Anger (4 page)

* * * *

33

Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

Alethea shuddered and moaned as he stroked the creamy white flesh that firmed lightly under his touch, pressing gently against the grasping hands. Darts of heat flew between her breasts and belly, swelling the small bud between her thighs and sending out a slick messenger of her arousal. Her head drew down to his neck, she breathed deeply of his musky scent and smiled as her lips touched the warm muscle of his throat, licking and nipping at a jaw clenched with his effort to restrain himself. She smiled. There was nothing in her now but an urge to make him lose that control. The cords of his neck were distended. She licked at them next, biting gently and moving down his chest. With every touch of her lips he shuddered and bucked beneath her, each moan he gave up building her feeling of control, of power. The petals between her thighs were slick now—she could smell her own heat mixed with his. It was a heady combination.

She followed the line of hair across his chest and down to his belly, flicked her tongue into his navell and his whole body arched in reaction. His breath rattled out of him in a guttural groan, and then his hands were on her, pulling her up to straddle his hips, his cock weeping in desperation to enter her snug passage.

* * * *

He cupped her hips and rubbed her against him, their moans combining into a passionate note that echoed in the chamber. He gripped her hip with one hand to keep her in place and slid the other through the hair that crowned her sex 34

Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

and lower. The wetness that greeted him relieved him—

though he could smell her heat, and she definitely wasn't shy with his body, he didn't want to hurt her on their first time together.

He slipped one finger inside her, then two. He curled them and gently teased her inner passage. She rocked her hips against his hand, but he held her still plunging his fingers slowly until she mewled for satisfaction. With his thumb, he pushed back the tiny hood and rubbed insistently at her clit. She fought him, and he laughed.

He let go. She gripped his cock in long slender fingers and lodged him in her entrance. Gasping and trembling, she slowly dropped onto him, his arching back thrusting him to the hilt as he took her weight on his hips.

"Oh, gods!" Just like that she went over, her body clenching around him, a voluptuous pulsing around him as his own release slammed into him. His hands bruised her hips as he stayed deep inside her, pouring his seed into her.

* * * *

Alethea widened her eyes at the feeling of the jetting within her, and her own release continued for endless moments while she held him within her. Finally, sated, she slumped forward onto his chest.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her, one hand on her hip to stay within her. He chuckled, each movement of his chest moving her on him. And him within her. Aftershocks rippled through her, and she twitched.

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Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

"Why are you laughing?" She mumbled it into his chest, but he understood it anyway.

"That was the fastest I have spilled myself since I was a teenager."

"Ah. That was a first for me. I haven't ... um, before." He tugged her head up and kissed her. "I'm glad." Insecurity crept in,

"So, it was all right?" She refused to meet his eyes. He began to laugh again. Fury swept through her. How dare he laugh at her? She pushed at him with both hands, shoving off of him, feeling him slide from within her. Her hands fisted, and she punched him in the jaw. Seconds later, she was in the bathing chamber with the door bolted. She was shaking, part from fury, part from fear. She backed against the far wall and kept a wary eye on the door.

There was no sound from the outer room. How hard had she hit him?

Minutes crawled by as she waited, huddled in a small ball on the floor. Still no sound. She crept back to the door, slid the bolt back silently and opened it.

The bedroom was empty.

Had he left her? She walked hesitantly into the room, looking for anyplace he might be hiding.

"What are you looking for?" A whisper in her ear from right behind her.

She jumped a foot into the air. "Holy hells!" Arms wrapped around her from behind. She fought, kicking and yelling.

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Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

"Let me go! Let me go, you bastard!"

"Bastard? Don't let my mother hear you say that. She might take offense." He was still naked. She could feel him rising against her back as she struggled to free herself.

* * * *

He held her until she slumped against him, exhausted. She started up again—less shouting, more squirming. Then relaxed. Then started again.

Finally, she was exhausted. Did she realize she didn't want to get away from him? She could have quite easily. She only had to use her warding talents. She hadn't even tried. 37

Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

Alethea woke when a knock sounded at the door. She was alone in the bed, still nude, and tired. Very tired. Rhys was at the door, and he blushed copper under his bronze skin as a woman calmly walked into the room. She had a tray of food she set on the table.

"You can wait outside, Rhys. This will take as long as it takes." She tossed a towel to him then shoved him out and closed the door in his face.

"I guess I had better introduce myself. My name is Lia, and I am your new sister-in-law."

Alethea stared at her in shock. "But I'm not married."

"According to the laws of the Dragon Council, you are. May I explain?" Lia sat at the edge of the bed and kept her eyes on Alethea, who drew the covers up to her chin.

"I guess so. But I won't believe you." Lia sighed heavily. "Your father is a dragon, and one of your mother's ancestors was a dragon. You can therefore breed true."

"Breed true?"

"Have children who are completely in possession of the talents and abilities of dragonkind. By the laws of the council, your father has the right to choose a husband for you. Usually, several candidates selected by the father are provided, and the daughter chooses one. In your case, your father did not acknowledge you. This allowed your 38

Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

grandfather, Kesler, to make the decision for you. He chose Rhys."

"He chose for me?"

"Yep, that gentleman in the hall wearing nothing but a towel is your husband, by council decree."

"What if I don't want a husband? What if I just want to live alone for the rest of my life?"

Lia sighed again. "If your father figures out who you are, he will offer you to suitors who will track you down and force you."

"As opposed to being held against my will here?"

"Did Rhys force you?" She looked shocked. "If he did, Marcus will kick his..."

Alethea blushed. "No! I mean, I ... he ... he kissed me then, I..." She trailed off as she realized she had taken him. He had done nothing more than kiss her to trigger her passion.

