Claire Delacroix (20 page)

Three dinars. ‘Twas a good gem. The warrior cocked a skeptical brow and Kira nodded vigorously. How could she tell him how good ‘twas?

“‘Tis from Oman,” she said, waving the pearl beneath his nose and not knowing how much he comprehended. “The best pearls come from Oman.
Oman,
” she repeated deliberately. “And ‘tis large—” she made a spreading motion with her hands “—and smooth. Not a blemish is there upon it.” Kira turned the pearl under the light so that he might note the perfection of its luster. “And its color is almost white, which is most valuable.”

Kira glanced around the room for something with which to indicate color. She shrugged and pointed to the oil in the bottom of the lamp, shaking her head disparagingly at its yellow tone, then pointed to the whitewashed wall and nodded with approval. She held the gem against the wall comparatively and nodded yet more. When she looked back, the warrior nodded in turn and Kira felt a thrill of victory surge through her veins. Had he truly understood her?

He crossed the room to her with long strides and her heart began to pound at his intent. But he merely lifted the pearl from her fingertips and turned to leave the room.

Did he mean to abandon her here? After their embrace, the thought was even more abhorrent than it had been before. She could not let him walk away from her! Kira panicked at the very idea and flew after him to clutch his sleeve. The warrior turned to look down at her with surprise.

“Surely you cannot mean to leave me here,” she argued. Kira heard her words fall in a breathless rush but was powerless to halt their flow. “No one do I know in this city and indeed not a coin have I with which to feed myself or—”

The warmth of the warrior’s finger fell against Kira’s lips and she fell immediately silent. Her gaze rose tentatively to his, the warmth she found in his regard unnerving her, yet setting her heart to racing once again.

He held his fingers and thumb together, lifting his hand to his mouth as though he ate something, and met Kira’s gaze questioningly. She exhaled shakily and granted him a smile.

Aye, she was hungry and she nodded quick agreement. The warrior nodded, pointing to himself, then outside the room. He pointed to Kira in turn, very firmly indicating the room.

She was to wait? But what if he didn’t come back? Some of her fear must have shown in her eyes for the warrior resolutely gripped her chin. He pointed to himself, then made a walking motion with his fingers, walking those fingers back into the room. He indicated Kira, then himself, then made the eating gesture again before meeting her gaze inquiringly.

He was going to fetch some food. And what would follow? Kira licked her lips nervously and flicked a finger at the pile of cushions. She pointed to him, then herself, then to the cushions. He nodded, dropping his cheek to his palm.

‘Twas not what she was asking. Kira swallowed before she slipped her finger into her fist, pumping it as she had once before. Despite the heat burning in her cheeks at her audacity, she managed to look up to the warrior’s eyes.

He shrugged. Kira blinked but once before the weight of his finger landed unerringly on her chest. He tapped her there solemnly, the somber warmth in his eyes fit to drown in before he turned and walked to the door.

It took Kira a long moment to understand, but when she did, she could scarce believe it.

The warrior was granting her the choice.

Kira’s heart began to pound and she nearly gasped aloud at his generosity. She had not misread him. Indeed, it seemed she had judged him too harshly. Her stomach skipped unsteadily at the realization that he was a more honorable man than she had yet known or dared to believe.

Kira could not let him simply walk away! She flew in pursuit of the warrior, finding him half-shrouded by the shadows cast across the stairs by the time she breathlessly gained the doorway.

“T
hierry!” she cried without thinking. The warrior halted abruptly and she imagined ‘twas surprise that flickered across his features as he turned silently to face her. Kira tapped herself on the chest, unable to contain the happiness bubbling up within her.

“Kira,” she informed him. “My name is Kira.” He inclined his head slightly so that she could not see his expression in the shadows, then his eyes shone as he looked back to her.

“Kira,” he repeated softly, a slight question in his tone, the way he rolled the
r
making her name sound strangely exotic. Kira nodded mutely and he shook his head as though amazed. “Kira,” he mused, almost to himself. Kira could not help but wonder what he was thinking.

Then he glanced up abruptly, his bright gaze pinning her to the spot. “Kira,” he repeated, and quirked one brow as he held up his right hand. “Thierry,” he added with deliberation. He twined his index and second finger together, then gave them a resolute shake. “Kira. Thierry,” he said resolutely.

Wonder of wonders, as Kira held his gaze in her surprise, for the first time she saw her warrior openly smile.

She gasped at the way the expression softened his features, then ran toward him, unspeakably encouraged by his response to learning her name. He scooped her up triumphantly, his grin widening as Kira laughed with delight and clasped her arms around his neck. Then his lips were on hers, his hands urging her closer, and she gave herself fully to his embrace for the first time. She was his woman. Not a doubt was there lingering in her mind and Kira intended this night to see that Thierry had none, either.

He groaned when she let her tongue meander into his mouth. Something primitive and feminine thrilled within Kira that she could garner such a response from him. Without breaking their embrace, he swung her up into his arms so that he clasped her knees against his chest and strode purposefully back into their room.

