Page 63 of Warrior's Captive
He stopped in front of her and settled a hand on the top of her uterus, feather light. The baby chose that moment to shift, and he made a noise.
The emotion in that noise struck her. She glanced up at his expression. His eyes were shut tight, a look of almost pain crossing his face.
“Tai’ri?”
He opened his eyes. “I never thought I’d feel this.”
Something was there, a feeling she was able to sense. An old anguish in his voice. “Tai’ri?” This time his name was partial question, partial demand.
“When I was young, I was in a relationship,” he murmured. “It wasn’t happy, but I tried. She became pregnant.”
Vivian inhaled, surprised. She knew he didn’t have any children, so what . . . ?
“She miscarried. I held the baby for a few moments. She fit in the palm of my hand.”
“Oh, Tai’ri, I’m so sorry.”
He met her gaze. “You don’t know how much this child means to me, Viv.”
“This baby isn’t your lost little one.” She spoke as gently as possible. He couldn’t use this child as a way to heal old grief.
“I know,yada’ami.” He kissed the top of her head. “But itismy child. A new chance.”
Tai’ri nudged her toward the bed and she climbed awkwardly on top, settling on her side. “Now what?”
“Now I give you a massage,” he said, lips on her shoulder. “I know you’re tired.”
“But—”
“Quiet, female. Let me take care of you.”
He already did, in so many ways. Vivian bit back a moan when strong fingers dug into her back and spine with expert pressure. He worked the worst of the tension from her muscles, neck and shoulders as well. Her entire body relaxed and her eyes drifted shut as she wallowed in the feel of his hands on her skin.
“This has got to be better than sex,” she said.
He snorted. “You don’t set the bar high. That makes my job easier.”
Another kiss on her shoulder, and she felt her bra give way, the strap pulled down as his weight settled on the bed behind her.
“Yes?” His hand inching towards her breast. She nodded, and he cupped her flesh gently, massaging that as well. Her pleasant glow evaporated, her entire body tensing as he plucked at her nipple, teeth nipping her earlobe.
She shivered, tingling all over. “Tai’ri.”
“I know,yada’ami. How about this?”
Vivian’s breath came faster as his hand left her breast, sweeping down her body, under her uterus. She wore loose bottoms with a simple waistband, and his fingers slipped beneath, finding the curls between her thighs.
“Here,” he said, and moved slightly, grabbing a pillow and placing it between her knees.
Then his fingers found her clit, delving between her folds and fondling the bud as her hips involuntarily bucked. Yadeshi women must have similar anatomy, because he touched her as if he knew what he was doing.
Vivian moaned as he played her body, stoking a fire deep inside that her body clamored to have quenched.
“Let go,yada’ami,” he said, voice a deep growl. “You don’t know how sexy you sound.”
She must, since his hardness pressed against her backside. But there was none of the grinding she might have expected; tension ran through his body, his control exquisite. She grabbed his wrist as her orgasm rose, crested, wanting him inside her body. Her already strained muscles clenched, but she didn’t care.
“More?” he asked. “You have to tell me. Tell me what you want me to do to you.”
