Then I believe it is time to wash you. He removed the garment without another word.
She thought she had felt naked and vulnerable, but now she knew it had been as nothing compared to being in the water with the barrier of her undergarment gone.
She stared up at him. Shall I wash you?
His eyes widened, telling her shed managed to give voice to the words, not merely mouth them. As the silence between them stretched, she wanted to duck her head, to hide from his probing expression. However, she could not afford to miss anything he might say, so she stood in a wealth of trepidation to see how he would respond to her boldness.
Do you remember what I said in the MacDonald cottage?
She nodded. Every word had been seared into her brain.
You will touch me as I touch you.
But I dont know how, Abigail admitted. No matter how much she wished she did.
She wanted to give him pleasure as he had given her.
You believe I have a wealth of experience touching women?
Possessive fury welled up in her, taking her breath for a second. Dont you? she asked, nevertheless.
No.
Her shock must have shown on her face because he smiled. Our clan believes that penetration is as good as speaking vows between two people.
There is a long distance between touching and deflowering. Or so her sister had insisted.
Talorc shrugged.
She frowned. What does that mean?
Perhaps I have touched a woman or two, but never with the intimacy of this moment.
Youd better not have. She didnt know
where the words or the ferocity came from, but she wouldnt take either back.
Talorc did not seem bothered. In fact, once again, he smiled.
She would have told him to wipe the smug look from his face, but he lifted her against his body and all her air left her.
If you are going to wash me, do it now.
She did not know how he expected her to do so and said as much.
He rubbed his hardness against her once before releasing her on the other side of the pool, where she found she could stand without going under. There.
She looked around for the soap but he grabbed her chin, making her look at him. Just your hands.
She nodded, equal parts terror and desire fighting inside her. Then she reached through the warm water and brushed her hand down his arm. Shed seen her mother do that to her stepfather when he was tired or upset. It seemed such an intimate act.
Something a wife would do for her husband.
But from Talorcs expression, she knew he expected more. She wanted more. She took in a deep breath and then placed both hands flat against his chest. Skin hotter than the water covered hard muscles that felt like silk-covered granite under her fingers.
She used a washing motion but could not pretend that she was doing nothing more than a mundane chore. She trembled with the newness of touching another.
He made no move to direct her, allowing her to explore his torso in the guise of washing it. Neither spoke as she mapped his body with shaking hands.
She stopped with her hands resting against his stomach. I want to touch you there.
He did not ask where there was; he merely nodded.
She did not move. Im afraid.
Of what?
It was her turn to respond with silence and a shrug. She could no more give voice to her fears than she could have stepped away from him in that moment.
You have given me great pleasure these past two nights.
You put your hand over mine, she reminded him. As if he could forget that tiny detail.
Without another word, his hands slid over hers and pressed downward. She let him guide her to the hard prick bobbing in the water. It jumped as her fingertips brushed along its length. He guided her fingers to curl around him and then moved his own hands to her hips, holding her in place.
The flesh in her hands was hot, hard and alive. So very alive.
She looked up into his heated gaze. I feel like Im holding the essence of your life.
Before she had a chance to feel stupid for saying something so ridiculous, he smiled a rogues smile and nodded. Many men would say that is exactly what you are doing.
You said this would . . . it would . . .
Go inside you? Is that what has you worrying, wife?
She swallowed and nodded.
Ill fit as if you were made to hold me and no other.
Youre sure?
Aye.
But . . . Its . . . You do realize there are small horses that would be pleased to be so endowed? She had been raised in a keep after all; shed seen more than one equestrian mating.
His head tilted back and she imagined his laughter boomed around the cavern. She could not hear it, but she could feel the vibrations through his body.
She was not sure why he thought her comment so amusing. She found it much more worrying.
He shook his head. I willna hurt you, lass.
Youre so sure? You said you dont have much experience.
I am sure. And that clearly was supposed to be that.
And truthfully? Right now, she was less concerned with what was to come than the fact he had given her permission, nay instruction , to wash him.
She moved her hands along the large prick and Talorcs eyes fell closed as a fierce expression took over his features. She let her hands learn him in a way she had not the previous nights in their tent. She explored the softness of the skin, pressing into the flesh to feel just how hard he was. It was like holding heated stone.