Indeed, Kira reasoned, she was not that hungry. Thierry kicked the door shut behind them and Kira closed her eyes when his lips traced a burning path down her throat. She ached with the need to feel him within her. The cushions pressed against her back before she knew they had crossed the room, and Kira savored Thierry’s weight atop her. Her man. He unfastened the front of her
kalat
and Kira was surprised to find his fingers shaking.

Nervous he was! Her heart swelled with tenderness at the sign. Surely he could not doubt her response? Kira lifted his hands and pressed a kiss into each palm, stretching up to kiss either corner of his mouth before touching her lips to his. Thierry shivered and Kira could not believe the evidence of her own senses.

This magnificent man desired her but still he granted her a choice. An unbearable sweetness flooded Kira and she could think of naught but laying his own fears to rest.

Kira knelt before Thierry and purposefully set to unfastening his garments. Thierry made to assist, but she pushed his hands away, waving a resolute finger under his nose. The corner of his mouth quirked but he did her bidding, kneeling silently before her as she worked. ‘Twas a heady power to have one so much larger than she at her command and the knowledge made Kira bold. She was well aware of the warmth of his gaze resting upon her and let her own admiration show when she had bared his chest to her view.

She leaned forward and carefully licked one of his nipples. Thierry caught his breath but no intent had Kira to grant him any quarter. She laved the nipple and ran her teeth across it until it tightened defiantly, then turned her attention on its mate.

When they both met with her satisfaction, Thierry’s breathing was ragged and his eyes glittered. But still he kept his hands at his sides, and Kira savored the unfamiliar sense of power flooding through her.

For whatever reason, he was granting her control of their loving. And Kira aimed to see that Thierry did not regret it. This night would he know fully how much she desired him.

This night she would seduce him anew, knowing fully what she did.

Kira climbed to her feet beneath his gaze and slowly began to peel off her garments. Thierry appeared transfixed. The admiration she saw in his eyes made her audacious and Kira cast her garments aside with abandon, leaning temptingly close to him as she bared her shoulders. Thierry swallowed carefully when her
kalat
and
kurta
were discarded, his gaze fixed on her bare breasts. Impulsively, Kira teased them to peaks that matched his own beneath his sharp regard. He clenched his hands and deliberately unclenched them but did not make a move toward her.

Kira smiled and shed the rest of her garments, feeling more desirable than ever she had imagined she would. She unfastened the tie in her hair and shook out her plait, letting her hair cascade over her shoulders. Thierry’s nostrils flared as Kira pulled his
kurta
and
kalat
over his head, but still he did naught. And when Kira pushed him in the chest with one finger, he obediently rolled back to sit against the wall.

She knelt before him and unfastened his boots, feeling incredibly forward when she tugged his
chalwar
from his hips. The sight of Thierry’s arousal did naught to reassure her that she was not being too bold and her gaze flew uncertainly to his. Thierry smiled and cocked one brow eloquently, signifying that he intended to wait for her lead.

Kira felt her breathing quicken when she reached for his braid. He leaned away from the wall and Kira knelt by his hip, tantalized by his proximity. His hair was thick and silky. Well aware was she that his hand rested directly beside her knee, that her breast fairly brushed his arm. She could smell his skin and the scent taunted her with the promise of what was to come. Her fingers fumbled momentarily but she recovered herself enough to unplait his hair and spread it over his shoulders.

‘Twas lighter than she had expected, more chestnut than black in shade, its texture more wavy than straight. Kira brushed its thickness back from his temple and leaned forward to press her lips there.

She could not stop once she had touched him, for the taste of his skin was as intoxicating to her as the most potent
qumis.
She traced little kisses all around his ear and along the line of his jaw. His scent and the heat rising from his skin drove her to distraction and she dared to rest her fingertips on his shoulders. From there they seemed to move of their own volition to trace mirrored paths across his shoulders and chest. Kira caught her breath at the feel of him.

“Thierry,” she whispered shakily behind his ear. He shuddered from head to toe at the flurry of her breath there and suddenly his restraint finally broke.

“Kira,” he growled as he twisted, but Kira was aware of naught but his hands upon her.

He rolled her summarily to her back and she could not cease touching the smooth warmth of his skin. Kira arched against his weight and tangled her fingers in his hair. She loved his strength, his heat, the unexpected gentleness of his touch. Thierry’s mouth closed around her breast demandingly and she cried out at the sweetness of his suckling. She writhed against him and he ducked to assault the other breast, his hands cupping her ribs as he teased her nipples to peaks that rivaled the state of his own. The tension rose within her again and she wanted naught else than to touch and taste him everywhere.

His tongue was in her navel, his hands bracketing her pelvis, then Kira gasped aloud as he moved yet lower. His palms slid over her thighs in an endless caress as his tongue dove between her legs, and Kira found herself shamelessly arching to meet his touch. Only too well did she recall the pleasure he had granted her from that tender point. Indeed, the memory had haunted her and this night she knew she would taste it fully again.

Though she squirmed against him, Thierry granted her no respite from his devilish tongue. Kira’s heart leaped in anticipation when she felt again that quickening beneath her skin. Her nails bit into his shoulders and she strained against him in pursuit of that elusive pleasure.

