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  She continued to kiss him, proving she was indeed an apt pupil. Her small tongue dipped between his lips tentatively at first, then he moaned, and she speared it in with confidence. He ran one hand up her back, beneath the borrowed shirt and to her nape. He held her to him there and with his other hand cupped her lush bottom. Despite her thin frame, she had the most delectable ass. It was barely a handful, but oh what a handful. He squeezed it in appreciation and she wiggled in his grip.

  “Mmmm, Orestes…”

  “Yes, my sweet.”

  She smiled against his mouth before kissing him again and he liked this more aggressive side of her. She surprised him further by moving away from his mouth and leaving a trail of kisses down his throat. He let his head fall back and she continued to work her way south. Once she reached his chest he expected her to stop. Instead, she pushed against him and he merely raised a brow in question.

  “Will you lie back, please?” she asked quietly.

  He almost didn’t. Having a woman on top of him could be wonderful but it wasn’t his preferred position. But then he saw the uncertainty in her eyes where there had been nothing but passion a moment ago and he immediately lounged back onto the fur-covered floor. A smile lit her face and dispelled his doubts as if they’d never been.

  “What do you have in mind?” he asked.

  She straddled him, placing her warm sex directly over his cock and he groaned. He gripped her hips and pushed against her. She gasped and he smiled.

  “I don’t know,” she said.

  He stilled while she looked him over. When she licked her lips an image of them wrapped around his cock immediately sprang to mind. He breathed out roughly and wondered if she had any experience with that particular act.

  “I have a suggestion, but only a suggestion. You can say no,” he said. “But first, remove the shirt.”

  She whipped his shirt off and threw it aside. Then she ran her hands over his chest and nodded. “Okay.”

  “Have you ever taken a man into your mouth?”

  Her jaw dropped and true confusion showed in her pretty eyes. “What?”

  He couldn’t help but chuckle. That answered that question.

  “Do you remember how I pleasured you with my tongue?” She nodded. “You are more than welcome to do the same for me…if you wish.”

  Her expression cleared into one of curiosity. “Oh.”

  She looked down at where her hands now rested on his lower belly. He quivered unexpectedly at her innocent touch and he nearly laughed at himself. He’d been with so many women over his long life, and yet this little human had him nearly trembling in expectation. She slid down his thighs, her sex rubbing enticingly over his skin. He nearly stopped her and asked her to ride him instead. But then the moment passed and she was positioned between his thighs, looking down at his erection curiously. She licked her lips again and his cock jumped in expectation.

  “Oh! Did you do that?”

  This time he did laugh. His cock jumped again and he nodded. “I am able to move it to some extent.”

  “Ah. Um…can I touch it?”

  “Oh yes, my darling. I would be very happy if you did.”

  She lifted one hand and let it hover just over the head of his cock for a moment. He folded his arms behind his head to fight the temptation to grab her and roll her beneath him. He ached to pound into her delicate body.

  Finally, when he wasn’t certain he could wait another second, she slowly dropped her hand and palmed the head. He groaned and moved his hips without thought. She closed her finger over him gently. Too gently.

  “It won’t break. Rub it, tug on it a little even.” Her thin brows shot up but she did as he said. “Yesssss, sweet Astrid.” She smiled and squeezed her hand enough to steal his breath. “Oh do that again.”

  She did and he nearly shot off the floor. Moisture leaked from the tip while she ran her small hands over him. They weren’t smooth like other women’s—a sign of her hard work—but he didn’t mind one bit. The small calluses on her fingers worked to incite him further and soon he was pushing off the floor with his heels as he rocked his hips into her grip. He widened his thighs and an ache formed in his balls.

  “Your other hand, sweetness…cup my balls.”

  She looked confused for a moment and he was about to demonstrate when her gaze dropped between his spread legs. He saw the moment she understood and soon her other hand had a firm grip on him.

  “Oh, yesssss. Squeeze them just a little. Yes, like that.”

  One hand faltered a bit while she concentrated on what the other was doing, but he didn’t mind. It was probably for the best since he was so close to coming already. He’d completely forgotten his request for her mouth until she leaned over him unexpectedly and licked a drop of moisture from the head.

  “Gods…”

  He fisted his hands beneath his head to keep from grabbing her.

  “Was that okay?” she asked.

  He could only nod while beads of sweat formed on his brow. She smiled and stole his breath again. Then she leaned down and got to work licking him like a treat. He wouldn’t last much longer like this. For a moment he considered stopping her, but then he glanced at her face. Her eyes were closed as she worked her tongue over him. Both hands moved in tandem now and she began to hum softly. She appeared to be enjoying herself. Well, who was he to stop her pleasure?

  He grinned at the thought and relaxed into her ministrations. All too soon he felt his seed bubbling to the surface. He groaned and placed a hand gently against the back of her head.

  “I’m going to come. It’ll shoot out…quickly.”

  He could barely get the words out through his panting breaths but she nodded in acknowledgement. She didn’t stop and he wondered if she realized what was about to happen. And then it was too late to worry about it because he was coming with such force his eyes rolled back. He gripped the furs beneath him and tightened his thighs as jets of seed shot from his cock. Most landed on her hand and his belly, but she gasped when some caught her chin.

