CHAPTER THREE #2
Only the crackling of the flames broke the abrupt silence. Even the creatures of the forest had quieted, as if all waited to hear her reply. He held her stare, daring her to refuse.
She didn't. In fact, he wasn't sure he managed to completely contain his surprise when she nodded again.
"Very well. I accept your terms." She looked away for a moment, then leveled her dark stare on him once more. "When… I assume you want…"
He chuckled. "Yes, Thora, I want you. And I will have you. Tonight."
***
Thora sucked in a breath. The husk in his voice sent heat pulsing through her veins.
Her sex throbbed, growing hot and damp, her breasts swelling and tingling in anticipation.
While she'd not wanted to give herself to a man she didn't love, Ari did stir a fierce yearning, one she found herself curious to explore further.
She would get much out of this, even if she did it only to repay her debt.
Strangely, the biggest relief came at the idea of her ruination, making her unwanted as a bride for a jarl's heir.
Ari's point about dishonoring her father had stung, but little choice was left to her.
Her father was prepared to barter her away as if she were no more than livestock, and that knowledge still cut deep.
All thoughts of her father vanished when Ari stood and walked over to her.
He held out his hand and she hesitantly placed her trembling fingers in it.
He pulled her up and close, his mouth coming down hard on hers, muffling her surprised squeak.
Already, the fever he'd sparked earlier roared back to life, rushing through her with such force, she would have fallen had he not been holding her.
His tongue swept between her lips and she responded eagerly to the velvety caress.
His hands slid down her back to her ass, cupping her and pressing her even tighter against him.
Even through their clothes, his hard shaft pressed against her core.
Need rose, a hunger she'd never known taking over her senses.
She held tight to him, her tongue dueling with his and not caring when he reached for the laces at the back of her neck.
The brush of his fingers as he untied them was a teasing torment, one that left her breathless, her head spinning.
Finally he drew away and she opened her eyes to find him studying her with a gaze that near scorched her on its own. A ragged breath shuddered through her. He trailed a finger along her cheek before moving to open her brooches and beads, allowing him to slide the smokkr from her shoulders.
A moment of alarm rose, for an instant cooling her passion.
But when he continued to hold her gaze, in another second the panic faded, replaced with a surge of longing when he slid the dress down her arms, followed immediately by her undershift.
The chill of the evening air raised gooseflesh on her skin and finally, the dress slid still further, now baring her breasts.
Her nipples hardened almost painfully, yet she relished the tingling in her flesh.
Ari's stare drifted to gaze on her breasts. Her hands tightened on his shoulders at his low groan. Was he pleased? Why should it matter?
"Beautiful," he murmured, right before cupping her breasts in his hands.
Another trembling breath rasped through her at the touch.
She half-expected to see sparks along her skin as he explored her, his fingers like a hot blade leaving fire in their wake.
He caressed and squeezed, and Thora's fingers tightened on his arms. Her legs wobbled ominously, the intense delight overtaking all her senses.
The taste of his lips still lingered on hers and with each breath, she inhaled his rich musky scent.
She only wished he would look at her, so she could get some sense of what he felt.
Was it only she who thought the world spun madly about them?
Her thoughts grew into a muddled mess, fading under the ever-growing lust Ari's caresses caused. Passion had hold of her now and it rocked her very soul, leaving her whirling in the maelstrom.
When his fingers tightened around her nipples, a low moan finally escaped, her entire body quivering under the intensity of the sensations robbing her of her wits.
Flashes of bliss pulsated through her, her only awareness of the delight consuming her body.
Her sex throbbed, hot and wet, the tumultuous pleasure sucking the breath from her lungs.
Finally, knees no longer able to support her, her legs buckled and she leaned heavily into him.
He wrapped his arms around her, a soft chuckle escaping. The feel of his kisses pressing against her forehead drew her from her stupor. She sucked in a deep breath, echoes of the pleasure he spurred quivering through her.
"You are quite passionate, Thora."
His low voice, heavy with desire, seemed a heated caress against her ear. Another tremor jolted through her. She gulped deep breaths of air, but it did nothing to cool the ferocity of the desire still holding her in its tempting grip.
Awareness returned when Ari guided her back to sit beside the fire. He tilted her head back and placed a tender kiss on her lips.
"Wait here."
She blinked several times, the loss of his nearness drawing a different kind of shiver in the cool evening air, yet she made no move to cover herself.
Her gaze never left him as he moved to his pack and removed several items, though since he kept his back to her, she had no clear view of what he did.
Each breath came heavily while she waited for him to return to her side.
After what seemed an eternity, he finally turned.
The heat in his eyes warmed her anew. Anticipation for what else he planned set her heart to racing again.
The sliver of alarm that remained added to the tumult, another layer of delight tinged with dark promise.
His earlier words about obeying him whispered through her thoughts, spurring tremors of eagerness.
What did he mean by punishing her if she disobeyed?
And why did she so badly want to discover his intentions?
He lifted his arms holding up several fur blankets.
He gave her a smile before carefully laying the skins on the other side of the fire, creating an enticing bed.
Her gaze held his when he approached, his pace quick and purposeful until he stood before, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet.
His mouth crashed onto hers and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, needing to ground herself against his passionate onslaught.
The fierce sensations assaulted her wits, as if the heat from Sol's summer chariot shone within her, making everything inside squirm with delight.
When he set her away, their harsh breathing mingled like erotic off-key music in the quiet of the secluded glen.
Desire glazed his eyes with a deeper green.
Desire for her. The realization set off a giddy whirl of excitement and eagerness.
