PROLOGUE

New Colony, Mauri Isle

April 1580

Sauda snuggled her dark naked body against her husband’s pale naked skin before placing a gentle kiss to his shoulder.  Her beloved Englishman, Lord Claire, had risked all to love her and because of it, she would spend every day of the rest of her life living to make him as happy as he made her.

Ethan, an excommunicated royal of Queen Elizabeth's court had been stripped of all properties and titles, save one, his knighthood.  His mentor, Sir Francis Walsingham, head of the queen's secret service, had held firmly against the Queen's Council and quarreled for Ethan's right to remain a citizen of England. 

It only seemed fitting for he had duly been a loyal subject in the naval services and tendered great wealth and goods from foreign lands to fatten Queen Elizabeth’s coffers, but he had created a new colony for his family and others like them that willed to live and love freely without titles and class associations.

“Ethan…”she began.  Her fingers swirled wide patterns in the light brown hair upon his broad chest.

“Nay, not again, my love, for thou has exhausted me to the verily ends,” he groaned.

Sauda playfully slapped his chest.  “I am not speaking of lovemaking, Good Husband. Thrice in one day is gluttonous at best.”

“I know of what you utter Sauda and that is why I say nay.” His pleasant voice held a warning.  “Now lovemaking is a subject in which I am a most willing participant.”  He patted and squeezed her round bottom.

“Ethan--”

“Come come my love, speak no more of serious matters and fill my ears with lustful things,” he rudely interrupted.  One by one he placed nibbling kisses to her fingers as he brought her hand up to his lips.

“Three times you have distracted me,” Sauda pointed out.  Her traitorous female parts were already responding to his sucking on her finger.

“I believe thrice buried to the hilt inside thee, with my man-sword, is ne'r too much.”  He kissed the top of her hand and held it palm side down over his heart beneath his. 

At the sound of his long tired sigh Sauda felt the sudden change in his demeanor knowing instinctively where his thoughts had wandered.  His next words confirmed she was correct.

“I was plagued by many impotent years before I met thee, Wife.  I bid thee to not seek to place limits on my bed games.”  He spoke the words in a jesting manner; however she knew that the abuse at the hands of his Turkish capturers had left scars that went deeper than the mess of scarred flesh they’d imprinted upon his broad back.    

“I would not deny you your pleasures, milord,” she murmured.  “To do so would bring pain to me.”  She licked, kissed and rubbed her nose against his body.  She loved his smell and savored the taste of his skin even more. 

Ethan released a shuddering groan.  “Have I told you of late, how felicitous ye make me?”   Releasing her hand he buried his hand in the thick debts of her frizzed hair and leaned forward to kiss her brow.

“Lord Husband, you are the mightiest of all men, the greatest of all lovers, and the savior of this low born woman.  I have survived slavery, plagues, wars, famine, and death for the sake of your happiness.”

 Slowly she trailed her fingernails down the fine trail of hair leading from navel to groin.  The silky soft length of his increasing erection rested across the back of her hand as she buried her fingertips into the patch of honeyed color pubic hair.

“Ha!  I am amazed your forked tongue did not suffocate thee for spouting such insincere words.” Ethan expressed mirth; not totally missing her sarcasm. 

“I nigh did,” she mumbled contritely.  “Yet I know men like hearing such things; are you any different?”

“Not if ye mean them, sweetling,” he chuckled. 

“I meant some of them, milord.”

“Ah,” he grinned.  “Did you lie when you said I am the “greatest of all lovers”?”  

Her fingers tugged at his pubic hairs and oddly enough he found the sensation pleasing.  Verily pleasing.  He sucked in his bottom lip to stifle his moan.

“Nay,” she scoffed.  “I have had too many lovers to judge fairly without sleeping with them once more to be sure,” she teased.  “Now, the part where I have survived slavery, plagues, wars, famine, and death is true.”

