Chapter 1 #3
In the near darkness of the room, she saw his chin dip. His fingers tightened around hers and he led her to his sleeping pallet on the other side of the room.
She stripped his tunic over his head and tossed it towards a stool against the wall. It crumpled on the ground. She ran her hands over his broad shoulders, across his hard chest, down the rippled plain of his abdomen; her fingers memorizing every corded muscle.
While Alina explored his body, Garamaros undid the broach at her neck that held her cloak. It huffed onto the floor.
Hurry, hurry. She couldn’t wait any longer. Alina released the belt around her waist and peeled her long tunic from her body.
Garamaros groaned and lowered his head to suckle her breasts, circling each nipple with his tongue. Arousal flared deep in her belly.
While one of his big hands splayed at her waist holding her in position for the onslaught of his mouth, his other hand slid over her sensitive skin, doubling her neediness. A moan escaped her.
She had to have him. Had to be closer to him. Had to feel him inside her.
Alina ran her hand across Garamaros’s belly, glorying in the feel of the work-hardened muscles under smooth skin.
Her fingers worked his leather belt undone, and his trousers fell away.
Her hand travelled lower, following the narrow path of fuzz until she reached her goal and cradled his thickened cock.
His lips blazed a trail upwards heating her skin until his mouth ravaged hers, igniting her body.
Her tongue stroked his. Her teeth nipped his bottom lip. Their harsh breathing was the only sound in the silence of the hut.
Garamaros lowered her onto the fur-covered, goose-down mattress on his sleeping pallet.
He knelt before her and tugged the soft leather boots from her feet.
She reached for him, but he avoided her hands.
Then his lips pressed against the tender skin of her instep.
She shivered in anticipation. Garamaros slowly licked, nipped and kissed a trail of lust upwards—ankle, calf, the back of her knee, then her inner thigh, which he gave special attention, slowing his journey.
The need within her grew with his every caress. She squirmed on the sleeping mattress, restless for more. “Don’t stop,” she gasped.
He chuckled. Then his hot breath was on her. His tongue found her core and worked its magic. Sensation overwhelmed her. Soon her body exploded into pinpricks of pleasure and she moaned her release.
Alina slumped into the mattress, her limbs jellified, her mind woolly and her body replete.
Sated, she grinned at Garamaros. She could just make out his features, his intent look, his smile, in the dim light. She lifted her heavy arms to pull him towards her.
He shook his head. “Not yet,” he whispered, his voice thick with arousal, and resumed his journey. His licks and kisses crossed her belly, circled her breasts, laved her nipples.
The pleasure was exquisite torture.
She wanted, needed him, inside her. Now!
He kissed up her neck and she shivered with need, then his lips found hers and their passion flared. She urged him closer with her knees and moaned with satisfaction as their bodies joined.
They rocked together. His thrusts sent her heart rate spiraling higher. Alina thirsted for more, strained for more.
Her breathing became ragged. Their bodies pounded together, questing for fulfilment. This was what she wanted…and needed. Not just now, but for eternity. With Garamaros and only Garamaros.
Finally she gasped her release.
His followed swiftly. As always, they were in perfect harmony.
Garamaros dragged in a ragged breath and eased away.
She lamented the loss of his weight. He pulled her close, her body aligned against the length of his—in a hug that enveloped her.
Alina sighed and snuggled against his hard chest. They held each other this way for long moments.
Would she ever experience such contentment again?
More precious time passed then Garamaros kissed her gently. “My love, you must go now—before you are found to be missing. And then discovered here.”
“I can’t.” The hopelessness of her future crashed down on Alina again, like the bleak despair that follows the death of a loved one.
“You must. Your family and your people depend upon it.”
The tears that she had held back for so long leaked from her eyes. “But I will never see you again.”
He shook his head. “We cannot be together like this again, but I will visit you at Mai Dun, during my travels around the southern settlements. To make sure you are… content.”
A tight band squeezed her heart. “I don’t know if I can bear the pain of seeing you if I can’t love you like this.”
He leaned up on one elbow, seeking her eyes in the dim light. “You can. You are stronger than you think. I will visit Mai Dun and endure the pain of seeing you because I need to know that you are well in the world.” His look was fierce with determination.
Alina’s stomach hollowed out at the thought of their impending separation. She nodded. “I will wait every day for the sight of you. I will never stop loving you.” She pushed up the strands of dark hair that had fallen over his eyes and traced his brow with a trembling finger.
“Nor I you.” Garamaros hugged her tightly against him.
She clung to him, letting the sensation of him surrounding her burn into her memory, to hold onto it forever.
With a sigh, he released her and rose from the pallet, helping her up. “Now we must dress. I will escort you to the chieftain’s house.”
They pulled on their clothes by the light of the moon, not wishing to bring attention to themselves by lighting a rush light so late at night. He refastened the clasp that held her cloak together.
Outside, all was quiet in the settlement.
They slipped out of the hut and headed towards her father’s roundhouse. As they edged closer to the building, torchlights appeared near the main gate to the east.
“Something is going on,” Garamaros hissed.
Alina’s heart beat hard against her ribs. “They must be looking for me. Don’t come any further.” She pulled him into the shadow of an apple tree and kissed him hard. “Farewell, my heart.”
Garamaros reached into his tunic and pulled something from it.
“I made this for you. Wear it for as long as you love and remember me. You need to be as brave as a warrior in the future, so this is fitting for what you will face in your new role as queen.” He pressed a circlet of metal into her hand.
A golden torc, such as warriors wore, but lighter, made from fewer twisted strands of gold.
The circle of gold glowed dully in the moonlight. “I’ll treasure it forever.” She fitted it around her neck, then ran her fingers over the twisted strands of precious metal.
More torches flared near the gate. In haste, Alina kissed Garamaros once more.
“Farewell, my only love,” he said and turned away.
After tonight, would she ever gaze into his moss-colored eyes again? Hold his hard body to hers? Kiss his questing lips? Or hear his minstrel’s voice?
Alina watched his retreating back until he disappeared into the murky darkness, then she crept forward to the doorway. The warriors were no longer there. Nor were the servant women. By the gods, they must all be searching for her!
Alina hastened through the entry of the roundhouse towards her sleeping chamber. Rigana would surely be waiting for her, ready to greet Alina with her customary smirk when she was marched back by their father’s warriors. Better face her quickly. Alina filled her lungs then pushed the curtain aside.
Rigana wasn’t there.
Alina expelled the air bottled in her chest. She had made it back unchallenged.
Quickly she undressed, washed, and slid under the bedclothes.
Had Rigana betrayed her and told their father of Garamaros, or had she just raised the alarm that Alina was missing from her bed?
Surely, if her sister had told of Alina’s tryst with the beadmaker, her father would have searched Garamaros’s house?
She was uncertain what would be said next morning about her disappearance.
Her heart ached from the loss of Garamaros. If only she could gaze into his green eyes again.
The turmoil of her emotions was too much for Alina to bear, tears coursed over her cheeks and she struggled to quiet her mind enough to sleep. That quest failed.