Daryk Warrior (5 page)

His touch found the contours of her back down to her hips.
New arousal burgeoned within as he slid his hands up and under her tunic and
touched her bare back. He pushed his way into the waistband of her pants and
found naked flesh. Wildly, in one part of her mind, she thought she should
shove him away and protest such intimacy. Surely this wasn’t allowed between
two people who had known each other for so little time. Another part of her
thrilled to the new sensations. His tongue stroked hers again and again, and
even with what little experience she had with kissing she found his method
thrilling. As his hands cupped and gently stroked her butt, Mia squirmed in
reaction.

He broke the kiss long enough to groan, his words raspy
against her lips, “Draconus, Mia. You’re killing me. I have to. I must.”

Must what?

He kissed her again and all rational thought left her in a
heartbeat. Whatever insanity this was it left her stripped raw, torn from the
piety she’d lived most her life. This was…well it was amazing and she wanted
more with single-minded purpose. She joined in his enthusiasm, her own touch
exploring as she savored everything about Eryk that made him male. His broad
shoulders, the strength in his incredible arms, the gentleness and greediness
as he touched and stroked everything. He lifted her off her feet and on
instinct her legs wrapped around his waist. He pressed that hard, thick length
against her most vulnerable point. If she’d been naked he could have slipped
deep within her pussy. Mia knew it, thrilled to it and shamed to it. Her
vulnerability, the fact Eryk could do anything he wanted to her, should have
sent her screaming from the secluded alcove. Instead her body creamed. Turned
hotter, aching for a pinnacle she didn’t understand. She’d heard of climax, of
the orgasm that could happen in the sexual act between man and woman. Only in
her bed, late at night, had she found a spark of it ignited by her own fingers.
She understood what her body wanted to do but didn’t know all the impulses
racking her from deep inside. He reached between them and cupped her left
breast. She gasped into his mouth at the incredible intimacy. One moment later
he clasped her nipple through her tunic and tugged. She moaned at the hot spear
of excitement that chased all the way from her nipple to between her legs.

He tore his mouth from hers and buried his face in her neck.
His mouth and tongue traced a heated path. With one quick tug he opened the
neck of her tunic and his mouth clamped over her nipple.

“Oh!” Mia writhed under the pleasure.

Hot lips and tongue stroked her nipple for long moments and
the excitement in her body grew higher. She couldn’t stand this. She needed
something.

But then he released her nipple and looked up at her. Eryk’s
eyes were still red and his breathing came so hard it sounded as if he’d been
running.

With a gasp, he released her and set her on her feet. “By
all the gods, Mia.”

He would release her now, say they would stop and forget
this horrible mistake.

Instead he slipped his hand into the front of her pants and
found the wetness between her legs. She gasped and moaned as his blunt fingers
intruded. It was delicious and soothing and maddening all at once. He found and
stroked over the little bud at the top of her sex. She jerked in surprise as he
took her moisture and smoothed it back and forth over her bud. Pleasure sang
from that point and filled her body with heady anticipation. Her head went back
as she allowed the pleasure to take over. He fluttered his tongue over her
nipple at the same time and she thought she’d go mad. But a mere moment later
the relentless movement of his finger on her sweet spot built to a pinnacle of
sensation that couldn’t last. This had to be banished, to dissolve. Something.
She’d go mad if it didn’t. She whimpered, trying to keep from panting, from
groaning like an animal. Yet the feelings inside her were animal. Real and raw
and uncompromising. When he slipped a finger deep into her core the shock and
pleasure of that deeply personal touch made the pleasure that much more
amazing. She clutched at his shoulders, the only lifeline in her body’s desire
to tear her to pieces. Deep within he stroked and one flick and then another
over her bud made a rush of moisture flow. She squirmed, caught up in craving
she wanted desperately and couldn’t escape if she’d wanted to.

He leaned into her, his body surrounding and protecting as
he whispered, “That’s it, Mia. Take it.”

He slid one finger inside her again and pressed as deep.

As if he’d given her final permission to break free, her
body erupted into shaking, trembling with bliss. She barely stifled a cry,
holding the moan inside as pleasure rolled through her in a beautiful wave she
didn’t want to end. She leaned her head on his shoulder, quivering as delight
went on and on. Her pussy contracted over his finger, gripping it as the
ecstasy went on and on.

