Chapter Twelve
When Carice stepped back, revealing her body once again, Raine was gripped by the undeniable urge to drink in the sight of her.
He was held spellbound by her bare skin and the erect rose nipples that tightened in the cool air.
His body grew rock hard at the sight of her, needing to touch the body she offered.
But God help him, she would despise him for doing this. The moment she realized that he planned to give her into the hands of her enemy, she would look upon him with hatred.
And yet, he was utterly lost. She held him beneath her spell, and when she took his hands, he touched that beautiful skin.
“No,” he breathed. He did care, a great deal. “You weren’t wrong. But I have no right to be with a woman like you.” He wanted her more than his next breath. Craved her until there were no words. He drew his hands down her silken skin, down to the base of her spine and over the curve of her hip.
“I don’t care.” She took his hand and held it for a moment, her blue eyes holding him captive. “Be with me now. Show me what you feel.”
His body was burning with need, and he hungered to give her pleasure. Yet this woman, who had suffered so much, should not lose her innocence to a man like him.
“I will never marry,” she said. “I will never bear a child within this body. But before you leave me, I want to know what it would be like to have a lover.”
“Why?” His voice came out rough, revealing the caged frustration. “Why would you offer yourself to a man like me?”
“Because you fought for me, protected me. Because I see the way you are looking at me now, as if you want to love me.”
Dieu, how he wanted that. What he wouldn’t give to live the life of a normal man, to stay with this woman who raced along the ice and kissed him as if she needed him more than air.
Carice lifted her face to his. “Or am I wrong?”
With that, he was lost. With his mouth, he followed a trickle of water, as it outlined the curve of her breast. He tasted the wet skin, running his tongue to her nipple.
And when he suckled her, her hands dug into his hair, holding him close.
He ran his tongue over the hard nub, unable to stop himself from worshipping her.
Then he kissed a path to the other breast, running his tongue along the curves until he captured the second nipple.
He rolled the other with his thumb and forefinger, loving the taste of her.
“You aren’t wrong, Carice.” He moved back, reaching for the fallen length of soft linen. Her hair had come loose from its knot and the dark waves spilled over her shoulders and down to her hips. “I could spend hours touching you.”
“Then make me forget all else,” she whispered. “Let me imagine that you love me enough to stay.”
Her words undid him, making him wish to God he could ignore his orders and take her away. But he knew better than to envision what could never be.
“Hold out your arms,” he ordered. He took the length of linen and drew it over her, gently drying her back. He used the cloth to caress her body, over her breasts and belly.
He knelt before her, drying her bottom and the back of her legs. Then down to her feet, where he moved the cloth over her calves and up her inner thighs. She was trembling from his touch, but he didn’t care. He wanted her as aroused as he was.
As he continued to move the cloth over her skin, he realized that he could pleasure her without taking her virginity. The thought made his shaft tighten, and he realized that this was the most honorable means of touching her.
There was a chair near the fire, and he guided her there, seating her in a wordless command. The fire warmed her naked skin, giving it a golden cast. Her hair had fallen over her shoulders, and he moved it away from her bare breasts, needing to see them. “Open your legs for me,” he demanded.
Her blue eyes widened, and he didn’t miss the fear in them.
But although she hesitated, she parted her legs.
He held her ankles in both hands, lowering his mouth to her calves.
He kissed the delicate skin, moving up to her inner thighs.
When she arched her back, he imprisoned her legs, not allowing her to pull away.
Goosebumps prickled over her body, and he moved his attention to her other leg, kissing and licking the sensitive hidden places.
When he reached her intimate curls, with his mouth he breathed against her. A soft cry released from her lips. “Raine, I don’t know if you should—”
He cut off her words by kissing her opening, tasting the salt of her arousal. She tried to pull back, but he reached beneath her bottom and brought her legs to rest on his shoulders.
He was aching for her. The torment was rising higher, and he deserved all of the discomfort and more. But he was determined to pleasure her, to teach her how he could make her come apart. With his tongue, he worked the nodule of her flesh, suckling her and making her tremble.
