CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The play of emotions on Thora's face told Ari of the chaotic thoughts assailing her.
For a moment, he thought about telling her more of his skills and plans, but doubted she would welcome any explanations.
Not yet. But he'd seen the compassion in her eyes, even as she'd fought to maintain her angry demeanor.
He couldn't blame her. He had lied, had intended to use her, still did, and understood how she must feel betrayed.
His remorse ate at him, likely because his feelings for her had grown.
After the confrontation with his brother, the idea of being apart from her, for any reason, had roused a greater pain than the one he'd known when he'd been banished.
Not that he'd tell her that. If she knew what lurked in his heart, if she believed him, it would give her the power to tear him apart in the worst way.
He wanted her to stand by him, support his goals, and stay with him once he was again a feared and honorable warrior.
Why did he so badly want that to be her choice?
Because if he forced her, he would never be sure of her true feelings for him.
He held back his roar of frustration, his thoughts veering to the romantic notions of women.
Had Thora cast some spell leaving him unsure as an untried boy, or did Odin and the other gods test him in some way?
No matter, he would not reveal such weakness. If Thora, or anyone else, knew how he felt, knew his desperate need to keep her safe, they would use the flaw against him, possibly destroying his chance to be redeemed. No one would keep him from restoring his honor.
Not even Thora.
As he swallowed the last of his fish, he reached for the waterskin at the same time as Thora.
Their hands brushed and she snatched her fingers away before he could capture them with his.
He wondered if she intended to refuse him tonight.
Part of him hoped she would, so he could render her helpless and focus on showing her just how much lay between them.
Until he was free to tell her he cared, the only way he could demonstrate what he felt was with his body.
He lifted the skin, his gaze holding Thora's as he took a long drink.
He handed the skin to her and he noted how careful she was to avoid touching him this time.
He let her have the small victory. Later, he'd have her surrender.
"Do you wish to return to the stream to bathe?" he asked, keeping his tone casual.
She nodded. "I would like to. Kati will go with me."
He shook his head. "No, I will go with you."
She scowled, her eyes narrowing. "You think I will flee?"
"I'm not willing to take the risk. I will bathe with you."
Pink bloomed in her cheeks, her dark eyes taking on an eager note. Did she not know how clearly the feelings shone in her every expression? She lowered her head, then turned to her wolves.
"I must check them first."
He said nothing as she rose and walked over to where her pets lay.
To his view, the she-wolf seemed almost healed.
Part of him wished the animal had been more severely injured.
A moment later, he scolded himself for the callous thought.
His own selfishness roused that thought.
Logic warned he would have had a more difficult time seducing Thora had the wolf been more grievously harmed, at least in the beginning.
Besides, the injured animal assured she wouldn't flee, even though he'd declared his doubts about that.
The way the anger flashed in her eyes excited him and he couldn't stop himself from taunting her to gain the reaction.
His gaze settled on her back when she knelt beside the animals, the two wolves well-fed by the male's hunt for meat. He'd brought back several squirrels and a couple of hares. Both wolves had eaten heartily, as well as Ari and Thora had.
Finally, Thora rose, hesitating several moments before turning to face Ari. She held herself straight, chin high.
"I'm ready."
Ari grinned and stood. A wicked notion rose.
She would be furious, but he knew just how to turn that anger into scorching desire.
He motioned her closer and she obeyed, albeit hesitantly, as if she sensed his intentions.
He waited until she'd stepped around the fire to stand right before him.
A second later, he'd retrieved the rope from his belt and looped it around her wrists before she realized what he'd done.
She recoiled, her eyes sparking with rage. He pulled on the trailing end of rope, forcing her near.
"Bastard!"
He grinned. "Maybe. Or am I just using caution? You might try to drown me."
He ignored her spluttering reply, turning and leading her out of the cave.
She gave a resistant tug, but ultimately fell into step.
His ears burned, the curses she flung at him matching those of any warriors he'd known.
If the gods honored any of the promises she made to destroy him, he would spend his afterlife in Helheim, rather than Valhalla.
When they reached the stream, he sat down on the bank, using the rope to compel Thora to do so as well.
He said nothing, merely held his leg out and pointed to his boot.
"Remove your own boots," she snapped. She turned her back toward him, stirring a chuckle.
"I want you to do it." He tugged on the rope, but she refused to face him.
"I can't, not with the way you've bound me."
Another pull on the rope, this one harder, gave her no choice and he kept pulling until she had turned to him once more.
"Do you remember when you agreed to follow my orders?"
"I never agreed to be treated like a slave."
"You belong to me, and are to heed my very command."
"You're an arrogant pig! I don't know why I –"
The remaining daylight highlighted the delightful blush creeping up her cheeks. What had she been about to say? She pressed her lips tightly together, clearly an effort to keep those words unspoken.
"Why what?"
She refused to answer, her cheeks darkening to scarlet.
For a moment, the hope she possessed a real caring for him rose up before he tossed it aside, disgusted in himself for the weak desire.
Instead, he focused on the need to assert his dominance, taking another step and quickly cupping the back of her head to draw her toward him.
Her resistance started out strong, but he was stronger, and the moment his lips brushed against hers, the defiance faded and she responded to the kiss.
In response, he swept into her mouth, gliding along the heated velvet of her tongue in an effort to stake his claim.
A tiny moan escaped her. At that moment, she once more tried to pull away, but he tightened his fingers in her hair, holding her close.
He should have expected the sharp bite she gave.
Despite the sharp discomfort in his tongue, he pulled away chuckling.
"You test my patience. I think you do it on purpose."
She said nothing, her angry eyes narrowed on him, her bound hands held up in front of her as if to ward him off. He leaned close once more, but didn't stop her this time when she backed away.
"You know I will have to punish you for that."
He suspected she tried to hide it, but he noted the tiny shiver that swept over her, the way her breath hitched.
So she anticipated his reddening her ass?
What would she say when he used that pleasure against her?
For tonight, she would be begging him for her pleasure.
Before he finished with her, she would promise him anything he desired in order to reach her climax.
He could hardly wait to get back to their shelter.
***
Thora wondered at the devilish glint in Ari's eyes.
Thankfully, he'd given up the idea of having her disrobe him, for he tugged his boots off himself before standing and stripping out of his trousers and tunic.
He kept his back to her, and despite her intentions to ignore him, her gaze was drawn to his bare shoulders, powerful and broad, down his back to the tight muscles in his ass.
She closed her eyes, pleading with Freyja to take pity on her and make her immune to his sensual allure.
When she opened her eyes again, he faced her.
She deliberately kept her gaze upon his, knowing if she looked anywhere else, her determination to stand against him would waver.
No, not waver. Crumble into dust. She didn't want to let him know how much she wanted his touch, his kiss, his hard shaft filling her.
Yet she knew the moment he touched her again, she might very well reveal the depth of her longing.
When he moved to stand right before her, she straightened her spine and lifted her chin.
Surrendering was not an option. His devilish grin gave her the idea he knew exactly what thoughts ran through her mind.
Still, she held her ground when he reached for her, surprised when he sliced through the ropes holding her wrists together.
A moment later, his fingers were on her brooches, loosening them and sliding the smokkr off her shoulders.
She sucked in a deep breath when he then slid her undertunic down.
A cool breeze arose at that moment, sliding across her bared breasts and sending a small shiver through her.
Soon, her clothing lay in a pile around her feet.
Still silent, he caught her hand and led her to the water's edge.
The darkening sky somehow made him seem larger, more overpowering, and at the same time, the now-familiar comfort settled upon her.
Knowing she felt safe with him was a dangerous reality to face, but at this moment, there was no ignoring it.