Just A Kiss: (The Frog Prince) (Tangled Tales Series Book 2) (7 page)

Chapter 8

Arnon didn’t dance long, because the pesky frogs wouldn’t leave him alone. He thought it was his brothers’ idea of a good jest on his wedding day, and excused himself from Freya and stormed over to join them at the opposite side of the room.

“I do not think it’s funny, so just stop it.”

Both Stefan and Wolf stopped talking to the lords and ladies of the castle and looked up.

“What do you mean?” asked Stefan.

“The frogs! The wretched frogs. Now stop it already, will you?”

Wolf gave a signal to Stefan, and then slowly put his tankard of ale down on the table. “My lords and ladies if you’ll excuse my brothers and I, we need to step out for just a moment.”

Wolf nodded with his head to the door and Arnon quickly followed him and Stefan out into the courtyard.

“What’s going on?” asked Arnon. “Are you two purposely trying to ruin my wedding night?”

“I had nothing to do with the frogs,” said Stefan.

“Neither did I,” added Wolf.

“Then why are they here?” Arnon paced back and forth and ran a weary hand through his long hair. “I can’t seem to take a step lately without finding a frog, and now I even croak when I belch. I just don’t understand it.”

“I think I do,” said Wolf solemnly. “It’s Hecuba’s curse. You know she’s cursed all of our siblings in one way or another, though some of the curses have yet to show. I’m guessing this must have something to do with your curse.”

“Curse? Nay.” He shook his head furiously. “I lived the past year as a damned wolf. That was my curse. And Hecuba removed it. You both were there to witness it. I am no longer under that witch’s power.”

“What he says makes sense,” said Stefan thoughtfully. “I don’t understand it either.”

“Well, I think I do,” said Wolf, laying his hand on his twin’s shoulder. “Arnon, I didn’t want to tell you this, but I witnessed something else the night of your transformation.”

“What?” asked Arnon. “Speak up, brother. I need to know.”

Wolf crossed his arms in front of him while he relayed his sad story. “It was at the same time I shifted into my wolf form. I saw something that most people can’t see with their eyes.”

“Bid the devil, spit it out already.” Arnon paced back and forth. “What was it?”

“A frog hopped out of the creek at the exact same time you shifted and your curse was being removed.”

“So? What does that matter?” snapped Arnon, wishing he’d get on with his explanation. Arnon wanted nothing more than to go back and finish dancing with his wife and then take her to bed and consummate the marriage.

“I was able to see an eerie fog encompass you as well as the frog. When the frog landed on your foot, the fog pulled you in and bound you to the frog somehow I guess.”

“That’s ridiculous. I didn’t see anything of the sort.”

“You couldn’t see the green fog tying you to the frog, but you do remember the frog don’t you? You picked it up and threw it back into the water.”

“Damn, you’re right.” Arnon stopped pacing. “Do you really think this has something to do with Hecuba and is a curse?”

“She said you might have side effects since her power was weak at the time. Perhaps this is only a side effect, and naught else.”

“That’s true,” said Stefan. “It might not last, but Hecuba can’t be believed either. After all, she said she cursed all of our siblings, yet I show no signs of a curse of any kind.”

“She also said the curses might not show up right away, or in the manner one would expect,” Wolf reminded them.

“Either way, I want both of you to stay here with me in Slapton for awhile until I can figure this out,” Arnon told his brothers. “I may need you to cover for me if anything else odd happens.”

“I have a castle to run and also a new wife to get back to,” Wolf told him with a shake of his head.

“And since I’m Wolf’s steward, I can’t be gone either,” added Stefan.

“Please,” said Arnon. “Just for a few days.”

They thought it over and then Wolf slowly nodded his head. “All right. I’ll stay since I’m your twin and might be able to feel things you’re experiencing, the way we’ve been able to feel each other’s pain in the past. Stefan, please go back to Babeny and explain to Red what’s going on.”

“I’ll do better than that. I’ll send her here in my place,” said Stefan. “That way, you two can still be together and mayhap Red can help by finding out information from Freya.”

“I’m her husband now,” said Arnon. “Whatever I want to know she’ll tell me.”

“Do you really believe that?” Stefan raised a brow.

“You’re right. Send back Red and I’ll make sure Freya extends the invitation for guests of the family.” Arnon felt the alcohol swishing around in his stomach and not being able to hold it back, he burped again – or croaked. “Hurry,” Arnon instructed. “Hurry before I feel the need to belch – or croak again.”

Freya trailed her new husband out to the courtyard, holding the end of her long train over her arm. She wondered where he and his brothers had disappeared to, and then she spotted them talking in private. She sneaked up on them, hiding behind the hay wagon, wondering if they were saying something about her.

