by Marie Hall
The water was displaced around her, and then she felt his hand on her left leg sliding up toward where she was focused. "Perhaps," he said next to her ear. "You might like a bit of assistance?" His mouth settled on her lobe and his teeth bit down with a painful pleasure.
"Xavier, please." Io's hand left her breast and took hold of his hair, pulling his face closer and then forcing him to bring his lips to her neck.
"So brash. Are you feeling neglected?" he asked as he nibbled her neck and worked his way to her chin and then claimed her lips. His tongue pushed in, and Io's body tightened. She was going to get there. Perhaps not as she would if it was Xavier touching her and not anything like when he was inside her, but she was going to get there and—
"My lady?" The knock at the door stripped Io of achievement; she pulled her lips away from Xavier's and sat up, water splashing everywhere as she stood.
"What?" she called back, irritated now.
"We are done with the room," the maid told her.
"Fine." Io snatched up the drying sheet and wrapped it around herself. "Go see if Jude has finished with the linens."
"Yes, my lady."
Io turned to find Xavier sitting on his arse at the head of the tub. She took a moment to admire his thick muscles and smooth skin. Then she looked at the expression he wore and almost screamed. He thought it funny. Here she was, dying for a release, a small one, any kind of one and when she was almost there… Damn this. She spun away. Stalking over to the chair, she sat down and began to dry her legs.
"Io?" Xavier called. She didn't look at him. "Io?" This time, there was a sternness in his tone.
"What?" she snapped and dried her arms.
"What is the matter, love?" He was getting to his feet when Io looked up.
Io shook her head and sighed. "I missed you," she whispered, going back to drying off and was surprised when Xavier dropped to his knees in front of her chair. His hands grabbed her ankles, and like that, he'd her tipped back, her legs hooked over the chair arms.
"Missed me?" He worked the sheet open, leaving her naked body for his view. "Why do you not show me what you want, need." He took her hand and guided it to her folds. "Show me, Io. Show me what you missed, what you need. Let me help you."
Heat rushed through her so quickly, she was almost dizzy with it. Her fingers parted the swelling lips. "Xavier." She put her other hand on the side of his face and guided him closer. When she could feel the heat of his breath, she moved her hand to the back of his head.
"Io?"
"Xavier, have mercy. Put your mouth on me." Io almost cried. If he waited even one more heartbeat, she would… she did cry out when his tongue flicked over her pulsing clit.
"Like that, Io?" he asked, his lips brushing against her as he spoke.
"No, put your mouth on me." He needed no other instruction from her. His lips, tongue and teeth worked over her entire sex. Io writhed under his attention. His hands went under her arse, lifting her, opening her even more. He held her up for a moment, then one hand pulled back and Io felt him shove two thick fingers inside her. She was on the brink now. His fingers stroking hard, Io let go her grip on his head to clutch the chair.
The long awaited climax hit and she bit down on her lip to stop the scream. There was no doubt anyone didn't know Xavier was in this room with her. But she'd not want to confirm in anyone's mind this was the first thing they attended after a short separation. The sting of being called his whore, by his mother, no less, still burned. Though it wasn't much of a match for the burn of pleasurable heat he created whenever he touched her as a man touched his wife.
Io did moan long and slow as Xavier eased back but kept her body humming with a well-timed touch. She took a deep breath, held it and then released with a shudder. When she opened her eyes, she found Xavier sitting back a bit, staring at her. His thumb still played with her and his eyes said clearly there was more to be had if she wanted it.
"Is that what you needed, Io?" Xavier asked, moving to stand. Before he could step back, Io wrapped her legs around his.
"It is a start." Io smiled when she glanced at his groin. It was a start and the bulge in his pants said it was far from the end. "I think you might need to help me a little more."
"Are the linens on the bed yet?" He took her hand, helping her stand.
"You have a sudden need of linens?" She snatched her drying sheet from the chair and tossed it to the floor. "There is linen." She turned then, and trusting his grip would hold, she leaned back.
