Page 68 of Oaths & Vengeance
He gently took my hand. When I didn't resist, he pressed it against the front of his pants, shocking me with the hardness there. “You’re manipulating me even when you’re not around to see it. All I need to do is think about you, and my cock gets hard.”
More like stunningly rock solid and far too tempting.
“You can get anyone you want, so use some other woman,” I said, pulling my hand away.
Darrow shook his head. “I’ve grown bored with the others, which is certainly your fault, yet I gave you a break from me so you could come to terms with our arrangement. No other woman has touched me during that time.”
I couldn’t help being a little satisfied that he was also suffering on some level. “I’m not having sex with you in these creepy woods at night. Forget it.”
“What if I promise only kissing and touching?” he asked, fiery need in his eyes.
Trying to deny the lust he clearly felt, or my own, for that matter, was impossible. I needed to remember why I should hate him, not want him badly. “You stand for everything I hate,Dare. All Veronna wants is to force Therress back under their rule again, and that includes me.”
“Oh, I definitely want you under me in every way possible, but as for the rest, it is all lies,” he said fiercely.
“Do you deny that five centuries ago, Veronna taxed the people within my land twice as much as those west of the Sobaryan Mountains?” I asked, pointing out one of the strongest arguments we had for rebelling.
He flashed his teeth. “If your tutors had bothered to tell you the whole story, you’d know your people agreed to that deal in exchange for not having to provide soldiers to fight against Karganoth. Our side of the range took the brunt of the losses while yours enjoyed peace and safety.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn’t refute it without looking into the matter more fully. It made too much sense to argue until I knew for sure. Pushing that point aside, I grabbed at another one. “What about taking ninety percent of the holmium from the mines and only leaving us with ten percent?”
He arched a brow. “We were fighting a war with the dark elves, and you of all people understand how critical holmium is to moving armies quickly. Therress didn’t need it as badly as us, but the irony is that when your side decided to rebel, you began sending a quarter of what you mined to Karganoth and have ever since.”
My jaw dropped, and I finally managed to pull away from him. “Now, I know you’re lying.”
“Am I?” He stepped into my personal space again. “There are no holmium deposits in Karganoth, but if you were to visit, you’d find they have no trouble using their portal rings. The ice giants would never deal with them, so where are they getting their supply?”
I glared at him. “The king would never allow my uncle to do that.”
“True, if he could catch him in the act, but Lord Morgunn is quite adept at sneaking those shipments out without being caught. Even the few times we have intercepted a boat, it mysteriously caught fire and erased the evidence before we could see what was on it,” he said, shaking his head. “Your family has been doing that for centuries, aiding the dark elves in their cause to get a foothold in Zadrya. Veronna and Juvarn to our north are the only ones fighting to stop them.”
I looked away. The things he’d said made more sense than I liked to admit and unraveled a history I’d always been taught to believe. I had no way to disprove him at the moment, and I didn’t dare ask my uncle. Even posing questions along those lines would send him into a fit of rage.
“How can I verify what you’re saying?” I asked.
He searched my gaze. “You could choose to believe your husband, or if my word still isn’t good enough, you could check the histories at the royal library in Porrine.”
“I’ll do that.” When I found the time and opportunity.
Darrow caressed my cheek. “I wouldn’t lie to you about this.”
“Not even so that I’ll give my body to you?” I asked, raising a quizzical brow.
His lips quirked. “You barely spoke to me for two months after I made you assist with my attack on Therress. I wouldn’t dare lie about this and risk your wrath once more. We will be married for the rest of our lives. I’d rather not test how long you can hold a grudge if I tell you falsehoods about our lands’ history, especially since you will be able to find the truth now that you know to look for it.”
“Okay,” I said, feeling my resolve against him cracking.
“I want you, Aella, in any way I can have you tonight,” he said in a husky voice that sent deep awareness through my body.
I realized at that moment that he was seriously desperate to have me, and that gave me some power over him. Maybe I should turn the tables on my husband for once. It didn’t have to be emotional, and I didn’t have to let him always take charge. Gathering my courage, I kissed him, making it as deep and passionate as possible until he was groaning and holding me so close I could feel his cock straining against his pants. Then, I pulled back to meet his gaze.
“Here’s my offer. Take off all your clothes and lie on that blanket. I get to touch you wherever I want, but you can’t touch me,” I said, running afinger down his chest. “If you behave yourself, I promise you’ll enjoy it and be totally satisfied when I’m done.”
Behind his gray eyes, I could see his mind working furiously. “What about after that? Can I touch you then?”
“No.” I shook my head. “This only works one way tonight—take the deal or leave it.”
He worked his jaw. “Don’t think I won’t find a way to return the favor at the next opportunity.”
