Tangles and Temptation (17 page)

Eris narrowed his eyes threateningly at her. He hissed, “I shall
not.
”

It took little time to have the procession once again on the move. Eris had been loud and demanding, driving the men hard to cover lost time. Kyra lowered her head in embarrassment. It was due to her that they had ventured out this late. Suddenly she tossed her hair back adamantly. She had asked for no special attention. Had the satisfying of her whims clearly been the objective, she would not have awoken alone this morning. She would have chosen to slake her morning thirst for a hard, pounding cock before commencing. Her dissatisfied grouching was very audible.

“You find little comfort in your chariot, my princess?” Eris smiled, perched jauntily on his mount beside her. Clarisse grunted beneath her breath beside her. Wisely, the girl kept her thoughts to herself. She had been a gudgeon the whole morning, and Clarisse had found no compunction in saying so. Apparently she still guarded her tongue in the presence of Eris.

Kyra tilted her face away. “It is not the
inanimate
aspects of my life that I find fault with.”

Eris bellowed in laughter. “Ah. I understand now. You have issues with just people,
men
in particular and perchance
beasts
.” He continued to smile in amusement as he peered at her lower gown.

Kyra looked down at her lap and grimaced. Deep, high slits were rent in the material on both sides and the middle of the skirt. The garment had been made with the purpose of horseback riding in mind. But now in the cart, the slits were obviously ill-suited. Sparing only a quick glance at Eris’s obvious amusement, she once again grabbed the gaping material and drew it closed. Another glance showed his smile broadening by annoying proportions at her frustrated, futile efforts. Every time she drew the slits closed at the sides, the middle slit, which had been put in place with the express intention of the widening of the wearer’s legs to accommodate a horse, drew apart.

He mused, “I would warrant not
all
inanimate objects have evaded your annoyance. Has the queen’s generosity not extended a more suitable outfit?”

Kyra watched as his face reddened with the strain against unleashing the laughter bubbling within him. He watched her hands, clutching disobedient material hopelessly.

She growled. “You find amusement in my discomfort?” She watched as he struggled to hold his laughter in. His body jerked and shook from the effort, and he shook his head in silent denial. Kyra felt irritation well up within her. She gave him a cocky glance before releasing the flowing material all together. The slits at the sides fell back, revealing the length of her legs until her hips. The center slit fell apart, revealing the shadowed secret valley between her thighs. Kyra smirked as she saw his eyes flash with hunger. But she was not done yet. She stretched her legs forward, revealing more skin, more enticing
secrets
. She slowly, with cold calculation, wantonly spread her legs apart and cooed, “The queen has seen fit to send only
such
garments.” She twisted her hips, allowing the glorious pale sides of her bottom to be displayed. She eyed him shrewdly as she whispered, “Even the
night
garments.”

* * * *

Eris felt his cock stir instantly with interest. The mental image of her in sheer, equally revealing nightwear sprung to his mind. He shifted uncomfortably against his mount. The action caused more harm than good. He stared at the enticing length of her thighs. It was pale and soft, begging for a man’s touch. The valley between the thighs lay open but nestled deviously within shadows. Eris swallowed hard as he felt an overpowering urge to plunge his aching shaft into those shadowed depths. He longed to kiss and devour her haughty mouth until she cried words more pleasing to his ears. He wanted
all
of her bared, not just alluring, scant scraps that left his eyes starving, and shaft drooling. He wanted her
now
.

A sudden strangled sound drew his attention. He looked up and across the cart. The guard placed on the other side of her cart stared at the feast blatantly displayed, with bulging eyes and a salivating tongue. His bellow was heard all the way at the end of the long procession. “
Fall back, soldier.
”

Kyra laughter was light and soft, only for his benefit.

SAGA E’xi

“What is this place?” Kyra voice was filled with awe and wonder.

