Courting Kel (24 page)

“That we bathe. You must remove your clothes, of course.”

“Of course,” he echoed wryly. Withdrawing with a pop that
made Kel laugh, Aren shed his boots and trousers. Seeing Kel’s eyes swirling
with blacks and grays, his shaft hardened.

“Oh my,” she murmured, stroking him with one hand while
massaging his balls. “I don’t want to wait, Aren. I want—please, Aren. Fuck me
now. Fuck me hard and fast.”

Unable to resist, he drove into her spasming core.

“Yes. Yes! Harder, Aren. Yesss!”

“By all the gods, Flame. These springs are truly…”

“Mind-boggling?” she suggested. “I know we’re not supposed
to be joined while we bathe, but I still want you in me.”

“Exactly where I want to be but…” He withdrew.

“To honor our new home, we should observe these customs.”
She sighed and reached for his shaft. “Even though no one else would know, it
seems…fitting that we do so.”

Taking her in his arms, he carried her into the bubbling
spring. The scent of caills and seros and honey flowed over their skin.
“Flame.”

“Sweet gods, Aren. I feel as if you have a thousand
fingers.”

“And you a hundred thousand. All for the sole purpose of
arousing me.”

The bubbling spring brought them to the edge of release and
held them there until they could bear no more. Aren jerked her out of the
spring and laid her on the chaise. Spreading her thighs, he gazed at her
dew-speckled curls and licked his lips.

“Oh yes, Aren, please.”

“Please what, Flame? Lick your juices from your cunt? Your
clit? Finger-fuck you while I lick and suck? Tell me what you want, Flame.”

“Feast on me.”

“Soon. I promise.”

Kel felt she would burn to that sweet death before he
quenched the fires the springs had kindled in her. His lips and tongue wreaked
havoc as he licked and sucked her toes. Her clit ached for those tender nips.
Her nipples swelled to aching peaks. She stroked them, only to have him seize her
hands then hold them over her head.

“One day, Flame, I’ll watch you bring yourself pleasure. But
not tonight. Tonight is for me to bring you release again and again. Tonight
you’ll learn rapture comes from my hands on your flesh. From my tongue rasping
over your heated channel and lapping your essences from your dripping cunt. My
shaft will fill you again and again until your voice fails and you can only
sigh my name.” Freeing her hands, he retrieved his neckwear he’d worn to their
wedding then tied her hands to the back of the chaise.

“Do it, Aren. Do all of it. I want you to do everything.
Anything.”

“I intend to, Flame. All but the fucking. For that, you’ll
wait for the fucking spring. For that you’ll say the words I want most to
hear.”

She wanted to ask him what he meant. But his tongue on the
tip of her clit drove thought from her mind. As if they were still immersed in
the bathing spring, it seemed his hands touched her everywhere at the same
time. That he had a thousand tongues with which to bring her exquisite torment.

Looking down the length of her body, she imagined his
expression as he explored new ways to bring her to the precipice of release and
keep her there. She writhed against his face. He looked up at her, his dark
eyes lit with deviltry. His tongue drove into her pussy and she shattered.

When he kissed her, she tasted her juices sweetened with a
hint of clover honey. Scented by seros and caills. Opening her eyes, she found
him gazing down at her. A smug smile curved his lips.

“If you release my hands, I’ll return the pleasure.” Her
voice contained a sultry tone she’d never heard before. If his raised eyebrows
were any indication, she’d surprised Aren as well.

Stretching out beside her, he propped his head on his hand
and studied her. “I know a way we can share our release,” he said at last.

“Uh-huh.” Could she tell him the secrets of her body and
heart? If ever the time were right, it was now. And might never be so right
again. “I…I love it when we climax together. It’s magical, knowing you share my
feelings when I lose control and shake in your arms. When the rapture so
overwhelms me I cry.”

“I know,” he said, hooking her hair behind her ear,
lingering to toy with her lobe.

She frowned but continued. “Feeling you shake in my arms…
The rapture would be so much less were I the only one who felt it.”

Gathering her to him, he held her for a long moment. He
trembled, silently telling her he shared her emotions. “Are you willing?”

Dry mouthed, she could only nod.

Freeing her hands, he rolled to his back. “Lie atop me with
your head level with my shaft.”

His grin dared her to do it.

Kel felt as if her entire body glowed with embarrassment.
But an Amazonian warrior could not—would not—let a man best her. She sat on his
chest then lay down. His cock swelled, its tip bestowing a damp kiss on her
cheek. The hair around his cock felt like rough silk. His musky scent made her
want to bottle it so she could inhale it whenever and wherever she wished.