She was going to jump out and startle them just for fun, but instead she stayed put when she heard the name Hecuba mentioned. She strained her ears to listen to their conversation but they were mumbling and she couldn’t decipher their words. She also heard her new husband belch again, and this time she knew the croaking noise was not coming from a frog because there were no frogs present.

Stefan left, and when the other two headed back to the keep, she hurried behind them and called out.

“Oh, there you are, husband. Where have you been? I was hoping for another dance.”

When she suggested a dance, it seemed to make him uncomfortable. He exchanged looks with his brother and then walked over and took her hand in his. It felt good to hold a man’s hand, and she felt alive and vivacious every time Arnon touched her.

“I was hoping we could spend the rest of the evening in private. Just us. In the bedchamber.”

“I . . . whatever you wish, husband,” she said. She wondered how long it would take to couple with him before he fell asleep. Once he was sleeping she’d be able to sneak her mother out of the castle and take her to the swamp to try to work her healing magic on her.

“There you are,” said the baron, walking up with his squire and a few knights behind him. “Will you be coming back to the great hall or should we all join you in the bedchamber?”

“Father! I will not allow it.” Freya knew it was customary for the consummation to be witnessed, but she didn’t want anyone watching when she made love to her new husband. Especially not her father – even if he wasn’t really her father at all.

The baron started laughing. “Nay, daughter, I didn’t mean that we were going to watch the consummation. I meant that I wanted to celebrate with another drink.”

Arnon hiccupped and held a hand over his mouth. She was starting to think the man couldn’t hold his liquor. “I believe my husband is already well in his cups and doesn’t need more wine or ale. Besides, he’s requested we spend the rest of the evening alone.”

“Did he now?”

“Baron, I’ll take you up on that drink instead,” said Wolf, grabbing the baron’s arm and turning him back to the great hall. “Matter of fact, I was wondering if I could stay a few days and have you show me around your castle. I believe now that we’re allies, we might have things to discuss or possibly trade.”

“Aye, that’ll be fine.” The baron left with the others, leaving Freya alone with Arnon.

“Have you had too much to drink tonight, my lord?” she asked her new husband, as his complexion seemed to be a little green. She hoped he wouldn’t be ill on their wedding night.

“Nay, I’m fine and just in a hurry to bed my beautiful new wife.”

She was apprehensive of the whole coupling process since she’d never done it before, but his compliment of calling her beautiful helped calm her. No man had ever called her beautiful before. And then when he hiccupped again, and this time it sounded more like Gar than a man, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“You amuse me, Arnon. Thank you for trying to settle my nerves and make me laugh with your croaking like my pet frog. You have it down so well, I swear it sounds real.”

“Aye, I am getting quite good at that, am I not?” He grabbed her hand and started to run, pulling her behind him. He seemed to be in a hurry to make her his wife, and somehow that pleased her.

Chapter 9

Freya almost tripped as Arnon hurried her into the bedchamber and closed and bolted the door. Then he quickly started to pull off his clothing.

“My, you’re in a hurry,” she said, turning and walking to the window. She stopped and looked out to the courtyard below.

“I am just like any other man, that’s all,” he told her, coming up behind her. She felt his arms slipping around her waist and she held her breath. His nose nuzzled against the back of her neck and he kissed her lightly. She released her breath, and her eyes closed as she quietly moaned in pleasure. The body heat of his bare chest against her back burned right through her clothes.

“Mayhap we should get to know each other first,” she said, feeling apprehensive of what was to come.

His hands caressed her shoulders gently, and his breath was on her cheek as he spoke. “We’ll have plenty of time for getting to know each other. I think we should take care of . . . other needs first.”

She felt him remove her headpiece and in one motion he threw it across the room. Then his experienced fingers unraveled her hair and it fell loose, cascading down around her shoulders.

“I love your hair.” He ran his fingers through it and massaged her scalp next. Her head fell back against his chest and her lips parted. His mouth was on hers again and it felt sensuous and strong. She reveled in the feeling of heat rushing through her.

“Let’s close the shutter shall we?” He closed the shutter and now they were alone in the room far away from curious eyes. She felt curious herself, yet scared and almost wondered if it would have been better to have witnesses just so she wouldn’t be alone with this handsome man right now. She felt him unbuttoning each button down the back of her gown, all the while rubbing his cheek against the side of her neck. The slight stubble on his jaw sent a delicious shiver coursing through her body.

She turned to look at him. In the firelight from the hearth, shadows danced across his face. She reached up and ran her hands through his long hair, similar to the way he’d done to her.

“I like your hair as well.”

“You are different from any woman I’ve ever known, Freya.” His mesmerizing grey eyes stared into hers, and she got the feeling he was dangerous, and that excited her.

“Your eyes are dangerous yet masked and hold a dozen secrets that I hope to someday discover.”

