Tait pulled on his dress tunic and fixed his fur cloak in place with the bronze broach. He heard his father enter the room and laugh. “I would have thought you would be ready by now.”

“I cannot fix this broach,” Tait complained.

Mani pushed his son’s hands out of the way, and he easily fixed the clasp for Tait. “Your hands are shaking.” Mani teased. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“No,” Tait told him. “I want to marry her.”

“Then what is the problem?”

Tait did not know how to admit he was scared. He knew younger than him had been with women. Hell, his fourteen-year-old brother had probably already been with a woman. Tait had never had the opportunity. “Once I am married. I have rights.” Mani looked at him questioningly, and Tait feared he would have to give him more detail. “Husbandly rights.” He said, hoping Mani would pick up on the subtly.

It suddenly struck Mani. “Oh, you mean sex?” Mani laughed. “Of course, she is your wife; you have every right to bed her.”

“But, I never have.” He said anxiously.

“Never what?” Mani asked, still unsure.

Tait lowered his voice. “I have never lain with a woman.”

Mani seemed surprised. “Never?”

“No.”

“But, you are so old.” Tait rolled his eyes and backed up. He knew he was older than most. “Oh, no son, it is not something to be ashamed of. I was just surprised.”

“I am scared.”

“Of what?”

“Of doing it wrong. That she will not like it. That I do not know what I am doing.”

“Let me give you some fatherly advice.” Tait would love some advice right now. “The girl loves you. She will enjoy it, and with practice, you will get the hang of it, but if you do not, she will never sleep with another man so she will never know the difference.” Tait laughed, and Mani patted him on the shoulder. “I will give you the quick and short of sex. Do not be selfish. Take your time. If you make her happy, she will do the same for you. Bare in mind tonight is a first for her too, and she is likely just as scared as you.” Tait did not understand why, but that made him feel better. He was thankful Mani had taken a moment to speak with him. “Come, your bride awaits you.”

They made the walk out of town to the bluff twenty minutes away from the village. As they reached the bluff, Mani and Sanna bowed in respect to Ellika, the Queen Mother. She was in her late fifties but still very beautiful. Tait followed suit and bowed, and when he rose, Ellika took him in her arms and hugged him, welcoming him to her family. She then stepped aside, and Tait saw his bride. Seri was dressed in a long white gown made of silks with gold and green trim. Her hair was done up in small thin braids hanging over the long lose heavy golden curls. A white fur cloak draped back over her shoulder because of the chill in the air. The cloak held in place by two gold broaches on her shoulders. She was a vision of beauty.

She smiled at him, and Tait felt his excitement grow. Sanna took her place next to Seri, and Mani took his place next to Tait. Ellika took her place with the back to the water. Everything was perfect. There was no wind and the setting sun had cast warm, beautiful colours across the sky.

In her hands, Ellika held a sword which she had tip down on the ground before her both her hands on the hilt. Sanna also held a sword that Ellika had given her and Mani held his family sword, which he had brought along for the rite.

Tait took Seri’s hand in his, and they turned to face Ellika, both kneeling. Seri moved her skirt so that it would not get filthy. Seri and Tait bowed their head as Ellika placed the blunt of the sword in her hand on Tait’s shoulders. She recited a prayer asking the Gods to bless their union. Then she placed the blade on Seri’s shoulders and recited the other half of the blessing. Then she placed the tip of the blade on the ground again and placed both her hands on the hilt.

Tait rose and helped Seri to her feet. Then they faced one another holding hands. Tait looked into Seri’s eyes as Ellika continued. “Do you Tait, son of Mani, grandson of Flinor; vow to take this woman as your own? To keep her, to honour her, to protect her until the day you leave this world for the next?” Ellika asked.

“I do,” Tait said with no hesitation.

Then Ellika turned to Seri. “Do you Seri, daughter of Cain, granddaughter of Regin; vow to take this man to be your own? To respect, to obey, to honour until the day death parts you?”

Seri smiled, “I most certainly do.”

“The sword,” Ellika instructed, and Mani placed the sword he held in Tait’s hands.

Tait faced Seri and held the sword out to her, gently placing it in her hands but not releasing it right away. It was the sword of his ancestors passed down from generation to generation from father to eldest son.

Tait’s gaze held hers “I trust to you my family legacy. For one day, my son will wield this very sword.”