"On the floor, Io?" He eased her down the way she knew he would. "I do not think you should be on the floor." Still, he came down with her.
"If you now have some need for propriety, my husband, you may have the wrong wife." Io smiled, her hands reaching for his britches.
"No, I have the correct wife," he said as he got down on his hands and knees over her. "Brash, vulgar and completely unseemly. I am just concerned." His arm went under her shoulder and he lifted her against him. "You should not be on the cold floor." He moved with natural strength and grace so Io lay on top of him.
Io pushed back until she was sitting. "Umm, not what I had in mind but I can perhaps find something to do up here." Io slid back over his legs and worked his pants open. His cock emerged rigid and stretched and in no need of encouragement from her. She smoothed her palm up the length. Her fingers were gentle as they rounded the thick head. When she retreated, her fingers were wet. The heel of her hand made contact with his sac and Io pushed down until she heard Xavier moan. Wrapping her fist tight around him, she stroked up, then down with deliberate slowness. Xavier moaned again and lifted his hips.
"Io, I have been without as well." He lifted his hips again to meet her strokes. "If you do want me inside you." He lifted his head and met her eyes. "Somewhere," he groaned and set his head back on the floor. "You had best choose where and get to it."
Io considered a moment what she wanted. "Xavier," she whispered as she lay herself over him. "What I want is for you to take me." She slipped to the side and tugged on his shoulder opposite her. He rolled to his side but stopped. "Xavier, please."
"Io," he sounded about to refuse her. A moment more, and he got to his knees and shoved his pants down enough to accomplish the deed. "On the floor, for shame." He settled between her legs.
"Yes, for shame you are not yet pleasing me." Io put her arms around his neck and pulled him down. He barked out a laugh and pushed inside. Io lifted her hips to meet the thrust, seating him deeply.
"Pleased now, my lady?" he asked against her ear.
"Xavier, do not be nice." Io lifted her legs and pulled him even closer.
"Io," he growled. His arms went under her and his fingers gripped her shoulders. The position gave him leverage to both thrust up and pull down. Io was impaled.
They naturally fell into the rhythm and Io let go of him with one hand to set her fingers at her clit. She saw Xavier look down and smile at her then set to work bringing on her bliss. Long, hard, fast strokes, just as she asked, each one pushing to her pleasure. Each one making her feel she belonged, was wanted, was cared for. For all that she wasn't, she knew she was something, someone to this man.
Xavier pushed her over the edge for a third time before Io felt him stiffen and release inside her. The warmth of security as his weight settled over her kept the chill of the floor away. She felt him take a deep breath and then his lips were on her shoulder, kissing the skin marred by the scar. She shifted uncomfortably.
"Stop," he softly chided and put his lips back on the scar. Io conceded, her hand sliding down his back. She could feel the scar he now bore. "Reminders of things we have survived." He lifted his head to look her in the eye as he spoke, and she smiled.
"Survived," Io agreed.
"We are strongest…" He touched his lips to hers.
"Together," Io finished.
"Together, yes, Io." His kiss was slow, gentle and deep. Not meant to ignite Io's passions but rather to reassure her he was with her.
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br /> It took a while but Io learned the difference. His every touch wasn't meant to gain his access to her body. And while most every touch could, she knew she could tell him no and he'd respect her. He'd feel nothing less for her. He didn't only value her for what she could do in his bed. She giggled... or on the floor.
"What?" He pulled back. Io shrugged; she didn't care to say she thought herself a bit of a low woman for wanting to be taken, hard, by a man on the floor like a…a… "Woman, you better tell me," Xavier warned, rolling off.
Yes, like a woman. That was what she was after all, a woman. Not a lady, she'd never be a lady. That, though, didn't make her a whore, nor did what she shared with her husband make her one, no matter what she'd been told. She was a woman, and Xavier wanted a woman as his wife. She turned to look at him, taking in his hard features and dark eyes. A rough stubble covered his jaw and chin and she set her hand on it and rubbed. "I am just happy, Xavier. I am happy."
