Destin hadn’t seen Livia or the emperor all morning. When he’d woken in her bed, she hadn’t been there, and he was growing increasingly alarmed. When had she left him? Where had she gone? And how had he managed to let down his guard and fall into such a deep sleep? He’d let her slip from his grasp, out of his sight, and he hated not knowing where she was or if she was safe.
He’d thrown off the blankets and pulled on his tunic and belt quickly, fastening his sword in place. He’d opened the door slightly to check if the guard was standing there, but he wasn’t. Good. He hoped he’d followed Livia wherever she’d gone. That was something, at least. If the man was protecting her, he might go easy on him for his lack of vigilance the previous night.
His thoughts drifted back to what had happened between them during the night. The way she’d touched him, so tenderly, but adamantly, demanding he let her, wanting to give him pleasure. He’d never known a woman like her. And then to ask him for more, to want to go further...he didn’t know how he’d had the strength to say no. But he’d already taken things much too far. He wasn’t sure how he was going to look Alexios in the eye today.
Courage. Conduct. Fealty.
He’d smashed the last two to smithereens the moment his mouth had covered her moist heat. Probably even before that. He had been set one simple task. He’d been honour bound to fetch her from Saxony and bring her back to Constantinople to be wed. Instead, he had spread her legs and kissed her, tasted her, violating his own moral code.
If anyone were to learn of it, she would certainly never be made queen today. And her marriage to the emperor would be off. Destin would lose his position in the Varangian Guard—everything he’d worked for—and maybe even his head. So why couldn’t he bring himself to regret it?
He searched for her everywhere. In the hall, the cloisters and the gallery she’d shown him last night. He glanced up at the portraits of her mother and father. There was a smaller one of them together, with a boy, presumably Otto, by their side, and a baby in the queen’s arms. Livia. The couple looked to be in love and Destin felt a pang, an ache in his chest. Did he want what they had? Love and a family? It was the first time he’d ever thought this way, and it was disturbing. Because it could never happen. Not with her. He had fallen for a woman who could never be his. And he needed to stop wishing for something that could never be.
He turned away, frustrated, wondering where else she could have gone. He checked the stables and the gardens, but she was nowhere to be found. He was starting to feel slightly panicked.
When he went to speak to the guards on the gate, they informed him she’d left early this morning by cart, taking Matthias, her chief councillor, with her, but hadn’t told them where she was going. He ran his hand round the back of his neck. Why hadn’t she woken him and asked him to go with her? He didn’t like it. But again, he had to remind himself the emperor was his responsibility, not her. Did she feel like she couldn’t ask him for his protection?
He tried to quell his worries as he headed back to his room in the palace barracks. He pushed open his door, agitated, and threw his sword onto the bed. He stood there, his hand on his hip, breathing deeply.
‘Where have you been?’
Destin spun round, startled by the emperor sitting in the corner of the dark room.
He tried to calm the wave of guilt tumbling through him. But he wasn’t sure Alexios was in any state to notice his misconduct. He looked to be suffering from his own. His skin was sallow, as if he’d barely had any sleep, his hair dishevelled, and his breath reeked of ale. He could smell it from the other side of the room.
‘Did you have a good night?’ Destin asked.
‘What I remember of it,’ Alexios said, shifting guiltily. ‘Was I missed here?’
‘I don’t think so.’ Destin stared down at him, unsure of his mood.
‘I thought we had a deal, Commander.’ His voice was deadly. ‘You were oath-bound to fetch Princess Livia unharmed—and untouched—to receive your reward. I offered you the role of chief commander, to be my right-hand man...’ He pushed himself out of the chair. ‘So I’m going to ask you again, where have you been?’
‘Around.’
‘You know you can’t lie to me. We’ve been friends for a while. I know you better than most. Tell me. How is the princess? Did you ease her worries about today?’
Destin swallowed. What did he know?
Alexios stepped towards him. ‘You couldn’t keep your eyes off her when we took a tour of the gardens yesterday—or at the feast last night. You couldn’t bear to be parted from her while we were at our meeting. You wanted to get back to her, rather than stay with me.’
Destin ran his hand over his beard, sweating now.
‘I didn’t like it,’ the emperor said. ‘I’ve never seen you like this before. You like her.’
If he was going to lose his head, so be it. But he didn’t want to put Livia’s position in jeopardy. ‘What’s not to like?’ he said, repeating the emperor’s words from yesterday.
