Blaze (10 page)

Leaning closer, he kissed her forehead. "I know. Though I'll always carry you in my heart, physical separation will be the worst of punishments."

"Maybe if we're lucky we'll be stationed together often."

"I hope." His eyes slipped shut as he kissed her cheek and nibbled her ear. With the utmost tenderness, she used her lips to caress his neck in a manner that sent tiny ripples of desire from his head to his toes. He whispered, "Undress and lie stomach down on the bed."

"Oh." She grinned, stepping away and tugging off her tunic. "I like the sound of this."

His gaze swept her smooth back and rounded buttocks as she walked to the bed and lay with her head resting on her folded arms. Drawing a deep breath, he tried to ignore the ache of his swelling cock and the leaping of his pulse. She was so beautiful and delicate, yet strong. The need to devour her was almost overpowering, yet he harnessed it. Her pleasure must come first, therefore increasing his own. It was a waste to rush lovemaking with such a woman.

After tugging off his boots and socks, he removed his tunic and washed his hands in a basin of fresh water. He took a container filled with a special lotion he had created just for her. It smelled

of lemongrass and wildflowers. Fresh, spirited, and lovely. Just like Melody.

"What are you doing over there?" She lifted her head and glanced over her shoulder.

Blaze knelt on the bed beside her and gently guided her head back to her arms. He caressed her hair and brushed it away from her nape. "Close your eyes. Relax."

She chuckled. "Not easy when I'm dying to make love with you."

"So am I."

Rolling over, she reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand, a flirtatious gleam in her eyes.

"Then why not take the edge off now, Sir?"

"I've looked forward to savoring you. Touching you. Pleasuring you slowly, as you deserve to be loved."

Her smile faded, replaced by an expression of such desire and intensity that his cock leapt.

She ran a fingertip over his lips. "When you put it that way, I can't refuse."

Turning onto her stomach again, she lay quietly, though anticipation emanated from her every pore. Closing his eyes for a moment, Blaze tried to slow his wild heartbeat. He felt almost like a boy making love for the first time. It was a wonderful thrill, like a rush of youth and exhilaration he had never experienced before meeting her.

After pouring some of the lotion onto his palm, he rubbed his hands together to warm it. Slowly, he massaged the lotion into her shoulders and back with long sweeps of his hands. His fingertips traced the length of her spine down to her buttocks. Using more lotion, he caressed each firm globe and cupped her hips.

"I love how you touch me," she murmured.

"I love touching you." He gazed at the backs of her thighs and the shape of her calves as he tenderly rubbed each leg down to her ankles.

Stretching out beside her, he continued stroking her back while kissing her nape. Her scent aroused him almost as much as touching her lush, feminine body. Rolling her onto her side, he tugged her closer. His stiff cock pressed against the silken flesh of her bottom.

Melody moaned and stretched her hand back so she could caress his hip. "I want you so much, Blaze."

"Sweet Music," he whispered in her ear before taking the lobe between his teeth and nipping it gently. She quivered with need and wriggled closer to him.

Draping an arm over her, he cupped one of her breasts and gently squeezed the soft, warm globe.

He rubbed her nipple in a tender circle. It stiffened, the sensation of the hard bud against the pad of his thumb arousing him even more.

"Oh, Blaze." She turned, slipping her arms around his neck and entwining her smooth legs with his.

Closing his eyes, he rested his cheek against the top of her head and swept his hand up and down her body from hip to shoulder. She imitated his motion, caressing his back and buttocks. The

position combined with their mutual caresses was both relaxing and stimulating. By the rhythm of her breathing and the hardness of her nipples, he knew she felt as aroused as he did.

Moving slightly, he buried his fingers in the hair at her nape and gently tugged her head back. Her neck arched and she gazed at him through half open eyes, her lusty expression tempting him.

Inching lower, he kissed her neck, loving the softness of her skin and the way she gripped him tighter. Her foot ran up his calf in a seductive caress that sent pleasure coursing through his entire body.

He licked the base of her throat, savoring her taste and scent. Running his tongue between her breasts, he inhaled deeply. This woman was perfect for him. His match, his soul mate. The person he'd spent his life dreaming about but never thought to meet.

In the background, spirits whispered and he resisted the urge to shout at them to go away.

Ignoring them was best. Soon they would grow tired of watching and leave him alone. He was glad Melody didn't know about them. Perhaps Tara was haunting her as well.

Briefly, he thought it strange that they weren't truly alone. Either they made love in the company of spirits or they didn't make love at all. The latter was too great a sacrifice, especially at the moment. His cock ached with need and he longed to bury it deep inside her.

Soon.

With the utmost tenderness, he pushed her onto her back and loomed above her, kissing her breasts. Using his lips, he traced circles around one breast, slowly moving closer to the nipple. Her fingers threaded through his hair, a subtle caress that made his cock twitch and his balls tighten.

Flicking his tongue over her nipple, he felt her tense with passion. She gasped when he took the stiff bud between his teeth and began licking and tugging.

"That feels so good, Blaze. You have no idea how wonderful. Please don't stop."

He had no intention of stopping. Slowly, he moved to her other breast. He lapped every inch of it,

paying close attention to her spiked little nipple. He nipped the tender pink flesh and sucked on it, taking as much of her breast into her mouth as possible. Her belly thrust against him, the smooth flesh pressing against his hair roughened chest. Little mewls of desire escaped her throat, teasing him.

Giving her nipple a final suck, he trailed his tongue beneath her breasts and down her belly. His pulse racing with desire, he paused over her swollen clit. His breath fanned it and she gasped, bending her knees and arching closer to his lips.

Blaze’s eyes slipped shut and he cupped her buttocks, raising her higher as his mouth descended.