“For my…” his voice got caught on a moan in the back of his throat.  What is this magical thing she is doing with her fingers? Ethan wondered to himself.  He cleared his throat and tried once more, “Mmm…for my happiness right?”  He managed to ask; his breath blowing out in heavy puffs.

He would have thought her unawares of the effect she was having on him from the nonchalant expression on her face, but his wife had too much experience in the ways of a concubine for this subtle assault on his body to be as innocent as it appeared.

“Ah, my love, am I not making you happy?”

“Sauda,” he moaned placing a large hand over hers to halt the almost painful yet pleasurable sensations she was allotting with her skillful fingers.  He moved her hand up to a more respectable part of his body. 

Sauda hid a smile and forged ahead. “I promise that if you bid me my wishes this one time we could aid Lucian without risk to me or the babe.”

“I don’t see how that will be possible.”

“My warrior sister, the Panther; remember I spoke of her.  Her territory is the Middle East.  I can dispatch a missive for her to find Lucian and offer him assistance in the search for his mother.”

“As I have said before, it is too risky for thee, Wife.  If even one of your assassin sisters know that you still live they could let it slip to your old master, Lady Chiyome.”

“I know my sisters, you do not.”  She snapped.  “We have a closeness that even our master never suspected.  I know that none of my sisters would ever betray me, as you know Lucian would die for you.”

Ethan squeezed her hand in understanding.  Still, he wasn’t sold on the idea of risking Sauda’s life not even for Lucian.  He knew from years of experience working side by side as soldiers in Queen Elizabeth Secret Service that Lucian was fully capable of taking care of himself.

His comrade had even saved him from dying in that Turkish prison because of his gift for languages and his chameleon abilities for disguises and blending in to any given environment.

“Don’t ask me to trust them.  What if this Panther sister of yours is tortured and forced to tell by Lady Chiyome’s henchmen?”

“Ethan, I know you and I were born to different circumstances, but it doesn’t make my friends any less loyal than yours.  Would your men betray you?”

“Mayhap; if they are tortured by someone as experienced as you have claimed the Japanese General that hunted you is,” he argued.  “Can we verily risk him finding out that you are not dead, Sauda?”

“Trust that I would bring no more harm to our happiness than you.  We do not have to worry about Lady Chiyome questioning Zeundi.  After making my escape during my last mission I heard Lady Chiyome couldn’t bear to have my sisters around her as a reminder.  She sold Ntombi, to where I am not sure yet.  But I did find out that Zeundi had been sold to a Vizier in Turkey.”

“If I remember correctly a Vizier is a councilman?”

Sauda nodded.  “This particular Vizier is the councilman of Amasya, where Lucian is going.”

Choosing to ignore the point she was making Ethan asked instead, “Why did Lady Chiyome get rid of the other assassins in your assemble if they are still capable of performing missions without you?”

“Lady Chiyome birth number is four,” she explained.  “Each team of assassins is made up of four.  When a team loses a member she kills or sells the rest.”

“Would not it have been better if she just added another to replace you?”

“Replace me?”  Sauda scoffed.  “There is none that can replace me, Milord Husband and you best remember what I tell you just in case you ever contemplate doing the same.”

“I have a feeling the thought shall cross my mind,” he teased softly. 

Ethan laughed when Sauda tugged to get her hand free of his.  He knew she would have given him one of those deadly finger jabs to one of his unsuspecting muscles causing him pain for however she deemed necessary to make her point.

“This is no laughing matter, Ethan,” she chastised.

His expression became serious when she called him by his given name for she rarely did so.  Contritely, he pulled her palm to his lips and murmured, “Forgive me, milady, I bid thee to continue.”

“Our groups are trained together to move as one unflawed implement of war since our childhood.  You cannot just merge another assassin into the grouping.”

“Might I query as to why not?  It would easier to train one than four more.”

