Several times, she’d tried to consult Belial, but he refused to speak further on the matter. Which made her think that the curse must still be holding, otherwise he’d have left them.
Wouldn’t he?
And because he stayed, Thorn and Shadow seldom left her side.
Valteri’s back healed rather quickly, but even so he was in no condition for travel to London. And though she wished him far from her and any harm that her presence might incur, she also enjoyed their days together, grateful for every touch and glance he gave her.
Now Valteri sat before her in a large tub the servants had brought into their chambers and filled with steaming water.
As carefully as she could, she sponged his bruised back. Most of the cuts had healed, but fresh scars attested to the brutality of his attack.
Again, she found the incongruity so peculiar. “How is it that you bleed like this, but not in battle?”
He shrugged. “No idea. It’s just always been so.”
It made no sense to her that weapons couldn’t harm him, but that other items could.
Ariel traced one of the scars with her fingertip, her heart aching at how many times he’d been so abused in his life. She’d give anything to remove every such vicious scar and memory from him.
Running her hand down his back, she marveled at the velvety smooth texture over his hardened muscles. Chills sprang up beneath her caress and she smiled at his reaction.
“Careful, Ariel.” Valteri turned his head to look at her over his shoulder. “You’re tempting me beyond my endurance.”
Her smile widened. “You shouldn’t make such empty threats.”
“Empty threats?” He was aghast. “Madame, I assure you ’tis not empty.”
She cocked an eyebrow at his double meaning, and pleasure rippled in her stomach. Before she could move, he ran his hand under her hair and pulled her forward until his lips claimed hers.
Ariel moaned with pleasure, delighting in the feel of his soft mouth. She opened her lips and drew him in. Nothing had ever tasted finer, ever felt better.
His kiss deepening, he again pulled on her, and before she could protest, he had her in his lap in the tub. She stiffened with a cry of protest. “You’ve soaked me!”
One corner of his mouth turned up. “I thought you’d gladly hurl yourself into a lake for my attentions?”
Ariel laughed at his memory and thought about the night she’d uttered that statement. Her blood warmed. He’d changed so much since then, as had she. But she decided she liked the difference in his personality.
“Mayhap I’ve changed my mind.”
“Have you now?” His voice deepened with desire.
She opened her mouth to respond and once more he kissed her. Ariel wrapped her arms about his shoulders, sliding her hands down his spine. A thousand flames ignited in her stomach and her body throbbed. He felt so good in her arms.
With a tight groan, Valteri lifted the hem of her wet kirtle to remove it from her body and ran his hands over her bare buttocks and hips. Fire ran through her veins. His wet caresses sent shivers over her and her body demanded him.
Ariel gasped and adjusted her legs until she straddled him.
Her heart pounded in her ears as her lower body came into contact with his. Valteri sucked his breath between his teeth, and closed his eyes as he slid himself inside her.
Ariel smiled at his reaction, reveling in her power over him. She buried her lips in his neck, tasting the salty stubble of his throat, and pressed herself closer to him and rode him.
He dropped her kirtle to the floor, where it landed with a splat. Ariel laughed at the sound, but her humor fled as he touched her breast. Leaning her head back, she bit her lip as his mouth played upon her, and the throbbing increased. She held his head in her hands and moaned with pleasure.
Ariel gripped the sides of the tub, her body afire as he thrust against her. Her breathing labored, she looked into his eyes and the love that shone there sent another wave of chills over her.
He dipped his hands in the water and caressed her lower hips. “Stay with me, Ariel,” he whispered, leaning forward until he kissed the flesh justbelow her ear. His warm breath on her neck sent shivers streaming down her arms. “I know I have no right to ask, but I can’t let you go.”
Ariel closed her eyes against the agony his plea brought.