His cock now stood straight as a warrior at attention. She
licked its length and again thought of knacrdocy. Swirling her tongue around
its head, she realized he was mimicking her. As he tongued it, her clit felt as
if it too stood at attention. He stroked her from clit to channel and back.
Shivering with pleasure, she sucked him into her mouth and savored his groans.
He spread her lips and thrust his tongue deep inside her core. She sucked his
cock, bit it gently and licked him until his balls tightened.

He pulled away then jerked her up to face him “I need to
come inside you, Flame. I need to see your eyes as we bring each other to
bliss.”

“I want that too.”

He kissed her, mingling their scents and tastes. She wanted
to close her eyes and simply savor the myriad sensations flowing through her.
But even more she wanted to watch what making love did to him.

It was like looking into a mirror as they explored each
other’s faces—somehow discovering with their fingertips what lay in the other’s
hearts. The love in his eyes as he gazed into hers, his thick lashes flitting
against her cheek. His light stubble tickling her palms. His Adam’s apple
bobbing when he swallowed then drew a quick breath, seeming as caught up in her
as she was in him.

How his neck muscles flowed into his powerful shoulders and
pecs and his nipples rose under her palms. How they both slowly blinked and
smiled at the caresses that made his cock pulse against her belly and her pussy
juices seep hot and slick between her folds.

Fingers gliding lower, he cupped her mons while she circled
his cock. She stroked precum from his cockhead. He collected dew off her curls.
Lifting their hands, they tasted their own essences from the other’s fingers.
Hands joined, they guided his cock into her pussy and sighed at the more than
physical melding. The wonder in his eyes left her breathless and completed.

“M-my heart could stop beating,” she murmured, her gaze
locked with his, “and I would die gloriously happy.”

“We aren’t going to die.” He grinned. “Except when we share
our rapture in that moment of sweet surrender. It’s not losing control, Flame.
It’s—”

She laid her fingers on his lips. “It’s trust. It’s knowing
what we share is beautiful—more beautiful than almost anything else.”

“Almost?”

“A different kind of beauty, Aren. We’ll find it in our
people. In our new home.” She kissed him gently. “In our children. Most of all
we’ll find it in our love.”

They flowed together then apart, over and over until that
sweet surrender overtook them and they collapsed together. His heartbeat slowed
under her ear, soothing her into contented sleep.

Chapter Fourteen

Kel awoke to the scent of meat wafting under her nose. “Feed
me,” she said, opening her eyes and mouth at the same time.

Aren, a succulent cube of meat between his teeth, leaned
down to share with her.

“I feel like we’ve come full circle. You feeding me as you
did that first night,” she said, running her fingers through his hair and
savoring its cool satin texture.

Aren rubbed his lips, saying, “I am willing to continue this
feeding for as long as you want.”

Laughing, Kel sat up. “I’m too hungry. Moreover, I suspect
I’ll need my strength for the mating spring.”

“I love hearing you say naughty words, Flame.”

“Certain words are more than naughty, m’lord.”

“I love the way your lips purse as the naughty word forms in
your mind. Storr once claimed that overtly prim and proper women have courtesans’
mouths. I have to agree, wife.”

She shoved a cube of meat into his mouth, another into her
own. After swallowing, she said, “This tastes different than it does on our
homeworlds.”

“I believe they glaze it with honey.”

“I like it. I suppose Caton will find a way to obtain the
recipe.”

“I believe he’ll try. Our people have a way of gathering
information while providing very little. Unless they want us to know something
that might benefit them. Such as these springs.” He toyed with a strand of her
hair then used it to tickle her under her chin.

Laughing, she popped another piece of meat into her mouth,
chewing slowly as she formed a question in her mind. “Have you and Tage
discussed Drew’s future?”

“Not yet. With Gavigainm only a few weeks away, I thought
Drew could stay with us. Do you mind?”

“In truth, I welcome your decision.”

“Even though we’re on our sweetmoon? Seeking a chaperone,
wife?”

“Of course not! I’ll enjoy whatever time she spends with
us.” She ignored
wife
, not yet ready to accept the title. Soon but not
yet.

“You sound as if she’ll spend time away.”

“She may. She’s a lovely young woman, Aren.”

“Too young to court,
wife
.” His jaw tightened.

“Don’t force her into lying to you,
Majesty
.”

As if realizing they were on the verge of another full-blown
argument, Aren broke a sweetmeat in half. Placing one half between his teeth,
he leaned toward Kel.

Laughing, she shook her head. “Do you think to bribe me with
dessert when I still hunger for protein?”

A devilish light gleaming in his eyes, Aren stroked his cock
and balls. “I’ve the perfect meat for you.”

