He groaned softly as his body's need grew painful, afraid of the wild emotions that were raging through him, afraid of hurting her, of disgusting her, of doing something wrong.
But she was there, quietly urging him on. And then her hands were touching him, measuring the width of his shoulders, exploring the fine layer of hair on his chest. Her fingertips traced the muscles in his arms and back. In all the years since they had taken his mother from him, no one had ever touched him with kindness or affection. In all his life, no one had ever touched him intimately. No one had ever caressed him, or aroused him.
He trembled beneath her questing fingertips, his whole body yearning toward her, wanting her, needing her, loving her the more for her patience, her gentleness as she helped him find that which he sought.
The touch of her hands thrilled him, excited him, until he thought he would burst, and then he was sheathed inside her, moving to a rhythm older than time, and he did burst, his body flooding with heat, shuddering, shattering, exploding in the warm, sweet heat of her flesh...
"Katlaina?" He drew back, whispering her name, as the world stopped spinning. "Katlaina, are you all right? Did I hurt you?"
"I'm fine." She turned her head so he couldn't see her tears.
"Katlaina?" He forced her to look at him. "What's wrong? What have I done?" His expression filled with self-loathing. "I hurt you, didn't I?"
"No,Navarre , you didn't hurt me." How could she explain how she felt? He was a part of her now. For a brief time, they had been one flesh. Her heart had beat in time to his. When he died, a part of her would die with him.
"Forgive me," he begged. "Please, Katlaina."
"There is nothing to forgive." She stroked his cheek, unmindful of the tears that welled in her eyes. "I love you,Navarre ."
"Katlaina!" Joy and pain warred in his gaze.
"Make love to me." Her fingers dug into his arms, drawing him closer. "I'm not afraid when I'm in your arms."
With a low groan, he buried his face against her breast and she felt the heat of his tears. And then he was moving within her again, making her forget everything but the wonder of his touch, the ecstasy of his kisses, the miracle of two hearts beating as one...
Part Two Chapter Four
When he woke in the morning, she was gone.
Alarmed, he sat up, his gaze darting to the cage on the other side of the room. A vast sigh of relief escapedNavarre 's lips when he saw her there, asleep in her own bed.
"Katlaina. Katlaina!"
He called her name, needing to know she was all right, that he hadn't hurt her, but she didn't stir, and after a while, he realized they had drugged her. But why?
Never had the hours passed so slowly as they did that day as he waited for the sun to set. He paced the floor for hours, his desire, his need, growing stronger with each passing moment.
She woke an hour before dusk. A guard brought her food, water to bathe in, a transparent gown made of golden cloth.
And then she was in his cage again. In his arms again. In his bed again.
And his need was so great, he took her quickly, swiftly, burying himself in her softness, burying his fear of the future in the velvet warmth of her femininity.
Later, when his desire had subsided, he gathered her into his arms, one hand stroking her hair.
"Katlaina, I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"
"No,Navarre ."
"They drugged you last night. Why?"
"To ensure that I give birth to a son."
"And if the child is a girl?"
"I do not know. Perhaps they will let you try again. I do not know."
"Have any of the sacrifices ever fathered a girl child?"
"Not that I know of."
"Katlaina, I'm sorry this has happened to you. I wish..."
"What,Navarre , what do you wish?"
"Don't you know?"
She nodded, because she did know. Her mother had told her that there was one special man meant for each woman, and that only those blessed by the gods ever met the one man who was mate to their heart, to their soul.
She knewNavarre was that man. A part of her could not help but rejoice that they had met; a greater part of her grieved because they could have no life together.
He made love to her all night long, tenderly, gently. Passionately.
And then, as the dawn threatened to steal the darkness from the sky,