Alexios braced his hands on his hips. ‘Did you bed her?’
‘No.’
‘She came to see me this morning. At the villa.’
Destin went very still. So that’s where she’d gone. She’d left the palace without telling him—and gone to visit Alexios? Why?
‘She started spouting some nonsense about her people not wanting a foreign ruler and that she didn’t need one either.’
Destin’s heart momentarily stopped.
‘She said that her empire doesn’t want to be taken over by Byzantium. She must really think she stands a chance today...’ Alexios continued, his voice barely containing his anger.
‘I reminded her that her father made an arrangement. That we have been promised to each other for four winters, if not before. Our fathers probably arranged our marriage at birth! And do you know what she said?’ Alexios took another step towards him. ‘She said, “Now my father has passed on, his words are no longer valid.”’
Destin’s eyes widened. He hadn’t been expecting that. And going by the look on the emperor’s face, neither had he.
Destin couldn’t believe it. Livia had listened to his advice about marrying the emperor to keep her safe—but ignored it and done her own thing anyway. She was her own woman.
Had she done this for him? Because of what had happened between them last night. Surely she must know they still couldn’t be together—that her councillors, her people, wouldn’t allow it?
‘Can you believe she doesn’t intend to honour his agreement?’ the emperor asked. ‘After I’ve waited so long for her? After I’ve come here for her?’
‘You haven’t exactly been waiting...’ Destin countered. ‘You only decided you’d better wed her when you heard of her father being ill. Only then did this marriage become important to you. You even slept with another woman, or many others, last night.’
The emperor’s eyes narrowed on him. Destin knew he wasn’t used to being judged and he’d overstepped the mark. He would surely be punished for standing up to him.
Instead, the emperor grimaced. ‘I think that’s what I like about you, Commander. You always say it like it is. You’re not worried about hurting my feelings. I get total honesty from you. And I thought loyalty, until now...’
A muscle worked in Destin’s cheek.
‘I am loyal to you. I have given you ten winters of my life.’
‘Loyal...until you decided to claim my bride for yourself.’
‘I haven’t claimed her. I swear it.’
‘So you’re happy if I do?’ the emperor asked.
Destin’s stomach churned at the thought, and he reeled.
‘No, I didn’t think so,’ Alexios said, seeing his reaction.
‘I have told her over and again I think she should marry you.’
‘So you’re not the reason she came to see me this morning?’ Alexios asked, his eyes narrowing on him.
Destin couldn’t be sure. ‘I don’t know what she was thinking, she didn’t say anything to me. She knows her own mind.’
Alexios nodded. And then he turned and began to pace. ‘It was most humiliating. Especially in front of her chief councillor. I don’t think I’ve ever been turned down before. I was angry. I told her that wouldn’t do. That if she wouldn’t marry me, she probably wouldn’t be queen either.’ He stopped pacing and looked up at Destin. ‘And now, it seems, she won’t be...’
‘What do you mean?’ Destin asked, his brow furrowing.
‘Well, Lothair was still there...’
Destin went cold all over and he stepped towards his leader, suddenly uncaring of being insubordinate. Right now, he only cared about her safety. ‘What happened? What did you do?’
‘It all seemed like a good idea at the time. But now the wine has worn off...’
Destin didn’t like the sound of this. The cold grip of fear clutched his heart. He gripped the emperor roughly by the tunic. ‘Where is she? Where is Livia?’
‘On first names now, are we?’
Destin pulled him closer. ‘What have you done?’ Anger clawed through him.
‘They saw their chance and took her. Said they would hold on to her long enough so she couldn’t get to the Electoral College and petition today. That way, Lothair would be certain to be crowned king, and I could have southern Italy, and all would be well.’
Destin cursed, roughly letting him go. He reached for his sword.
‘Did they say what they were planning? What they were going to do with her? Where they were taking her?’
‘They’re still at the villa.’
Destin swung to look at him, his eyes wide. ‘Do you realise you could be implicated? That this could cause a war?’
The emperor slumped back down into his seat. ‘I know. I thought they were just going to keep her hostage long enough for Lothair to appear at the College and be crowned. But then things started to take a turn for the worse...they got...brutal...and I began to feel uneasy. I started to realise I’d done the wrong thing.’
‘You think?’ Destin spat. He felt his blood drain from his face and he tightened his leather vest, readying himself to fight.
