Page 79 of Storm of Desire
Challenge lit through her. One kiss, and she'd have him. She knew it. She'd always known it. But that seemed too easy. He demanded her surrender, and some part of her wanted to giveit.
A means to saysorry.
Árdís bent her head forward, resting her forehead against the wall. "One night. Do what you want withme."
Soft lips skimmed the sensitive skin at her nape. "Don't temptme."
A fist curled in the hem of her chemise, dragging it up until her thigh was bared. Her mouth went dry, and she must have moved, for his other hand was suddenly in her hair, pinning herthere.
"No," he breathed. "I didn't give youpermission."
She found herself splayed against the wall, her full breasts aching and her palms pressed flat. Árdís turned her head to the side, her cheek flush against the timbers. She didn't know why she liked it so much, but her breath came in sharp ragged pants, and she wanted so desperately to spread her legs. To invite histouch.
"Oh, gods." She couldn't move. Could do nothing but submit. "Haakon."
"What's wrong,Árdís?"
A mocking little whisper, as if he knew all too well what afflictedher.
Lips traced her hairline, his body pressed firmly against hers. "You know I'm a patient man," he murmured, his tongue tracing the shell of her ear and his breath hot. "I've spentdaysimagining what I'd do to you when I finally got my hands uponyou."
"A bit presumptuous, wasn't it?" sheteased.
A tongue darted out and stroked the lobe of her ear, and then he suckled it into hismouth.
It wasn't as though his mouth was between her legs, but her thighs clenched, arousal making her wet andneedy.
A callused hand curved down over her breast, kneading it. Árdís's hips ground back against him, her breath coming with a shorthitch.
"I don't know," he murmured, his stubble grazing her jaw as his straining erection pushed against her bottom. "You tellme."
Teeth nipped at her throat, and then his thumb was tracing slow torturous circles around her nipple. He pinched her there, rolling it between thumb and forefinger until she could barely see. Barelybreathe.
Sweet goddess. Her mind went blank, and her spine arched. More. She wantedmore.
An insistent knee pressed between her thighs. Finally. She cried out as the slick feel of his leather-clad thigh pressed againsther.
"Beg me." His hips gave a teasing thrust against her, his palm sliding down between her body and the wall to cup her between the thighs, fingers rough against her naked skin. "Do you want this, Árdís? Do youneedthis?"
Sinking her teeth into her lower lip, she moaned, her hips flexing as she sought to drive his hand lower. Those fingers were a mercilesstease.
"Beg," he repeated, slipping two fingers between her folds, parting her, but not quite giving her what shewanted.
Defiance flashed within her. She shook her head, feeling his palm come around to capture her mouth, as if to hold a scream withinher.
"You're so bloody stubborn," hesnarled.
Likewise.
Sinking her teeth into his hand, she felt him laugh against her back, the rumble of it rocking through his chest. "You always did have to challenge me," he whispered, and she could feel his anger turning, becoming somewhat more playful. "Curse you, Árdís. But there are two ways to play thisgame."
Soft lips brushed against the sensitive area beneath her ear, even as his fingers changed direction. His index lashed up in a light flick, exactly where she wanted it. Her fingers curled into little claws as he wreaked havoc upon her.Oh, gods. Slow, torturous circles. Just enough pressure. She was dying a slow death, shifting against him, silently begging formore.
"Do you like that?" His hot erotic whisper burned in her ear. All the trappings of civilization had vanished from his demeanor, leaving her with a husband who intended to claimher.
The pressure intensified, as if he could feel the edge building within her, threatening to burn her to ashes on theinside.
Árdís whimpered, his palm wet with her muted breath.More. Oh, gods, more.Her hips rocked againsthim.
