“Grudin has been urging me to forge an alliance for years with the Eastern lands.”
Leola turned her eyes down. More embarrassment flared through her at what he’d said. As if she were intruding on a moment that wasn’t hers to share.
“I feel nothing for Havorka,” Sedrak muttered after another silence. “I have postponed thus far because the thought of spending the rest of my life without love in my heart…” He trailed off. “I do not think I have the strength. Even though I know I would be letting down my kingdom, my people, and my uncle…” He shook his head. “Even that has not been enough to change my mind.” He turned and looked at her. “Then you showed up, and it was as if the sun had broken through these troubled clouds around my mind.”
Leola’s heart soared. She drew in a deep breath and bit her lip to keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks. To hear Sedrak share his feelings, and that they mirrored hers, was almost too much. She wanted to jump up and cry out in joy to the starry sky.
He shuffled toward her, sat down under the lean-to, and pressed his lips against hers in a tender kiss.
It was the softest touch she’d felt from him yet. She gave herself willingly. He could take whatever he wanted from her now. When he pulled away she dared to grip his tunic and draw him back.
He stared deep into her eyes. He put her hand over hers. “I don’t know how this will end,” he whispered.
She bit her lip and shook her head, tears still threatening to spill from her eyes.
“I don’t know what your life with me will look like if I…”
“I don’t care,” she whispered. Her chin fell forward against his chest.
He kissed her forehead. “You might. If I abdicate this duty there is a chance… no, a certainty that I will be exiled.”
She looked up into his eyes and shook her head. “How could I ask you to do such a thing?”
“You are not asking and the choice is mine and mine alone.” A faint smile appeared on his lips. “Though now that I have met you I can’t say it’s much of a choice at all. It feels more like destiny,” he said quietly.
Love swelled through her. Still holding onto his tunic she leaned back, taking him with her.
He leaned over her, supported on one arm, his other hand peeling back the bearskin covering her naked body.
Her back arched as he exposed her breasts and palmed one. His rough thumb rubbed against her tender nipple. She sighed and closed her eyes, slipping into the all-consuming inferno that came with his touch. “Take me. Please. I want to know what it feels like. I want to know you in every way I can.”
Sedrak’s hand drifted down her body. It settled on her thigh. He spread her legs, then brushed two fingers against the soft down covering her sex.
“Please!” she begged, gripping his wrist and trying to pull him onto herself.
Sedrak reached behind her leg and smacked her gently on the ass.
She gasped. Her eyes shot open and met his. A lust coursed through her like she’d never felt.
“Not here,” he growled. “Not like this.”
“I’m desperate for you,” she begged again.
“And I for you. We will both know when the time is right.” He sighed, and almost looked bashful for a moment. “I do not wish to take you, until I know that I can… fix these things. If you are still a maid, then you may perhaps—”
“I would never!” she said, her voice frantic. “I can’t… I will give myself to no other man.”
Sedrak looked up at her, and she saw passion burning in his eyes. “Not here,” he said, his voice low, the contours of it licking at her insides. “My treasure, Leola.”
He nuzzled her ear, sending a shiver through her that threatened to make her faint again. “I have yet to punish you for your little dip in the river.”
Her eyes went wide a moment before he spun her onto her stomach and hauled her up by the waist. She tried to rise onto all fours but he put his hand on her back to keep her in position.
“No. Your ass is right where I need it to be.”
Her pussy moistened at the prospect of his correction. Her heart was racing and suddenly the chill air didn’t bother her one bit.
“While I blame myself for putting you in the uncomfortable position at my uncle’s keep,” he went on, his hand moving smoothly over her bottom, making her blood boil, “I hope you did not think I would let you get away with putting yourself in such danger.”