His fingers tangled in her hair. His palm traced over her
head in a gesture so tender she couldn’t believe it came from such a man.

The continuing ache between her legs and the moistness there
signaled arousal. She knew it and couldn’t deny it. She couldn’t believe what
they’d just done.

Eryk pulled away. In their small space his eyes continued to
spark red, his mouth tightened, his nostrils flaring. She knew on instinct that
he needed more. In a wave of certainty, she knew she could give it to him right
here and now if she took one step closer and said yes. Instead he shook his
head as if he’d read her mind. He took one step away then two in the narrow
enclosure. In haste she refastened the tunic where he’d pulled it open.

“Come, let’s go.” He held out his hand.

She stared at it for a long time before she put her hand in
his. “Where are we going?”

“Lodging for the night.”

His clipped response didn’t tell her whether he regretted
what happened or not. Though why would he? She’d heard that men claimed to
possess strong sexual needs.

Emotions rioted through Mia as she allowed him to lead her
through the crowd. Heat ambushed her face. Her lips felt full, nipples still
tight, tingling and poking against her tunic. Her lower body throbbed, a hunger
remaining. Despite the pleasure that had torn her apart and brought her back
together, Mia imagined what she’d experienced under his touch paled in
comparison to what she’d feel with his cock inside her. Cock. Yes, she’d heard
the word uttered before and read it. Only Scribes could know the truths of
lovemaking and hide them from others. Or at least pretend that they didn’t
exist. As they maneuvered through the courtyard toward a tower, doubts slammed
her.

What had she been thinking, allowing him liberties? No woman
from Magonia would allow any man intimacies unless he was her husband. She
halted the thought. True, she hadn’t abandoned all her Magonian ways of
thinking when she arrived in Dragonia. Yet she didn’t have to follow the rules
the way she’d done before to stay safe from punishment. Freedom offered
opportunity while also scaring her to death. Shame mixed with the awe of
discovery. Her mind felt clouded and yet alive, full and yet open to learning
more. Vitality swamped her head to toe as if she might split apart in little
places if Eryk touched her again the way he did in the alcove.

They arrived at a wooden door near a tower and Eryk pushed
it open. Inside the room it was darker and she blinked to adjust her eyes.
Behind a tall counter a small old woman sat. A thick head of dirty gray hair
was piled upon her head in a bun. Her features were sharp and thin but Mia
thought she’d been pretty at one time.

The woman smiled brightly. “Eryk, how good to see you again.
What has it been? Two weeks at least?”

He smiled brightly. “At least. Finny, this is Mia. We need a
room.”

Finny’s blue eyes sparkled with amusement. “Longer than an
hour, I presume.”

Heat reignited in Mia’s face. “I am not a whore.”

Finny’s eyes widened. “I didn’t think you were, dearie. The
way he’s gripping your hand and the red in his eyes tells me he’s found
something special in you. If you were a whore he wouldn’t have introduced you.”

A strange emotion took hold of her. Mortification hadn’t
disappeared and this blunt exchange didn’t help.

“We need a place for the night. A room with a bathing area,
please.” A smile played around his mouth but the red was still there and potent
in his eyes.

Finny gave him a key, he tossed coin on the counter.

She gestured toward a staircase to her left. “Number two.
First on your left.”

Before Mia could blink he urged her up the circular stairs.
When they reached the top he headed toward the door number Finny had indicated.
Moving quickly, he opened the room with the key and ushered her inside. He
closed the door and locked it. He didn’t grab her. No, he shrugged off his
waist pack with its supplies and tossed it onto a table with two chairs. Toward
the back of the room near the fireplace a bathing room door showed a large
washing area. Larger than what she was used to in Magonia, that was for
certain. Not that it mattered much. Her existence as a Scribe had ensured Mia
led an uncomplicated and unadorned life. Austerity didn’t bother her.

To her surprise the main room featured pretty blue curtains
on two small windows that would keep out a draft if the glass leaked. A
matching blue coverlet and pillows covered the substantial bed.

“I’ve never seen a bed that large,” she said, blurting the
first thing that came to mind. “Easily two people could sleep in it. Perhaps
even three.”

He chuckled. “Uh…yeah.”