"Io." His hands settled on either side of her face. "Are you? Happy?"
"I am." And this was no longer something she admitted with fear that her happiness might be stripped from her.
"And have I also satisfied you?" She knew he asked to ensure Io never forget his want was her happiness outside of the bedchamber first and separate from her satisfaction within it.
"Yes." She giggled again then sighed. "For now. I think now I will not die before we find the bed and do things properly."
He tossed his head back and laughed. "Io, nothing I want to do to you in bed is proper."
She chuckled. "And you call me brash, vulgar and unseemly."
"So I do, and now I call you to get off this floor. The room is warm, but you do not need to chance a chill." Xavier shifted to his back and, lifting his hips, pulled his britches back up.
"Shame, Xavier," Io teased. "You did not take off your boots."
"You gave me no chance." He laughed. He rolled his head to look at her as she pulled the edge of the sheet around her.
"I did truly miss you," she said, a little embarrassed now that this was the greeting she gave her lord husband.
"I missed you as well." He twisted to his side and dropped an arm over her. "I did not mean to be gone so long, Io. To leave you as I did."
"This is the only day I..." She might have greeted him with a willingness, but that should've been done in their chambers as he commanded.
"It is all right. I was made aware, first thing. I should not begrudge you a bath… or other things."
Io lifted her hands and tried to smooth the edges of her fingernails. "It… was not… terrible. I must concede it was a needed lesson."
"We will speak on it." He stood and reached down to help her up.
"Well, yes, I must also have the chance to tell you the awful parts," Io pouted as she leaned into him. "But I should hope you have plans for more than talking."
Xavier grabbed her and lifted her against him. "You are my worst distraction, you know this."
"Oh, my lord," Io purred. "I am trying very hard to be your very best one, though."
He laughed again, helping her with her robe. "You will be fast with your complaints?"
His words were somewhere between a plea and a command, and Io considered carefully her answer. "I think I could, if perhaps I have other things to be at."
He turned her toward the door, his hand at the small of her back ushering her forward. Pausing to pick his shirt from the floor and releasing the bolt, he opened the door and urged her out. "Must I write a list?" He kissed her cheek.
"Only if you fear your memory will fail you," Io teased as they walked to their chambers.
Xavier's laughter echoed down the halls as they went.
Chapter 3
"Have mercy." Xavier laughed more and wiped tears from his eyes. "What in the world was he actually trying to say?"
"Boars," Io said, throwing her hands in the air.
"Well, of course," Xavier concluded as Io finished her tale about the worst, and funniest, problem she'd encountered while he was away.
"Of course, of course. But for the life of me, and everyone else, no one could come up with that and not a single person could understand why groups of whores were destroying the hives. We were all stuck on where they even came from." She, too, had to wipe tears from her face.
"Is the beekeeper recovered?" Xavier asked, knowing that multiple stings could be deadly, but at least Io's telling indicated the man suffered only a few stingers, they just had the misfortune of being on his lip.
"Aubin is recovered and only a few of the hives were destroyed. I sent some in to hunt the boars and they took six."
"Six? At those numbers, they could have become a problem." Xavier sobered a bit as he sipped from his cup. He wouldn't say out loud he was glad Io was restricted to the house. He knew she'd have been out there trying to hunt the dangerous animals but for that.
Io sighed heavily and reached for her cup. "I told the hunters to divide the kills around the different shires, and I tried to explain who I thought should get what, but…"
She trailed off and Xavier knew it was one of those times she really needed to attend the matter herself. He watched as she tipped her head until it rested on the back of the chair. Her cup rested in her lap as she lazily circled the rim with her fingers.
