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I didn't need to worry about that; I would never ask him for more. I prayed he wouldn't see how happy the thought made me to see Samju again, to work with him, even if I couldn't ride him like we used to. I hoped he didn't see that I would have done anything for what he had offered me.
"Deal," I said.
"Prove it," he challenged.
"What do you want me to do?" I squeaked.
"Come here and kiss me," he demanded.
I can do this, I can do this, I told myself as I slowly walked the few paces separating us.
He bent lower and waited.
I rose on my tiptoes with an audible gulp. I had to sling my arms around his thick neck to reach him, and then I pressed my lips against his.
He groaned and opened his mouth. His arms snaked around my waist and his hands landed flat on my ass as he lifted me higher against his hard erection. His lips parted and his tongue darted into my mouth, taking my breath away and turning my knees into melted butter.
Since I had never been kissed before, I didn't know if my reaction would have been the same to any other man, but I harbored a suspicion that Brogan was the only one I reacted to like this.
His tongue touching mine made my stomach flutter in strange ways, while his fingers holding my ass tightly roused a strange pulse between my legs that spread like wildfire through my body, creating a desire I had never expected.
"Good," he said with an arrogant grin when he slowly set me back down on my feet, and I prayed my traitorous legs would keep my body up.
"I have a few things I need to take care of, but I will have clothes and a bath sent up for you. Do I have your word that you won't run away?"
Where would I run to? On the off chance that I would find Samju and even if we managed to get out of this stronghold, Thyre was a dangerous place. I had no weapons, no food, nothing. There was nobody who would give me aid, and alone, Samju and I were as good as dead. I might have thought the risk worthwhile for myself, but I would never do that to my horse.
So far, Brogan had treated me…nicelymight not have been the right word, but decently. And the strange feelings he stirred up within me weren't that terrible. For someone in my position, it could have been a hell of a lot worse. Nothing that would make me desperate enough to run away, yet.
"I promise I won't as long as you don't give me a reason to," I said.
He chuckled lowly. "I will also have some food sent up for you."
"When can I see Samju?" I dared.
He was already by the door, but when I finished my question, he turned and strode back to me. My heart rate increased with every step that brought him closer. His fingers gently pushed a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. "If you are good, tonight. I will take you to him after dinner."
My eyes welled up. My dad had only been dead for a week, but I already missed any kind of tenderness toward me, the kind this warlord of all people was giving me now. I knew it was stupid to feel gratitude toward a man, a dangerous warrior no less, who owned me, but it was there. By all rights he could have thrown me on the bed and raped me. Hell, he could have killed me, and nobody would have shed a tear for me or asked a question. Nobody.
Well, the other girls might have, but they were all in the same position as me anyway and… the other girls!
"What about the others?" I asked, ashamed of not having done so before.
"You have my word they will be well taken care of. You don't need to worry about them. Now kiss me."
It was becoming easier every time. But the strange pulse between my legs raised an urge within me to rub them together, and it only became stronger every time we kissed or when he touched me.
For a long while, I stared at the dark paneled door after it closed behind him, while finally giving in to step from one foot to the other and to press my thighs together, which somewhat abated the strange pulse between my legs.
I didn't know how long I stood there and stared at the door, but I finally got a hold of myself and looked around the large, circular room I found myself in. Paneled windows ran the entire circumference of it, and I stepped to the closest one where the view took my breath away.
We were high up; higher than any mountain I had ever climbed. To my left I had a clear view of the Dark Sea as far as the eye could see.
Even now, as the Comden sun hung high in the sky, the ocean looked as black as ink. But it didn't look foreboding to me, not as scary as people said it was. Mysterious, yes, but strangely inviting too. When my eyes found the ragged cliffs to the ocean's right, where thunderous waves crashed against hard granite rocks, I wondered what the water was hiding. Curious if I could hear it from here, I worked on the latches holding the window closed and was unprepared for the strength with which the sea air hit me.
I had smelled it the closer we came to Brogan's stronghold, but I had been too miserable to appreciate it. Now I closed my eyes and allowed the breeze to hit my face full force while I deeply inhaled the salty scent.
It was just like my father had described it, and I felt my lips curve in memory, and for a second, I felt as if he was here with me. Just like he had promised.
