She arched her back and moaned. “What’re ye doin’ to me?”
“You taste so sweet,” he whispered and dipped his head between her legs again.
Shannon stiffened in defiance but quickly surrendered to her primal instincts as he laved her ever so slowly. Her skin tingled from the sensation of his seduction. Pressure built steadily as she locked her legs around his neck, pushing his tongue further inside.
Back and forth. In and out. He slid his tongue inside her as he sucked on the pearl of her passion. Sweat gathered on her brow. Shards of pleasure burst in front of her eyes. Every pore in her body screamed for more.
His powerful hands cradle her bottom as he rocked her up and down in slow, deliberate strokes. She reached out and pushed his head against her softness, grinding harder against his mouth. Her body instinctively took over, thrusting harder, pulsing faster.
“Yes,” she groaned, digging her fingernails into the planks. “Don’ stop.”
She whimpered softly as he massaged the delicate bundle of nerves with the tip of his tongue. Her pulse surged like a rolling river. Each stroke paved the way to unleashing the unknown desire that was locked inside of her. Sweat dripped from her pores as the pressure became unbearable. She could resist no longer. There was no holding back. With one final thrust, a wave of tremors shook her body until liquid passion gushed from between her legs.
Ravenshield lifted his head in victory. “I knew you would like that.”
“What have ye done?” She asked breathlessly as her legs fell from his broad shoulders, “Ye have cast a spell on me.”
“That was no spell,” he said, gazing down at her as she blushed, “What you felt was pleasure.”
He lowered his head and kissed Shannon again. She could taste her own essence on his lips as he explored deeper. Heat began to rise. Dew gathered between her legs. Her body was ready to betray her once more.
How could this happen? They were enemies. He had destroyed Shannon’s village, but she was drawn to him. Curse these carnal feelings, she thought as desire pooled in her belly. There was no way to combat him when he rendered her defenseless.
His hands scorched her skin as he explored every curve, every crevice. Her body gave in to his touch while warning bells echoed in her mind. This should not happen, she thought, succumbing to desire. Shannon had to do something before she lost control again.
“Stop,” she whispered, feeling his fingers probe inside her.
“Why?” he asked.
“Yer a Viking,” she panted.
“What’s wrong with that?”
“We’re sworn enemies.”
“Shannon,” he said, gazing into her eyes, sensing her apprehension. There was something different about Shannon that set her apart from the rest. He was bewitched by her innocence, captivated by her beauty, “You do not have to fear me. I wish to give you pleasure instead of pain.”
“But I…,” she paused, looking down at his hard cock—it was incredibly big and engorged.
“I know you are innocent,” he whispered in her ear, “I could tell by your taste.”
She arched her neck, feeling his lips nip at her neck. “I’m afraid.”
“I will be gentle,” he said softly and guided her down, “It will hurt just for a moment.”
Shannon fell under his seduction, lying back while he parted her legs with his knees. Her head felt heavy—her thoughts were muddled. She could not fight him any longer. Though he was a Viking, her body yearned for his touch.
Shannon gasped, feeling his manhood graze the inside of her thigh. Heat enveloped her body as the tip invaded her core. Sweat dampened her skin.
“Please, stop,” she cried. The folds of her sex began to stretch and burn. “It hurts.”
“Hang on, Shannon. It’ll hurt just for a moment,” he said softly, gathering her in his arms.
She braced herself, parting her knees further. With one quick thrust, he shattered her maidenhead, shredding her innocence forever. Shannon screamed as fire shot through her body. Her nails raked across his back, embedding marks of passion in his flesh.
“Enough,” she whimpered.
“Wait,” he said, “The worst is over. Now let me show you how I can make you feel.”
Shannon felt his hot sex glide into her center, pulsating slowly, probing from within. Up and down, she rode the wave of passion as he rocked her back and forth. She moaned softly as he continued to impale her with his hard cock. He cradled her in his arms as his hips pumped slowly. Pressure began to build. Friction intensified.
