Slaves of Love Read online

  She reached out with a tentative finger and touched his huge erection, then stroked the length of him with her fingertip. Her delicate, inexperienced touch sent jolting, almost painful need through Keern. And the way she looked at it! Her wide, intent gaze filled with curiosity. He almost burst on the spot. Clenching his groin muscles, he held back, determined to experience the full pleasure of her exploration.

  “What can I do?”

  You can put it in your mouth.

  He smiled. “Well, you can touch it like you are now. You can stroke it.”

  She shifted to a kneeling position and curled her fingers around him. He drew in a deep, calming breath.

  “Like this?”

  He nodded, then guided her hand the length of him, showing her how to stroke, back and forth.

  Shena reveled in the feel of the skin, soft as kid leather, sliding over rock-hard muscle. It felt so powerful, and she was in control of it. She stroked, listening to his breath quicken. His eyes fell closed and she watched him, stretched out on the ground, totally naked, responding to her touch. This strong, powerful, incredibly handsome man seemed to be totally at the mercy of her touch.

  She was giving him pleasure. It made her want to climb on top of him and drive his shaft deep inside her. To move up and down on him, like her hand did now, but using intimate muscles to squeeze and pleasure him.

  His hand stilled hers.

  “Sweetheart, it’s not a race. The longer it lasts, the longer we enjoy the pleasure.”

  She smiled and drew her hand away, loving how he teased her. She’d never known a man to be playful or show a gentle nature. She touched him with the tip of her finger and dragged it the length of him, then over the head and back down, loving the way his breath caught as she touched the tip.

  She had never seen a penis close up, had certainly never wanted to touch one, but with this man, she felt safe. She wanted to take this opportunity to satisfy her curiosity, to touch it, explore it.

  And she wanted to give him pleasure.

  She touched the tip again, spiraled down and traced the lower ridge around the head, then stroked underneath. From his broken breaths and the little spasms of his body, she could tell he enjoyed it immensely. She licked the tip of her finger and dragged it over his tip again. His eyes flipped open.

  “Oh, for a moment I thought ...”

  He shook his head, smiling, but his eyes remained open, watching her.

  She licked her finger again and dragged it around the tip of him.

  His eyelids drifted half closed.

  “You know,” he said, his voice husky, “some women ...” He trailed off, as if he had a suggestion he was hesitant to make.

  “Yes, what is it?” she asked eagerly.

  “Some women like to touch it with their mouth.”

  He paused, watching her reaction with hopeful anticipation. He had touched her with his mouth and it had brought her exquisite pleasure. She wanted to do that for him.

  She leaned forward and kissed the tip of him, then moved down to the fur-covered sacks at the base, then back up. With the tip of her tongue, she dabbed at the small opening, tracing it with tiny circles. Encouraged by his soft moans, she licked him like a stick of candy, lapping at every part of his cock. The head, the shaft, the sacs. She loved the feel of his contours under her tongue and his reaction when she licked the ridge under the head. She teased him by tracing around and around, until his breathing was ragged.

  “I promised myself I wouldn’t ask you this, but ...”

  “What is it?” She wanted to please him.

  “I would love it if you took it inside your mouth,” he murmured, his voice rough with passion.

  She smiled and licked the tip of him, opened her mouth, and eased him inside slowly. With the entire head inside her mouth, she lapped her tongue around him, then wiggled it over the tip. He groaned.

  “Sweetheart, at some point I’m going to explode.” His breath caught as she sucked on him, pulling him in deeper. His hands captured her head, stilling her. “I’ll release an ... emission. If you don’t want that in your mouth ...”

  She wrapped her hands around the base of him and stroked upward, following her mouth as she released him, keeping as much of him as she could in the warm, wet prison of her hands.

  “You mean your seed, don’t you?”

  He stroked her cheek with the tip of his finger. “That’s right.”

  “It won’t hurt me. Right?”

  “That’s right. You could swallow it if you wanted.”

  She smiled. “Fine.” She slipped over him again and moved, up and down, licking and cajoling, watching his face contort in pleasure.

  She squeezed and sucked while she gently grasped his furred balls in her hands. He groaned, and she moved faster, squeezed more firmly, drawing him deeper and deeper inside her mouth.

  “Oh, God, sweetheart. Now.”

  He grunted and moaned deeply. She felt warm liquid spurt inside her mouth, warming and exciting her. She sucked and swallowed, continuing to stroke his balls. Finally, his taut, clenching muscles relaxed, and his huge rod stilled and slowly diminished in size. She eased it from her mouth and laid it on his belly, enjoying the sated expression on his face. He drew her to his side, and she curled up next to him as he held her close and kissed her forehead.

  “That was incredible.”

  She loved that he echoed her words. As if the pleasure she’d given him matched what he’d given her. She hoped it was true.

  She had never felt as safe as she did right then in his arms. Never again would she know such bliss.

  But right now, she would enjoy it with every part of her being.

