Chapter 8

She hadn't meant to ask Daemon such a question, but there was no way to take it back. She was about ready to break the awkward silence that fell between them with a muttered excuse when he sighed. "Och, I need a drink, if ye're going tae ask me questions like that."

Lyla felt her cheeks burn hotter, but she held her ground. "I ken ‘tis nae proper, but there are nae many people I can ask about such things."

She certainly couldn't ask her father about what bedroom activities were like. Erin was probably her best option, in terms of propriety, but her sister had only recently come to terms with being a woman as well as a warrior. She was still very modest about such matters. She would have asked Rowan, had her elder sister been alive, but as it was no longer possible, her sister's husband would have to do.

"I ken it well enough." He led her over to a small table and two chairs, then disappeared into the library, to return with a bottle of scotch and two cups. "Doesnae mean I dinnae need a drink."

He poured them both a small measure of whisky. "Did ye never ask yer sisters about what it meant, tae be with a man?"

"I never asked Rowan. I never had much interest asking her." Lyla was fairly certain her cheeks were never going to cool down. She sipped her drink, glad to see that at least Daemon didn't look much more comfortable than she was. "Erin had less interest than I did until she and Marcus fell in love. She couldnae tell me aught, save that it was ‘very good', and she enjoyed her husband's attentions."

"So ye dinnae ken... anything?" Now Daemon's cheeks darkened. "About how men and women lie taegether?"

Lyla looked at the fire, so she wouldn't have to look at his face as she answered. "A wee bit. Erin and I used tae listen tae guards tell stories, but I didnae understand most o' it at the time, and it was all about the man's prowess, in any case. ‘Twas enough fer me tae learn that the man sticks his shaft inside a woman, while doing… other things."

"That's all?" Daemon's voice sounded strangled.

"Nae entirely. I ken the things the healer told me when I had me first moon cycle, about a lass's womb, and readiness fer childbearing, and what certain feelings meant." She saw his face twist in the same discomfort she'd seen in her father's face when she'd mentioned her first bleed to him.

"I've also aided the midwife o' the village near our home, and helped with two births, a boy and a girl. I ken that pleasures o' the bedroom result in children. I ken how tae prevent a pregnancy, and how tae care fer yerself through one, and the best way tae handle different types o' births, and how best tae assist an expecting mother."

Daemon blinked at her. "Ye've helped the midwife?"

"O' course. ‘Tis a duty o' a lady o' the keep, if there's a need. And in any case, I've some interest in kenning how tae heal others. Why? Dae ye nae approve?"

"On the contrary. I think ye're quite admirable, tae be helping with such things. ‘Tis a kindly thing tae dae, helping with healing and childbirth. I've kent women who wouldnae dae any such thing."

Lyla shrugged, pleased by his compliment, but not willing to be distracted from the matter that was uppermost on her mind. "It was needed. But even though I learned a lot, there's much I dinnae ken about the ways o' a man with woman. And with me sister being married, it brought it tae mind that I might want tae learn more, in case I ever find a husband o' me own."

She had no one in mind to marry, but that didn't mean she wouldn't meet anyone. Nor was she certain her father would refrain from marrying her in an arranged match, for an alliance, or to ensure she was cared for after he passed. She didn't want to come to her wedding night entirely unschooled in matters of lovemaking.

Daemon shifted in his seat, his expression tense. "I'm nae the proper person tae be explaining thing tae ye, but…" He exhaled slowly. "The truth is, there's many different ways o' men and women being taegether. Every man and woman are different in what they find pleasurable. The most important thing is tae identify what suits ye, and be sure tae tell yer lover. Listen tae what they like as well, and dae yer best tae satisfy both o' ye."

"But, if I dinnae ken how tae dae that…"

"A proper lover will go slow and easy if he kens ye're nae experienced. A man who cannae treat ye properly in the bedchamber isnae one who's worth yer time."

Lyla nodded. Erin had said something similar, during one of their few discussions regarding her relations with Marcus. "The folk in this book... they were doing things…" The words were nearly impossible to say, and she had to swallow several times. "The man was... he was using his fingers, and even his tongue! And he had her tied to the bed! Dae men and women really…?"

"It depends on the man and the woman. Some like bindings in the bed, some like tae use their mouths or their hands as well as their shafts tae pleasure a lass. Different lasses like tae be touched in different places, in different ways." Daemon's voice was strangled as he spoke.

Lyla sighed. She could tell he was struggling, and she wasn't sure she wanted to hear any more, not from her elder sister's husband. "'Tis all right. I think I understand." She smiled at him impishly, despite the heat still glowing in her own cheeks. "I'll nae ask anything more. ‘Tis enough tae ken that I can learn a few things by reading."

She was fairly certain she heard Daemon give a sigh of relief. She was about to make an excuse to return to her rooms when he spoke again. "Ye've asked me a question. I've one tae ask in return."

She nodded and settled back into her chair. "'Tis fair enough."

Daemon took a sip of his drink, then met her gaze. "Earlier, ye said me way o' managing is nae coping, but a way o' punishing meself. What did ye mean?"