Winter's Scorching Kisses Read online

It bewildered her, but also pleased her immensely.

  Every moment her foot took another step a mix of fear and anticipation raced through her, and she feared she might pass out with excitement. It could be the corset under her dress. She’d ordered a size smaller from the seamstress at court because she’d wanted to look her best. Now she was beginning to regret her choice.

  She also regretted the fact she didn’t have a mother to give her advice. Unlike some ladies of the court, Adorra had managed to resist the urges of the flesh and kept herself pure. Her heart fluttered again as she thought about her upcoming marriage night.

  Adorra had to wonder if every bride went through this on their wedding because she was finding the mixed emotions very perplexing. She had love driving her forward and fear yelling at her to run.

  But when she finally met Edmund’s sea-green eyes, all her fears flew away in a flutter. He was still the man she had met at court. The man who had courted her until she couldn't resist anymore. He had swept her off her feet with his rapt attention, and it still hadn't lessened even though she had accepted his offer of marriage.

  It seemed like it took her the whole day until she finally stopped in front of Lord Gothar and the priest.

  Letting out a long steadying breath, she tried to calm her heartbeat as the priest began to speak.

  “Slow down on the wine, or you won't remember your wedding night,” Isabel advised as she walked up beside Adorra, picking up a goblet of wine for herself from the table Adorra stood beside.

  “It calms my nerves,” Adorra said before she took another large swallow of the ruby liquid.

  Isabel raised her hand to Adorra's goblet, wrapping her fingers around the stem of the glassware guiding it away from Adorra's lips.

  “Trust me. You will want to remember your first night with your husband. It will be the night that begins your life together. It could even be the night that conceives your first child.”

  “I thought I already had a life?” Adorra grabbed the glass back eager for the liquid courage inside that had the ability to calm her nerves before she flew out a door screaming like an insane woman.

  Isabel shrugged, “Do as you wish, but don't complain to me when you regret not remembering your wedding night.”

  Adorra nodded as she set down her glass. Isabel was correct, now that the ceremony was over and she wasn’t standing in front of so many eyes she was feeling less anxious. She was now Adorra Gothar. She may not have any close family, but there was no reason she couldn’t make this her new family. Lord Gothar still had a few living relatives that she could get to know.

  And soon she would hopefully be a mother as well as a wife. She could only pray they wouldn't have any troubles conceiving children. It would be one too many blows. Life had already been cruel enough to her, and she wasn’t sure how much more she could take before life broke her.

  “Will you just sit up here all night watching others enjoying themselves, or are you going to join in?”

  Adorra shook her head while pursing her lips. “No. I do believe I will have enough excitement tonight.” She was also enjoying watching people as they celebrated this new union.

  Isabel smiled kindly, “Tomorrow morning you should have a warm bath prepared for you. Trust me when I say that you will want it.”

  “Don't scare me away from the marriage bed, Isabel.” Adorra grumped as she shifted in her tight corset.

  “I am advising, not scaring.” Isabel corrected her. “As a woman who has been married before, I’m just telling you what I think you ought to know since you have no other close women in your family to speak with about this.”

  Adorra glanced over at her friend who was young and gorgeous. Isabel had already delivered her husband three children. Her friend’s brown curls stood out against the emerald fabric covering her shoulders.

  “I will be sure to have a bath drawn for me, first thing in the morning,” Adorra promised as she took another swig out of her goblet. Isabel was a good friend, and she’d be a fool to disregard any advice from her.

  Glancing around the hall, Adorra was able to see all the merrymaking going on from her position. Guests had split off into groups. Some danced to the flutes that played a light tune. The dresses spun out around the women as they danced around the men. Then they stood still as the men began to dance around them, their feet pounding a beat against the stone floors of the manor.

  Letting herself relax, she smiled. She was, after all, married to the man of her dreams. She shouldn't be worrying about the marriage bed, or whether or not they would be able to have children. She had to take everything one step at a time and stop worrying about a future she couldn’t control.