He licked her clit, enjoying the feeling of the warm, delicate flesh, so plump with need.

"Oh, Blaze! Oh!" she gasped, a desperate edge to her voice. Her fingers grabbed at his shoulders and hair.

Moving from her clit to her feminine lips, he thrust his tongue inside her, tasting her soft flesh, so slick and warm with her passion. She was close. He sensed it in the tenseness of her muscles, the clenching of her pussy, and the soft cries of desire escaping her lips.

Blaze tugged her clit with his lips before sitting up and kneeling between her legs. Her eyes opened, fixing on him with a lusty look. Shifting position, he reached for a pillow and placed it under her before grasping her buttocks and guiding her thighs to his waist. Her knees bent and she arched her head back, moaning with pleasure as he used his cockhead to circle her slick entrance. Inch by inch he slid his erection deep into her pussy. The sensations were fantastic. Love and desire enfolded him in a hot embrace that sent his pulse racing. Drawing deep, calming breaths, he gazed at her through half closed eyes. She was beautiful, passionate. Her lips were parted and her eyes

closed, her thick lashes flickering. Candlelight danced on her skin that was slightly flushed with desire.

Blaze thrust slowly at first, savoring each and every sensation. Melody whispered his name over and over. Her buttocks clenched in his hands while her vaginal muscles clamped tightly around his cock.

Closing his eyes and surrendering completely, he thrust faster, his fingers gripping her exquisite bottom.

She moaned softly. Blaze knew she was restraining herself. He also resisted the urge to vocalize his passion. There were too many other people lingering in hallways and nearby chambers at this time

of day.

Suddenly she exploded. Powerful throbs of ecstasy coursed through her pussy, squeezing his cock as he continued thrusting. Her fingers tightened on his hands as she came, panting and quivering.

With three more hard thrusts, he climaxed in a rush of mind numbing passion.

Panting, he withdrew from her lust-drenched pussy and lay beside her. He tugged her closer and she wrapped her arms around him, rubbing her cheek against his chest.

"I can't wait to marry you, Blaze." She tilted her face up to his and kissed him.

"Waiting is torture." He stroked her shoulders and back. "I love you, Sweet Music."

"I love you, too."

Hugging her tightly, Blaze sighed with contentment. Never in his life had he been so happy.

Chapter Five

Two Months Later

Blaze squinted against the smoke stinging his eyes. The severity of the wounds he tended didn’t allow him to take even a second for personal comfort. If he was to save this soldier's life, he needed complete concentration as well as help from the spirits hovering around him.

The walls of the cottage turned infirmary shook from the battle raging outside. Several weeks ago, he and a troop of Knights under Torn's command had been sent to defend a small village under attack by the kingdom of Zaltana. It seemed their fiercest enemy was intent on starting yet another war.

Sweat dampened his black tunic and trickled down the back of his neck as Blaze worked quickly to staunch the blood flow, remove an arrowhead, and clean away bits of rust. He repaired torn flesh

and did his best to mend broken bones. His patient, held immobile by two Knights apprentice, shrieked, groaned, and cursed.

All around the cries of the injured and dying mingled with the strained conversations of the apprentices who were struggling to render aid amidst the horrors of battle.

After completing his task, Blaze hurried to the next patient. He ignored the exhaustion plaguing him. For nearly three days and two nights he had worked without pause. Healers were scarce, and most of the Knights and apprentices were needed outside to defend the village from the constant attacks. They awaited reinforcements that were painfully slow in arriving since the Zaltanians had blocked the village's borders.

Dipping his hands into a basin of clean water, Blaze thought briefly of Melody. How wonderful it would feel to be in her arms, kissing her, stroking her, and sleeping with her. If only he could close his eyes for a few short hours and dream of her.

Though he didn't resent his work, he had been right about the forced separations from his Sweet Music being torturous. Wherever she was, whatever she was doing, he hoped it wasn't as awful as the hell in which he and these people now existed.

Sir Warrant, his expression tense and his tunic stained with the filth of battle, burst through the door. "We need all the men you can spare, Blaze. Your assistants and any of the injured who can still hold a sword. If we don't fend the bastards off now, we'll lose the village."

"You stay." Blaze pointed at a lanky young apprenticee who had a particular talent for healing.

"The rest of you, with me."

Drawing their swords, the apprentices followed Blaze into battle.

Blaze tensed, his senses springing to life. All traces of fatigue disappeared as survival instinct took over. Times like this, when he dove into battle with no weapon except his own body, were the most

dangerous of his career. Members of his Green Sash Faction were far more vulnerable than others in battle, or so it seemed.

Blaze had survived many years as leader of his faction. He knew that one day he would most likely die at the point of an enemy's weapon, but he preferred taking the risk to taking a life.

Within seconds of stepping out of the cottage, he was surrounded by Zaltanian warriors. He dodged and ducked blows from all sides. Swords stabbed at him and maces swung at his head.

Through luck and skill he avoided the brunt of the attacks. His hands, elbows, and legs lashed out with lightning strikes. Somehow he managed to push the warriors back. A short distance away, two apprentices swung their swords, fighting with the hearts of the Knights they sought to become.

From the corner of his eye, Blaze saw one youth fall, an arrow piercing his chest. Blaze sprang and grasped a Zaltanian soldier before he landed another blow on the injured apprentice. He snapped the man's arm and struck him hard in the head, rendering him unconscious. Turning to the

apprentice, he felt a pang of sorrow upon realizing the arrow wound had already killed the youth.

After taking part in so many wars, Blaze often felt as if the bloodshed never stopped.

He spun, scarcely avoiding a dagger aimed at his back. He kicked his attacker's legs out from under him and knocked a second dagger from his hand.