Pleasure rose up, spreading through her. She was being caressed by the water and his hard flesh, and the incredible sensation was almost too intense. She could hear his heavy breaths and feel the beat of his heart against her chest. He was so close she could almost taste his skin. She moaned as he stroked her harder, heightening her pleasure.
With a heavy groan he pulled her out of his lap. “You want to come?” He forced her back against the tub. “Then I’ll make you come.” He moved the washcloth between her legs, light, feathery strokes. Teasing her.
Kate whimpered. Torture. That’s what this was. “Please...” She was growing desperate.
“No’ yet,” he told her. “No’ until I say.”
Heat pulsed between her legs. The man intended to play with her.
Anticipation started her heart skipping. What terrible and wonderful things would he do to her?
He took one of her nipples into his mouth, circling it with his tongue.
He circled the washcloth between her legs at the same time, light, gentle brushes. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back to rest against the end of the tub. The pleasure was already taking her over.
With his free hand, he pinched her other nipple between his thumb and forefinger, giving it a hard twist as he rubbed the washcloth against her clit. Kate cried out. Pain and pleasure fused, heightening each throbbing sensation as if they were connected. He twisted her nipple again and she felt her sex clench. She needed him to keep touching her. She pressed her hips against his hand. “Please...Ethan, I—” Two of his fingers speared into her wet heat. “Do you know how fucking good you feel, lass?” He stroked her fast, bringing pleasure in a wild rush.
She gripped the sides of the tub as a violent explosion shocked through her, wringing a strangled cry from her throat. She parted her legs further and moved on his fingers, coaxing him to increase their pace. He closed his mouth over one of her nipples, suckling it, while his fingers were bringing her to the edge. Then he lapped at her other nipple and took the hard bud between his teeth, biting and nibbling.
“Oh...” Kate’s sex tightened around his fingers. God, the way the man touched her was like bliss. Pure bliss. He flicked his tongue over her nipple, sending a shiver through her.
“I could kiss these all night.” His fingers plunged deeper inside her.
“Oh, yes... yes...” Her climax was only a few more strokes away.
With a quick motion, Ethan drew his fingers out of her. Kate’s eyes flew open, her pleasure left empty, aching. She panted as she stared into his dark gaze. His eyes were glistening with satisfaction.
“Did I say you could come?” he barked.
Kate groaned miserably. He'd really meant that?
"Did I?"
"No," she breathed.
He slipped his fingers into her again. "This time you'll wait," he said,
"for me."
" Yes, I'll wait." Although she had no idea how.
"Good lass." He started his assault all over again.
Her hands flexed around the sides of the tub. He was already bringing her right back to the pleasure, alternating his rhythm between slow and fast, his strokes between soft and hard, never letting her pleasure crest, keeping her right on that sharp edge of bliss.
"Oh, Ethan," she moaned his name.
"Tell me you like the way I'm touching you."
"Yes," she gasped. "I like it."
His thumb brushed lightly over her clit. She whimpered. So close.
"Tell me you want to come," he growled.
"Yes, please, I want to come."
His thumb moved over her clit in agonizingly slow circles. She squeezed her hands around the sides of the tub, lifting her hips to him. She couldn't withstand this sweet torture for much longer.
"No’ yet," he warned, even as he began to move faster, driving an exquisite pleasure into her.
She threw her head back, moaning loudly. He worked her savagely, fiercely, building every step of her pleasure until she was writhing helplessly against his hand.
"Come for me, Kate." He pushed her over that edge and she came in a rush of heat. Pleasure tore through her, the walls of her sex gripped his fingers as her climax poured into her. The most intense she'd had yet. She cried out as her body pulsed and shook, lost to the pleasure. Lost to him.
She lay limp against the back of the tub, panting, his fingers buried deep inside her. Panic raced through her. How would she ever let him go?
She was certain there would never be a man like Ethan in her life after this night.
He reclined against the tub, dragging her to him, circling his arms around her. She rested her head on his shoulder and let the rise and fall of his chest lull her. She swirled her fingers through the soft hairs on his body, felt his muscles ripple under her touch.
She let her hand travel down his body, exploring as much of him as she could. She reached under the water and her hand closed around his thick length. It throbbed to the same rhythm as his heart.
“Touch me, lass.” He bucked his hips, thrusting into her hand.
Kate moved her hand along his shaft. Hard steel surrounded by soft skin. She lifted her head and watched her hand stroking him, her fingers twirling around the head of his cock before she slid down again.
“Christ,” he groaned. “You like to watch, don’t you?” She nibbled at her lip. Shameful to be doing this, but she didn’t care.
She only wished she knew what else to do to him. She wanted so much to please him, as he’d done to her. How things had changed. She had experienced an awakening with him. She would never be the same after this. She would dream of the warlord and this night for the rest of her life.
She continued her exploration, reaching to cup the soft sack between his legs. His arms tightened around her.
“I think you like touching me.” He ran a hand through her hair.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I do.” She took him in her hand again.
“Do it like this.” He closed his fist around her hand and began pumping up and down, strong, steady strokes.
Oh my. Now she really felt wanton. He took his hand away and let her go at her own pace. She thought of how he touched her, how he moved inside her, and she worked to bring him over that same edge.
“No more." He pulled her hand away. “I need to be inside you.” Kate turned to mush. She needed him inside her just as badly. When had she become so demanding, so lusty? So hot. Ethan was sending her down a road there was only one way of coming back from.