“You’re getting closer,” Ravenshield growled, “Let go.”
“Yes,” she panted, grinding against his body, “Yes!”
Perspiration gathered on her forehead. Heat singed her skin with each mounting thrust. Faster. Harder. With one last stroke, her body arched and stiffened as she climaxed forcefully. Tremors rocked her so hard that it spawned his release. She collapsed on his chest, panting.
“Are you alright?” he asked, thumbing a few wet tresses from her forehead. He looked down and saw her dewy flesh glisten in the torchlight. Her ruby lips were swollen from their passionate kisses.
“Yes,” she sighed, closing her eyes.
Ravenshield grinned broadly, knowing he had satisfied her. As he lay there cradling her in his arms, his eyes drifted to the birthmark on her breast. It was a sign of the prophecy, he thought.
Whomever shall possess the one marked by Freya will achieve great wealth and fight by Thor’s side.
There’s no doubt he had conquered Shannon sexually, but there was a difference between conquering and possessing. He could sense that she was going to be quite a challenge. Luckily, he was a determined man. And nothing was going to stand in his way. Possessing her would be easy, he thought as the words of the prophecy echoed in his mind. He would not rest until she was his—body and soul.
Chapter 6
Light trickled into the bathhouse, penetrating the darkness. Kiera stood at the entrance clutching a clean dress in one hand and holding the door latch with the other. This cannot be, she thought, hearing soft moans inside. How could Gunnar slake his lust with that Irish wench! Did he not care about her anymore? She could not wait to whet his sexual appetite when he returned, and this is what she gets instead. A deep sigh escaped her lips, thinking of all the sacrifices she had made just to be with him.
Moment by moment, her heart sank lower. Thoughts of all the sleepless nights she had endured while he sought adventure and riches in other lands seeped into her mind. Kiera recalled the numerous walks down to shore and how she waited for the drakkar to appear on the horizon. Every day, she would sit and wonder when he would return—every day her heart grew more and more weary.
Swallowing the lump that had formed in the back of her throat, she tiptoed closer to the them. Pain rippled through her as she watched him lift Shannon out of the pool, burying his face between her legs. Kiera turned away, wishing she was the one experiencing such intense passion—to feel his tongue taste her, to melt under his caress. Dammit, she cursed. This girl didn't deserve his affections. She was defiant and selfish, rude and unappreciative. The wench would have to go.
Jealousy got the best of her as she watched Ravenshield mount Shannon, rocking her back and forth. The sound of their lovemaking sickened her. This is not fair, Kiera thought, hearing their moans grew louder. Gunnar was hers, and she was not going to allow some redheaded peasant steal him away.
Kiera had too much to lose. Gunnar was going to become a jarl soon—at least that was the rumor. His status was going to change, and she planned on being by his side every step of the way. She had worked too long to get him. Climbing up the ladder in Viking society was no easy task, and she was not going to allow this little sot to mess that up.
Who could have thought that this would happen? She did not count on him bringing back a stray like this one. Strays like Shannon would soon disappear.
It should not be too difficult, Kiera thought. After all, she had
been Gunnar's favorite for several years now. From what she saw, there was nothing extraordinary about Shannon. As a matter of fact, she was very plain, simple. Most men would find her too thin and pale—too weak to bear children or to work in the fields. But there was something about her—something that set her apart from the rest. Perhaps it was her crystal blue eyes that struck his fancy. No, she reasoned, it would take more than that to grab Ravenshield's attention.
Kiera listen to their passion echo through the bathhouse. The mist had cleared just enough for her to see Gunnar thrust harder, rotating his hips in rhythmic pulses. He was a skillful lover—a man who knew exactly how to please a woman thoroughly. His stamina was unmatched transcending any other she had before. Women would do anything to fall into his bed—even kill.
Look at him, she thought, watching beads of sweat form on his back. In and out. Back and forth. It was exhausting just watching him.
