Page 17 of Saved By a Barbarian

The question made me pause. No, Tavik had not been alone. He rarely was. Saneth had been with him. And while most warriors had more honor than to attack an injured man, I didn’t trust him. Saneth was in love with Tavik, despite Tavik never returning his affections. Everyone knew this, except maybe Tavik. He would do much to make Tavik happy. Including hurting Patrick while I was distracted with Tavik.

Letting out a slow breath, I nodded. “It was good to get Patrick safely away. I will handle Tavik later.”

That made Rath frown, and he swung his gaze to look at me. “Tavik? Why would a clan brother be harassing Patrick?”

“I do not know. He said many cruel things to Patrick, and because Patrick isn’t considered a tribute, he feels he can do as he wishes. I will not let him get away with it.”

“No, he isn’t a tribute, but he is to be your claim, is he not?” Rath asked. The way he said it, like it was already decided, lifted my spirits a little. At least one person was on my side in this.

“I wish him to be,” I admitted. “But we have not discussed it. He is recovering and still learning about the clan. He has startedhelping Yamileth with the cooking, though. I hope that means he wants to stay.”

Rath made a disgruntled noise. “It is difficult to read those not from our clan. Learning to read Finn had been a challenge. I hope he stays for you too, my brother. You deserve happiness. Does Patrick seem happy with you?”

“He did before Tavik’s comments. We have been intimate with each other, too. But you’re right, he is difficult to read. I’m not sure yet if he truly wants to stay or if he is only trying to show his thanks to the clan by helping where he can.”

The conversation slowed when a sorvik came closer. Rath jerked his chin in that direction, urging me to take it. Carefully, I slid out of the watching tree, keeping against it to hide myself. The sorvik had yet to notice me. I pulled my bow from my back, setting an arrow against it.

“Take your time,” Rath murmured so low, I almost didn’t hear it. “Remember to breathe.”

It had been a long time since I learned to hunt. I knew to do these things. But instead of being indignant of his lessons, I listened to my friend, waiting and taking slow breaths until the sorvik was in a good position. I let my arrow loose, pulling out a second immediately in case I missed. I didn’t. My arrow lodged in the sorvik’s chest, and it dropped to the ground with a whine.

Rath dropped from the tree, grinning as he gripped my shoulder. “Excellent shot, brother.”

I made a face at him. “It is not my first sorvik. You know this.”

“I do,” he nodded. “But you have been distracted as of late. It has affected your skill. I only wish to commend you when you put aside your troubles and bring great honor to our clan.”

I settled a little at his words. Ihadbeen distracted. My jealousy of him split my focus. Then Patrick arrived, and I wanted so much to return to him that I didn’t give my whole selfto the hunt. I was an excellent hunter if I focused on the task. I needed only to slow down and remember that.

Rath helped me bring the sorvik to the waiting tree. He had more hunting to do, and I had herbs to look for to bring to Yamileth. Before we separated, he put his hand on my shoulder and spoke low to me. “Whatever you choose to do about Tavik, you have my support. And my sword, should you need it.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I grumbled. I was angry with Tavik, but I had yet to reach the urge to kill him. If he kept insulting Patrick, though, the choice would be taken from me. I would claim Patrick, should he choose me back. And I would never let him come to harm. Not even from my own clan brothers.

My leg was throbbingafter making the morning meal, so Yamileth sent me to Verus’s tent to rest. She said I could return to help with the afternoon meal only if I rested, so I didn’t argue with her. She had yet to tell me what she planned on doing about Tavik and his friend, but I did my best not to think about it. It was out of my hands, and I just wanted to forget the words that were said.

I was lying down, but not asleep, when Verus showed up. He looked incensed, and I wasn’t sure why. I thought maybe he was angry with me until he climbed on top of me and captured my lips. I gasped in surprise, and he took full advantage, sliding his tongue into my mouth. A rush of arousal swamped me, and I was helpless to do anything about it. Verus’s mouth dominated mine, and I could only hang on and let him have his way with me.

I was so distracted by his mouth, I didn’t notice his hands until they were tugging on my tunic. When he broke the kiss long enough to pull it over my head, I breathlessly asked, “What?—”

Verus didn’t let me get the entire question out before taking my mouth again. He sucked on my tongue, and I moaned against his lips, my fingers digging into his tunic to keep him close.

Unlike last time, Verus seemed to be in a hurry. I wasn’t sure why, and I didn’t have time to ask. He carefully stripped off my trousers and smallclothes, leaving me bare beneath him, then set to work kissing every inch of me, until I was breathless and my whole body felt flushed.

Lost in the sweet way he touched me, I didn’t expect him to take me into his mouth. I choked on a gasp, arching my back, as he sucked me down to the root. I’d never felt anything like it before. Hot wet heat wrapped around my member, his tongue flattening along the vein underneath. I fisted the blankets beneath me, my head thrown back as I tried to get any words past my throat. If he didn’t slow down, I was going to finish in his mouth.

I opened my mouth to beg him, but for what? For more? To slow down? I wasn’t sure. All that came out was a whimper either way.

Verus released me with a pop, lifting his head to lock eyes with me. “The sounds you make drive me to distraction. I want to taste every inch of you, ravsol. Will you let me?”

I still couldn’t get any words out. My cock throbbed in his grip, and I felt certain I would explode if he put his mouth on me again, but still I nodded. He lit up like I’d given him a gift, smiling at me, before he dipped his head again, skipping past my length to draw one of my balls into his mouth. I groaned in surprise, feeling them draw up tightly. I was so close, my stomach quivered with it. But I didn’t expect what he’d do next.

He moved my good leg up and out, spreading me wider. It might have embarrassed me had I had the capacity to feel anything other than aroused. I felt his fingers grip my ass, felt his mouth move lower, but I didn’t expect his tongue to slide over my hole. Pleasure sparked through me in ways I didn’t think possible, and I felt my arousal climb higher than it ever had before. I wanted more, wanted to beg for it, but I could only moan and gasp until he pushed his tongue inside me and I fell apart at the seams. My release coursed through me like a lightning storm, and I couldn’t draw in a breath until it passed. When I finally went boneless, I realized I’d squeezed my eyes shut and pried them open, looking at Verus with wonder.

“What… was… that…?” I asked between heavy breaths.

His grin was wicked when he said, “I told you I wanted to taste you everywhere. Did you like it?”

I could only nod rapidly. That was amazing. There were no words to describe it. And when Verus dipped to kiss me and I could taste myself on his lips, my cock twitched with one final aftershock of pleasure.

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