Pride of the Lion: Hades' Carnival, Book 3 (22 page)

Araminta’s arms gave out and she fell forward onto the bed with a groan. He was still so hard and hot inside her, still coming. She had no idea how long it lasted, but finally he gave a grunt and removed his arm from her waist. She flopped onto the mattress, limp as a noodle.

Leander hissed as he carefully removed his shaft and stretched out beside her. She didn’t know what to say, not after such earth-shattering lovemaking. Well, it was earth-shattering for her. For all she knew it might be normal for him.

She stroked her hand over his shoulder and his entire body arched in pleasure. His tattoo. She’d forgotten all about it, but suddenly wanted to see it again. “Roll over.”

He stared at her a moment, unblinking, but came to some internal decision and turned onto his side, his back toward her. A majestic lion stared back at her, his eyes the same color as Leander’s. No, not the same color, the same eyes.

They were one and the same.

She reached out and touched the creature’s head. Leander’s shoulders stiffened and then he rubbed his head against the pillow. It was fascinating how the two were connected. The lion was a part of him, the relationship totally symbiotic.

Chapter Thirteen

Leander wanted to roar again but desperately swallowed back the aching need to voice his pleasure, not wanting her to think he was more animal than man. He loved the feel of Araminta’s hands on his back, touching his tattoo. It was as good as having her stroke every inch of his body. He knew she had no idea how sensitive his tattoo was.

His entire body was still humming from making love to her. His cock should have been limp after the orgasm he’d just had, but he was still hard as steel and ready to go again. But he wouldn’t do that to Araminta, didn’t want to make her sore. He could fuck all night long, but her body was much more delicate and fragile than his. He had to remember that she was human and he was not.

It frustrated and angered him that even if they survived today he would lose her in a few short decades. No, not if, but when they survived. Araminta would live no matter the cost to himself. She was too precious to him.

Funny how in the long millennia before the war with Hades, none of them had ever considered taking a mate. They were warriors. They fought when necessary, they ate when they wanted and fucked willing women when the urge was upon them. But that was all secondary to their task of protecting the Lady.

Maybe it was the long years in captivity that had changed him, had made him appreciate the warmth of a woman’s body, her laughter and softness, made him want more than he’d had.

She stroked her hands over the lion’s flanks and his hips bucked, his cock jerking as if urging him to roll over and reach for her. If she kept this up he wouldn’t be responsible for what he did.

A muscle jumped in his jaw, and he clenched his teeth to keep from rolling over and taking her again. He didn’t think just any woman would have him feeling this way. He knew himself too well to believe that. He’d had his fair share of women in the days before the curse. Fucking was fun for both parties, but he’d always been ready to leave once it was over.

Not so with Araminta, and not just because he was honor-bound to protect her. No, he wanted to be with her. Her intelligence, her courage and her subtle beauty all drew him. It was as if the universe had created her just for him.

And he would not fail to protect such a treasure. He would not fight fate, nor would he question his good fortune. They were meant to be together, but if that could not happen, he would die protecting her.

She slid her small hand across the lion’s back and down his left flank.

Leander could take no more torture. He rolled and pounced on her in one motion, her shriek turning into a moan of pleasure as he shoved his way inside her. She was still wet from her earlier orgasm and took him easily. He purred, loving the way her pussy closed around him like soft, wet velvet.

“Again?” Her eyes were wide and her lips parted.

He leaned down and kissed her, twining his tongue against hers. When they were both breathless, he pulled back, letting his lips hover an inch away from hers. “Again.”

Araminta locked her thighs around his hips and moved with him as he fucked her. Her slick channel spasmed around him and he knew she was as close to coming as he was. This time was gentler than the last, but it didn’t take long. He rocked them both, supporting her back with his hand, leading her into each deep stroke.

She dug her fingernails into his shoulders and her eyes never left his. They came at the same time, neither of them looking away. Leander felt his heart lock and knew no other woman would ever own it. He belonged to Araminta and she to him.

Tears filled her eyes and he leaned down to lick away one salty drop that escaped from a corner. “Don’t cry.” He hated to see her upset.

She swiped at her eyes. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”

He kissed her, not knowing what else to do. He continued to thrust in and out of her hot depths, wanting to comfort her, loving the way her pussy squeezed him as though it would never let him go.

But time was moving fast and they’d already taken a big risk by making love. He reluctantly shifted off of Araminta. “We need to get dressed.” He played with the messy tail of her braid, sweeping it over her skin. “We don’t want to be TSTL,” he teased her, remembering her earlier reference to her writing.

She gave a watery laugh. “No, I guess we don’t want to be that.” She sat and grabbed the comforter as if suddenly realizing she was naked. He pulled it away from her, not wanting her to hide her body from him.

“Go get cleaned up.” He stood, and in the blink of an eye was clothed in leather pants and boots again.

“That’s just not fair.” Looking disgruntled and totally adorable, Araminta climbed off the bed, bent down and grabbed her clothing off the floor and left the room. His eyes almost rolled back in his head when she bent down and he got a glimpse of her glistening pussy. His lion roared, wanting to feel her juices filling his mouth and flowing down his throat before he fucked her again.

But that wasn’t going to happen. He’d already risked her safety as it was. The clock was ticking and Hades wasn’t done yet. The next few hours would be a fight for their lives and their very souls.

He clenched his hands at his side, his fingers morphing into giant claws before he got control of himself. Hades would not have his Araminta. He’d follow the demon god into Hell itself and slaughter him if he tried.

Araminta stared at her reflection in the mirror and shook her head. She looked totally debauched, her cheeks were red, her lips swollen and her hair a mess. Her limbs were loose, her body relaxed.