Come on, she said to herself, just be done with it. Each minute that went by sickened her. Every push fueled her anger. Finally, with one last stroke, he finished.
Calm down and don't lose it, Kiera thought, sucking in a deep breath. Gunnar was just smitten by her, that's all. It's nothing to fret over. He had taken other lovers into his bed before, but they never stayed long. She made sure of that. A little lie here, a subtle threat there, and they were gone in no time. Shannon would be like all the rest. The wench would not last a week.
Just keep a level head, and do not do anything foolish. Appease his desires no matter the cost, she thought. She had to think of all the riches and lands that were at stake. The reward would be worth it in the end.
There were things that had to be done and making a mistake was not an option. It was time to take charge before things got out of hand. Intimidation was the key. This lowly sop could never satisfy a man as virile Gunnar Ravenshield—and she was going to prove it.
She peeled off her tunic and knelt down beside him. Kiera had waited long enough for her handsome warrior, and she was not going to be outranked by some inexperienced young imp. With any luck, the girl would be so scared by a threesome that she would bolt for the door.
Kiera slithered closer to her prey barely keeping her eyes off him. Those well-defined muscles shimmering in the dim light were just too hard to resist. She couldn’t wait to run her fingers through his thick hair.
As Kiera crouched down beside him, he turned around and stared at her. His eyes harbored a callousness that she had never seen before. What was the matter? Gunnar had always welcomed her no matter who he was with. Perhaps he just needed a little coaxing.
Kiera grabbed his hand and guided it to her breasts wanting him to touch her the way he had touched Shannon. His hand pulled away. Something was horribly wrong. He had never acted this way before.
No. This was not happening, she thought. Kiera sucked in a breath and felt her patience whittle away. Anger grew inside her. Gunnar was going to give her what she wanted. All she needed was a chance to prove that she was superior. The passion they had once shared just needed to be rekindled.
One touch. That's all it would take to break the spell that this Irish wench had over him. Kiera parted her knees and tenderly took the palm of his hand, pushing down, wanting him to explore the hidden pleasures he knew so well. He suddenly whipped his hand away.
“Leave us,” he said coldly.
"But I..."
"Now."
Kiera stood erect. Her stomach tightened. She swallowed back the bitter taste of disappointment as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. Why was he so cold? She was his woman. He was her warrior. He preferred her above all others in the past. How could he shun her like this?
Kiera's stare narrowed on Shannon. What kind of trickery is this? This wench has vexed him, she thought, shooting her a look that would kill.
"Kiera," he said forcefully, "It's time for you to leave."
"As you wish." Her chin trembled.
"Thank you," he said, turning to Shannon once more.
Kiera recoiled and drifted into the mist. She threw on her dress and scampered off as tears streamed down her face. The pain was unbearable. Her heart ached from the rejection. With a quick turn of the lock, she opened the door and stormed down the hall.
"How could he do this to me?” Kiera cried, running into an adjacent room, “I will not stand for it!”
She huddled into the corner and wept. Anger boiled over as pain shot through her heart. It was so hard to breathe, so difficult to focus. The storm of emotions she had harbored finally broke. Kiera pounded the wall so ferociously that her knuckles bled. With one last breath, she let out a horrible shriek and slumped forward, sobbing hysterically.
"Why, Gunnar," she cried, "Why would you do such a thing? No one loves you as much as I do."
Through a flood of tears, she looked over her shoulder and spied a tattered dress lying on the floor. One name echoed through her troubled mind as she scrambled toward it—Shannon.
"It is all because of you," she whispered, snatching it from the floor, "Can you not see that I am his favorite?"
Kiera stared at the fabric, wishing that she could be alone with Shannon just for a few minutes. It would not take long to get the best of that skinny wench, she sniffed. She rubbed the fabric between her thumb and forefinger, thinking of ways to hurt her.
