"You can walk away from both of us," Joachim said, his voice rough. "We won't stop you."
Run, and stay locked in her safe little world. No feeling. No pain. No pleasure. I'll never run again.
"I'm so sorry, Shivawn," she said, chin trembling. "I wanted it to be you. I did. But..."
"Stop. Please. Just stop." He studied her for a long while, his jaw locked tight. Then he slowly turned to Joachim. "She is yours. I relinquish all claim to her."
"Thank you," Joachim said tightly.
Shivawn flicked her one last glance, nodded and strode from the room, leaving her alone with Joachim.
Before she would have run after her guard. Now she gulped and held her ground. Gathering her courage, she faced him.
Her man.
Fear would never rule her life again.
She'd chosen him, and she was only sorry it had taken her so long to realize the depth of his honor.
He'd made a play for the crown. When he lost, he could have vowed vengeance against Valerian. Instead, he accepted defeat and pledged his services to the king.
Underneath the rough exterior, he was a good man.
Ready to finally move on with her life, Brenna walked forward. With every step, she felt an invisible chain fall off her. Her heart raced erratically. She stopped in front of him.
Joachim stood, grasping the ties in his fists.
His gaze was hard, unrelenting. "Did your attacker use his hands or a weapon? If he used a weapon, I would like you to use the same on me."
At first, she didn't answer, didn't want the memory to intrude on this precious time. "Only hands," she finally managed on a trembling breath.
He nodded and gave her the bonds. Slowly, very slowly, he unfastened his pants and pushed them from his hips. They pooled on the floor, and she was given a glimpse of her very large, very aroused male.
"We go at your pace," he said, lying on the bed. "When you're ready, tie me."
Her hands shook as she tied his wrists to the posts, then his ankles. Then she stood at the side of the bed, staring down at him. Utterly amazed by him.
Silent, Joachim watched her with mind-blowing intensity. Her knees almost buckled; she knew what he expected, what he wanted.
My turn to strip.
After the attack, she'd stopped working out, unwittingly trying to make herself as unattractive as possible to other men. If they didn't come around, she didn't have to worry about them. And she had scars. Ugly scars. What if Joachim found her body undesirable?
Then he isn't worthy of my time.
Easily said. Hard to accept.
She reached up with shaky fingers and undid her robe's shoulder ties, revealing her breasts. She continued to gauge Joachim's reaction. There was no disappointment in his eyes. Only desire. She lost a little of her uncertainty. Delicious bumps broke out over her skin as his gaze skimmed over her, his nostrils flaring with the force of his arousal.
"You are beautiful, Brenna. More so than I ever realized."
With her robe completely loosed, the material fell from her body to join Joachim's pants on the floor. Finally she was naked. Her cheeks heated as Joachim's eyes raked over her once again. At one time, the thought of joining a man on a bed would have paralyzed her. This time, her hormones were too busy rejoicing.
"Close your eyes," he said.
She didn't think to argue.
"Imagine me behind you. Imagine my hands caressing your shoulders and cupping your breasts. Imagine me rolling your nipples between my fingers."
Yes. Yes! She saw it in her mind, only this time the image was crystal clear. Her head fell onto his shoulder, her hair tickling them both. His fingers roved over every inch of her.
"Are you wet?" he rasped.
Unbearably so. She nodded.
"I want to lick you. May I?"
"Yes," she said breathlessly.
"Then come to me. Please."
She climbed onto the bed without hesitation and straddled him, her knees at his waist, his erection resting between her legs, touching her intimately but not entering her. The decadence! She moaned.
"Lean forward," Joachim urged roughly.
He might be tied, but he was still a warrior. For the first time, a small kernel of fear sprouted. You're safe. You're protected.
"Please," he added.
Slowly she crawled up him...until her breasts were poised over his waiting mouth. Her black curls fell over her line of vision as he eagerly sucked on her, dissolving her fear, filling her with pleasure. Contact with his hot, hot mouth was like nothing she'd ever experienced, volts of electricity lancing through her body.
She groaned, the sound broken and rough.
While Joachim sucked her, she continued to imagine. Had his hands been free, he would have traced them over her back, over the ridges of her spine. Over the curve of her bottom. Yes, yes! She saw it happening, somehow felt it. Everywhere his phantom hands touched, his mouth followed, his phantom tongue laving her skin. She writhed against him, so wet she slid back and forth with ease.