The Warlords Revenge (5 page)

“Let it go,” he whispered at her ear. “I've got you, Jane. Now come for me.”

His thrusting finger moved faster and faster inside her. Heat rushed through her. His thumb rolled over her clit, bringing a pleasure so pure crashing into her that she screamed with surprise and delight as the spasms of her climax shook her. She clutched at his shoulders as the waves of pleasure flowed into her, her sex clamping down on his finger. Throbbing. Pulsing.
Bliss.

Jane felt an unfamiliar peace, a strange comfort, and she was instantly embarrassed, once again on guard. How easily he'd seduced that reaction from her. Coaxed her pleasure along. Maybe she really was one of those ...
women.

“What a beauty you are,”
Gavyn
rumbled, planting light kisses on her cheeks, her forehead, the tip of her nose. “It's like you've never done that before.”

Yes, her guard was back up. The man could go from hot
to
cold in a heartbeat. She should’ve put up more of a fight. Having done this with him only made her more attracted to him. And that was something she could never be. He didn’t want to love her, only to use her.

He pushed her back against the tub, eyes wild, hungry, and began guiding his thick erection between her legs.

“No!” The hellcat came out; punching, kicking, struggling. Sloshing water over the sides of the tub. This she would stop.

He pinned her arms to her sides. “I thought we were past this.”

“Just because you tried to seduce me, doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten what you really want to do to me. I’ll fight you as much as I have to.”

“I’ll take what I want, when I want it, and you’ll no’ be able to stop me.” The muscles in his jaw worked back and forth. “I’d like for you to enjoy it, but I can make it hurt, too.”

Jane knew he was right about that. She needed to fight him off in a different way. Buy herself more time to escape. Get him to somehow trust her. Then she could slip away before he even knew she was gone.

“I’m sorry,” she sighed. “I was just taken aback by what you did. This is moving too fast.” Which it was.

“I thought you were a fast girl.”

“Not that fast.”

“Did you like what I did to you?”

Like it? She’d
loved
it. “Yes.”

“Since I pleasured you, I thought you might return the favor.” He fisted his shaft and began pumping his hand under the water.

Jane nibbled at her lip. She had the perfect idea. They could both get out of this bath with what they wanted. “I’ll give you a hand, just like you gave me.”

His brows shot up in surprise. “Will you now?” Another irresistible smile.

She felt like she might be starting to get in too deep with
Gavyn
, but she was in a unique situation. She had to use every resource available to her. Including sex. She now realized there was more to it all than intercourse. How long would a man like
Gavyn
be satisfied without it? Hopefully long enough for her to escape.

“I think it would be easier for me if we took things slow, got comfortable with each other.”

“Ah, lass, if you knew how badly I want to be inside you.” He braced his hands on her hips and began to slide between her legs.

Tamping down her fear, she closed her hand around his hard, thick length and began pumping up and down, like she’d seen him doing under the water. He shuddered, muttering a curse, as she moved up and down, slowly exploring his maleness with her hand.

It was exciting to watch his muscles tense, his eyes slide closed, his hips bucking into her hand. All that raw, male power in the palm of her hand. Under her control. She slowed her movements, scraping her nails lightly along the underside of his shaft. She liked the idea of playing with him. Retribution for his horrible treatment of her.

He covered her hand with his, squeezing hard as he urgently pumped into her fist. “
Doona
stop now, lass,” he grated, his jaw clenching.

Enthralled, Jane stroked him faster. She could feel the heat coming from his body, the tension building in him. Would she be able to pleasure him? It was her first try, but he seemed as mindless as she’d been under his touch. His shaft pulsed in her hand and a guttural moan erupted from him as his release suddenly shot free, spurting into the bathwater.

She couldn’t take her eyes away from him. His was the most perfectly made form she’d ever beheld. If only he didn’t despise her. Funny, where fate landed you. If
Gavyn’s
family hadn’t been killed by her father, she’d never have met him. She wondered if that was still a bad thing for her. Things were going to be different between them after this little encounter. She hoped for the better.

He panted as he stared darkly at her. “If you’re trying to distract me from my task, you’re only making me desire you more.”

If only he did desire her, truly wanted her, not just her body. She was still afraid of him, but if he always touched her so masterfully, she might not have to be. She had to get the hell away from him.

Spending another night in his arms only reminded her of how hard that was going to be. She’d tried to work herself free from his hold several times during the night but it was impossible. With his arms wrapped securely around her and one of his legs draped over her, she was trapped.

It was their third day on the road and her time was running out. He’d said the journey would take four days. Five if she slowed him down. She was going to have to figure out how to slow him down. Once they reached his home, escape would be more difficult. She had to get away before then.

“How is it,”
Gavyn
started out, “that you were never once arrested, while your family enjoyed frequent visits to the local jail?”

“What?!” She sat up in the saddle. She hadn’t expected that.

“Your eldest brother recently spent a month in jail for petty theft.”

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “How did you know?”

“I’ve been following you for a long time.”

What other horrible things had he uncovered? “I prefer to sleep in my own bed.” She wasn’t giving him any information. He was clever enough to use it against her.

“You moved around so often, it’s hard to believe you know what that feels like.”

“Despite what you think you know about me, I used to have a real home. Once upon a time.”

With a real family.

“What happened to your mother?” he wondered.

