Chapter 21 Rychell
Rychell
My mouth goes dry. He’s already hard, his hot erection pressing my stomach.
Blessed Stones, he is massive. Heart pounding so strongly that he must feel it too, I tilt my head back and part my lips slightly.
Halvard’s free hand cups my face, and his thumb smoothes my jawline, sending shivers down my body.
My breath catches when he lowers his head and sets his mouth on mine.
His tusks are cool to the touch. I wondered if they’d be in the way, but he knows exactly what he’s doing.
One tusk caresses my bottom lip as his tongue slips into my mouth.
I shudder as I kiss him back. His hand keeps my chin lifted, and he drops soft kisses down my cheek.
The hand cradling my cheek moves to my throat, then to the back of my neck as he draws his tusks over my pulse point and down to my collarbone. I’m already soaked for him.
No one has ever affected me like this. Maybe it’s because I feel so safe with him.
This is Halvard. I’ve known him for ages.
We haven’t been close, but he’s been around, helping folks in town, working hard, always up for a song in the tavern or a toast to someone’s new youngling or new business.
He’s a good male and a very, very excellent kisser.
Halvard’s mouth finds my ear. He nibbles the lobe, which sends waves of heat through me.
“We can simply kiss if that’s what you prefer.”
“You think I’m made wrong, don’t you? Because I’ve never been tempted enough to lie with a partner.”
He presses his head against mine, and when he turns his head this way and that to indicate no, his beard tickles my nose.
“There is not a single fault in you, Rychell. I promise you that.”
Giddiness fills me like a bubbling glass of northern cider. “I promise you you’re mistaken. I have loads of faults.”
“I won’t hear that kind of talk,” he says gruffly.
His erection presses against me, and my body thrums with desire. His tongue touches the top curve of my ear, and his tusk dusts over the sensitive skin there. I melt into his body. We fit neatly, as if we were designed for one another.
“If we’re going to do this, I want to do it all,” I say in a rushed whisper.
I feel his smile against my neck, where he is now focused on the hollow of my throat, his tongue darting out to give me more wonderful shivers.
“All right then.”
He pulls away, and I wonder what I’ve done wrong before I realize he’s removing his cloak. Setting it on the floor of the cave, he gestures for me to lie down. I do, my hands trembling. Is this a huge mistake?
On one knee, he eyes me. “One word, and I’ll see myself to the other side of the cave.”
“No. No, I want this. I want to try it. We have to diffuse this tension, or I’ll never be able to move forward.”
“Defuse it. Aye. Of course.” There’s a smile in his voice.
He lowers himself onto me, keeping some of his weight supported on an elbow.
His mouth finds my collarbone, and he kisses me carefully like he wants to ease my pounding heart.
Shots of fire travel down my torso, and my thighs tense as heat rises in my core.
One of his massive arms loops around me and lifts, drawing me toward him.
He glances up at me through his thick, coppery lashes, a question in the bronze depths of his eyes.
His focus goes to my breasts, and then he looks at me again.
“Oh, yes,” I say, ridiculously breathless with the effort of speaking. I’m only feelings, no thoughts, and nothing matters beyond us right now.
With a hook and flick of a tusk, he has my corset untied.
He nudges my dress down, then he licks the top of one breast, his hot tongue sending shooting blazes of pleasure down my flesh.
He lowers me and leans in. I can’t breathe, but for some reason, it’s perfect.
He slides my dress farther down and takes one nipple into his mouth.
My head falls back, and I moan, lost to the sensation of warmth, tingling, and surging desire pulsing through me like I have become the storm outside.
His free hand takes my other breast and teases it with soft brushes of his large fingers, and the combination of kissing and touching is making my entire body shake with need.
“Is this some kind of orc magic?” I ask, the words nearly inaudible because it’s too difficult to speak.
He huffs a laugh against my chest as his hand smoothes its way down my body to take the hem of my skirts. “No, this is a strong attraction.”
“You’ve felt this intensely with others you’ve been attracted to?”
“No. Not like this.” His gaze spears me. “You are very special to me. I’ve never been so…” He shakes his head, then looks at me with fire in his eyes.
Leaning back, he lifts my foot and begins removing my boot and stocking. His gentle movements are enough to send more fire into my veins. With the stocking removed, he lifts my leg and angles his head to set a kiss in the crease behind my knee. I shudder and grasp handfuls of the cloak beneath us.
“You like my knee?” I gasp out.
He nods and kisses the same spot once more. “Every part of you.”
No one has ever spoken to me like this. I didn’t think it was possible. Tales of courting are always so exaggerated, so foolish. But what if they’re not? What if everyone feels like this when they’re…
I almost thought the phrase “in love.”
I press my eyes shut and push away the worry.
Halvard removes my other boot and stocking. He draws his fingertips up my legs until I’m squirming with delight at the sensation.
He tugs at my skirts gently. “May I?”
I nod. He lifts my dress’s thick skirts, and his hand moves up my thigh.
Shivers crash over my skin in the wake of his touch.
He keeps his eyes on me as his fingers find the tie of my lacy undershorts.
I nod again. The tie is quickly undone, and his hand is slipping into my shorts.
I swallow, feeling so hot and weak, like I’m sick, but for some reason, it feels amazing.
His finger grazes the tender skin below my navel and shifts farther down until his thumb is notched low and his fingers are curving slowly right where I want them.
I’m biting my lip to bleeding and rolling my hips to meet the pressure of his hand.
A climax is building in me. It’s not like the ones I have on my own.
This is far more intense. Heated. Powerful. I feel drunk.
My head always defeats the desires of my heart and body. But not now. No, my body and heart are teaming up on my head and driving out worries and plans and contracts.
“I want you,” I say quietly.
He kisses me, his hand moving against me still. “First, you need to finish. That way, you’ll be prepared for my body.”
I don’t have the room in my head to think about what he means exactly.
All I am is a whirlwind of pleasure, making the most foolish sounds, I’m sure.
His next kiss is deep and not as gentle, like he is having a difficult time going slowly and not simply taking me.
My blood sparks within me. I fall over the edge of sensation and cry out.
He cradles me and strokes my neck and down over one breast while I try to catch my breath.
“You’re the most lovely creature, Rychell. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. I will never stop thanking the Blessed Stones for allowing me even this one moment with you.”
The sweep of his strong hand over my chest is stoking the flame of my desire again. My core aches with need.
“Halvard, I want you.”
“And I, you.”
He moves down to slip my undershorts off, and he rucks up my skirts fully.
With a grace that I would have thought impossible for someone so bulky and big, he shifts his weight so a good bit is pressed into me.
His proud erection weighs on my thigh, hot and far larger than I had even guessed.
He sets himself at my entrance and locks his gaze on me.
An intense wave of desire crashes over me.
I want him to fill me up, to join with me in every way possible.
I feel so safe here with him. I know he’d never let anyone or anything disturb us. His presence is a gift.