CHAPTER TWENTY
The excitement in her eyes mingled with worry. Hradi sought to reassure her and smiled, cupping her cheek.
“We'll go slow, I promise."
Katrin’s eyes glowed, the wariness fading.
He noted the way her breath hitched, an eager smile curving her beautiful mouth.
She reached for him, her hands moving over his chest. He closed his eyes, unable to completely suppress the shudder her touch elicited, her fingers scratching along his shoulders, sending his need to the heavens.
Kissing, her, holding her, watching her body bared before him had made him ravenous.
With her softly exploring touches, he feared he might lose control and take her before she was ready.
Gritting his teeth to hold back the ever rising desire, he determined to let her set the pace and tell him when she was ready.
All the while he held her stare with his own.
When her hands crept lower, seeking the proof of his need, he smothered a groan.
The knowledge of her effect on him shimmered in her gaze.
He had the errant thought that again she mocked him, but he didn't care.
With several steadying breaths, Hradi leaned over, claiming her mouth once again, pressing against her, his hand cupping her breast. He caressed, he teased, he pinched, each touch drawing a cry that vibrated through him, telling him that he affected her as much as she did him.
At that moment, he vowed to himself he would never let her go.
Before her seeking fingers reached his cock, throbbing with hunger, he shoved her hands away.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice soft and husky. Another pulse of need coursed in his veins.
"You drive me past temptation," he growled, leaning over to kiss her, claiming her with a masterful sweep of his tongue. A soft moan in the back of her throat revealed she was as hungry for completion as he.
He took her mouth again, sliding his fingers into her pussy, the flesh hot and quivering under his seeking touch.
Her needy cry echoed throughout him, her hips rising toward his hand.
For a few more moments, he continued to tease her, savoring the way her body trembled, her skin slick with the heat of passion.
Still kissing her, absorbing each moan and gasp, he shifted.
His cock now rested against her wet heat, tantalizing him and making it near impossible to hold back.
Her hands roamed over him, stirring him further, her soft touch a delight to his senses.
Still, he wasn't ready to have this end.
Hradi drew away, the tiny space between their bodies giving him the strength to contain himself.
Instead, he contented himself with trailing kisses along her neck, loving the way she arched her head, giving him greater access to her desire-slicked skin.
He needed to taste every bit of her, to mark her with his touch, his scent.
He bit lightly, hearing her groan, then soothed the sting with his tongue, drawing a low moan.
His name drifted on her sigh and the hazy need roared louder.
Somehow, he pushed it back, wanting and needing to make her wild with hunger before he claimed her completely for his own.
***
Katrin soon found her desire overtaking every sense, until her entire focus narrowed to Hradi. Though he had forced her to stop stroking his cock, she understood why. The very idea that he was lost in passion as much as she thrilled her further.
Her thoughts drifted away on mist when he lowered his head, enveloping one straining nipple with his mouth.
At the same time, his fingers slid slowly along her folds, intensifying each sensation, until she thought she might go mad with wanting.
He found all the sensitive spots of her sex, stroking and caressing and making her body heave with need.
She urged him to hurry, his low responding chuckle thrumming through her while he took his time exploring, until senseless garbled pleas for more spilled from her mouth.
Still he lavished her breast with fiery delight, finally moving on to the other, repeating his torment.
Katrin's cries grew more intense when he slipped a finger into her pussy.
Her hands, twisted in his hair, tightened on the braids, her body trembling with a fierce passion she'd not experienced before.
He stroked her slowly, sliding a second finger into her, then a third.
A breath later, his thumb brushed against her clit.
She felt as if she hung at the edge of a precipice, and he was the one who held her there, leaving her aching and desperate.
He lifted his head, fixing his stare on her. “Let it go, ástin minn.”
The low husk of his voice, accompanied by a harder press on her clit soon sent her hurtling over the edge, her vision going white as the delightful pulses began, growing ever stronger.
