Choose the Sky: A Medieval Romance (Swordcross Knights Book 2) (25 page)

“I didn’t know that. You hide your thoughts so well.”

“I’m telling you now,” she whispered.

Domina felt more exposed telling
Luc she desired him than she had the night he’d first stripped her bare and taken her virginity.

He didn’t laugh, he didn’t hold it over her. He only shifted his body very slightly, tipping his head to kiss her right where her shoulder met her neck. His mouth felt divine.

“Let’s begin now,” he said, the words vibrating against her skin. “Tonight.”

“But you’re hurt.”

“You’ve healed me.”

“You’re lying.”

“Mina, will you light a candle?” he asked.

“You want light?” she nearly squeaked. It was difficult enough to be bold in the dark.

“Please. As a gift.”

Again, he had to ask for something so unassuming she couldn’t refuse him. And after he’d nearly died defending her home.

  Mina said, “I’ll have to get out of bed.”

It took her a moment to walk to the fireplace and light the candle with an ember. When she came back to the bed, the candlelight illuminated Luc lying on his side, propped up on one elbow. She saw every contour of every muscle in sharp relief. He was in superb condition—the scars and bruises didn’t detract at all from his allure. He was a warrior. Her warrior.

Who was now very much at attention.

Mina looked away, feeling her cheeks burn. She put the candle in its holder by the bed.

“Come back here, beautiful,” Luc said, his voice low.

She slid back onto the bed, reaching for the cover.

Luc stopped her. “Not yet. I need to see you.”

“You can see me very well.”

“I see your shift. Take it off, or I will.”

She bit her lip, remembering the last time he said that to her. Then she grabbed hold of the fabric and pulled it up and over her head.

Luc didn’t reach for her this time. Instead, he surveyed her from top to bottom, a slow smile growing as he did. “Beautiful,” he pronounced. “The light makes you glow.”

She looked at him. “What should I do?”

He pulled her closer. She lay on her back with him alongside her once again.

“Kiss me,” he ordered.

She kissed him, reveling in the heat of him. He ran his free hand up and down her side, from her shoulder to her hip and back again.

The kiss deepened, and when his tongue touched hers, she moaned into his mouth, finally allowing herself to reveal how much his touch devastated her.

“Mina,” he said, pulling away from the kiss so he could look at her, “you’re so beautiful. I love seeing you like this.”

“Naked?”

“Yes. Not just your body, but your thoughts. Hearing you react. Seeing your true emotions…no one else sees you like this.” He ran his fingers along the outline of her face. “I’m the only one who’s seen you like this.”

“Of course.” She looked away, shy again. “You don’t think I’ve ever…”

“Not that,” he said quickly. “I never doubted your virtue, Mina. I’m just thinking how precious you are. How hidden you keep yourself.”

“Not to you,” she whispered. He saw more of her than anyone in the world.

“Promise me that, Mina. Promise me you’ll never hide yourself from me.”

“How can I? You’re my husband.”

“That means nothing. I’ve been your husband for weeks. It’s only tonight that I feel I’ve got to glimpse you.” His hand slid down to cup her breast. “God,” he groaned. “I need to see your face when you come for me.”

“What do you mean?” She didn’t understand him, but her body reacted to his words. She ached a little, and she was restless.

“I’ll show you.” He gave her breast a gentle squeeze then reluctantly released her. With one finger, he traced the outline of her mouth as if he’d never seen it before. “I’m going to learn you,” he said. “I’m going to learn what you need from me.”

He nuzzled her. “Mina, what’s that scent you wear?”

“My soap is made with rosemary.”

“I love it,” he growled. “It suits you.”

“Then…then I’ll keep using it,” she promised with a laugh. How easy Luc was to please, after all.

“Forever,” he insisted. “I love the smell of you, too. Your body’s own scent. I’m going to taste all of you when I’m fully recovered.” He bit her neck lightly, then added, “And you’re most welcome to taste me too.”

The way he pressed his shaft against her made his meaning very clear. “Not unless you want to,” he added, laying a kiss on her chest. “But know that
I
want you to.”

Mina felt a jolt of excitement at the idea, though she’d have to work up considerable courage to actually do it. “Someday.”

He gave a satisfied sound. “Then I await my lady’s pleasure,” he said, twisting the meaning of the polite phrase.

Mina flushed. “You’re trying to shock me.”

“I’m being honest,” he said.

“Then be honest. What do you want from me?”

“At this moment? I want to please you. I want to show you more pleasure than you’ve ever felt before, and
I
want to be the man who gives it to you,” he said fiercely, showing his possessiveness and pride.

“How do you intend to do that?”

“Where to begin,” he mused.

“You’ve already begun,” she retorted.

“So you like what I’ve done so far?” Luc smiled. “You like my mouth?”

He lowered his head and laid a kiss on her chest, right over her heart. Then he kissed a trail to her breast, and took one bud in his mouth, swirling his tongue around it till it hardened. Mina gasped, feeling a thrum of pleasure jolt down into her belly, then lower. Every kiss, every lick quickened her breath. Her breasts seemed exquisitely sensitive, and she closed her eyes, giving herself up to the feelings he created in her.

“Mina,” he said softly, between kisses. “I’m going to touch you, and you must be honest with me. If I cause you any pain at all, tell me.”

“How could you…” She broke off, for his hand rested between her legs, and his meaning was clear. “Oh.”