“This is the industrious
agora
, marketplace, Brice of Tryns. Originally a port focused on the importing of precious foreign items, it fast grew into a thriving city of not only trade, but it boasts a population of the most varied sort. People of all corners of the world flock to these shores, seeking either to purchase or sell their wares. Here, at last we may be able to rest our heads on something soft for the night.” Eris helped Kyra down from the cart.

As he strode off to shout out commands to his men, she inspected the bustling city. Eris had not been exaggerating when he had mentioned varied. Everything differed—items that were being marketed, the clothing of people, and the people themselves. Kyra watched the passersby with interest. Although she could not recall her past, she was sure she had never seen such varied races of people before. Some possessed dark skin, others abnormally fair skin. The dressing styles differed, but this mainly pertained to the women. While some women wore garments that completely covered their entire bodies from head to feet, there were others on the extreme opposite, who donned close to nothing. Kyra felt like she had entered a new world. Colors such she had never seen before suddenly flashed before her eyes. Elaborate headgear, footwear, and even flowing sarongs were made from bright, daring colors.

Kyra squealed in surprise as a heavily perfumed woman strode past her. Her eyes were decorated heavily with a smoky coloring agent. The dark lining beneath her eyes that made her look mysterious and provocative. Her gown was unlike anything she had ever seen before. Trousers, shimmering, gauzy, and extravagantly colored, sat low on her hips, swaying enticingly with each purposeful, delicate thrust of her moving hips, and billowed out only to be draw tightly once again to a narrow knot around her ankles. The top of her apparel barely concealed much. Double molds, heavily jeweled, were simply fitted over her abundant breasts and were held in place by double straps of fabric, one twisted around her neck and the other around her slender back, secured firmly. Altogether, Kyra found the garment extremely arousing. Her body flushed with heat as she envisioned donning such a daring, feminine dress.

Kyra watched as many among the passersby also wore odd, somewhat-uncomfortable-looking apparel on their feet. But one basic element remained a familiar sight. Every male who wandered past her either held or carried a weapon of his choice. She continued to stare in amazement as an amused voice piped in at her back.

“Although the appearance of this place is marginally more civilized than the hole we shacked up in on the first night, risk is still an element. Here danger is more deceptive as it is more deceivingly clothed in both fine apparel and polite manner.” Eris pointed to a couple as they walked by. “The footwear, all closed and fully covered, serves the same purpose as our own sandals. They are, however, less revealing.”

Kyra blinked. “The weapons differ greatly from that which I am familiar with. Footwear appears to suffocate the feet. This is all extraordinary.”

He leaned down and whispered, showing Kyra clearly that he had not missed the look she had given the passing enticing seductress. “She is in all likelihood a member of a very prominent harem here. She is neither slave, nor is she completely free. Her only purpose is to slake the thirst of a man. Of course, she is deprived of nothing, and more often than not, treated even better than his wife.”

Kyra nodded. “I have heard of many places that boast harems within their walls. But I have neither seen such a place, nor have I ever seen an occupant before, or if I have I certain have no recollection of it. She is utterly beguiling.”

Eris latched onto her hand as his voice dropped lower, husky and caressing. “You would hold the position of the loftiest rank within any harem. You are seduction in the flesh, alluring men with the slightest flick of your hips, bewitching them with just a look.”

Before Kyra could do more than blush, he pulled on her hand. “Come. We must find a secure shelter and refresh ourselves. And then I shall show you around this thriving city.”

Kyra did not argue. They had spent the last two nights upon the ground, and despite her lack of complaint, she was relieved to finally have something more substantial beneath her back. Furthermore, Eris had been restricted from any midnight rendezvous. He, like the rest of the warriors, took turns in shifts, guarding the perimeters of their campsite.

