Chapter 10

Sky felt her body clench anxiously as Slayer swung her up into his arms. He easily carried her to the cottage, and she wondered what lesson he was about to teach her.

Slayer lowered her to her feet as soon as they entered the cottage and ordered, "Disrobe."

She eased away from him. "Why?"

"You do not ask why, wife. You do as I say," he ordered.

He could not mean to consummate their marriage now. He had given his word that he would give her a few days, and, besides, it was only late afternoon. Nightfall was hours away. Weren't wifely duties done at night? And how was consummating their marriage a lesson in obedience?

"You gave me your word that you would give me a few days before we consummated our vows," she reminded, to see if that was his intention.

"Aye, I did, and I will keep my word to you."

"Then why do you want me naked?" she asked, gripping the large shirt she wore at the neck.

"That is not for you to ask, but to obey," he said, intending she learned her lesson of obedience well.

Sky shivered. "I have never been naked in front of anyone."

The thought that anyone other than him would view her naked sparked an unexpected anger in him and he snapped at her. "And you never will be… except in front of me. Now obey me and disrobe."

Obey.

Obedient was something she had been from an early age. Though it was fear that made her so. Fear of the consequences of her affliction if she did not obey her parents. But since arriving at the cottage and having been able to enjoy the freedom of the forest once again, and help any animal in need, she had not given thought to seeking permission. But marriage had changed that.

Having no recourse that she could think of Sky slipped her shoes off, then hesitated, turning away from him. She felt vulnerable now in bare feet. Once she slipped the shirt off, how would she feel?

Terrified.

Nay, she could not do that. She could not do what she warned Slayer against. She would not feed her heart terror or fear her husband. If she did, she would forever fear the intimacy of marriage. They were wed and they would remain wed. If she did not take some control of her fear now, it would forever haunt her and their marriage and that was not something she wanted. It was not how she wanted to live her life.

With a silent prayer on her lips for courage, she slipped the shirt off and turned to face him.

His back was to her. He was completely naked. She turned her eyes away, thinking it was wrong to look upon him even though she had done so recently, but she could not help but sneak another peek. His back was broad with muscles, his waist slim, his backside taut and his legs long and muscular. There was power in his every simple movement. She could only imagine the power he exuded when in the throes of battle. And she wondered what kind of power he would have over her when they coupled.

Slayer turned and walked slowly toward her amazed by her beauty. Her soft curves enticed, his hands aching to follow every bend and line of her lovely body. Her breasts were high and firm and would overflow in his hand. Her nipples were puckered and a rosy color just like her lips, and he intended to taste both. To him, she was perfection, but… he did not like that she shivered. Did she tremble because she was cold or because she was frightened of him?

It mattered not. He had decided to teach her a lesson and he would see it done.

When he reached her, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, placing her down on it, then joining her.

He stretched out on his side beside her, his hand reaching up to cup her cheek while he brushed her rosy lips with his thumb. "I am going to explore your body and you are going to submit to my touch as is your duty as my wife and as it is your duty to obey me."

Her eyes turned wide. She was not expecting that. She did not even know if it was proper for him to touch places on her body that she rarely touched herself.

I will never harm you. You are safe with me.

She was glad she recalled his often repeated and reassuring words and since he had kept his word since meeting him, there was no reason to think that he would not keep it now.

She said the one thing she felt would help ease her worry. "I trust you, Slayer."

Bloody hell, but the woman could land a good punch and this one hit directly in the heart. That annoyed him even more since his plan was not only to teach her about obedience but also to prove he had no heart. But who was he truly trying to prove it to, Sky or himself?

His hand itched to touch her and that was unusual since he had never been so eager to touch a woman as he was to touch his wife. He intended to keep control of his desire since this was not about consummating their vows but when his hand drifted slowly along her slender neck, his manhood had other ideas and took control.

He stilled his hand when it reached her silky-soft shoulder, having never felt such soft skin and enjoying the feel of it. But he was eager to reach her breasts and when he did, he cupped one gently in his hand and ran his thumb faintly over her puckered nipple.

Sky did not expect his languid touch to feel so good or for it to spark something inside her, and she gasped.

Keep focused, he reminded himself, hearing her surprising response to his touch but it was proving difficult. He enjoyed touching his wife more than he expected or intended to. Soon his hand left her breast to explore more of her while he settled his lips on her nipple.

Sky gasped again when his tongue rolled over her nipple then tugged gently at it with his teeth. She could not contain the moan that slipped from her lips, nor could she stop her body from squirming beneath him, her body awakening and responding to his touch. He'd been truthful with her when he said she would come to know his touch, but he had failed to tell her how much she would enjoy it.

She was soon lost in a haze of passion she had never known existed but found she quite favored. And the more his hands explored her, kissed her, the more she wanted him to.

