Caedmon’s Curse Page 6

  The pebbled nipple hardened further and his cock jerked. A drop of hot liquid wept from the slit. A glide of his palms down to her sumptuous ass and she moaned, panting. The throb in his groin swelled and he opened his thighs to ease the thick ache. Her knees complied and she widened their stance. The scent of her arousal flooded his senses and the floor tilted, his equilibrium reeled. He flexed his fingers, grasping and parting the curves of her ass. Her head lolled back on her shoulders and she arched her sinuous spine, rocking into his touch, her nails digging into his scalp.

  With the tip of one finger, he circled the tight flower of her bottom. The taut bud repeatedly flexed and then eased, a swirling rhythm that saturated his mind with blind lust. A flat sweep of his tongue along her other breast and his second hand itched for discovery, strumming lower, seeking his prize. Slippery skin moistened his fingers and a hungry growl rumbled in his chest. She was wet. Wet and ready for him.

  He dragged the side of his index finger through her damp folds and she sharply inhaled. Beneath the pad of his thumb, her hidden pearl hardened, grew distended. Desire blotted out all thought. A dangerous force mounted in his balls and he resisted the compulsion to fist his cock as her thighs quivered on either side of his.

  She wrenched his head from her breasts and brought her mouth to his, whimpering and thrusting her tongue between his lips, over and over as she pitched and swayed against his hand. He tapped the hard nub, circling and teasing, increasing the pressure as he slid one finger inside the tight column of her sheath. She grabbed his wrist, forced his hand deeper. A curl of his index finger and she came apart in his arms. Her back bowed, face aimed at the ceiling, a breath trapped in her lungs. He thrust a second finger inside her, then a third, stretching and filling the slim channel as tremors rolled and shuddered through her body. Her inner walls spasmed and convulsed, coating his hand in slippery cream.

  Her trembling slowly ebbed and he withdrew his hand. She lowered her head, her eyelids heavy with sated passion, and one side of her lips curled into a cunning smirk. “Your turn.”

  She shoved his shoulders with both palms and he grinned, reclining against the mattress, primed and acutely eager for whatever gifts she might bestow. The skin of his cock seemed strained to the limit, his shaft engorged and hot against the skin of his belly.

  His focus narrowed to her slender fingers and his hips instinctively jerked when she lifted his member and fisted the base. The ball of her thumb rubbed and goaded the swollen head. The tendons in his neck audibly snapped as he thrust his arms harder against the floor. A slow stroke to the tip with her curled fingers, a penetrating squeeze along his pulsing length and his head jolted off the pillow, hands fisting as he fought to hang on. Her clever tongue darted and jabbed, prodding his slit. He hissed between his teeth as her second hand smoothed along his inner thigh to cup and fondle his balls. His ass flexed, muscles screaming when her tongue circled the corona and she sucked him deep into her mouth. A resonating buzz droned in his ears. The light swirled and dimmed.

  Sweet tits, the blissful constriction of her cheeks, the warm cradle of her tongue. He would never outlast this sweet torture.

  She slowly withdrew from his cock and his body rebelled, tightened, and he pumped into her mouth a second time—a salacious temptation he could no longer resist. She banded his cock within the firm circle of her thumb and index finger, stroked from the rim of her lips down. Her low hum vibrated his skin, shot a current of white heat deep into the creases of his thighs. Ecstasy coiled in his gut and he squeezed his eyes closed, gritting his teeth. Another slow pump of his hips, the sinking of his member between her ruby lips, and sanity fled.

  He growled and grabbed her upper arms, lifting her to his chest as he rolled her beneath him. The tip of his cock prodded and nestled her damp folds as he drank from her lips. Mimicking the motions, he slowly eased the head of his cock inside her, dragging the tip of his tongue along the roof of her mouth. Like a taut band, she flexed around him. Passion darkened the love gleaming in the jeweled depths of her eyes.

  His heart constricted. At long last, the light in her gaze reflected the devotion he’d lived and breathed these two years hence. Neither centuries nor time had diminished the bonding of their souls. The loss of her memories presented no hazard for a love that was destined by fate.