Seri accepted the sword, and Sanna stepped up and took it from her then handed her the second sword. A massive heavy broadsword that had once belonged to her grandfather. “For my husband, may it serve you well in battle and bring you home safely.”

Tait took the sword from her and handed it to Mani. Mani then handed Tait a gold ring on a long leather lace. Since their union was to be a secret, they could not openly wear their rings, so Tait had put it on a lace to wear around her neck beneath her bodice next to her heart. A gold ring. Tait took the ring and lifted it over Seri’s head, draping it around her neck.

Seri took a similar ring on a leather string, and Tait bowed his head so she could place it on him as he had with her. Tait then took her hand, and they knelt once more. Ellika placed one hand on either head and blessed them again, then Tait rose as did Seri, and they turned to face each other. “By the power invested in me by the Gods, I pronounce you]= man and wife. May your union be a long and happy one.” She then smiled at Tait. “You may kiss your bride.”

Tait grinned and took Seri in his arms and kissed her. She melted against him as they sealed their union with a kiss. Mani and Sanna cheered and clapped.

Mani placed his hand on Tait’s shoulder. He leaned in and whispered in his son’s ear. “As a wedding gift, my home will be empty all night. I have an unyielding desire to spend the evening at my mother’s home with the whole family. Make the best of the time you have.” He then stepped back and offered his son a wicked, playful grin.

***

The happy couple stayed to say their thanks, giving hugs all around. Seri hugged Mani, and he welcomed her to his family. Then the party made the long walk back to the village. They said their goodbyes and Ellkia handed Seri a sack, which had a clean dress in it for the next morning. She could not return to the palace in a bridal gown without raising some hard questions.

As they reached Mani’s home and Tait opened the door, then he swept Seri up off her feet and carried her inside. Once inside, he kicked the door closed behind them and carried Seri to the bedroom where he placed her on her feet once more. They stood close face to face. Tait’s hands framed Seri’s face as he leaned in and kissed her lips softly, drawing a content sigh from his bride. Seri’s eyes fell shut as his hands moved down her neck slowly as if learning every curve and contour of her body.

His hands moved over her shoulders. Seri looked up at him as Tait unclasped the broaches on her shoulders her fur cloak fell to the floor behind her. Seri reached up, removing the broaches from his broad shoulders. His cloak fell, and her hands moved down over his hard body. She enjoyed the feel of his strength — the raw power beneath his clothes.

She reached for the bottom of his dress tunic and began to lift it. Tait took hold of the fabric and helped Seri undress him by lifting it off over his head and throwing it aside. Seri smiled to see the flesh beneath. His chest and arms were a strange, beautiful combination of soft skin over solid chiselled muscle, a dusting of dark hair over his chest. Her pulse was racing with excitement.

Seri moved closer, pressing her body against his as she placed feather-light kisses over his broad chest, worshiping his magnificent form. She heard Tait moan softly as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of her mouth on his body. Tait’s arms folded around her, and his right hand moved up her back and dove into her long hair. He gripped the hair at the back of her head firmly and pulled her head back, forcing her lips upward so he could steal a deep hungry kiss.

Seri stepped back a half step, and Tait’s hands went to her bodice. His fingers pulled the laces loose so the garment could be removed. He tossed it aside and then his hands moved over her shoulders and pushed the fabric down her arms. Her dress fell away in a pool of white silk at her feet. Seri stepped out of her slippers as Tait took a step back to better view her. He was taking in her naked beauty. She felt nervous, scared he may not be happy with her, but the smile on his face told her she was everything he had hoped she would be.

Seri watched as Tait reached for the laces of his breeches and pulled them loose as he kicked off his boots. He let the pants fall and stepped out of them as he moved toward her. She could barely breathe when she saw his arousal long and hard jetting up from a dark patch of curls.

Seri moved backwards as Tait moved toward her. When she felt the bed at the back of her legs, she slowly climbed onto the bed shuffling back a bit as Tait climbed on to the mattress. As she laid back she watched Tait crawl across the mattress until he stretched above her. He caressed her cheek and looked into her eyes. “You are my wold Seri, my moon and my stars. I love you, heart and soul. I will always love you through the good and the bad. I would live and die for you. As long as there is a breath in my body, I will love no other, of this, I swear.” He whispered against her lips, and then he kissed her. Every kiss felt like the first, intoxicating, and it left her breathless.