She writhed with the explosion, her pussy clamping hard on his hand, as if to keep him there forever, to extend this bliss until the end of her days.
His name echoed in the room and she realized it was her voice calling to him, begging for more while the waves of desire crashed over her, again and again.
After several minutes, she collapsed on the bed, her body shivering with the aftershocks. Hradi slowed his hand, still inside her, before finally pulling away. He drew away, sliding his fingers gently across her cheek.
"I cannot wait any longer."
"Nor can I." She met his gaze steadily, surprised at the doubt still clouding his eyes. "I mean it, Hradi. I want you to take me, make me yours."
After several more moments, the only sound their heavy breaths, the wariness disappeared from his stare, replaced with a wild eagerness that made her breath hitch.
Her hand crept toward his aching cock. She gave him a knowing smile, pleased to be able to make him feel as needy as he did her.
Holding his stare, her fingers closed around his length, the velvet of his skin a contrast to the steely hardness of his shaft.
His hoarse groan revealed the tenuous hold he had on his desire.
A sudden wickedness came over her and Katrin gave a gentle squeeze, moving her hand faster.
With a strangely strangled moan, he pulled her hand away.
"I am beyond my endurance."
The roughness of his voice only spurred Katrin's desire, the sweet ache building yet again.
"So am I," she confessed.
He grinned at her admission. A moment later, he sobered. "It will hurt."
"I know." Now she rested her hands upon his shoulders, digging her nails into his skin, bracing herself for what was to come. The earlier worry returned, adding to the maelstrom taking over every bit of her awareness.
He grabbed her chin and kissed her hard, chasing the alarm when his tongue dueled with hers. Again, he stroked her slickened sex. She cried out, her quivering body pressing against him, trying to tell him without words what she wanted. With a groan, he pulled away, rising above her.
Katrin very nearly impaled herself when Hradi simply rubbed the tip of his cock against her cleft, pausing. Holding her gaze, he inched forward. Despite her eagerness, she stiffened, causing him to hesitate. She cupped his face in her hands.
"Do it," she said.
He responded by driving into her. The burst of pain cut into her desire, drawing a sharp cry.
Instantly, he stilled. She gulped, her eyes squeezing shut to try and blind herself to the shock of the hurt.
With several heaving breaths, she managed to push away the pain, the awareness of being filled now taking over.
His hot shaft pulsed inside her, soothing the now-fading discomfort, transforming it to something else.
Something more. Something wild, primal. She wrapped her legs around his hips, drawing him deeper inside.
"You like that, don’t you?"
She could only nod in response, her heels pushing into his back. The feel of his cock enveloped in her sex made her hungry, desperate. She undulated against him; since she had no words to tell him what she wanted, she let her body's instinct take over.
After several moments, finally, gloriously, he made the softest movement, sliding away. Confused and fearing he would leave her, she clung to his neck, pushing herself harder against him. When he remained silent and motionless, she opened her eyes.
A warm finger brushed away the tear she hadn't even realized had slid from her eye.
The tender gesture unleashed a torrent of sensations and emotions she had no possible way to name.
Still, she felt his concern, realizing their intimacy strengthened her empathic powers.
An instant of dread faded. Laying with him did not take away her powers.
It enhanced them. Contrary to everything she had ever been told.
Unadulterated joy burst into her veins and she pulled his mouth to hers, kissing him with an excitement, an elation she had never before experienced. This man did not harm her, he strengthened her. Reinforced her powers, not weakened them. She gave a soft whine when he drew away.
"I am sorry."
"What?" Her intense emotions made it hard for her comprehend.
"I hurt you. I am sorry."
She grinned, loving these moments when he showed his true concern. "I'm not."
Once more, she dragged his mouth to hers, trying to convey the full strength of her passion with her lips. Drawing away, she met his gaze steadily. He remained silent. And still motionless. Frustration crept into her desire.
"It doesn't hurt anymore."
Finally, a sly grin curved his lips, the confusion in his gaze giving way to a feral eagerness that left Katrin breathless.
