CHAPTER TEN
Thora hoped her trembling didn't show. In a few moments, she would be atop the steed, with Ari behind her, his arms around her. The flames dancing in his dark eyes hinted at how he intended to pass the time. How she wanted him to.
She knelt beside the wolves and gave them each a long stroke on their heads.
Kata turned and licked her hand. Her golden eyes once more held a sparkle.
Had it only been two days since the animal been wounded?
Kati inched closer, leaning his weight against Thora's side. She grinned and ruffled his fur.
"Jealous of all the attention she's getting, eh?
" She gave a giggle when he butted his head against hers.
She recalled how they'd slept most nights before the attack, with Kati resting in front of her, Kata along her back.
Their protection and warmth had kept her feeling safe.
Now she found she wanted the safety of Ari's embrace.
As if her thoughts made him appear before her, his shadow loomed over them. Thora looked up, sucking in a shuddering breath when he held his hand to her. Clenching her fingers to stop their shaking, she placed her hand in his.
He pulled her up and against him, but instead of kissing her as she'd expected – and hoped – he turned and led her to Gyllir's side.
Still silent, he easily lifted her and placed her in the simple wooden saddle, encouraging her to settle astride before climbing up behind her.
The low pommel kept her from sliding forward, her dress bunched up around her thighs.
Ari's left arm reached forward for the reins, the other slid around her waist and pulled her tightly to him. He leaned close to her ear.
"This will be a most enjoyable ride."
The husk in his voice sent a shiver whisking along her spine, the movement drawing a thick chuckle from Ari, which only deepened the quiver. The heat of his tongue slid along the curve of her ear, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out at the fire it left in its wake.
Her thighs held open by sitting astride seemed to intensify the warmth oozing from her sex.
When the hand on her waist slid slowly up to cup her breast, she gasped sharply, her heart racing, her breathing skittering into panting.
His caress was gentle at first, but even through her clothing, she felt as if he seared her bare flesh.
She clutched his wrist then gasped at the sharp sting on her ear where Ari nipped her.
"Do not refuse me."
His voice, thick with lust, sent a shiver along her spine, despite her attempts to suppress it. His low laugh brought a similar response.
"Who knows how long it will take before we find a suitable location to camp."
Thora just barely managed to understand his words, for he once again cupped her breast, fingers flicking at the tip.
The barrier of her clothing seemed to somehow intensify the heat building within.
If only she'd been able to find her undershift, to give her additional protection against the spark of his touch.
The scrape of Ari's teeth along the side of her neck left her shaking with a mad swirl of desire and confusion.
The delight he roused made her want to forget everything else but the decadent pleasure.
Her rational side continued to poke at her, reminding her of the very real danger he posed to her safety. And her heart.
While he'd been typically dismissive of her abilities, just like almost every man in her clan, including her father, every now and then, a glimmer of admiration glinted in his eyes.
The recollection of his statement that she would have ably defended herself against Muli warmed her.
And reminded her of the many facets of the stone Ari had been carved from.
The arm around her waist pressed her tighter still to him, the hard ridge of his cock poking at her bottom.
Her body took over her thinking and she let her head fall back against his shoulder.
A moment later, his mouth devoured hers, sending the longing into heights she both craved and feared.
Surely the gods had given him this ability to create a hazy, passionate fog, one that clouded her wits, made her care for nothing but the fiery desire dancing between them.
He drew away and she opened her eyes to find him watching her with the now-familiar heated intensity that sent delightful flashes skittering along her spine.
A moment later, he gave the signal to the horse to move and their journey began.
Thora turned to watch the forest before them, occasionally twisting around to see how the wolves fared.
Kati walked beside the sled holding Kata, the slow pace necessary to keep from upsetting the she-wolf too much.
A moment later, her thoughts scattered on the breeze when Ari caressed her breasts once more.
She really should insist he not toy with her this way, but she found no words to dissuade him when his fingers slid up to the brooches holding the upper part of her dress.