  Finally, she could restart the family she’d lost. Nothing would bring back her mother and father, but now she had the chance to be a mother herself. She knew her parents would be proud of her… even if she hadn’t yet found Jasmine.

  She knew Jasmine would have loved to attend the wedding. Adorra also knew Jasmine hadn't been keen on Lord Gothar, but Jasmine would have warmed to him eventually. She just needed to see the side of Lord Gothar Adorra saw.

  Shaking her head, Adorra pushed her sister's memory from her mind. Nothing was going to ruin this night for her. She was determined to be happy despite the fact that life was committed to dragging her down into a pit of misery.

  Grinning from ear to ear, she grabbed Isabel's hand.

  “Wha?” Isabel uttered.

  Adorra dragged her friend down to where all the merrymaking was going on. She was going to make sure she had a good time.

  Flutes began a new song that had her feet itching to dance. This was a merry time, and she wanted to dance and enjoy what would hopefully be her only marriage forgoing any more disasters.

  Adorra strode up to Edmund’s side and took his hand. He glanced over at her, his sea-green eyes dancing with glee.

  “You appear to be having a good time.” She remarked feeling a tad bitter that she was the only one weighed down by so many horrible emotions like sadness, anger, and worry.

  “It turned out to be better than I thought.”

  Adorra cocked her head to the side, wondering what he meant by that. Before she could ask what he meant, he took her hand and guided her away from Isabel and over to where a dance was beginning. A circle formed, and as the flutes and singers began, the circle of people spun around, their feet beating a rhythm against the stone blocks of the floor.

  Giggles overtook her, as the dancing brought joy once more into her life. Their circle spun a little faster as the pace of the music increased, and she felt her cheeks heat as she kept her slippered feet moving over the stone floor of the great hall.

  As the music came to an end, so did the spinning, and she felt a rush of blood enter her head. The room spun slightly, and she chuckled with delight.

  “Excuse me,” Adorra said to Edmund before making her way to a table were glasses of wine were. As she took a glass and took a sip, she raised a hand to her heated cheeks using her cold fingers to cool her cheeks as the excitement of the dance slowly winded down.

  It’d been a mistake to wear a smaller corset. The damn thing was digging into her ribcage and made vigorous activity like dancing too difficult.

  Another song picked up, and the dancing resumed, with some new additions to the circle of dancers.

  Isabel sidled up beside her. “It appears as though you’re having more fun.”

  “I am,” Adorra confirmed as she pressed a hand against her waist and the infernal corset she’d insisted on wearing. She had no idea why she’d been such a nervous wreck before the ceremony. Edmund loved her, and they were about to start something magical together.

  “Here.” Isabel raised a plate of finger foods for Adorra to examine. “Have some. There’s nothing worse than an empty stomach on such an exhausting night.”

  “Speaking from experience?” She arched one of her eyebrows.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” Isabel confirmed with a grimace. “I only
wish my mother had prepared me better. I was barely seventeen when I was wed. Thankfully, you’re older and can learn from my experience.”

  Adorra picked up a piece of cheese and popped it into her mouth. It melted on her tongue. “You’re right. I needed some food.” Her stomach rumbled quietly in agreement.

  “Have the plate then.” Isabel offered it over to her.

  “Are you sure?”

  Isabel nodded her head. Her chestnut eyes danced with some glee. “I want to dance in this next song anyways.” Isabel skipped away the skirts of her dress swaying to the movement of the flutes.

  Adorra found herself relaxing as she watched everyone in the great hall having a good time. Finally, everything was going right for her, and she would do her best to enjoy it.

  Edmund’s head fell back as he cast his eyes up to the ceiling as he spun around in a circle with the other dancers. This wedding had turned out to be a little more fun then he’d anticipated. Thankfully, Jasmine’s sudden disappearance hadn’t dimmed Adorra’s spirits too much. There’d been a few times when he’d worried she might call off the wedding.