  Still, he hungered for the words from her lips. To know their betrothal had persevered, remained embedded and as steadfast in her desires as his.

  “Marry me,” he whispered, easing back before pushing forward, gaining another blessed fraction toward bliss.

  “Oh, hell yes.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and crossed her ankles at his lower back. He clenched his jaw when the slight angling of her hips swallowed an additional portion of his rock-hard shaft. “Name the time and place and I’ll be there.”

  His chuckle quickly morphed into a groan when she dug her nails into his backside and urged him deeper still. Slowly, the two of them sharing each breath, he kept his gaze locked to hers until he was fully immersed inside her. Sweat damped her hairline, moistened the delicious skin below her ear. A shiver quaked her body and the pointed tips of her nipples raked his chest. The echoing clamp of her inner walls pulsed through his cock and he bit back a curse. Slow. Above all else, he must bide his time so as not to hurt her.

  He brushed a long white strand away from her cheek. “Is there much pain?”

  She blinked and a small crease formed between her brows. “Um, I would say the one sensation I’m experiencing right now is impatience.”

  “Truly?” He raised a brow, suppressing the urge to smile. No, no, that would never do. He withdrew and quickly plunged back inside, completing her to the brim. The hair at his nape tingled and his balls hitched when she writhed beneath him, the grind of her hips a slow seduction driving him ever nearer the abyss. “And now?”

  “Enthusiam,” she panted. “Again.”

  One forearm braced on either side of her head, he rocked into her thrice, each time penetrating from a different angle, the tightness of her sheath fluttering and grasping, preparing to milk him dry. He ground his hind molars and expended the last of his willpower to stay buried inside her. He wanted her flying with him, pleading and calling his name as they tumbled into rapture. “And now, my love?”

  “Harder.” The arches of her feet cupped his ass and she squirmed. “Love me harder, my prince.”

  The tethers of his self-control snapped. He snarled and drove into her, pouring his love into each thrust. The scent of her skin saturated his mind as he nuzzled the column of her throat, nibbled her ear, lips and chin in his path around her neck. He twined their fingers together and pinned her hands high over her head. An immense pressure spiraled into his groin as she gasped and bowed beneath him, eyes squeezed tight. The muscles of her inner walls contracted and spasmed in sweet surrender and he increased his pace, driving faster, urging her to soar among the clouds.

  He glanced down to where their bodies were joined. Her glistening arousal coated his shaft, softness yielding under hard, darkness clasped by light.

  “Caedmon…” she breathed and he was flung body and soul into the throes of ecstasy. Spasms detonated down his spine. Sparks sizzled at the edges of his vision as his release spurted and melded with her quivering core.

  He collapsed on top of her, trying to catch his breath. She wrapped her arms around him and her contented sigh whispered past his ear.

  Peace. For as long as he’d lived, none other than his true love had offered him such resplendent peace.

  Chapter Five

  To his way of thinking, nary a thing touched by Helios’ bright rays compared to the voluptuous temptations of the female backside, and the one sauntering away from him was undoubtedly the most exquisite of every curved bottom in the realm.

  Caedmon linked his fingers and propped them under the back of his head to better enjoy the view. Regrettably, his lady had insisted on reclaiming her shift before leaving his side, yet the thin mater
ial displayed a paltry effort in masking her form.

  Beneath the gauzy covering, her shoulder blades shifted like restless wings, the crease of her ass a slightly darker line than the unmarred skin to either side. Indeed, if anything, the way the light passed through the fragile garment merely titillated his arousal. He bit back a groan as his thoughts ran rampant over the singular delights awaiting his hands and tongue. The mere idea of exploring the landscape of her body made all sound judgment flee.

  She bent down to fill a golden chalice from the Pool of Tears and the fabric swung loose from her body. The arc of her breast was momentarily suspended in shadow, the silhouette of a rosy nipple perched atop a snowy mound.

