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Jacob feltlike Maira had just driven a stake right through his heart. She expected him to back down and let the High Sheriff win this whole thing. Well, that was not going to happen.
“I will make no promises, Maira. But no matter what the outcome, my offer to marry you still holds true. I love you. But the question is, do you love me?”
“I – I think so,” said Maira, not at all sounding confident with her answer. But at this point, he didn’t have a choice. By marrying Maira, he would keep her from marrying Sir Gregory and living a miserable life. In the process, he would be stopping the High Sheriff from taking another of Jacob’s brides.
“That’s good enough,” he said, sliding off his horse as they approached the camp. “Frank, I’ll need you to marry us right away. There is no time to lose.” He reached up and put his arms around Maira’s waist and set her on the ground.
“Jacob, I am happy you finally came to terms with my decision to be a priest,” said Frank. He was a tall, thin man with dark curly hair and eyes the same gray tone as Jacob’s. “But tell me, Brother. Are you sure the reason you came to find me after all this time isn’t only because you have a personal vendetta against the High Sheriff?”
Jacob wished his brother wouldn’t have asked him this in front of Maira. Her head snapped around and her bright blue eyes scrutinized him as she, too, waited for his answer. He didn’t want to lie to a priest. Part of Jacob’s reasoning to bring Frank here was, indeed, to get back at Sir Gregory. But he also wasn’t lying when he said he loved Maira. Even in the short time that he’d known her, he had lost his heart to the fierce but petite lady.
“I told you, Frank, I love Maira. That is not a lie. Whether she loves me in return is yet to be determined.”
“Do you love Jacob as well?” The priest turned his attention to Maira, taking the heat off of Jacob.
Maira suddenly became fidgety. “Father, I must admit that I have never known love with a man before, so I am confused on the matter.”
“Do you feel an attraction to him? Do you think you can love him in time?” asked the priest.
Maira’s eyes met Jacob’s and he felt his heart flutter. No man wanted to be rejected. Jacob didn’t know if he could accept it if she were to say she didn’t love him and wasn’t sure if she ever could. Will, as well as all of the villagers, stood around watching and listening. It made Jacob feel extremely uncomfortable. Jacob didn’t want to hear her answer at this time and decided to intervene.
“Love is not a prerequisite for marriage and you know it, Brother,” he told Frank. “Now, enough of this idle chatter. Where do you want us to stand for the wedding?”
“Right here is fine, I guess,” said Frank, pulling his prayer book out from beneath his cloak. “I take it all these people will be witnesses to the marriage?”
“Aye, that’s fine.” Jacob wanted to move forward quickly before Maira changed her mind. He had never meant to abduct her or to force her to marry him. He only said it to sound strong around the villagers. He had, at one time, been the late Lord of Durham’s Captain of the Guard. Men feared and respected him at the same time. Lady Catherine loved him. It was hard for a man to go from that to being a thief hiding away in the woods wondering where he’d find his next meal. He was neither feared nor respected anymore and, at times, his confidence even seemed to be dwindling. His pride was hurt and it ate away at him every day. He would do anything to regain what he’d once lost. But he only hoped Maira wouldn’t hate him for it in the end.
Before Maira knewwhat had happened, Father Frank was pronouncing her and Jacob husband and wife.
“It’s a shame you don’t have a ring,” said Father Frank. “However, it isn’t necessary. You may kiss the bride, Jacob.”
Maira’s heart beat rapidly in her chest as Jacob leaned over in front of everyone and placed his lips upon hers. It was at that moment that she realized listening to her heart was the right thing to do. With his tall frame towering over her, she felt safe and happy in his presence. Looking up into his eyes, she smiled.
“We’re really married?” she whispered, barely able to say the words aloud. It had all happened so fast that she had no time to consider how she was going to tell her father about this. But with Jacob at her side, she was sure she could convince her father it was the right thing to do.
“We are,” said Jacob, bending over and scooping her up in his arms.
“Jacob, what are you doing?” She felt her cheeks flush as everyone stared at them and clapped.
“There is still one item to attend to that will solidify the marriage.”
“There is?” He headed to the tent, and that could only mean one thing.
“We need for the marriage to be consummated,” he told her.
“Now?” She suddenly felt very nervous. She hadn’t really thought much about this part. And she also never thought she’d lose her virginity in a tent in the woods either. She reached up and held her crown on her head as Jacob picked up his pace.
He bent over and entered the tent with her still in his arms. The flap to the tent closed behind him, blocking out the sun and leaving them in the semi-dark. As he kissed her passionately, she felt her body warming to his advances. He gently laid her down on a pallet that was covered with a soft blanket. There was one fluffy pillow there as well. For a pallet in a tent, Jacob knew how to be comfortable. She closed her eyes momentarily, feeling as if she were back in the castle, lying atop a plush bed surrounded by velvet curtains. She felt like a royal queen right now inside a castle instead of a rebellious bride marrying in secret in the middle of the forest.
“I’m sorry I didn’t have time to get a ring,” he told her, his deep, sultry voice causing her to open her eyes. He had already removed his shoes and was unbuckling his weapon belt. He was almost too tall for the tent as his head scraped against the ceiling. “I promise you, when this is all over and I have money again someday, I’ll buy you the grandest ring you’ve ever seen.”
“It’s not important,” she said in a small shaky voice, suddenly feeling very shy.
He quickly removed his tunic and breeches and stood before her in only his braies. The sun outside lit up the sides of the tent giving an orange glow to his skin. His chest looked broad and sturdy and his nipples were dark and flat with raised bumps in the middle. Her eyes roamed from his handsome face, down his chest and to his torso. His fingers fumbled with the ties on his braies. Mesmerized, she couldn’t look away.
“I hope you’ll like what you see,” he muttered, dropping his braies and exposing his aroused form. His long, thick shaft looked hard and ready for making love. She gasped, never having seen an aroused and naked man before.
“I – I . . .” She had no idea how to respond and kept staring at his engorged form. It made her feel randy.
