CHAPTER 98: STAKING HER CLAIM

Jenna let her lips pry open, giving Rhane space to deepen the kiss. His tongue moved skillfully, rubbing against hers, then he sucked her lower lip and licked.

"Mm," Rhane made a growling sound, his body pressing against Jenna’s like he wanted to gobble her all up.

Jenna, not knowing what to do with her hands, placed them on Rhane’s side. She shuddered when his body vibrated, but Rhane didn’t stop kissing. Instead, he opened his eyes and glanced down at Jenna’s hands, then he nipped her upper lip.

"Uhm," a soft wince sounding like a moan escaped Jenna’s lips.

Rhane broke the kiss, his breath still brushing against hers. He raised the hand that was on Jenna’s neck up to her cheek, rubbing his thumb against her wet face, while the hand around her waist remained.

"You’re freezing," Rhane whispered softly against her lips. His eyes shifted from Jenna’s lips to her eyes, then back to her lips like he had some unfinished business with them.

Jenna swallowed softly, still trying to find her voice. She hadn’t expected to be kissed by Rhane, now. There was nothing about the moment that had prepared her for a kiss, maybe earlier when she’d hugged him, certainly not now.

The kiss was exactly how she’d imagined their kiss to be. Raw, rough, and leaving her senseless, and most importantly, passionate. His hands were no longer there, but Jenna still felt them, his grip on her neck. He was choking her, but she wasn’t hurting. It felt like he kept her grounded; Rhane’s hand around her neck stopped her knees from buckling.

And she would be the world’s greatest liar if she denied enjoying the kiss! Jenna stared back at Rhane’s lips, this time her gaze filled with intensity, like she had just found her favorite meal. The kiss was tender, yet his hands on her body were rough, making it even better. Keeping the cold at bay.

Jenna wasn’t done. Her lips still throbbed, feeling the memory of his mouth even after he’d pulled away. She tipped her toe, fisting her palm, and leaned closer to continue the kiss, but a loud sneeze escaped her lips.

"Achoo!"

Rhane groaned, he pulled her close to his chest while using his hand to rub her hair, all trying to keep her warm.

"Silly me, I should have known better." He blamed himself for leaving Jenna out in the cold for too long.

Jenna, frustrated about another thing, exhaled tiredly. "I’m fine, Rhane, it’s just—"

"My shirt should be dry enough. There’s an inn just down there," Rhane began, still rubbing his palm on Jenna’s hair. "They should have something warm for us to wear."

Jenna closed her eyes in defeat. In her attempt to continue the kiss, she’d sneezed, and now everything was coming to an end.

Letting go of Jenna for a brief moment, Rhane rushed to his shirt and returned with it. He donned it around Jenna’s shoulder and began to button it.

"This is better than what you had on," Rhane muttered to himself while doing the buttons.

Jenna rubbed her eyes. She tried to pull away from Rhane and tell him she was alright and just wanted to continue with the kiss, but when she glanced down, she found Rhane on one knee, his brows drawn together while he seriously fixed her buttons with no shirt on! He was exposed to the cold too, but he looked even more worried for her.

No man had ever knelt before her like this, fingers clumsy with care, and it made her chest ache in ways she could not name. Subconsciously, Jenna raised her hand forward and rubbed Rhane’s hair.

The texture of it melted through Jenna’s palm. Rhane wasn’t just fit in body, but he always did take care of himself really well. It made Jenna wonder if that was the reason he understood how to treat a woman.

"Mmm," Rhane grunted when Jenna scratched his hair in the process. He glanced up and smiled at her without saying a word.

Jenna loved the feeling. When Rhane looked up, his eyes held nothing back- open, unguarded, as though every wall around his heart had fallen for her alone. He showed his emotions without fear. He unveiled to her that he was vulnerable. There was surrender in his gaze, a wordless vow, meant for no other but her. A feeling that oddly pleased Jenna so.

Done with the shirt that now looked like a short dress on Jenna, Rhane got up on his feet, giving a satisfied tilt of his head. He tucked Jenna’s hair behind her ear.

"Let’s go." Rhane grabbed her hand; with his other hand he gathered their remaining clothes.

"The inn is not very far from here, let’s go. It gets colder here," Rhane started walking. If he could, he wanted to carry Jenna and shield her from the cold.

Jenna’s eyes lit up at the mention of an inn. Maybe she wouldn’t just continue the kiss she wanted but would also... blood rushed up her face and her stomach flipped. Jenna increased her pace; she couldn’t wait to get to the said inn. Pausing her excitement, Jenna noticed something.

