Guardian's Challenge (11 page)

Tyr clasped her hands in both of his. “What can I give to you? You’ve saved my heirs. Whatever I have is yours.”

“Honestly, I just want a bath, dry clothes and sleep.” She glanced at Asher and Joseph’s haggard faces. “For me and my mates.”

Tyr smiled. “It is done.”

Chapter Five

Asher pulled Neeve closer as he woke, watching as the late evening sun slanted across the room. He had no idea how long they’d been sleeping, but he was fairly certain she’d fallen asleep before she’d finished lying down on the huge bed Tyr had provided for them. She’d bathed, scrubbing the sea salt from her skin, then collapsed on the bed while he’d quickly washed himself. He’d been so exhausted, he didn’t even remember Joseph climbing into bed with them.

Joseph still slept, pressed to Neeve’s front, his hand resting possessively on her hip. Asher’s cock thickened at the sight of the other man’s hand on her skin. She was bruised nearly everywhere. Hell, they all were. Between the sinking ship and floating amid the debris, there wasn’t a single place on his body that didn’t hurt. But none of that really mattered—not when he had Neeve.

She stirred slightly in her sleep, pushing back into his groin. He closed his eyes at the sensation of her naked warmth sliding against him. When he opened them, he met Joseph’s hungry gaze. Need brightened the blue of his eyes as they swept down Neeve’s sleeping form. Sighing, Asher rolled onto to his back and stared at the ceiling.

He heard the other man’s thoughts as clearly as he heard his own.

I know we shouldn’t wake her, she’s been through so much, but by the gods, it’s tempting.

Asher smiled in response.
I understand. My common sense seems to vanish when she’s near.

A subdued knock sounded at the door before it creaked open and several servants entered carrying laden trays. One contained food, and the other looked to bear clothes and some other interesting items. He exchanged a look with Joseph after the other man eyed the small bottle of oil and jewelry items. After setting their burdens on a table near the bed, the attendants left, the door protesting loudly in their wake.

Neeve stirred at the noise, stretching languorously between them.

Asher knew the moment she felt their erections. Her eyes fluttered open, and a sleepy smile curved her lips. Reaching around her, he cupped her breast. Her nipple immediately beaded into his palm. A breathy murmur escaped her as she arched into his touch and pushed back against his erection. He thrust against her, dragging his cock along the silky cleft of her ass. Joseph thrust against her groin, and a streak of possessiveness shook Asher. If this were a permanent relationship, he might be able to share her fully, but knowing it wasn’t—that it never would be—heightened the tight feeling of jealousy in his chest.

I’m not planning to take her from you, or take more than she wants to give. I just want to give her pleasure.

Asher nodded, not sure how much more pleasure giving he could stand. He buried his face in the scented warmth of Neeve’s neck, dragging kisses along her sensitive skin while she squirmed between them.

Joseph pushed aside Asher’s hand, exposing her breast to the chilly morning air. As he watched, it crinkled tighter. Joseph leaned forward and closed his lips around the peak, drawing it into his mouth.

Asher’s cock jerked against her. Despite his misgivings, there was something highly erotic about watching the other man work her body into a frenzy.

Neeve shoved her fingers into Joseph’s hair, tugging him closer and whispering, “More. Suck it harder.”

Joseph released the flesh with an audible pop and shoved her onto her back. She wasted no time wrapping her arm around Asher’s head and pushing him toward her still damp nipple. Ignoring her urging, he trailed his fingertip around the berry-brown areola, watching it contract at his touch. She arched her back, pushing upward into his hand, urging more contact and whimpering in frustration when she didn’t get it.

The other man met his gaze, and together they descended, each taking a nipple into their mouths. She sighed in pleasure as they sucked in unison. Her hands convulsed in Asher’s hair as he scraped the swollen bud with his teeth.

Continuing to draw on her, Asher trailed his hand along her ribcage and over her stomach, pausing to circle the shallow indentation of her navel. His touch drifted lower as he continued his exploration, carefully avoiding the discolored and raw areas. He skimmed the outer curve of her hip, then her inner thighs eliciting a moan as he avoided her pussy.

Her disappointment was a sharp groan. “Quit teasing and touch me already.”

“You’re not ready, yet.”

She practically growled as she strained between them. “The hell I’m not.” She tugged firmly at his hair.

Asher untangled her fingers and pinned her wrist to the bed above her head. He grinned at Joseph. “It seems someone needs to learn a lesson in patience.”

The other man returned his smile as he secured her other arm to the bed. “I believe you’re right.”

Asher transferred Neeve’s wrist to Joseph’s hold as he shifted to straddle her prone form. His cock bobbed heavily against her rapidly rising and falling chest, leaving a smear of pre-cum across her golden skin. Her breath caught in her chest as he dragged his fingertip through the wetness, tracing patterns over her sternum. Lifting his finger from her breastbone, he brought it to her lips. Opening her mouth, she drew the tip inside and sucked rhythmically at it, holding his gaze—part challenge and part plea.

He pulled his finger free and slid down the length of her body until he was between her legs. Shouldering them farther apart, he bared her cunt to his gaze. Glossy with arousal, her lips were pink and puffy. Drawing a finger along her cleft, he almost groaned as her juices coated his skin.