It took barely a moment before he released the clips and the smokkr fell.
The feel of the cool morning air caressing her heated flesh, now bared for Ari's touch, jolted her from the haze of lust.
"Stop." The word came out on a hoarse whisper.
"You refuse?"
There was a hint of annoyance in his tone, but it mixed with a sliver of amusement.
"Anyone could come by and see."
He didn't answer, merely caught her nipple in his fingers and gave it a tug. Fire erupted in her core, a violent quivering overtaking her from head to toe.
"Please, Ari." Desire gave her voice a sharp pitch, revealing her mingled desperation and lust.
Another tug and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. Damn him to Hel, why did his touch have to be so delicious? A half-breath later, he released her, lifting her dress to cover her once more. Her shaky fingers took longer than normal to refasten the brooches.
"Thank you." The words barely passed between her dry lips.
"You will repay that favor when we make camp."
She gave a nod, still trying to clear the haze in her thoughts. But when his hand crept lower, she shifted, moving the dress in an attempt to protect her sex from the lusty assault he intended. Clarity would likely elude her for some time to come.
***
Ari breathed deeply, savoring the musky yet sweet scent that was Thora. It only spurred his desire, and the need to make her beg for his touch, either over her clothes or naked, and he found himself eager to explore her and uncover more of her sensual secrets.
He'd never met a woman who could climax just from having her breasts touched.
He recalled the way her body had rippled beneath his when he had feasted on her soft flesh the night before.
Already, his cock strained against his trousers.
This was going to be a long ride. He intended to make it as enjoyable as possible. For both of them.
He slid his hand to the heat between her legs, held open by the position on the saddle.
He held back his grin at the way she used her dress in an attempt to conceal her sex.
A soft whimper escaped when he cupped her pussy in his hand, scorching even through the barrier of fabric that, for the moment, he allowed her to hold in place.
She shuddered, the movement bringing her right up against his cock.
He held back a groan, not wanting to reveal just how deeply the feel of her stirred his passion.
If he wasn’t careful, he might halt their journey and throw her to the ground, take her and slake this fiery need deep in the wet heat of her body.
Instead, he focused on teasing Thora, savoring the way her fingers clenched on his arm, her nails bringing a tiny bite to his skin. He leaned over and slid his mouth along the curve of her neck, rewarded by her low, yet heated sigh.
"What is it, Thora? What do you want?"
She didn't answer so he pressed harder against her sex. A strange squeak escaped her, drawing a chuckle.
"I've never met a woman with such passion before."
"It's you who's done this to me. What sacrifice did you make to Freyr to give you such wicked skill?"
He laughed again, pressing his cock against her ass. She sucked in a deep breath, the sound echoing in the quiet of the forest like a shout.
"It's you who does this to me." He nipped at her neck, eliciting another delightful quiver.
"I think the gods are toying with us both."
He shrugged. "Perhaps. Perhaps we should simply make the best of it."
A quick flick of his fingers quickly removed the last impediment of fabric, and he pushed the rest of her dress up past her thighs to her hips, giving him unhindered access to her sex.
Her grip on his wrist tightened, but she made no real attempt to stop him from sliding his fingers along her inner thighs, damp with her juices.
As he drew closer to her pussy, her body tightened further. In anticipation? He grinned.
Finally, his fingers slid through the curls covering her charms, to the slick hot flesh beneath.
Thora's head fell back, and the sight of her closed eyes and parted lips sent another jolt of hunger to his cock.
A gentle caress of her swollen pussy drew a keening wail.
He avoided her clit, knowing she would explode the moment he touched it.
No, he wanted her trembling and pleading for release.
He didn't realize until that moment just how much he enjoyed her hoarse cries and pleas.
Her body trembled in an erotic dance as he stroked her, slowly, then hard, each touch changing the tenor of her gasps and moans. Each sound vibrated through him, sending his own need to dangerous heights.