"I am certain either the mayors or the reeves knew who best should get the meat. And I am also sure, out of respect for you, they did justice to the charity," Xavier said, taking a last swallow and setting aside his wine. Io's answer was a shrug. He couldn't quite read her but it was plain enough something was on her mind. And from experience, if he left it, she'd talk herself into some dark, spiraling circle where every result was her doom. "Io," he started, holding out his hand. She hesitated but reached out and took it. "Come here." The soft command caused her lips to twitch up but only for a heartbeat. He gave a few gentle tugs, and she moved to set the cup aside and stand. As he drew her closer, she gave no resistance until he tried to pull her into his lap. A sharper tug brought her down, but she was stiff. "What is the matter, Io?"
She shrugged, shifted and made to stand.
"Io?"
"I…" she started, but then drew her bottom lip between her teeth and began picking at her nails.
Xavier shifted so she was tipped off balance and he could force her to lean against him. "You must tell me, Io. I cannot correct what I do not know is wrong."
"I just missed you," she said, relaxing against his chest and setting her head on his shoulder.
"Yes, you showed me. I missed you, too."
"No, Xavier," she whined a bit and turned against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I missed you, not for that, like that…" She sighed like the most put upon woman in the world. "I should not have… I should have waited… it was not good… proper, ladylike to greet you that way."
Xavier nudged her to sit back so he might see her face, but she kept her chin tucked down. He put his fist under her chin and lifted until her pale blue eyes were level with his dark ones. "Io, I thought we agreed you are no common lady." He lifted a finger to still her protest. "And there is no one, save us, to decide what is proper for us."
"We did, but—"
"No, Io. No but. If I thought in anyway what we did was in poor taste, if it was… shameful or improper, I'd have stopped it. If I recall, I fully endorsed what we did. Yes?"
He could see her search his face before she nodded her head. "You… you did not only miss me for..."
"No," Xavier was emphatic in the denial. That he was responsible for these doubts made him responsible for dispelling them, every time they rose up. "No, I mostly missed you for this." He waved a hand between the two chairs. The place they sat and spoke with each other. "And this." His arms wrapped around her and held her securely against him. "While any chance I miss to pleasure you, Io, disappoints me. It is far worse to miss the chance to sit with you, to be with you. You did not miss me for that?" Again, she leaned against him and shook her head. Then she
reached for his hand and pulled until his arm circled her. She snuggled in closer.
"I mostly missed this place."
Xavier pulled back at those words. "Io, you are safe within this house now." He shifted and tightened his hold. "The threat is gone, but I have not allowed anyone to drop their guard. You will always remain safe in this house."
"I know this, Xavier. It was not that I felt threatened by anything. Perhaps I should not say this as I shouldn't want you to think to lock me in here every time you must be away, but I had moments when I…" She leaned in and he could feel her fingers playing with his hair. "There were times when… I was comforted by the restriction."
"What do you mean?" Xavier tucked her closer and rubbed a hand up and down her back. He'd never in his life expect Io to enjoy such confinement.
"I am not sure. I can only say maybe it is that I already once defended these rooms, successfully. I stood here and demanded to be respected. And maybe I didn't receive the respect, but the insults stopped and then you heard me and stood with me." She shrugged again. "I defended this place once I know I could do it again."
Xavier drew in a deep breath and released it slowly before pressing his lips to her forehead. It wasn't the ideal way for his wife to gain either experience or confidence, but if any good came from the miserable, and near deadly, time spent with his mother in their home, he'd not begrudge it. "You are more than capable of holding this house, Io, the whole house. I hope someday you will know this."
"I think I should rather you hold the house and leave me free to hold other things," she said with a giggle then laid a line of kisses up the column of his neck.
"I am a capable man; I can hold the house and…" he said, then sliding an arm under her knees, stood. "I can hold you." He took one step then asked, "So you are not restricted to these chambers, should you like me to hold you in the hall or our bedchamber?"
"What might you think, my lord?" Io asked, pointing toward the set of doors that sheltered their bed.
Xavier rolled to his side, bent his elbow and propped his head up on his hand. She wasn't asleep; he knew by the way she would try and hold her breath. And she hadn't slept well, even after several attempts, he'd not been able to get her to uncurl and stretch out as she did when she felt at ease.