Jane was not talking about this with him. It was too painful to share with anyone. “You killed her, remember?”

“I meant your real mother.”

Her evasion skills were not working with him. “She’s dead.” It was all she’d give him.

“I imagine by some deceit of your father’s.”

Now she was getting angry. She would not let him tarnish the precious memory of her mother. “She died of the fever when I was a little girl.” Tears burned her eyes.

Jane remembered seeing her mother succumb to the illness; remembered how she herself had died inside along with her; watching the only person she'd ever loved wither away and choke on blood and finally close her eyes for the last time.

“What was she like?”

“That’s none of your business!” Jane could handle his spite, but she’d be damned if he started in on her mother.

“I think you loved her
verra
much.”

She stared ahead, pretending to ignore him.

“You must miss her.”

That was it. She’d had it with this. “Do you miss
your
family?”

“I never want to hear mention of them from your lips again!”

“I feel the same about my mother!”

“Gods,” he cursed. “You’re a difficult lass.”

“I’m not sharing anything with you. Insult me and my family all you want, but leave my mother out of it!” How disappointed her mother would be if she were still alive.

Jane had been reduced to a street rat; gambling and cheating and pick-pocketing to survive. She sometimes dreamed of another life. One with her mother still in it; teaching her how to be good. Protecting her. Loving her. The reality had been taken from her too soon. Maybe she was a bad person.

“I’m only curious,” he mused. “Because in the time that I’ve been watching you, I haven’t seen any resemblance to your family. I assume your mother must have had some influence on your nature.”

Jane choked back a sob. It almost felt worse hearing him speak well of her mother. She was so confused.
Gavyn
was starting to get under her skin, turning her world on its axis. And she didn’t like it.

“Why did you stay with your family?” He continued to question her.

What sort of question was that? Where else would she stay? She’d imagined running away a thousand times, was used to fending for herself, but that wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to make a decent, respectable marriage, and couldn’t do that unless she was one, a virgin, and two, had a family name. No matter how bad the name of the family, it was still a major detail. No man of worth would want to marry a common street rat, as cute and cunning as she might be.

Now here she was. Alone. Her family murdered by a warlord. Suddenly she had a past that could work to her advantage. It wouldn’t matter that she was on her own, she had reason to be. She could invent any story she wanted and snag a husband in no time. Her future was looking up.

“I had my reasons for staying.”

“I’m glad you did,” he murmured at her ear. “Else I never would have found you.”

How did he have the power to do that? Degrade her one minute, then build her up the next. It was throwing her.

“I’m regretting the decision now,” she said. “Had I known you’d be coming, I’d have run a long time ago.”

“It’s too late for running. You’re mine now.”

His?
No chance. For once she was going to be in control of her life. “How much longer until we reach your home?”

“We’ll be there by tomorrow evening. I imagine you’re ready to be off this horse.”

“You have no idea.” Off this horse and away from him.

“In fact, we’ll stop early tonight. I want to have plenty of time.”

“Time for what?” But she already knew.

“I’ll be having you tonight, lass. More than once.”

“Shouldn’t you wait until we’ve been wed?” She tried to stall the inevitable.

“Who said anything about marriage?” He grunted a laugh. “I want young from your body, not to be saddled with you for an eternity.”

This constant back and forth with him had her weary. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her, sometimes made her think he had feelings for her. Then he went and said hateful things like that. She was starting to get emotional with this man. She wanted his warmth, his regard, not his venom. But things between them would always be this way. Tonight she would leave him. It was her last chance.

Easier said than done. After stopping at what
Gavyn
informed her would be the last inn, he’d once again ordered food and wine. A fire and a hot bath.
Damn those baths
. They’d spent a considerable amount of time bathing together, getting more familiar with each other. She took him in hand twice, but lost track of how many times he’d pleasured her. She only remembered the water finally went cold.

She watched him now as she lay spread out on the bed, naked. An odd haze had come over her. She should be more nervous, considering she was about to lose her virginity to a man who hated her. Aroused was the only thing she felt.

He rubbed a towel over her body to dry her, then began drying himself. His erection stood proudly from his body, but it didn’t hold as much fear for her anymore. She knew what to expect.
Gods, please let it not hurt
. She wanted it to feel as good as the other things they’d shared.

Her heart raced excitedly as
Gavyn
came to rest his knee on the bed, hovering over her, using one of his hands to part her legs. This was her first choice as a free woman. It was time for her to fully experience a man. She’d need to know what she was doing out there once she was on her own.

“I want to kiss you, lass.” He brushed his fingers over her sex. “Right here.”

The way he stared at the flesh between her legs alarmed her. She’d never seen him so tense with need. The muscles in his jaw clenched, his shoulders were tight, his back rigid. He was focused on one thing.
Her
. And she liked it.

Fascinated, she watched as his head moved between her legs, and she gasped when she felt a light flick of his tongue.
Too good
. He was too good.

She moaned as he lapped at her, circling and driving with his tongue, sucking her clit between his lips. Pleasure flowed into her on a wet rush of warmth and she shuddered. His hands moved over her hips, fingers splaying across her stomach, and up to cup her breasts. He massaged them, rubbing his thumbs over her nipples as his mouth sucked, tongue flicked between her legs.

“
Gavyn
!” The pleasure had never been so intense before. She writhed in his hands, almost out of her mind with blazing lust. She was beginning to crave his touch.