  After several long, languorous moments, he rolled to his side and propped his head on his elbow, gazing down at her. His roguish smile and the glint in his eyes sent warmth shimmering through her.

  “I don’t even know your name.”

  “Shena.”

  “That’s a lovely name.” He stroked her hair behind her ear. “Shena, I want to get to know you better.”

  Warmth curled through her belly at his words.

  “I’m returning to my family home after several years of traveling, and I can’t think of a better way to settle in than to court a lovely young woman like you. Especially since I am so overwhelmingly attracted to you.”

  A gentle flush of pleasure traveled across her cheeks.

  “I want to meet your family and state my intentions to your father.”

  His words jolted her like a slap across the face. Panic overwhelmed her at the thought of him meeting her father. She tried to gather her thoughts, muddled by the closeness of his hard, male body and the soft, loving look in his eyes.

  When she was sixteen, a young man had shown interest in her. His name had been Jonediah. One evening, she had met him by the river, and he’d held her hand while they’d enjoyed a pleasant walk together. He had been about to kiss her when her father found them. Horrified, she had watched while her father beat Jonediah senseless, almost killing him. Afterward, he’d told her if she ever showed interest in a man again, other than one he’d chosen for her, he would kill him.

  Keern leaned forward and kissed along her jaw, then murmured into her ear, “If things go as well as I expect they will, I can see us exploring more pleasures of the body ... in our wedding bed.”

  She stiffened and pulled away from him, then pushed herself to her feet. She would not allow him to be hurt because of her, but if she explained what had happened to Jonediah, he would probably try to rescue her from her father. Such recklessness would cost him his life. She needed a reason why she couldn’t see him.

  “What’s wrong, Shena?”

  She gathered her clothes and pulled them on. “What is your name?” she asked.

  He stood up and retrieved his own clothing. He smiled. “Keern.”

  “And your last name is Herrington.” Her throat tight, Shena watched as he tugged on his pants, hiding his magnificent maleness.<
br />
  “Yes, that’s right.” He pulled on his shirt, hiding his broad, muscled chest from view.

  She turned away. “I am a Wakefield. My father would never accept you.”

  “Ah, is that it.” He reached for her, but she slid away. “If it’s about this pond, I’d gladly give it to him if it would help win your hand.”

  “It’s not about a stupid pond,” she grated. “If my father knew what we had done here today, he would kill you. Just forget about me.”

  “I won’t forget you,” he said with determination. “And you won’t forget this.” He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, then kissed her. Her ragged breathing revealed all too clearly how he affected her.

  Staring at his fierce expression, she knew he would not listen. He would chase her -- to his death. At the thought of him skewered by her father’s sword, his life seeping away, agony sliced through her.

  She had to stop him. She settled her weight evenly on her feet and slowed her breathing, feeling it move through her. Sometimes, when she was very afraid, she could reach within, to a strength deep inside herself, and, distancing herself from reality, draw on calm she did not feel. She thought about her father and the cold visage he displayed to the world, and she emulated it. She had to drive Keern away.

  Keern watched her expression change. Calm, poised, sharp as a dagger. She had transformed from his beautiful wood nymph to a cold, manipulative woman.

  “Did you really believe the role I played this afternoon?” The mockery in her words astonished him.

  His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “I enjoy a romp with a stranger every now and again, and you were very good, but it was for one afternoon. That’s all.”

  “You’re telling me that what we shared was all a lie?”

  “Of course. I enjoy playing the helpless virgin sometimes. I didn’t think you’d really fallen for it. I thought you knew we were playacting.”

  His gut clenched. “I don’t believe you.”

  How could he? She had enchanted him. Her sweetness had melted through him, totally claiming his heart.

  The memory of Kolanna and how she had fooled him with her sweet, loving act stormed through his thoughts. Hadn’t that agonizing incident taught him that he couldn’t trust a woman? Any woman.

  She raised her eyebrows. “I don’t care if you believe me, or not. I’m tired of this game. And I’m tired of you.” She shot him a look of disdain. “Stay away from me, or I’ll tell my father you took me against my will.” Her clipped, indifferent words cut through him. “Then he’ll find you and kill you.”

  He grabbed her arm. “Why would you do that?”

  She glared at his hand around her arm and jerked it away. “Because I don’t want you to come near me again.”

  * * * * *

  Keern rode toward his family home still seething at the memory of Shena and her trickery. Her transformation had shocked him.

  How had he been so completely fooled by her act? Why hadn’t he wondered at her willingness to do the things they’d done together? Of course, he’d not been thinking with his head so much as with his groin. She had backed off on the idea of intercourse, but then, she’d be shrewd enough to avoid pregnancy.

  When he’d received the announcement of Jordan’s wedding, nostalgia had started within him and along with it a desire to return to his place of birth and settle down like his two brothers, to find a gentle woman to marry, to start a family. Shena’s sweet innocence had been so appealing. He had seen in her what he’d wanted to see in a woman.

