CHAPTER THIRTEEN #2
He raised himself up on one arm, reaching out to cup her cheek with his other hand.
Just that simple contact intensified the longing.
Judging from the gleam in his eye, he intended that reaction.
A moment later, he pulled her across his chest, his arms encircling her, holding her tight against him.
He buried his face into her hair, inhaling sharply.
The feel of his body engulfing hers left her senses in disarray.
The contradiction between his intentional coldness and warm moments like these left her confused, yet fully aware of the ferocity of his need.
For her. She knew it instinctively, for it matched her own yearning.
What had happened in only a mere handful of days that she wanted to give herself over to the control of a man, to let him lead her on a journey that only they two would understand?
She'd fled her home to avoid an unwanted marriage and now here she was, wanting to stay with this man forever, even after only knowing him a few short days.
No, not short days. Long days that took over all sense of her past, as if she'd never known a time without him.
How could this be? She didn't want to be beholden to any man.
Yes, she owed Ari a debt, and yes, she knew very well how his claims of repayment went far beyond acceptable.
That she allowed him to take advantage gave her the satisfaction of knowing she maintained control as well, and perhaps better than he did.
Without her virginity, she had no value her father could place on her, and she now held the right to make her own life decisions.
Still, the desire to let Ari make those decisions grew ever stronger and troubled her more than she cared to admit.
The constant to and fro of her wants and needs left her head near spinning.
She needed to stop dwelling on her dilemma.
Her head ached at the thought of trying to decipher what the gods meant when she knew they would reveal all to her when it was time for her to know.
Still, she longed for the chance to plead for relief from the tempest that refused to give her true peace.
Would a sacrifice such as she might be capable of making be enough to sway their compassion?
She frowned. Likely not.
The troubling thoughts scattered like ashes on the wind when Ari rose above her, spreading her thighs, his cock once again hard and straight.
***
Ari woke with a start, the haunting tendrils of a frightening dream leaving him gasping for breath.
Little of the dream remained, but instinct told him it related to his upcoming victory.
In his now tight embrace, Thora protested and squirmed.
He let loose a deep heaving breath, her warmth soothing, even as he sought to recall his dream.
Nothing came clear, except a shadowy image.
A woman. Thora? The vision was cloaked in a thick grey fog.
Somehow, though he couldn't be sure exactly he how, he knew her time walking Midgard approached its end.
Once more he hugged Thora tighter. He wouldn't allow that.
Surely there was more to his dream, something to confirm or deny his fears.
The shift of her head against his shoulder drew his gaze to hers, open wide and intent on him.
Heat slithered over his skin, the simmering fire having little to do with the rapid increase of temperature.
She slid her tongue along her lower lip and the half-rational thoughts baffling him vanished as desire took control.
A deep groan shook from him the moment before he took her mouth, sliding his tongue deep, as if somehow claiming her as his.
Her fingers dug into his arms, the sharp prick of her nails another torment to his lust-clouded thoughts.
The brief suspicion she was sent from Loki to trick him into some ill-fated turn skittered away as he tore his mouth from hers and slid his mouth along her cheek to the underside of her jaw.
The high-pitched sounds escaping her told him how his touch excited her and thrilled him further, his cock hard and hot and seeking her cleft, only inches away. Somehow, he pulled hard on the reins of his desire, knowing he wanted to savor her, taste her, in every way possible.
With a quick flip so she lay beneath him, he meandered his way along her throat, nipping and licking as she arched her head back, her fingers now tightening in his hair.
He welcomed the way the tug brought his awareness to greater heights, still, he wanted her helpless and pleading beneath him.
With a deep breath, he pulled himself away and reached for his belt.
The firelight revealed both disbelief and excitement to her dark eyes. "Why?"
"Because I would not have your touch distract me."
Her eyes widened and she sucked in a breath. "Not fair! You claim I owe you a debt, yet you won't let me repay it."
He paused, staring hard at her, then grabbed her wrists and held them together with one hand, wrapping the leather around them. She tugged, but the effort seemed half-hearted. He suspected she liked being under his control, much as her fiery nature might protest. He pulled her face close to his.
"You are repaying it. On my terms. Not yours."
"The day will come when you will repay me. On my terms."
He grinned. "I look forward to that day, ástin minn, though if it ever comes, will be a long time away."
Her eyes narrowed and instinct screamed a moment before she struck, driving her head against his. He easily evaded the move and laughed out loud, suspecting she had fought back simply to draw his ire. And his punishment.
He stretched her arms over her head. He reached for the dagger still resting beside their pallet and used it to stake her bonds to the earthen floor of the cave.
She tugged, but the position gave her little leverage.
Once he resumed his torment, he doubted she'd be capable of gathering the strength needed to free herself.
He knelt with one leg between hers. With slow, deliberate movements, he placed his hands on her hips and slowly slid them up her sides, his fingers stroking across her belly.
"What are you doing?"
He didn't answer, just continued his journey along her heated skin, noting the way her breathing came heavier, and the tips of her breasts hardened, drawing his gaze.
Sensing she wanted him to touch them, he didn't, instead tracing his fingers along the underside of her arm, drawing breathy giggles that rang through him like sunshine and fed the fire licking at his insides.
His cock throbbed, yet somehow he managed to resist the need to rise up and fill her.
"Damn you, Ari! I won't tolerate your cruel games anymore!" Her words devolved into a laughing shriek as he once again tickled the sensitive skin under her arm. She lurched against her bonds, but they held fast, keeping her vulnerable to his whims.
"How will you stop me, ástin minn?" Another flicking of his fingers had her biting her lip. A moment's pause and he ran his thumb along her lip, pulling it free.
"You will tolerate everything I choose to do to you." He leaned closer to her ear, letting his tongue slide along the soft flesh before catching it between his teeth in a gentle nip. "And you will like it."
Before allowing her to respond, he slid his mouth to hers, muffling her cries. Yet, she responded in a way that left his head spinning, her tongue dueling his, as if she hoped to spur him into intensifying his attentions.
He refused to be rushed, taking his time devouring her, his hands sliding along the sensuous curves of her body.
Blood roared in his ears while he meandered along her skin, following the trail his hands blazed with hot wet slides of his tongue and lips.
The only sounds Thora gave now were cries of delight, rising higher in pitch as he continued, pausing to fondle her breasts.
Gripping each lightly, he lowered his mouth to one hardened tip, circling it with his tongue.
She gave a little shriek and a violent quivering almost dislodged his hold. He chuckled, daring a glance at her.
She'd lifted her head and watched him, her eyes glazed with arousal, sharp pants of air escaping her lips.
With a wink and a grin, he gently sucked her tight nipple into his mouth.
Her eyes rolled back and she flopped back to the furs, her entire body shaking.
He scraped his teeth along the pebbled flesh and a strangled wail echoed in the cave.
He turned his attention to her other breast, drawing that into a tight peak as well.
He drew away and blew on her nipples before returning to his earlier journey.
Sliding down across her belly, he savored the slow ripple, using slow and gentle movements to tease her.
Her frantic moans and gasps filled the air and several times, after he'd let his tongue glide along the skin at the top of her mound, he swore she pleaded to Odin himself for release from the bane that was Ari.
This time, he let loose his laugh, before positioning himself between her spread legs.
The movement of her head coming up drew his attention. He gave her another wink.
"What are you doing?"
He shrugged, saying nothing, using his fingers to poke through the soft hair covering her pussy.
A moment later, a howl of delight filled the cave when his fingers glided along her hot slick flesh.
Her hips undulated wildly, her legs wrapping around his shoulders.
He continued the maddening caresses while parting her sex, holding her wide.