"I know he isn't the most handsome of men, but he is even-tempered. Kind, and has a great mind for schemes." Lia took her hand and a gentle, tingling warmth spread through her.

"What? What are you doing?"

"I'm a healer. I am taking care of your aches and pains." Her smile flickered then firmed as the warmth spread through every inch of Alethea's body. When she removed her hand there was nothing left of the tiny cuts and bruises that had been left by the events of the last few days.

"How do you feel?"

39

Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

"Better, thank you. But I don't know about the whole Dragon Council thing. I am going to have to think about this in detail."

"All right, but think quickly. The council will convene in five days. You will be expected to attend."

"Me? Why?"

"Because of the destruction of Talleth." She patted Alethea's hand. "Now for some better news. Your grandparents are coming to visit you. Before you get excited, clothing will be provided." Lia winked at her. "Kesler has sent you something as a gift." She reached into a pouch hanging from her belt and withdrew a pendant. "It's quite beautiful. Let me put it on you."

Moments later, the silver locket hung between Alethea's breasts.

"It looks lovely on you. I am sure Rhys will be terribly impressed by it."

"Um. What happens if I do decide to stay with him? Just in case."

"Then you will go and live in his house in the forest of Neolynx. You will be able to take jobs as a Warder if you wish, and you can visit here as much as you like." Despite the disconcerting directness of Lia's golden eyes, there was genuine warmth there that Alethea had never seen in another being's eyes before. Well, come to think of it, Rhys had the same look of warmth and acceptance in his eyes.

"I think your grandparents would like to get to know you as well, if you allow it." She rose gracefully to her feet. Her 40

Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

gown flowed around her as she walked to the door. "If you need me, just ring the bell four times. I'll get the message.

"Now, remember. No one under this roof will ever hurt you. We all wish you the best and will put ourselves between you and harm. You are safe here." With a final smile and a small wave, Lia let Rhys back in, and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Take care of her. You almost lost her."

* * * *

Lia's whisper widened his eyes. He looked over at his bride, and his heart jumped in his chest. He turned to see Lia turn the corner to the stairs; tears tracked down her cheeks. 41

Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

Slowly, he closed and bolted the door. Pasting a pleasant expression on his face, he asked, "So, what did you talk about?"

"Oh, this. That. The Dragon Council handing me over to you." She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. The bedding had fallen to her waist and she didn't even seem to notice.

Her breasts rose and fell in agitation. He watched them carefully, and noted the pendant hanging between them.

"Where did that come from?"

"Lia gave it to me. She said it came from my grandfather. It was a gift. Do you like it?" She trailed her fingers down the chain, caressing the filigree work.

Her fingers delicately traced circles on the surface, and he felt himself respond instantly. As he watched her stroke the pendant, her eyelids became heavy, and her lips parted to let her tongue lave across them.

Kesler had sent her a damned aphrodisiac. The other pendants were safely locked in a wardrobe hidden in the wall—this had to be a backup.

She rose out of the bed and came toward him, hips swaying and smoldering eyes meeting his. With every step, his heart pounded faster. Her fingers had now left the pendant and were caressing her breasts, trailing over her stiff nipples and kneading the mounds of creamy flesh. He 42

Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

suspected she had no idea the level of heat she was generating within him. He would have to show her. A husky tone he had never heard before broke free of her flushed lips, "So, do you like the pendant? You didn't say." Striding forward he gripped her arms and lifted her breasts to his mouth. As he lapped at one nipple then the next, he moved until her back was against the stone wall. She squealed, and the sharp jerk at her neck went unnoticed because his suckling at her breast was driving her mad. Another high cry as his teeth scraped her flesh. She raised her legs and wrapped them around him to draw him to her.

The odor of her arousal intoxicated him. It was a wild scent, combining the unmistakable fragrance of Alethea with the tangy musk of dragon. He moved forward and positioned the head of his erection in the heat of her core. As he released her, she slid down onto his cock, and they both groaned in relief. He wove his fingers with hers, pinning her arms above her head.

His hips pushed against hers with a relentless rhythm, shoving her against the smooth stone of the wall. Her body was completely supported by their union, and her hungry lips sought his. He pounded into her, grunting as sweat dripped from his brow, her breathy cries swallowed by his mouth as they writhed against each other.

He came inside her, shuddering with a groan as his hips drove into her and pinned her to the wall. He held her there for an endless moment then raised his head. Meeting her eyes, he could tell his satisfaction had flown before hers. 43

Wardstone: Anger [Seven Sins and Virtue Series]

by Grace Viola

With his hips bracing her against the wall, He snaked one hand between them to rub circles around her clit. The other took over the task of restraining her hands. He gently explored the petals of her sex where his cock still throbbed within her. The movement of his fingers caused her eyes to flutter shut, to focus on the sensations he was heaping on her.

He paused. "Look at me. I want your eyes on me when you come."

Her midnight eyes widened in surprise, and despite her frenzy, she blushed. Nevertheless, she watched him watching her as he stroked.

* * * *

His breath was coming faster, and she felt him swell within her as cries of pleasure broke from her throat. His slick fingers slid over her clit one more time, and she shattered into a thousand pieces. Her body arched against the cold stone and thrust hard against him, impaling herself on his reenergized member. Her eyes locked to his, she saw the satisfaction and pleasure her pleasure had brought him. As the fluttering subsided, she flexed her hands trying to obtain her freedom. The slight movement brought him out of a bemused examination of her features. He released her hands and helped her unlock her legs to stand on her own feet, slipping from her in the process.