  She pulled back a bit before leaning forward again and licking the source.

  “Fuck…”

  He could barely breathe from the force of his orgasm but he watched as she sat up. She held her hands before her and looked at his seed expressionlessly. Then before he could comment, she began to lick them clean.

  “Gods, Astrid, you’ll have me hard again in no time.”

  She stopped to raise an inquiring brow.

  “Do you have any idea what it does to a man to see you licking his seed from your fingers?”

  A blush filled her face and she shook her head. “Um…no.”

  He sat up, grasping her wrists in his hands. “It reminds me of how good your tongue felt against my cock, and makes me want more.”

  “Oh…”

  Then he kissed her.

  Astrid rested patiently on the fur-covered floor while Orestes dipped a cloth into a bowl of warm water. He took such care cleaning her hands it brought tears to her eyes. No man had ever cared for her. She’d never known a father or any other male relative. Once she’d become a woman the men in her village had taken notice. Her first lover had hurt her and frightened her badly. She’d run away from there as fast and as far as her legs could carry her. When she had finally stopped running she had allowed another man to take her in for a night, thinking her only currency lay between her thighs. One night with him proved she couldn’t live such a life and she’d run again. Then she’d lived in the forest.

  “What is it?” Orestes asked. “What has you frowning so?”

  She shook her head and tried to smile for him but knew it was a weak attempt. “Nothing important. Just thinking of the past.”

  He finished cleaning her hands and dropped the cloth into the bowl. He set it aside then sat beside her.

  “Was it so bad? I imagine so if you found Simon’s offer tempting.”

  She shrugged but couldn’t hold his gaze. “I was born in the village o
f Keto to the West. My mother was never one to care much of what I did or where I was. I never knew my father.”

  “Keto is over seventy-five leagues from here, Astrid. How long did you travel? Were you alone? And on foot?”

  She chewed on her lip then caught herself when his gaze tracked the motion. Was he angry? Disbelieving? She didn’t think so but he was guarding his thoughts too well to know for certain.

  “Um, yes…to both. I ran from Keto in the dead of night and found myself in Nerthus three days later. I was terrified of being alone but my mother had moved us into the home of a horrible man. I couldn’t stay there. In Nerthus, I tried to find work. A man offered to take me in…I only stayed with him a night before running away again.”

  Shame filled her and her face heated. She turned away from his knowing gaze. How had he found her useful in his bed when she had been so worthless in Nerthus?

  “You have nothing to be ashamed of. You didn’t steal or harm anyone in what you did to survive. You’re better than most.”

  This time the tears fell before she could stop them. She didn’t want to cry in front of him again because it seemed to distress him so, but thoughts of her past still frightened her.

  He took her into his arms and rocked her before pulling back to wipe away her tears.

  “Sorry. You must think I’m such a baby.”

  He smiled. “Not at all. I think you’ve had too hard a life for one so young. How old are you?”

  She had to think about it, which was embarrassing. He didn’t seem to mind her hesitation while she considered the answer.

  “Um…twenty summers at least. My mother said I was born in summer. Just after Beltane.”

  “Only twenty?”

  She couldn’t help her spurt of annoyance at the disappointment in his voice. “Well, I haven’t been counting. Could be more but for certain not less.”

  He looked at her with surprise before chuckling and placing a swift kiss on her lips. “No need to get upset.”

  “I’m not upset.”

  “All right. Do you have any idea how old I am?”

  “Uh…”

  “Well, I have no real age, I suppose, since I was formed fully as I am and not as a babe.”

  “I’d heard that was so.”

  “Yes. The same for my brothers. We’ve protected the realm for nearly seventy summers.”

  “Seventy?”

  She couldn’t hide her shock but he just grinned. “I look pretty good for my age, eh?”

  That made her laugh. “Well…yes.”

  He kissed her again. “And you are absolutely delectable, my little star.”

  She really liked it when he called her that. It warmed something inside her she’d thought would always be left cold by the harshness of her life. It also reminded her of when she was very small and some of her earliest memories. They were good ones, back when her mother acted like one and not some wanton woman who couldn’t care less for her only child. She would take Astrid out to the fields and they would lie in the grass. Her mother had told her she was named after the stars and they twinkled just for her as if to say hello to one of their own.

  “There you go again,” Orestes murmured.

  “What?”

  “I lost you again for a moment. But that time it wasn’t a sad memory, was it?”

  “No, it wasn’t.”

  He kissed her again. Her body warmed while he held her tightly to his bare chest. They were both naked and excitement speared through her at the thought of what he might do to her. But then her thighs rubbed together and an involuntary gasp escaped her lips.

  Orestes immediately pulled back, concern clear in his gaze. “What is it?” he asked.

  “I’m just a little sore still. But it’s not so bad.”

  He frowned and looked down her body. “Sore? From last night?”

  She nodded slowly. “And this morning,” she said with a laugh. What had begun as a low ache had turned into an inferno after their last bout of sex, but she hadn’t wanted to worry him. She’d done a good job of hiding it before but had forgotten when he kissed her. “It’s not so bad. I’m okay.”

