“I’ll be crippled,” Aaron declared.
“Do you prefer dead?” Onetooth countered, taking hold of his arm.
Rachelle covered her ears. She didn’t want to hear any more. She couldn’t get past thewoman I lovepart. It rolled off his tongue so easily, as if he’d said it many times before.
She watched nervously as Onetooth and Henry escorted Aaron outside, leaving her alone with Tyr.
They glanced at each other.
She couldn’t move a muscle for fear of betraying her feelings. “I’ve had no time with my Uncle. There’s so much to say to him, how can I think of anything else?”
Tyr bent down and whispered, “I want no more delays.” His arms claimed her. “Henry knows how important our reunion is,” he said. “I promise, oncewe’vefinished, I’ll take you to him.”
Her head rested against his hard chest. She clung to him, feeling safe and warm. This magnificent warrior wantedher… a broken orphan… a Christian.
“Are you all right?”
His warm breath made her stomach flutter. “I think so.”
“Shall I answer your question now?”
She gazed up at him in wonder. “What question?”
“The one that has troubled you all this time. Why I brought you here. I’ll say it only once.” He cupped her cheek. “You touched my heart, sweetling. Even when you were surrounded by violence and death, you demonstrated great courage. You never begged or groveled. Nor did you try to escape. You showed mercy to a man who could have killed you. You remained at my side while I honored my brother. I knew from that moment.” He tilted her chin, then brushed a tantalizing kiss across her lips. “I love you.”
She laid her hand across his chest, felt his strong and steady heartbeat. Joy heated her insides. Could happiness finally be hers?
“I want you,” he said hoarsely. “And I’ll spend forever proving it.” Tyr dropped to his knees. “Your Uncle has given his blessing. Marry me, merciful angel.”
Unable to complete a rational thought, she squeaked out a patheticyes.
He climbed to his feet, his expression severe. She wished she had been taught how to control her emotions and body. She felt the blood drain from her face. All she could think about was the last time he’d touched her. Those searing kisses—those gloriously large hands tickling and teasing. That enormous bulge between his legs. What would he do with that?
“Are you still afraid of me?”
“Should I be?” Her voice cracked.Yes, she thought,I fear everything about you. I fear most what you make me feel.
Their foreheads touched. “Damn you, woman. Do you know what you do to me when you look at me like that?”
If he only knew whathedid toher. His heated gaze elevated her to places she couldn’t reach on her own; above the moon and stars, quite possibly beyond the heavens.
He swept her off her feet, then carried her to the largest cot. He laid her down reverently, and then ran a strong hand over her stomach. Feather-light fingertips tickled her ribs and pinched the tips of her breasts. He moved slowly. His expression changed with every pleasure-filled moan she uttered. Why had she waited so long to welcome his affection? As her hands slid up his arms, finding the opening of his shirt, his body trembled.
She palmed his chest—loving the feel of flesh and springy hair. His lean, muscular body awed her. She couldn’t tear herself away if she wanted to. He purred under her shy ministration, encouraging her to reach deeper inside his tunic. With both hands, she fondled his hot skin, exploring the muscles that seized under her touch. She hadn’t thought herself capable of fully enjoying sensual pleasures. There’d always been mental obstacles in her way, her heart closed off from the rest of the world.
His deep voice vibrated in her ear. “I want to thrust inside you. Make you mine.”
She stared at him, silent.
“Do you know what I’m going to do to you, Rachelle?”
She knew what she wanted him to do, but dared not verbalize it. “No.” She still played the innocent.
“I think you do.” He hiked her skirts up, then nudged her legs apart with his hand. “I want to taste your sweetness,now.”
How could she do this with her Uncle only a few yards away? Oh no… she shouldn’t… she couldn’t.
Before further protest was made, he buried his face between her thighs. His beard scraped against her sensitive flesh.He stroked her stomach rhythmically, until she moaned with uncontrollable pleasure. She writhed and tossed her head, bit her lip to keep from screaming. A tongue and fingers shouldn’t be in the same place at the same time.Oh, sweet heaven.