Heat returned to her face as she realized the implications.
“I am not saying that even two of us should sleep in it. I will take the
chair.” She gestured to a large chair with plump cushions. “It looks to be a
fine place to sleep.”

He headed toward the bathing chamber. “Nothing like that in
Magonia? The bed, I mean.”

“Nothing I’ve seen.” She sagged to the side of the bed.

“Do not worry. I’m not going to insist you have sex with
me,” he said.

She blinked, surprised by the frankness of his statement.
“You aren’t?”

He grinned and laughed. “At least, not yet.” He strode
toward her, and as he did the heat rose under her skin again. He touched her
chin, tilted it to meet his gaze. “Like I said before, when you want me inside
you, you’ll have to ask for it. In the meantime, I need relief.”

She tilted her head to the side. “Relief?”

He made a small movement with his hips and she noticed the
erection tenting his tunic and pants. Eryk leaned forward and kissed her cheek
and brushed his fingers over her jaw.

“Did you understand what happened to you in the alcove?” he
asked softly.

Part of her wanted to tell him she wasn’t a fool. Instead
she answered with dignity, “People call it many things in Magonia. It is
sexual. What we did in the alcove was forbidden and wanton in Magonia.”

He snorted. “People have sex in Magonia.”

“Scribes do not unless we’re married.”

His gaze was predatory, searching her with a devouring look that
assessed everything. “You responded like a woman who has had sex before.”

She drew in a deep breath. “I haven’t.” Her tongue felt
thick. “But I’ve read about it.”

One of his dark brows lifted. “Reading about it is nothing
like doing it.”

She couldn’t help a small smile. “I imagine not.”

He stared at her, an answering smile tilting the corners of
his mouth.

“I thought you needed relief,” she said.

He chuckled and walked away. “That I do. Do you want to
watch?”

“Watch?” The word almost came out on a gasp.

His wicked grin had all the hallmarks of teasing but red
filled his eyes again. “It can be arousing to watch. For me and maybe for you.”

“No.” She had to be firm about this. “What we did was a
mistake.”

His eyes narrowed but the red didn’t leave them. “It wasn’t
a mistake but as I said before, if you want me you’ll have to ask for it.”

Her tongue felt thick but she rushed to ask another
question. “Why are your eyes like that?”

“Red?”

“Yes.”

“Daryk Ones are unique. Not only are we stronger than the
average man, we have strong sexual needs. And when a woman is attractive to us
and we want her, that’s what happens.”

“Oh.” What else could she say? A rush of satisfaction
replaced other emotions. Part of her loved that he’d been so aroused by her
that his eyes would reflect it.

He gazed at her a moment longer. “Relax if you can. We’ll be
here for the night at least. I’d offer you the bathing area first but I need
that relief you mentioned.”

After he closed the bathroom door, she heard water running
and her imagination took over. She closed her eyes and wondered what his body
would look like stripped of clothes. She ached to know. For one small moment
the idea of walking in on him to see what his relief would look like almost
pulled her to the bathing area to find out.

Eryk stood under the cascade of gentle water coming from the
spray over his head and wished the water could wash away the turmoil inside
him. Mia had taken hold of him in a way he’d never experienced with another
woman. It scared the shite out of him.

He tried ignoring the treacherous thoughts roiling in his
mind. The bathing area had recently been fixed, he noted. The lodging in
Felican Castle had always been clean and well cared for, and after travels he
wanted nothing more than to clean the grime off him and sink into the bed to
sleep.

No, that wasn’t true. He wanted more. He’d stayed in this
room before but never with a woman.

Fuck. This won’t do.
He soaped his body thoroughly
and when he reached his still erect cock he closed his fist around it. He
closed his eyes and remembered what Mia Griffi had looked like when they were
in the alcove, how she’d responded to his touches with a wildness that had
taken him off guard and pleased him beyond measure. All the little grasps and
moans she’d made when he’d slipped his hand in her pants and grasped her ass
had about driven him mad. Sucking her sweet nipple and slipping his finger into
her hot, wet pussy had made him almost drunk with desire. Remembering what
she’d felt like, he squeezed his hard-on and pumped faster. His imagination
took hold and he imaged what she would have done if he’d thrust two fingers
inside her.