Under normal circumstances, she’d be very happy, but these were anything but normal times. Hades was waiting to kill them or turn Leander to his side. She really had to get her act together before she ended up being a TSTL heroine. Not exactly how she wanted to be remembered if she didn’t make it through the rest of the day.

She looked longingly at the shower but knew there wasn’t time. She quickly pulled on her clothes and decided, what the heck, there was time to redo her hair. She took out the braid, ran her brush through the tawny mass and made fast work of braiding it again.

It was only as she was reaching for the bathroom door handle she remembered what she’d meant to tell Leander. She pulled open the door and hurried back into the bedroom. “Leander.”

He appeared in front of her so fast she almost stumbled into him. He caught her in his strong arms. “What is it?”

His unusual features no longer seemed strange to her. He’d never look totally human, his facial structure was too strong and broad, his nose too wide and his hair such an unusual color, but he looked perfect to her. He was simply Leander and she loved him.

She sucked in a breath and averted her gaze. When had that happened? She couldn’t love him. He wasn’t staying. Couldn’t stay.

He caught her chin in his hand and lifted it until she was staring at his face. He looked worried so she tried to smile. “I remembered something while you were…chatting with Luna.” Araminta didn’t quite know how else to phrase it. “I think I know what Hades’ demons were looking for when they wrecked my home.”

“What is it?” His amazing eyes were intent on her, his entire focus on what she was saying. And what a turn-on that was.

She forced herself to get on with the job at hand. “I got an email a while back from a reader. I ignored it, thinking the person wasn’t quite playing with a full deck, if you know what I mean?”

Leander frowned, making him appear forbidding and menacing. “You mean you thought she was lying?”

“I thought she was lost in the story, thinking it was real when it was make-believe.”

Leander caught on quickly. “But it is not make-believe.”

Araminta hurried to her office with Leander on her heels. “I know that now, but I didn’t then.” She grabbed her computer bag and headed out to the living room. Better to be far away from the room with the bed, although she didn’t think that would stop Leander if he wanted to make love to her again—the wall, the floor, the sofa were all possibilities.

Her body throbbed in agreement, her breasts swelling against the lacy cups of her bra. She ignored her arousal and sat on the sofa, setting her laptop on the coffee table. “This woman was asking about the first book in the series, the one about the tiger.” She powered up the computer and waited impatiently for it to start up. “She also included a website link for a site that was devoted to the Lady of the Beasts. I checked out the website and it had some pretty interesting stuff, but most of it was information that was already in my book.”

Leander’s tension was palpable. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I think I might be able to contact at least one, possibly two of the warriors and their women.” Her fingers clicked over the keys as she retrieved the email from the file where she kept troubling messages. “If this woman was telling the truth she’s the one who freed the bear.”

“Marko,” Leander whispered.

She nodded. “Yes, Marko. And the website she sent the link for had a huge white tiger icon on it.”

Leander sat on the sofa next to her, practically vibrating with excitement. “It has to be Roric.”

“Maybe.” She didn’t want him to get his hopes up too high. “Here it is.” She brought up the website and swiveled the computer so they could both see the screen. The stylized lettering of the banner read
Lady of the Beasts
and there were seven links, one for each animal, as well as a contact button.

She scrolled and hit the link for the white tiger. Immediately the page opened and the legend of the Lady unfolded. Leander reached out and touched his finger to the photo of the enormous white tiger. “Roric.” His tortured whisper just about broke her heart. “Show me the rest.”

Araminta clicked on the link for the bear, and when the page opened she gasped at the photo of the giant brown bear standing on his hind paws. Beside her, Leander sucked in a breath. “Is that him?” she asked.

“Yes. It’s Marko.”

She clicked on the other links but found only generic photos of a phoenix, jaguar, wolf and what appeared to be a Chinese dragon. That had to be the serpent.

“Mordecai,” Leander growled.

“The serpent.” She glanced at the accompanying text and it matched what she’d written in her book. “So he went over to the dark side and joined Hades.”

Leander nodded, his features grim. “I don’t understand how he could do such a thing.” He shook his head. “He was always challenging Roric’s leadership, but I never imagined he would join our sworn enemy.”

“Being held captive for five thousand years can change a person,” she began, but he shook his head again.

“He is a warrior of the Lady of the Beasts, his first and only duty is to see to her safety.”

Araminta ignored the pang of jealousy that rocked her. She had no right feeling angry or envious at the way he talked about the Lady. After all, she was a goddess and she’d created all the warriors. Of course their first loyalty was to her. They’d protected her since the dawn of time. She’d known Leander less than a day.

Still, it was disheartening and she struggled with her composure.

“Let me show you the email.” Better to keep all her thoughts and energy devoted to saving herself from Hades. She shivered at the memory of the earlier encounter with Luna. She didn’t want to experience anything like that again. The dream world had seemed to fulfill every one of her heart’s desires, but there’d been a sinister quality about it, as well as an emptiness that still echoed in her soul.

Soulless. That’s what it was. She’d rather die than spend eternity in such a place. Not that she’d be given another opportunity to take the offer Hades had put forth. In the books she’d written, the offer had come once and, if denied, Hades resorted to more deadly tactics to get his way.

“See, it’s from a woman named Kellsie Morris. She says that the legend is real and if I’d like to talk to her I can call her at that number.”

“Let’s call her. Maybe I can speak with Marko. He might have information vital to our survival.”

Araminta got her phone and placed the call. It rang four times and she figured it would go to voicemail on the next ring. But before it could do so, a woman answered. “Hello.”