Dragon Lords 4-Warrior Prince (26 page)

It wasn’t a question.

"Get on the bed," he told her.

Pia moved in silence and laid down on the low bed, watching as Zoran came over her. She eyed him trustingly, noting how his fiery gaze filled with pleasure when he saw her body beneath his.

"Give me your wrists," he commanded softly. His thighs straddled her. His erection moved close to her skin.

Pia was past the point of conscious reasoning. His words demanded, but his eyes and face begged her not to refuse him. Trustingly, she lifted her hands up to him.

Zoran crossed her arms at the wrists. Taking the soft belt from the robe, he watched her eyes as he bound her wrists together. She wiggled slightly, but didn’t fight. Lifting her arms over her head, he made quick work of tying her to the top of the bed. He pulled her hands to make sure she couldn’t free herself.

"Do you want me to touch you?" he asked.

Pia nodded, at a loss for words.

"Where?" His lids narrowed over his eyes.

Pia’s lips parted, but she couldn’t have made a sound if she tried. Her breath came out in ragged pants.

"How about here?" he questioned. Zoran took a finger to her hands, running over her arm to her throat, over her speeding pulse, down her collarbone to sweep across the tops of her breasts. "Do you want me here?"

Pia nodded. She closed her eyes as his fingers narrowed in on her nipples, twirling lightly around them so they budded. Her body stirred with an intense longing.

Zoran thoroughly caressed and explored her upper body, before moving to touch her stomach, rubbing over her legs, whispering past her feet. Pia had never felt anything like it before. Her heart ached. She wanted to cry, but the feelings were so good that instead she moaned. By the time he made the journey back toward her hips, she was squirming against her bindings.

"Where else do you want me to touch you?" Zoran asked.

Pia’s stomach tightened and as he drew a finger closer to her heated center, she arched slightly in mindless offering. But Zoran had other plans. Pulling his hands away, he met her open mouth with his, taking in her ragged breaths. Her legs worked beneath him, stirring helplessly against the coverlet.

"Ask me to kiss you," he whispered against her lips.

Pia didn’t ask. She arched up, taking his lips with hers. Zoran groaned as her mouth opened and her tongue sought automatically to taste him. He gave back to her with all his expert skill, setting her ablaze with the full tide of his restrained passion. Her knee lifted to rub against his hip. Using all her strength, she tried to pull him closer. Her hands fought to be free so that she could force him to her searching body. She wanted to touch him, explore him, as he had her.

Zoran’s mouth broke free. His lips moved down across her body in the same path his hands had taken moments before. He trailed his tongue along her old scar, kissing her hip. His mouth breathed hotly to her center. He nipped at her inner thigh, kissed her from her knee down to her toes before traveling back up the other side. By the time he finished, he’d staked claim to every inch of her, worshipping and conquering at the same time. His lips found one ripe breast, biting and teasing it mercilessly, licking it roughly with his tongue.

"Oh!" Pia screamed.

Zoran growled, giving the other side the same attention. He bit lightly and her hips thrashed up. He bit harder and again she spasmed.

A slow smile came to his lips. Having an idea, he leaned over the bed and took a tapered candle. Holding it high so that the wax would cool some before it dripped on her skin, he let a drop fall across her chest.

Pia gasped loudly, her back arching beautifully for him. Every nerve in her body tingled with pleasure. Her skin was alive, awakened completely for the first time.

He dotted a red trail of wax down the valley of her breasts, over her stomach, to the side of her navel only to stop before hitting her delicate center.

"Zoran." Her breath caught delicately. Oh, but it was the most wonderful torture. "Please."

Those sweet words were what he’d been waiting for. Her eyes sought his, pleading. He licked his fingers and put out the flame before dropping the candle onto the floor.

"Please," Pia gasped, not sure what she was begging for. Sweat beaded on her trembling flesh.

Zoran smiled at her. His large body taut with his desire. He came up over her to kiss her. Her limbs were restless and weak.

"Please?" he repeated softly against her lips. "Do you want me to end your torment?"

"Yes, please, Zoran."

