The Black Knight of Ashfern

Chapter 20

"I didn't do it right." When she finally pulled away, she huffed in frustration, crossed her arms about her waist, and dropped her head disheartened. William didn't know what shocked him more: her kiss or the uncharacteristic pout that followed.

And all William could say was, "If that was wrong. Please, God in heaven, do not show me what is right." He breathed.

When Nan's eyes returned to William's, they were wide and astonished. The odd smile that quirked her lips almost immediately after had her breaking into a fit of laughter, which had her shoulders shaking and her hands raised to cover her mouth. Her eyes were blurred with tears from her mirth. To her embarrassment, she snorted, and her hands clamped down over her mouth and nose. Her eyes darted up to William's in shock.

She had hoped he had not heard the sound but knew already the hope was lost. They were standing not two feet apart. There wasn't the slightest chance he had missed or confused her humiliating snort for anything else. But when she met his eyes, she found him staring down at her with much the same expression of astonishment she had given to start with. She found herself snickering away behind her hands, and in mere seconds, her worry departed as quickly as her laughter. Barely noticing William's light touch as he pulled her hands from her mouth.

It wasn't until his lips were on hers in much the same manner she had kissed him that she stopped laughing entirely and for an instant understood why he had not moved when she had kissed him. She couldn't think to. There was only the feeling of his lips on hers, softly dragging across her own, sucking them between his, and when his tongue swept into her mouth, thought returned with an odd and startling squeak from Nan, causing William to pull away with a satisfied grin. Enjoying the blush filling her cheeks as she lightly touched her lips and met his eyes.

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"I didn't do it wrong?" she breathed, staring up at him questioningly.

"No. Not at all," he continued to grin. Then he took her arms and turned her to face the door. His hands traveled slowly up to her shoulders and then down her arms to her fingers, clasping the delicate digits in his own. He then brought her hand to his lips and simply brushed them over her fingertips. Nan stood watching his actions over her shoulder, utterly bemused.

It was almost surreal how gentle he was with her. For a brief moment, Nan wondered if she was still asleep and if this was all a dream her mind had cooked up in response to her decision to become Sir William's lover.

When his hand left hers and began to travel back up to her shoulders, tracing along the column of her throat and jaw with his fingertips, she felt him bend forward, softly kissing what little skin was exposed there. "Though I am curious to know where you would learn such a thing. And still, be shocked by my kiss." He murmured, feathering his lips lightly against her skin as he spoke.

"Carrie's girls can be quite informative, whether you wish them to be or not," she replied, closing her eyes to his touch, which she found oddly relaxing. She felt like butter melting against his lips, a sensation she had not expected nor felt in nearly a decade. It was heady to remember what such delicate touches could do to her, and in the same instance, it hurt to remember the person who had made her feel them first.

"That still doesn't explain your shock," she heard Sir William speak, distracting her from the memory of her former lover.

"I haven't been kissed in such a manner...for some time. I wasn't expecting it," she replied, her eyes still closed, her head tilting to the side, allowing Sir William better access.

"Good." He said, withdrawing from her instantly. The act left her feeling cold and abandoned as she continued to stand with her back to him, her arms instinctively rising to hug herself. "Turn around." He instructed.