‘I came here looking for you. I was hoping you’d know what to do. And when you weren’t here...when I saw your bed hadn’t been slept in... I put two and two together. Look, I’m not proud of myself,’ he said, getting up again, starting to pace across the room. ‘You know I didn’t care much for the marriage anyway. I don’t think any of us expect her to be made queen, so I’ve never thought I would rule over these lands. But I do care about southern Italy... Too long her father has campaigned in those regions, and I want them under my rule. I figured if Lothair became king and I got those, all would be good. But I don’t want anyone getting hurt. And I can tell you don’t either. So what do we do now?’
‘We?’ Destin asked.
‘You’re still my commander, aren’t you? You say you still pledge your fealty to me?’
‘Yes.’ Although now he felt unsure. He wasn’t sure Alexios deserved his loyalty.
‘Then if you help me to rectify this, effectively, I will forgive you for your disobedience. I can see why your head would be turned. She is very beautiful. But you must know nothing can happen between the two of you. You can’t marry her.’
Destin swallowed. ‘I know.’
‘When I leave, you will return with me to Constantinople and we’ll both forget any of this ever happened. Are we in agreement about that?’
Destin gave a single nod. They’d already spent too long talking. He wanted to get going. ‘Take me to her. Now.’
The streets of Rome were overloaded, buzzing with people getting ready for the election. It was the first time it would take place here, instead of Frankfurt, and there was excitement in the air about the great electors having arrived in the city. But all Destin felt was a looming sense of dread. He just wanted to get to the villa, to get to Livia, to know she was all right.
He felt so worked up, he was pushing brusquely through the people, trying to make way for him and Alexios. They’d brought a small contingent of men with them, although he knew Alexios didn’t want him to use force. But he wasn’t sure how he was going to retrieve Livia without things turning out badly. And right now, he didn’t care about the consequences. She was his priority.
When they reached the city gates, they broke out into a run, and raced through the grounds of the villa. The same burly man who’d been on the door last night let them in, and they commanded their men to wait outside, to be on alert.
‘Where’s Lothair?’ Alexios asked.
‘Last I saw him, he was in the triclinium.’
Destin needed no further instruction. He barged his way through the building, gripping the hilt of his drawn weapon. If action had to be taken, he would do whatever he needed to do to keep her safe.
They headed through to an impressive room at the back of the property, and as they drew near, they could hear the men talking. But Destin was only focused on Livia. When they burst through the door, he saw she was sitting in a chair, her hands bound, tears streaking her face. His hand clenched and unclenched. He felt his nostrils flare.
Matthias was sitting on a chair next to her, also bound, a bloody gash to his face.
Her eyes widened in shock and relief when she saw them, her gaze focused on Destin. And she struggled with newfound fervour with the ties around her wrist.
‘Let them go,’ Destin said, moving slowly and deliberately towards her, limbering up his good shoulder, ready to fight anyone who got between him and Livia.
Yet looking at the state of her hair, her swollen, split lip and an angry red mark across her cheek it seemed Lothair had already put his hands on her. He knew Livia would have struggled and put up a fight. That was her. She was stronger than she looked. Had Matthias tried to protect her and they’d maimed him too? A fierce rage blazed in his stomach that any man would hurt her.
There was an unnatural silence as Lothair took in the scene, realising the emperor was no longer on his side, before he and his men drew their weapons, halting his advance.
‘No. Not until the election has taken place. Then she’s all yours,’ he said to Alexios. ‘You can force her to go to Constantinople with you. Everyone’s happy.’
‘Let her go, or I’ll kill you,’ Destin said.
‘Emperor Alexios, what is the meaning of this?’ Lothair sneered. ‘I thought we were allies... Why don’t you ask your one-armed heathen dog here to put his muzzle back on.’
‘Prince Lothair, don’t you want to know you won fairly today?’ Alexios said, still trying to be amiable. ‘I was thinking we should let the princess go.’
‘No. Not yet. I’m disappointed you have come here trying to break off our agreement. It doesn’t bode well for our alliance going forward now does it?’
‘I just don’t think I can let you do this,’ Alexios continued. ‘It’s not right. I will support your claim to be king, I want us to be allies, but I don’t want to put the princess’s life at risk. Think about it. She’s your niece! This is your brother’s chief councillor. You don’t want their blood on your hands.’
But to Destin’s horror, Lothair moved his sword and placed it against her neck. ‘She remains here till the election is all over today. Come one step closer and I’ll make her bleed.’
