lovely sound. The intangible darkness around her husband made her heart clench.
    â€œWhat is wrong?” she whispered.
    Dominic’s silver eyes slowly swept the length of his wife. Her hair tumbled to her hips in a cascade of fire that was held back only by a frail circlet of emeralds and gold. A closely fitted tunic of green silk followed the curves of her body, emphasizing her breasts and narrow waist and the feminine flare of her hips. Several of the delicate gold harem chains served as a girdle. The smallest motion of her body set bells to shivering.
    Slowly Dominic walked toward Meg. When he reached out to run a long tendril of her hair through his fingers, his hand trembled from the fierce yearning in his heart.
    â€œYou are…beautiful,” Dominic said in a low voice.
    Abruptly he closed his eyes and let Meg’s hair slide from his fingers.
    â€œBeauty is such a pale word to describe what you are to me,” he whispered. “’Tis like saying winter is cool and sunlight pleasant.”
    â€œDominic,” Meg said, catching his hand. “What is wrong?”
    He opened his eyes and looked at her as though memorizing the elegant arch of her eyebrows, thefaint tilt and clarity of her emerald eyes, the creamy texture of her skin, the sensuous color and curves of her lips. With aching care he brushed the backs of his fingers over her mouth.
    â€œI tried to stay away,” Dominic asked huskily. “But I cannot. I need you, Meg. Are you healed?”
    â€œHealed?”
    â€œWhen we lay together in the ancient place, I hurt you. Are you healed?”
    â€œYou never hurt me,” Meg said.
    â€œYou bled.”
    â€œI felt only joy.”
    Meg kissed the battle-scarred fingers that were caressing her mouth. A subtle tremor went through Dominic.
    â€œDoes that mean you will come willingly to me?” Dominic asked. “Will you let my body worship yours?”
    It was impossible for Meg to conceal the thrill that went through her at the thought of once more being joined with her husband.
    Dominic’s breath caught as he saw the sensuous shiver take Meg. His fingers drifted from her lips to the quickened beat of her pulse in her throat.
    â€œI thought you wouldn’t want me so soon,” Meg admitted.
    â€œSoon?” Dominic asked, startled. “It has been days.”
    â€œEadith said that it takes time for a man to want a woman again.”
    An odd smile changed the taut lines of Dominic’s face.
    â€œIf the woman in question is Eadith,” he said, “a lifetime wouldn’t be enough to raise my, ah, interest. But for you…”
    â€œA half day?” Meg hazarded.
    Dominic smiled. “For you, my warm Glendruidwife, a half hour would be more than enough time to put steel back in my sword.”
    â€œThat soon? Even a good ram requires…”
    Meg’s voice died as she heard her own words. She flushed brightly and said no more.
    Dominic laughed, feeling the dark chill of the battlement recede.
    â€œIf I hadn’t been afraid of hurting you more than I already had,” he said, “I would have sheathed myself within you at least one more time before we left the ancient place.”
    Meg’s eyes widened. “Truly?”
    â€œVery truly. Did you mean what you said?” he asked in a low voice. “Did I give you pleasure?”
    Pink tinted her cheekbones. She glanced away and nodded.
    Dominic’s hard palm tilted up Meg’s chin. “Don’t hide from me, small falcon. I must know.”
    Dark auburn eyelashes shifted, revealing the jeweled depths of Meg’s eyes.
    â€œDid I truly please you?” he asked.
    The glittering silver of Dominic’s gaze held Meg in thrall. Her lips parted on an indrawn breath as a cascade of sensual memories poured through