Certain she was that her cry would be heard all the way to Tiflis when it came, but powerless was she against the hot wave that coursed through her veins. She stretched high as she cried out, her hips bucking in an ageless dance that she could not contain. Kira reached fully the crescendo she had but tasted before and fell shivering from the heights to land securely in Thierry’s arms.

Had she not been so exhausted, she might have been mortified at her wanton behavior. But then she saw Thierry’s slow smile of satisfaction as he loomed possessively over her and she breathed in shaky relief. Kira reached up to touch the side of his face, loving how different ‘twas in texture from her own and marveling that this man was hers. She ran her fingers lightly across his shoulders and nuzzled against his chest as he leaned over her.

His feather-light kisses dotted her eyelids, her brow, her earlobe, the underside of her jaw, and Kira fairly purred with pleasure at the attention he was lavishing upon her. Indeed, she nearly felt fit enough to scale those heights again and she opened her eyes to find his gaze sparkling bright in the half-light.

Unable to deny him the pleasure he had granted her, Kira reached up to touch her lips to his. Thierry’s hand enfolded the back of her neck, the other cupping her breast. When his thumb dragged leisurely across her taut nipple, Kira knew she had to sample him fully this night. She squirmed beneath him and when he lifted his weight, she purposefully locked her legs around his waist.

Thierry caught his breath, but Kira held his gaze in silent challenge. She smiled slowly and let her fingertip trail provocatively across his lips. He opened his mouth and she continued her caress across his teeth. Thierry bit gently on her inquisitive finger and Kira lifted her hips demandingly against him. His eyes widened at her impulsive mood and she had but an instant to smile before he slipped within her.

Thierry moved slowly, as though he feared to frighten her. Kira willed herself not to be afraid of this natural union. Gentle he was, the concern in his eyes now showing her that she had not been mistaken to trust him. When he rested fully within her, he paused and Kira moved slightly to accustom herself to him. Thierry blanched as he closed his eyes and Kira could not believe the extent of his weakness for her.

She rolled her hips experimentally in a parody of the dance she had learned and watched him grit his teeth. Kira nearly laughed aloud at the possibility that she might be able to please him as he had pleasured her. She arched back and deliberately stretched her arms above her head, dancing as well as she could stretched on her back beneath him.

Thierry’s eyes flew open, his eyes blazing with desire. Kira merely granted him a cocky smile and continued her “dance.” He reared up onto his knees abruptly and carried her with him, both of his hands clasping around her waist to hold her upright before him. Kira dropped her toes to the ground and stretched high to dance, loving the strength of his grip and the flame smoldering in his eyes.

Thierry tipped back his head and roared as he began to lift her up and down. The very movement made Kira almost forget to dance, for he rubbed himself against her so that that secret spot was reawakened. She met his gaze and saw the awareness of what magic he wrought gleaming there.

Knowing ‘twas his intent, she could not deny him. Kira stretched high, struggling to dance even as the heat gathered within her. She writhed within his embrace as they danced together in a timeless tempo, their pace increasing to a frenzy. Then Thierry arched high and stiffened, his gesture driving him against her so that Kira cried out in his wake and collapsed bonelessly against his chest.

Impossible ‘twas to believe that she had feared this union. The promise of coupling thus over and over again fairly made her weak, and Kira closed her eyes against the rise of exhaustion. The man would see she never slept. Kira smiled secretly to herself, deciding that she might ensure he never slept.

But the languor stealing through her in the wake of their loving could not be denied. Mayhap later she would see he never slept, she reasoned as her eyelids drooped closed. Barely did Kira feel Thierry’s lips brush across her brow before she slipped into the netherland of sleep within the safe haven of his embrace.

* * *

Kira was still sleeping soundly when Thierry slipped reluctantly away from her side. Dawn had come and he had not moved as was his wont, but he could linger no more. The road to Paris was long enough without staying abed all the day. He smiled to himself as Kira rolled over and burrowed into the warm spot he had just abandoned. Indeed, he felt more lighthearted than he had in years.

All because a woman had confided in him her name.

Although ‘twas true Kira had granted him more than that. Thierry almost whistled with satisfaction as he hastily dressed, only the fear that he would awaken her keeping him silent. No sound may have crossed his lips, but Thierry was more than aware that his expression was not nearly as stern as usual.

Mayhap ‘twas not so bad to see the civilized man revived within him. Mayhap there was another future for him than the one he had hoped for within the Mongol tribe and lost in the blink of a capricious eye. Mayhap something of import awaited him in his homeland.

On this morning it seemed all was possible. Thierry almost considered the tangled mess he had left behind in Khanbaliq, but checked his thoughts just in time. He spared a last glance to the sleeping beauty dozing peacefully on the other side of the room and shook his head.

Even Kira could not heal that wound. Enough should it be that she appeared capable of healing all the rest.

He hesitated on the threshold for a long moment, watching her sleep. Knowing he had no choice but to fetch supplies did little to bolster his resolve to leave. Thierry stood silently for a long moment. Never would Kira know he was gone, for he had noted already that she was a sound sleeper. And should he move quickly, they could be on their way before the sun reached its zenith.