“It breaks the balance.  There is no fertile trust between the old and new.”  She looked up at him loving the feel of his big hand massaging her scalp.   “An assassin dare not offer their back to one they do not trust.” 

  He almost laughed at his wife’s staid glare.  She looked at him as if he should already know these things.   He indeed spied for the crown with an unscrupulous deed here or there, but he was soldier, not an assassin.

 “It must have been a hard decision for you to leave behind the only family you have known.”

“Leaving my sisters was harder than I expected.  They understood I had no choice because of Lady Chiyome’s obsession with me.  I could not continue living as her lover.  Do you know how many times I would lie in the bed next to her thinking of a thousand ways I could kill her slowly?”

“Moonlight, I am sorry you had to endure such a life.”

“I did not think or plan, I just saw an opportunity to escape from my life and start over again when I was nearly killed from that last mission.  I figured they would think I had died from my injuries.

“Never had I expected Lady Chiyome would want either my body returned to her or the tip of the scorpion’s tail from the tattoo on my back as proof,” she grounded out through clenched teeth.

“I am surprised she did not kill your sisters when they returned without you,” Ethan commented.

“I imagined she thought about it.  However she could not touch Eman because she is the favored concubine of her youngest warlord son, Tatsue.  The soldiers are very loyal to him and unless she wishes for an uprising she does not argue with him.  He is the youngest of three sons and as a child she spoiled him, however now that his brothers were slain in battle he is all she has left.”

“How did Eman come to be Chiyome’s son’s concubine?”  Ethan’s inquired.   “Did you not say such a union is forbidden?”

  “It is because of Lady Chiyome’s desire to spoil Tatsue,” Sauda laughed softly.  “She gifted her to Tatsue when he was seven as his personal bodyguard.  Even thought Eman was just fourteen; like me, she was well into her training and very skilled.”

“Eman not only trained with Tatsue, she also brought him into his manhood and taught him the ways of lovemaking when he reached thirteen summers.   I suppose the bond between them could not help but grow.”

“Do you think he is in love with her?”

“It was just the way things were,” she reached out and played with the cleft in his squared chin.  “Now that I know what love is, I can say yes.  I do believe they are in love; whether they know this or not, I do not know.”

“Every time I heed things of your past it amazes me how ye managed to survive, Sauda.”  Ethan released a heavy sigh.  “This is why your request of me is difficult and I must tarry before making such a decision.”

“Husband, the point I have been trying to make is…Zeundi already resides in Amasya and for us this is an advantage.”

“Still…”

“If you do not wish to help, then I can do this alone,” she reminded. 

Ethan released a long line of curses. “Lucian's private affairs are his alone.  Why do you think he did not wait until I was able to join him? Sauda please leave behind these dangerous thoughts!   I am your husband and I forbid you to be careless with the life of my child!”

Sauda shifted positions so that she could look sternly into his eyes as she spoke.  “I extended milord husband a mere courtesy,” she began.

“I heed you saying you care not of my fears?” His voice hardened.

 With a determine gaze Sauda nakedly came up on her knees beside him and proceeded to straddled herself across his ridged abdomen. 

“Lord Husband I do care about your fears, but I know that if anything were to happen to Sir Lucian, you will never forgive yourself for not being with him on this journey.”

“Sauda--”

“Nay more,” she interrupted. “I have become lax since developing these bothersome womanly feelings for you.  Because you hold my heart you think I should give in to your every whim--”

“As well you should,” he murmured. “For thee is indeed a woman, Sauda.  You are my woman to be exact.”

  “Yours or not, I do not need your permission, but by the love I have for you and our unborn babe I wish you bid me some understanding.”

“Wife, if I was weak into giving in to your every whim, you would have retrieved that retired satchel of foreign weaponry and join Lucian on this journey.”

“Because he saved both of our lives and we owe him for this happiness we have found!”

