Daryk Warrior (16 page)

She drew back. “I hate that you put yourself in danger for
me.”

“No more than I hated being without you.” Eryk’s lips
trailed from her cheek to her ear. “Your scent.” He breathed deeply. “Your soft
sweet body. You intoxicate me.”

Eryk shivered against her as if he couldn’t control his
reaction. She quivered as well when he traced her ear with his tongue then
bathed a path down her throat. Hot, liquid need pooled in her loins and an
instant ache demanded fulfillment. Now that she’d experienced his affection,
his way of making her writhe and scream in delight, she wanted it again. And
she wouldn’t be without a moment longer.

When his mouth found hers again and his fingers worked open
the laces on the front of her tunic she arched and moaned softly. He drew her
tunic over her head and buried his face between her breasts. He didn’t touch
them, didn’t command or lick or taste. He breathed her in as if he feared to
never know her touch again after this moment. Tenderness and lust speared her
like a sword. She couldn’t wait as the ache between her thighs grew strong and
demanded she quench it. She grabbed at his waistband and he laughed softly when
he looked up at her.

“Eager, are we?” he asked, voice husky and smile teasing.

She touched him through his trousers, cupping his long,
thick cock and heavy balls. He hissed in a breath.

“I want this,” she said, her breath coming faster.

His eyes blazed from warm darkness to molten light. “Yes.”

He picked her up and her legs went around his waist. She
ground her hips into his erection as the potent fervor in her body increased.
He laid her on the bed and quickly did away with his outerwear, his tunic,
boots and last his trousers. He was naked, a feast for her eyes as he stood
with his hands on his hips. Mia drank deeply of him, gaze running from his
chiseled features to the broad chest and powerful arms. She allowed her gaze to
take in the thick hair framing his cock. Before she could make a move he drew
off her boots. He snagged her pants and smoothed them down her legs. Naked, she
lay looking up him and saw pure admiration and desire for her lighting him from
within. She vowed to please him, drive him to the limits of his endurance. She
would give Eryk Gauth every imaginable fantasy.

“Do everything you want to me, Eryk.”

He crawled onto the bed, his expression surprised.
“Everything?”

“Yes.”

With that he kissed her again, his hips lowering between her
thighs. With a slow sweet push his cock was inside her. She gasped as his
thickness forged deep. Hot, hard and relentless, his cock stroked. He gave her
no time to think, only to feel. Each amazing inch of his body added to her
pleasure, to the bliss that rose higher and faster. He didn’t pound at her but
neither was he slow, the steady friction of his cock within her wet heat asking
for more and more. He cupped her butt, easing in and out with a rhythm that
threatened to drive her wild. She closed her eyes and felt every inch of his
long hard thickness touch her all the way to the womb, and the heat and
friction made her gasp with bliss. She arched against Eryk’s hold, thrashed
under the steady beat of his hips. He didn’t kiss her but watched. Heat filled
her face, burning as she realized that his red gaze wouldn’t let her go.

“Watch us come together,” he said, finally tearing his gaze
away from hers.

Following his lead, she watched as his cock slipped in and
out of her. A wave of erotic bliss shivered through Mia. Magon, how amazing.
How
incredible. How could any place, any world, find this act abhorrent?
She
felt too wonderful, transported to another plane where nothing existed but Eryk
and the amazing things he did to her and with her. She threw her arms above her
head as he brought her hips high. He pushed her knees up to her ears so her
vulnerable points were exposed in every way to him. He pounded his cock deep,
urging cries from her as the heat became too much to contain. She rose on it,
flying high until she clasped hard around his cock. Mia closed her eyes and
whimpered as ecstasy shook through her body. She expected him to come, to find
his pinnacle soon after. He pulled from her and urged her onto her hands and
knees.

She knew what he wanted. The desire within a Daryk One was
fierce, without parallel. With one deep thrust he took Mia. She gasped in
pleasure. She expected him to rut, to bring her to an explosive, quick
completion once more. Instead he drew her hips tight against the cradle of his.
He pressed hard until she didn’t know where she ended and he began. His arms
encircled her waist, palms smoothing up her torso to cup her breasts then down
to the flatness of her belly. She wriggled and he groaned. When he drew out and
thrust, it was a hard motion, born of male energy and demands. Then, as if he
thought better of a quick fuck, he undulated his hips.

