“A child was never as important to me as you are,” he admitted.
A dizzying rush of relief filled her, and she stepped back, letting him see her smile. “I love you, Ragnar. And I want to be with you, sharing whatever lies ahead.”
He studied her for a long moment. “I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. But I was afraid that I would be the same man as my father. That one day, my love of fighting would change me into a person who might hurt you or Matheus.”
“You would never harm me,” she insisted. “I trust you with my life.” And she saw in his eyes that, for the first time, he believed it.
“Take off my chains,” he commanded. “I want to touch you.”
Instead, Elena knelt below one of his hands, placing her breast within his palm. An intrigued expression came over him and when he teased the erect nipple, she reached over to help him remove his leggings. His tunic still hung loose against the chains, but she took his shaft in her palm as he touched her. Theshudder in his breath excited her as she stroked him, reveling in the power.
“I can’t take off the chains,” she confessed. “I don’t know how.” An unexpected laugh broke free and she asked, “Should I call the men back?”
“No,” he growled. “Not while both of us are naked. But since you didn’t consider this, I think you should obey my commands.”
She stepped back, biting back her smile. “It seems to me that you’re the one in chains. Perhaps you should obey my commands instead.”
A wicked look crossed his face and he added, “Since I can’t use my hands, I’ll have to use my mouth,kjære.”
She blushed, fascinated by the idea of this chained man using his mouth upon her body. When she drew close again, he bent down to take her breast in his mouth. He licked the nipple, sucking hard until she felt the wet spiral of need spinning within her. She touched his hair, closing her eyes as the sensations gripped her.
He punished one breast, then the other. An idea occurred to her and she broke away for a moment, bringing a stool for him to sit upon. Then she straddled him, holding on as he continued to nip at her breasts. The new position brought her intimate flesh directly against his hard shaft and she caught her breath as the proximity brought a new pleasure.
With her hips, she edged against him, using the pressure of his erection against her wet folds. It was a delicious torment, and she started to sheathe him inside her. But to her shock, Ragnar dropped down to his knees. With her legs spread apart, he used his mouth against her intimate opening.
“Don’t move,” he commanded, and the vibration of his voice against her flesh evoked a new sensitivity.
“I don’t think I can remain standing,” she admitted, as he delved into her secret places, tasting and sucking at her tight nodule. Her body was reacting violently and her knees shook as he used his tongue to arouse her.
“If you do, it will be worth it,” he promised. “Use your hands to touch your breasts while I taste you again.”
She felt shy but obeyed, stunned when the shimmer of pleasure tore through her. She jerked with shock, her breath coming in short gasps as he drew out her need. She was so very close to the edge, her entire body was trembling. And when he sucked hard, using his tongue upon her hooded flesh, she bucked and came apart. Elena grabbed him to keep from falling, but she couldn’t stop the tide of release that took her under.
She helped him to sit back on the stool and mounted him, so grateful to be joined with his flesh. He was unable to touch her with his chained hands, but she moved up and down, loving the sensations of him sheathed inside her.
“Turn around,” he ordered. “Reverse it.”
She’d never tried such a thing, but if it would please him, she didn’t mind changing the position. When she raised herself off him and turned around, he drew his knees together and she straddled him, sinking down so that she took him in deep. The friction was different as she rose up and she found her rhythm, plunging and riding him.
His shaft kept bumping against her in a new way and she convulsed as the pressure continued to build. Higher and higher it intensified and she cried out as she peaked again, her body shuddering upon his.
“I love you,” she admitted, riding out the crest of the wave as she continued to let him pump against her. “I always have.”
Ragnar thrust inside her as she sat against him and, when she heard the shift in his own breathing, she quickened her pace. She was achingly wet for him, her body accepting his in the wildlovemaking frenzy. And finally he jolted against her, straining with the chains as he let out a shout.
“I love you, Elena,” he said, pressing a kiss to her shoulder.
She lifted slightly and turned around, wrapping her legs around his waist. The intimacy of being with him was wonderful, and her body felt satiated in a new way. “Don’t leave me,” she pleaded. “Stay.”
“Only if you wed me.” He kissed her chin, nibbling a path down her throat.
“Yes,” she whispered. “And especially if our nights together are like this.”
His hips moved against hers, and at the intimate touch, she felt another surge of desire rising.
A smile holding the promise of temptation was his answer.
Epilogue