“Sauda, do you verily not heed how my conscious perishes at the thought of my good friend returning to the desert sand that soaked up my life’s blood, without me?”  He scowled.  “We have journeyed together since we sprouted our first whiskers.  I promised him that someday when our duties to the crown were over I would help him locate his mother, but I had no idea that I would have the good fortune to meet you.   Your good health is my life’s priority.”

“Milord--”   

Ethan’s stern voice softened and he reached up to cup her bottom in both hands as he interrupted.  “This is killing me too, Sauda.” 

At that moment she realized the longer she subsists in his world as a docile wife the more overprotective he was becoming.  It was times such as this one she had no choice but to remind Ethan she was not the English wilting flower that lived and breathed on her mate’s every word. She was a Moor born to a tribe of women whom fought at their men’s side.  Motherhood may soften her hardness within time, but not this day. 

Even though her history as an assassin pounded heavily in her, giving her a need for total independence, she tried to be understanding.  She knew she was taking a risk by sending her messenger and a message with her personal scorpion seal to Zeundi.  Lady Chiyome secretive minions could indeed still be spying over Zeundi to assure she never returned to Japan to exact revenge on Lady Chiyome for her past abuse. 

Even if she wasn't growing heavy with their child it was a reckless thing to do but it was the only decision they could make.  Lucian Gilbert needed them even though he was too proud to admit it. 

“Ethan, I preferred your approval but I must do this.  I have to ask Zeundi for her help.”

“Sauda, what if your parchment is seized by someone other than your warrior sister?  What if Zeundi has been sold away from Turkey?   Heaven forbid the worse, however she could be dead.” 

He swept a hand through his pale hair; a sure sign that he was exceedingly agitated which meant he was about to give in to her request or dig his heels in deep.   If it was the latter she would not get any bed play or loving words out of him for days to come. 

The one thing she learned about her giant of a husband since living with him was that most of the time he was happy, easy to laugh and tease, and slow to anger but when he was upset of disappointed he could be a brooding melancholy man. 

“Ethan…my love, I have never had a family I could truly call my own.  You, Lucian, your grandmother Mary, and her husband Sir Nichols have all become my family and I feel very protective of all of you.  How can you ask me to turn the other way and leave all to chance when one member of our family could be in danger?” 

Ethan reached up to rub his hands along the length of her arms before intertwining her fingers with his.  Even though he was upset by her obstinate nature he felt a need to touch her and as usual she lovingly welcomed his touch.

“If I give in to this, Sauda, what will thee ask of me next?” 

“Nothing else except…well…I would like to someday rescue my ‘sisters’ from their enslavement and have them live here on the island with us as free women,” she admitted her secret wish aloud.

“It weakens me so, Moonlight, to hear such longing in your voice.  I oft wonder if ye shall grow wearisome of the repose of my love and return to the life of bloodlust you once knew afore me.”  He spoke with a tone of sadness.  “Is that what I have to look forward to?  Will I wake up to find ye have abandoned me and the child?”

“If I were to leave your side for more than a sonnet I know I would stop breathing.  I could never willingly abandon you milord, not even for my sisters.” Sauda lovingly caressed his face.  “Cannot you see the love I feel for you in mine eyes still runs deep, Husband?”

“I see it.  I just wonder if it will be enough to keep you safely at my side for years to come,” Ethan confessed his fears aloud. “Why are you smiling?” 

Whenever she smiled it spurred his heart into a racing pitter patter.  His mouth opened into a returned smile.

“Because, some things are meant to be and if there were two that were predestined to be together it is you and I.  You have my word whatever adventure I seek, it will be with you at my side, just as it has always been since the day we met.” 

He pondered her words a moment and feeling secure with her answer he asked, “Would your sisters come to the Island to live if it could be managed?”

“Zeundi would. I cannot say the same for Ntombi because I have yet to find out her current situation and Eman…well…”

“It would be difficult because she still lives with Lady Chiyome.” He finished for her. 

