Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 144411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144411 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
She gives me a look of disbelief. I don’t expect her to believe me, but the moment I saw she was trapped, I stayed hidden in the bushes and followed them all the way back to the ship, planning for when I’d climb aboard and rescue her and Sedge. Though I suppose I’m not much of a rescuer if I’m keeping her hostage still.
I quickly crouch and scoop her up into my arms and she lets out a gasp of surprise. I carry her over to the barrel and then with my hands taking a firm grip of her soft waist, I lower her into the tub.
She winces slightly as her shirt billows around her, the water splashing over the sides of the barrel until it’s just barely covering her breasts.
“I know it’s cold but at least it’s clean,” I tell her. “And it’s water. I figured that would be something you’re missing. Raise your arms.”
She stares at me for a moment with round, unsure eyes and I gesture for her to do it. She hesitates, then puts her arms straight up above her and I reach down to the hem of her shirt, pulling up over her chest and shoulders and head until the whole shirt is gathered at her wrists. I could take it off entirely but that would involve undoing her wrist restraints, and even though her hands and fingernails look normal at the moment, I don’t trust those claws near my heart.
There has to be some sort of metaphor in that.
Naturally she’s completely naked now and my attention goes to her gorgeous breasts, her nipples hard pink and breaking through the surface. I raise my gaze to meet her eyes and even with the chain in her mouth I can tell she’s smirking at me. Either she likes that I’m admiring her body, or she thinks this is typical of me. Perhaps both.
I clear my throat and adjust my cock in my breeches, hard as iron and begging for release, then I pick up the soap. I wet it in the water, sensually rubbing my thumb over the bar again and again, creating a lather, and she’s watching me do it with heat in her eyes. I know it reminds her of what my hands can do to her most delicate parts. Even submerged in water I can still smell her arousal.
With my gaze locked on her eyes I bring the soap up between her breasts, then glide it over her collarbones and shoulders, taking my time to wet her skin and wash her inch by inch. Her eyelids flutter closed.
“Have you had enough time to think about my proposition?” I ask her, my voice thick.
Her breath hitches while I slide the soap back down over her breasts, teasing her nipples with it, but she doesn’t say anything.
“I could do it right here,” I say to her, and just the thought of sinking my teeth into her neck causes lightning in my veins. “I’ll be as gentle as I’m being right now. You won’t even notice.”
I bring the soap down into the water, smoothing it over her skin, down, down, between her legs, my arm fully submerged. I rub the soap against her in the same rhythmic motion I was doing earlier and her legs start to quiver, her breath quickening.
A low moan sounds from her throat and I take the soap away, using it as leverage. She gives me a dirty look, to which I smile. “Answer the question and I’ll continue.”
She thinks about that for a moment, her brows knitting together. Then she shakes her head. “No,” she says.
Figures. “No, you don’t want me to feed from you?”
Her gaze tightens on mine. Yes, that’s exactly what she’s saying.
“Alright,” I say with a sigh. “If that’s the way you want to do this. Either I feed from you, or everyone does.”
She balks, the water splashing. “You’re cruel,” she manages to say angrily.
“I’m giving you a choice, Maren. Choose me,” I implore. “Why can’t you trust me?”
She gives me the most incredulous look. I suppose I deserve that.
“Listen,” I say to her, coming around so that I’m at her back and I rest my chin on her shoulder. “This is the way it is and there’s no getting around it. I need you. I really, really need you. More than I’ve ever needed anyone. And yes, this is a physical need in so many ways, but you drive me to despair, luv. You make me lose my reason. And I’m not going to give up on you giving in to me. I need your submission so badly that I feel the ache in my bones.”
Maren relaxes slightly, leaning against the back of the barrel.
“This is for you too, my darling,” I say to her, my voice lowering as I run the tip of my nose over her bare shoulder. “With your blood, I can defeat Nerissa and Edonia. Your revenge is my revenge. We both want the same thing, don’t you see?”