Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Penman (best inspirational books txt) 📕

the nearest cord, saw that Llewelyn's passions were kindled as quickly as her own. Her touch had been light, inadvertent, but as her fingers brushed his upper thigh, his reaction was immediate, pronounced."Women are lucky," she teased shyly, "for they can hide their desire so much more easily than can men," and Llewelyn laughed."Who wants to hide it?" he said, and stripped off his chausses and braies.Joanna had often seen naked men, as a child had occasionally entered John's bedchamber as he was dressing, had assisted Ela in bathing more than one highborn guest at Salisbury Castle, had passed serfs bathing in the river in summer. She'd long ago mastered that which was essential in a society so lacking in privacy: the elusive art of seeing and yet not seeing. Now, however, she let her eyes linger upon her husband's body. He was taller than most Welshmen, his the lean, wiry strength of stamina rather than of muscle and sinew. He had an insignificant amount of chest hair, his skin dark and smooth, marred only by the scars of old wounds, scars that now took on a new and sinister significance to Joanna, one tracking across his ribcage, another angled toward his collar bone, a third slanting in a thin white line from his pubic hair down his thigh. Joanna reached out, traced its path with gentle fingers."That must have been a frightening injury.""That, my darling, was not the half of it!" he said wryly. "There is nothing like a groin wound to make a man repent his sinful past." He did then whatJoanna had wanted him to do all along, put his hand on hers, showed her how best to give a man pleasure.

255It was to Joanna enormously gratifying, to find that Llewelyn nted her caresses and kisses even as much as she wanted his "It is v to understand how people came to use the term 'manhood,'" she i rather breathlessly, but how explain 'privy member'7" "How explain any of them, Joanna cock, shaft, codpiece, pizzle, word7 And in Welsh bonllost, gwialen, cal and those are just the polite terms '"Bonllost," she echoed, amused by the unfamiliar phrasing, and then began to giggle "I do hope none of our children ever ask me which Welsh word I did learn first1" Llewelyn had taken her into a closer embrace, she could feel his hands under her bedrobe, and she sighed, said softly, "I think, though, that Ishall call it Merlin, in honor of the miracles it did work last night "Llewelyn laughed, and drew her toward the bed "And I begin to think," he said, "that I do owe the English King a far greater debt than I first realized "'LLEWELYN whilst we were making love, you did call me breila What does that mean7""A bmla is a dusky wild rose It does suit you, I think "Joanna was touched almost to tears "Breila that's lovely " She lay back against him, cradled her head in the crook of his shoulder "I know I was a disappointment to you at first, but"Disappointment7" Llewelyn raised himself up on one elbow, saw with surprise that she was neither teasing nor fishing for flattery "Has no one ever told you, Joanna, that you're beautiful7"Now it was Joanna's turn to doubt him "No," she said at last, "but when I was about twelve, I do remember hearing Maude de Braose say I looked verily like aSaracen ""Who in Christ cares what Maude de Braose thinks7" Llewelyn reached for a long strand of Joanna's hair, pulled it across his throat "If Saracen women do indeed have hair like black silk, eyes like emeralds, and blood hotter thanGreek fire, little wonder men are so eager to take the cross, to reach theHoly Land ""Oh, love " Leaning over, Joanna gave him a lingering kiss 'That is blasphemous," she said huskily, "and the most memorable compliment any woman ever got "In reply, Llewelyn dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose, then yawned Joanna chose to disregard the hint, not yet willing to relinquish 'he utter euphoria of the moment "Llewelyn will you tell me of TangwystP Did you love her7""Yes, I did " Llewelyn did not open his eyes, but the corner of his

256mouth curved in a smile. "Tangwystl was a flaming redhead, and she did fret over her coloring fully as much as you do over yours, red h being thought accursed since the days of Judas. But like you, she w fair to look upon . . . very fair."Joanna did not begrudge Tangwystl that echo of past passion. S{ felt no jealousy for a dead woman; all her anxieties were for a rival ver much alive, for Cristyn. Did he love Cristyn? That was the question she dared not ask."Did you never think to wed Tangwystl, Llewelyn?""I had not the right, had to make a marriage that would be to Gwynedd's good."Joanna wondered why she'd asked a question with so obvious an answer. However lovely Isabelle was, she knew her father would not have married her had she not also been heiress to Angouleme, and Llewelyn was no less ambitious."Llewelyn ..."He yawned again. "Joanna, had I known you were one for talking all night, Imight have thought twice ere I told Aldwyn to move this bed and all your belongings into my chamber."Joanna stared at him, momentarily rendered mute. He was so nonchalant, as if unaware of what he was offering her. Sleeping every night in his bed, she'd be a true wife in every sense of the word, not just a consort, a political pawn.And, Lady Mary, what it would mean, to be able to fall asleep in his arms, to reach out and touch him in the night, and, most blessed mercy of all, never to have to lie awake wondering if he was in Cristyn's bed."I thought we'd use this chamber for wellborn guests . . ." Llewelyn paused, belatedly remembering that a