He rose out of the tub, lifting her with him, and set her on her feet. He rubbed a towel over his body to dry off, then quickly dried her dripping hair and ran the towel over her a few times. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed, laying her out across it, like an offering, and took her mouth in a sweeping kiss. She twined her fingers through his wet hair, holding him to her as they devoured each other; lips crushing, tongues swirling, melding them together.
Ethan broke the contact, put his hands on her hips, and flipped her onto her stomach. She felt his weight on the bed behind her, his hands gripping her again, lifting her. She wanted to be facing him, but he was the one who had control. She would have to surrender to him. To trust him.
"Come to your hands and knees, lass." His voice was rough.
Kate rose up on the bed as he'd asked, when his hand shot between her legs.
"Spread your legs for me. I want you to take me deep." He drew his arm around her waist and dragged her to him.
He plunged right into her, his hips slamming against her as he seated himself deep within her heat. She cried his name, her entire body quivering with ecstasy at feeling so much of him, being so deeply joined with him. His thrusts were raw as he took her this time. Uncontrolled.
Savage. He held her tightly against him, almost lifting her off the bed with each surge of his hips, while his cock shafted deeper and deeper, driving pleasure into her.
She braced her hands against the bed, letting the h
eat and desire flow through her. Her pants and moans turned to cries and he bucked harder, his rhythm turning fierce, desperate. Wild pleasure swelled up in her, spreading along every nerve in her body. He rammed into her, pushing her closer and closer to that keen edge. Her climax finally ripped through her, sending her over.
Her sex throbbed, her walls gripping his hard length as she came. A guttural roar sounded from him, something primal, animal. He shuddered violently as he erupted inside her, his cock thick and pulsing, breath heaving.
Kate collapsed to the bed, closing her eyes. She couldn't move. She was spent. Passion had claimed her. This had to be what Heaven felt like.
She wanted to stay in this place forever. With her warlord. She'd let herself dream about it until morning came, bringing reality crashing down on her. Then she'd figure out how she was going to live without him.
Ethan stretched out behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He twined his legs around hers, surrounding her completely. She fit into every nook and hollow of his body like she was made to be there. She knew she shouldn't let herself fall asleep in his arms, but she did.
When she awoke, she felt his hands moving over her, tracing every inch of her skin, and she let her eyes flutter open. Morning light streamed through the cracks in the heavy draperies over the windows. Her heart sank. How long had she slept? She was not ready for the night to be over.
She couldn't imagine leaving Ethan.
How could one night make her feel this way? She didn't know anything about him. He was a warlord and a killer. But he was something more than that, too. He had made love to her, treated her with kindness, tenderness. She felt like she belonged with him, like she was destined to be in his arms. Was she a fool?
She turned to face him and rested her hand against his cheek, feeling his rough, early morning stubble against her palm. His dark eyes searched hers, his gaze so intense. She pressed her lips to his, kissing him slowly, savoring the taste of him. He wrapped his hand in her hair and tilted her head back so he could open his mouth over hers. She could stay there kissing him for hours. Maybe even days.
She moaned softly into his mouth, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down on her. He trailed kisses along her neck, his lips warm and firm, and she felt a delicious shiver run through her. He settled his big body between her legs, his erection pressing against her. He palmed one of her breasts, gently kneading the flesh, and then entered her.
Kate wrapped herself around him as he slowly rocked into her; her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist. They moved together, skin to skin, like they were one. He continued to take her slow, unhurried, burying himself deep inside her with every thrust. She wanted to make it last, but the pleasure was already consuming her. She tried to hold it back, wanting to spend every last second of her time with him like this.
Soon his thrusting turned urgent. His muscles tensed under her hands and his hips drove faster, harder. Pleasure rippled through her, she moaned his name, and that’s when the tears spilled out of her. She was clinging to him, grasping at him. She didn't want to let him go, couldn't possibly stand to leave him. She was in love with him.
"What is it, lass?" His gruff voice rumbled at her ear.
"I know it sounds crazy..." She held back a sob. "But I don’t want to leave with my sister."
He stilled inside her. His brows were drawn in a hard line as he stared down at her. "You will no’ be leaving with her."
"What do you mean?" She panicked. "You promised you'd let her go.
You said you always keep your word." He couldn’t do this to her. It would be the worst kind of betrayal.
"Aye, I promised to let your sister go," he said. "I did no’, however, say anything about letting you go."
"What? What are you talking about?" Was she hearing him right?
Was it possible he felt the same about her? Something inside her knew it was right.
"I want you, Kate. I have for a long time,” he admitted. “I've watched you in the village, so sad, so quiet, but there’s a fire burning behind your eyes. I found myself wondering what you desired most, what it would take to make you smile. I want to find out, and I want to be the man to give it to you."
She was stunned, didn't know what to say. No wonder he knew so much about her. How long had he been watching her? She should feel spied upon, but instead she felt flattered. "Then why did you take my sister?"
"I had no intention of marrying her. I figured since she was the last unwed daughter in your family your father would trade you for her.
Instead, you traded yourself, which only reminded me of why I wanted you in the first place, and I always get what I want."
"So you don’t want me to leave?"
"No."
"You're going to keep me here, with you?"
He bent his head to her neck and kissed her. "Aye. You’re mine now, and I have no intention of letting you go."
Kate smiled, feeling truly loved for the first time in her life. Ethan was the man she’d always wanted, with his dark, good looks and his commanding air. A man who kept his word. A man who was strong enough to protect her, and strong enough to love her. And she was going to hold onto him. Her warlord. She rocked her hips against him. "Then finish making love to me..."
THE END
The Warlord's Promise Page 4