"Are you ready?"
The dare in his words set Katrin's body afire.
Before she had a chance to answer, Hradi gripped her hips, holding her still, drawing almost free of her body.
Her protest died in her throat when he thrust back into her.
When had she ever tasted such deliciously carnal delight?
Never. The realization vanished when he repeated the motion, her entire being honed in on the wicked pleasure bursting in her veins with every slide of his hard flesh.
Each stroke sent her surging higher, feeling as if she might truly take flight, borne on the wings of a searing sensuality, one to which she wanted only to surrender.
His mouth crashed onto hers again. The passion in the brutal kiss sent her hurtling into an abyss of pure bliss, her body rocking with elated forces.
Despite the roaring of her ears as she rode the crest of delight over and over, her name, shouted in his rough voice, cut into the tumult, intensifying each pulse of his hot cock moving within her.
On and on it went, until finally, spent, she fell still, the only movement her chest heaving with each breath.
Despite what they had shared before, this was unlike anything she had ever imagined.
Gathering her wits, she trailed her fingers along his shoulders and arms, noting the way he trembled, still holding himself carefully above her.
She pulled him close, needing to feel the heat of his body pressed against hers.
The guttural sound of his approval accompanied him burying his face into her neck, his harsh breath against her ear affirming he had been overcome in much the same way she had.
A sharp echo of delight rippled through her and her sex clenched, reminding her that his cock, now softening, still filled her. Completed her. When he slowly pulled free of her body, their disappointed groans rang in unison.
When he moved to tuck her against his side, she resisted, rising and wrapping her arms around her bent legs. Hradi lifted himself as well, confusion and annoyance lining his face.
"What is wrong?"
She hesitated, not sure how to explain the various thoughts and emotions racing through her. She closed her eyes and lowered her head, taking a deep breath, hoping it would clear her mind.
Finally, she met his wary gaze. How she longed for a glimpse of something, anything that hinted that her gift remained intact. Her faith of moments ago waned as the fire of passion slowly cooled.
"Katrin?"
The sound of her name uttered softly in his gruff and husky voice sent a tingle along her spine and reminded her he awaited her response.
"I was hoping to…" When she lowered her eyes once more, his fingers on her chin compelled her to face him once again.
"You wanted a vision."
She smiled and nodded, surprised by the burn of tears. "While we were… there were moments my… empathic skills seemed enhanced. Stronger."
She pressed a quick kiss to his lips, giggling at his surprise. "I believe it was because we… you know…"
He laughed briefly then sobered. "Your innocence is a pure delight, Katrin. I fear I may destroy it."
Another nod. "You might. But I still wish I might have a vision. Just… just to be sure."
He brushed her hair from her face, gently sliding his fingers through the locks. The sensation quickly stirred her desire anew.
"It will come." His words made her realize how easily she'd forgotten her worries, just with a simple touch.
"I will test it in the coming days."
He smiled, still toying with her hair. She pulled away, drawing a scowl.
"What is wrong?"
Katrin lay back against the furs. "I believe you said you would give me a good reason to stay."
For several moments, he just stared before his eyes widened, first in surprise then in delight.
"That is a challenge I fully accept."
She squealed in laughter when he moved over her, catching her wrists and pinning them above her head.
"You will beg me for mercy." He lowered his mouth to her neck but Katrin did not tell him her choice had already been made. There was plenty of time to reveal that. Truth be told, she rather anticipated savor his sensual onslaught.
"I love you, Hradi."
He paused raising his head to pierce her with his stare. A grin lit up his face.
"And I you, Katrin. I think since the day you sailed into Grindafell."
She nodded, her throat tight, too tight to speak. The devilish gleam creeping into his eyes sent sparks skittering along flesh.
"And now, I will make sure you never want to leave."
She remained silent, her breath coming in heavy pants. "Then what do you wait for?"
Once again, Hradi laughed, before lowering his mouth to hers in a forceful, claiming kiss.
THE END