Stardust (19 page)

This,
she thought silently,
is the perfect life.
She took a step and felt only a slight twinge between her legs. Even the pain of the oneness had begun to fade.
I will do whatever it takes to please Master Bartok. Then someday, I shall have the very things he treasures.

She neared the rooms of Bartok but felt no fear. He and Selina had ridden to the Mountain of Life and would not return until the passing of the moon. Without warning, Bartok
’
s chamber door opened. Framed in the doorway was the figure of an old man. She moved closer, curious to know who would dare enter the master
’
s rooms.

“
Come closer, my little dove.
”

Aerial gasped.
“
It is you, my lord.
”

“
Yes, it is I.
”
Saatan moved from the shadows.
“
What brings you to your master
’
s quarters?
”

Aerial refused to meet his eyes.
“
My master is not here. I was curious as to the person in his quarters.
”

“
I am Bartok
’
s uncle. Have I not the right to travel within his house?
”

“
Yes, my lord,
”
she whispered, bowing before him.

Saatan laughed and pulled her to her feet, pressing the nubile young flesh to his.
“
Do not worry. We will make this our little secret, shall we not?
”

“
Your wish is my command.
”
With a seductive smile, Aerial grasped Saatan
’
s hand, leading him back into the chamber and closing the door. Meekly she lowered her eyes, dropping the silk wrapper from her body. At Saatan
’
s sharply indrawn breath, she raised her head, stunned at the look on his face. Lust transformed his features into a sharp mask.

Without warning her body trembled and she could feel the blood rushing through her veins. Never had she thought to arouse such passion in a male. It gave her an incredible feeling of power. Her eyes widened as Saatan dropped his robes. The night Bartok had first taken her she had been too afraid to look upon his form. Now, however, she gloried in letting her gaze travel leisurely down this male
’
s nude body. Her eyes lingered on his chest with its thick mat of graying hair, before traveling downward.
She could not control her gasp –
surprise or pleasure, she wasn
’
t sure –
as she took in the sight of his extended male organ. She did not see the wrinkled skin nor the aging limbs.

“
You are pleased, little one?
”
Saatan questioned softly.

Moving forward, Aerial stopped directly in front of him.
“
Oh, yes, my lord. I am very pleased.
”
Dropping her eyes coyly, she added,
“
You are most magnificent.
”

“
Then I am glad you approve.
”
He lifted her face to his and Aerial was once against filled with an incredible sensation of power as she met his possessive look.

Smiling seductively, she ran one sharp nail down his chest, never breaking eye contact.
“
It would be my honor to pleasure you this night. That is, if you would desire to have such a lowly one as I upon your sleeping mat.
”

Throwing back his head, Saatan laughed delightedly. The woman-child aroused him greatly, making him feel as powerful as the storm raging outside. Stepping closer, he raised a gnarled hand and closed it tightly over one small, firm breast. Encouraged by her small gasp of pleasure, he captured both swaying orbs and began to massage them with growing fervor.

Backing her against the wall, he pressed his body against the fullness of hers. Even Selina had never made him feel so emboldened. With every moan that tore from her throat, every movement of her lithe body an
d every encouraging whimper which
passed through her lush, pink lips, Saatan grew more aroused. It was madness.
“
I must have you now, my lovely.
”
Drawing
away, he looked directly into her passion-filled eyes as he parted her legs and was rewarded with a long, lusty moan. Finding her slick and ready for his possession, he plunged inside her hot cavern, ramming inside the tender young flesh. As the thunder rolled and lightning flashed in the night sky, their bodies moved together, straining to be closer still.

Wanting to discover all of her young charms, Saatan pulled
himself from her body.
“
Go and kneel on the pallet.
”
His voice was gravely with passion.

Obeying quickly, Aerial knelt submissively upon the sleeping mat. Her body quivered and her skin felt ultra sensitive as though the top layers had been peeled away, leaving her nerve endings totally exposed. Turning her head, she watched with quickened breath as Saatan approached. When he knelt behind her, she could not control the shudder of excitement that raced through her. And when he placed his hands upon her hips and filled her with his engorged staff, she cried out in ecstasy.

Saatan moaned with masculine pleasure as her hot, tight sheath closed around him. For several seconds he held himself motionless within her. But unable to prolong such pleasure he moved, thrusting again and again into her welcoming heat. The feel of her rounded backside as he slapped against her with each eager thrust brought him closer and closer to the edge. With a final thrust, he emptied his seed into her body, crying out his release. He collapsed upon the woman, spent, his manhood slipping from her body.

“
Oh, my master,
”
Aerial whispered.
“
Never have I known such pleasure.
”

He rolled to his side, bringing her close.
‘“
I regret that I was not the one to initiate you into your rightful place as a female.
”

She ran her hand across his chest, tugging at the coarse hair.
“
So am I.
”
She smiled.