“If you hope to mate me, you’d better feed me,” she
countered, trying to ignore his cock rising from its dark nest. But the sight
of it, the memory of how it felt buried deep within her made her shift her
hips. Reaching for another bite of meat, she tried to hide her pearling
nipples. Aren’s choked breath warned of her failure. She was aroused and he
knew it.

“It is a natural reaction, Kel. If you noticed, since our
arrival on Home I’ve worn the loosest clothes I own.”

“I noticed,” she murmured, “but I didn’t know why.”

“Because the mere sight of you makes me want to love you
where you stand. Hearing your voice drives me wild with need. All I can think
about is this night and loving you.”

“Mating me, you mean.”

“That too. But mostly I thought about holding you while we
talk. Seeing your eyes swirl and wondering what thoughts your mind holds.
Hoping you think of me.”
Love me
reflected in his eyes.

“You’re a difficult man to ignore, Aren.” His snort of
disbelief brought her gaze to his face. “Your stature aside, m’lord, you stand
out in the largest crowd. In our brief time here, I noticed you conferring with
Sun’s council.”

“While Snow’s came to you.” His smile assured her he was
willing to share their responsibilities—the division of labors something they
had yet to discuss.

“Which leads me to believe… You were not alone in revealing
your desire.”

“Sometimes—even with others around—your eyes betray you.”

“Oh dear. I shall obtain some dark glasses as soon as we
return to Sun.”

“No you won’t,” Aren told her. Kel jutted her chin. “Our
people must learn we have boundaries they may not cross. You have a knack for
showing kindness on your face while your eyes swirl with temper.”

“Am I that transparent? A ruler shouldn’t expose her
thoughts so obviously.” She looked down, concerned that her eyes would reveal
all the love she felt for him. She wanted to say the words then show him as she
had earlier while they made love.

“Your eyes may prove invaluable. If our people know they
pissed you off, they’ll wonder what I might do to support you.”

She met his amused gaze. “If you think that’s a compliment,
it isn’t. They will label me a shrew and wonder why you tolerate me.”

He chuckled. “Beyond the fact I lust for you?”

“Beyond that, yes.”

Taking her hand, he caressed each finger then placed a kiss
in her palm. “You have the kindest heart I’ve ever known. You thought I might
beat Drew that first night—”

“You would never hurt her.” Kel twined her fingers with his,
happy just to know she could.

“You didn’t know that at the time.”

“Besides, I made the mess. I should have cleaned it up.”

“I’ll wager you thought otherwise. At the time.” Raising
their joined hands, he kissed the back of hers.

Kel covered her eyes but admitted, “I was furious.”

“But saw the humor in the situation.”

“Not then certainly but later. I wished for my dagger so I
could—” She put her hands in her lap.

“Geld me?”

She darted a look at his semi-erect cock and felt a blush
creep up her chest to her face. “Not that. I…I was already older than most
warriors are when they take their first lover. I… This is too embarrassing.”

“From the moment I saw you debark
The Herald
I wanted
you. Lust is often the first emotion a man feels for a woman.” He retrieved her
hand, toying once more with each finger.

Tingles coursed through her body. “Apparently it is also
common for women. At least…” She shrugged, discovering that her neck ached, her
muscles had tightened.

Aren drew her to his side to massage her neck and shoulders.
“At least,” he prompted.

“Lust was what I felt when I first saw you.” Relieved she’d
revealed the secret at last, she turned to him. “I thought I knew what you
wanted. I knew it had to happen eventually so I…”

“Let me seduce you.”

“Yes,” she admitted on a sigh, peering into his dark eyes,
fearful she had offended him. After all, she had used him for her own ends.

“Are you sorry, Kel?”

She gazed at him so long, Aren thought she would never
answer. Her eyes began to swirl with the colors of dawn and the fist around his
heart eased.

“Never sorry, Aren. Resentful that you proclaimed us
married, yes. But never sorry.”

“And now, Kel? How do you feel now we are truly husband and
wife?”

“I am not your wife. Yet.” Mischief lurked in her eyes,
allowing him to breathe before she said, “The second time I tried to escape…”

“I think I understand a little of your warrior’s heart, Kel.
My keeping you…was like trying to hold water in my fists.”

“No one should live in captivity, Aren.” She rubbed her eyes
as if tears threatened.

“Is that why you ran that third time, Kel? Don’t deny it.
You were sunburned and limped as if your feet had blisters.”

“I had to try, Aren. Every warrior instinct demanded I
escape.” She laughed, an unconvincing attempt at mirth. “If it soothes your pride,
I only traveled a short distance. I…got lost.”

“Something else, Kel, drove you away.” Tipping her chin, he
willed her to look at him. “You said no marriage should begin with a broken
promise. I believe no marriage should begin with secrets between husband and
wife. Tell me why you ran that third time.”