But it wasn’t enough. Carice was fighting against the feelings, refusing to let go.
And so, he slowed down, pulling back. She was glistening wet, and this time, he kissed her nipple again, while he slid a finger inside her.
She groaned at the sensation, and he caressed her from within while he used his thumb against her hooded flesh.
“Raine, I don’t—oh, please,” she begged. She was nearly frantic for the release he could give her, and right now, all he wanted to do was fill her with his finger, thrusting as he coaxed her toward the edge.
Her body was trembling, and she met his gaze with her eyes. In them, he saw the yearning, and she whispered, “Don’t go back to the Normans. Promise me.”
He couldn’t speak the words, for he was bound by duty. There was no answer he could give, so instead, he suckled hard against her nipple and she let out a shuddering breath, shattering as her body gave in to the overwhelming wave of release.
He reveled in her pleasure, holding her as she gripped his shoulders. Her expression, of a well-pleasured woman, only drove his arousal toward the point of pain.
Carice gathered her senses and touched his face. “Kiss me.” He did, and was dimly aware of her hands moving over his clothing, loosening the laces. “Take off your armor and tunic.”
He paused a moment, but she said, “I want to feel my bare skin against yours. Don’t deny me that.”
He was so lost, he couldn’t have refused her if he’d wanted to. When the barriers between them were gone, he groaned as she pressed her breasts against him. Mon Dieu, she felt so good. He could spend all night loving her and never regret a moment of it.
Carice took his hand and led him toward the bed. He didn’t protest, but she helped him remove his boots. Then her hands paused at his waist in a silent question.
“Will you let me touch you?” she asked. “Please?”
He knew that she wanted more than he could give. But if he merely allowed her to touch him and caress him, there was no harm in it. So long as she held the power and he surrendered to her will, he could let go of the voices in his head.
She will hate you when she learns the truth.
If he dared to claim what he wanted most, oui, she would. But if he left her untouched, he could live with his decision.
And so he nodded, letting her do as she would.
Carice’s heart was pounding as she touched her hands to Raine’s chest. He stole her breath with a magnificent body she wanted to admire. His muscles were tight, like a figure carved of marble. And though she hadn’t missed the troubled expression in his eyes, she wanted this night with him.
Her body was aching and wet, needing to complete the act of lovemaking. She was beyond all thoughts of shame or hesitation. All she knew was that she wanted this man, and she believed with all her heart that she could change his mind.
He didn't have to betray her or bring her to the High King. If he cared for her at all, there was still time for him to take her away. And she would not hesitate to use every last moment to convince him.
She ran her hands over his pectoral muscles, over his chest, and down his ribs.
His manhood was erect and jutted out from his hips, and she imagined what it would be like to take him inside her.
The very thought made her remember the intense pleasure Raine had given her earlier.
She wanted to give the same back to him.
“Lie down,” she ordered, pressing him toward the bed.
When he did, his erection rested against his stomach.
It was so thick and hard, she couldn’t resist touching it with her palm.
The look of fire in his eyes made it clear that he liked what she was doing.
She stroked him, marveling at the velvety heat of his shaft.
As she continued to move her hand upon him, his face contorted as if she were tormenting him. “Am I hurting you? Shall I stop?” She worried that she might be squeezing too hard.
“It will only hurt if you do stop,” he managed. As she stroked him, he began arching his hips in a rhythm. And she began to imagine how it would feel if he were thrusting within her.
I want this. So badly.
She paused a moment to straddle his body, then resumed what she was doing. He closed his eyes, and at that moment, she pressed his blunt head to her entrance. She was so aroused, the shallow invasion made her moan. The feeling of his rigid shaft sliding inside was more than she could bear.
Raine seized her waist and his green eyes had turned to stone. “Stop, Carice. You don’t want this. Not from a man like me.”
In answer, she pushed herself lower, ignoring the slight pain as he breached her innocence. “Yes. I do.” She surrendered her virginity to the man she wanted, binding him irrevocably to her.
When he was buried deep inside her, there was no going back. Slowly, he sat up, remaining embedded inside her. “I never meant to claim you like this.”