‘You’re a traitor to your brother and your empire,’ Destin raged.
The blade bit into her skin, drawing blood, and Alexios and Destin halted. Her frightened eyes met his.
‘Drop your weapons,’ Lothair ordered. Then he turned to his men. ‘Seize them too.’
‘You won’t get away with this, Lothair. I have soldiers surrounding this villa,’ Alexios said.
‘By the time they realise what’s happening, I shall be king. I shall command a great army. You will be the one who will need to be concerned, Emperor Alexios.’
The soldiers surrounded them and Destin struggled, as the whole room descended into chaos. They punched him in the stomach, four against one, and he bent double. Seeing Lothair’s sword edge further into the column of Livia’s throat, he reluctantly gave in, dropping his sword, and the men pounced on him and the emperor.
‘You really shouldn’t have chosen a one-armed man as your bodyguard, Alexios,’ Lothair said, tutting loudly, mocking him, and they all laughed. The humiliation was great, but it only helped to fuel Destin’s fury.
Lothair came forward, and Destin was relieved to see the blade move away from Livia’s skin. His arrogance getting the better of him, Lothair yanked Destin’s good arm, before twisting it behind his back. ‘Perhaps we should remove the other, see where that leaves him,’ he sneered.
But with a strength born from years of hardship, insult and pain, in one swift movement Destin rotated his body, moving in a circular motion around Lothair, colliding violently with him, winding him, grabbing his arm in return. He skilfully dropped down, launching Lothair into the air, over his shoulder, bringing him onto the ground on his back with a crack, shocking everyone. Destin placed his foot on Lothair’s chest, pinning him down, and removed the sword from the man’s hand, turning it on his captive. ‘Everyone drop their weapons,’ he barked.
And in a state of impressed shock, it took a moment for the soldiers to catch up, to realise they no longer had the upper hand. Seeing their ruler trapped, a blade to his throat, they did as they were told, releasing Alexios from their grasp in the process.
The emperor got to his feet.
‘Take their swords,’ Destin said, and Alexios went round the room, gathering up the weapons. ‘Now untie them,’ Destin barked. He couldn’t believe he was shouting orders at his leader, and that Alexios was following them. Yet right now he didn’t care. He would do whatever was necessary to get them all out of here, and it was as if Alexios knew it. The emperor stepped over to Livia and began unfastening her bonds, releasing her, and Destin allowed himself to take a breath, then Alexios moved on to Matthias.
Lothair squirmed beneath him, letting out a string of expletives.
‘Shh, that’s not the way a would-be king should speak, is it?’ Destin said. ‘You’re lucky I haven’t silenced you for good.’
When he saw Alexios and Matthias were helping Livia up, he noticed she was stumbling, limping. What had they done to her? He wouldn’t be able to settle until he’d got her far away from this place. He wanted to pull her into his chest, to safety, but he didn’t dare touch her, not in front of all these men.
‘We’re leaving now,’ Destin said to Lothair. ‘The emperor’s men will escort you off the property once we’re gone. After all, you have an election to be at. And I doubt Alexios will want to see you here when he returns.’
He watched his three comrades back away, towards the door.
‘You’d better hope I don’t become king!’ Lothair roared, still pinned down beneath Destin’s boot.
‘I was already hoping that. Don’t worry. You, there,’ Destin said, turning to one of the prince’s men. ‘Tie your leader to that chair. See how he likes it.’ He released his foot from the man’s chest and watched as Lothair’s own men imprisoned him, before he made them do the same to each other, leaving one lone man standing.
When he felt the others would be at a safe distance away from here, out of the villa, he swiftly removed himself from the room and used a small knife from his belt to seal the handles of the door shut. He raced through the atrium towards the exit, where he found Alexios commanding the soldiers to hold the men inside back, while they got the princess to safety.
A guard hurriedly brought them some horses, and Destin went to help Livia up. But Alexios stopped her ascent, tugging her arm.
‘I’m sorry I got you into this mess, Your Highness. And Matthias,’ Alexios said, turning to look at the councillor.
Livia nodded, her body still trembling, her face ashen. ‘At least you helped us get out of it. Thank you,’ she said, graciously accepting his apology.
And then she swayed and Destin expertly caught her, scooping her into his arm. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked.
‘I am now,’ she whispered, looking up at him.
