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back, however, Simon caught her in his arms and kissed her passionately. At first, both ignored the awkward position they were in, but the discomfort grew more and more acute and finally Simon broke the kiss. When the metal leggings were neatly laid atop the folded hauberk, he spread his cloak on the ground and settled down again with Rhiannon leaning against him. |
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"We could be happy as lovers," she suggested. |
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Warmed by her kiss and the admissions he had drawn from her, Simon replied, "Perhaps I could be because I trust you. If you say to me you will be mine and mine only, then I will believe you and I will be content. But how would you be happy? I have already said I would be thine aloneand you call me a monster of deceit." |
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"Then you do not think me a liar in general?" |
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"Only to women," Rhiannon sighed, and before he could speak again she went on, "I will say this to you, that I will be thine alone while you are mine alonebut no longer." |
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Simon pulled her closer and tipped her chin up. "With all my heart I will agree to those terms." |
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He lay back against the cloak, pulling her with him, and he was surprised at how warm it was. The wind still whispered through the trees above the hollow, but it seemed to pass right over them. The sun beat down like a feather-light comforter and the thick grass trapped under Simon's cloak made a resilient mattress. Rhiannon smelled of the sweet grass and the musky earth. Aware, too, of the acrid odor of his tunic. Simon sat up and pulled off the tunic and shirt. Rhiannon sat up too, her eyes wide. She had never seen his body bare. |
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Seeing her look, Simon was about to ask whether he had offended her, but she put out a hand and stroked his breast. Like his father, Simon was nearly hairless, |
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