"Slayer," she cried out shocked when his hand slipped between her legs and was more shocked when his finger slid into her. Her body responded, arching, welcoming him. His touch felt as if it woke some primal sensation in her that once awakened would never sleep again, never be ignored, would always demand attention.

His lips captured hers, strong and demanding, urging her to respond, though it was not necessary. She was eager to return his kiss, eager to experience more, feel more, share more.

Sadness gripped her and could be heard in her moan when his lips suddenly left hers, but it was not long before she moaned with pleasure once again, as he explored her body with intimate kisses and in places that blushed her cheeks red.

His touch soon turned demanding, and her body did as well. She became a prisoner of the passion that surged through her, and she did not mind being held captive by it. Captive of her husband's intimate touches that were pleasurable beyond words.

Instinct or pleasure had her pleading, "Please, Slayer. Please."

She lay stunned when his touch came to an abrupt halt. She rushed her eyes open and hurried to connect with his. Seeing that he had gone still and stared at her with a look in his eyes she did not recognize, she waited anxiously for what would come next, not knowing what to say or do.

She sighed with relief when his touch returned, and soon after his thumb brushed across a spot that had her crying out with intense passion and grabbing hold of his arms as if she needed to anchor herself.

Slayer rested his cheek against hers to whisper in her ear, "Let go, Sky, I will catch you. I will always catch you."

His whispered reassurance that he would be there for her was all she needed to let go and fall into what seemed like a never-ending spiral of exquisite pleasure, where in the end, she would find herself safely in Slayer's arms. And she did.

Only as soon as she opened her eyes, Slayer left the bed, grabbed his shirt, slipped it on, and left the cottage.

She stared dumbfounded at the closed door, her breathing having yet to calm down and the sensation that consumed her body still sparking in her. Had she done something wrong? She did not know what to think or do, but then her mind was far too hazy, sparks of passion still spiking in her and not allowing her to think clearly.

She lay there trying to calm her body and clear her mind. Think, Sky, think, she silently urged herself.

Lesson. He meant to teach her a lesson, to be obedient. She smiled. After all the years of being dutiful, this was one duty she would have no trouble obeying. So, why had he left her so abruptly? Had he not found the pleasure that she had? Or had she disappointed him? She did not like to think that, but not knowing what to think and having no experience with it, left it ripe with good or bad possibilities.

She could make no sense of it. It was no wonder she fared better with the animals in the woods. They were far less complex than humans.

A shiver reminded her that she was naked, and she hurried to slip on her shift, preferring not to be naked when her husband returned. Though not at all sure what she would say to him.

* * *

Slayer went to the stream,yanked off his shirt and emerged himself in the chilly water. He expected to control his need like he always did when he was with a woman. He had never expected his passion to take control of him. He had had to fight to keep himself from plunging himself into Sky and satisfying a need, a passion that overwhelmed him. His intention had been to introduce her to pleasure, bring her to the brink of climax, and end it there. Explain that they would wait a few days to consummate their vows as he had promised. A lesson that his word was law, and she would obey it. But he could not do it. Seeing the passion smoldering in her eyes, he could not leave her on that edge. He had to let her fall into pleasure and catch her.

He had failed in what he had intended to do and all because he could not stand to hurt Sky that way. To leave her wanting, aching, unsatisfied. And what did that prove? That somehow Sky had touched his heart. That somehow, he had come to care for her, deeply care for her, and that shocked him.

Slayer sat by the stream trying to make sense of it all, but his thoughts only went round and round in circles. He did not realize how long he had sat there until he realized dusk was settling over the land. He returned to the cottage not knowing what he would say to Sky. And he was relieved when he found her in bed asleep. Tomorrow would be soon enough for them to talk and by then, perhaps, he would come to his senses and return to his heartless ways.

* * *

"Wake up, Slayer. Wake up! I need your help. I need it now!"

"Warrand! Where are you, Warrand?"

"Hurry, Slayer! Hurry!"

"I'm on my way, Warrand. I will be there soon."

"Too late. Too late. Wolves. Pay heed to the wolves."

Slayer jolted up in bed, breathing heavily and jumped when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder.

"Are you all right?" Sky asked, her heart beating madly from being jolted awake and concerned for what had startled her husband awake.

"Aye, go back to sleep," he commanded and slipped out of bed.

He went to the fire pit and added more logs to the dwindling flames, then stood there and stared at them. He dreamt of Warrand every now and then. It was always the same dream. He would never reach him in time to save his life, but this dream was different. In this dream, Warrand warned him to pay attention to the wolves. What had wolves to do with his brother's death?

Slayer shook his head. He should have been there for his brother. He should have saved his life and given his own life if necessary. It had been his duty to keep his brother safe and he had failed him. He could not fail in avenging his brother's death. He had to find whoever did this and make them suffer before he took their lives.

