Chapter Nine

J oanna walked into the cool bedchamber, relieved to have the stern knights stay on the other side of the door.

At the angle she'd been standing after dismounting, she'd known Philip had been reaching for the reins. Admittedly, he'd been about to snatch them from her, but it hadn't been an arm raised ready to strike.

And the look on his face—the anger and surprise in his eyes—that he'd been drawn against on his own land had made her heart flip. Seeing the deadly tips of swords at his neck had generated a rush of nausea in her. To see him harmed, to see his blood, would pain her likely more than it would pain him.

The door closed with a solid bang.

"I am sorry to have disobeyed you," she said, turning. "But you have to understand, riding, especially early in the morning, is one of my favorite pastimes."

"A dangerous pastime."

"I am a skilled rider."

He walked to the table and poured two goblets of wine. He passed one to her. "As was my mother."

"Your mother?"

He walked to the window and stared out.

She studied his broad shoulders and narrow hips. The way his hair curled slightly at the ends and his breeches hugged his long legs. Suddenly, she remembered something her own mother had told her. Mary of Burgundy had fallen from her horse and never recovered.

"Philip?" she said softly. "I—"

"My mother had an accident while out hunting. She fell from her horse, injuring her spine." He spoke quickly, as though keen to get the words out and over and done with. "My father's life, and mine and Margaret's, changed forever that day."

Joanna set down her wine and walked up to him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her cheek between his shoulder blades. "My love. I am so very sorry for your loss."

He hitched in a breath. "So you will understand," he said, his voice tight with emotion. "That I do not wish to lose you, my dear, beloved wife, to the same fate."

"I promise I will not ride again." She felt wretched for scaring him so and humbled that already he did not want to lose her.

He was silent.

"It's just after last night, in bed, with you, I…" She held him tighter. "I felt renewed and I wanted the wind on my face, to hear the sound of hooves on the ground, and…to rejoice in being alive."

He set his wine on the sill and turned, folding her into his arms. "I do not wish to speak of it again."

"I understand, my love." She pushed his hair back from his face and stared into his eyes. "I only want to make you happy."

"And I you." He dipped his head and kissed her.

A deep, passionate kiss that had her knees weakening. She moaned softly and clung to him. His body against hers lit a fire inside her, heat spreading and her blood pumping hotly.

He tipped his head, deepening the kiss, and pulled her to him so tight, her breasts squashed up against his chest. His breath quickened and he cupped her behind over her gown. Her headpiece fell to the floor.

"Philip," she gasped.

"If you think your knights want to keep you safe, their resolve is nothing to the lengths I would go to in order to protect your life," he murmured against her lips. "You are the perfect match for me. If I could, I would keep you in here, away from harm's way, tied to the bed so I can ensure your safety."

"Tied to the bed?"

"Yes." He glanced at the four-poster, but then his attention lingered on its shiny engraved posts and rich canopy. When he looked at her again, a mischievous grin danced on his damp lips. "In fact…I might just do that."

"Philip. What are you saying?"

Suddenly, he released her and she felt the void of space around her as he stepped away.

"I need…" He flipped open a chest at the end of the bed and began pulling out blankets and embroidered cushions, tossing them behind himself. "Ah…here they are." He withdrew two lengths of black silk, the kind that would have been used as swags. "Perfect."

A coil of excitement wound in her belly. Exactly what did her intriguing new husband have in mind? One thing was for sure: He was determined it would happen and he appeared pretty excited about it.

He stood and held either end of the silk in each hand. He pulled, making the material taut with a snapping sound. His gaze settled firmly on her. "My love, prepare to be bound and pleasured."

"Bound and pleasured?" She could hardly get the words out, her mouth was so dry. She could hardly hear them for the bellowing of her pulse in her ears.

"I know you're not going to disobey me when I tell you to remove your clothes."

She gulped. "Now? You want me to remove them now ?"

"Of course now." He nodded at the door. "We will not be disturbed. Your knights will ensure that."

Joanna dragged in a deep breath and let her attention slip to his breeches. Behind the material, there was a long outline of flesh she now knew to be his big cock. He was erect again, the way he'd been before.