He slid a finger gently between the folds of flesh, stroking her most intimate places, drawing out damp heat. If his tongue on her breast summoned one type of enjoyment, this was even more intense.

“Luc…” she whispered.

He paused. “How is it?”

“It’s…wonderful.”

“Ah. Good.”

He resumed, and it was wonderful. Mina hummed with pleasure, her body striving to meet his touch. He kissed her breasts again, and the combined sensations drove her to a series of little gasps that had her moaning for more without knowing how to form the right words. Luc never stopped, so intent on her reactions that his own breathing became harsh and uneven.

Mina would have told him to stop, fearful of his injuries, but by then her body was overwhelmed and she tensed up, just before emitting a cry of release as something happened deep within her, like a vessel breaking.

She cried out again, only to be caught in his arms as she shook with a feeling she’d never known. “Oh,” she whispered. “Oh.”

How lovely. How strange and wonderful, to lose herself in his touch like that. Was that his intent? To shatter her like glass and then let her drift on the waves of pleasure, free of any tension at all?

“Mina,” he said. “My Mina.”

She blinked, lazily coming back to the world from wherever she’d just been. If he hadn’t used her name, she wasn’t sure she would recall what it even
was
. “Luc?”

He’d wrapped one arm about her, tucking her head into his shoulder. His wounded shoulder, she realized belatedly.

“What did you do?” she asked, her voice soft and astonished even to her own ears.

“What I wanted to do to you since our first night together. How do you feel, my beauty?”

“Beautiful,” she admitted shyly.

“You look beautiful,” he said, his eyes raking over her. “So soft.”

She smiled, still feeling dazed. “Do you ever feel like this?” she asked.

“When I’m with you,” he said.

He looked intense, desiring. She understood now why he sometimes seemed so eager for her before. Lord, if the marriage act always resulted in such a feeling for a man…well, no wonder some didn’t wait for marriage to indulge in it.

“You need me now,” she said.

“Yes,” he admitted, his voice rough. “I’ve been at the brink since the moment you touched me tonight.”

“Then please use me,” she said. “Please.”

He closed his eyes, clearly delighted with her invitation.

Luc moved so he was kneeling back on his heels. Mina watched him, her shyness at last fading as their new intimacy took hold.

He surveyed her as well. “I want you like this,” he said. “This position.” He slid his hands to her hips and pulled her right up his thighs so her center brushed against the side of his shaft. He groaned at the contact.

“I can’t…” She began to protest.

“Yes, you can,” he said. “But you should be more comfortable.” He leaned forward to seize a pillow, using the moment to kiss her. “Trust me?” he asked softly.

“Yes,” she replied, almost soundlessly.

“If you don’t enjoy it, tell me,” he said. He sat up again, and slid a hand around her back. He lifted her up while putting the pillow under her. When he let her down again, it was more comfortable, her hips settling into the pillow’s softness.

“Like this?” she asked, gazing at his body.

“Like this,” he said. He reached to touch between her legs.

He closed his eyes when he felt the wetness there. “Mina, you’re exactly what I need.”

Domina gasped as he slid her body over his shaft, sheathing himself in her slick warmth, the angle of him pushing against her in a way she’d never felt before. She sighed.

Luc made a sound of pure satisfaction, and held her still for a moment. Then he began to thrust within her, slowly at first, but then with increasing urgency. “You are heaven, Domina,” he gasped. “Please tell me you like this.”

Liked it? She never wanted it to end. “Yes,” she promised.

“I’m not hurting you, am I?”

“No, you’re not. I like it.” She rocked her hips against him on the next thrust, and the sensation made her cry out.

“Oh,” she moaned. “Oh, Luc.” Could she feel that burst of pleasure again, so soon? She hoped so.

His hands tightened around her hips, slid to her rump and he lifted her a little. “More?” he asked. “Please say more.”

“More,” she confirmed with a breathless sigh.

“You’re heaven, Mina. I won’t last…long.”

She didn’t need him too, not when another ripple of pure pleasure cascaded down her body. Even Luc felt it, grinning savagely.

“Mina, I need you,” he gasped.

One more thrust. He stiffened, holding her hips down on him as he spilled his seed into her. Domina watched in astonishment as an expression of bliss transformed his face. After a long moment, he opened his eyes and leaned down over her so he could kiss her, lips to lips.

It wasn’t a hungry kiss this time, but one indescribably sweet, one of gratitude and perhaps even of love. “Mina.” His voice against her skin made her shiver. “You are one of a kind.”

She closed her eyes, reveling in the words. She felt too fragile, too unready to offer such words back, so she merely said, “Will you lie next to me? On me? As you did before?”

“You still want to be my bolster?” he asked, his voice hesitant.

Domina smiled at his tone. “Please.” She liked Luc this way.

He rolled, half covering her body again, his bandaged wound in no danger of touching the bed. “You must behave yourself this time, sweet Mina,” he murmured sleepily. “You must not press your advant...” Within seconds, he nodded off.

Domina did not. She lay on her back, her arms clasped lightly around her husband.
How strange
, she thought. A month ago she could not have dreamed of being married, let alone being in bed after exchanging such pleasures that it rendered Luc unconscious. And yet, she might be happier now than she’d ever been in her life.

Domina eventually slept, and when
she awoke with a sigh, it was to find that Luc was teasing her the same way she had inadvertently done to him last night. Except that he was fully aware of what he was doing. One hand roamed up and down her body. He trailed his fingers along her curves, making her gasp.