He would spend all morning practising various sword techniques until he had exhausted himself and then he would cool himself in the clear gentle waters of a nearby stream. He then joined Aela in a simple meal, which was usually fish cooked over an open fire, plus a quantity of wild berries, washed down with fermented wine, generously supplied by their host. Rom was finding it difficult to control his thoughts and feelings towards Aela, particularly in his dreams at night. He had sensuous images of Aela lying naked on the ground, the hot touch of his hands over her thighs and breasts, the nectar sweet taste of her lips and tongue. He felt an erotic urge to thrust himself inside her, again and again thus abandoning himself to sublime, raw ecstasy and passion. Then he would lie next to her physically exhausted, emotionally spent, gulping in large amounts of air as his heart pounded in his chest, totally revelling in his masculine power and glory. But somehow in the harsh light of the day he found himself especially feeling unsure of himself in the presence of Aela.
