Beyond the Sea Mist (30 page)

Magnus sat down beside her and began to eat. The food tasted delicious. But even more satisfying was the look on Ailinn’s face. He poured her some wine in the other beaker. She lifted the beaker, but rather than drinking, stared at it.

“What’s wrong?”

“’Tis beautiful,” she said. “Such a pale green, like sunlight on pond water.”

“Have you never seen glass before?”

She shook her head. “Where does it come from?”

“They make it somewhere in the south.” Magnus searched his memory. “There’s a settlement called Agrippina that’s well known for it.” He lifted his own beaker, and admired the way it reflected the light of the candles. “Odd to think that something so rare and beautiful could be made from something common and ordinary.” When Ailinn gazed at him quizzically, he added, “Glass is made out of sand. Somehow they heat it until it turns clear. Then the craftsman blows into it to make the shape.”

“The Norse of York must live very well,” Ailinn said. “Even the kings in my land don’t have such fine things.” She took a swallow of the wine and nodded approvingly.

“The source of Norse wealth is trade. The man this house belongs to is far away right now, seeking out new luxury goods he will sell here in York and elsewhere.”

“Is that the life you sought? To be a trader?”

“Aye. Although I thought it would take me many years to save up enough silver to purchase even a small trading ship.” He smiled at her. “I have you to thank for my good fortune. If not for you I would still be a hired crewman on Sigurd’s ship. Instead, I possess two fine vessels.”

“Which you may well end up losing if you go to Ireland to fight for my family’s lands.” Her expression was grim.

He shrugged. “I like the freedom of the sea, but having observed the men who live out their lives on a ship, I’m not certain it’s for me. If I were my father’s eldest son and had a claim to his lands, I probably would have been content to stay home and farm.”

Was that true? Magnus wondered. There was a part of him that had always sought out adventure. Would he be happy with a settled life?

He looked at Ailinn and decided that he would. With her at his side, he believed he could be happy anywhere. “Although I’ve seen little of Ireland except the eastern coast, I’ve heard many tales of how rich its lands are. Rich enough to provide us with a good living, if we can regain control of what MacTighe stole from your family.”

Ailinn nodded and took another bite of the delicious bread spread with cheese. It was difficult to believe her fortunes had turned around so completely. She’d gone from being the captive of cruel Croa to being rescued by this exceptional man. Magnus had risked much for her, and was willing to risk even more. What if he were wounded or even killed while fighting MacTighe? He would have given up everything for her.

That he was willing to do this for her sake was amazing. She would have to repay him somehow. A smile quirked her mouth. She knew exactly how to do it. As soon as they were finished eating, that is.

They devoured all the food, then drank more wine. Ailinn had enjoyed the beverage only a few times before, at special feasts and celebrations. But even she could tell this was very fine stuff—rich and sweet, and near as potent as mead. Her whole body felt warm and languid. When she looked over at Magnus, she saw he also appeared very relaxed. His eyelids drooped and his smile was lazy.

“Perhaps we should take the rest of our wine into the other room,” she suggested.

“Aye,” he agreed. He got to his feet and picked up their beakers.

“I’ll join you in a moment,” she said, wondering if he would be willing to leave her alone.

He didn’t hesitate, but immediately started toward the door to the other chamber.

Ailinn got to her feet. Going to the bathing tub, she lifted the shift and quickly washed off the remnants of their lovemaking in the now tepid water. As she moved the bath cloth over the tender flesh between her legs, she could feel herself becoming aroused. Despite a slight soreness, her body was ready and eager for more of Magnus’s attentions.

But it was she who would attend to him this time. She must repay him for all he’d done for her. Unfortunately, she had limited knowlege about pleasuring a man. She would have to try different things and see what he liked. The thought of it brought a smile to her lips.

When she entered the bedchamber, he was lying on the bed, naked and clearly ready for her, his phallus thrusting upwards spectacularly. She stared at him, her mouth going dry as she contemplated what was to come. To ease her apprehension, she focused her gaze on his face. His eyes were heavy-lidded and a slight smile curved his well-shaped lips. She recalled his delightful kisses and started toward the bed.

“Your shift,” he said. “Take it off.”

She gave him a teasing look. “What if I don’t wish to?” She glanced down at the glistening white fabric. “’Tis so pretty and so very, very soft, like swans’ down.”

“That’s why I chose it,” he said. “It reminded me of your skin. There were many other fine garments I could have purchased for you—perhaps we’ll go back to the shop and buy some of them before we leave York. But I liked the idea that you would wear this shift next to your naked body.”

She wriggled slightly, enjoying the feel of the fabric against her body, grazing her nipples and gliding over her buttocks.

“You torture me,” he said with a grin.

She cocked her head and gave him a sly look. “’Tis merely the beginning. Before the night is over, you’ll be
my
thrall.”

She wasn’t certain why she’d said that. Her plan had been to offer to do whatever he wished. But somehow this felt right. She moved closer to the bed. Although there was no music, she pretended she was dancing. Small, subtle movements. Arching her back so her breasts thrust against the shift. Raising her arms and moving her body from side to side. She turned and shifted her hips so her hair swung back and forth in a slow rhythm.

“Mmmm,” he muttered. “Take off the shift and do that.”

She felt a twinge of embarrassment at the thought of how she would appear, her naked buttocks displayed to him enticingly. But she
had
decided to please him.

Still swaying, she grasped the lower portion of the shift and pulled it over her head. Flinging it aside, she continued her dance. As she moved in a slow circle, she began to feel hot all over. Her breasts ached with the awareness of him looking at them. Between her legs, she was throbbing and wet.