“It is more than that Ethan.”  Sauda’s brow lifted.  “As I had mentioned, Tatsue is a willful and powerful warlord even though he is still young.  He and his army is the only thing that is keeping Lady Chiyome’s borders safe from the hands of her neighboring enemies.  Eman will not leave Tatsue behind.”

“Do you think once she sees how happy you are she could be convinced to leave her master?”   Ethan questioned.

“She will never leave Tatsue of her own free will.”  Sauda shook her head with a scowl on her brow.  “Eman’s heart along with her loyalty was given to him years ago.  My sister specializes in creating explosive powders.  She rarely fights hand to hand combat but she will unsheathe her weapons to fight by Tatsue side.  She will protect him with her life.  Even her loyalty too her sisters are forgotten when it comes to Tatsue.”

“Sounds like she is more than a concubine,” Ethan scoffed.  “It sounds as if she loves this man.”

“Aye, I do believe that is true for I know Tatsue would ride through hell to protect her also.  It is no more permitted for a warlord to admit his love for a Black Slave than it was for an Aristocratic Englishman such as yourself to admit your love for me.” 

“Still, I did make it known and I also found a way to make you mine,” he spoke sternly.  “Unless this man you speak of is willing to do the same for your sister or she is willing to leave him behind, this is not a dream of yours that can come to pass, Sauda.”

 Leaning over she placed a moist kiss to his parted mouth.

“You know, milord husband, there is one way to guarantee Eman will agree to make Mauri Isles her new home.”

“How is it possible?  You just said--”   His words dwindled.

Sauda nodded and as her smile grew bigger, Ethan’s concern gnawed painfully at his gut.  He wandered of one could perish from worry.

“We can kidnap him and bring him here to see what his life could be like living and loving Eman openly and honestly.”

Ethan’s eyes were wide in disbelief.  “Do not even think it, Sauda.  You are speaking of the warlord son of a woman who wouldst like nothing better than to steal you away from me.  You want me to bring him to our home against his will!  Have you lost all your wits?”  He bellowed out his question, not expecting an answer of course.

“Husband, it is a perfect solution,” Sauda reasoned.

“I bid this man who is used to wielding his own army wouldst not heed easily to making his home here beneath my ever-watchful gaze.  There are no masters or lordships here.”

“I believe once Eman sees how happy we are and once she discovers that she can be more to Tatsue than a slave and concubine, she would be the one to sway his thinking.  They could possibly have a child of their own that they could rear together without fear of his being assassinated or sold into slavery…” Sauda touched the swelling rise of her belly.  “No decisions must be made now.  Just pray tell me you will think upon it.”

“Why prithee wouldst such a man desire to leave all that power he wields, for the peaceful solitude we are offering?  Please do not aloft your hopes on this happening.”

“I believe he will find joy in the peace,” she reasoned.  “Peace from all the warring and death that can only be found on our private island.  We are building a place for those who wish for change.  How can one that has lived such a life as his not fall in love with what our colony has to offer?”

“Aye, we are a progressive assortment of riff raff are we not?”  He grinned with pleasure.  Adding, “There is no reason to speak on this again until after the child is born and if I am to agree you must remain on the island.  I will not allow thee to set foot on Japanese soil ever again, dearling.”

“My love, why do not we finish one argument before we move onward to another?”  She nuzzled lovingly against his chin with the tip of her nose.

“Lucian,” he sighed his name.

“Aye Lucian,” she reminded.  “We are in an emphatic position to aid him.  The sooner he learns the truth of his mother the sooner he will return home to us and start building his home and hopefully take a wife and settle down.”  She placed his large hand on her swelling abdomen.  “He is our baby’s godfather and he should be here to watch him or her grow.”

“You play unfair, woman.” 

“Come milord,” she urged him towards her so that they would be breasts to chest. A light gasp escaped her parted lips as his muscular stomach rippled beneath her spread thighs from his movements.  His erection brushed against her buttocks.  

