Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas #2) - N.J. Walters Page 0,56

so much better, his body beginning to fill out from the weight he’d lost. His hair was tousled, likely from her tugging on it. The scar on his face was faded but remained.

She lifted the covers back, exposing the rest of him. He truly was fine. His broad chest tapered down to a narrow waist and hips. His cock stirred.

“You’re awake?” She’d really thought him asleep.

“I could feel you staring.” His lids were half-open, his eyes dark with desire.

“I figured you were done.” Taking advantage of the situation, she knelt on the bed and ran the cleansing cloth over his shaft. It was thick and long, the head wider than the rest.

He sucked in a breath. “Not done. You inspire me.”

Pleased, she continued to stroke the cloth over him. He rubbed his hand over her leg, drawing her attention.

“Everything will work out.”

“You can’t promise that.” When he frowned, she added, “But I’m in it with you.”

“Together. By the gods of Gravas, that feels good.”

He hadn’t been shy about exploring her body. Now it was her turn. “Bet it can be even better.”

His deep laugh sent shivers of longing through her. “I don’t doubt that for one second.” He reached up and tugged on a curl. “I’ve fantasized about your hair.”

“Really?” She tossed the cloth onto the floor. “Do tell.”

“It’s so soft, so alive. I’ve wondered what it would feel like stroking over my skin.” His cock flexed, as if to agree.

Emboldened, she tilted her head to one side and leaned down until her curls feathered over his lower abdomen. “Like this?”

He sucked in his stomach. “Yes.”

She moved upward, keeping low enough that her hair dragged over his chest and flat nipples.

“Delphi.” His hands were fisted in the covers. It was so he didn’t reach for her, giving her time to explore at her leisure.

“Maybe I should go lower?”

“Gods, yes.” The sheer desperation in his tone made her laugh. “Think that’s funny, do you? Remember, payback’s a bitch.”

“I’ll risk it.” Sliding down the bed until she was kneeling by his thighs, she turned her head so several curls stroked his shaft.

“Fuck me.” Rip! The covers were shredded. His chest was expanding and contracting with each deep pull of air into his lungs.

She dragged the flat of her tongue over his erection from base to tip. He tasted slightly salty and warm. Fitting her mouth over the tip, she sucked.

He cursed, every muscle in his body becoming as hard as titansteel. It was fun to play, but there was an unexpected side effect. In trying to arouse him, she was arousing herself.

Her core ached, becoming damp and soft.

When she took him deeper into her mouth, he groaned. “I won’t last. Delphi. Kismara.”

Needing him, she straddled his hips, took him in hand, and pressed down over him. His eyes seemed to glow in the dim light. His hands were hard on her hips, holding her in place.

“I love you.” The words sprang from her heart, the part of her she’d managed to shield from the nastiness of her life.

“I love you.” His gentle smile settled everything inside her. “Now get to work.”

Laughing, she did just that, pushing until they both flew over the edge, lost in their passion.

Chapter Fifteen

They’d walked straight off the ship to a waiting escort and were now on the way to see his father, the king.

Ivar strode down the long corridor beside Delphi. She was dressed all in black, the perfect professional assassin. Her expression was blank, her steps confident. Only someone close to her would notice the stiffness in her gait, the way her eyes took in everything without seeming to.

They’d spent most of the trip to Gravas in her chamber, only leaving long enough for him to speak with his parents—promising details once he was home—forage for food, and when their siblings had demanded their company.

They’d talked for hours, lying in bed sated from lovemaking. She’d shared her horrific childhood—the murder of her parents, she and her twin being left to fend for themselves on an unknown world, being found by Artemis, a woman who took in children to train them to become assassins to do her bidding.

If Artemis wasn’t already dead, he’d have hunted her.

But in an odd twist of fate, if none of that had happened to Delphi, they’d have never met. Life was fickle, but he believed they’d have found each other somehow.

He wanted to tell her not to worry, but she wouldn’t appreciate that. Not with an armed honor guard surrounding them and