She tingled with amazement at what she was doing. It must be the wine. Her thoughts seemed vague and blurred, yet all her senses were heightened. The smell of food and wine lingered in the air, mingling with the subtle scent of Magnus’s skin. She was keenly aware of the way he looked as he lay on the bed. The raw masculinity of his features. The rippling planes of muscle in his upper body. The light brown hair that swirled around his nipples and continued down his belly. His long legs sprawled across the blanket. The ruddy rod of flesh that rose up from between them.

The sight made her mouth go dry and filled her with a deep yearning. She wanted to be joined with this man. She wanted...

He must be dreaming, Magnus thought. Surely this could not be Ailinn the haughty princess dancing naked before him. She looked so beautiful. Her fair skin glowed and her vibrant hair shimmered with red-gold lights. And her body—so graceful and lissome and yet so lushly female. His breathing came fast and his loins tightened with excruciating arousal. He wasn’t certain how long he could endure this—to look but not touch. He fought to savor every detail, to burn this image upon his memory so he would be able to recall it forever. No matter what happened, they would have this night. He meant to love this woman every way imaginable. Before dawn came, he would know her body as well as he knew his own. “Come closer,” he urged.

Ailinn realized there was no way she could get closer without climbing on the bed. Recalling how he’d straddled her, she took the same position, kneeling between his outstretched legs. Arching her back, she continued her slow, languid movements. She felt his gaze on her breasts, and she brought her hands to them, cupping the soft flesh so the nipples jutted out. She could feel her aureoles forming tight, throbbing peaks. His nostrils flared in response and his muscles in his face clenched in a fierce expression.

She shifted her hips back and forth and moved her hands down her body, caressing herself. With her fingers, she outlined the curve of her ribcage, the shape of her waist, the contour of her hips. Then, boldly, she brought her hands down to her legs. She stroked her thighs, then slid her legs wider apart and placed her hands on either side her maidenhair. Widening her stance even more, she leaned backwards, displaying her intimate parts.

She heard his breath catch. His breathing quickened. She wondered how much longer he could bear for her to tease him like this. For that matter, she wasn’t certain how much more she could withstand either. She ached with desire. The tension had built inside her to an explosive level.

In a last daring move, she brought her hands between her legs and placed her fingers on either side of her womanhood. She could feel the swelling heat of the petal-like folds surrounding the wet slit between. As she remembered how he had kissed and sucked her there, she met his gaze, offering herself. This was her gift to him, her repayment for all he had done for her.

“Mount me.” His voice was a harsh whisper. Ailinn inhaled sharply as she wondered how she would manage such a thing. He seemed impossibly large.

She positioned herself over him and lowered her hips, gasping at the exquisite pressure she felt as his phallus pressed against her opening. With slow, careful movements she continued to lower herself onto him. When he was halfway inside her, she paused, uncertain she could accommodate more.

All at once, he thrust upwards. The shock of the pleasure-pain she felt forced a scream from her lips. She closed her eyes, trembling as the intense sensations shot through her body. Gradually the waves of feeling subsided. She opened her eyes and saw in amazement how deeply he had penetrated her. Her gaze went to his face. He lay back on the bed, observing her with a heavy-lidded, sensual expression. “The view from here is splendid.”

Ailinn looked down at herself, observing her flushed skin and the sheen of sweat glazing her body. Her nipples thrust out, swollen and red. She watched as Magnus reached up to touch them, teasing the taut points with his fingers. Then he moved his hands down her body and around to her buttocks. He fondled the soft flesh, then eased his fingers lower, to where their bodies were joined.

Ailinn gasped and wriggled. The movement pushed his shaft even deeper inside her, making her squirm more. She found herself writhing and shifting, each motion sending ripples of pleasure through her body. In moments, she was on the verge of peaking. She fought losing control, embarrassed that he was watching her. Then he brought his fingers around to the front to tease and fondle her cleft. As he stroked his fingers along the place where they were joined, she seemed to dissolve. She cried out as she was overwhelmed by a roaring tide of passion. Her thoughts blurred, and for a moment, she unaware of anything.

She came to herself again and met Magnus’s gaze. His expression looked somehow pained, and she knew a stab of guilt, thinking of her plan to repay him for all he had done. “Magnus, I... ‘Tis not right that you always concern yourself with my pleasure. I want to satisfy you as well.”

He smiled at this. “You think I haven’t enjoyed watching you and feeling your tight sheathe around me? I vow, if I were to feel any more pleasure, I would die from it.”

“But what can I do to satisfy you?”

“Kiss me.”

His request surprised her. She adjusted her body, intending to lift herself off of him. “Nay.” He put a firm hand on her buttocks, holding her in place. “I want us to remain joined while we kiss.”

Although she wasn’t certain how this would work, she leaned forward to bring her lips to his. As she did so, he grasped her buttocks and braced her. Their mouths met in a greedy kiss.

So many sensations assaulted her that she could hardly think. The feel of his lips on hers. Her breasts brushing against his chest. The intense pressure where they were joined. His hands on her bottom, kneading the kiss deepened. He slid his tongue into her mouth, adding a new delight.

He moved his tongue in a gentle rhythm that sent ripples down her body. Ailinn moaned into his mouth, overcome by all the dazzling things happening to her. When he matched the rhythm of his tongue by thrusting upward with his hips, she was undone. She cried out, drowning in indescribable ecstasy.

The movements of his hips and tongue grew faster and more intense. Without breaking the connection between them, he rolled her onto her back and thrust into her with deep, violent strokes. She welcomed him, awed at how deeply they were joined. As he arced over her, his body convulsing as he found his peak, she knew a great satisfaction. She had pleased him well.

Slowly, they disengaged, then came together again, her head resting on his broad chest. Tears filled her eyes as marveled at what they’d shared. He was so dear to her, so precious. How could she let him risk his life for her sake?

She shoved the troublesome thoughts aside. For this moment, she would savor the sweetness and let nothing intrude.

* * *