Page 41 of Lord of Fire and Ice

She was ashamed to realize she was shaking.

“Nothing,” she said quickly.

He kissed her temples, her closed eyelids, the tip of her nose. “You’re sure?”

She nodded. This wasn’t about getting with child, even if such a thing were possible. This was merely about scratching an itch. About making the empty ache go away, if for only a little while.

“Lie down, Ulfson,” she said fiercely as she forced her hands between them to push against his chest. “I’m going for a ride.”

Chapter 14

Darkness clung to the corners of the chamber, but the woman astraddle his groin glowed in the light of the lamp like a being aflame. Lust boiled through his veins. For a moment, he imagined tossing her off, dragging her to her knees, and mounting her from behind, rutting like a stallion claiming his mate.

But Brandr had given her the reins. He couldn’t jerk them away from her now without losing whatever small amount of trust he’d gained.

Her green eyes met his as she rubbed herself along his shaft. He writhed beneath her, desperate for her to take him in, equally as desperate not to beg for her to.

“Now?” The word escaped his lips without his conscious volition.

She leaned down and kissed him, strafing his chest with her taut nipples. “Not yet.”

She slid down onto his thighs. He half sat up and reached for her, but she straight-armed him.

“Not yet, I said.” She pushed his hand away gently. “You promised to lie still until I say different. Remember? Shall it be said your oath is no good?”

“No, Katla,” he said through clenched teeth as he settled back into the mattress. She’d not corrected him once, even though he’d used her name several times. It was a small victory. “My word is all I have, all any man has. You know I’ll keep it.”

“I’m very glad to hear it,” she said as she moved up and settled her naked rump on his groin.

His balls tightened. The tip of him protruded between her legs, and she massaged the bit of rough skin just beneath the head with her thumb. He broke out in a cold sweat, biting his lip to keep from spilling his seed onto his own belly. She leaned forward and kissed his lips hard.

The agony of needing to be inside her pushed coherent thought from his mind.

“What will you do if I give you permission to move?”

“I’ll…ah…I…” He couldn’t make his tongue form words. “I’ll…”

Wet and slick, she slid over the length of him, luxuriating in her own arousal. “Move, Brandr.”

His hips rose to meet her. His breath hissed over his teeth when she teased him with her soft, wet entrance, but she didn’t let him slip in.

She cupped her breasts, arched her back, and let her head fall back. He’d never seen anything more beautiful.

He ran his hands up her thighs and spread the lips of her sex, then thumbed her most sensitive spot.

She groaned.

He grimaced in satisfaction. His aching erection made a true smile impossible.

“Now?”

“Ja, now.”

She took him in hand and guided him in. Katla moved slowly, obviously reveling in the power of engulfing him, consuming him. Her velvet insides molded around him, conforming to his length and girth as if she’d been fashioned especially to fit him.

He touched her as she moved, pushing her toward the pinnacle.

Her first spasm began.