Page 84 of Captive

I kiss him back, pouring all my affection into the gesture. His lips part to allow his tongue entrance into my willing mouth. I moan, the sound muffled by his lips. His hand finds its way to my breast, and he kneads it, eliciting a gasp from me.

Torchlight sprawls around him as he looks at me with a gaze so intense, I’m sure he can read my affection for him.“Sol,” he says, his words husky. “I need you.”

I nod, my body already aching with the thought of him bedding me again.

Hector pulls the blanket away from my body, revealing my skin to his touch. He cradles my breast and grazes his lips over my hardened nipple. I gasp as a thrill shoots to my toes. His fingers trace circles around my breast before he eagerly moves to the other side, exploring me with a newfound hunger.

He enters me with an urgency that belies his control. I dig my nails into his back, my every nerve on fire with need as he moves his hips against mine.

As our rhythm grows more and more frantic, I lose myself in the moment, and the past fades. The memories. The pain. The grief.

Hector’s thrusts hasten, and I’m unable to contain myself a moment longer. I moan as my summit hits me like a wave, washing away everything but the pleasure radiating through me. He soon follows, his breath ragged with the force of his release.

He pulls away first and lies next to me. I stay still, not willing to disrupt the precious moment we carved out for ourselves.

If only I could spend every day like this. My body tucked close to his. Pleasure coursing between my legs.

It’s an impossible thought, yet it doesn’t stop me from longing for it.

* * *

Snow falls later that day as we continue our journey to Mharra. We arrive in the modest village as the sun rises high over the cottages made of limestone. The people stare as we pass. Some even wave when they spot Hector’s livery collar.

We stop at the last cottage on the main street. Hector dismounts, then helps me from Hale’s back. Thankfully, Luc recovered the horse after he bolted.

As we approach the cottage, I’m captivated by the flowers growing in several inches of snow. Delicate pink and white petals unfurl to reveal a golden center, their vibrant hues standing out against the stark white snow. I breathe in, appreciating their sweet fragrance. It’s enough to intoxicate any passerby.

Entranced, I lean closer to them and allow my fingertips to ghost over their velvety petals. Their softness surprises me. I had expected them to be brittle and frozen, but they are surprisingly pliant and alive. It’s as if they were created to defy the harshness of winter and to bloom with grace and elegance.

“Do you like them?” Hector asks with a smile.

“How?”

He smiles. “Tersah.”

The door opens, and a young woman steps outside. Her long blonde hair falls in waves around her delicate face, and her purple cotehardie hugs every curve.

“Hector!” The woman rushes to where he stands and embraces him. “It has been far too long since I have seen you.”

Jealousy blossoms inside me when Hector returns her embrace. He pulls back after a moment and nods at me. “This is my wife, Sol.”

She offers me a brief glance before returning her attention to Hector. “Why are you here in Mharra?”

“The Seer sent me.”

Tersah plays with the three gold bracelets on her wrist. “I go to Varra to enjoy the sea, and she calls out an army.”

A smirk pulls at Hector’s mouth. “Knowing you, Tersah, you weren’t in Varra to enjoy the sea.”

Tersah shrugs.

“Will you return with us?” Hector asks. “The Seer would like to see you.”

Tersah chews on her bottom lip as Hero dismounts and moves to where she stands. Deep dimples appear in her cheeks as she grins and embraces him.

“I should have known you brought this big lug with you.” She pulls away and looks at Hector.

“I cannot get rid of him.” Hector smiles. “He keeps following me everywhere I go.”

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