“Freya, as your husband I promise to answer any questions you want to ask me. But until then, I don’t want to talk. It’s been over a year since I’ve laid with a woman, and I’m not patient at the moment, so please forgive me.”

“I’ve never done this before, husband, and I have to admit I am very nervous.”

“Don’t be. There’s nothing to fear. And there’s also nothing to it. I promise you I will be gentle, but if you don’t yield to me soon, this may end before it’s begun. I want to please you, too, Freya, so let me do it and do not fight me.”

He pushed her gown from her shoulders and it dropped to the floor, pooling around her feet. That left her dressed only in her thin shift and her silk shoes.

“I will not fight you, but I beg you to treat me as you would any virgin.”

“I’ve never had a virgin before, so I can’t make that promise.” He scooped her up into his arms, surprising her by his gesture. She squealed and then laughed as he lay her gently on the soft pallet of the bed and leaned over once again and kissed her.

This time his kiss was deep and sensual, and her head fell back as their mouths melded together in passion. Then his tongue shot out and entered her mouth, making motions that they would mimic down below in a matter of minutes.

She squirmed in his embrace, feeling herself coming alive. Then he pulled back and removed her shoes and the rest of her clothing, and stood next to the bed and slowly peeled away his braies. Her mouth fell open as the sight of his hardened form, and she pushed up on one elbow and reached out and touched him.

“Ahhhh!” He had a sharp intake of breath and his eyes closed. “It feels so good to be touched. You don’t know how badly I’ve missed this.”

“You sound as if you’ve been away from girls for a long time. Why is that?”

“No questions until we’re man and wife,” he reminded her, and scooted onto the bed and positioned himself over her. He nuzzled her breasts with playful nips and kisses while his hands caressed her bottom end. Then he leaned on one elbow and suckled one of her nipples, pulling it into his mouth until it became taut. His tongue swirled in circles, causing her to squirm beneath him on the bed because it felt so good. His one hand cupped her woman’s mound, fondling her in a way that aroused her. Now he stimulated her in two places at once.

“Oh, Arnon, what is happening?”

“You’re turning into a full-fledged woman.”

“I am ready,” she told him, and he leaned over her other breast and looked up into her eyes.

“Not quite yet, you’re not. But your body will tell me when you are.” His fingers teased her between her thighs and she felt her emotions spiraling out of control. She wanted him now, and was sure he wanted her too so she didn’t know why he wasn’t entering her.

“I’m ready,” she said again, and after another suckle at her breast and a finger slipping between her folds, she moaned and arched her back and threw back her head. Her legs clamped down against his hand.

“Open for me, Freya,” he said, sitting up and parting her legs with his hands. Then he rubbed his fingers together and she saw the wetness from her own body glistening on them. “Now you’re ready,” he told her, positioning himself over her while she held her breath. “This might be uncomfortable at first, but I assure you, if you relax, you will thoroughly enjoy it.”

She felt the slight pressure as he entered her, and a sharp pain bolted through her body. She stiffened and he stopped and looked up to her.

“Have I hurt you?”

“Nay.” She closed her eyes. “I’m fine. Please continue.”

He leaned over and kissed her again and when she’d relaxed and loosened up her legs, he entered her fully, slipping his length inside her a little at a time. Then he stopped when she’d taken in all of him. His movements were slow at first as if he was cherishing each and every thrust. Then they quickened, and he grabbed her hips in his hands and guided her to the motions of lovemaking that she quickly continued without his help.

Flesh slapped together, and the sounds of both their urgent passions echoed through the dimly lit chamber. She thought this was all there was at first, but then something happened and she felt as if she were transporting the way she did when she kissed her frog. But this time instead of leaving the room, she climbed to a height somewhere up in the clouds and felt so lighthearted and happy that she screamed out with joy.

It didn’t last long, but neither did it have to. He collapsed atop her, and when she let out an oomph, he apologized and rolled to the side.

“We are now man and wife, Freya,” he told her.

“Is the marriage consummated?” she asked, just to make sure.

“Oh, yes, it’s consummated, my dear. And although we had no witnesses watching, I am sure half the castle knows it because they’ve heard us.”

He held her in his arms and they snuggled up to each other. She felt sated and safe in his embrace. She was going to like being married to Sir Arnon de Bar of Babeny. It didn’t take long before he fell into a deep slumber, verifying his state when he started snoring. She would have loved to stay there just holding him until the morning came, but she couldn’t.

She gently took his heavy arm and placed it on the bed as she slipped out from under him. She took one last look at her handsome husband lying naked on the bed, and hoped she could get to the swamp and back before he awoke. While he promised to tell her anything she wanted to know about him, she, on the other hand, had not made the same promise. He didn’t need to know she left him on their wedding night, or where she went and what she was about to do. Nay, she would never tell him who she really was – that is, a witch.