Destiny of the Heart (Viking Destiny) (39 page)

Kristen was about to question what had happened, but
he turned her over on the bed and lifted her legs until her she
was on her knees. He pressed his hands gently on her back
and then entered her from behind. Kristen nearly shot right out
of her skin. He picked up his tempo, and the waves of
pleasure were back, his body slapping into hers. His breath
came out in short, concentrated bursts. Her moans were
punctuated by the sound of their bodies slapping each other.
His movements became faster as he pounded into her.

She yelled out his name and he went faster still. Kristen
grabbed at the blankets, holding on for dear life. She could
feel the climax coming and knew that it would be different from
any other she had felt before now. The heat between them
was like an inferno, and Kristen's mouth went dry as she
panted. She focused on the feeling of Derrick inside of her,
moving with her, and for a moment it was as if they had
become one. For a moment, the whole world was gone and it
was just them, making love and becoming a single being.

Before Kristen could grasp the concept fully, her body
exploded in a pinnacle of light and stars. A rush of heat
flooded between her legs, and she fell over the invisible cliff
that was always present when she made love with Derrick. As
she fell, her body tingled from every nerve and she shook with
the pure ecstasy of it all. His body spasmed and he went rigid
for several moments before relaxing and falling into the haze
with her. He fell onto the bed and dragged Kristen to his side,
holding her to him.

They stayed like that for several moments, both trying
to catch their breath. Derrick had never felt anything like that
before, and it certainly wasn't from a lack of trying. Each time
he made love to Kristen, it was like a perfect melding of light
and sound. But this time, they had shared the exact same
space for just a moment, as if everything was perfect and
pure, and then they were thrown over the edge at the same
time, exploding in a whirl of lights and colors. He wondered if
she had seen and felt that, or if perhaps he was going crazy.

"Is it always like that?" She asked.
"Like what?"
"I felt like we were one for a moment, and then we fell

Derrick looked at her in awe. He'd never felt anything
remotely close to that in his vast experience, and he was
pretty sure it wasn't something meant to be shared with
everyone. He was pretty sure that such an experience was
reserved for two people so in love, so in tuned with one
another that they were almost one soul sharing two bodies.

"No, at least not in my experience." He kissed her
throat.
"Interesting."
Derrick moved to the side of her and pulled her toward
him. She rested her head on his chest, and her eyes started to
drift close. Derrick took a deep breath and exhaled slowly
through his nose.
"Kristen?"
"Mmm?" She was falling asleep.
"I love you."
Kristen's eyes snapped open and she propped herself
up on her elbow to look at him. She searched his eyes,
looking for any sign of the haze from their lovemaking, thinking
that perhaps he was still caught up in the moment. But, his
eyes were clear and he looked quite serious. She blinked, not
sure what to say.
"I love you, Kristen." He repeated.
Kristen's eyes watered and she blinked rapidly to keep
from crying, but she couldn't help it. Tears welled up and
spilled over her cheeks. She laughed with joy. Derrick wiped
the tears away.
"Why are you crying?"
"Because, I convinced myself that I would be alright not
hearing those words from you, and I realized when you said
them that I would not have been alright without them. I wanted
you to love me as I love you."
Derrick smiled. "I believe I figured that out on the
island."
"You did not."
"Yes, I did. But, I was already in love with you by that
point."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think you would believe me. You had already
refused to marry me."
"Because I was protecting you, and I thought you only
wanted me as a mistress."
"My little Viking, so brilliant yet so daft." He kissed her
nose.
Kristen swatted at him playfully. "That's not fair, you
have quite the reputation, you know. And, you did make a
wager for me to be your mistress if you will recall."
Derrick laughed. "Well, you needn't fear my reputation,
m'dear. I'm all yours, and yours alone."
"Good, because after that bit of fun, I don't think I could
share you."
Derrick kissed her, his tongue sliding in her mouth as a
gentle caress. He pulled back and she had quite forgotten
what she had been saying.
"You will never have to share me, Kristen."
Kristen smiled brightly. Things were definitely working
out in her favor. Sure, they had a big fight ahead of them, but
somehow, Kristen knew that as long as Derrick stood beside
her, anything was possible.

Sander paced his royal chamber in agitation at the
news he had received. The girl had escaped, and the captain
of the Royal Guard had gone with her, taking his son with
them. Not that he gave a damn about Nikolas. The boy was
soft and weak. But, Finn would pay. And so would the girl. He
smashed his fist into an ugly vase. His wife tsked from across
the room.

"You must remain calm, Sander. Everything will work
out."
He looked at her crossly. "Madam, you vapid words are
meaningless. Kindly keep them to yourself."
The queen bristled at the set down but held her tongue.
She knew her husband well, and in the mood he was in, it
could just as easily be her head that he chose to punch rather
than the furnishings in the room. Still, it seemed the
prophecies were true. A girl with the courage of one thousand
men had arrived to challenge her husband, and in one
meeting she had managed to unsettle him. He hadn't been the
same since meeting her.
"What will you do?" She asked.
"I'm going to find her and rip out her spine. Then I shall
dance on her grave."
"And how do you propose to do that?"
Sander stopped his pacing and glared at his wife.
Before he could speak, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in." Sander barked.
The door opened, and a large Viking entered the room
and knelt to the ground.
"Rise." Sander said impatiently.
"Sir, Master Adrian is missing, and the assassin girl is
gone, as well. The assassin's guild reports they boarded the
ship with the traitors."
Sander growled low and then roared with such ferocity
the Viking before him trembled in fear. Sander advanced on
him and drew the man's sword from his scabbard, then
plunged it deep into the man's stomach. The Viking exhaled in
surprise and fell to the ground, his eyes rolling to the back of
his head.
"Guards!" Sander yelled.
Two other Viking's filed into the room and knelt before
the king. They briefly glanced at their fallen comrade but said
nothing.
"Clean up this mess." He waved his hand and turned
his back on them as they dragged the body from the royal
chamber, and shut the door behind them.
Sander walked to his chair near the fireplace and sat
down.
"If it's war she wants, it's a war she will have." He said
quietly, clenching his fists and slamming them on the arm of
the chair he sat in.