And he never wanted to let her go. Or let her out of his sight again.
But he couldn’t forget where they were and who they were with. He released her momentarily while he climbed onto the horse, before pulling her up, into his lap. He held her close, sending a silent prayer up to the gods, thanking them for keeping her safe.
‘Are you coming?’ he said, turning to Alexios.
The emperor shook his head, looking grave. ‘You two get her back. I’ll make sure the soldiers see Lothair and his men off the property. I’ll meet you at the palace to go to the election later. And I will hope,’ he said, turning to Livia, ‘that the council make the right choice.’
Destin wrapped his cloak around Livia, pulling the hood up over her face so she wouldn’t be recognised on their way back through the busy streets, and she nestled in close to him, glad to be back in his arms. Just the scent of him, of fresh pine and leather, helped to soothe her, as well as his strong, comforting embrace. She wished she had never left his side this morning, then none of this would have happened.
Fortunately, the guards manning the city walls recognised him and Matthias instantly, letting them in, and she released a huge breath when the gates shut behind them. For now, her enemy was shut out.
As they reached the palace and galloped across the courtyard to the steps, there was a commotion as her servants came rushing out to greet them, making a fuss of her and the councillor. But she didn’t want to get down from her position on the horse. She didn’t want to leave Destin’s hold.
But he was taking control, dishing out orders. ‘Ready the princess a bath,’ he said to one. ‘And she’ll need some food,’ he said to another. ‘There’s lots to do before the election this afternoon.’
And then he helped her descend the horse, taking her hand in his, lowering her down to the ground, and she hesitated, feeling at a bit of a loss, wondering what happened now. When Matthias approached them, thanking him for saving their lives, Destin let her go.
‘Your loyalty won’t go unrewarded,’ her councillor said.
‘I need no reward,’ Destin replied. ‘I’m just glad you’re both safe. That is all I require.’
Livia began to wearily climb up the steps and into the hall, and she was pleased when he followed her.
It felt so good to be home. She would never be so foolish to go anywhere again without letting her guards know what she was planning. She had learned her lesson.
Once inside, she made her way to the hall and sank down onto one of the benches. She was grateful when the maids brought her some pottage, bread and ale, and she downed the tankard of liquid in one go. She was so thirsty.
‘You’re hurt,’ Destin said, nodding to her face, when the maid had walked a fair distance away.
‘He hit me,’ she said, wiping the back of her hand over her lip, checking to see if she was still bleeding. ‘Yet he hurt my pride more than anything else. I think I twisted my ankle trying to get away from them. But that’s all. It could have been a lot worse.’
‘That’s all?’ he grimaced. And then he looked around, checking no one was within hearing distance, before letting his barely contained anger spill over. He leaned forward, pressing his hand into the table. ‘What were you thinking, Livia?’ he hissed. ‘Leaving my side. Going there by yourself. Not telling me. Not waking me.’
She shrugged miserably. ‘I wanted to talk to the emperor before the election today.’
Livia had contemplated waking Destin, but he had looked so handsome, so peaceful, she hadn’t wanted to disturb him. And she’d hoped she could speak to Alexios and be back before Destin rose, by which point she could tell him the marriage alliance had been cancelled—and it would have been too late for him to stop her. ‘I never thought for a moment my uncle would be there.’
A pained expression crossed his face. He had known of Lothair’s whereabouts. He should have told her. It might have prevented this.
‘When I saw him, I was so shocked. And afraid.’
‘I’m not surprised.’
She had been frightened, but she’d stood up to her uncle anyway. And so had Matthias. But when he’d hit her and commanded his men to tie her up, she had begun to panic. She had thought she might miss the election. That her people would think she had run, like she had from her father and the emperor in Constantinople once before. But she would not run away from her responsibilities this time.
And she had begun to worry what Destin would think when he woke and she wasn’t there.
‘Thank you. For coming to get me,’ she said, reaching out and putting her hand over his on the table. ‘You were incredible...what you did back there. You certainly proved them all wrong about you.’ Once again, she had been in awe of his strength. She had never seen a man fight or move the way he did. He had stunned her, as well as all the men in that room. ‘Did you know that Lothair and Alexios were collaborating?’ she asked. He knew her by now. She wouldn’t stop asking him questions until she learned the truth.
‘Not until last night.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ she said, snatching her fingers back, as if he’d burned her. She stared at him with accusation.