Seri almost purred as Tait’s mouth moved from her lips down over her neck. His hands roamed her body. A blazing heat trailed her skin everywhere he touched her. His hand cupped her breast, and Seri sighed when his mouth closed around her breast. He sucked as his tongue teased her stiffening nipple. Seri arched her back, thrusting her breast up to his hot mouth.

Tait then began to kiss his way down her body. “You are so beautiful. I wish to know every inch of you intimately. Every curve…” he kissed her belly, “every crevasse.” His hand moved down over her leg, catching her behind the knee. He kissed the sensitive skin of her inner thigh, moving higher and higher until she felt his lips graze her damp womanhood. “You are perfection.” He purred against her soft fold, and the vibrations of his lips the feel of his beard spiked an overwhelming pleasurable sensation right to her very core.

Seri soon found herself panting, and her fingers clawing at the bedding as Tait’s tongue and mouth licked and kissed worshiping her sex. His tongue toyed with the swollen bud of her sex as his fingers slid up and down her wet cleft and then pushed inside her filling her and then pulled out before pressing back in deeper each time. Tait kept up his tender assault working Seri up into a heated frenzy. Then out of nowhere, a wave of pure euphoria washed over Seri, and she cried out. At that moment, Tait’s hands gripped her hips firmly, and he buried his face between her legs lick and kissing her as she came hard.

As the madness slowly subsided, Seri looked down, watching Tait as he kissed his way up her body until he found her lips once more. As he kissed her, Seri slid her hands down his chest and between them. Her hand slipped between his legs and taking hold of his manhood. Tait sucked in a sharp breath at the feel of her soft tiny had around his arousal. She moved her hand up and down the length of him, and he began to pant. She could tell by the look on his face he was enjoying her touch.

“I want you.” She whispered against his ear. “I need you. All of you.”

Tait grabbed her wrist and pinned both her arms against the pillow above Seri’s head. His knee nudged her legs apart, and he settled between her thighs. Tait kissed her neck as he rocked back and forth against her sliding his hardness against her wetness. Then she felt the head of his arousal pressing into her. It was an amazing feeling. He pushed in, then pulled back and pushed deeper each time until he came to the fleshy barrier of her innocence.

Tait kissed her mouth hard as he forced his way past her virtue. Pain ripped through her and Seri whimpered as her eyes filled with tears. Tait froze and stared down into her eyes. She could see the torment in his eyes. He felt terrible for causing her pain. He stroked her hair and kissed her cheek, remaining still until her breathing returned to normal. The pain was gone. “Should I stop?” He asked. “I do not wish to hurt you.”

She smiled and lay her hand to his cheek. “There is no more pain.” She promised.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She kissed his lips. “Take me. I am yours.”

Tait snaked his arm around her waist and sat back on his knees, pulling Seri up into his lap. His arms wrapped around her as they kissed. “Show me how much you want me.” He breathed between kisses.

Seri rocked and rolled her hips, and she moved up and down. The more she squirmed, the more pleasure she brought them both. Before long, they were mad with desire, touching and kissing every inch of each other learning their bodies. It was as if the world around them vanished, and there was nothing but the two of them locked in a fevered frenzy of sensation and satisfaction.

Tait’s hands moved down over her hips, and behind her knees, he then shifted, pushing Seri back against the mattress as he took over. Her legs around his waist, her hands moving over his broad muscled back. Tait pushed deeper, his pace changed. He took her with an eager forcefulness that rocked the bed and sent her mind reeling with pleasure. Her nails dug into the flesh of his back.

With each thrust, Tait drove into Seri harder and deeper until he hit a spot that brought her to a mind-melting release. She arched her back and cried out his name. Her muscles clenched tightly around him, and Tait threw back his head and practically growled with pleaser as he reached orgasm and spilled his seed into his bride.

They remained still tangled in each other as their breathing slowly returned to normal. Seri lovingly brush a lock of his sweaty ebony hair out of his dark eyes and behind his ear. He smiled down at her and then kissed her lips. “You are everything I hoped you would be.” He whispered against her lips.

Exhausted, Tait dropped down on the bed next to Seri and took her in his arms, pulling her close, tucking her in safely against his powerful body. Seri snuggled in close, loving the feel of him wrapped around her. She could not remember ever being this happy. She was in love, and all was right in the world.