“Want me to do it again?”  Ethan asked with a wolfish grin after catching the pleased look on her face.

“Nay; I know you wish only to distract me,” Sauda reprimanded. 

“Sauda I expect you to be breeding me a son.  There need to be two men in this family to go against such a stubborn wench as thee.”

  “How can you doubt it, Lord Husband?  I am a warring female from a tribe of born warriors of Africa,” she began proudly.  “I have travelled far and wide only to fall in love with a man that by all the laws of the land should not be mine. I would say with those odds I am probably spawning you two fine sons, milord.” 

Closing her eyes and opening her lips she accepted his initiated kiss.  When she moved to pull back his hold tightened and he sucked on the tip of her tongue binding her to his will and she willingly relinquished to his mastery of the kiss.  By the time he stopped kissing her they both were ready to conclude their discussion and move on to more pleasurable things.

 “Wife, I bid ye are determined to have your way,” Ethan sighed and his face softened as he took both her hands in his and brought them up to his lips.  “Even though I find thee shameless to use my babe to soften my resoluteness I forgive thee because your intentions are just.”

“Milord Husband, you know how hard it is for me to delegate matters that I am accustomed to handling myself…”

“Aye.”

“This is why it is important that you meet me by-the-way in this matter.  I know you love me and you worry over my recklessness, but you also love Lucian.  If it were not for me you would be in your usual place by his side…watching his back.”

Ethan reached up to hold her face in his hands.  “My beautiful mysterious wife you know I cannot deny you anything.”  He shook his head.  “I prithee have it your way.”

She smiled in that secretive womanly way that caused his cock to wave like a flag of capitulation and his gut to churn like the doting besotted idiot he had become.

 “You mean I can do what I think necessary to help Lucian?”  Sauda eyes him suspiciously.  “And you are willing to send a promissory to you and Lucian’s friend, Commander Angel Manuel to join up with Lucian?

“Aye, I have already done so, Sauda.” He washed his hand over his face in frustration.

“You have?”

“Regardless of what ye may think, I too wish to help Lucian.  I just do not want YOU involved.”

Sauda braced her hands against his broad chest refusing to allow him to kiss her again until she got an “aye” to everything.

 “You are also agreeing that I should proceed to send my messenger to Zeundi requesting her to aid Lucian in whatever he may need?”

“I said, AYE have I not?  Do ye need to hear it in all the languages into which I speak?”  He released a disgruntle sound.  “I entreat thee to argue no more and proceed to the all is forgiven part.”  He drew her head back towards his to kiss her once more.

She didn’t kiss him back.  He growled his growing frustration and dropped back against the pillows, locking his hands together behind his head.

“Do you not think we should make haste on this matter?”  She reached for the last mincemeat pastry on the bedside table and plopped it whole into her mouth.

Ethan smiled as her long lashes flutter closed and she release a pleasurable sigh.

 “Bide thee tongue Heathen Woman.  At least when you are savoring those damnable pastries, you cannot bleat at me!”

Her eyes flew open and she licked the flakes of crumbs from her lips.

At the gesture his already erect penis waved behind her round fleshy bottom for the same amount of attention she was giving the pastry, but it was not to be.

“I…do…not…bleat…like a sheep,” she said spacing her words evenly to make her point. “Besides these goodies are addictive and suits the baby’s cravings.  You see Cook adds these finely chopped green tomatoes in with the apples, raisins, currents, beef suet, and spices.”

“Do not forget sugar.  Ye will put us in a pauper’s house on the sugar promissory note alone and dare not fret to me when thy teeth proceed to rot from excess.”

“As I have shared the ancient recipe for a wondrous tooth powder that I obtained during my stay in China with Mary, both our beautiful smiles and those all around us will suffer tooth decay at a slower pace.”

He ran his tongue over his teeth.  “Aye, I must admit this newfound smoothness and shine to be greatly approving.  If Queen Elizabeth was still speaking to me I would most gladly pass this wondrous magical power to aid whatever remaining teeth she has left.”