Kyra glanced at him. He appeared travel weary and in dire need of a shave. The hair upon his face and the haggard appearance of his tangled hair did nothing to distract from his attractiveness, however. Judging by the avid glances he received from passing women, Kyra surmised her assessment to be correct. He appeared dark and dangerous and drew the interest of adventurous women. Some stared at him with open interest, their eyes clearly issuing a welcome, while other watched him coyly beneath lowered, seductive lashes. She watched in fascination as he brushed away the hair hanging over his eyes impatiently. There was definitely a masculine quality about him that would attract women of all quarters to him, no matter his disheveled appearance. There was an unmistakable air of
Charybdis,
the whirlpool monster, that surrounded him. There was the undeniable look of Scylla, the sea beast, in his eyes, volatile and stormy. This man held within his hand a great weapon against females. His eyes issued
promises
, sweetly decadent while tantalizingly unsavory,
challenges
, controlled passion yet darkly erotic surrender, and a body that was masterful, gifted enough to deliver.

As they strode farther into the city, the fresh air grew less and blatant female interest more. Kyra scowled in annoyance. She found herself darting venomous looks and challenging stares with more than a few women. Eventually she blurted, “This is an uncommon city of common harlots.”

Eris glanced at her, surprised. Kyra showed him her full meaning as she directed a rather vicious glance at yet another passing woman. He laughed and pulled her closer. “Come now, Kyra. That approach will gain you no female companionship. I have shared a rare beauty such as you. Surely you can be equally generous.”

Kyra clucked her tongue in annoyance. “Harbor no false hopes that I hold jealousy in my heart.”

Eris grinned cockily. “However, a violent look, to tear out the hearts of every passing woman, lingers in your eyes.”

Kyra bristled at his self-satisfied tone and immodest, blatant prowling. He knew the reaction he elicited in women, and he blatantly enjoyed it. What bothered her, however, was the fact that it irked her so. Surely who he chose to bed in the quiet respite of this night, who he chose to caress and tease, who he stroked and plundered, was no concern of hers. Yet the thought infuriated her nonetheless. She suddenly spied at group of men causing quite a stir before them. Her feet slowed while her heart raced of its own accord. “
Magnificent.
Who are they?”

She watched the large, muscular pair of men playfully jostling each other. They possessed splendid physiques and wonderfully battle-toned bodies. Their bare chests were proudly displayed, bronzed by the kiss of the sun, scarred from their various battles. She watched transfixed as muscles clenched and rippled as they sparred. She swallowed hard.

Eris whispered, “You seem to have overcome your possessiveness rather swiftly. Shall I leave you here to feast your eyes?”

Kyra whispered back breathlessly, “Please do.”

Eris laughed and dragged her away. He squeezed her arm gently. “You have made your point. Shall we make an agreement? Before straying into another’s bed, each of us shall first seek the express permission of the other.”

Kyra scrunched her face as she considered his proposal. Her own actions would be greatly curtailed, but at least she would have the security of knowing his attention would belong solely to her. Her own secret valleys may lie unexplored by the hand of another, but so would his lance remain free by theses seemingly lustful harlots. She nodded enthusiastically. “
Agreed.
”

* * * *

It was a blissful hour later that they met at the door. “I feel as though I have scraped off at least a week’s worth of grit and grime from my body. You would not believe how much lighter I feel.” He addressed her with a quick flash of white teeth.

Kyra laughed as Eris swaggered in.

He grabbed Kyra around the waist and swung her around, eliciting merry laughter. Eris lowered his mouth and kissed her noisily, playfully. “May I also add you look particularly ravishing? I had forgotten the texture of your skin and color of your hair under you own supply of trail dust.”

Smacking him gently on the shoulder, she cooed, “I would be gravely insulted had I not fully agreed with you. I was indeed in dire need of a bath, and thankfully this establishment has offered excellent service, and the slaves supplied endless loads of steaming hot water.”

Eris inhaled deeply. A light fragrance of floral soap and lemon lingered in her hair. “As was I was equally pleased with the bathing chamber.”

Kyra drew back and smiled mischievously. “It appears you were able to once again rediscover your humor beneath all that grime.”