  He didn’t seem to believe her and set her back onto the furs before jumping to his feet. Then he picked her up and carried her to the bed. He set her down only long enough to wrap her up in a blanket then he carried her to the door.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  “To the bath. I have a soothing ointment that will help your soreness but I want to clean you again first.”

  “Again? So soon?”

  He chuckled, then carried her out the door and down the hall.

  Chapter Six

  Nel growled low in his throat and stared straight ahead, dutifully ignoring the redheaded Kevan between his legs. She was talented to be sure, but it was somewhat hard to remain aroused when he was tied down and being held against his will. Perhaps other men enjoyed these games, but he wasn’t one of them. The worst part was knowing he was neglecting his duties and others were suffering because of it.

  The woman released a feminine growl of annoyance and sat up to glare at him. She wiped one slender arm across her mouth and huffed out a breath.

  “What is it, sister? Will he still not come for you?”

  The redhead looked to the doorway where a red-clad Kevan stood watching. She was also nicely built. Tall in the way of all Kevans and big-breasted. Nel was certain he had even bedded her before. But where most of the women of Keva had brown or green eyes, this one stared at him through orbs of deep blue. He might have even thought them beautiful if they’d been within the face of anyone else. This bitch was the one who had ensnared him.

  “Iva, he isn’t even half hard yet and I’ve been going at him for nearly an hour. My jaw is getting tired.”

  Iva laughed and stepped into the room. She approached the bed slowly, swinging hips that would have enticed him in any other context. He glared at her and barely fought the urge to spit once she was within range.

  “Ooh, look at all that anger. You’re being such a bad boy for my dear Kalypso, I might have to spank you.”

  Kalypso clapped her hands. “Oh let me, please?”

  “We shall see. For now, let’s leave him be a moment. You can refresh yourself and get something to eat. Perhaps later he will allow you to ride him.”

  “Let me go, Iva. No good can come of this,” Nel said through gritted teeth.

  She tilted her head to study him. “No, I think not. My friends aren’t quite finished in the north. They still need some time and you, my dear one, would only get in their way.”

  She reached out a hand to stroke the side of his face and he ducked away with a growl. “I’m not your dear one, you witch.”

  Her grin melted into a look of pure hatred so strong he nearly flinched.

  “I know you’re not, bastard. I, like many of my sisters, know how you like to hop from one bed to another.”

  “And always with the truth on my lips. If I bedded you and moved on you cannot say I gave you false promises. That is not my way.”

  She shrugged and stepped away. “Perhaps not. But I wasn’t done with you.”

  Then she spun on her heel and strode from the room with her head held high. He glanced around and found himself alone. Kalypso had snuck out too.

  Now what? He was trapped in the bed of an angry Kevan and far away from the territory he was assigned to protect. Every instinct within him ached to get away. He had heard the warning bells just as a net of some unknown material dropped over his head. He knew the village was under attack while he fought off his captors, but a pinch to the neck had rendered him helpless.

  He winced when he turned his head and felt the sore on the side of his neck. Had it been a poisoned dart? Something had dropped him like a sack of rocks. He’d gone down so fast he hadn’t even been able to send a call out to his kin. And what would they make of this? By now, they would know of the attack on Angor. By now, they would know he wasn’t doing his duty. He r
oared in anger. For nearly a century he had served as a protector to the realm and now he was unable to fulfill his purpose. Never had he been so helpless. And all because of a spurned Kevan? Iva would certainly like him to think so but he had his doubts.

  He looked from one wrist to the other at the material holding him captive. It wasn’t hemp or any other type of roping material with which he was familiar. It wasn’t steel or iron, but felt as cold as either. It was smooth against his skin so at least there would be no chafing. He had been tugging on it since the moment he’d woken in this position. His skin was sore but had yet to break. There was that, at least. Perhaps it was of a wizard’s making. Could one of the Twenty be in league with a mad Kevan? Not likely, but at this point he wouldn’t discount the possibility.

  No, disregarding any possibility could lead to his downfall. As far as he was concerned, no one could be trusted. He had attempted to morph into his gargoyle form soon after waking but to no avail. Was it the drug in his system? He was still a bit drowsy but not nearly as badly before. For now, all he could do was wait.

  Phaidra stood in the doorway and simply stared for a moment. He was glorious. For too long she had admired Nel from afar, watching him flit from one Kevan to the next without a true care for any. Was that why Iva had captured him? She thought not and knew it was wrong to hold him captive. But Iva and Kalypso were her superiors. She was but a lowly Fifth, not yet high enough for battles and certainly not high enough to question a First and Second.

  She held the flask of water to her breasts and took a deep, calming breath. No matter how good he always looked to her, or how badly she’d always wanted his attention, she knew her duty. She was to give him water—no more—and then leave him be. Those orders had come from Iva herself and brooked no argument. She glanced down at her simple dress with a frown. Fifths weren’t allowed the more colorful garments her elders wore, but she hated to finally approach a Master in such a plain robe. There was no help for it now. She needed to hurry and finish this so she could see to her other duties.