Page 59 of Oaths & Vengeance
Aella had no idea the effect she had on me—curse or no curse. I hadn’t been faithful to her after we married, but the pleasure was fleeting and hardly fulfilling. Since I’d had her in Darynia for those three days, I hadn’t wanted to touch another woman again, but she didn’t need those details. Nameless ones knew what she’d do if she realized the power she held over my desire for her. Given a bit of time, this woman could bring me to my knees. I didn’t need to love her to want her above all else.
“Only until you submit yourself to me, and then, I’m yours alone,” I swore, though it was already true.
Somehow, I’d have to find a way to control myself because this was getting dangerous.
She shook her head. “You’re insane. We are not sleeping together, so forget it.”
Aella was in denial, but she’d come around with time. Once I had a chance to fully enjoy her body and bind her to me, this overriding needwould surely stop. My father had implied as much. Of course, gaining her cooperation would take some convincing.
I let a smile play on my lips. “If you’re not interested, then why do you always return my kisses with such passion?”
“Because I’m a fool.”
“If your thighs weren’t filthy from another man’s use, I’d test your resolve right now,” I said, running a finger along her bare stomach up to her breast. She was so utterly tempting like this.
Would she feel dirty letting me fondle her after she’d been with her lover tonight? I couldn’t help testing her. Damn if I cared what she’d done in the hours before this point. Her beautiful body was calling to mine, begging to be caressed. I paused my touch just below her left nipple and waited to see her reaction. She didn’t push my hand away or protest, only breathed more heavily. Good. She was waiting to see what I did as anticipatory lust filled her gaze.
I took hold of her nipple and pinched it hard. Instead of complaining, she gasped and trembled. Her hands clawed at the tree behind her as if she didn’t dare let them stop me from the sensual torture. Did she know she was doing that? It wasn’t as if my power held her still anymore, so she could easily stop me if she wanted.
My lips spread into a pleased smile.
Taking it a step further, I cupped both her full breasts and squeezed them hard, curious if more pain would turn her on the way it did me. She moaned and arched into my touch as I kneaded them roughly. There was no sign whatsoever that she minded. If anything, the scent of her arousal grew stronger with the increasing pressure I put on her tender flesh. It was then that I knew she was truly made for me.
Aella’s gaze moved from her breasts in my hands to my face, perhaps realizing how easily she’d fallen into my seduction. It no doubt galled her that I had proved my point. She had no idea about the plans I was currently formulating in my head for when we could be together fully. Now that I knew she enjoyed a mix of pain and pleasure, the possibilities were endless. I wouldn’t try too much at once and would ease her into it, but I had no doubt she’d respond beautifully.
“It’s only the solstice magic affecting us,” she said breathily. Her ridiculous denial was returning because she wasn’t ready for me quite yet…but soon.
I gave one last squeeze that made her gasp again, and then I let go. “Hmm, we’ll test that theory another time.”
With luck, she’d lie in bed every night remembering what I’d done to her in the darkness of these woods and wishing for more. Let that ache build until the day she submitted to me fully with her beautiful, bare body spread before my gaze in invitation.
“Why are you here?” she asked, voice shaky.
It was encouraging that she didn’t try to cover up or move away from me. How far would she let me go? I hated that I needed to switch the topic to the business side of my visit. Someday, I’d make time to focus on the intimacy between us instead.
“To tell you that I will be requiring your channeling services.” I glanced at the sky with a frown, estimating the time by the alignment of the stars. “It’s two hours until dawn, so we’ll meet at nine tomorrow night. That gives you a day and a half to prepare. Coming now was the only way I could meet you in person to speak since everyone’s guard is down for solstice. It’s time you help me get my vengeance.”
Her expression turned bitter. “Like you didn’t know exactly how you’d find me when every sane adult would be enjoying the night, not infiltrating enemy territory.”
“Maybe I did.” I shrugged because she wasn’t wrong. “Perhaps having my wife in my home for several days made me reconsider our marriage, and I felt the need to make a point.”
She shook her head, blonde hair falling over her pert breasts. “You can’t want me that much with the history between us.”
“How I wish that were true.” I leaned forward, making certain my possessiveness of her was quite clear. “But I’ve decided that you’re mine, and if someone else touches you from this point forward, they die. Understand?”
Shock flashed in her eyes, but it quickly changed to ire “If you think I’ll ever let you touch me again after you force me to help you attack my people, you’re wrong.”
I pulled away, giving her a knowing smile. “You will help me because that’s the deal we made, and you’ll still want me afterward—even if you hate yourself for it.”
Of that much, I was certain.
“Fine.” Her features tightened. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
I held her gaze, making certain she understood the gravity of my request. “Don’t be late. As you see, I can always find you, dear wife.”
Though it wasn’t easy, I made myself walk away from her without looking back. Time was running short. Faina and I needed to begin our return journey to Veronna before my exhaustion set in and forced me to sleep.
Chapter 27