Gasping and shuddering, she rode the pleasure as stroke
after languorous stroke brought her higher. He circled her clit and teased
until she was out of breath and panting for more. He stroked her endlessly.
With a scream she shattered in his arms, whimpering and moaning in utter
ecstasy as her pussy tightened on every inch of delicious cock. Then, before
she could think, could say a word, he drew his cock all the way out and slammed
it deep. His thrusts pounded her sex but not with pain. She loved it. She
bucked. She mewed in delight. Mia threw her hips back, meeting each hard thrust
with an equally brutal demand. Words tumbled from her throat, a wild and wanton
display that felt right and good. He wouldn’t stroke her faster, no matter how
much she demanded it. His torture was sensual, destroying her inhibitions until
with one thrust he shattered her willpower to resist and she came apart inch by
inch. Bliss exploded, roaring through her body like a wave bent on chaos. But
oh…oh the bliss was exquisite. She shivered and quaked. With one hard thrust he
went over, shaking behind her as he growled in orgasm. She thought maybe he was
finished but discovered how wrong she was. He cock stayed hard and he drew it out
of her. He drew her moist essence upward, circling her cream around her anus.
She gasped, a bit shocked by the touch. She blinked, knowing from what she’d
read in secret documents on Magon that some people had sex this way…some of the
time.

“Don’t worry, my sweet,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Just a
little. I won’t hurt you. I’ve dreamed of taking you here.”

With trust and ease, she nodded. She was excited by the
idea, truth be told. Curiosity and desire mixed with a smidgen of fear. He
smoothed her cream over the forbidden entrance again and again, teasing her
anus. His mere touch made more cream flow from her pussy. He eased one finger
deep into her neither hole, moving with slow determination.

“That’s it,” he whispered. “So tight.”

Excitement danced along her spine, along her entire body at
the sensation of his thick finger invading. But he was gentle and when he
worked one more finger into her tightness, she gasped and moaned.

“Am I hurting you?” he asked, his fingers halfway imbedded
in her ass.

“No. More.”

With a low groan of approval he drew his fingers out, then
thrust them in again. He began a rhythm, not too hard and not too soft.

When she felt his blunt touch, his cock pressing gently at
her entrance, she gasped again. He pushed, retreated, pushed. Each movement was
subtle, oh so gentle. Her body opened and let him in. He worked her opening,
each entrance tickling a new place inside her that longed for more.

“All right?” he asked.

“Yes. Oh yes.”

With that encouragement he pressed a little more. Her body
accepted and as he sank part of the way inside she moaned at the delicious new
feeling. He didn’t sink all the way, his cock far too large. Instead he began a
slow, deliberate back and forth that worked her into a frenzy so frantic she
couldn’t stop moaning. He reached beneath her and caught her clit between two
fingers. He pinched her gently, milking the little bud with gentle tugs while
his cock slid in and out of her ass. Her body yearned and begged for
completion.

“Oh God Draconus.” His whisper was also a moan of pleasure.
“Draconus, yes.”

She moved with him, the slow and methodical pace driving her
mad. She pushed back, impaling herself farther onto his shaft. He reached
around, caressed her clit, and Mia couldn’t stand it any longer. Fire blossomed
in her core, exploding into a torrential orgasm. She shook with it, gasping and
moaning as the ecstasy trembled through her and brought her back down.

Being inside Mia’s body had always made him crazy to have
more, to explore the beast inside him as he had never done with another woman.
And he’d never had anal sex before—had never wanted it with another woman. His
mate, she was special. His to hold. To protect. To love in the most intimate of
ways. As he’d thrust the tiniest bit into her ass, the excitement had slammed
him like a dragon attack. Furious. Expanding and unstoppable. He’d groaned with
the unbelievable feeling of her tightness gripping the very tip of his cock.
Now, as only half of his shaft took her, he watched the incredible sight of his
cock moving in and out of her ass.
Oh Draconus
. Sexual excitement made
him want to move faster, to sink farther into her body. But he refused to hurt
her. So he sawed in and out, gently, purposely, to give her as much pleasure as
she could take. Though she’d already experienced more than one orgasm he hoped
to give her another. He pumped, moving his cock slowly but surely in and out of
that tight little hole. He pinched her clit gently, circled it. She quivered
and with a gasp she came again. And he let himself go. He simply exploded,
gasping, moaning, sweating like a runner as he held himself in her body and
poured his seed into her ass. Gods, had there ever been a better feeling?
Liquid heat poured from him in wave after wave until he had nothing left to give
her but love.

Chapter Thirteen

“How did you get in the castle without being caught?” Mia
asked as she lay in Eryk’s arms a long, long time later.

“I have ways.” Amusement filled his voice. “There is more
than one entrance to the castle the rogues don’t know.”

