CHAPTER 9 — Promises , Promises
ROARG
I make love to the most dangerous female I’ve ever met: my tri?us-meet, my third wife.
And once the harshest of my sexual thirst is slaked with Joktepitha’s charms, I return her languid body to the kitchen, brush my teeth, kiss Ulda and Stephanie again, and haul Namak?ga off for a gentler bout of bed play before lunch.
Kissing my way up her back, I murmur, “I’m surprised you brought Stephanie home for me.”
“But pleased, I think,” Namak?ga says smugly. Knowingly.
“Yes,” I tell her, arm tightening, tugging her braid, which is clutched in my fist. My other hand is under her belly, holding it. Feeling our babe. “How much was her bride price?”
Namak?ga’s body tenses under mine. Her voice forces a casualness she can’t possibly think I’d believe. “Oh, it was... nominal.”
My eyes narrow.
Dragging her braid toward her ass, I draw her head back until her neck is bowed and her mouth is angled up to the sky, perfect for the taking. Take it, I do, arched over her. “I’ll have to torture it out of you,” I growl as I release my hold.
She yelps as I flip her without warning, and when I shove a pillow under her shoulders to prop her up above her belly, her eyes go wide as her gaze finds my threatening stare.
“Tell me what I want to know,” I warn her. My hand goes to the sweet morsel on her koekje, teasing it, making her buck and writhe. She’s been extra sensitive since she became pregnant. I almost feel cruel giving her this much direct pleasure.
Almost.
I make her come twice. I don’t remove my touch from her as I drag her to the end of the bed, and drop my foot down for leverage. “I’m going to skorbrijk you until you scream what I want to hear.”
“I bid,” she gasps, hand clutching my wrist, silently begging for me to stop caressing between her legs even as her hips jump to meet my touch. “Thirteen!” she gasps.
I pause. Thirteen coppers was nowhere near as bad as I’d imagined the bride price would be. For a female of Stephanie’s value? I was bracing myself for much worse. “Truly?” I ask.
She nods, eyes wild. “I did. I called out thirteen in front of the whole square, and everyone knew you’d strangle me when I got home.”
I search her face, then kiss her nose. “Nay, they didn’t think that. Not when they could see what a lovely gift you were saving for your husband. And you deserve a reward.”
Her breath catches, her eyes going molten. “I love it when you give me a reward.”
“Do you?” I murmur, leaning in to catch her lip, nibbling on it before I brush my beard across her jaw, which makes her arch back, baring her neck for me to bite.
I give her her reward until we’re both covered in sweat and she’s drowsy, in desperate need of a nap.
We’re lying on our sides, her stomach snug between us as I hug her close—and I hold her tightly to let her feel how much I mean my next words. “Don’t fall asleep yet.”
“If you have a desire you haven’t sated yet, you need to hurry,” she warns, yawning.
I tug her head closer and give her forehead a kiss, then angle her face back until she’s meeting my eyes. I search hers. “I forced Joktepitha to make me a promise.”
Her gaze turns wary.
Stomach tensing, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and curl over her until my cheek is pressed on top of her head. “You, my fanciful heart, I’ll ask to grant me one favor,” I whisper into her hair.
She stretches in my arms, kissing my chest. “Hmm?”
I take her face in my hand, waiting until she opens her eyes, making sure she sees I mean what I’m about to say. “Teach this one. Teach her well so that none of you have to take her from me. I already know I don’t want to lose Stephanie.”
“You mean don’t kill her.”
I stare deep into her eyes. “Do not kill Stephanie.”
Namak?ga rubs my arm, reassuring. “Take heart, Roarg. She’s made of different stuff. But we’ll try not to kill this wife.”