Page 62 of Love Beyond Words
“Because Machara does. She rarely permits herself to think on it, but I feel it each time fear flares up within her. It feels to me almost as if it were destined—a prophecy of sorts—one which she is determined to change. I doona believe she will.”
“Have you ever mentioned any of this to Nicol?”
She shook her head, and for the first time all night, she looked sad.
“No. Nicol carries enough guilt for all that happened. His hope that one day he will free me is one of the few things that has made these years bearable for him. There’s no need for him to know that it willna be him that saves me.”
The sun was slowly beginning to peek over the horizon, and I could see in Freya’s gaze that her night was almost over.
“Thank you for speaking with me. I’ll visit you again.”
She smiled and laid her hand on my knee, although I couldn’t feel her touch.
“Oh, please do, Laurel. Even when Nicol returns, doona feel like ye canna interrupt him. I see enough of him. I would welcome yer company over his anytime.”
She disappeared while laughing. At least even in such a miserable purgatory, she’d found a way to be joyful.
She was a better woman than I ever hoped to be.
Chapter 37
Raudrich was still asleep when I returned to the bedroom. I even went out of my way to wake him up, stomping around the room and flinging the curtains open so the sunrise would stream in. He didn’t move. His soft snore just continued on.
Laughing, I moved over and crawled on top of the bed, crouching on my knees as I bent to kiss him.
“Hey you, wake up. I’ve been awake for hours now. You’re going to sleep the whole day away.”
He groaned and reached to pull me down toward him, snugly settling me into the space between his arm and chest.
“Laurel, why in God’s name are ye already dressed? And what are ye talking about sleeping the day away? The sun is barely up. I must not have done a proper job of tupping ye last night. If I had, ye would wish to sleep until noon, at least.”
I laughed as he nuzzled his lips on my ear, his breath tickling me until I started to writhe against him.
“Trust me, you did an excellent job. I’m just wound up. I’m not sure why.”
He growled and turned to roll on top of me.
“Well then, lass, allow me to help ye unwind once more. Get out of that bloody dress. Ye look far better out of it. Why is it even on?”
He asked the question as he lifted my bum so that he could untie the laces and loosen them with his fingers. I didn’t wish to think about how he must’ve gotten so deft at it. As my breasts sprang free from the top of the gown, he quickly pulled the dress to my feet.
“I…” I could barely talk as he bent and latched his teeth down on one of my nipples. “I went to speak to Freya.”
He quickly glanced up at me before moving his lips downward, kissing the side of my waist between words.
“Freya…why…did…ye…wish…to…speak…with…her?”
I was squirming now. My hips rising of their own volition as my body began to ache for him. I wanted him inside me, wanted to move with him as we’d done only hours before.
“Holy crap, Raudrich. I can’t think when your tongue is…” I cried out as he kissed me between my legs. Reaching for his hair, I pulled him up to me and quickly rolled him over so I could straddle him. I needed him. Now.
“Can we talk about Freya later?”
“Fine by me, lass.”
I came down on him hard and heavy, and the cry that escaped his lips as I began to move on top of him quickly escalated my own climax. There was nothing slow in our exploration of each other this time. It was rough and needy, and when we finally came apart, I was trembling with exhaustion.
“Do ye wish to sleep now, lass? Please say aye, for I doona think I have the strength to tup ye again just now.”
