Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Sky cringed at the enormous shout that echoed through the crowded Great Hall upon entering beside Slayer. Praise of his leadership and how he had led his warriors to victory rang out. He stopped to grip hands in solidarity with those who reached out to him and reminded them that victory was not possible without all of them battling side by side fearlessly.
She lost him somewhere in the crowd, maneuvering around the tables filled to the brim with battle-worn warriors. They ate with enthusiasm from the mounds of food in front of them and downed tankard after tankard of ale. While those who had remained behind stood around the tables and in between the aisles, drinking and listening to the praises lavished on Lord Slayer and snippets of the fierce battle.
Sky made her way just beyond the dais, thinking they would not be alone together anytime soon but then she caught his eye, and he sent a glance to the stairs. She made her way to the stairs, taking a few steps up and stopping out of sight when his booming voice filled the room.
“Eat, drink, enjoy! I have an important matter I must see to.”
Cheers of praise once again rang out and Sky smiled and waited on the stairs.
“I have missed you,” she said when he appeared, and he eagerly took the steps up to her.
“Not as much as I missed you,” he said and nodded for her to continue climbing the stairs. “I would snatch you up in my arms, but I will not stain you with the blood of battle.”
She hurried up the stairs, eager to be alone with her husband. When she saw that the tub was already prepared and food and drink covered the table, she realized that word must have reached the keep to prepare for Lord Slayer’s imminent and victorious return. If she had remained in the keep, she would have learned of the news, but then she would not have been there to help the little lass.
She turned to her husband, discarding the last of his garments. She had come to know his body well and had come to enjoy seeing him naked. Never had she seen a man with such muscles. There was no paunch to his stomach or lag to his skin. He was firm with muscles everywhere. They rippled and curved beautifully over his body, taut and strong, almost as if they had been sculpted. Even the grime and blood of battle that he wore could not diminish his fine body.
“Did I not warn you to stay away from the wolfhounds?” he demanded more than asked, wanting badly to take her into his arms, but he would not stain her with the stench and grime of battle.
A sigh of resignation preceded her admission of guilt. “You did, but at least they let me approach them and did not turn away from me as everyone here does.”
It hurt to hear that his clan purposely ignored her. Why couldn’t they see what he saw, a kind and loving soul who would never do any of them harm?
Sky pointed to the tub. “Please hurry and wash so I may feel your arms around me. I have missed you and your touch immensely.”
His manhood responded to her remark, rising quickly.
Sky smiled. “I see you have missed me too.”
“More than you will ever know,” he grumbled and hurried into the tub.
While she wanted him to wash quickly, she could tell from his soft grunt and the way he rested the back of his head on the rim of the tub and closed his eyes that he needed time in the heated water. So, she went to him and picked up a cloth off the stool, wet it, and began to wash the blood off his face.
He opened his eyes and could not stop the soft smile that rushed to his lips, seeing her lovely face and her two different colored eyes that shined with concern for him.
“Close your eyes and rest. We have all night,” she said and was pleased when he did as she said.
He kept his eyes closed as she tended to him. Her touch was gentle as she scrubbed the blood off his face, rinsing the cloth repeatedly until he was sure not a spot must have remained. Then she ran the cloth softly over his face. It felt so good that he did not want her to stop. When she did, he thought she would be done with him, but she took the cloth to his neck, then to his shoulders, scrubbing with a firmness that eased his muscles. She took extra care with his arms, stroking and squeezing his muscles until they surrendered to her touch, and he almost sighed with pleasure when she ran the soap over his chest with her bare hands.