Asher sank to his elbows and draped her legs over his shoulders, pushing her thighs wider. He spread her silky folds with his thumbs, exposing her swollen clit. She whimpered with need, begging him to fuck her. The kind thing to do would be to suck her clit between his lips and make her come immediately.

He wasn’t feeling particularly kind.

Instead, he licked a path around it, tasting every inch of her pussy while carefully avoiding the tiny bundle of nerves that would push her over the edge into orgasm. He wanted to keep her hovering on the brink as long as possible until she was delirious with need for him—for both of them.

Delving lower, he darted his tongue inside her quivering opening, and her body practically arched up off the bed. He splayed a hand over her stomach and held her to the mattress while he gathered her juices with the opposite hand and teased her nether hole with the pads of his fingertips.

A tight, keening cry left her lips as he continued to drive her need higher. Still pinning her wrists to the bed, Joseph used his free hand to torment one of her nipples then the other.

Asher glanced up the length of her body. Her golden skin was tinged pink with arousal as she writhed against their restraint. Her nipples jutted upward, tight crinkled flesh crowning the trembling globes of her breasts. Her eyes were closed, and her lips parted as she whispered his name over and over.

His cock jerked against the sheet at the sound of her pleas. He wanted to be inside her already, losing himself in the tight slickness of her pussy, but he needed her release almost more than he needed his own. When this was over, when they returned home, he wanted there to be no question in her mind that they belonged together. He wanted to imprint himself on her—body and soul—the way she’d done to him.

She opened her eyes, pinning him with her deep brown gaze. He’d been a fool to think he could simply fuck her and get her out of his system. She was written on his heart, carved into his soul. Now, he needed to convince her that they belonged together. Just the two of them. Forever.

He glanced briefly at Joseph, who met his gaze, merriment in his bright eyes.

You’re thinking loudly, my friend.

Asher raised his brow at the other man.

I’m not looking to steal your woman from you or be a permanent part of your lives. I know this is temporary.

The tight grip of worry faded, and Asher felt himself relax. His eyes fell to Neeve who watched him anxiously. Holding her gaze, he lowered his head and dragged the flat of his tongue through her folds. Her body arched, but Joseph kept her tightly pinned to the bed.

He bent down to murmur in her ear while Asher continued to lap at her dripping flesh.

“Do you like that?” Joseph asked. “Do you like the feel of his mouth on your pussy?”

Neeve’s answer was an unintelligible moan punctuated by the rocking of her hips as she lifted them to meet Asher’s lips and tongue. Sliding his hand from her stomach, he traced her fluttering opening, tapping with the tip of his finger, as she demanded more. But he wasn’t ready to let her come yet.

He caught sight of the tray next to the bed. Momentarily ceasing his ministrations, he grabbed everything but the clothes. Keeping the bottle near him, he deposited the tangle of metal on her belly. It quivered as a shiver worked though her.

“Presents?” Joseph asked.

Neeve shivered again as Asher held her still with his gaze.

“I think so,” he answered.

She struggled to lift her head and see what they were doing, but Joseph kept her firmly pinned in place. Cool chains were dragged over her skin, feeling like metallic snakes crawling across her over-sensitized body.

“What is that?” she asked. “What are you doing?”

Asher chuckled darkly. “I thought we’d discussed your need to learn patience.”

She glared at him, gasping when he pinched her nipple sharply, and the tight squeeze of metal bit into her flesh. Dangly bits hung down, teasing the sensitive curve of the underside of her breast. He repeated the motion on the other side.

“Gorgeous,” Joseph breathed, skimming his palm over the abused flesh. The contact was almost more than she could stand. Her nipples throbbed, but the pain quickly blossomed into a harsh kind of pleasure.

“There’s a chain to connect them, but I think we’ll leave that off for now,” Asher murmured.

“Are you sure?” Joseph asked.

Asher held up something, out of her line of sight. “Right now, I’m more interested in this.”

A harsh breath escaped Joseph as he stared at whatever it was Asher held. Trembling anxiety mixed with needy desire. She wanted whatever these men were willing to give her. Asher settled back between her legs again, spreading her pussy lips wide. The cool air chilled her heated flesh, but he quickly warmed it with his lips and tongue. He continued to avoid the place she most wanted his touch, circling her clit with the tip of his tongue but never touching it. Suddenly, he lifted his head. Without warning, he pinched her clit between his thumb and forefinger, and she felt the sharp bite of metal there, too.

She squirmed, trying to get some kind of relief, but the motion only sent more blood rushing to the area. Pain quickly blurred becoming pleasure, and she wanted more of the agonizing mix.

Asher stared at her with an almost reverent expression on his face, but it was overshadowed by raw lust.

“I want to see,” she managed to choke out.

Asher crawled from the bed and lifted a polished metal mirror from the wall. He stood at the foot of the bed reflecting her image back to her. Her breath strangled in her throat as she caught sight of her reflection. Arms pinned above her head and her hair in a wild tangle over the pillow. Dark, engorged nipples sat atop her trembling breasts, decorated by silver wire clips, with tiny garnets dangling at the ends of fine silver chains. She barely noticed the scars around her right breast. For the first time since she’d been attacked, she felt almost beautiful. Of course, it didn’t hurt that both men stared at her with unsuppressed desire. She scanned lower, barely noticing her bruises and scrapes. Her attention was drawn to a matching clip around her straining clit. Whisker burn covered her inner thighs and sent a shiver through her as she recalled the sensation of Asher’s mouth on her.