The intensity of her kiss stormed him. His body hardened with fierce intent. His breathing grew uneven, but he curbed the urge to strip her and sink deep within her warmth. Now was a time for her to heal, a time to rid herself of the darkness seizing her mind.
Patrik made love to her mouth, taking, giving, savoring her each little sigh, her every gasp of pleasure. When her body softened against his, he slid his hands along her curves, appreciating her every tremble, the awareness he evoked, the need his touch had invited.
On a whimper, she shifted restlessly against him.
Careful not to push her too fast, he skimmed his fingers across her silken flesh, releasing the ties of her gown. He nudged the cloth aside and exposed her to his view. If she made any attempt to cover herself, however much he wanted her, he would stop.
Instead, she continued to kiss him, her mouth demanding, ruthlessly taking. So he sank into the kiss, savored the swell of her breast against his hand, enjoyed her every shudder as he toyed with the sensitive nub.
At her moan, he pressed kisses against her cheek, then moved lower, allowed his teeth to scrape the curve of her jaw. He nipped her gently, enjoying her shudder of surprise, the sensual flush that slid up her throat.
“I am going to make love with you,” he whispered, her heat, her scent, driving him wild. “I want to see you, touch you all over.”
Worry flashed in her gaze.
He steadied himself, tamped down the flash of anger. “No,” he said, his words soft, “do not think of anyone but me. No one else is here but you and I.”
“I know.”
“You are safe with me. Never would I harm you.”
Tenderness softened her expression, her delicate blush striking. “I am being foolish.”
“Nay.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “If anything, you should be angry, furious that a man dared touch you, scar your mind against what should be amazing.”
Cristina turned away.
“Look at me, watch me while I make love to you.”
Fear fluttered in her eyes, but she met his gaze.
With care, he wove his way down her tempting flesh, lingered along the sleek curve of her neck, then at its sensitive base. “You are an amazing, beautiful woman.”
Her blush deepened.
She must know. Had her husband not told her many times over? If not, then he was a fool. Or, mayhap she’d refused to think of herself as pretty since her attack?
Gently, he cupped her breast.
“Patrik!” she gasped.
Pleasure shot through him at how her body tightened beneath his touch. Slowly, he stroked his finger across the silken skin, savoring her surprise, then the sheer wonder upon her face. As he continued to stroke her, her breathing grew faster. Never had he met a woman as sensitive as she.
He leaned down and drew her nipple in his mouth. She moaned as he continued his sensual assault, and he enjoyed her lush taste, the slide of his mouth against skin. He caught her other nipple within his finger, squeezed.
Without warning, her body began to quake.
Stunned, he pulled back, watched the flood of emotions wash across her face. God in heaven, he’d hardly touched the lass and she had almost come apart. Had he not known of her marriage, he would think her a virgin.
His mind clasped upon the thought, the idea of her supposed innocence. In a sense she was virginal; with her mind afraid, Cristina was unsure, nervous of what lay ahead. Beneath his touch, she was relearning the intimacy of a man’s caress.
Excitement built inside, a heat so hot it threatened to fracture his control. Slow, lad, if you take her now, you will destroy the trust you’ve won.
The flat of her stomach trembled against his hand. She closed her eyes.
“Cristina.”
Hesitant lashes fluttered open.
“You are beautiful.” Slowly, he caught her breast within his mouth, suckled, capturing the tip with his teeth. “I am going to touch you,” he said, preparing her, needing her ready for him in every sense. “Everywhere.”
She wet her lips, nodded.
Patrik eased his hand lower. Wetness greeted him, a slick warmth that had his body aching. He focused upon her pleasure, on the building of need, on watching her as he took her over the edge.
With slow strokes, he caressed her soft folds, enjoyed the way her body shuddered at his every touch, her gasps becoming broken whimpers.
“Let go, lass. Let your mind follow your body’s needs.” He slid his finger into her wetness.
Panic slid across her face. Her entire body stiffened.
“’Tis me,” he soothed, “no other.” He waited, understood her nerves, her remembered terror. With excruciating slowness, he stroked her, gritted his teeth at how her slick walls clasped him tight. As her body began to relax, he increased the pace. When she began to arch into his touch, he edged lower.
Eyes wide, she stilled. “What are you doing?”
“I am going to taste you.”
Distress paled her face as she jerked back. “No!”
“Shhh, lass.” He edged back up. “Never would I do what you would not wish.”
Eyes wide, she watched him, the pulse at her throat erratic. “Why do you want to . . .” She closed her eyes.
What in Hades was going on? “What?”
She edged open her eyes. “You wanted to . . .”
“Taste you?”
The blush on her face deepened. “Yes.”
Her husband was a complete fool. “Many men enjoy a woman’s taste.”
Disbelief flickered on her face. “Truly?”
He drew a steadying breath. “Aye. If you let me, I swear it will bring you only pleasure.”
She gave a hesitant nod.
With his body aching, he lowered himself, her woman’s scent luring him. He took a slow taste.
Cristina shuddered. “Yo-You enjoy that?”
He gave a silent groan. “Immensely.” Patrik ignored her skepticism. After her torment, that she allowed him such an intimacy left him humbled, and aroused. With slow, savoring strokes, he suckled, his tongue slowly keeping pace with his finger in her slick sheath.
A whimper spilled from her lips, but this time instead of nerves, her eyes shimmered with pleasure.