  Helios wept. In all his seasons on earth, he would never get enough of her. Mayhap he should have followed his first instincts and ripped that infuriating garment to shreds. “Henceforth I may insist that whilst we are alone together, you remain in a state of undress.”

  She smirked and lifted the chalice, cupping the base in both palms. Her steps remained slow and even as she returned to his side. “Okay. I might be convinced to stay naked whenever were alone together. But, tell me, my prince. What do you offer in return?”

  The challenge in her voice prompted his smile. Oh, how her fiery temperament ignited an insatiable passion deep within his soul. One that had lain dormant far too long. “Is this how it shall be then, my love? The rest of our days filled with bargain and trade, neither submitting to the will of the other?”

  “Well, think about what you’re asking me.” The shift billowed as she knelt at his waist and placed the chalice on the floor near her thigh. “Winter is just around the corner. If I’m going to chance catching my death in some drafty castle, not to mention risk starvation since it’s entirely possible we may never leave your bed, you’ve gotta give me something in return, don’t you think?”

  Quite right. The woman was a shrewd negotiator; a skill she’d assuredly honed within the court during his absence. He captured a lock of her hair and twirled the silky strands around his finger, feathering the silver tips along his lips. Yet nothing in all his imaginings quite compared to the vision of her, naked in their marriage bed, lips swollen from his kisses and her shapely limbs tangled amid the bedclothes.

  He raised a brow. “I swear by all the goddesses, not one morsel of your skin shall become chilled whilst I am present. As for our appetites, I shall issue a standing order to have three meals per day delivered to our rooms.”

  Her lilting laugh sent desire sparking along his nerve endings. She dipped her hand in the chalice and brought it to his chest. The water droplets seemed comparatively cool against his skin as she dabbed the slight indentation left by the hashishan’s arrow. Another dip of her finger and she traced moisture along the uppermost streak wrought by the swipe of a scimitar.

  He frowned. The magic of the goddess’ tears had already served its purpose, restoring him to full capacity. Had not their vigorous lovemaking proven he was fully healed and fit to forge ahead at her side? “What is this task about, my love? You no longer need to fear my injuries.”

  One of her shoulders neared her ear in a shrug. “Those three days you were asleep, every time I used the water on your scars they became less apparent.” She returned her hand to the chalice and her finger smeared a damp trail along a puckered ridge of skin below his ribcage. “It’s strange because I’ve also noticed I’ve no desire to eat. The water must somehow satisfy our hunger as well.”

  The light skim of her touch was a persuasive invitation far beyond his willpower. He could no more resist tasting her than he could deny himself air. Clasping the base of her neck, he lowered her to his lips and lost himself in the smooth delicacy of her mouth, over and again until a pulse of need lengthened his cock and it tented the blanket covering his legs.

  “What wilst you have?” he breathed against her throat, nibbling the supple skin beneath her ear. A parcel of land, a heavy purse. If she fancied a gown fashioned from moonbeams he would grant her appeal. Anything to ensure she would once again be naked beneath him, their bodies joined in bliss. “I beg you. Name your terms and I shall move heaven and earth to fortify your consent.”

  Her breathy laugh vibrated against his mouth. Warm, delicious, mesmerizing.

  More… He needed more.

  He dotted kisses down her neck, swirled the tip of his tongue inside the shallow dip between her collarbones. Her pulse fluttered beneath his lips. A shudder traversed her body as he eased the thin strap off her shoulder and shifted lower to indulge in the temptations of her breast.

  She sighed and combed her fingers through his hair, clasping the back of his head. “I want us to be equal partners in everything. Make all decisions together, respect one another’s opinions.”

  And rightly so. How easily her intoxicating diversions had waylaid his memory. Her currency didn’t consist of gold coins or glittering jewels. Fancy gowns would not earn her approval. She dealt in deeds, the proof of conviction through action.

  He pressed a smile to the underside of her breast. Silly girl, bartering for things he’d already determined must be foremost in their matrimony. He had no more desire to lord over her than he did to claim a seat on the throne. Indeed, if anything, with each passing glide of his mouth over her skin, the scales of power tipped ever farther in her favor.