Just one slap, she thought, ripping the linen down the middle. How about a punch? Or better yet, a stab. She would love to scratch out those beautiful blue eyes. Yes! Blind her so she could never look at Gunnar Ravenshield ever again. That would be perfect, she laughed. Before she realized it, Kiera had ripped the dress to shreds. She looked around at the heap of material on the floor—a leather belt poked from underneath.
“What is this?” Kiera asked, examining the satchel that was fastened to it. She carefully untied the string and opened it. "Herbs."
She poured the leaves into the palm of her hand and studied them closely. These were used for cooking and healing. Kiera smeared them with a finger and sniffed the pungent aroma. There are many other uses for herbs, she thought as an evil smile curled her lips.
"Your time here is limited, Shannon of Bennetraige," she whispered, crushing the dried leaves in her palm, letting the remnants fall to the floor, "and no one can save you."
Chapter 7
A loud shriek shook the timbers of the bathhouse.
"What's that?" Shannon asked.
"It's nothing," Ravenshield replied, curling an arm around her waist.
"I hardly call that nothin'," she said as a shiver ran down her spine. “That’s Kiera, isn’t it?”
"Do not worry about Kiera," he sighed.
Shannon sat up straight and covered herself with a blanket, "I saw the way she looked at me."
"There's no need to fret," he said, running a forefinger down her arm, "Kiera needs to be reminded of her place in my household, that’s all."
Shannon's ears burned with the sound of her screams as the walls began to shake. Kiera must be destroying the entire longhouse, she thought, hearing her fury mount. She turned and looked at Ravenshield.
"She's yer lover, isnae she?"
"What does that matter?"
Think fast, Shannon thought. She gave him what he wanted, and now it was time to discuss terms of her release. If she stood a chance of going home, then this was it. Maybe she could reason with him, convince him to let her go. But she had to remain calm and stay on guard.
She cleared her throat and said, "It's obvious that Kiera cares for ye. She may even love ye."
"The only person she loves is herself."
"She doesnae want me here.”
“She will have to learn to accept you.”
“But my presence here will only bring ye problems."
"Nonsense," he growled, "You give me pleasure. Kiera is not lord of this house. I am."
The conversation was not going well, Shannon thought, feeling his palm glide along the small of her back. This barbarian was more stubborn than what
she anticipated—perhaps her expectations of him were set too high. After all, he was just a savage.
"Ye know her well, don' ye?"
"You are quite forward," he laughed.
"I'm curious that's all."
He twisted a lock of her hair between his fingers and smiled, "For a moment, I thought I heard a bit of jealousy in your voice."
"Och!" she snorted as her face flushed, "I don’ think so."
"Since you will be staying here with me, I see no harm in telling you about Kiera," he sighed.
Shannon's stomach rolled at the sound of his words. She shuddered at the thought of being imprisoned in Dublin. Let him think whatever he wants, she mused. The winds of change were stirring and, little did he know, her stay in Dublin would be short-lived.
"Go on."
"Many seasons ago when my crew and I went a-viking, we raided a Roman city on the Mediteranean shores. After hours of fierce fighting, the leader offered me a king's ransom if I called off my band of raiders. He threw her in as part of the bargain. She was beautiful. She was seductive and desirable. Her skill in bed was," he paused, watching Shannon's face turn pink, "Unmatched."
"She sounds like quite a catch for any man of yer caliber," she whispered.
"True," he said, "but as you can tell, Kiera has a bit of a temper. No matter how pleasing she is, I’ve grown tired of her tantrums. She must be reminded of her place."
"I see," Shannon said, "Don’ ye care for her at all?"
He paused briefly then replied, "No."
"How can ye be so brutal?" Shannon asked.
“I have my reasons," he went on, "But what difference does it make? I have you now.”
He pulled Shannon toward him and kissed her, probing inside her mouth ever so gently. There was no way she could resist his advances. His lips were soft, beckoning her to surrender. His embrace was potent and deliciously forbidden. It was impossible to deny the passion that had been unlocked by each stroke of his tongue. She had no idea that this rugged warrior could be so intoxicating.
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