His voice came to me as if through a fog. "I'm not dishonoring you, Tara. Ours was a real marriage, even if not to your liking."
"You don't know what you're doing to me," I cried.
I had become so hysterical, I was finding it hard to breathe, and Rorik began shaking me. "I know I intend to bed my wife before the night is over," he said sternly, "no matter how much she kicks and screams."
With this I gave in.
In less than a moment I was in his arms. When his body sought mine, I throbbed with a desire that transcended the hatred I'd once felt for him.
"Hold me close, Rorik. Hold me very close," I whispered.
"You're no longer afraid?"
"No, not of this."
I clung to him as I clung to the rock when the surging waves pulled at me and I thought I was going to drown. When we reached a climax simultaneously, I bit his lip; and the taste of blood was bittersweet on my tongue.
Then, suddenly, it was all over, and I knew he had won. Whatever or whomever I gave myself to, I gave myself completely, relinquishing all, withholding nothing. My ties with the past were now severed. But, oh God, I prayed, let it be the beginning of something, not the end. Now that my life belonged to Rorik, don't let me be betrayed as I was before. Even greater now than my physical need for him was my emotional need, and I could not bear it if I were cast aside.