by Alexa Aston
A kick under his hand caused him to smile. He gently stroked her belly with his fingertips and lightly tapped back. Another kick came as if the babe within responded to him. Kit lifted a hand to her long, chestnut hair and combed his fingers through it. He would never tire of touching this woman. He found himself more in love with her each day.
Alys stirred and turned. He looked down as she opened her eyes.
“Good morning,” she said sleepily, rubbing her cheek against his bare chest.
That was all it took to heat his loins. Kit cupped her face and gave her a lingering kiss. Alys stroked his chest, raking her nails down it, teasing his nipples. He deepened the kiss as she pushed against him, rolling him to his back. She climbed atop him, hiking her night shift up to her thighs.
At first, as the babe grew within her, Kit worried about their heated love play. Alys proved insatiable, wanting them to make love day and night the larger she became. She calmed his fears, telling him she knew enough about babes and that the love they shared would cause no harm to their growing child.
Kit took the edge of the gown and pulled it up over her head. He tossed it aside and gazed at the woman he loved. Her breasts had grown even fuller. Her skin glowed. And she had that hungry look in her eyes that he’d grown fond of.
“So you need your fill of me again,” he teased.
Her lips curled into a smile. “I can never get my fill of you, my lord,” she said seductively. “Feel. I am already dripping with desire for you.”
His fingers touched her folds and found her already wet. He toyed with her a few minutes, stroking her, finding her nub and teasing it to a peak. Her breathing became rapid and shallow as his fingers pleasured her. Alys cried out, calling his name.
Just as he liked it.
Kit let her guide his stiff member inside her. She enjoyed being on top, especially as her belly expanded. She’d told him once it was like riding a horse.
“And you know riding is one of my favorite things to do.”
Nowadays, when she told him she wished to ride, he knew what she meant and quickly escorted her to their bedchamber. He craved her touch and knew she felt the same.
Alys now moved slowly, teasing him as he had her. She leaned down to press her lips against his throat, her teeth nipping where his pulse beat strongly. Kit felt her clench tightly as she quickened her pace and then rode him with abandon. He flew higher and faster and further than ever before until he cried out her name, over and over.
She collapsed against him and then rolled to her side.
“We should dress. I need to make ready for our guests.”
“They aren’t supposed to arrive till the noon meal,” he said. “And everything is already perfect.”
“We can’t stay in here all day.”
“We can the entire morning.” With that, Kit kissed her.
*
They made it downstairs in time to greet their many guests. Kit knew Alys would miss not being at Kinwick for Christmas, and he told her that Geoffrey and Merryn must come to celebrate with them at Brentwood. Of course, they would bring Ancel, Hal, Edward, and Nan along. Though Kit longed for many sons, he secretly wished for this first babe to be a daughter. Nan had stolen a piece of his heart. He hoped he and Alys would have a girl much like young Nan.
But many others were due to arrive. Geoffrey’s cousin, Raynor, often brought his wife and their three children to spend Christmas at Kinwick. Alys had told Kit that they couldn’t possibly leave Raynor’s family out of the celebration. Then she decided her cousins, Elysande and Avelyn, must also come and share in the Christmas joy. Kit had met their husbands, first at court when he’d returned from fighting in France and again when he and Alys wed. He had also been reacquainted with Michael at the May Day celebration. They had five—or was it six?—children between them. He couldn’t remember.
Last of all, he had invited Thea and Tybalt to visit with them months ago. The newly-wedded couple had already come once in the fall to Brentwood since they lived only two hours away. Thea, too, was with child and would deliver in late spring. Kit was pleased at how well Alys and Thea got along. He, in turn, enjoyed Tybalt’s company.
Soon, the great hall burst at the seams with all of their visitors. His mother and Alys made perfect hostesses, making sure everyone was shown to their chambers and providing toys for all the young cousins to play with. They made for a merry group as they dined at noon and then sent the children off to explore.
Alys came to where Kit was seated and stood behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “The ladies are retiring to the solar,” she murmured against his ear.
“I’m sure you’ll have plenty to gossip about,” Kit told her.
“No more than you men,” she said saucily.
“Watch that one,” Michael teased. “It seems she’s been taking lessons from my Elysande.”
“Or my Avelyn,” chimed in Kenric. He gave Kit a solemn look. “You have to watch the women in this family. They need a firm hand.” Then he threw back his head and roared with laughter.
Kit called for more mead. Alys had learned the recipe from her mother and had made it for the Christmas season. He already wondered how he could convince her to make it year round.
“You look like a man in love,” Raynor said to Kit. “Doesn’t he, Geoffrey?”
Alys’ father smiled. “He does, indeed.” Then Geoffrey grew serious. “You may think you love Alys now, Kit, but it’s only a fraction of how much you’ll love her when you hold the child you made together in your arms. And as each day passes, as months turn into years, and years melt into decades—you will love her more than you can ever know.”
Kit understood what Geoffrey de Montfort meant. The women in this family were all special in their own way, and their men were lucky to have them.
Kit raised his glass and the others followed suit. “To our wives. May we live with them long and may love always be with us.”
The End
About the Author
As a child, Alexa Aston gathered her neighborhood friends together and made up stories for them to act out, her first venture into creating memorable characters. Following her passion for history and love of learning, she became a teacher who began writing on the side to maintain her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones.
Alexa’s historical romances use history as a backdrop to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire for one another grows into the treasured gift of love.
She is the author of The Knights of Honor, a medieval romance series that takes place in 14th century England during the reign of Edward III and centers on the de Montfort family. Each romance focuses on the code of chivalry that bound knights of this era.
A native Texan, Alexa lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She enjoys reading, watching movies and sports, and can’t get enough of Fixer Upper or Game of Thrones. Alexa also writes romantic suspense, western historicals, and standalone medieval novels as Lauren Linwood.
Alexa loves to hear from her readers. You can connect with her through FB, Twitter, and her website: alexaaston.com.
Facebook:
facebook.com/authoralexaaston
Twitter:
twitter.com/AlexaAston
Newsletter sign-up:
madmimi.com/signups/422152/join
Amazon Page:
amazon.com/author/alexaaston
>