He wanted her. His body craved hers. That thought alone thrilled her in a way that made her cunny clench and her limbs tingle.

"Joanna." He raised his eyebrows and tipped his head. "Remove your gown…now."

She hesitated.

"If you don't, you can say goodbye to it, for it will be ripped from you without a care for its future."

With fumbling fingers, she tugged at the laces and buttons, freeing the bodice. When it had loosened around her ribs she pulled at the sleeves and withdrew her arms.

The material gaped at her chest, her small breasts shifted with each of her breaths, and her nipples were hard.

"My love," Philip murmured, watching her intently. "Do not be shy. The time for that is over."

She beat down a wave of nerves and pushed at her gown. It caught briefly on the swell of her hips then pooled at her feet.

"And the rest." He raised his eyebrows. "I wish to see all of you."

She'd worn a soft undergarment for riding. Now, she pushed it down her thighs, past her knees and shins, and kicked it aside.

"Phew, I am a lucky man." Philip blew out a breath as his gaze roamed her body with unashamed and unabashed desire. "You are the woman I dreamed about, but now you have a face."

Summoning bravery, she walked to him, hips rolling and the air cool on her nakedness. "And you are the man I dreamed of."

He smiled then nodded at the bed. "You should lie down and prepare yourself to be pleasured with skill and devotion."

"Skill. That is quite a claim."

He chuckled. "A claim I make with confidence." He nodded at the bed again. "Lie down so I can begin."

With nerves fluttering in her belly, she lay on the bed on her back. The bedding was colder than she'd expected when she stretched her limbs straight. A heaviness filled the air and a quiver set up in her belly.

"Arms out to the sides." Philip looked down at her with hungry eyes. He licked his lips. "Right out. You are at my mercy, so show it."

She did as instructed, feeling even more vulnerable in the new position.

He dropped one silk tie on the bed and then carefully looped the other around her right wrist several times.

She didn't speak but watched his movements intently as he fastened the silk to the bedpost, making it taut so her arm was outstretched and harnessed into position.

"Feel okay?" he asked.

She nodded.

He smiled and dipped his head, swiping his tongue over her peaked right nipple.

She gasped as the hot, wet heat of his mouth sent desire winging through her body.

"You are so responsive," he said softly and then he licked his way to her other breast. He took that nipple into his mouth and sucked gently.

"Philip," she murmured. In all of her dreams and fantasies, she'd never imagined her husband would make her feel this way—so wanted and revered, so utterly feminine.

"Do not fear," he said, straightening. "I will give you everything you need and more." He scraped his hand through the blond strands of his hair in a way she'd noticed he did often.

"Now for the other side." He picked up the second ribbon and walked around the bed. The bulge in his breeches was significant and sent another thrill through her. The size still shocked her, though, and she hoped he would be as gentle as he had been previously.

He tied up her other wrist, securing her, sacrificial almost, to the bed. Very gently, he touched her inner arm then ran his finger up past the crease of her elbow, her pale upper arm flesh and to her armpit. From there, he stroked to the button of her collarbone. "You are so soft," he said. "And beyond tempting."

"What are you tempted to do?" she asked, not sure if she'd be able to handle the answer.

"Why don't I show you?" He smiled and walked to the end of the bed. Once there, he bent and removed his boots then hooked his fingers into the waist of his breeches. "What I can tell you is I won't be needing these."

Joanna trembled and blinked rapidly as his light-brown body hair was revealed and then his cock came into view, dark and hard, the tip glossy.

He took hold of her ankles and pushed them apart.

She gasped. "Philip!"

He didn't stop and widened her legs until her thighs were separated and her cunny was on full display.

She squirmed with embarrassment, self-conscious of the damp folds and dark hair.

"You are beautiful," he said, moving between her legs. "Do not think anything otherwise."

She was breathing fast, her breasts shifting with each panting intake of breath.

"And I wish to worship at the altar of your body." He flashed a wicked grin then dropped down between her legs, his face nestled at her cunny.