‘I wanted to,’ he said, pushing a hand through his hair. ‘I was torn. I didn’t want it to worry you. I thought it was just talk about land. Coin. It’s what men in power do. I never realised Alexios would go so far as to put you in jeopardy, Livia. If I had...’
She nodded, the tension in her shoulders abating. She believed him. ‘So that explains why you were pacing the courtyard like a mad man when I came down to see you.’ He had been tortured, unsure whether to tell her about the emperor’s disloyalty. ‘What will happen now?’ she asked, tearing off a little of the bread and popping it in her mouth, but it felt dry on her tongue as she chewed it. She offered him some and he shook his head.
‘You can still go to the College this afternoon,’ Destin said, his tone softening. ‘You could tell them what Lothair did. But if you’ve changed your mind... You know you don’t have to do this. People will understand.’
She finally swallowed the mouthful and glanced up at him, surprised. ‘The need is greater than ever for me to do this. My uncle has proved what kind of man he is, over and again. I cannot let him rule here. Not without putting up a fight. I have to at least try...’
She pushed her bowl away and gingerly rose to her feet.
‘I’m going to take that bath,’ she said. ‘Would you...see me up the stairs?’
His eyebrows pulled together, but he nodded, running his fingers around the back of his neck.
She was so aware of him as they climbed the stairs together in silence. Her throat felt restricted and her words dried up. She took in his rigid posture and the muscle working in his cheek. Was he feeling it too? He dominated the stairwell, her space and her thoughts.
Turning into the corridor, she was both pleased and relieved to see there was no soldier guarding her door right now that she needed to dispose of, and as she stepped inside her room, she thanked the maids for running her bath and said they could leave her. She wanted to be alone with him, desperately.
Destin’s eyes raked over her as he lingered by the door, waiting for the women to disappear out of view, before his hand reached out to take her chin between his fingers, tipping her face up towards him, as if checking that no lasting damage had been done. And his touch sent tingles through her body.
What must she look like? It wasn’t a great look for her appearance at the council later on today. And it wasn’t the ideal way to seduce him...but she knew she was going to try anyway.
His thumb smoothed over her swollen lip. ‘You’re getting quite the bruise on your cheek,’ he said.
‘It’s throbbing. Will you kiss it better?’ she whispered, leaning in.
His eyes narrowed on her. ‘You’re determined to ruin me, aren’t you?’ he said, shaking his head. And then he frowned. ‘I can’t believe I was with you, lying beside you, and I still didn’t keep you safe. It was my one task and I failed.’
‘You didn’t. You saved me. It was my fault. I should never have left you,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to leave you again.’
He removed his hand from her skin and braced it on the door-frame above her head. ‘Or I you. So I’ll wait here while you take your bath. I will guard the door. You’re safe now, Livia. I promise I won’t go anywhere.’
That wasn’t what she wanted and he knew it. She stepped towards him, placing her hand on his chest. ‘I’d be safer if you stayed by my side. If you came in.’
‘Not a good idea,’ he rasped.
She moved closer. ‘Did Alexios tell you I spoke to him?’
‘Yes,’ he said.
‘Then you know I told him I couldn’t marry him. Because I can’t. I won’t. It wouldn’t be right. Not after what happened between you and me last night.’
‘Livia...’
She knew he was about to chastise her again, that he was going to give her another reason why they couldn’t do this. And suddenly she felt overwhelmingly frustrated. She’d nearly lost her life. And being in such danger had only heightened her feelings. She knew what was important to her now. She had determined that if she survived the ordeal, she would show him what he meant to her. And then he’d rescued her. Of course he had. And she wanted him now more than ever. She wanted him to admit he wanted her too. To stop fighting it.
Leaving the door open, she removed her hand from his body and turned away from him, heading over to the filled, steaming bath, sunken into the floor. She unfastened her brooches, willing her fingers to stop shaking, praying for the confidence to do this. She let her stola sink to the ground, pooling at her feet, before pulling off her tunic, so she was standing naked before him, her back to him.
She glanced over her shoulder, satisfied to see the shocked, starved look in his dark eyes, which were raking over her body, trailing her every movement. ‘It’s still warm. Do you want to join me?’
She didn’t know why she was being so brazen, but she felt she needed to be with him. He kept holding her at arm’s length, as if he was playing a game of tug of war between his head and his heart. He needed a little persuasion.
