Page 13 of The Warlord’s Princess (Warlords of Tempest #3)

I struggle hard, my toes curling in the water, trying my best not to gasp a tiny moan.

He pauses as though suddenly realizing his trespass, his hands placed halfway on the undersides of my breasts, his silver gaze looking more tortured than I’ve ever seen it.

To be looked at in such a way is thrilling, and despite the heat of the cave, I feel the hairs on my arms stand on end.

I’ve never been put in a situation like this, and I never imagined I would be. Every man who’d courted me in Penticar did so with the hopes that his heirs would one day inherit my parents’ title.

But Ramsey isn’t looking at my family’s wealth, as I have no family here. And he’s certainly not looking to court me.

He’s just looking at me, his desire plain to see.

“Orvell is a most effective cleric,” he says, his voice raspy. His thumbs edge closer to the center of my breasts, touching the edge of my areolas before jerking away as though by some invisible force.

He takes a step back, looking towards the cave’s entrance. “Have I removed all the spice?”

I nod, clearing my throat. “Y-yes.”

He puts the lid back on the salve and moves further away. “I will grab fresh clothes for you.” He lifts himself to exit the water, his enormous cock hard now, bobbing obscenely as he pulls himself onto the lip surrounding the water.

Remembering I have a little more spice left, I ask, “Can you leave the medicine?”

He hops back into the water and lifts the salve. “You said the spice was gone.”

“I forgot I put a little more…elsewhere.”

“Where?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Tell me?”

“My…thighs.”

“Come here.”

“I can get it myself.”

“But you will not.”

“I can?—”

Without warning, he grabs me by my hips and lifts me onto the lip surrounding the water.

Never have I felt so naked before. Or so seen.

“Show me,” he growls, his voice thick and husky.

There’s no point in arguing with him. It’ll only annoy him and make him mad. So I turn my head and point to my inner thighs. “Here, and my feet.”

“Did you rub it on your sex?”

“No!”

“Good, because the thearnroot could do real damage to such sensitive flesh, similar to your eyes, only worse if you had rubbed it straight on.”

“Thankfully, I was stupid, but not that stupid.”

He unscrews the lid from the salve and dips his fingers into it again. “Spread your legs.”

“Oh, ah, I can handle the rest,” I whisper. “I didn’t rub much on.”

“I said, spread your legs,” he snaps, his chest rising and falling in pants that look more lusty than hostile, like the way my castle’s cook would look at the cleaning wenches.

“Why must you hide this small part of yourself from me, Little Vaeyark?” he says in a voice as smooth as honey. “Spread your legs for me so that you might know relief.”

It’s not a request, and despite my apprehension, I’m compelled to obey.

I press my eyes closed again as I pull my knees apart, hoping that Ramsey doesn’t say something cruel at the sight of my sex.

I hear him release a breath, sighing lightly.

“There’s only a little dabbed there.”

He washes the spice off, then places his palms on my thighs, widening them more than they are.

Calm down…he’s only checking for more spice…

Except he’s not.

I don’t know what he’s doing, but it’s not cleaning.

“Um…is there a problem?” I say, my voice breathless.

Warmth washes between my thighs, startling me. My eyes pop open, and I see that he’s mere inches from my sex, his breath creating the warming sensation.

Ramsey’s hand shifts and my legs lift, first one, then the other as they are pulled up onto his shoulders. “So pink…”

“Ramsey?” I rasp, my legs trembling.

He bends forward, and I feel his beard grazing my delicate flesh in a move that can only be intentional.

The shock is dizzying, and it takes everything I have to keep upright as he bends even closer…so close…

I soft sensation swipes up my seam, and I gasp at the realization that he’s just licked me.

Ramsey groans, leaning closer, bringing his whole mouth to my slit.

Every muscle in my body grows taut as he licks, laps, and sucks my sex, making sounds that aren’t at all human.

At first, I try to fight the sensations coursing through me, but the longer he licks, the weaker I feel, and I lose myself.

I grab his hair and grind against his face, desperate for more of the sinfully delicious feelings now ravaging my body.

He presses forward, starving for me, his hands sliding to my rear, his shoulders lifting my thighs, pressing me back so that I’m lying on the stone.

This must be a dream. Perhaps the spice made me sick, and I’m not passed out, dreaming of things that could never happen.

Because Ramsey would never consort with a lesser.

He licks a sensitive spot, and I gasp. He licks it again and again, craving more of my body, though I don’t know why.

I don’t care, either.

My back arches in a sharp jerk and my cries fill the cavern as I lose myself in a rush of passion, twisting and writhing and clawing as my body throbs relentlessly.

Ramsey quickens his strokes, somehow knowing exactly what to do, drawing out my pleasure until I’m half convinced I’m dead.

Finally, the throbbing dies, and my body relaxes. Ramsey backs away, and a moment later, I feel his hands rubbing my feet.

The spice…

I don’t know what to say, or if I should say anything. Ramsey’s silence is unnerving, but he’s never been overly chatty unless it was to sling insults my way.

He exits the tub without a word and begins to redress as Nori comes into the cave.

She tilts her head at the sight of Ramsey, then straightens it and continues to the water.

“Kairi said you might need some clothes.” She sets the garments near the ones saturated with spice.

Without a word, Ramsey finishes dressing and leaves.

“I’m sorry about burning your eyes.”

“I was fine as soon as I left the hut.” She looks toward the exit. “What was he doing in here?”

“He was helping me apply salve to my spiced flesh, to get it off.”

“Hm.”

“There is no reason to hm. His hands are rougher, and could more easily scrape it off.”

“Is that what he said?”

“Actually, yes.”

“And is that all he did?”

I look down at the water, wondering what I should say.

“I didn’t expect it to happen…and it wasn’t much.”

“He pushed for it?”

“Yeah…but I don’t even know if he really wanted it. He left right after, hardly saying anything.”

“Then I was right.”

“What do you mean?”

“He wants you, and he hates himself for it.”

“Because I’m weak.”

“Because he perceives you as being weak. If he can see that you’re strong, his feelings might change.”

“But I’m not strong.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m the weakest among us, and not only that, but now he knows I’m stupid.”

Nori chuckles, which doesn’t happen often.

“I can’t help but worry that I’ve just made things worse between us.”

“Ask him to take you out to collect insects. He’ll think you’re brave, and because he’s attracted to you, his mind will want to see you as strong, even if you are not in the way he wants you to be.”

I nod. “You’re right, Nori. You’re always right.”

“Good, now tell everyone else that because I’m tired of having to explain myself all the time.”