gently as dandelion fluff flying in the breeze.
She moved to face him.
As they knelt in the greensward, the sun’s rays bathed the lovers in a soft mist of light filtering through the branches of the tall trees. The delicate scent of gardenia and jasmine wafted about on a gentle breeze, setting the emerald leaves to rustling.
All was silent, save for the song of a cardinal calling to its mate high atop a stately pine.
He pulled her to him. Her arms went around him and she laid her head against his shoulder, obviously delighting in the feel of his body.
"You are my heart," he told her.
"As you are mine."
Raven Saur’s body was as tense as a coiled spring. The chances he and Miyoshi Shimota were taking could send them both to the Tribunal for punishment. But their love had been growing since childhood, and neither could imagine life without the other.
"I will not let him have you," Raven said. "Even if it means my life."
"Shush," Miyoshi said, her eyes filling with tears. "By the time he finds us, it will be too late. Aidan Cree will not want damaged goods for his son."
Possessiveness pulsed in Raven’s soul. His arms tightened around his Lady-love. Though his heart pounded, he was calm. He had plotted his course of action, made plans not even his lady knew. Yet it seemed Miyoshi had plans of her own.
"My body is mine to give, Raven Saur. It belongs to you and always shall. Take me now and let us become one."
Her words brought a thrill of joy to his heart and a stab of arousal to his manhood. But he would not, could not, take advantage of the moment and their situation to take what had not been legally given to him. They were a hundred miles from the Serenian border and the priest who was waiting to Join them. Before he lay with Miyoshi, took her body, he would have the blessing and seal of Alel. He had waited twenty years for this moment; one more hour or two was of little importance. He wanted Miyoshi to be able to tell their children she had been a virgin on her Joining night. It was a point of honor and a source of pride for him. Though his body ached, he would not give in, no matter how wonderful she felt in his arms.
"Do not tempt me, Miyoshi," he said sternly. "I will not be swayed."
"What if Papa catches us before we make the border?"
"If that happens, it will take a regiment of men to drag you away from me." Raven’s hand went to the dagger strapped to his thigh. "I’ll shed more blood than was spilled at Dunswich during the battle. He’ll have to kill me, and he knows if he does, my clan will come for him like Raphian after a sinner’s soul!"
Miyoshi shuddered violently. She had once told Raven, the thought of him dying was a horror that visited her nightly. In her dreams, she saw his broken body upon the field of battle, sword clutched in his bloody hand. She awoke at the witching hour each night, the sheets soaked with perspiration and her pillowcase damp from tears. This past night had been no different and Raven had stilled her fears with kisses and his touch.
"I would rather die than go back with him. I will not marry Riain Cree!"
"The only man you will marry is me. You have nothing to fear."
They had spent the night in the forest, well away from the more-traveled paths to Serenia. But he knew Miyoshi’s father would have sent men who knew Chrystallus better than Raven to track them, and even now could be closer than he realized. By his reckoning, they had at least a ten-hour lead on the Emperor’s troops, unless the trackers had spent the night searching. That thought brought fear to Raven’s mind.
"We’d best be going, Milady. We aren’t far from the Shiku Pass."
Raven eased out of her arms and stood, then held out his hand for her.
Miyoshi sighed. Raven knew that she longed to know what it felt like to have him nestled inside her, to feel his shaft pressed against the womb which would one day bear his firstborn.
"Lady?" he questioned, his tone filled with admonishment. He had
She moved to face him.
As they knelt in the greensward, the sun’s rays bathed the lovers in a soft mist of light filtering through the branches of the tall trees. The delicate scent of gardenia and jasmine wafted about on a gentle breeze, setting the emerald leaves to rustling.
All was silent, save for the song of a cardinal calling to its mate high atop a stately pine.
He pulled her to him. Her arms went around him and she laid her head against his shoulder, obviously delighting in the feel of his body.
"You are my heart," he told her.
"As you are mine."
Raven Saur’s body was as tense as a coiled spring. The chances he and Miyoshi Shimota were taking could send them both to the Tribunal for punishment. But their love had been growing since childhood, and neither could imagine life without the other.
"I will not let him have you," Raven said. "Even if it means my life."
"Shush," Miyoshi said, her eyes filling with tears. "By the time he finds us, it will be too late. Aidan Cree will not want damaged goods for his son."
Possessiveness pulsed in Raven’s soul. His arms tightened around his Lady-love. Though his heart pounded, he was calm. He had plotted his course of action, made plans not even his lady knew. Yet it seemed Miyoshi had plans of her own.
"My body is mine to give, Raven Saur. It belongs to you and always shall. Take me now and let us become one."
Her words brought a thrill of joy to his heart and a stab of arousal to his manhood. But he would not, could not, take advantage of the moment and their situation to take what had not been legally given to him. They were a hundred miles from the Serenian border and the priest who was waiting to Join them. Before he lay with Miyoshi, took her body, he would have the blessing and seal of Alel. He had waited twenty years for this moment; one more hour or two was of little importance. He wanted Miyoshi to be able to tell their children she had been a virgin on her Joining night. It was a point of honor and a source of pride for him. Though his body ached, he would not give in, no matter how wonderful she felt in his arms.
"Do not tempt me, Miyoshi," he said sternly. "I will not be swayed."
"What if Papa catches us before we make the border?"
"If that happens, it will take a regiment of men to drag you away from me." Raven’s hand went to the dagger strapped to his thigh. "I’ll shed more blood than was spilled at Dunswich during the battle. He’ll have to kill me, and he knows if he does, my clan will come for him like Raphian after a sinner’s soul!"
Miyoshi shuddered violently. She had once told Raven, the thought of him dying was a horror that visited her nightly. In her dreams, she saw his broken body upon the field of battle, sword clutched in his bloody hand. She awoke at the witching hour each night, the sheets soaked with perspiration and her pillowcase damp from tears. This past night had been no different and Raven had stilled her fears with kisses and his touch.
"I would rather die than go back with him. I will not marry Riain Cree!"
"The only man you will marry is me. You have nothing to fear."
They had spent the night in the forest, well away from the more-traveled paths to Serenia. But he knew Miyoshi’s father would have sent men who knew Chrystallus better than Raven to track them, and even now could be closer than he realized. By his reckoning, they had at least a ten-hour lead on the Emperor’s troops, unless the trackers had spent the night searching. That thought brought fear to Raven’s mind.
"We’d best be going, Milady. We aren’t far from the Shiku Pass."
Raven eased out of her arms and stood, then held out his hand for her.
Miyoshi sighed. Raven knew that she longed to know what it felt like to have him nestled inside her, to feel his shaft pressed against the womb which would one day bear his firstborn.
"Lady?" he questioned, his tone filled with admonishment. He had
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