Shivering racked her, but still he held her and allowed her to cling to his hand.
‘I was far colder than I thought,’ she whispered as the shivering decreased.
He stroked her hair. ‘It creeps up on a person. You will have to be more careful. Sleep would not be a good idea.’
‘What shall we talk about?’ She tried to make her voice sound bright. ‘Court gossip that I will need to know when we reach Tara? Or something else?’
‘Anything you want.’
‘Anything?’ She winced. Her sing-song voice was back. If she was a stronger person she’d turn and capture his mouth. ‘I am fresh out of topics, but this method does seem to be working where others failed. Incredible.’
The soft rumble of his chest with barely suppressed laughter reverberated against her back. ‘I am pleased it meets with your approval.’
His breath touched her sensitive earlobe. The small flame of desire had become a raging inferno, but Svanna didn’t want to jeopardise their newfound closeness. There was something satisfying about being wrapped in his arms and held as if she were more precious than any jewel—an illusion, but Svanna found she wanted it, something to hang onto in the coming months and years. She waited until her body screamed to take a chance.
She flipped over. His mouth was no more than a breath away. She raised her hand and traced the scar. ‘Thank you.’
He caught her hand and brought their joined hands to his lips. ‘My pleasure, but your skin remains chilled.’
She released him. ‘I’m much warmer. Honestly.’
‘It’s important that Agthir’s representative remains safe from such things.’
‘Should I check if you are warm?’ She allowed her hand to trail down his chest. Her thumb brushed his nipples. She pretended to consider. ‘Further investigations are required.’
She traced round and round the nipples, first one and then the other, and felt them harden beneath her ministrations.
‘Svanna…’ His voice rasped in her ear, sending fresh waves of heat through her.
Her body pressed closer to his. And where once he’d been the warmer one, he was now the cooler.
‘What? I am trying to ensure that we are both warm. A wife’s duty, I’d say.’ Internally, she hoped that he would not reject her as she was fresh out of ideas.
He gave a rasping laugh. ‘Is that what you are doing? Warming us up because of duty?’
‘I can’t think of any other reason. Can you?’ She bent her head to his strong neck and ran her tongue up from where his neck met his shoulder to his jawline, tasting him while the heat inside her grew white-hot. ‘Definitely warmer.’
‘Two can play this game, wife.’
His arm came around her and pulled her tighter, making her breasts encounter the hardness of his nipples. Using one arm, he held her firmly against him while his lips traced downward from her jaw to her shoulder. Her body bucked towards him. She realised with a flush of heat that his nipples were not the only part of him which had grown hard. His hand stroked downward and cupped her bottom, holding her against his erect member.
A moan escaped from her throat.
His mouth continued its downward trail and caught each of her breasts in turn. His tongue circled her nipples until heat exploded within her.
Her body bucked forward, encountering his ever-hardening groin. She clawed at his upper arms, asking for more, but he continued his ministrations of her breasts.
Before she could question herself, she plunged her hand further down and touched his member. Silky hardness greeted her. She closed her hand around him and felt him grow harder still.
He caught her hand. ‘Not yet. I went far too quickly the last time.’
‘Did you?’
He stroked her hair. ‘I want to make this good for you, better than the last time. Allow me to look after you. Please.’
She withdrew her hand, knowing that if it was any better than the last time she might expire with pleasure, but finding it difficult to explain.
He eased her onto her back and held her wrists above her head. His mouth moved lower still, pausing to lap and penetrate her bellybutton before continuing its journey towards her nest of curls. There, his tongue drew circles as if he was gently searching for something. Her body bucked upwards again. She twisted back and forth, writhing as wave after wave of white-hot pleasure hit her. He released her. Her hands clawed at his shoulders. She wasn’t sure if she wanted his tongue to continue or if she wanted him fully inside.
