Amora's heart hammered against her ribs as Godwynn stepped back, giving her space. He moved to the large chair near the fireplace and sat, spreading his legs in a posture of casual dominance. The firelight cast dancing shadows across his sharp features, making him look even more dangerous. More beautiful.
"Well?" he asked, his voice a low rumble. "I'm waiting, little pet."
She swallowed hard, trying to quiet the panic rising in her chest. Through their bond, she could feel his anticipation, his arousal, but also his skepticism. He didn't think she could do it. Didn't think she had it in her to truly seduce him.
Prove him wrong, she told herself. For Lewan. For your family. For yourself.
Slowly, deliberately, she reached for the laces of her dress. His eyes tracked the movement, darkening with interest. She pulled the first lace free, then the second, letting the bodice loosen inch by inch.
"Stop," he commanded.
She froze, fear spiking through her. Had she already failed?
"Come here first," he said, gesturing to the space between his spread thighs. "I want to see you up close."
She approached on unsteady legs, stopping when she was close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body. This close, she could see the way his chest rose and fell with controlled breaths, could see the pulse jumping in his throat.
He reached out and ran his fingertips along the exposed skin of her collarbone, leaving trails of fire in their wake. "You're afraid," he observed. "I can feel it."
"Yes," she admitted. No point in lying when he could sense her emotions.
"Good." His hand moved to cup her face, thumb brushing across her lower lip. "Fear sharpens the senses. Makes everything more... intense."
He pulled her down onto his lap, positioning her so she straddled him, her dress bunching around her thighs. She could feel the hard length of him pressing against her core through the layers of fabric between them.
"Now," he murmured, his hands settling on her hips. "Show me what you're willing to do to save your brother."
The words were cruel, a reminder of why she was doing this. But Amora pushed the hurt aside and focused. She had one chance at this. One chance to prove she could affect him the way he affected her.
She leaned forward, her lips hovering just above his. "May I kiss you, husband?"
His eyes flashed with approval at the title. "You may."
She closed the distance slowly, pressing her lips to his in a soft, tentative kiss. He remained still, letting her set the pace, but she could feel the tension in his body, the restraint he was exercising.
Emboldened, she deepened the kiss, her tongue darting out to trace the seam of his lips. He opened for her with a low groan, and suddenly the kiss turned hungry. His hands tightened on her hips, pulling her harder against him.
But then he broke away, his breathing heavy. "No," he said roughly. "This is your seduction, Amora. I will not participate beyond allowing you to touch me. If you want my favor, you'll have to earn it."
She understood then. He was testing her. Testing whether she truly wanted this, or whether she was just going through the motions.
Fine, she thought with a flash of defiance. If he wants a show, I'll give him one.
She stood, backing away from him, and this time when she reached for her laces, she did so with deliberate sensuality. She held his gaze as she slowly undid each tie, letting the anticipation build. When the bodice finally fell away, revealing the thin chemise underneath, his jaw clenched.
"Keep going," he commanded, his voice strained.
She pulled the dress down over her hips, letting it pool at her feet. Now she stood before him in just her chemise, the thin fabric leaving little to the imagination. Her nipples were already hard, visible through the material, and she saw his eyes fixate on them.
"The chemise too," he said.
Her hands trembled as she gripped the hem, but she forced herself to remain steady. She pulled it up slowly, revealing inch by inch of her bronze skin—her thighs, her hips, her stomach. When she pulled it over her head and let it drop, she was completely bare before him.
The way he looked at her made her feel like she was burning from the inside out. His black eyes had gone molten, and through their bond she could feel his hunger, raw and primal.
"Beautiful," he breathed. "Absolutely exquisite."
Despite everything, despite the circumstances, the compliment sent warmth flooding through her. She approached him again, slowly, letting him drink in the sight of her nakedness.
When she reached him, she knelt between his legs, her hands coming to rest on his thighs. She could feel the muscles bunching under her touch, could feel his body responding to her proximity.
"What are you doing?" he asked, though his voice suggested he knew exactly what she intended.
"Seducing you," she said simply. Her hands moved higher, to the laces of his breeches. "Unless you'd like me to stop?"
"Don't you dare," he growled.
She unlaced his breeches slowly, deliberately, maintaining eye contact as she freed his hardened length. It sprang forth, thick and heavy, and she couldn't help the slight intake of breath at the sight.
"Have you ever done this before?" he asked, something almost gentle in his tone.
"No," she admitted. "But I'm willing to learn."
"Then let me guide you." His hand came to rest in her hair, not pulling, just... holding. "Start slow. Use your tongue first."
She leaned forward, heart pounding, and tentatively licked the tip of him. He let out a sharp hiss, his hips jerking slightly. Encouraged, she did it again, swirling her tongue around the head.