"You’re shirtless," she pointed out worriedly. She was so immersed in what to do with Rhane in the inn that she forgot he had nothing on.

Rhane shrugged dismissively. "It doesn’t matter, no eyes would trouble themselves with a body such as mine." His eyes darkened. "Unlike yours." He couldn’t believe he’d almost left Jenna for people’s eyes. He tugged Jenna to continue walking.

Jenna didn’t agree with Rhane. If any woman had eyes like she did, they would be ravishing Rhane’s body.

And of course! Most women had the same eyes as she did.

Once they entered the inn, everyone inside became quiet for a moment, scanning the faces of the new arrival before the men that were gambling returned to their affair.

Meanwhile, the women didn’t!

"Merciful heavens, look at him!"

"He’s as big as a bear!"

"Do you think they’re together? Her husband or an affair?"

They whispered and blushed, hitting each other to Jenna’s annoyance and umbrage. Pushing her body closer to Rhane, Jenna tipped her chin forward. She wrapped her hand around Rhane’s arm, pushing him closer to her.

Rhane didn’t seem to notice this. He walked straight to the owner of the inn.

"Beautiful evening, isn’t it? What can I help you two with?" The older woman asked without standing up from her chair. Her eyes moved from Rhane to Jenna, her lips quirked up.

Rhane leaned closer to the woman. "A room and new dry clothes. Whatever it’d cost."

The woman took out a parchment and scanned with a serious face. Then she looked up at the duo.

"Dry clothes will be made ready, but at the moment our rooms are occupied, except for the shared rooms." The woman tapped her pointer finger on her lips. "Will you two be okay sharing a room with others?"

Rhane hummed. Without giving it much thought, he nodded. "Yes, if there’s a fireplace to keep us warm."

"They’re not together!" one of the maidens murmured. "Either an affair or he’s just helping. If not, why would they share a room with others?"

Jenna’s ear turned red when she heard this. Pulling Rhane even closer, she placed her head on his body and sighed.

"Rhane, I don’t feel so good." She rubbed her forehead dramatically.

It was enough to get Rhane to turn around and grab her face, checking her whole body with a worry streaked face.

"Is it the cold?" he asked with his brows furrowed, while touching her forehead and squeezing her hands.

Jenna gave a soft hum. "I’d prefer if we sleep on our bed tonight," her voice raised enough for others to hear.

"Our bed... oh... home?" Rhane replied, rubbing her face.

"Their bed? They’re married!" another woman concluded.

Jenna nodded with a small grin. "Our bed...yes, our own bed." she repeated, watching the defeated looks on the faces of the other maidens.

Rhane pulled her close to his chest, rubbing her hair gently. He turned to the owner of the inn. "You heard my lady. We’ll have just the dry clothes and a sack to put these." He raised their wet clothes.

"We’ll get that ready." The woman stood up, entered the room, and when she returned, she had dry clothes which she handed to Rhane and showed them where to change.

Rhane carried his own clothes and those of Jenna, taking her hand to the small room to change, but the owner of the inn stopped him.

"Ladies use this room, while the men use that one." The woman pointed at two rooms opposite each other.

Rhane wasn’t having it. He held Jenna protectively. "Is there no room for a couple to change together?"

Jenna felt her heart swell. She could feel people’s attention on her now.

"We don’t have a room like that, sir," the owner of the inn replied.

Seeing that Rhane wasn’t going to stop, Jenna patted his arm. "It’s okay, Rhane, I’ll be fine. It’s a ladies’ room, right?" She asked the woman, and she gave a nod.

"Go ahead, I’ll be fine."

Rhane hesitated, still reluctant. He waited until Jenna had entered before he went ahead to change.

Inside the room, Jenna found some of the women that had been ogling Rhane. This time, they gave her a more friendly greeting.

"Your husband is so handsome," one of them chimed.

"And he protects her so! Did you see how he held her face? I’d ride into battle for a man such as he!" another exclaimed.

Jenna covered her face with her hand. "He’s just like others, you’re exaggerating." Of course, they weren’t, she thought to herself.

"She’s so modest too, they’re perfect," the women chimed.

Jenna changed her dress into the dry clothes, being the subject of envy among the other women in the room. Though she didn’t get the opportunity to stay in an inn with Rhane, she had staked her quiet claim.

The thought of their bed, of a night finally claimed in his arms, sent her pulse racing.