She moistened her bottom lip in anticipation of his kiss and excitement began to coil tight in her belly. Still, as much as she wanted his kiss now, it would not be fair to him to go forward without telling him the truth. Even as she opened her mouth to tell him, Cedric’s words came back to her.
You must think about your people. Not yourself. Not even Rurik in this. This is about doing what is right for Glannoventa.
Annis was very much afraid that she did not know what was right any more. Everything seemed to be turned on its head. ‘What if the thing I have to tell you changes your perception of me?’
He smiled and it lifted her heart because smiles from him seemed so rare. She placed the memory of every one in a secret chest inside her head. ‘You will be my wife, Annis. Whatever you have to tell me will not change that. We will face it together.’
‘Then—’
‘Later.’ He was quick to add, ‘We will face it later. Right now we must face the coming night.’ His fingertip stroked a path from her cheekbone to her lips. She took in a sharp breath at the contact, unprepared for the shiver of pleasure that snaked down her spine at the simple touch.
Right. They must get through tonight to face tomorrow. Tomorrow would bring yet another battle with the arrival of Jarl Eirik.
‘Why do you say “will be”? I’m already your wife.’ She could not seem to stop talking. It was the only way to calm the trembling that threatened to overtake her.
‘Where I am from, a man and woman are not truly married until they have joined together.’ His finger dropped from her lips to toy with the string holding the neck of her underdress closed. He gave a tug on the looped end, pulling the linen across her breasts which made her nipples tighten. ‘Will you become my wife in truth, Annis?’
There was a pulse deep inside her belly in response to him. His eyes had darkened so there was little of the pure blue left. It very much felt as if he wished to devour her. The odd thing was that she very much felt she would enjoy it.
When she nodded, his lips split in a grin that bared his teeth to her. They were straight and white with pointy eye teeth, making him seem quite wolfish. Why did her heart leap in anticipation?
Chapter Sixteen
His lips were warm and soft when they touched hers. There was no urgency so the press of him was light and pleasant. Annis closed her eyes and allowed him his leisure. A strong hand cradled the nape of her neck, his long fingers sliding into her hair, while his other moved down her back, slowly drawing her closer to him until his heat was pressed against her front. Her lips parted with surprise at the breadth and strength of his hardness against her belly, so close to where it would eventually nestle inside her.
His fingers moved in soothing circles at the small of her back, not letting her retreat, but not pulling her forward. Instead of pressing his advantage, he placed tiny kisses along the rim of her lips, reminding her of a bee sipping nectar.
‘It’s been years.’ She did not understand her need to explain her hesitance. It must be obvious to him. She simply did not like to behave in such a way. When the world required her to be resolute and forceful, this reticence was new.
He raised his head enough to look into her eyes. ‘There is no rush tonight, Annis. You will be mine before morning no matter how fast or how slow we proceed.’ The thumb on the hand at her nape stroked up and down across her frantic pulse. ‘Would you like to touch me?’
Releasing her, he took her hands in his and brought one to his mouth where he placed a moist kiss on her wrist. Threads of pleasure wove their way up her arm before he dropped her hands to rest on his chest. She luxuriated in the warm, hard feel of him, letting her fingers slip beneath the soft fabric to push it further back. He did not react as he watched her face. His muscles were firm beneath her palms as they roamed. He was so hard and somehow supple at the same time. Her fingers curled in the light mat of fur, marvelling at how it could feel both coarse and soft at the same time. This man was a contradiction. She was starting to think that it might very well take her years, perhaps a lifetime, to learn all his nuances. Perhaps she was even looking forward to that.
Feeling braver and more herself, she found the nipples hiding in the fur and traced her fingers over them. The muscle beneath them flexed and his skin drew taut. She glanced up to see him studying her intently, his eyes deep pools of need. Satisfied with his response, she moved her hands up his chest to his shoulders, pushing the fabric away as she went. Neither of them seemed to notice when it fell to the floor. Her fingers traced the ropes of muscle that wrapped his shoulders and upper arms. Grim had been solid and strong, but not like this. There were angles and valleys where muscle met muscle. Each one of them seemed to flex as her fingers found them, which delighted her.
Skimming down his arms, she let her fingertips dance across the hair on his forearms and thick wrists to his hands. They were broad and strong like the rest of him, but his fingers were long and graceful. Turning his hand over in hers, she traced the calluses at the base of each finger. She brought his hand to her face, remembering how he had gently cupped her chin earlier that morning. He did it again now,