  When Jasmine had caught him and Keir in the stables plotting her sister’s demise, he’d been worried the rouse was up. Everything had worked out though when she’d fallen from the rafters. Jasmine had been stunned from the fall allowing Edmund time to react. He’d ordered Keir, his trusted man, to take her into the chilly mountains and leave her there, buried in the snow.

  By now, Jasmine had frozen to death and would no longer be a problem. It was another reason why it was so easy for him to smile. His plan was going ahead without any major hitches.

  “You are lucky!” Isabel, Adorra’s close friend, called out as they continued to spin around to the music.

  Edmund glanced over at her, one of her hands firmly clasped in one of his. Her chestnut eyes danced with merriment, as did many people’s.

  “I know!” He called back over the music and stamping of people’s feet. He’d worried about acting the doting suitor when he didn’t find Adorra attractive, but no one had seemed to catch on that he wasn’t in love.

  Adorra was beautiful, but she wasn’t the type of woman he wanted as his bride. She was just a means to an end. Once he married her, he’d have her lands and wealth. Then he wouldn’t need her anymore.

  There was another lady at court he wanted for his wife, Clarice. Just the thought of her floating through his mind had his cock shooting rock hard. Clarice was captivating with her straw blonde hair and aquamarine hair. Adorra stood no chance next to Clarice. One day soon, she would be his. Once Adorra was dead, and enough time had passed he would pursue Clarice with his newly acquired wealth. And then he knew she would accept him.

  As the song ended, Edmund excused himself and made his way over to a table and took a seat as he watched the room. Everyone was having a merry time, and he’d done his best to make sure he looked like nothing but a beaming husband looking forward to his wedding night. No one here would suspect him of plotting.

  “Do you have it planned?” Keir rushed up beside him, his stale breath washing over Edmund.

  With a frown, Edmund leaned away as he addressed him without facing his servant, “Yes. Tonight, I will offer Adorra some more wine when we’re alone, and it will be laced with poison. It will end up looking like natural causes.”

  Keir cackled like a witch by his side as Edmund reached a hand into his pocket and thumbed the vile he had hidden there. “Soon, she’ll be taking her last desperate gasp for air.”

  Keir cackled a bit more. “You are brilliant.”

  “I know.” He didn’t need Keir telling him that. He wanted to kill Adorra without too many questions aimed at him.

  “She’s leaving.” Keir bobbed his head in the direction of the stairs, and Edmund turned his gaze to where Adorra was disappearing up the stairs.

  “It’s time.” He abandoned his seat and slowly made his way across the room, making sure to share some pleasantries with people, because he needed to give Adorra some time to get herself ready.

  “Congratulations nephew.” One of his uncles patted him on the back, nearly toppling Edmund over.

  Straightening, he sent his uncle a smile. “Thank you.”

  “You’re a lucky man.” His uncle wrapped an arm over Edmund’s shoulders as he hitched a thumb at his wife, who was standing across the hall with a gaggle of other ladies. “Sometimes you end up with a creature like that.”

  Edmund eyed his aunt. She was no beauty, at least, not anymore. Her once sun-kissed hair was now dull and grey. Her hazel eyes had grown into a dull brown, and no part of her skin could hold itself together. It looked like she was melting.

  He scoffed inwardly. If Clarice aged that badly, he would off her just like he planned to do with Adorra this night.

  Once Edmund figured enough time had passed and he’d finished with pleasantries, he ambled over to the table of wine and poured a goblet. Grabbing the goblet, he headed for the stairs. A few people congratulated him on his way there, and he politely thanked them.

  After he ascended the stairs, he entered the corridor that would lead to Adorra’s room and like he thought, it was empty of people.

  Everyone had vacated this side of the manor to leave the happily married couple plenty of privacy, which would leave him plenty of privacy to finish her off.