  As he rode toward the iron gates of his home, he heard the horn sound and whoops from the guards. His name sounded on their lips, along with shouts and hurrahs. He smiled as his gaze drifted along the gravel path curving through the meadow of wildflowers to the large stone-and-timber house about a half-kilometer up the hill.

  It was good to be home.

  The gates opened, and as he rode through, people rushed to the gate to greet him.

  “Keern, you’ve finally arrived.”

  “Will.” It had been a long time since he’d seen his older brother. A few more lines crinkled around Will’s eyes, but other than that he hadn’t changed.

  Keern dismounted his horse, handing the reins to an eager pair of hands. He strode toward Will and held out his hand in the offer of a handshake, but his brother scoffed and dragged him into a bear hug, pounding his back for good measure.

  “Come, the women want to see you.”

  “And what about Jordan?”

  A huge grin split Will’s face. “Yes, him, too.”

  They walked toward their family home, built with their father’s own hands.

  “He’s not too busy dreaming of his wife-to-be?”

  “Oh, I think he can spare a few moments for his older brother.”

  Jordan, their younger brother, was to wed four days hence. Keern had made the trip to join in the festivities. He hadn’t told them yet that he intended to stay, not wanting to disappoint them if he changed his mind.

  “We leave on the morrow to Chamberlan. Kristinna’s family is looking forward to meeting you.”

  “Brother, here you are.” At Jordan’s voice, Keern spun around.

  He smiled at the sight of his younger brother. He stood as tall as Keern himself, a man now. Keern had known the lad must have grown, but with the reality staring him in the face, he felt sadness at having missed so much.

  Jordan threw his arms around Keern in the same bear hug as Will’s. “So, the star-traveler returns.”

  “As if I’d miss my favorite brother’s wedding.”

  “That’s what you said when you came for mine!” Will cut in.

  Keern flung his arms around both their shoulders, laughing. “Of course. You’re both my favorite.”

  At the house, the women greeted him with exuberance. Will’s wife, Jenna, a tall, graceful woman, gave him a warm hug. Their cousin, Helena, pleasantly round and ever-smiling, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and her husband, Jacob, shook his hand.

  Entering the house triggered a plethora of painful memories.

  Their father had died when Keern was six years old. Will had become the head of the household at a young age, and they had all pulled together as a family, becoming closer than most.

  Despite that closeness, Keern had withdrawn after his mother’s death.

  Where Will’s job was to run the family, Keern had decided his was to protect their mother. He was determined he could protect her from anything, if he tried hard enough -- and he put his heart and soul into doing just that. The illness, however, had slipped right past him, stealing her away with a finality that had devastated Keern.

  After her death, everything around him had reminded him of her. The rocking chair where she’d rocked him in her arms as a child, the woods where they’d gone for long walks and talks about life, the fields where they’d worked together, shoulder to shoulder, alongside his brothers.

  He had felt strangely betrayed by her. Abandoned. Although he knew logically she’d had no choice, his heart had known nothing of logic.

  So once he’d turned sixteen, he left the family and traveled -- partly to escape his pain, partly to understand the universe around him. In that universe, he’d found new experiences, new worlds, and excitement beyond measure. What he hadn’t found was love, nor anything that could replace the sense of belonging that he felt when he was with his family.

  Returning to this place now, after all these years, still prodded him with painful memories, but they were dulled. He intended to dredge up the happy memories and heap them on top. To embrace his family and move forward with his life.

  To finally heal the wounds.

  The women had arranged a wonderful feast to welcome Keern. He spent the evening in the glow of warm family conversation.

  As the hour grew late and the fire warmed his outside while the wine warmed his insides, his thoughts turned back to Shena. Another painful memory.

  He’d never
see her again, if fate was kind, but somehow he knew he’d never forget her. He remembered the sweet scent of her hair, the softness of her skin, the delicate taste of her body.

  “That is my wife’s favorite goblet, so I think I shall retrieve it from you before you snap it in two.”

  At Will’s words, Keern shifted his gaze from the fire to the glass he held, his hand clenched tightly around it. He allowed Will to take it and set it gently on the rough wood table in front of him.

  Will settled in the chair beside him. “Where were your thoughts, brother?”

  “On a woman.”

  Will chuckled. “I see. Anyone in particular?”

  Keern scowled. “Do you know Shena Wakefield?”

  Chapter Four

  Will’s brows rose. “Wakefield, eh? I know Henry Wakefield has a daughter.” He swirled the wine in his goblet.

  “That’s right,” Jordan chimed in. “In her twenties. Pretty thing, from what I’ve heard, but he pretty much keeps her under wraps. Planning to make a profitable marriage, I’ll wager.”

  “How do you know of her?” Will asked.

  “I stopped for water at Sersa’s pond, and I saw her there.”

  The memory of her naked, glistening body flashed into his mind. Need pulsed through him, impossible to ignore. His jaw clenched.