Many thanks to those who are sticking with this story. I feel like I'm letting the ship down with my sluggish posting schedule. But I am trying to improve. This one's a bit short but it takes things where I want them to go, or rather where Anzo and Ead are ready to take it, I think. Hope you enjoy!
The next day, Anzo came to the village to discuss the journey to their new settling place with Haeviu. As Ead watched the two men talking, she swallowed apprehensively. Until her mother mentioned it, she hadn't really contemplated Anzo's size except that he stood out among the people around him. She found herself studying his long fingers and his prominent nose, his wide mouth and wondered if what hid beneath his clothing was comparable in size. Of course, everything seemed proportional to his height, so she could conclude that it would be. Her thoughts both frightened and thrilled her.
Apparently feeling her scrutiny, Anzo turned to look at her, offering her a gentle smile as he did. Once the conversation with her father concluded, he approached her, his eyes shining brightly. "Come walk," he said in her language.
It was clear he did not want Winfrid with them on this walk. She looked to her father for permission and he gave it, although reluctantly. She moved beside him and he nodded, again offering a small smile.
They walked into the wood toward the stream. Once they were far enough away from the village to be certain they would not be overheard, Anzo stopped and turned to her. "You sure to marry me?" His words were broken, but his meaning clear.
Ead nodded. "I am. I am a little afraid of... the night, of being together."
Anzo looked perplexed and tilted his head, a frown crinkling his brow. "Afraid? Together? Why? I will not hurt."
"But Mama says it will and... and she says you might be quite... big." She felt the blush that ran up her body into her face.
But he merely laughed softly as it was clear was understanding her dilemma. Holding up his hands to measure as one might speak of a fish from the stream, he asked, "big?" Ead looked at the gap between his hands and swallowed. A fish that long would surely weigh well over a stone, perhaps even two. Anzo chuckled and moved his hands closer together. "Not so big." And then took her hand and pulled it under his tunic, cupping it outside his braies over his manhood. She felt the initial softness of it but it hardened almost immediately and as it hardened, it grew in size. "You fear this?" His question was frank and as she looked from her hand on him up into his eyes, she knew he understood. "Yes," she admitted. "I've never..."
He straightened up to his full height and pulled her hand away. "And you not 'til you want."
She stared into his sincere blue eyes as he watched her and knew she could trust him not to hurt her, at least not intentionally. There was so much she wanted to know about him, so much she had to learn. But as they stood there staring at one another, she knew more than ever that she wanted him, to be his woman.
Almost as if he was reading her thoughts, he leaned down and covered her lips with his own. The kiss was gentle, hesitant really and it stirred things within her which caused her to answer his kiss. After a moment, he broke it and straightened slightly, his eyes devouring her face and then he kissed her again. This time was not quite as gentle and certainly not hesitant.
Ead felt like her body was being possessed by some unknown force. Her skin was on fire; except it did not burn exactly. And her heart pounded so rapidly in her chest she thought she might explode. And he kept kissing her. Her head was swimming, her knees weak, and she couldn't catch her breath. These kisses were having similar effects on him, she could tell. She could sense that he was not as in control of himself as he normally was. Was she doing this to him? She didn't know how that could be.
When she thought she could bear no more, that she might explode with want and pleasure, he pulled away. His now dark blue eyes bored into her, questioning. Too stunned for words, all she could do was stare back at him, her lips slightly parted, and her chest heaving.
Anzo groaned and rolled his head back mumbling to himself. Then abruptly he bent down and kissed her once more, a gentle peck to her forehead. "Too much," he growled as he took her hand and turned to walk back to her village. "You not ready…."
"But I am," Ead insisted, although her feelings were laced with a tad bit of fear. Anzo merely grunted.
As they neared the village but were still in the wood, he stopped and turned to her. The look on his face almost took her breath away again. His eyes sparkled and there was a slight smile at his lips. And his expression... she'd never seen such admiration directed at her in her life. "Anzo," she whispered.
"No Anzo," he said quietly. "Arnporr. Not Anzo... with you." He pushed a strand of her hair away from her face. "Never Anzo , always the same…. Erm," he closed his eyes in thought. "Not above or down… not bigger or smaller, the same."
Ead didn't quite understand and it must've shown on her face because he looked back at her in frustration. One of us must learn the other's language, she thought. They would need to be able to talk with one another, without his translator.
Her thoughts changed however, as his face descended to hers and she was treated to the gentlest of kisses, one that told of his regard for her. "Ead" he whispered gently as the kiss ended. His hand caressed the side of her face as his eyes seemed to drink in her countenance. Without warning, he broke the moment and turned to walk her back to her family. Stopping at their door, he nodded and said quietly in a tone that tolerated no disagreement, "tomorrow." And then he was gone, striding across the village with his long legs and disappearing back into the woods.
Ead returned to her family and immersed herself in the chores of preparing the evening meal, helping her mother and sisters. But her mind was preoccupied with her walk with Anzo. With so very few words between them, she was amazed that he had been able to express so much to her, his patience with her inexperience and his regard for her. Underneath the fierce warrior that most saw in him, she knew there was a kind gentle man. And soon, he would be hers.