The Ivory Road: A Walk in the Sand (9 page)

“Are you all right, Iliana?” Aristotle bumped her shoulder with his nose.

She shot a look at the gray horse, surprised he’d spoken. He hadn’t said a word to her since she’d rebuked him for being patronizing. He looked solicitous, if she could read horse expressions at all, and she nodded rather than answer in front of the stable hands.

“Take good care of these horses, please.” She patted the stable boy’s shoulder and tossed him the coins. “Do that and there might be more where these came from.”

The stable boy gave her a gap-toothed grin and led the black into the shadows of the barn. She waited until he’d gone before hefting the treasure-laden saddlebags and patting Aristotle.

“I’m okay, Aristotle. Just tired.”

“I’m sorry about teasing you over Brandon.” The horse did look contrite.

“Don’t be sorry, just remember I’m a person with my own moral compass. I don’t need you to take that role.” She thumped his shoulder again. “Have a good rest. Hopefully we won’t have to leave too soon.”

The scent of dry, hot stone mixed with the salty brine of the sea as the wind zipped through the courtyard. Despite the air movement, Iliana sighed with relief as she entered the cool shade of the inn. Potted palm trees filled the corners of the common room and tapestries hung from the walls around a few richly dressed men perched on cushions, smoking.

She found Brandon across the room with a tall, slender man wrapped in an oil-stained apron. She kept the silk veil over her face as she wove through the tables of the common room. She stopped behind Brandon while he haggled for their room and board.

“And a bath.” She tapped him on the shoulder

Brandon paused and winked before returning to his negotiations. They finally settled on a price and grasped forearms in agreement until the innkeeper caught sight of her, scowling.

“His kind aren’t welcome here.”

Brandon’s shoulders tightened and he looked around. “Whose kind?”

“His.” The innkeeper pointed at Iliana and waved her toward the door. “We don’t serve the Knalish here.”

Her gut clenched, but she raised her chin and held her ground.
What the heck am I going to do now?
She had no experience with this city and finding another place to rest didn’t make sense while Brandon stayed here.

Brandon’s gaze fell on her and he laughed. “Oh, my companion’s not Knalish. He merely travels the desert paths, trading. He wears the clothing to blend in and make it easier and more profitable.” He tilted his head and gave the innkeeper a conspiratorial smile. “I’m sure you know what that’s like. Besides, you know me, Skinner. Would I ever associate, willingly, with the Knalish?”

The tall man eyed Iliana with suspicion. “You sure? Them’s robes are straight outta the Karobis.”

“Yep, I’m sure. If you’ve heard him talk, you’d know he ain’t from around here, mate.” Brandon nodded as he took some of the saddlebags off her shoulders. She swallowed her sigh of relief as some of the weight lifted away. “He’s got an accent from north if Eislan, like the Andarran barbarians. Definitely not Knalish.”

“Fine, but if’n he tries to start cookin’ in the room, yer gonna pay for any damages.”

Brandon snorted, but nodded. “Fairly done. Let’s go, Rory.” He headed for the stairs, but paused and looked back. “And you’ll send up the bath, yes?”

“Yeah, yeah, yer tub and hot water is coming.”

Brandon nodded and Iliana followed him up the stairs to their room. He unlocked an ornate door beneath a pointed arch lintel and stepped into an opulent room. Thick carpets covered the wooden floor and silk scrolls hung on the walls between the windows. A door led out to a small balcony overlooking the wharves and gauzy curtains fluttered in the afternoon breeze.

“Wow, this place is incredible.” She dropped the bags on the floor with a heavy thud and strode out to the balcony. “Wow.”

Brandon laughed. “I’m glad you approve. The Sirobis Inn is one of the best on the wharf.”

“Not all the rooms are like this, though, right?”

“No, this is one of their very best.”

“It’s extraordinary. Why did you pay for the best room?”

Brandon’s gaze settled on her, his expression assessing. “Because you said you wanted a place to have a bath and you’d give me a chance to show you some loving. Can’t do that in a sub-par room.”

Iliana raised her eyebrows, but couldn’t argue with his logic. She returned to the cool interior and unwound the silk from her head, freeing her hair. “Oh, that’s better. Sirobis sounds like Karobis. Do they mean something similar?”

“Karobis means ‘golden sands’ in Torhainian.” Brandon dragged the saddle bags out of the middle of the floor. “Sirobis means ‘white sands’ for the sand from the shell cliffs north of the city.”

Wait, what did he say?
She stumbled, but caught herself on a nearby chair as someone knocked at the door. Brandon missed her reaction as he went to answer the door.
We’re staying in the White Sands inn?
What were the odds she’d come full circle in a sense?

A serving girl no more than twelve bowed on the threshold. “May we come in, Master? We have your bath to prepare.”

“Of course.” Brandon stood aside and the girl led in more servants.

Two men wheeled a big brass tub to the center of the room then retreated. Behind them came a stream of others carrying jugs of steaming hot water. They poured the jugs into the tub in an unending assembly line of motion, spilling none of it outside the tub. Each bowed to them before retreating out the door. The last to leave closed the door behind them.

“Wow, that was impressive.”

“It was meant to be.” Brandon leaned over the water and sniffed then nodded with satisfaction. “Rose water. Good.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You had them make a bath from rose water?” He grinned and nodded. “Was it expensive?”

“Very,” he admitted as he sat down on the bed. “But a wise man once told me to always bow to a woman’s whims for hell hath no fury like a woman ignored.”

Iliana laughed. “I think the line is
scorned
, but I believe he was a wise man indeed. I’ll definitely take advantage of the hot water and soak. I have eight days’ worth of sand and sweat to scrub off of my body. I’m not going to pass up the opportunity to do something about it.”