He kissed her again, liking the soft way his name fell from her lips. He moved his hand to her stomach, reaching to test her depths. Gently he rubbed his fingers against her moist center. Shockwaves of pleasure flowed over her and she cried out.

"Open yourself to me," he urged. Pia trembled, a little nervous as he brought his legs between hers. But his fingers felt so good rubbing against her that soon she was mindless to anything but the feelings he put inside her body.

Zoran guided his hips to fit next to hers. Poising himself above her, he kissed her again, stealing her breath from her chest.

Suddenly, the big warrior hesitated. "I don’t want to hurt you."

"Zoran," she sighed against his mouth. "You’re not hurting me. Please, don’t stop now."

"But, before," he began.

"Shhh." She kissed him straining against her bonds. Her body was pulsating with the pleasure he’d given her. "Please, don’t stop."

Zoran groaned. Tenderly, he entered her, testing her warm depths. Pia moaned, reaching up to him with her body. This time, he was slow, giving her body time to adapt to his size.

"Oh, Pia," he moaned and he filled her completely. He pushed his hips until he was flush against her. "I’ve wanted you so badly. Tell me you want me, too."

"Yes," she trembled. "I want you, Zoran."

It was all the encouragement he needed. Words were beyond him as he moved inside her. Pia tensed, never having felt anything as sweet as Zoran’s possession. He made love to her slowly, savoring every emotion. His hips thrust in an even rhythm, working into her as he lifted his body above hers.

Then, when they couldn’t draw it out any longer, he brought her to meet his climax. Zoran tensed, yelling loudly his conquering possession as he released himself into her. Pia whimpered at the onslaught of pleasure, beyond everything but the man above her. Her whole being shook as tremors racked her body. Everything inside her exploded into one glorious moment.

Out of breath Zoran collapsed next to her. Pia was too scared to open her eyes, scared that she’d wake up from the dream. Zoran released her wrists, drawing them down to kiss the reddened flesh.

"Look at me," he urged. Pia opened her eyes. Rising up on his arm, he sighed. "You look so beautiful right now."

Pia looked down. Zoran followed her eyes and chuckled. Flicking his finger over her skin, he gently pried the wax from her body.

"Was...?" She peeked up at him from between her lashes.

Zoran smiled, seeing the vulnerable look on her face. Lightly, he kissed her. "You were perfect."

Pia gulped, but didn’t protest.

Zoran groaned, forcing himself to sit up. Walking naked and unashamed through the bedroom, he blew out the candles. Pia watched him, loving the look of him. He eased the coverlet out from under her. Pulling her into his arms, he held her close.

Pia closed her eyes. She was overwhelmed with her feelings. She didn’t want to face them or give them a name. But even if she didn’t say it, she knew she loved him. She loved him like she’d never loved anything. It terrified her.

Zoran had forced her to face the depths of her passion, knowing she needed him to control her. When she discovered those depths, he’d released her. His was a gift more precious than any she had ever received. She didn’t want it to end, but knew, like everything, that it must end. A gift, such as he, was too precious to hold onto forever. The gleam he had for her would soon tarnish and disappear. And she would be trapped with the distant memory of it.

* * * *

Zoran’s hunger for his wife was insatiable. He’d thought that finally realizing his passion for her would get her out of his head. It was no use. She could walk across the room and he would want to make love to her. Each and every time he went to her, she would blink in surprise that he could want her again.

But he did want her and he took her. After stiffening, followed by a moment of weak incoherent protest, Pia melted easily into his arms each time. When Zoran left for work in the morning, she was almost relieved, ready for the break. However, when he came back in the evening, she was eager to discover what new delights her husband had to teach her.

He was gentle each time and Pia wondered at the restraint. She saw the eagerness in him, tempered back. That first time on the couch had been wild and rough. He’d been almost crazed. She wanted to try that. She was too embarrassed to ask.

He made love to her on the couch, in front of the fire, with the flames turning their skin a golden hue. He caught her in the exercise room, swept her sweat-laden body into his arms and claimed her in the hot spring, teaching her to ride him astride, controlling her hips with his large, strong hands. Mostly, he took her to his bed. He didn’t bind her again, didn’t drip wax, keeping his love play tender and sweet. He treated her like a delicate flower.

