Her innocent and honest explanation left him ready to burst. Even the purest of maidens he'd known before knew full well what might be expected from them in a physical sense. This woman before him, this Seeress who turned his senses inside out, seemed truly free of deception and entirely unknowing of what passed between men and women.
The realization sent his hunger for her soaring, more tenacious than before. Clenching his fists was barely enough to curb the temptation to lie atop her and take what he wanted.
Forcing himself to focus on her words, he said, "I think I do. I must be honest as well. I would have found the slightest reason to punish you, you just gave it to me much easier and sooner than I expected."
When she stiffened in his embrace, he tightened his hold.
"Do you mean that you were going to beat me, no matter what I agreed to or not?"
A few moments of regret passed quickly. "I take pleasure in such things. And it's time I showed you more."
He lifted her from his lap to the bed, easing her to her back once more. Again, he instructed her to hold on to the headboard.
"It pleases me for you to obey. And you want to please me, don't you?"
She nodded, reaching up to curl her fingers around the carved antlers. He cupped her cheek and leaned in close, brushing his lips against hers for the briefest instant. When he drew back, she met his stare directly, eagerness lighting their sapphire depths.
CHAPTER NINE
Katrin shifted under Hradi's intense stare, intensifying the lingering warmth in her bottom. Enticing heat slid through her veins and her heart raced, fingers gripping the head rails tightly. She didn’t dare let go this time. While she had ultimately enjoyed the spanking, well, the heat that had bloomed in her skin afterward, anyway, what she truly wanted was wanted more of the pleasure he'd shown her before, when his hands had slid over her flesh, leaving fire in their wake.
But now, he remained still, silent. If she asked him to touch her, would he heed her request? Desire lurked in his gaze. For what did he wait? She bit her lip to keep the question unasked.
So intent on holding his penetrating gaze, she didn't notice the movement of his hand until his fingers slid along the outside of her thigh. The unexpected touch sent a tingling warmth that she barely had a moment to savor before his caresses continued. He made no attempt to approach her sex, though she found herself suddenly aching for him to do so. Her hips undulated toward him, but he maintained the unhurried pace, pinning her with his eyes.
His other hand trailed along her side, drawing a husky giggle at the teasing sensations. A moment later, the giggle devolved into a moan when he tightened his grip, caressing her firmly under her breast. A moment later, the teasingly light caresses continued, drawing sighs and gasps. She wanted, no needed, more. As if he read her silent plea, he again rubbed her skin firmly, moving along her legs and back, over and over. Through it all, her nipples hardened to tight, achy peaks, her sex hot and wet, fluttering with wanting. She raised her hips, trying to tell him without words where she wanted him to touch next.
Her eyes snapped open when he chuckled. Latching onto his gaze grew to a difficult task, while he caressed and stroked along her sides.
"You want more, don't you, Little Witch?"
The deep tinge of his voice revealed his own desire, yet his steely gaze reflected the control he maintained. Katrin wished she could do the same, but these new, wild and fascinating feelings overcame her. Somehow, though, she managed to contain the plea for him to touch her more intently. And intimately.
Another caress of her belly, low and very near the curls at her groin, drew a sharp cry, one she barely recognized as her own. Her fingers tightened further around the headboard.
"Do you like that?"
She could only nod, her body taut and trembling under his continuing attentions. Her voice had been reduced to nonsensical sounds that seemed to come from a place within her she'd never realized existed. Her control finally snapped.
"Please, Hradi, I can't bear this."
At her words, he paused, nearly drawing a frustrated scream, her knuckles near cracking with the pressure. Again, she silenced it, knowing he did this on purpose. Why did he torment her so?
"Because I want you to feel everything I do to you. In ways that you will never forget."
His crooning answer shocked through her. She'd spoken aloud? Her mortification was muted by the heated promise in his words.
"I fear I may not survive." The admission came out before she even realized it had formed.
"You will. And you will beg me to do it again."
He turned his attention back to her body, his gaze roaming over her as if to decide when and where to start. Katrin braced herself, her sweaty palms threatening her grip on the antlers.
Hradi appeared almost stone-like in the flickering lamplight, the only movement that of his hands, whisking across her belly and hips. The awareness of how his caresses affected her reflected in his dark gaze. Somehow, knowing he deliberately teased only made her anxious to hurry him, give her more than just thistaunting touch. A moment later, he caught her wrist. She hadn't even realized she'd reached for him.
"Again, you disobey."
Surprisingly, he released her, rising from the bed. Confused, she watched him warily, eyes widening when he returned with a woven belt in his hands. She scrambled up and across the bed, his intent clear.
