Page 70 of Oaths & Vengeance
If I ran right now, would he chase me? A playful side I’d thought was expunged long ago considered the idea before discarding it. He’d surely catch me, and I doubted I’d be able to resist what he did next.
“No touching,” I reminded him, giving him a warning look.
Darrow dropped his hand. “This time, you have me at your mercy, but do not doubt I will have you begging and screaming when it’s my turn.”
“I’d have to agree to it first,” I said. Inwardly, I prayed to the nameless ones that I had the strength to deny him that privilege for as long as possible.
Relentless promise filled his gaze. “Oh, you will.”
To shut him up, I took him into my mouth again until his cock hit the back of my throat. He bucked as I bobbed my head up and down, sucking and pulling his length while his hands fisted in my hair. There was something truly satisfying about having him mindless with pleasure. His balls tightened, and I sucked hard as he came into my mouth. Darrow’s shout of pleasure echoed through the woods as I swallowed every drop of him.
I pulled away once he finished and licked my lips. “Feel better now?”
He worked his jaw as he studied me.
“Not until I have you naked and at my mercy,” he said.
I shook my head. “That’s not going to happen.”
Darrow grazed his fingers across my cheek. “You’ve only solidified my resolve. I vow to all the nameless ones that I will have you—mind, body, and soul, Aella. You won this battle with that delicious mouth of yours, but I’ll win the war.”
The tone of his voice told me that he meant every word. I may have made a grave mistake tonight, but I’d never guessed a man known for going through women like shots of alcohol would become fixated on me.
“Get dressed.” I caressed his chest one last time. “I’m ready to take us to Jolloure.”
Chapter 31
Darrow
Ikept my attention locked on Aella as I slowly pulled on my clothes. Her green eyes held defiance, but desire swam underneath as she shamelessly stared at my body. She knew as well as I did that she could only resist me for so long. Hunger and longing always simmered in her gaze whenever I had her close, but especially now that she’d gone over two months without another man’s touch. I enjoyed the thought of her need for me growing by the day, slowly torturing her.
Tonight, she’d attempted to wrest control. I wholly approved of her methods, but she’d also proven that her resolve was weakening. She had blazing passion burning within her that couldn’t be denied for long, and I would continue to wear away at the protective walls she’d built around herself. She would surrender to me before much longer.
The nameless ones knew I’d given up on being with anyone else. Try as I might, I’d found little pleasure with any other woman since marrying her. It was always Aella’s face that I saw in my mind’s eye, and it was her that I had to envision when I found release. Of course, my curse kept me from having deep feelings for her. It was likely just as well since the physical need I had for her was more than enough, not to mention the jealousy and protective urges she invoked.
I sat to lace my boots. “You look strained, Aella. Is there something I can do to help with that?”
“No,” she said, turning her attention toward the woods.
“My tongue is quite skilled, I assure you. It would only take a few minutes.”
She tensed, and I wondered if she grew wet at the thought of my mouth between her legs. “Please stop, Dare.”
Even when she was angry or frustrated, I enjoyed hearing her say my name.
I finished with my boots and stood. As I moved toward Aella, she grew even stiffer, if possible. That didn’t deter me. I took hold of her face and kissed her tight lips. She didn’t respond at first but gave in quickly, as always.
Her body melted against mine, and she clutched at my tunic. If I kept going like this long enough, I knew she’d lose all resistance. My wife might not know I was her true mate, but her soul recognized our connection. That worked to my advantage.
Unfortunately, our time to play had come to an end. We’d be late if we didn’t leave soon. I would have to save my seduction plans for next time, but Aella would explode under my touch once I had her alone again.
“Let’s go,” I said, taking her hand and guiding her to the ring.
She said nothing more until she began channeling. A stream of golden light hit each of the runes before the wind joined it to suffuse the entire circle. Then, she murmured in a low voice as she built the power necessary to bridge the two locations. As always, when we went to Jolloure, the portal took longer to open than anywhere else, but I swore she cut a second or two each time. Aella’s powers were incredible. I hoped they would continue to develop enough for what I had planned for the future, because that would require far more strength than reaching the island.
The air popped, and a blue light shone from the ring. I took her free hand, guiding her through it with me. After a dizzying ride, we stepped from the other side to the shadowy island where few could survive for long.
It had an unwelcome presence, but the dark half of me enjoyed the feral magic soaking the atmosphere here. If I allowed it, the feeling could take over my mind and body, but I’d avoided doing that again for a long time and had no intention of allowing Aella to see it. She’d run screaming from me for certain.
