Page 18 of Heart of Fire
But though the words hovered behind her lips, they didn’t crossthem.
What would it feel like, just once, to let a man kissher?
For a second that lonely urge pushed aside the ruthlessly practical voice in her head that told her she was being afool.
“Curious female.” His soft laughter caressed her lips. “Did you think I only decided you were mine when you dared me? You were mine the moment I laid eyes onyou.”
The brush of his mouth against hers tore her apart. Somehow her hands caught his upper arms. To push him away or to draw him closer? She didn’tknow.
A hail of rain drummed on the roof above her as Rurik tasted her breath. The brush of his mouth whispered against hers, back and forth. Drawing her in. Luring her. Tongue darting out to wet her lips. His assault was so tender Freyja’s shoulders relaxed, her fingers no longer digging into his arms. She couldn’t fight this slowseduction.
She didn’t wantto.
Heat speared lower, in her abdomen. Freyja moaned as Rurik stepped closer, his hard body pressing hers against the stable door and trapping her there. “Kiss me, Freyja. Kiss me,sarratumzamani.”
She didn’t understand the words, the way he rolled over them with his tongue, but she felt it shiver through her. His mouth opened overhers.
Rurik had power of his own. Power to shatter her defenses and leave her gasping. Freyja kissed him eagerly, hands sliding up his chest where she could feel the steady thud of his heart beneath her palms. Her first kiss, and it was divine.Hetasted divine, the scorching heat of his skin warming her all the way through. Suddenly she couldn’t getenough.
She wanted him all over her, inside her. Penetrating her. The sharp stab of the storm lashed over her skin, and Freyja opened herself to it, power crackling throughher.
The tips of her hair flickered with static. As if he felt the change in her, Rurik thrust his hips against her, hands shackling her wrists as he pinned them above her head. Hard lips captured hers, brutal and ravenous. No kiss to steal her breath, not this time. This was meant to own, to possessher.
And itdid.
Freyja threw her head back, breathless with need. Thunder rumbled through the building, the storm lancing the air outside. She felt it within her, lightning flickering along her nerves as Rurik’s roughened cheek rasped against her throat. Her heart pounded like a drum as his arms slid around her, bringing her into his powerful embrace. Hands slid up her back, locking her in place as his tongue darted down to the crevice between her breasts. The sharp nip of teeth stung against her tender skin, marking her. Freyja dug her fingers into his scalp, helpless toresist.
What was she doing? With a stranger, noless?
But then his hand slid over the black wool of her dress, cupping the unbound weight of her breast in his palm, and Freyja’s protest died on herlips.
For she was curious, despite knowing the danger to her reputation, her heart, her body, despite everything…. Not once had she ever felt such desire for a man.Just a little taste, she told herself. To see what he would do, how it wouldfeel.
Thunder cracked, rattling the iron sheeting on the roof. A drop of icy rain splashed across her face, shocking her. Then Rurik brushed aside the neckline of her dress, his hot mouth capturing hernipple.
There was no more thought of protest. Freyja gasped in shock, throwing her head back as his tongue traced torturous circles around the aching bud. Then his hands were beneath her bottom, hauling her up, moving her legs around his hips. His body nestled between her thighs, the hot surge of his erection brushing against herhip.
Yes. Yes.More.
“Curse you,” Rurik breathed, drawing back just a little. One hand thrust against the stable wall behind her for stability, the muscles in his forearm tightening. “I’m trying to go slowly.” He laughed, breathless as he nipped at her jaw. “You tastedelicious.”
Don’t stop. Freyja dug her nails into the hard muscle of hisshoulders.
“I won’t.” The rumble came deep from his throat, the sound trailing over her skin. Then his mouth captured hers again and though her mind fought to latch on to something, she couldn’t chase the thoughtdown.
Not with his hips thrusting against hers, the rasp of his buttons riding over the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. Not with his tongue pressing into her mouth, practically daring her to meet him back. Not with his hand sliding over the small of her back, and pressing her harder againsthim.
His erection brushed between her thighs, thick and heavy, and Freyja’s eyes shot wide open at the sudden shock of sensation that streaked through her. Outside, lightning flashed, the light searing her eyes as it flickered between the gaps in the timber door. All she could see were bands of light as she shut her eyes, her moan fading against the thunderous wind as Rurik’s body rode over hers, again and again, taking her closer to an edge she wanted to throw herselfoff—
A primal scream filled the air, echoing across her skin and rattling the roof of thestable.
Freyja felt Rurik freeze, his face lifting from hers and his hard body pinning her to the wall. Her heart thundered a ragged vibration in herears.
“What is it?” she whispered, her hands still clasping hisshirt.
He looked at her, eyes drugged and dazed in the low light, his body easing away from her. Wind battered the stables, another piercing war cry shattering the fury of the storm. It reverberated through the village like the call of an enormoushorn.
A chill spiraled all the way throughher.
