was going to take her body tonight. He would become her husband in flesh, as well as in name.
She steadied her breathing, letting her mind drift. It might be pleasant, if Bram’s kiss was any indication. And she wasn’t a maiden who would be terrified of the joining. There was nothing that should frighten her.
But something about Bram made her pulse quicken and her body ached in secret ways. She overheard more raucous jokes about sex, and though she knew the men meant no harm, it was making her more nervous. She couldn’t stop wondering what it would be like with Bram.
Before she could calm herself, he returned.
‘Alex has found a place for us. We’ll go now and rest.’
Rest? From the hungry look in his eyes, it seemed that sleep was the last thing on his mind.
Breathe, she reminded herself. It’s nothing more than sharing his bed. But her nerves tightened at the thought of lying naked beneath him.
As he led her through the crowd, the men cheered. When some of them tried to follow, Bram sent them a threatening look.
‘If you’re needing any advice, lad—’
‘I don’t.’ He pointed for the men to return. ‘Go back to your ale and leave me with my bride.’
‘Give her a kiss from us!’ Ross offered, making puckering noises.
Nairna wanted nothing more than to escape their teasing. Though they meant well, she needed no more reminders about what would happen tonight.
‘Alex said we could sleep in one of the storage shelters,’ Bram said, leading her outside. ‘There’s no bed, I’m afraid.’
It was better than sleeping in the keep, amid the dogs, Nairna thought.
‘I brought a mattress,’ she reminded him. ‘We could fetch it from the wagon, along with blankets.’
‘I’ll get it.’ Pointing to one of the wattle-and-daub huts, he told her, ‘We’ll stay here tonight and then find a place of our own in the morning.’
Before he left her, he slid a hand around her waist. ‘Nairna, I promise it will be all right. I won’t hurt you.’ He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead before he turned to walk back to the wagon. She held on to her waist, feeling as though his lips had burned a mark into her skin.
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