  Her fingers clenched and dug into his scalp when he suckled the taut peak of her nipple. “And I want to go after the key.”

  He wrenched back from her, a scowl tightening his brow. No. That petition was perverse beyond measure. “We cannot, Rowena. We must not.” Fear parched his tongue over the dangerous quest she proposed, and he gnashed his teeth. “I will not allow it.”

  She froze. Two heartbeats passed before she returned the strap of her chemise to her shoulder. One of her slender eyebrows rose toward her hairline…and foreboding swirled a sinking vortex in his gut. “I don’t recall asking for permission.”

  He sprang to sitting and clasped her upper arms. “What you suggest is madness. You would have us risk everything by riding straight into the arms of the enemy.”

  Determination sparked and hardened her emerald gaze. She encircled his wrists in her fingers and tugged his hands from her body. “That night I fled the castle? I overheard your conversation with Fandorn. He said a good chance exists that my memories are linked to the key. Stealing it back is my one chance at regaining everything I’ve lost.”

  He dropped his focus to the floor, shaking his head. Goddess’ tits, the woman had not the slightest indication the unstable ground upon which she trod. The future of every soul in the realm hung in the balance of her charging off, chasing some fool’s errand.

  Gaelleod’s lifeless black eyes flashed across the veil of his mind’s eye and Caedmon’s hands instinctively tightened into two hard fists. No. No, no, no. His utmost duty was to guarantee she and the key never reunited. Not in Seviere’s realm. Not so near the chest.

  “Please, Caedmon.” She palmed both his cheeks and lifted his face, biding her words until he met her gaze. His heart lurched when the same grim desperation banding his lungs stared back at him through her tear-filled eyes. “You don’t understand what it’s like. I can’t remember my parents. I don’t know how old I am or my birth date.” She winced and placed three fingertips to her temple. A solitary tear tipped over her lashes and tumbled down her cheek. “I don’t even know my full name.”

  The hardened wall of his resolve cracked. Each time she ventured near the past, she experienced pain. What character of husband would he be to condemn her to such a fate? Denying her the memories of a mother and father she’d grieved not only once, but twice? Abandoning her to a dim lapse where nothing but burning questions haunted her?

  His growl of frustration rumbled off the cave’s walls. Dammit to hell. His only recourse was to confess everything and then pray, by some grand miracle of absurdity, she might see reason.

  He pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes tight. He had hop
ed to avoid this sorrow. Above all else, he had longed to spare her the gruesome details of this tale. Yet, with her heartfelt petition, she’d left him no choice.

  His hand dropped and he slowly twisted away from her, presenting her the full view of his ruined back. No more censure. No more shying away from their dire circumstances to spare her grief. If she was unwavering in her pursuit, candor was paramount.

  Silence reigned between them. Her anguished sigh wafted across his skin. Water splashed as she submerged her hand in the chalice. The retort of a barbed whip snapped in his ear when the light touch of her moist finger traced a lash mark he bore from nape to hip. He gritted his teeth, gathering a courage he’d not known existed within him to stay rooted in place.

  “I can’t imagine what they did to you.” A breath hitched in her throat. “I know I can’t, but I understand what you’re trying to do.” Another cool path trailed down the length of his spine. “You’re worried if I breach Seviere’s walls, this same thing might happen to me.”

  He shook his head. She misunderstood. Seviere would never risk torturing her in such a way. Not when the power he sought ran hidden through her veins.

  No, the evil king would secrete her away someplace safe, buried under heavy guard and key. Never again would she encounter Helios’ bright rays. No more would she wander the gloaming of the forest or ride her white steed. If captured, her freedom would be lost, and she would be ripped from his arms forever. “I would suffer the consequences thricefold if necessary. Without hesitation, I would submit to any machinations Galleod inflicted.”

  “What?” The soft skin of her palm pressed his back. “Why? How could you even suggest such a—”