even make the request and expose another part of herself, another weakness to him?
When she delayed leaving, he reached up and touched the skin below her eyes. “The bruising of exhaustion is back, Isabel. Seek your rest now.”
The kindness in his voice made her control waver, and other emotions threatened to burst through. She needed to get away from him, for her own sake. She took the first step and then the second before he spoke.
“In the coming days I will have need of everything you offer. I will need the passion and oblivion found in relentless pleasure, but not now. Sleep well.”
His words aroused her in an instant. The place between her legs, so recently used, throbbed in response and her nipples tightened. Her body ached for what he threatened and what he promised with his words, but her mind grew curious at what he’d said. What would happen to cause such things? Why would he need physical release soon but not now? What could he mean by relentless pleasure? He had taken her so many times the first night they were together—could he mean to repeat that?
She never took her gaze from him while walking past him. He was a young man, vigorous and healthy, in the prime of his life, so she did not doubt he could repeat such a night over and over again. Isabel pushed open the door to the bedchamber and stepped inside. Other than the trunk of clothing, there were few belongings there to give her any clues or information about him.
Regardless of any respite offered, Isabel found herself thinking on her true task there—not only to seduce him with pleasure but also to find out his secrets so Sigurd could use them. Mayhap a night of good sleep would clear her mind. Then she could figure out how to discover why he had so high a standing with Lord Davin and what his value was.
She slid the luxurious robe off and climbed into his bed. Pulling the bedcovers up higher, Isabel closed her eyes and hoped sleep would come.
Duncan did not enter the bedchamber until he’d regained control of himself. He was appalled by the way he had used her. Knowing he’d been trying to make a point did not lessen the disgust he felt. Even when she had not resisted, even when her body had adjusted quickly to his invasion, even as he spilled his seed within her, he’d known he should not treat her so. But he had and she had taken him without complaint, her body growing wet and hot around his cock with each stroke.
He feared she was so used to being a whore to men’s desires and wants that the woman inside was lost forever. Though he was sure there was someone different within her, someone she most likely did not even know, it was folly to think he could change her in one day. He did not know why he wanted to do such a thing. His month with her would be over and she would return to Sigurd and his machinations. Duncan would face death alone.
Just because she seemed to stave off the effects of the curse that afflicted him did not mean she could banish the end result of it. His death grew nearer with each day and with each use of the power that began to bloom and beckon from deep inside his soul. He had spoken the truth to her about his growing need over the next weeks. With the full moon less than a fortnight away, he would soon become unmindful of things like consideration for her needs. The terrible power would seize control, exuding the scent that would pull her or any other woman within a short distance into his web of need and desire. Stronger with each passing month, it was reaching some apex and he knew with a frightening certainty that it must soon end and cause his death. From observing the progression of his abilities over the last months, and the resulting inability to feel any emotion, Duncan believed the culmination would come two full moons hence.
Opening the bedchamber door with care, he saw her asleep on the bed . . . his bed. Though he had come inside her twice already that night, he could have done it again. He
When she delayed leaving, he reached up and touched the skin below her eyes. “The bruising of exhaustion is back, Isabel. Seek your rest now.”
The kindness in his voice made her control waver, and other emotions threatened to burst through. She needed to get away from him, for her own sake. She took the first step and then the second before he spoke.
“In the coming days I will have need of everything you offer. I will need the passion and oblivion found in relentless pleasure, but not now. Sleep well.”
His words aroused her in an instant. The place between her legs, so recently used, throbbed in response and her nipples tightened. Her body ached for what he threatened and what he promised with his words, but her mind grew curious at what he’d said. What would happen to cause such things? Why would he need physical release soon but not now? What could he mean by relentless pleasure? He had taken her so many times the first night they were together—could he mean to repeat that?
She never took her gaze from him while walking past him. He was a young man, vigorous and healthy, in the prime of his life, so she did not doubt he could repeat such a night over and over again. Isabel pushed open the door to the bedchamber and stepped inside. Other than the trunk of clothing, there were few belongings there to give her any clues or information about him.
Regardless of any respite offered, Isabel found herself thinking on her true task there—not only to seduce him with pleasure but also to find out his secrets so Sigurd could use them. Mayhap a night of good sleep would clear her mind. Then she could figure out how to discover why he had so high a standing with Lord Davin and what his value was.
She slid the luxurious robe off and climbed into his bed. Pulling the bedcovers up higher, Isabel closed her eyes and hoped sleep would come.
Duncan did not enter the bedchamber until he’d regained control of himself. He was appalled by the way he had used her. Knowing he’d been trying to make a point did not lessen the disgust he felt. Even when she had not resisted, even when her body had adjusted quickly to his invasion, even as he spilled his seed within her, he’d known he should not treat her so. But he had and she had taken him without complaint, her body growing wet and hot around his cock with each stroke.
He feared she was so used to being a whore to men’s desires and wants that the woman inside was lost forever. Though he was sure there was someone different within her, someone she most likely did not even know, it was folly to think he could change her in one day. He did not know why he wanted to do such a thing. His month with her would be over and she would return to Sigurd and his machinations. Duncan would face death alone.
Just because she seemed to stave off the effects of the curse that afflicted him did not mean she could banish the end result of it. His death grew nearer with each day and with each use of the power that began to bloom and beckon from deep inside his soul. He had spoken the truth to her about his growing need over the next weeks. With the full moon less than a fortnight away, he would soon become unmindful of things like consideration for her needs. The terrible power would seize control, exuding the scent that would pull her or any other woman within a short distance into his web of need and desire. Stronger with each passing month, it was reaching some apex and he knew with a frightening certainty that it must soon end and cause his death. From observing the progression of his abilities over the last months, and the resulting inability to feel any emotion, Duncan believed the culmination would come two full moons hence.
Opening the bedchamber door with care, he saw her asleep on the bed . . . his bed. Though he had come inside her twice already that night, he could have done it again. He
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