Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 99325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99325 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 497(@200wpm)___ 397(@250wpm)___ 331(@300wpm)
“I needed to see you,” he admitted to his own surprise.
Reena walked around the desk toward him, and Magnus met her as she rounded the edge of the bed.
“I do not wish to argue,” he said, his hands remaining at his sides though he ached to hug her tightly and to taste her sweet, warm lips. He would know she wished the same before he kissed or touched her. He wanted no anger between them when they loved, and he wished to love her, he ached to love her.
“Nor I,” she agreed, her hands itching to touch him, taste him and snuggle in his warmth.
“I do not like when we disagree. We often think much alike you and I,” he said, taking a step closer.
“Aye, we do.” She took a step that caused them to almost touch.
“I want to love you, Ree.”
She collapsed in his waiting arms, which he wrapped tightly around her. “And I want to love you, Magnus.”
“Then there is no longer any need for words,” he said and claimed her mouth with his in a kiss that went on and on and on as their hands frantically tugged and pulled at each other’s garments.
Their mouths only left each other’s long enough to rid themselves of their clothing. Once naked, they fell on the bed together, eager to touch and taste. And touch and taste they did, each one not seeming to get enough of the other.
It continued until Magnus finally slipped over Reena, threading his fingers with hers and drawing her arms up above her head.
“I am going to love you hard and long and until you beg me to stop.”
Her soft laughter drifted up and around him. “You will be the first to surrender.” She ground her hips against his and moaned with the hard feel of him against her.
He nipped at her lips. “We shall see who wins this.”
She laughed and wiggled against him. “There can be no loss in this.”
He nuzzled her neck. “Then on to victory.”
He settled himself inside her and kept his promise, loving her hard and long. In the end she begged, and he surrendered at the exact same moment, their united cries of pleasure filling the room and drifting down around them to wrap them in a gentle glow of contentment.
They snuggled in each other’s arms, neither making mention of their earlier debate, both wanting to linger in the satisfying aftermath of their lovemaking.
“You will map more before the evening meal?”
Her head rested on his shoulder, her hand on his chest and her leg across his leg, and it felt good being there and knowing they loved. “Aye, I wish to finish the dungeon before I eat. It is almost detailed, I have but one cell left and it is done. And you?”
“I have things to discuss with Thomas.”
She instinctively knew what things he would discuss, but she said nothing. He had made a choice and now she would make hers.
They dressed and hugged tightly.
“I love you, Ree, and I always will, no matter what happens.”
She squeezed him to her as best she could. Her strength was meager compared to his, but strength came in different ways. “And I love you and always will, always my heart will belong to you.”
He smiled and kissed her. “Thank you, I needed badly to hear you pledge your heart to me.” He reluctantly stepped away from her, holding her hand until finally he was too far away to keep hold of it. “I look forward to the evening meal together, so go finish your work.”
“I will see you in the great hall later.”
He closed the door on her smile, looking forward to the evening ahead.
Reena returned to the map, working on the last cell in the dungeon. She was adding the two metal rings in the stone wall when she stopped and stared at what she had just drawn.
What were two metal rings doing in the wall, and at such odd angles? She had not given it thought when she had first seen them in the cell, though she had thought it odd that one cell contained two metal rings when the others did not. Of course the rings could have fallen out of the walls in the other cells.
She shook her head, doubting the possibility. The rings were held by metal stakes driven into the stone wall. They were there permanently; therefore, the other cells never contained them.
They also were set at odd angles to chain someone to the wall. She tilted her head to the left, then to the right, then back and forth she went, raising her hands as if grasping the metal rings until . . .
Her eyes widened and she jumped off the chair and ran out of the room.
Neither Magnus nor Thomas was in the great hall. She thought to see if Brigid would join her, then she realized her friend feared the dark too much to investigate the dungeon. She would, however, let Brigid know of her whereabouts so Magnus would not worry if she should be late for supper.