But I couldn’t help but wonder what I’d gotten myself into.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Again,” Arokan commanded roughly.
I was panting and my legs and arms were shaking from the seeminglyhoursof exercise that Arokan was putting me through.
When he said he wouldn’t be easy on me, he’d meant it.
I’d asked for this, however, so I would take whatever he gave me. I wouldn’t complain. I wouldlearn.
I got back into position, across from him, about arm’s length away. His expression was unreadable as his hand flashed towards me. My stomach dropped and I ducked, the underused muscles in my thighs straining from the repetitive motions.
I popped back up, sweat dripping down my back, just as his other hand whipped out towards me, so fast it was a blur. It was too late. I’d been too slow and his hand connected against my shoulder, not hard enough to throw me off my feet, but hard enough to sting.
Making a sound of frustration in my throat, I prepared for his next strike and managed to block it with my forearm, though there would be a bruise there in the morning.
“Good,” he praised. “Again.”
It was dark already. My day—which had started in thepyrokienclosure—had been long. I was exhausted and aching and hungry…but I felt strangely calm. The exercises Arokan had made me run through made me focus, made all other thoughts and worries drift from my mind until I was centered on nothing buthim. My opponent. My husband.
Though we’d been training since before the sun set, he hadn’t given me a blade or a sword or even a small dagger. No weapons, he’d told me, until I strengthened my body, until my muscles reacted instinctively, until I would know how to use them.
So, I got into position again, trying to ignore the warriors and any passing members of the horde that had gathered to watch. I even saw Lavi watching, with her warrior, though I’d dismissed her before I’d finished in thepyrokienclosure.
When Arokan ran through the set again, I didn’t block a single one, though I’d managed to shuffle away and pivot on the last strike.
“You grow weak,” he commented and I hated that he didn’t sound out of breath at all, while I was dragging air into my lungs like it was water and I was dehydrated. “Your movements grow loose. We are done for tonight.”
“One more,” I said, hating that word. Weak. Pulling in a long pull of air, I exhaled slowly, looking at him. “Just one more.”
He nodded.
That set, I managed to block two of his six strikes.
“Enough,” he said, coming to me once it was done. “We will start again tomorrow.”
I nodded, everything aching. I would pay for this in the morning.
His voice softened as he bent his head low. “You did well,kalles.”
Looking up at him, I gave him a small, tired smile. “You’re just saying that so I don’t suffocate you in your sleep.”
He huffed out an amused breath, shaking his head. “Come. Youneedsleep.”
My body might be tired, but my mind felt energized. Still, I didn’t argue as he led us back to our tent, ourvoliki, as the Dakkari called it.
Ourtent, I mused. When had it becomeourtent to me and nothis?
Once inside, a hot, fresh bathing tub and a meal was waiting for us, just like the night before. Arokan brought the food tray close to the tub and then promptly stripped my sweaty clothes off and then his own.
And just like the night before, when he led me into the hot water that felt sublime against my aching muscles, when I settled between his strong thighs and let him wash me, I felt his thick cock hard and aroused, pressing into my spine. And just like the night before…he did nothing about it.
It confused me. It frustrated me. Because I was beginning to suspect that Ilikedsex with him, though it had been rough and consuming and…magnificent.
We hadn’t had sex since before the Ghertun scout had been executed. Considering that when Arokan had first brought me to the camp and he’d hardly been able to keep his hands off me those first few days…I was beginning to wonder if he was already losing interest in me.
Even as I wondered that, I kept still as he washed me.