All the reasons she shouldn't give herself to him briefly poked through her haze of passion.
The reasons for doing so overwhelmed the doubts, her own yearning taking over most of her awareness.
She wanted this. Wanted him. And he knew it, too.
Thora didn't care. She longed for more of his kisses, his caresses. As of he read her thoughts, he gently cupped her bared breasts once more. She arched toward him, a groan of pleasure escaping. The groan quickly turned a soft whine when he withdrew.
"We have all night."
His whisper contained a dark promise she had no strength to resist. How could it be that mere hours ago, she'd not even known this man existed and now she craved his touch as if it were the air she breathed?
Still, she remained motionless, waiting for him to guide her.
She needed to maintain some of her dignity, not fall upon him as though she was Kata in heat.
He reached for her again, but only to slide her kirtle further down, past her hips, until it drifted to the ground around her ankles, leaving her bared before him. A wave of heat suffused her at the force of the fire blazing in his eyes.
For several moments, which to Thora seemed an eternity, he simply stood before her, his gaze moving over her. She fought the urge to cover herself, instead lifting her chin and straightening her spine. Her reward was a pleased smile that left her breathless.
"You tempt me beyond my endurance."
His words came out on a growl and she barely had time to savor the delight before he once again pulled her close, devouring her mouth with a kiss that left her head spinning.
Her breasts mashed against his tunic, the fabric another tantalizing sensation added to the riot in her body.
Her hands moved to his shoulders and she pushed him away.
The confusion in his eyes almost drew a laugh.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm naked. You're not."
A grin brightened his face and near stole her breath. He truly was one of the most fetching men she'd ever known.
"Very well," he said, his voice still heavy and deep with desire. When he moved to undo his belt, she reached for his hands, stilling his motions.
"What now?" he asked.
With a sly smile she said, "I wish to do it."
Another grin, and a nod, and Ari dropped his hands to his sides.
Before her boldness faded, she reached for his belt with trembling fingers.
The buckle and tail of the belt were made of what appeared to be gold, but she had no time or inclination to study it now.
She quickly opened the belt and pulled it free of his pants, pushing them down as he had done to her dress.
Aware he watched her, she forced her focus to remain on his clothing.
With a deep breath to steady her trembling fingers, she stood, reaching for the laces at his neck.
They opened easily enough, but Ari remained motionless, hindering her progress.
She paused, meeting his stare. The hunger there almost undid her determination to keep some semblance of control.
Somehow, she managed, composing the errant need to offer herself without protest. Instead, she lifted her chin, arching an eyebrow.
"Raise your arms."
"Are you giving me an order?" He arched an eyebrow, his mouth set in a grim line.
A momentary recollection of his earlier words poked through her concentration. She forced them aside. If he meant to intimidate her, she'd not allow it. Meeting his gaze steadily, she nodded.
"I am. I cannot remove the tunic if you don't. Unless you'd prefer to end this now."
Another hearty laugh echoed around her. Several moments passed in which he kept his stormy gaze upon her, but finally, he did as she asked and raised his arms.
When she bent to grab the hem of his tunic he thrust his hips toward her.
A hint of the solid bulge against her core startled her, forcing her back, the tunic gripped in her fingers.
The movement pulled the garment up and over his head and upraised arms, leaving him nearly nude before her.
She tossed aside the tunic, her gaze hungrily absorbing the sight of his firm muscled shoulders and chest glistening in the firelight.
For several moments, she kept her focus above his waist, but curiosity soon took over.
Daring a glance into his smug expression, she ignored the twinge of annoyance and let her eyes drift lower.
She gulped, hoping her expression didn't reveal her sudden wariness.
His shaft rose long and thick from a bed of dark curls. While she found the sight impressive and intriguing, she feared he would split her in two. Surely, he didn’t intend to… her eyes snapped back to his face.
"Don't worry, Thora. It will fit."
Heat scorched her cheeks. Had he read her thoughts? "I… maybe this wasn't the best –"
He pulled her close, knocking the breath from her lungs. His hard cock lined up perfectly with her damp sex, her core clenching with spasms of desire.
"I assure you, you will enjoy all of it. Well, there may be a moment or two of pain, at first. But it will soon pass."
"How would you know?"
"I've bedded my share of virgins."
Thora had nothing to say in response. He pressed another bruising kiss against her lips and soon she forgot her worries. He drew away, cupping her face in his hands, his fingers moving gently over her skin and sparking all the banked fires back to life.
"Come, I will show you."
He took her hand and led her to where he'd arranged the furs. She took a moment to look over at her pets, relieved to see that both appeared to sleep. A twinge of guilt for not being at their side now, when Kata needed her most, made her tug on Ari's hand. He turned to face her.
"I should check on them. One more time."
His lips twisted in a half-scowl, but he gave a slight incline of his head and released her hand. "Go. Return to me quickly."
She turned, feeling oddly exposed. Walking naked in the forest was not something she had done before, especially not with a fierce warrior watching her every move.
She tip-toed to the wolves, pleased when both lifted their heads.
She knelt beside them, gently stroking their fur.
That Kata seemed comfortable soothed her worries.
"I will be with Ari if you need me. Kati will come, right boy?"
The male pressed his nose into her hand and gave her an acknowledging lick. She smiled and leaned close.
"I will call if I need you."
Kati's eyes possessed a message, telling her he understood. Stroking Kata once more, she rose and turned to face the man waiting for her. Her agitated worry returned and she gingerly made her way back to him, ignoring the bite of twigs and pebbles under her feet.
When she was a few steps away, she paused. After tonight, everything would change. She took a deep breath. And the next step.