Sky watched her husband standing naked by the fire, his back to her and his head bowed. Something had disturbed his sleep, a nightmare, she presumed since he woke with such a start, and it appeared it still disturbed him.

She hadn't known when he had returned to the cottage since she had grown tired waiting for him and had fallen asleep. The nightmare had left him upset. He reminded her of a wounded animal in the forest all alone with no one to help him. She had helped many animals in need, her heart would not let her do otherwise. And her heart hurt terribly seeing her husband facing his upset alone.

She got out of bed, her linen shift falling just above her ankles, and quietly made her way to him. She was not sure what she would do once she reached him but then instinct took over. A hug often helped animals and humans alike. She did not hesitate when she reached him. She slipped her arms around his waist and pressed herself against his back and laid her head there as well.

Slayer was so lost in his thoughts that he had not heard her approach and he almost jumped when her arms locked around him, but he didn't. He maintained his detachment until she pressed herself tight against his back and hugged him with the fiercest, most meaningful hug he had ever felt. She was offering comfort, and her kind and caring gesture broke through his defenses.

He turned, his arms circling her waist to ease her from behind his back and tuck her against him, then he rested his brow against hers.

"I am here for you, husband," she whispered softly.

I need you.Slayer was startled by his thought and even more startled that it was true. He needed her. He needed to lose himself in her gentle kindness, tender touch, loving heart.

When he raised his brow off hers, she saw something in his eyes that she never expected to see… indecision. She was glad to see it there since it told her that he had feelings, which meant he was not heartless. It also meant that he presently battled with himself over his response to her.

"Whenever you need me, I will be there for you," she said, accepting and committing to her vows and to her husband.

That she willingly, selflessly pledged she would be there for him whenever he needed her solidified her acceptance of their marriage. It tore at something in his heart, or had it awakened something in him? Something he long ago buried. Whatever it was did not matter. The only thing that mattered was Sky.

He hurried her shift off her, scooped her up into his arms, and carried her to the bed. He stretched out beside her and took hold of her chin. "Once this is done, nothing can undo it. You will be mine forever."

"And will you be mine forever?" she asked, her question surprising her.

"Aye, I will," Slayer said without giving it a thought. "And we will seal that pledge between us now."

He kissed her, his lips firm on hers, and she welcomed him. She enjoyed Slayer's lips on hers, gentle at times, demanding at other times. She could not imagine enjoying a kiss with anyone other man than Slayer. It was as if fate had matched them perfectly.

Slayer found immense joy in kissing Sky. It was as if her lips were made specially for him and no one else. Just the thought of her kissing another man sent his blood boiling. His lips would be the only one to touch hers. She was made for him and no other and he feared he would never get enough of her.

He wanted to take his time with her, explore as he had done earlier, but his need for her had grown him so hard that he did not think he could wait long. And yet his hands could not stop exploring the curves, valleys, and lines of her lovely body. To him, she was perfection, and he loved the feel of every inch of her.

She responded so easily to his touch that her moans of pleasure grew him even harder. He needed to be inside her, or his seed would spill before he had a chance to slip inside her and seal their vows.

What nearly pushed him over the edge was the look in her eyes when he slipped his arm under her waist and lifted her just enough to fit beneath him perfectly. Never had he seen such trust and caring as he did in her eyes. For a sheer moment, he almost stopped and moved off her, freeing her of a marriage she had known nothing about. But he didn't. He did not want to let her go, not ever. She belonged to him always and he needed to make sure of that.

She felt his hesitancy and felt compelled to say, "If you do not want this?—"

Rage fired his passion at the thought of her slipping away from him and he plunged into her and cursed himself when she cried out in pain.

He stilled. "I hurt you."

"Just a bit," she said, biting at her lower lip.

Slayer wanted to pummel himself for hurting her. He had not intended for it to be like this for her first time. But then he had not intended to have feelings for her, feelings he had yet to come to understand.

He kissed her brow, her cheek, her lips. "I did not mean to hurt you."

Sky knew it was the closest to an apology she would ever get from him, and it touched her heart.

She smiled softly. "It would hurt much more if you did not finish."

A smile lightly touched the corners of his mouth. "You want me that much, wife?"

"More than I ever thought I would."

"I want you more," he said, surprising her as well as himself and showed her just how much.

Her moans filled the cottage as he moved within her slowly, rapidly, slowly again, then rapidly and growing ever stronger. She gripped his arms as if she feared he would slip away from her and held onto him as tightly as she could.

She cried out with pleasure and Slayer rested his cheek next to hers and whispered, "Let go and I will join you and be there to catch you."

"Always?" she asked with a gasped breath.

"Always, wife," he assured her.

Sky let go and plunged with her husband into exquisite pleasure, assured that his arms would always be there to catch her.