As she walked down the steps, slowly, and sank beneath the surface, she heard the wood click shut, and for a moment she wondered if he had left. But when she looked up she saw he was still there, resting his back against the door, watching her, his body rigid. It seemed as if it was taking him every ounce of restraint not to come to her, to touch her, his breathing laboured. She would just have to be patient. She lay back in the water, her dark hair spreading out around her, and let her eyes momentarily flutter shut, enjoying the sensations of the heat lapping at her body. When he still didn’t come to her, she eventually sat up and cupped the water in her hands, using it to wash the blood off her stinging, swollen face, and ran her soaped-up hands over her body, washing herself. By the time she was clean, she realised he still hadn’t moved.
She sighed.
‘Destin, can you pass me my robe?’ she asked, gesturing with her head to her gold silk gown, which lay over the side of her chair.
He came off the door and swiped it up, bringing it towards her, and she stood, rising out of the bath, droplets of water cascading down her body. She turned to him, taking the silk from his fingers. But she made no move to put it on. Instead, she stepped closer to him and pressed her damp body against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He bit out a curse of frustration and defeat, and in one swift movement he caught her waist in his arm and his mouth came down on hers, finally claiming her. He was gentle, careful of her bruised and swollen lips, and she was lost.
And by the way his mouth moved down to cover her neck, the tops of her breasts, his hand curling over her bottom and hauling her towards him, frantic with need, he was too.
He pressed his groin into her body and she could feel how hard he was. How much he wanted her, and it spurred her on. Her heart hammering in her chest, she unfastened his leather vest and ruthlessly tugged it off, before reaching for his tunic, desperately wanting that gone too, needing to feel his skin on hers again, her fingers barely able to grasp the material they were shaking so much. He removed his splint and his tunic, letting his left arm fall to his side, and then his hand was back on her, roaming down over her bottom.
He paused for just a moment, pulling away, looking at her, breathing her in. ‘Livia, are you sure about this?’
‘Yes,’ she whispered, nodding, staring at his chest and up into his eyes. She reached for the waistband of his breeches and unfastened it, before tugging them down, setting him free.
And then she pushed him back gently onto the bed, so he was sitting on the edge, and she came to stand between his legs.
‘You should be preparing for this afternoon,’ he said. ‘Getting ready.’
‘This is preparing me,’ she said. He was all she needed.
He placed his lips to her stomach, kissing her softly, his hand squeezing her bottom, pulling her closer, before his palm roamed up to carefully cup one breast, and she thrust towards him, her nipples hardening. Her hands gripped onto his shoulders and she wanted him to take her in his mouth, and as if he was answering her prayers, he drew one nipple between his lips, sucking down on her hard, and she raked her hands into his hair, gripping fistfuls of it, tight.
And then she released him, pulling his mouth away from her breast and she dropped to her knees. She ran her hands over his muscular thighs, looking up at him, and he watched her with heated interest, wondering what she was going to do next. He seemed to want her to take the lead.
She took his hard shaft in the palm of her hand before bending her head to caress the tip of him with her tongue. He swore, his muscles bunched, and she felt excitement rage through her. His reaction made her feel powerful. She took him further into her mouth, kissing and licking him, liking the taste of him, and he tipped his head back, giving in to all the sensations she was causing. Did it feel as good as it had for her last night?
‘Livia,’ he muttered, his fingers stealing into her hair, and she took him to the back of her throat.
‘Livia,’ he said more urgently. She didn’t want to stop, but when he clamped his hand around her arm, tugging her upwards, she was forced to tear her mouth away from him.
‘I want you,’ he said, his voice desperate.
‘Finally,’ she whispered, smiling, but her legs trembled as she rose to her feet. The moment was huge.
‘We’ll have to be careful,’ he said, and she nodded. She knew he would be. He had always been careful with her. It was why she had fallen in love with him.
He pulled her closer, bringing her on top of him, so she straddled his hips with her knees, sitting on his thighs. And she reached down and cradled his shaft in her hand again. He squeezed her bottom, drawing her closer, lifting her over the top of him, until she could feel the tip of him, straining against her moist folds. She hesitated. Looking down into his eyes, his big, muscular body sprawled out beneath her, she felt feverish and terrified all at once.
‘Destin, I don’t know how to do this,’ she said, leaning over him.
He grinned against her mouth, pressing his forehead against hers. ‘Neither do I, but I’m sure we can work it out together.’