It was wonderful, but Pia was no delicate flower.

During the day, Pia spent time with the other Princesses, excluding Olena, who spent every moment caring for Yusef. Pia even started to like Queen Mede some, though she was still hesitant around the woman. She took her meals in the common hall along with the rest of the family. A high alert had been set on the kitchen and staff after Morrigan’s poisoning, so it was a little more tense than usual when they gathered together. The men didn’t join them often, taking their meals wherever they practiced and strategized.

When Nadja mentioned how Pia was training her to fight, Morrigan had been only too happy to join in the lessons. So, when they weren’t roaming about the village with the Queen--during which time, Pia noticed they were always followed at a distance by a Draig guard--they were self-defense training in Pia’s home.

Pia frowned, eyeing the punching bag in anger. Her muscles were sore, but it felt good. Morrigan hadn’t showed up for her knife throwing lesson, but Pia was secretly glad for it. She was in no mood to be pleasant. She wanted blood.

Pia had been kicking the punching bag, pretending it was her husband’s face. She’d told Zoran everything about her, but he still didn’t confide what was going on. They were lying in bed, their bodies sated, when she’d asked him, "Have you found the men who attacked Yusef?"

"No," had been his answer. "But we will."

"Do you suspect a threat?" she asked, snuggling trustingly into his warmth. She traced patterns over his chest with her fingers. "Do they plan something?"

"No, they merely took an opportunity to strike," he murmured into her hair, giving her temple a light kiss. "We have nothing to fear from the Var."

And she had believed him! She should’ve detected his lie, if not for her being distracted by his warm kisses on her neck and the erotically bold hand on her hip.

"No threat, huh?" she asked, kicking the bag in quick succession until her leg hurt so badly she had to stop before falling over.

Pia had tried to go out to the forest for a jog by herself, only to be stopped by the same Draig guard who had been following them for the last several days. When she tried to skirt past him, demanding he step out of her way, he’d told her that the forest was off limits and he wasn’t to allow her to enter it. When she asked why, he told her that the Var enemy had been sensed within the colossal forest and it wasn’t safe.

The Princesses, it seemed, were not to go anywhere alone. The castle security was on the highest alert and it was suspected another attack would undoubtedly befall the royal family. Her life, along with the other Princesses, was in danger.

When she’d tried to go anyway, the Draig warrior had called out an order and she was surrounded by an entire battalion of soldiers--they just popped out of the trees like they’d been watching her all along. She hadn’t even suspected they were there. Then she was informed that she would be subdued by any means necessary if she persisted in trying to defy the ... oh, and this was the best part ... the Captain of the Guard’s order.

"Nothing to worry about," she growled, kicking with her other leg. "I’ll show that overbearing, lying barbarian Zoran nothing to worry about! When I’m through with him he’ll wish the Var had attacked!"

She continued to mutter under her breath. She couldn’t believe she’d trusted him and he was treating her like delicate little housewife! How dare he patronize her! She’d faced worse threats than a barbaric Var King bent on taking over a kingdom. And even if she hadn’t, there was no reason why he shouldn’t trust her enough to tell her what was happening.

Honesty and trust, she thought bitterly. That’s what he’d said he wanted between them. Obviously, what he’d meant was her honesty and her trust, oh, and her complete and utter submission to him!

Pia wailed on the bag, denting it with her fists and feet. This time she didn’t stop until her body collapsed on the floor, her heart thundered so hard it nearly exploded from her chest, and her lungs burned with the need for air that couldn’t be gasped fast enough.

* * * *

"My lord, your presence is requested in communications."

Zoran turned around from where he watched a hand-to-hand combat training on the practice field. The young soldier who spoke was looking at his brother, Ualan.

At the soldier’s words, Ualan looked up from were he held his knife to a young warrior’s throat. Sighing, he tapped the man’s neck, indicating the kill shot. Standing, he nodded at Zoran before tossing the blade to him. Zoran caught it with one hand, barely blinking as he turned back around to watch a practice fight.

Ualan had been in a bitter, dark mood since before they’d left to reclaim Princess Olena. The soldiers normally tried to avoid the future King as if he carried the blue plague.