So did he. He knew that even having her in his tent was dishonorable and unfair. But the future was unknown, and hewas starting to understand that his marriage had been broken for a long time. He should have ended it earlier, giving Elena her chance at another marriage, her own happiness. It was pride and stubbornness that had made him hold on—and the price of that tenacity had been loneliness.
Even these fleeting moments with Caragh had been an awakening to a very different future. One where a woman looked at him with love instead of disappointment.
And now, his decision was clear. If Elena had survived, he would end the marriage and set her free. He would claim Caragh as his own and surrender to the forbidden desires that held him captive.
And tonight, he would show her what it could be like between them.
He moved so close he could feel her breath against his cheek. “If you stay, you obey me without question.”
She took his hand and laid it beneath her gown upon her heart. Beneath his fingers, he could feel the harsh beating of her fears and inhibitions. But he lifted his hand away.
“Remove all of your clothing,” he ordered. “Lie down upon it.”
In the darkness of the tent, he could not see her. But he imagined the delicate skin, the soft curves of her breasts. He envisioned her nipples might be a pale pink. Her slender waist would flare to hips he wanted to hold while he drove himself within her.
“I’m ready,” she whispered.
He heard the nerves in her voice, the uncertainty. But he would have traded every last piece of silver for this night. He would give rein to his desires, the forbidden dreams of her.
And, if the gods were willing, he would free himself from Elena and one day make love to Caragh the way he wanted to.
He stripped away his own clothing, lying across from her. “Do you feel the cool air upon your skin?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to tell you where I would touch you now, if I could. You’re going to touch yourself where I tell you to.”
Caragh said nothing, but her breathing remained unsteady.
“Place your hands upon your breasts,” he said. “Stroke your nipples until they harden.” He moved beside her, gritting his teeth against his taut erection. It was torment, telling her all the places where he wanted to touch her.
His conscience warned him that this was still a betrayal to his wife, even if he never laid a hand upon Caragh. It wasn’t right to do this. And although he didn’t want to dishonor his marriage by lying with another woman, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d heard the words:I love you.For the first time in years, it was as if he’d come alive again. His marriage barely existed anymore since Elena no longer wanted him—and Caragh did.
“Tell me how you feel, Caragh.”
“It aches when I touch my breasts,” she confessed. “I feel it all the way between my legs.”
“Don’t stop,” he ordered. “Use your fingers to roll the tips and imagine that I am the one touching you now.”
He heard her emit a shuddering gasp, her body arching against the pile of clothing.
“Lick your fingers and then touch your nipples,” he commanded. “Pretend it’s my mouth on top of them, suckling each one. Right now, I’m imagining my tongue against those sweet tips.”
A moan broke forth from her, and he couldn’t stop himself from curling his fist around his erection, squeezing the shaft and wishing that he could be inside her.
“Now move one hand downwards,” he ordered. “Over your ribs and your belly. Down between your legs.”
“I—I’m wet,” she said, as if not understanding what was happening to her.
“It’s your body preparing itself for lovemaking,” he said. “Take one finger and slide it inside.”
She let out a low hiss, and he added, “Keep touching one of your breasts while you move your finger in and out. Slowly”
“Styr,” she pleaded. “I can’t do this. I need you.”
“No.” His voice came out in a low growl. “You will not argue with me. Tonight, you are my prisoner. And you won’t leave this tent until I hear you cry out in release.”
His words were nearly as erotic as the touch of her own hands. Caragh had never imagined her body could be awakened like this. And though it was wicked, she wanted to know what it was to take a lover. Styr was guiding her, teaching her mysteries she’d never known.