  With a quick glance around to make sure the area was clear of prying eyes, Edmund reached into his pocket and pulled out the vile of poison. He’d tested a different vile on an animal to make sure it worked because he wanted Adorra good and dead the first time he did this. If this poison could kill a horse, then it could take out a woman.

  Pulling the cork out of the glass vile, he dumped its contents into the goblet of wine. Then he placed the vile back into his pocket and strode over to Adorra’s door. It was time to see this through.

  Chapter 3

  Splashing water onto her face from her washstand, Adorra gasped as the ice cold water hit her. The room was dark, only lit by the moonlight shining through the windows of her room. She’d retreated from the party below, so she had time to get ready for her night with Edmund.

  Her heart puttered in her chest. This would be her first night with a man, and all she had to go on was rumor and hearsay to know what it might be like. She would have to rely strictly on Edmund to teach her what to do. To teach her what he liked.

  She felt her heart flutter away in excitement and the area between her thighs tingle.

  Soon Lord Gothar would be making his way up to her room, and she had to be ready. She’d just taken off her makeup, spritzed some perfume on her neck and wrists, and she was now dressed in a lightweight nightgown.

  Adorra had the servants, who helped her out of her formal dress, take away that too small corset. She’d told them to burn it or sell it, just as long as she never set eyes on it again.

  Taking a glance in the mirror, she stared at her reflection. Her chestnut hair was still up in a tight bun. Now the decision was, would she look better with a bun, or with her hair down around her shoulders? Which would Edmund prefer to see when he came to her room? And would she be comfortable laying on the bed in a bun?

  The decision was easy. The hair would come down.

  Her hands came up to her head, and she pulled the pins from her hair, one by one. Once they were all laying on her vanity, she shook her head, her brunette hair spilling down around her slender shoulders. Smiling, she nodded to herself in the mirror.

  “Much better.” Adorra was now ready to go and lay in the bed to wait for Lord Gothar. Her husband.

  She couldn’t believe she was uttering those words. Her husband. It was a dream, but it was real life. And she was a wife. She wasn’t sure her heart could handle all the joy. It felt like it was nearly bursting out of her chest.

  Again her stomach filled with restless butterflies as she pulled back the covers and slipped between the smooth sheets. Tonight would be the night they truly became husband and wife. This would
be the moment that their lives would be intertwined together for the rest of eternity.

  Adorra had no idea for how long she laid there on her bed, but eventually, she heard the door to her chamber creak open.

  Her breath stuck in her chest.

  It was time!

  All her uncertainties rushed back into her mind. Then she let out her breath, and all her hopes for the future rushed back to fill her to the brim with hope.

  She watched as Lord Gothar crept his way into the room slowly, and then closed the door behind him.

  “Good evening.” Adorra had no idea what to say at this moment to him. She had never been intimate with a man before, and she felt a little awkward. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t get her heart to calm down. She wanted this night to be perfect and was afraid her nerves would wreck it all.

  He didn't say anything as he approached the bed.

  Adorra frowned, “Is anything wrong?” She’d been hoping for some reassuring words from her husband.

  “No. Nothing is wrong, just relax.” He placed a hand on one of her shoulders and pushed her back lightly.

  She did as he asked. She trusted him and couldn't wait for him to join her between the sheets.

  Edmund stopped beside the bed, then kneeled on the mattress leaning over her slightly. “Thank you for marrying me, Adorra.”

  “Of course?” She said confused why he would thank her. “You won my heart. Of course, I’d want to celebrate our lives together.”

  Edmund held up a goblet of wine. “For you, my dear.”

  “I had plenty.” She raised a hand in front of her face as she shook her head.

  “It will ease your fears.” Edmund coaxed as he pressed the wine goblet on her. “I know how stressful the first night can be for the woman. Trust me. There is never too much wine when it comes to calming nerves.”

  Adorra raised a shaking hand up to the stem of the goblet and accepted it. “Maybe a few more sips.” Because she was still trembling with anticipation, and she hoped this would help her calm down.