“Don’t let me win, then,” I grinned.
I heard Simon call out a translation and Zakai’s eyes widened in outrage. He pushed me until I moved off of him, jumping to his feet and running again. Chuckling to myself, I chased him, snagging the back of his tunic to pull him back to me. He twistedusing one of the moves I’d shown him when he was chasing me, causing me to lose my grip, and his expression was elated when he danced a few steps away.
“Ha! I win—eep!”
I snatched him again before he could get too boastful, this time carrying him toward a tall pile of snow deep enough to submerge him if I were feeling cruel. He scrambled in my arms, trying to get away, and when that didn’t work, he clung to me to the point where his nails dug into my skin, eyes wide and horrified. I held him out over the pile with a grin.
“No!” he cried, tightening his grip and grimacing as he braced himself for the cold.
I didn't actually let go. I pulled him back against my chest, cradling him like a babe. He peeked one eye open, wrinkling his nose at my raised eyebrow and the smug smile still pulling at my lips.
“Mean,” he muttered, clinging a little tighter to my neck.
I hummed, setting him on his feet on the packed snow where he was safe. He didn’t immediately release me, keeping his body pressed against mine like he was soaking in my warmth. My heart twisted again in my chest, and I found myself holding him tighter, trying to soak in as much of his presence as I could before I was forced to let him go.
Einar returned, allowing me to set those thoughts aside to return to my training. And despite the cold, Zakai remained close, sticking near the fire with Simon as he watched me try to keep up with Einar’s aggressive movements. With him watching, I was more determined to stand my ground and not embarrass myself. It didn’t make it much easier to combat Einar, who trained daily like his life depended on it, but I managed to keep my feet more than I had before, and when we were finally finished, Orthorr, who had joined at one point, gave me a proud smile and a nod.
Zakai appeared in front of me, giving me that pretty pout that made me want to kiss him senseless. “I’m cold. Warm me?”
Chuckling, I nodded and jerked my chin in the direction of my tent. “Let’s go.”
He beamed at my easy agreement, leading the way with a skip in his step. I watched him with a soft smile, trying to memorize every aspect of his presence while I could. True beauty wasn’t just on the outside, though Zakai was easily the most beautiful person I’d ever seen. No, his spirit matched his smile, and I was beginning to think I would never get enough of him.
Eighteen
ZAKAI
Thanks to Uttin’s little game and all his training, we were both sweaty when we returned to his tent. He warmed a pot of water but instead of handing me the bar of soap so I could clean up, he stripped us both and dragged me against him, running the soap over my skin. I hummed in pleasure, leaning into his touch. It was nice to be pampered after a long day.
After a while, though, I got jealous of his seductive exploration. The barbarian holding me had a body made for worshipping, and in my opinion, I didn’t get to explore it enough. I put my hand out for the soap bar, sticking my lip out in my signature pout.
“My turn?”
His slow, sultry grin made it impossible for me not to lean in and kiss him. The kiss was slow and languid, not rushed like it normally was when he teased me until I was frantic for him. He drew me down onto the rug, ignoring the probability that it would become wet with us washing upon it. I usually stood in an uncovered area in the corner so as not to make a mess, but sitting in the dirt didn’t sound sexy in the slightest to me.
Starting with his shoulders, I ran the bar of soap over his skin, every once in a while dipping it in the water to create more suds. Uttin dragged me into his lap when I stretched to reach his other side, causing me to end up straddling him with our cocks brushing together in a delicious tease. I felt my breath quicken at how exposed I felt but gamely kept going, Simon’s words in my head. My parents would never find out so long as I didn’t tell them. And if I was going to be forced back home and into a marriage I didn’t want, I wanted to enjoy as much of what Uttin had to offer as I could.
He didn’t immediately touch me, letting me explore to my heart’s content. It was only when I rose to my knees to better reach his hair that his hands slowly slid up my thighs to my ass. I bit my lip, looking into his eyes with an unsteady breath. I was already mostly hard just from the sensual touches, and I felt my cock twitch as his finger ghosted over my hole. I sucked in a breath, my hands frozen in his hair as uncertainty threatened to choke me.
“No?” he queried in my own tongue, his eyes filled with warmth and patience. I knew without a doubt if I said no, he would immediately stop and move on to an activity he knew I enjoyed. It made it easier for me to make up my mind.
“Yes, but…” I chewed on my lip, searching for the words I needed. “Be kind.”
He hummed a low sound, stretching his neck so his lips could reach mine. He kissed me softly without pushing for more, and when he pulled back, he put one hand on his chest in a gesture I’d seen a lot of the warriors do before.
“Yes, tavi. Kind.” Then he said something I didn't know, but I made a guess based on his expression. He was giving me his word that he wouldn’t hurt me.
Satisfied with his promise, I leaned down to kiss him again, tangling my tongue with his in another slow glide that made my stomach quicken and my breath catch.
Uttin didn’t rush or make demands. He let me return to washing his hair, his hands sliding up and down my body in gentle caresses while I focused on rinsing the soap with the little cup he provided. We were making a mess, but the portion of rug he’d chosen was close to the fire. Hopefully it would dry quickly. And he didn’t seem bothered by it. He was entirely focused on me, those ocean blue eyes watching me with a fire burning inside them. That heated look made my skin burn, and I forgot for a moment we were in a barbarian village surrounded by snow. I was so warm, I felt like we could be in my home, surrounded by mountains of pillows with a warm wind on our skin and a touch of humidity in the air. I decided in that moment that I wanted to bring him there. He promised me he’d be the one to bring me home. I’d never risked having sex with a male in the capital, and especially not in the palace where the consequences would be severe if we were caught, but I couldn’t get the image out of my head.
The hands that had been slowly exploring my skin disappeared for a moment, but I was too distracted by the next kiss to pull away to find out why. Not until Uttin’s fingers returned to my ass, covered in a slippery oil when he massaged my hole.
“Ah!” I cried out eagerly, breaking the kiss and rocking my hips automatically from the touch. I’d been cautiously curious when he touched me there before, but now, with oil easing the glide, I wanted more. “Uttin!”
“Good, tavi. You’re so good.”
I whimpered at the praise, squirming as he traced around my rim. Was it supposed to feel this good? Or did this have something to do with the magic Simon mentioned? Even whenI’d explored myself, it had never felt this good. If it had, I would have had a lot more difficulty avoiding it all these years.