Even though her husband said it in a joking manner; it was no joke that the queen’s rancid breath from her decaying teeth due to her love for sweets was well known to those who had come in contact with her majestic person while at court.

When Sauda saved her life during Queen Elizabeth’s masque birthday ball, she had come closer to the queen than she would have been allowed otherwise.   The knife womb to her shoulder wasn’t the only thing memorable about her encounter with the queen. 

The woman that held life and death of her people within the palm of her hand had been more petite and frail than she had expected. 

With the exception of her bad breath Sauda was told by a gossiping palace maid that she had came in contact with the queen on one of her clean days.  She had bathed just that morning for the special occasion and all. 

From the conversation Sauda had understood that the putrid rose scent that permeated the dance costume she had worn belonged to the queen from when she had thrown herself against her knocking her to the ground.  

Lucky for her Ethan had been there to stop her guards from striking her dead.  Sauda had ordered the dance costume to be burned; there was no way she could save the garment what the strong floral odor didn’t cover, her blood did.

“Come husband,” Sauda said snapping from her reverie about the past.  “Let us get the letters written so that we may get them sent out first thing on the morn.”

“Nay,” Ethan bellowed ceasing her movements.  “I do not hasten to do anymore this eventide except make love to my wife and rest mine weary state.  That new medical facility my grandmother has order is not constructing itself.  I worked hard this day and expected to come home to one of those oil rubs my wife is so skillfully inclined to give.”

“Did I not give you such a rub after I bathed the day’s dirt from your person?”  She cocked an eyebrow in question.

“Aye, now I heed the truth.  Ye were oiling the proverbial goose.  With the said ‘goose’ being ME,” he argued.  “Do not deny you had alternative motives behind your tender touches.”

She leaned over, her hard enlarged stomach and breast pressed against him.  Her lips were just an inch away from his as she spoke.  “Did I fail to please the ‘sacrificial goose’, milord?”

“Ye never cease in pleasing me, milady,” he murmured.  Capturing her bottom lip with his mouth he sucked greedily before releasing its pouty fullness with a lustful “pop”.  Ethan roguishly grinned up at her face hovering above his.

“Low and behold the scoundrel that you truly are, Milord,” Sauda teasingly chastised with a throaty laugh.  “You dare to weaken my warrior’s heart with those disarming dimples!”  Unable to help herself she grasped hands full of his golden hair in her fists and slashed her lips across his firmer lips.

Her assault of his mouth caused his senses to spin as his attention narrowed in on the erotic sensations of her greedy kiss.  The taste of lingering cinnamon from the mincemeat pastries was still on her tongue adding to the essence that was Sauda. 

From her mouth he too could become addictive to her favorite sweetmeats.   He didn’t want the kiss to ever end.  Feeling the urgency of her mouth on his lessening Ethan’s hands smoothed the sides of her full breast, brushing his thumbs over her extended nipples before resting on her round hips to keep her from withdrawing her loving nectar from him. 

Feeling a sense of urgency to join with her, Ethan lifted Sauda with little effort from her perch on his stomach.  Intent on settling her moist heat on his more than readied cock he realized the error of his haste.  Before he could complete the entrance he yelped in pain releasing her hips to finger his bloodied bottom lip.

Reaching out he grasped her by the shoulders to give her a light shake.

“God’s wound…Sauda!  You bit me!  Damned the saints that hurt,” he bellowed. 

“Before Milord Husband dips thee wick I need your oath on our unborn child that as soon as you appease your hunger for me--”

“As is such a deed is possible,” Ethan injected with a growl.

“That you will not withdraw your approval to allow me to help with Lucian, Ethan,” she continued. 

Reaching out with her thumb Sauda smeared the blood from his lip before licking at her thumb and placing it in her mouth to suckle wantonly.

