Love's Blazing Ecstasy (44 page)

“You didn’t.  A part of your love for me still remained, even though you thought me guilty of despicable acts.
”  He turned to leave, but she reached out. “You want me to stay with you.”

“Yes. I don’t want to be alone. Not now.”

“Then I
will
stay with you.” Helping her to disrobe, he said, “I’m going to undress you and massage you and bathe you and love you.”

He helped her to lie back on the pillows of her sleeping couch. Calling for two slaves to see to her bath water, Valerian turned his attention to undressing her.

“Now it is time for you to relax in the water and let your mind think about pleasantries—such as what you will wear for our wedding.” Picking her up, he deposited her in the warm water.

Wynne leaned back in the soothing, fragrant waters and tried to banish
from her mind the thoughts of all that had happened today as Valerian massaged her neck and shoulders. Could she ever forget the sight of Brenna’s burned flesh or the vision of her crazed eyes? She remembered what Edan had once said to her, that hate can destroy. Indeed it was true, for it was hate and jealousy which had destroyed Brenna and Severus and her anger had nearly ruined her life.

“So much bloodshed,” she cried. “Why does the world have to be filled with so much hatred and killing?”

“Perhaps someday the world will learn how to love and to live in peace.” He kissed her forehead, his tender emotions increased by her vulnerability.

Her eyes caught his, and the love she felt for him was reflected in their blue depths. “Perhaps, Valerian. Someday.”

“Until that day we must be content with the love we bear each other and our friends. There is much good in this world too. It is not all bad.” Picking up a wet cloth, he washed her back, trailing the soft material over her breasts. Closing her eyes she felt a warm glow as a vision flashed in her mind, a brief image of what the future held.  This time there was no blood or violence or danger.  Just a sense of well-being and a glimpse of a child—a daughter with dark hair and an indentation in her chin like her father.

Wynne reached out and caressed his face, her fingers trailing down to the cleft in his chin. “I love you,” she breathed. “Would you be pleased to know that we will have a daughter?”

His expression told her that he would be. Very pleased.

Watching her in her bath had aroused Valerian. “Perhaps we should set about creating our coming child now!” 

“Perhaps….”

Disrobing, he joined her in the pool-like tub.  Wynne hesitated a moment then began to massage him as he had done to her, noting with
pleasure the broad chest, the muscles of his abdomen, and that part of him that proved his desire for her. Their bodies touched in breathtaking intimacy, and yet he took his time, lost in the world of sensual delight. She was with him, in his heart and in his soul and in the tub with him. She was his and he would never let her go.

Taking her hand, he helped her from the water, drying her
lush body and then drying his own. “You told me once that your people believe in the purification of water and fire,” he whispered. “Together we have purified ourselves of the past. Only the future awaits us now.” He took her mouth then in a devouring kiss, bringing fire into her loins.

Picking her up and carrying her to the bed, he lay down beside her, caressing her with hands and lips. When he pulled his mouth away she said simply.  “White.”

“What?”

“My wedding dress.  It will be a way to honor my father.”

Valerian remembered that the Druid ceremonial robes had been white. “We’ll marry in the spring.  June.  So that you can wear flowers in your long, flowing hair.” In his heart and mind he felt married to her already.

“In an oak grove, “ she whispered, touching his body all over with questing hands until the flame blazed within them both.

With a groan of desire he entered her, filling her with such pleasure that she caught her breath. Together they found the perfect motion, pulsing with the rhythm of some primitive rite, taking them higher and higher toward the dwelling place of gods. They were one now and forever, as if they had been one since the beginning of time.

“We were created for
each other,” Valerian sighed. “Without you I am as nothing.”

As she took him deeper and deeper inside her, it was as if his love was a salve to her pain. The wounds of the past were healed by their love.

Later, as they lay in each other’s arms, Wynne told Valerian of her people’s belief in the circle of life and how she knew in her heart that they would never be parted. With a sudden clear vision of the future she knew that they had not only this life to share, but many other lives as well.

“
Veni, vidi, vici” - I came, I saw, I conquered, Julius Caesar said and the influence of Rome is still visible today. The Romans left a rich and varied legacy and had an enormous impact on Britain, as well as the rest of the world . These conquerors introduced new developments in architecture, agriculture, industry, government, technology and urbanization—made great changes to the landscape; founded towns in England that are still important today like London, York and Lincoln. Many modern roads still follow the line of the Roman roads. In a few towns parts of Roman walls can still be seen above ground; and during medieval times formed part of the medieval town defenses.

The legacy of
Roman civilization can still be seen in engineering, law, literature, mathematics, religion and writing. The English language has several words and phrases derived from Latin—Library (liber); school (schola), family (familia),  millennium (mille-a thousand). Some Latin words are used in English to mean the same as they did in Roman times: auditorium, stadium, forum, diploma. Latin has been used for centuries throughout Europe by people in professions such as the church, law and medicine.

Most theatres today use the “proscenium stage” found in
Roman theatres;  Sports arenas are modeled after the Roman amphitheatre and  are shaped in an oval so that everyone has a good view; Christian churches still use a basilica with a central nave with aisles on either side. It is interesting to note that the Bank of England is a copy of part of Emperor Hadrian’s villa at Tivoli in Italy.

The
Romans even introduced certain foods: carrots, turnips, cucumbers, plums, cherries,  different varieties of apples and pears.  They imported rabbits, chickens, and Mediterranean herbs--established vineyards that are still in use today.  And of course - Roman spa, aqueducts, concrete, irrigation methods, paved streets, public notices and advertisements, parks and last but not least – cats which were often kept as mascots by the Roman army--were all legacies from Valerian’s countrymen.

    
Kathryn Kramer makes her home in Boulder, Colorado.  She also writes under the pseudonyms—Katherine Vickery and Kathryn Hockett. Together with her mother, Marcia Vickery Hockett, she has written over 40 historical Romance novels which have been translated into German, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Turkish, Romanian, Japanese and Hebrew. They have won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award several years in a row.
Love’s Blazing Ecstasy
was her first novel. The Kindle version is the anniversary edition of the book.

A current project  is formatting all 40 book into the ebook format. To date
thirty have been formatted and include:
Lady Rogue, Midsummer Night’s Desire, Pirate Bride, Notorious, Flame From the Sea
(Kathryn Kramer);
Desire of the Heart, Arrow to the Heart, Flame of Desire, Flame Across the Highlands
(Katherine Vickery);
Outrageous, Indigo Sea,  Highland Destiny, Gentle Warrior; The Women of the West series and The Pendants of Ragnar – Viking Saga
(Kathryn Hockett).

Kathy sang with a jazz band and devoted her time to music via theater, teaching and singing professionally. 
She and her mother began writing in 1985.  Since the death of her mother, Marcia, in 2003, Kathy has continued writing alone.

Kathryn loves to hear from readers.  You can contact her via twitter @kathykramer4 or via email at
[email protected]
.   The Kathryn Kramer website is kathrynkramer.net;
the Kathryn Hockett website is kathrynhockett.com and there is also kathyhockettkramer.com which has a short author bio.