Easing his hand from her chin, she kissed his palm then kept
his hand in hers. She looked down as if admiring the contrast of her pale and
fragile-seeming hand with his larger, stronger one. His patience wearing thin,
he willed himself not to prod. When she met his eyes, he smiled encouragement.

“When…when we mated in the waterfall cave, I realized I
cared too much for you. I-I had never heard of an Amazonian queen so much as
liking any man. I have a duty to my people, to keep them safe. C-caring for you
weakened my resolve to perform my role. If I stayed with you I knew… I had to
get away.”

“If you stayed, what? What frightened you, Kel?” Her eyes
swirled stormy gray and midnight black anger. “Everyone is afraid of
something,” he added, his thumb gliding along the back of her hand and feeling
it tremble. “Fear is nothing to be ashamed of unless it keeps you from
happiness. Besides, once faced, it loses its power.” Lifting their joined
hands, he kissed hers.

“What we shared in that cave was so beautiful…I realized I
loved you. I thought you would realize you loved me as well.”

“I did. I do. And long before we made love in the cave.”

“I couldn’t feel your love, Aren. Nor did you tell me how
you felt.”

“So that is why you tried to destroy the prophecy cloth.”

“A
false
prophet. Or so I believed at the time.
Because you didn’t say the words or share your emotions, I thought I was alone
in loving.”

Chuckling, he kissed her palm then curled her fingers to
hold in the kiss. “And last night? I know I bear part of the blame for our
arguing, but what started it?”

Looking at her still-curled fingers, at her hand still
resting in his, she sighed. “When you mentioned arming Home… I want peace,
Aren. I want to lay down my weapons and never have to pick them up again. I’m
not stupid. I know we must remain vigilant in order to protect our people. I
just couldn’t bear the idea of fighting on and on and—”

He drew her to him and kissed her silent. “I understand.
Wife
,”
he added in a teasing tone that made her grin.

“I am not your wife.”

When? When will you admit we are married?
he
wondered, wanting to rant at her. Wanting to prove to her that he had power
over her. He could take her time and again if he had to. And make her howl with
pleasure every time. But he wanted—needed—more from her than fucking.

Standing, she held out her hand. “The mating spring lies a
short distance—”

“Up the hill,” he interjected wryly. “If Snow intends to
attract tourists, the council must make the springs’ paths more hospitable.”

“The public springs lie at the base of the mountain. These,”
she explained as she led him up a path of warm stones, “are for our private
use.”

“When I am old and bent I’ll not come here often.”

“Uh-huh.” She sent him a smile full of mischief.

“What secrets are you keeping now, Flame?”

“We are back to Flame, are we? You must want mating
desperately.”

“Even when I am old and bent I’ll want to make love with
you, Flame.”

Without a word, she stroked his cheek then continued up the
path. “There is a legend about these particular springs. It promises that
whenever true lovers mate in these waters they will always feel young and in
love.”

“Even when they are old and bent?”

“Especially then.” She stopped and sniffed. “Honey and…”

“Chiordseross,” he provided when she hesitated. “I raise
them, Flame, and know their scent.”

“Snow’s delegation said nothing about flowers growing here.
Moreover, I believe the cold would make them freeze.”

“And yet their scent perfumes the air. Let’s see what lies
ahead.”

She eyed him suspiciously but continued up the path. It
narrowed, preventing their walking side by side but Aren didn’t mind. He had an
enticing view of Kel’s derriere flexing with every step. Soon he would have his
hands there, lifting her to him as they mated. Soon she would admit she loved
him and acknowledge herself his wife.

The scent of honey and chiordseross surrounded them in the
mist rising from the fucking spring. Kel stopped so suddenly Aren almost bumped
into her.

“Oh Aren.” Her soft voice held a hint of tears. When she
turned to him, they coursed down her cheeks. “Wretched man, you’ve known all
along we were coming here.”

“I promised you a flower to match your splendor. This seemed
the perfect place to show it to you.”

Chiordseross of every size and color wreathed the spring. On
the far side of the water a half-dozen bloomed, their petals matching his
bride’s red-gold curls, their stems and leaves her pale skin.

“I have no gift for you, Aren. Even if I did, nothing could
match your gift to me.”

“There is only one gift I want from you, Flame. You know
what it is.”

“Yes.”

Taking his hand, she led him into the smooth, scented
spring. When they stood in its center she wreathed her arms around his waist
and pressed her body to his. Her eyes were closed, robbing him of her thoughts.
But when she opened them, her heart and all her love swirled in them.

“Flame,” he whispered against her lips, repeating her name
as she took his shaft into her core.

“Mating… Loving you here… Now I am truly yours… Husband. Now
I am truly your wife.”