A sudden, wet lick ran up through her lower lips, over her entrance, and to her nub. "Oh! I… What…are…you?"

"Relax," he said, looking up at her with hooded eyes. "And enjoy, because you will…a lot."

Relax. How in God's name could she relax with her husband's face between her legs, licking her most private place?

He did it again, his hands on her inner thighs and his nose burying into her pubic hair.

This time, she closed her eyes and willed herself to relax. But it was impossible. The sensation was so new, illicit, dark—and surely sinful.

"You taste better than any feast." He murmured, slipping a finger to her entrance. "It may take some time for me to sate my appetite for you…if ever." He pushed his finger into her wet, tight cunny.

"Oh…Philip." She thrashed her head from side to side and pulled on her binds. "What you do to me…it's…"

"Perfect for you. Now take your pleasure when you want it, there is no rush. I am quite happy down here."

His words were shockingly delightful and she clenched her fists and strained against the ribbons. The bed creaked and this seemed to spur him on.

He stroked his tongue over her nub, fast, little circles that had her hips canting to meet his mouth. "Oh, yes…yes…"

The pressure was mounting, the pleasure increasing. And being tied into position, at his mercy, only added to her arousal.

He added another finger to her cunny, gently pumping in and out of her the way he had his cock.

Instantly, the pressure intensified, the need to race to release gripping her.

She arched her spine and curled her toes, the sounds of his fast breaths and kisses adding to her lust. She groaned and her belly tightened. Her burst of pleasure was almost there.

Her cunny squeezed his fingers and her nub was hot and swollen beneath his clever tongue. Never had she imagined such a carnal moment as this. It was incredible, her body held hostage by sensuality.

And then it was there—the huge wave of release was about to crest. She held her breath and her heart thumped. When it reached the point it could no longer be contained she let out a wail and clamped her legs to Philip's shoulders, keeping him there.

He stayed with her, working her cunny and her nub. Her skin prickled as heated bliss spread through her body, making her limbs tremble and bright lights flash behind her closed lids.

On and on he went, extending her pleasure. The silk was at full stretch and so tight around her wrists, her fingers tingled. She didn't care and kept bucking for more of the magic he was creating.

Eventually, she calmed and her cunny's spasms receded. "Philip…oh, that was surely…a sin…but it…felt so good."

"My love." He lifted his head and kissed her patch of pubic hair. His eyes were sparkling and his lips shiny with her arousal. "What a man and wife do to find pleasure is not a sin. You should remember that."

"I…I will try." Another full-body quiver took control and she shook from her toes to her fingers. "Oh…please."

"Please?" He grinned and rose to his hands and knees. "What are you asking for?"

"You, my love. I want you to find pleasure."

"Pleasuring you is pleasure for me." He came over her. "But we do have the small matter of producing an heir."

She went to hold him, but her arms were trapped.

He grinned. "And while you are pinned down and at my mercy, I will see to that."

"You like that I can't move?" She could see the dark desire in his eyes. It gave him away.

"What is not to like about you giving your body to me?"

"It is yours." She breathed in his rich scent. "Please…do it."

His cock was there, nudging at her pliant entrance. Then as his mouth caught hers in a kiss, he pushed in. A slow but determined ride to full depth.

She groaned and her cunny fluttered around him.

"Heaven help me." He gasped. "I cannot last… I am too…" He pulled out halfway then rammed back in.

She cried out at the intense bliss of his cock filling her so absolutely.

He groaned and released his seed in three fast thrusts. Slapping into her, every muscle in his body turning to stone.

Excitement winged through her. To see and feel him in this moment was exhilarating. His fierce self-control was slipping and all because of his lust for her. She clung to his hips with her legs and buried her face in the crook of his neck when he collapsed over her, only just holding his weight.

Their chests pressed together, and sweat slicked over their bodies.

"My love," he whispered against her ear. "You excite me like no other."

"I am glad." She looked up at the canopy. "Because you will never have another, not now we are wed."

"I will not want anyone but you," he whispered. "You are everything and more than I will ever need."