And in one unexpected move he flipped her over, so he was lying on top of her, his large chest pressing against hers, his body between her legs, and he kissed her deeply, open-mouthed, as he pushed her legs wide apart with his knees. His hand stroked down between them, to where she wanted him to touch her most. He seemed to have reined in his fierce urgency from moments ago as he took his time with her, making her more excited, sliding his fingers in and out of her slick entrance, and she knew he was preparing her for what was to come. Her head tipped back on a wave of wonderment.
And then the hard, silky tip of him was right there, trailing down along her crease to her opening.
‘Livia?’ he asked, and she nodded. ‘You’re sure this is what you want?’
‘Yes.’
He eased the tip inside her and she felt the rush of excitement, and burning need, and she wanted him to thrust hard, to claim her, so she lifted her legs up to wrap around his thighs, willing him to give just one nudge.
And as he held her hand with his above her head, entwining their fingers, he did.
But he thrust carefully, slowly impaling her body, and she gasped, tensing at the sudden invasion, and she was glad he’d been more gentle than she’d wanted him to be.
He stopped, her muscles clenched tight around him, preventing him from going any further, and his deep brown eyes looked down at her. ‘Are you all right?’
‘Yes,’ she said, clamping her legs around his waist. ‘Just...suddenly nervous.’ She licked her lips, her mouth feeling dry.
‘That makes two of us,’ he smiled.
‘I didn’t think Norse warriors got nervous,’ she said, raising an eyebrow.
‘When you have something so precious in your hands, it’s hard not to be. Are you sure you want to carry on?’
‘Yes.’ She nodded. And she thought she fell even more in love with him for asking.
He kissed her then, slowly, tenderly, her bruised lips barely even smarting, and she began to relax beneath him, allowing him to edge further inside her. When he gave another gentle thrust, this time he plunged all the way inside, breaching her inner wall, filling her up, and she cried out in unexpected pleasure.
He looked down at her in heated passion and amazement. ‘You feel...so good,’ he whispered.
She gripped his waist, his thighs, tugging him towards her, wanting more, wanting him to pin her down and possess her. ‘So do you.’
But he continued to take it slow, finding his rhythm, ruthlessly rocking inside her, unhurriedly, as if he wanted to make it last. As if he’d waited a lifetime for this. He made each surge count, storming her, discovering what she liked as he slid in and out, pressing deeper, as if he couldn’t get enough of her, as if he never wanted her to forget this moment and his thorough taking of her. His hand released hers to come down and curl around her bottom, pressing her closer, bringing her right up against him and she didn’t know how much more she could take. The pleasure was too great. He was so much more than she could ever have dreamed of. She felt overwhelmed. Hot. Feverish. And she began to thrash about wildly beneath him, their bodies slick with sweat, and it only took one more torturous thrust for her to come apart. She screamed out her climax into his shoulder just as he pulled out of her and spilled the rush of his own pleasure on the furs, her name tumbling from his lips.
Livia’s eyes flickered open. It had been...wow. All she had hoped it would be, and she lay there, sated, unwilling and unable to move. Destin lay heavily on top of her, breathing hard, and she liked the weight of him, his skin on hers. It felt intimate. Comforting, reminding her of when he’d saved her life on the journey to Rome. She felt protected. She wanted to stay like this for ever.
Once he’d recovered, Destin rolled off her onto his back and pulled her into his chest, kissing her forehead. She knew this moment was significant, not just for her, but for him too. They had both taken something from each other, and given a whole lot in return. She knew that this would change them both. She already felt different. She felt like she was glowing from the inside out. She no longer felt like a girl, but a woman. As if her eyes had been opened to new wonders. And she felt loved. Complete.
‘That was incredible,’ she said, holding on to his jaw and reaching up to place a kiss against his lips. ‘Thank you.’ She felt so close to him.
He looked down at her, offering her a grin. Her stomach flipped.
‘You’re thanking me?’ he asked, raising his eyebrows, incredulous. ‘For finally giving in to your seduction? You’re determined, I’ll give you that.’
She laughed lightly. ‘I just know what I want.’ And she did. She hadn’t made the decision to sleep with him lightly. She knew she wanted him in her future, even if the path wasn’t clear-cut. ‘But no, I was thanking you for being you. The best man I have ever met. I can’t imagine it ever feeling more perfect than that.’
He nodded, his hand stroking her hip. His eyes shone down into hers and he kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Neither can I.’