“Seeing you do that with your thumb excites me,” Ethan's voice was deep and lustful.  He moved to pull her down so that her breast would be lying against his chest only to find his arms locked flat on the stuffed pillows as Sauda clasped his wrists in her hands.  He released a frustrated groan.  “Sauda, I prithee you not push me any further this eve.”

  “Husband, I know if I do not get your sworn word now, you will remind me after you have satisfied your lustful urges that I failed to bind you to your word.  I must gainsay your pledge here and now,” she said with a scowl. 

“Woman,” he warned.

“Nay!  I want Zeundi's help.  I bid thee, give me your blood oath that I can do all within my power to help Lucian in his search for his mother.”  Her heated stare matched his. 

 “Fie this woman I call Wife!  I shall call thy Shrew Wife from this day forth for ye shrivel my man-cock to a nub with your constant nagging!”

Sauda grinned as he released another string of colorful words.   “Would you prefer we decide this dilemma over swords?”  She cocked her head to the side in question.

“I wouldst not!”  With a throaty growl Ethan exerted his strength forcing Sauda backwards onto her back careful of her blossoming belly.  His powerful legs forced her legs wide to accommodate him before taking advantage of her surprise by entering inside her wet feminine warmth in one smooth push until his bollocks touched her ass.  A deep contented swoosh of breath blew between clenched teeth.

“Damn you Ethan!”  She hissed at him.  Her arms flayed and nearly knocked him off hiss balanced arms.  He eased to his side still connected to her and drew her thick shapely thigh over his hip and locked it beneath his arm.  His large hand cupped a firm buttock cheek and squeezed in warning for her to yield to him.

“Why must ye force me to show thee which of us are the strongest in this wedded bed?  Aye, mine love for thee weakens me like a kitten and I spoil thee however I am now and always will be the Lord Husband in this marriage Sauda.  It bodes thee well to remember this!”

“It is weakened times such as this I regret marrying such an oversized oaf as you,” she hissed at him.

His dimples flashed.  “Liar,” Ethan crooned softly.  “Ye love me more than the breath that causes your bosoms to heave so heavily.”  He murmured the soothing words against her lips, his nose rubbed against her nose.

“May the gods take you for uttering the truth,” she gasped.  Opening her mouth she accepted his tongue as it parried and retreated.  Her frown deepened when he pulled back to look into her eyes. 

“Why do you scowl so?”  Ethan asked.

“Yea, I love you but I also hate you for making me feel vulnerable and weak.”  

“Moonlight, ye are the strongest maiden I know,” he gentled.

His cock moved inside her of its own accord.

Sauda moaned. 

“Release my arm so that I much touch you, husband.”   She bit down on her bottom lip to keep from crying out as he eased out of her until the head of his cock was nearly at the rim of her vagina opening before he forged ahead…slowly.

 “Hmm…please…you have proven your point,” she whimpered.  “You are the master of my body!”

He withdrew again.  “I want more from you Sauda.”  He glided in.

She licked her dry lips.  Her thigh trembled beneath his hold.  “What more can I gift thee, milord?  You have my body, my heart, and my soul.”

He lifted his head.  His jade colored gaze held hers.  The need and adoration he saw in them mimicked his own.  She had won the battle…this time.  He would allow her to contact her assassin sister, but the battle they occasional warred as lovers he must always defeat her for if he knew anything about his wife, he knew she deserved a man that could make her yield while allowing her to maintain her proud bearing.

“I ask that ye continue to trust me to care for yon welfare,” he replied.

Ethan released her arm and grunted his pleasure while she roamed over his lower back.  Her hand gripped the muscles of the right ass cheek while she drew her bent knee up higher until it was nearly to his arm pit drawing his penis deep.

“Husband, you are the only man I do trust,” she murmured. 

He kissed her once again before quietly saying, “My beloved, from here on let us speak only words of love in accordance with engaging utterances of pleasure.”

CHAPTER ONE