Pleased, he focused on his sensual task, enjoyed the way her trembling grew beneath his touch.
“Patrik!” she moaned.
“Aye.” He increased his pace. “Let go, give yourself over to me.”
A shudder tore through her, then another. On a cry, her body stiffened against his, then slumped back.
After one last taste, he positioned himself above her, poised himself at her slick entrance. On a sure stroke, he sank deep, her body snug around him.
Cristina froze.
Blast it, he would not lose her now! Patrik seduced her mouth with his tongue, taking, demanding, touching her in the places he knew would leave her aching. When she began to kiss him back, he set a steady pace. Her slick warmth pulsed around him, fresh from her own release, a mixture of heaven and hell. He kept his strokes slow, his kisses hot, and slowly, so slowly, she responded to him. On his next stroke, she arched her hips to meet him.
Finally.
He increased the pace, leaning down to catch her breast as he drove into her. Her body tightened around him, her gasps changing to cries of need. Lost to all but her, he reached down, stroked the nub hidden within her woman’s folds.
Cristina cried out as she again slid over the edge.
Already close, with his body raging hot, Patrik slammed into her. The power of his release stunned him. His body shaking, he laid his head beside hers.
What had just bloody happened? He’d made love with many a woman, but never had he experienced a joining that made him feel so complete. He stroked her hair. Then, never had he met someone like Cristina.
At her sigh, he nuzzled her neck, pleased by her release, that he had brought her such satisfaction.
“I think I have died,” she groaned.
He chuckled. “’Tis the best way to go.”
“You are arrogant.”
“Aye.”
“And shameless,” she said with a sated smile.
“With every right.” Her earlier claim echoed in his mind. “Now tell me, was that kiss a touch better than pleasing?”
A rough laugh fell out threaded with happiness. “Yes, it was amazing.”
“Aye, it was at that.” He slowly pressed himself deeper within her slick walls, his body already growing hard again. “And but the first of many such amazing moments.”
Hours later, Emma shoved aside a low-hanging limb and followed Patrik as he continued to climb up the wooded path. Ahead, early afternoon sun filtered through the swath of leaves, and sprinkled light upon the land. A smile edged her mouth, warm with the memories of Patrik’s touch, the amazing way he had made her feel. Heat slid up her cheeks at the intimate things he’d done, at what she’d allowed. They’d spent but this morning making love. How would it feel to have days, or more?
Sadness wilted her thoughts. In a few hours they would arrive at the home of Patrik’s friend. Days before, she’d been determined to learn what traitor within King Edward’s close circle had given him the writ.
Now, she had no desire to betray Patrik, or to leave him behind. All because she’d foolishly allowed herself to care, because damn him, in addition to being an amazing lover, he had shown her what it was like to have a friend.
“Cristina?”
Emma glanced ahead, startled to find Patrik watching her. “Yes?”
“You had stopped,” he said, watching her with fierce intent.
“I am fine.”
“Why do I find myself not believing you?” He walked back, drew her to him and set his mouth over hers in a fierce kiss.
Heat poured through her, and she gave in to his every demand, aching for him, for what could never be.
After a long moment, he lifted his head. “Think only of me, of the love we made this morning.”
Emotions choked her throat. How could she ever forget?
He stroked her cheek. “Do nae let that bastard’s touch soil what is beautiful.”
The warmth fell away. Of course, he believed her withdrawal was due to her remembrance of the man who’d raped her. Except that man had raped her as a child, not a woman.
“I will never forget you.” Her words spilled out with passion, a sadness she couldn’t stop.
He caught her face within his hands. “I want—” His breath hissed through clenched teeth. “I want what I can never have, what I can never give you.”
Pain touched her heart at the dreams he offered. To allow him to feel them was wrong. “We both have our own lives, different paths to take.”
“We do.” But he sounded far from convinced. “After my friends see you to safety, what will you do?”
His question caught her off guard. “Do?”
“What are your plans? Will you stay with your husband’s family?”
Family? She searched for an answer, floundered. Never could she tell him that once she’d delivered the writ, disclosed the rebel hideout, she would seek the next task for hire. But, for the first time in her life, the idea of facing another dangerous mission brought no thrill.
“I have not decided yet.” She couldn’t answer his questions. “And what of you?”
Disappointment shuttered his gaze.
“What is it?”
Patrik stared at her, the turmoil storming his mind easy to read. “We must go.”
After everything they’d shared, that he could close her off so completely hurt. “You are avoiding the question.”
“Are you not doing the same?”
Coldness seeped through Emma as she stepped back. “Nothing has truly changed between us, has it? We are strangers, really. You saved my life, and for that I am grateful.” She exhaled. “But soon, we will part. It is best this way.”
“For whom?”
His anger surprised her, nudged her own. “You said this morning you could offer me nothing. Has that changed?”
Patrik’s face tightened. “Nae.”
“I thought not.” She gentled her words. He deserved not her anger. She had wronged him, more than he would ever know. “Neither can I promise you anything in return.”
“You have nowhere to go.” It wasn’t a question.
“I did not say that.”
“Nae,” he replied. “You said you were unsure, the answer is the same.”
In this she must tread with care. “Patrik,” she said, unable to keep her voice from trembling, “this is not about me or you.”
“I disagree.”
Damn him. “Do not make this harder than it already is.”