by someone else’s choice. A poor choice none can change.”
Nema was shaking her head even before Elenya finished. “Your road may not be easy, but it’s one you can walk, and you will. You are wrong about the choice and your lord’s ability to care.” She cupped the youthful face in her aging hands, pushing away the tears with her thumbs. “You are everything he needs, not only for him, but for your people and his.” She paused for a long moment before pulling Elenya into a hug. “Now let’s get you ready. What do you have that we might use to wow that old bear that lords over this family?”
Elenya closed her eyes, her head still against Nema’s shoulder, her thoughts shifting quickly to the apprehensions she felt knowing she would soon meet this bear. She’d begun to wonder if he would make her warrior seem a kitten and feared he would be a wall to her and Aleone, even if she could break through with his son.
Nema worked on the maiden, both physically and psychologically as she hastily prepared her for the presentation. By the time she was ready, Elenya exuded something of a more confident air. Whether she actually felt that or simply seemed to, it would serve her well in coming face to face with Renaine.
The older woman smiled, feeling her own confidence that if anyone could settle the old bear into accepting this union it would be this young beauty who had already captured the heart of her enemy warrior, whether she realized it or not. Nema was certain. She’d lived enough years to see many a mighty man fall to a fair maiden.
Chapter 11
The air crackled, charged with attraction as Nema presented Tahruk’s chosen to him. The older woman stood back, watching the couple drink in the fine details each offered. Tahruk had changed as well. His dark hair was caught back with a leather strap that matched his form-fitting, calf colored breeches. The white tunic covering his torso highlighted his bronze skin. Elenya’s eyes danced over him, her appreciation unmasked.
A slow smile spread across the warrior’s handsome features as he held out a hand to her. Without hesitation, she went to him, a vision floating across the floor in her sheer ecru gown layered over shimmering gold silk. The wide gold sash accentuated her tiny waist.
Nema had piled the maiden’s red curls high on her head, allowing tendrils to frame her lovely face, adding focus to the high cheekbones and fine arch of her brows. A cluster of longer strands snaked down her exposed back with a few stragglers strategically placed to the front. Tahruk’s eyes went to the flesh exposed by the low neckline.
“You approve, my lord?” The maiden’s voice was a husky whisper when she asked.
Tahruk reached for her, grasping her waist, pulling her to him where he began to caress the flesh above the silk folds of her bodice.
“Oh, my lord,” she breathed in a whispered pant, her head falling back, offering him an irresistible taste of her satin flesh. “Perchance we may put off this introduction a bit longer?” Her accompanying moan made him chuckle. He enjoyed this bit of wantonness he saw in the innocent beauty before him, forgetting it was most likely due to the effects of the marking.
“No, Little One.” His words against her neck made her shudder. “My father’s wrath is not worth even you.” She frowned and he laughed – a hearty sound deep in his belly. “Besides, I promise I will take my time with you, and that time will be most rewarding for both of us.” He sealed his words with a kiss to the rounded swell of both breasts, one after another, before rising to capture her lips.
“Soon?”
Her whispered demanded made him raise a brow and she blushed. He kissed her cheek before looking to Nema.
“There are no festivities planned after the evening meal, my lord. You are expected to dine with the family, of course.”
“Of course,” he answered Nema, though is attention had returned in full to the maiden. He
Nema was shaking her head even before Elenya finished. “Your road may not be easy, but it’s one you can walk, and you will. You are wrong about the choice and your lord’s ability to care.” She cupped the youthful face in her aging hands, pushing away the tears with her thumbs. “You are everything he needs, not only for him, but for your people and his.” She paused for a long moment before pulling Elenya into a hug. “Now let’s get you ready. What do you have that we might use to wow that old bear that lords over this family?”
Elenya closed her eyes, her head still against Nema’s shoulder, her thoughts shifting quickly to the apprehensions she felt knowing she would soon meet this bear. She’d begun to wonder if he would make her warrior seem a kitten and feared he would be a wall to her and Aleone, even if she could break through with his son.
Nema worked on the maiden, both physically and psychologically as she hastily prepared her for the presentation. By the time she was ready, Elenya exuded something of a more confident air. Whether she actually felt that or simply seemed to, it would serve her well in coming face to face with Renaine.
The older woman smiled, feeling her own confidence that if anyone could settle the old bear into accepting this union it would be this young beauty who had already captured the heart of her enemy warrior, whether she realized it or not. Nema was certain. She’d lived enough years to see many a mighty man fall to a fair maiden.
Chapter 11
The air crackled, charged with attraction as Nema presented Tahruk’s chosen to him. The older woman stood back, watching the couple drink in the fine details each offered. Tahruk had changed as well. His dark hair was caught back with a leather strap that matched his form-fitting, calf colored breeches. The white tunic covering his torso highlighted his bronze skin. Elenya’s eyes danced over him, her appreciation unmasked.
A slow smile spread across the warrior’s handsome features as he held out a hand to her. Without hesitation, she went to him, a vision floating across the floor in her sheer ecru gown layered over shimmering gold silk. The wide gold sash accentuated her tiny waist.
Nema had piled the maiden’s red curls high on her head, allowing tendrils to frame her lovely face, adding focus to the high cheekbones and fine arch of her brows. A cluster of longer strands snaked down her exposed back with a few stragglers strategically placed to the front. Tahruk’s eyes went to the flesh exposed by the low neckline.
“You approve, my lord?” The maiden’s voice was a husky whisper when she asked.
Tahruk reached for her, grasping her waist, pulling her to him where he began to caress the flesh above the silk folds of her bodice.
“Oh, my lord,” she breathed in a whispered pant, her head falling back, offering him an irresistible taste of her satin flesh. “Perchance we may put off this introduction a bit longer?” Her accompanying moan made him chuckle. He enjoyed this bit of wantonness he saw in the innocent beauty before him, forgetting it was most likely due to the effects of the marking.
“No, Little One.” His words against her neck made her shudder. “My father’s wrath is not worth even you.” She frowned and he laughed – a hearty sound deep in his belly. “Besides, I promise I will take my time with you, and that time will be most rewarding for both of us.” He sealed his words with a kiss to the rounded swell of both breasts, one after another, before rising to capture her lips.
“Soon?”
Her whispered demanded made him raise a brow and she blushed. He kissed her cheek before looking to Nema.
“There are no festivities planned after the evening meal, my lord. You are expected to dine with the family, of course.”
“Of course,” he answered Nema, though is attention had returned in full to the maiden. He
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