Brandon shot a look at the steaming tub then returned it to her as she untied the sash around her waist. “That tub looks big enough for two people.”

She paused, her hands tight on the lapels of her robes. “What?”

He spread his hands. “Doesn’t it look big enough for two?”

“Were you thinking of bathing?” She shrugged out of the crusty overcoat and dropped it on the floor with a grimace. “I can wait if you’d like to go first.”

“Why don’t we share it? I don’t want you to take a tepid bath, and I don’t mind.” He stood up and unbuckled the belt holding his sword to his waist. “Besides, didn’t you say you’d give me a chance to show you my loving skills if we made it somewhere safe and you could have a bath?”

Iliana blinked then threw back her head with a laugh. “Do you have a photographic memory?”

He grinned as he unbuttoned his vest and pulled his shirt over his head. “I don’t know what that is, but I remember most of what I’ve heard, especially when it pertains to a beautiful woman.”

She snorted. “How do you know I’m beautiful? You’ve never seen me undressed.”

“No, but I’ve seen you fight. I can imagine the rest.” He turned his back and she couldn’t help but stare at the muscular perfection marred only by a few impressive scars. When he slid his trousers off his hips, she damn near swallowed her tongue at the sexy ass that appeared.

Sweet glory.

Brandon turned around and she shivered. Dark hair outlined each muscle of his chest and belly before arrowing down to surround his penis and testicles. She followed the line with her gaze, then dropped it lower to admire the taut strength of his thighs and calves. More scars decorated the muscles of his legs, but it only added to his masculine beauty.

“Are you going to get undressed and join me, or did you want to wash your clothes while wearing them?” Brandon’s amused question jerked her back into reality.

“Oh. Yeah. Sorry, I got…distracted.” She bit her lip as she pulled her own clothes off. Brandon wasn’t as cut as the athletic fitness models found around Hollywood, but he’d come by his muscles honestly.

A splash and a masculine sigh of pleasure pulled her attention back to the copper tub. Without bubbles, the steaming water remained clear and his body lay magnified, larger than life.
Every. Last. Bit.
She grinned at the view and stepped up to join him, but paused.

“Did they bring towels?”

“Yes, and clean robes. They’ll also empty the tub when we’re done. Are you coming in? There’s plenty of room.” Brandon spread his legs and wiggled his butt closer to the back of the tub. “See?”

“You sure you want to share?”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sure.” He shot her a cheeky grin. “Come on in.”

Iliana shivered again and dipped one foot in the hot water. Heat spread throughout her body as she slipped into the water and sat down between his legs. He gathered her close to his chest as she sighed.

“Oh, glory, that’s wonderful.” She leaned back against him and closed her eyes.

“Yes, it is.” The rumble of his voice vibrated through her back as his arms settled around her belly. “Most wonderful thing I’ve experienced in a long time.”

She chuckled as something hot and hard insisted on space between them in the tub. She resisted the urge to wriggle against it, but she enjoyed the feeling of his erection pressed to her ass.

Life is finally good again.

“I gotta find a way to make enough money here to have a bath every night.”

Brandon chuckled and his erection flexed. “Does that include me?”

She opened her eyes and tilted her head to look at him. “Yeah, if you’d care to join me.”

“Oh, I’d definitely want to join you.” He slid his hand up until they cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing her nipples. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Hot pleasure rippled through her and she moaned as he stroked her flesh. Steam rose into the air in languorous curls and her tension went with it. Brandon kissed the side of her neck as one hand caressed down to her waist and slid between her legs.

She gasped as one finger teased between her nether lips.

He paused, his hand still against her mound. “You did say I could show you my skills at loving.”

“Did I tell you to stop?”

“No…”

“Then don’t stop until I tell you to.”

He rumbled another laugh. “Yes, mistress.”

Brandon stroked her lips and clit with one hand while the other fondled her breast and he kissed her neck. She fell into the sensations of his touch, heat from more than the water blooming through her. The scent of hot rose water filled her nose as her arousal built with each flick of his clever fingers.

“You’re already wet for me, Iliana.”

She wanted to make a smart-ass remark about being in the bath, but she couldn’t bring herself to deflate the mood. She rocked her hips in time with his touches and whimpered as he brushed her clit again.

“Oh, yeah, Brandon, right there.” She leaned back and opened her legs as far as the tub would allow.

The water rocked with her, a little spilling over the sides as her arousal built.
Oh, glory, just a little more.
Brandon moaned and squeezed her nipple as he slid his fingers into her pussy. His thumb thrummed her clit and he pressed a kiss to her neck.

“Come for me, lovely Iliana.”

Her orgasm exploded through her awareness, catapulting her out into the stars glittering like facets on a diamond. She keened her pleasure as her body arched to his thrusts and the hardness of his stiff cock against her back only added to her ecstasy. Joy and satisfaction rained around her as she settled down to his chest again, gasping in time to her thundering heart.

“I have you, braveheart.” Brandon’s whispered words coaxed her back to the real world, his arms cradling her in the sultry heat of the bath. “You’re so beautiful when you come, Iliana.”

She managed a tired chuckle. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“No, just the ones to whom I mean it.” His cock flexed as if to emphasize his words.

“I should help you with that.” She slid her hand into the water and stroked his hard, slick flesh.

Brandon hissed and tightened his arms around her as a yawn threatened to crack her jaw. She tried to keep her eyes open, but her body swam in euphoria from her orgasm and all her motivation to move fled.

Brandon chuckled again. “Tell you what, Iliana. Let’s get cleaned up and put you to bed. You can help me with my cockstand once you’ve rested.”

“But—”

“Trust me, I’d rather you be fully awake to bring me pleasure than half asleep.” He smiled at her pout. “I promise to take advantage of your determination later.”

“All right.” She yawned again and he snorted.