The temptation is too much

No words were spoken as the pair slowly made their way up the narrow staircase. Both of them knew exactly how this was going to end and each had their own private concerns. Christine's were focused, as most virgin's must be, on the seemingly impossible nature of what was about to happen. She knew enough about the act of coupling to understand that her body would be penetrated by the Verderer's appendage, but she was all too aware of the size of the bulge she had felt as they had kissed in the dark. How could anything that large possibly fit inside her? She had heard the whispered tittering of the pain involved in a girl's first time; would she be able to ignore the discomfort enough to satisfy a man like the Verderer?

Werner had no doubt that he would be able to push into Christine. Even as petite as she was, he knew that a woman's body would accommodate any man if she were properly prepared. Werner's concerns lay in the consequences of deflowering a highborn maiden. Unlike many commoners, the daughters of noble families were carefully guarded from men eager to pluck their flowers. If Christine ever hoped to marry into a family of note, she would surely be expected to surrender her innocence to her husband on their wedding bed. Without the bloody evidence of her chastity, would that future marriage be annulled? Christine's argument about her family being stripped of titles and land made this particular detail seem a little less important, but that did not change the fact that he was going to betray Sir Godfrey's memory.

The room was even smaller than he remembered, with a ceiling so low that Werner had to stand between the rafters to keep from bumping his head. Unlike the stairwell where this was no light, the small maid's room had several cracks in the old plaster that let in a faint light from the adjourning room. He realized with a start that that nearby room must be his bedchambers where Marielle was safely nestled into their bed. His wife might not be able to see his claiming of their house guest, but she would likely hear every gasp and grunt, and certainly the moment of truth when Christine cries out at his entry. Instead of acting as a deterrent, knowing that Mari was going to be listening only excited Werner.

Christine crouched on the bed with her arms wrapped around her knees; she watched the Verderer pull his tunic over his head glad of the faint light that let her see. He was so handsome; she felt the warmth in her belly grow and her nervousness gave way to excitement.

"Are you ready, little one?" It was all she could do to nod her head. Nothing in her years of etiquette training covered what a woman says to the man who asks to join her on her bed for her first time. Luckily, her simple nod was enough and the Verderer settled onto the end of the bed with his knees straddling her feet and lowered his mouth to meet hers. It was a gentle kiss, a promise of what was to come and with a sigh of satisfaction Christine reclined back onto the old lumpy mattress drawing the Verderer back with her.