Chapter 16

A week later they rode into Riddick Keep tired and dusty.

Riddick had set a punishing pace wanting to get home as quickly as possible. He had been unfailing polite and proper to his new bride in front of his men. You would have thought that they were simply traveling companions much to Carolyn's displeasure, but she refused to cause a scene, so kept her head down and her mouth shut.

There were times when Carolyn would catch him looking at her in such a way that she felt as though her body were on fire. In the evenings he would pull her on his horse, holding her so close she could hear the beat of his heart, often falling asleep to it, only to awake on the ground by herself. By the time they arrived at Riddick Keep, Carolyn was ready to turn around and go back to Enchantment.

Riddick's mood had grown steadily worse the longer they were on the road. Grueling travel was not ideal conditions for a new bride and he constantly had to remind himself of that and was a complete gentleman to her during the day in front of his men.

It was only at night that he was weak, bringing her onto his horse, using the excuse that they could travel further at night if he wasn't worried about her falling off her horse asleep. Ultimately, holding her in his arms only made it worse as her hair floated across his face, her breasts brushing against his arms and when she drifted to sleep, her breath as it caressed his skin.

He was practically a raving lunatic by the time they made it back to Furya. James was completely disgusted with him, waving him off as he saw to the men himself. Growling, he stomped over to where Carolyn sat waiting for help. Barking at Agnes he lifted Carolyn down, setting her on her feet beside him. "Take her to Mary," he said before turning his back on them to lead the horses down to the stable.

"Insufferable Jackass," Carolyn muttered causing Agnes to chuckle.

"Come on, Milady," Agnes said guiding her into the keep. "That man has the worst cause of blue balls I've ever seen."

Carolyn turned her head to look back at Riddick who was watching them with dark hooded eyes. "Really?" she whispered turning back to Agnes.

"Yes, and all of us will be eternally grateful if you would take him to bed."

"Agnes!" Carolyn laughingly scolded.

"Go on with you now," Agnes said handing her off to Mary. "I'll get your bath organized and I'll be up shortly."

Carolyn smiled at the woman who had become her friend, before following Mary up the stairs.

Hearing a noise as she sat at her dressing table brushing her hair, Carolyn looked up to discover Riddick standing in the doorway.

They looked at each other in silence as Riddick closed the door silently behind him.

Carolyn continued brushing her hair, a slight smile on her face. She had been half afraid that he would go to someone else's bed this night.

"I've made many mistakes this week," he said coming to stand behind her.

Carolyn gently set the hairbrush down on the table in front of her as Riddick's hand brushed against her neck trailing down her back to rest at her hips. Carolyn's eyes fluttered shut as he began to place kisses on her ears and throat. Turning in his arms, she stood, kissing him hungrily, stopping only to help him remove his shirt before pulling him back close. Under Riddick's deft hands her white gown lay in a pool at her feet.

Taking a step back to look at her, he drank in the sight of her naked body with his eyes. Taking his hand, Carolyn led him to the bed helping him off with the rest of his clothing. Turning her towards the bed, Riddick's hands roamed her body, cupping her breast, flicking the nipples, finally drawing her smooth back up against his chest while using his fingers to dip inside her, only to pull back out as she writhed against him, pushing back into his hips.

Pushing her forward on the bed, Riddick grabbed her hips, sinking his length into her depths. Carolyn moaned at the dual sensations of the bed linens rubbing against her hardened nipples and Riddick thrusting in and out of her, his hands alternating between kneading her hips and dipping between her legs. She was panting, her skin slickened with sweat by the time he had her crying out, begging him to give her the release she desperately needed. He didn't hesitate to comply, sending them both over the edge, Carolyn's cries muffled in the linens.