I will leave your nightgown on. The fabric will somewhat soften the
blows. Cami let the strap fall to her side, the end gripped tightly in her
hand.
Squeezing her eyes shut, Alexandreina sucked in a ragged breath,
trying hard not to cry out as the first blow seared her flesh. But by the
third, she was screaming&
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96 Vivi Anna
Chapter Twelve
While he gazed down at Alexandreina as she slept, Sorin thought she
looked so small and fragile in the large bed.
Nicoletta had let him in after some very insistent pounding on the
door. At first, she had tried to close the door on him, spouting that
Alexandreina suffered from a sickness and she didn t want him to catch
it. When he reminded her that Draconians didn t get sick, the maid had
reluctantly opened the door to him.
And as he stared down at Alexandreina, he knew there was no
sickness of her body. The bandages on her back peeking out from the
neckline of her nightshirt proved that quite glaringly.
She had been whipped. Punished because of Rica s jealous nature
and unfathomable rage.
Careful not to disturb her sleep, Sorin sat on the edge of the bed and
reached out to touch her. His hand shook as he placed it on her
shoulder. He hadn t realized until this moment how much Alexandreina
truly affected him. She had wriggled inside a place he never thought to
ever fill. His heart.
Her eyelids fluttered open and she turned her head over her shoulder
to look at him. A small smile lifted the corners of her mouth.
How long have you been here? Her voice was barely a whisper.
Long enough to feel responsible for your pain.
Her smile faded and she struggled to sit. Sorin held her arm and
helped her move, careful not to touch her back. He pushed a pillow
under her side, allowing her to be upright without lying on her wounds.
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Of the Moon 97
You didn t order my punishment, Sorin.
He squeezed his hand into a tight fist, desperately wishing he could
use it on the Overlord. If we were in Constanta&
But we aren t. This is Sinaia and as long as Lord Rica rules here,
there is nothing anyone, Roma or Draconian, can do about it. If the
Overlord wanted me dead, it would be so.
He didn t want to hear her speak like this. It seemed so brutally
harsh and truthfully cold, and not something he wished to heed from her
beautiful mouth. However, he couldn t deny her words.
I will not allow him to hurt you any further. He ran his hand over
her blanketed leg, trying to comfort. For her sake or his, he couldn t be
sure. I m going to barter for your release. I will pay any price he
demands.
She placed her hand on top of his. He reveled in the feel of her flesh
next to his. He will not let me go, Sorin. Nothing you can offer him will
be enough. It would cost him too much to allow me to leave now. He
knows my people will not stay quiet for long. She squeezed his hand
then let it slide off, back onto the mattress.
He suddenly felt cold. Colder than he d been in more years than he
could recollect. Alexandreina was a source of warmth to him. A source of
passion and affection. The one person who could make him complete.
Her sun to his moon.
I think it would be best to not see each other any more, she
murmured, not able to meet his gaze.
He shook his head and tightened his grip on her leg. I will not let
Rica keep us apart. By law, you are mine until I leave the keep. He can t
recant his gift to me.
Yes, but at what cost to me? Her voice hardened as she raised her
head to meet his gaze. He will continually punish me for taking pleasure
with you.
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98 Vivi Anna
And is it pleasurable to you, Reina? Do you enjoy being with me?
He hated that he sounded so eager, so desperate for her. But he couldn t
keep it from his voice. His emotions seemed to whirl around him violently
when he was near her.
She closed her eyes and licked her lips. More than I can risk saying.
Oh, how he wanted to lean forward and press his lips to hers. To take
her mouth and her body under him. His body shook with the hunger for
her. I too, feel the same. I need you more than I need to eat, Reina. More
than I need to breathe. He put his hand to his chest to indicate where
his pain came from. My chest constantly aches when I m near you. My
heart desires you as much as my body.
She dropped her gaze but not before he saw the tears glistening in
the deep pools of her eyes. There is nothing you can do about it, Sorin.
As long as Lord Rica is& in power, we can never be together.
Reina
She shook her head. Please go.
He stretched out onto the bed, nuzzling next to her and cupped her
face with his hands. I can t leave. It will hurt too much. Tilting her head
up, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.
At first, she resisted his kiss, bracing her hand up against his chest.
But she didn t push him away. Instead, she wrapped her hand in the
fabric of his shirt and surrendered her mouth to his. Parting her lips, she
met his tongue with hers in a slow liquid dance.
He sank a hand into the full lushness of her hair and pulled her tight
so he could feast on her lips, and her tongue. She tasted like ambrosia.
Nothing had ever tasted as delectable to him. Not even the sweet syrup of
blood could compare to her spiced essence. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]