"Good girl," he praised, and the words sent a pulse of heat straight to her core. "Now take me in your mouth. As much as you can."
She wrapped her lips around him and slowly sank down, taking him deeper. He was too large to take fully, but she did her best, using her hand to stroke what she couldn't fit.
"Gods, Amora," he groaned, his head falling back against the chair. "Your mouth..."
She found a rhythm, bobbing her head up and down while her tongue worked against the underside of his shaft. His hand tightened in her hair, and through their bond she could feel his pleasure mounting, could feel him losing the careful control he'd maintained.
"Enough," he suddenly commanded, pulling her off him. "If you continue, I'll spend in your mouth, and I have other plans for where I want to finish."
He pulled her up and onto his lap again, this time positioning her so his length was pressed against her slick folds. She was embarrassingly wet, and they both knew it.
"You want this," he observed. Not a question but a statement. "Despite everything, your body craves mine."
She couldn't deny it, not when the evidence was literally dripping onto him. "Yes," she whispered.
"Then take what you want," he said, his hands moving to her hips again. "Ride me, Amora. Show me how much you desire me."
She lifted herself up and positioned him at her entrance. Even though he'd taken her virginity days ago, she was still tender, still adjusting to his size. She lowered herself slowly, gasping at the stretch and burn of him filling her.
"That's it," he encouraged, his voice strained. "Take all of me, little pet."
When she was fully seated on him, she paused, adjusting to the fullness. He stretched her completely, filled her in ways that bordered on pain but somehow felt incredible.
Then she began to move.
She started slow, lifting herself up and sinking back down, finding a rhythm. His hands guided her, helping her angle her hips so that he hit that spot deep inside that made stars explode behind her eyes.
"Faster," he demanded. "I want to feel you lose control."
She increased her pace, riding him harder, chasing the pleasure building in her core. The sound of their flesh meeting filled the room, mingling with their harsh breathing and her soft moans.
"Touch yourself," he commanded. "Rub that swollen little clit while you ride my cock."
She should have been mortified by the crude words, but instead they only aroused her more. She brought her hand between them, finding the sensitive bud and circling it with her fingers.
The added stimulation was almost too much. She could feel her climax approaching, could feel herself spiraling toward that edge.
"Godwynn," she gasped. "I'm... I'm going to..."
"Do it," he growled. "Come on my cock, Amora. Let me feel you."
Her orgasm crashed over her like a tidal wave, her inner walls clenching rhythmically around him. She threw her head back and cried out, her whole body shaking with the force of it.
Through the haze of pleasure, she felt him swell inside her, felt his grip on her hips turn bruising. "Amora," he groaned, and then he was spilling inside her, his hot seed filling her womb.
She collapsed against his chest, both of them breathing heavily. For a moment, there was nothing but the crackling of the fire and the sound of their racing hearts.
Then reality came crashing back.
She'd done it. She'd seduced him. She'd felt his control shatter, felt him give himself over to pleasure completely.
But now came the hard part.
Godwynn's arms came around her, holding her close. His softening length was still inside her, and she could feel their combined fluids beginning to leak out.
"That," he finally said, "was not what I expected."
She pulled back to look at him, trying to read his expression. "Did I... did I succeed?"
A slow smile spread across his face. "You know you did. I felt what you felt through our bond. You wanted me. Truly wanted me, not just pretended for my benefit."
Panic flared in her chest. "I was just—"
"Don't," he interrupted, his hand coming up to cup her face. "Don't cheapen what just happened by claiming it was all an act. We both know better."
She wanted to argue, wanted to deny it, but he was right. Somewhere in the middle of trying to seduce him, she'd stopped pretending. She'd genuinely lost herself in the pleasure, in him.
"I still want my favor," she said, trying to regain some ground.
"And you've earned it," he agreed. "Name your price, little pet."
This was it. Her chance to save Lewan, to maybe even secure something that would help her later.
"I want you to spare my brother," she said. "Whatever your father decides, whatever happens with my father, I want you to ensure that Lewan lives."
Godwynn's expression grew troubled. "Amora..."
"You said anything within your power," she pressed. "Surely keeping him alive is within your power."
"It is," he admitted. "But—"
"No buts," she said firmly. "That's my price. Lewan's life."
He was quiet for a long moment, studying her face. Then he sighed. "Very well. I give you my word—as your husband, as your bonded mate—that I will ensure your brother survives this war. No matter what happens, I will not let him die."
Relief flooded through her so intensely she nearly wept. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you."
He lifted her off him and set her on her feet, then stood and began redressing. "Don't thank me yet. Keeping that promise may prove more difficult than you realize."
"Why?"
"Because your father arrives in three days," he said grimly. "And when he does, this castle will become a battlefield."