Page 43 of The Mercenary

Lifting his head, he reassured her with a smile. One that promised she’d be well taken care of, in every way.

“Open a bit for me if you can.”

She did, and he drove his fingers in deeper. When Sabine dropped her mouth open in surprise, he decided he would watch her face, her every expression, as she came in his hands.

Instead of kissing her, Guy offered words instead.

“This”—he used his thumb to instruct her—“is your most sensitive place. You see, if I rub it like so . . .”

She pushed her hips into his fingers.

“The need for release will make you want more. Deeper”—his movements matched his words—“faster.” Water splashed all around them. “Until your body screams in protest from building to such a crescendo but not being allowed to uncoil.”

She was close. Her eyes, glazed.

And by God’s own nails, this woman would be his tonight.

Shuddering at the thought, Guy licked his lips purposefully as he teased her nub again. When Sabine grabbed a fistful of his hair, his smile deepened.

“Grab me. Pull on me. Do what you will, lady wife. As long as you come for me as well.”

She did, tightening around his fingers slowly at first, then pulsating until he pulled away. Kissing her as she found her first release, Guy had just one thought. Getting his Sabine into the bed and making her his wife in truth.

Chapter 20

Sabine could not think. She could do nothing but allow herself to be carried from the tub like a babe. When she gingerly set her feet down on the floor, she was unsure of her ability to stand.

He was there almost immediately with the drying cloth, but rather than give it to her, he began gliding it down her body, across her stomach. When he knelt down to dry her legs, Sabine finally began to regain some semblance of steady breathing.

But it didn’t last long.

“I’m unsure I need to be dried there.”

When he looked up, Sabine could see his face against the backdrop of his muscled shoulders. The heady combination, along with the current location of his hands, nearly made her knees buckle again. She held on for support as Guy chuckled.

“Unsteady?”

He seemed pleased by the fact.

Sabine would have responded, but Guy stood then. She watched as he dried himself.

“So many scars,” she murmured, not daring to look down.

Guy tossed the cloth to the side. Although he wasn’t grinning, she could tell he held back a smile.

“You laugh at me,” she said, wanting to fetch the cloth and cover herself.

“Nay,” he said, unmoving. “Though I intend to shed you of a lifetime of modesty.

He broke eye contact to slowly lower his gaze down her body. As he did, Sabine could think only of hiding herself, but when she moved to do so, Guy shook his head. For reasons beyond her understanding, she acquiesced.

“Your turn.”

Sabine had never felt so exposed. She complied, though, and did as he had done. Arms of a warrior, a flat stomach with at least two scars that she could see to match those on his shoulders. Four? Nay, five. Mayhap he should wear armor more often.

And then she finally looked lower. Hard and thick, his manhood was as she remembered from the brief glance she’d taken when he entered the bath. So very different from her.

When he closed the distance between them, Sabine gave in to the need to touch him. She wrapped her palm around him, and Guy guided her hand into stroking him up and down. Closing his eyes, her husband let go as she continued on her own. When he bit the inside of his cheek, Sabine actually smiled. Then she remembered how he’d pleasured her. Slowly, at first, and then faster and faster. So she did the same, knowing by his expression her aim had found its mark.