Saatan kneaded the flesh of her breast.
“
There are many things you have yet to learn. Many untouched realms of pleasure you have yet to experience.
”
He roughly squeezed the curve of her hip.

Aerial
’
s eyes filled with bright, shiny tears.
“
I fear I may never know your touch again. Bartok will never allow me my choice of masters. He feels so powerful with the prisoners held below.
”

Saatan
’
s eyes narrowed.
“
How do you know of the dungeon
’
s occupants?
”

“
Selina took me to see them. I fear she has much desire for warrior held captive.
”
She lowered her lashes, as if afraid of confessing her secret.

He rose from the pallet, pacing back and forth, his brow furrowed with worry.

Aerial reached out to touch his narrow thigh as he passed.
“
Oh, great one, why do you not become ruler of this land? You are much more powerful than Bartok.
”
Her hand closed around his now flaccid organ.
“
You are indeed the rightful ruler for you are the most brilliant leader. And lover. Any fool could see that.
”

At her words and the untutored touch of her hand, Saatan felt the return of his desire. His organ swelled.
“
You are right,
”
he bellowed.
“
I am the true ruler of Palermos.
”
He thrust her hand away, instead urging her lips toward his needy flesh. Wrapping his hands in her long tresses, he guided her movement upon his body.
“
And tonight I will deal with the mess my nephew has left.
”
He surged forward into her willing mouth, his body consumed with the power of the female and the storm that raged outside.

* * *

Selina could not believe the scene unfolding before her very eyes as she stood silently inside the door to Bartok
’
s chambers. She had barely escaped from the Mountain of Life and now she was faced with an even greater betrayal. She watched as the young girl serviced Saatan and heard his cry of pleasure fill the air. Covering her ears, she fled from the room. With tears filling her eyes, she ran down the steps to the lower levels of the huge palace. Leaning back against the stone wall, she blinked the tears from her eyes, taking in huge gulps of life-giving air.

“
What has happened? What will become of me?
”
With an anguished sob, she slid down the wall, folding herself into a tight ball as her mind whirled with confusion.

“
Selina, Selina, my love.
”

She jerked as she heard her name called softly from the darkness. She huddled closer to the cold wall.
Bartok has discovered me!
she thought with horror. Or had Saatan followed her? Where was she t
o go? She had nowhere to
turn.
No one to welcome her in her hour of need.

“
Selina. Selina, come to me.
”

The sound came fro
m beyond the darkness. F
rom the dungeon! Shakily she rose to her feet, openly trembling in the dampness. For the first time in many years she was conscious of her nakedness. Moving cautiously she made her way down the long winding steps. Slowly, she approached the cell holding the prisoners. The king and queen lay together, lost in slumber. Surely her name had not been spoken by such great a leader? Her eyes focused on another figure beneath the small window. Darvek. Was it the warrior who had called to her from the darkness? Her body trembled with a new kind of fear.

“
Yes, my love, come closer. Do not be afraid.
”

Selina gasped as the words echoed through her mind. The man had not moved, and yet she knew it was from him that the words came.

“
What do you want?
’’
she whispered urgently, not daring to venture any closer. She had no desire for the King of Palermos to see her in such a wretched condition.

The man rose from his pallet and walked forward.
“
You have come to me.
”
Still his lips did not move.

“
Do not speak to me so,
”
she hissed and shook her head, her hands covering her ears.
“
I will not hear such evil. No man of flesh and blood would speak so.
”

Darvek laughed softly, finally saying the words out loud.
“
Yes, you will hear my words.
”

Surely this man must be a demon
to talk to her in such a manner?
She remembered the soft kiss that now seemed so long ago. Her life span had aged many years within the last hours. Finally she found the courage to look upon him, questions burning in her eyes.
“
How do you do such a thing?
”

Darvek smiled gently as if humoring a small child.
“
I can do many things. Come closer,
”
he commanded.

Unwillingly Selina felt herself being drawn from the concealing shadows.

“
By the holiest of holy. What has happened to you?
”
His voice was harsh and angry.

Instinctively she covered her breas
ts with her hands, ashamed
this man had seen her body.

“
Oh, my love,
”
he whispered, his voice gentling.
“
Do not be shamed before me.
”

She felt even more confusion well within her. Why wa
s this man speaking such strange
words? And to
her?
A
n Argonian whore who had allowed her body to be used for countless acts of pleasure.
“
Do not look upon me,
”
she cried, tears of shame spilling down her cheeks.

She heard a soft curse then felt the whisper of silk across her skin. Her eyes opened wide as the royal robe of the second-in-command of Palermos encompassed her body, hiding her nakedness.
“
Why would you give me such a garment?
”
Disbelief etched furrows in her brow.