He moved his hips against hers and she clenched her teeth at the searing pleasure that overshadowed her sadness. She wanted him, longed for his presence.
How could she deny his request when ’twas her own fondest desire that she stay by his side?
She couldn’t. “I shall stay with you, milord. No matter what comes on the morrow, I will remain by your side and not force you to leave.”
Valteri pulled back, his body rigid. “Ariel?” He blinked as if he couldn’t believe he’d heard her correctly.
She laid her hand against his cheek. “You heard me, Lord Valteri fitzJaden.”
Cocking his head, he gave her a suspicious look.
She smoothed his furrowed brow with her fingers. “But you must promise that you’ll stay and never leave.”
“On that, you have my word. Forever.” He pulled her back into his arms and crushed her with a fierce hug until she was forced to cry out. “Milord, please!”
Suddenly, he rose from the tub.
Oblivious to the water dripping from them, he carried her to the bed and laid her on it. Ariel stared up at him, her heart pounding.
His hair cascading over her like a wet cloak, Valteri pulled her legs around his waist and again slid inside her.
She trembled, needing him, afraid that tomorrow would tear them apart.
But she’d given her pledge, and she intended to stand by it. She held him close to her heart.
All her worries fled and she concentrated on the smell of his sweet skin, the taste of his flesh.
Over and over, he thrust against her, and she raised her hips to meet him. Her body tingled and throbbed and before she could beg for more, she found her release.
Crying out, she tightened her hold on his arms.
With two more thrusts, he joined her. His breathing labored, he collapsed on top of her.
Ariel moaned in satisfaction, her body still pulsing. Running her hand over his back, she smiled.
Valteri nibbled her neck, his teeth raising chills along her body. “I love you, Ariel,” he whispered, then nibbled her earlobe.
Cold terror seized her and Ariel stiffened at his words. He pulled back and stared down at her. “Does that displease you?”
Tears gathering in her eyes, she shook her head. “Nay.”
How could it?
But why had he uttered those words out loud?
Inside, she had a bad feeling that by saying that to her, he’d just invoked the curse.
Invoked something evil to come for them both.
Ethbert reined his horse at the castle site, his anger charged by the half-finished wall before him. A wall that further reminded him of the Norman pestilence feeding on his people.
It was time they rid themselves of the rats.
He’d gathered Saxons all the way from his sister’s home to Ravenswood. Good Saxon men chased from their lands and fields by the Norman filth.
While not as large an army as he’d have liked, they were still numerous enough to finish the task ahead of them.
To annihilate the filth entrenched here.
