Slaves of Love

She nodded, keeping her breathing as steady as she could. He leaned down and captured her lips, then surged forward. She jerked and cried out, the sound muffled by his mouth. He gently stroked the inside of her lips as he continued to push forward, slowly, until she held his complete length inside her. He kept his body perfectly still, kissing her tenderly, allowing her body to get used to his rock-hard cock buried deep inside her. Her eyes drifted closed. She relaxed and shifted a little. The feel of his rigid length stretching her inner flesh swept away thoughts of pain and made her insides melt.

He deepened the kiss. A sweet, tender, passionate kiss that took her breath away.

She felt him pull back, and her eyelids sprang open. Was he stopping?

He smiled at her astonished expression and pushed deep within her again. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I don’t intend to stop now.”

He pushed in again, a little faster this time. Then again.

“All right, Shena?”

“Yes.”

He thrust forward again.

“Oh, God, yes.”

She arched to meet him. He thrust again and again, driving into her at a steadily increasing pace until all she could feel was the rhythm of their bodies joining, the pulsing beat of their hearts, the impact of their bodies as he led her to the edge of the precipice and threw them both off. Her world spun out of control, and her mind exploded in a starburst of ecstasy.

She clung to him in quiet desperation as she spiraled back to reality, realizing she hadn’t allowed a safety net. She had allowed herself no protection for her heart.

Shena awoke cradled in Keern’s arms, her head pressed against his broad chest, his slow and steady heartbeat sounding in her ear.

He nuzzled her temple, his breath sending tremors along her neck.

“You’re awake,” he murmured.

Sunlight streamed in the window, shimmering across the white sheets. Night was over. Fear quaked through her. Now that morning had arrived, what would Keern decide to do with her? He had said he’d take her back to Tarun if she wanted, but would he stay, too?

Did he still hate her?

“Keern, I didn’t tell my father you stole my virginity.”

He stroked her back. “Yes, I figured that out.”

She turned to face him. “How?”

“One clue was your absolute terror of losing your virginity. You made me believe it was an act the first time, but last time I knew you weren’t acting. Another was when you told me your father whipped you. The third was that you said your father would punish you if you lost your virginity. There is no way I would believe you would tell your father anything to give him reason to punish you.”

He smiled at her.

“You really do believe me?”

He kissed her lightly. “Yes, I really do believe you.”

Breathing came more easily, but tears pushed at her eyes. He pulled her into a warm embrace, holding her close against his chest. He kissed the top of her head.

“Keern, I’m so sorry about your brother.”

“Thank you.” He eased back and stroked her hair from her face. “I realize now you had nothing to do with Will’s death. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same thing. Shena, I killed your father.”

He stared at her, his tarnished-bronze eyes dark with regret.

She nodded. “I know.”

She knew any other daughter would have been grief-stricken when she’d found out about her father’s death, but all Shena had felt inside was a cold emptiness.

“You had to avenge your brother and protect your family.”