“Really? In a castle?”

“There’s an underground area from a cave system. It’s
treacherous and most of the time the tunnel is clogged with ice. This time it
wasn’t.”

“Hmmm.”

She traced her fingers through the smattering of hair over
his hard pecs. “You didn’t allow my plan to proceed. Why?”

“I should have said I wouldn’t let you sacrifice yourself to
Rechard if I lost our fight.”

Her blood went icy at the thought of Eryk losing a fight
with Rechard. She didn’t want to think of it any longer but how could she avoid
it?

“How could you prevent it?” she asked.

“I’ll go to Rechard and propose a different fight. One I
think he’ll find more satisfying to his pride.”

Her stomach did a flip-flop. “What?”

“If he kills me, he lets you go.”

She sat up, pulling from his grip. “No.” The word was
definitive and hard. “I won’t allow it. I love you, Eryk.”

And in that moment the pressure she’d forestalled through
meditation burst forth in anger and fear. Tears threatened but she forced them
away. Words spilled from her with conviction. “No. I won’t allow you to do
that. Rechard is as honorable as a rogue can be. I won’t allow him to kill you.
My deal was that if he harmed you he’d let you go, and Asam. That’s how it’s
going to be.”

He gave her a full-fledged grin. More anger poured forth
inside her. She almost punched him.

“What are you smiling at? This isn’t amusing, sir.”

“I know, my love. It’s not that.” He sat up with her and
touched her face with reverence. “I’m smiling because you said you love me.
You’re my mate. My only one. While I was out there wondering if you were all
right I could no longer deny that you were my mate. It’s in my bones. In my
being. I love you and will always love you, no matter what happens.”

Eryk drew her down to the bed with him and sweet contentment
made her sigh and obliterated much of her fear in a wave of delight and
discovery. Magon, it felt so wonderful to snuggle into his hard body, to allow
beautiful happiness to fill her through and through.

“Don’t distract me,” she said halfheartedly. “I still wish
to be angry with you.”

He laughed, hovering over her with his big, thrilling body.
“As if I could stop that from happening.” Then he grinned again,
mischievousness in his eyes. “Perhaps I can distract you once more.”

She placed her index finger on his lips, halting the
possibility. “We have to talk this out, Eryk. I won’t allow you to order me
about and tell me what to do.”

She saw the resignation wipe amusement from his eyes and she
also saw understanding. Pleasure touched her at the same moment as worry. Eryk
respected her, loved her and wanted the best for her. The amazement that
brought seemed to have no boundaries.

He kissed her fingers. “Listen to me, Mia. I couldn’t bear
it if anything happened to you. It would destroy me.” He swallowed hard and
bleakness marred his eyes. “Give me this. Please at least let me know you will
live if I don’t.”

Stubbornness and fear drove her to her next words. “You’d
rather I bear the grief if you die? Thank you so very much.”

He drew away from her long enough to sit on the edge of the
bed and frown. “Forgive me but I can’t see beyond my own thoughts. Beyond an
imagining of grief so profound it tears me into tiny pieces.”

His words, spoken in a rough, sincere voice, assured her
this was his truth. It was also hers.

“I won’t give you up.” Her eyes stung once more with tears
she refused to shed. “So we must find a compromise.”

He turned back to her. “First blood then.”

“What is that?”

“Rechard and I fight to the first cut. Then we stop. If I
cut him first he allows us to leave.”

“Oh God Magon.” She whispered the words but she knew it must
be done.

* * * * *

“A kiss for luck,” Eryk said and then kissed Mia thoroughly
in front of the crowd. Mia’s senses whirled even though she knew people watched
with suspicion, with interest. No one but Asam and Mia and Eryk knew how much
this kiss meant to Mia. Eryk kissed her hungrily, as if it might be the last
time. Fear mixed with desire in her blood as she clutched at him. She didn’t
want to let him go but knew she must. When he drew back she stared into his
eyes and drank in the love she saw there. And love gave her the strength she
wanted and needed to watch this fight without collapsing into hysterics. No.
She knew she owned the strength to maintain without his kiss filled with
promise. She could stay strong for him. No one could doubt Mia Griffi was Eryk
Gauth’s and that also gave Mia assurance. In this Dragonian society Rayder and
Dane would defend her honor as well and their unspoken protection gave her some
sense of safety. Before they’d come out to the courtyard Eryk had made her
promise to look to his friends for protection if needed. She’d swallowed hard
and agreed. Now the time for reckoning had come.

Rechard had demanded to know how Eryk had gotten into the
castle without anyone seeing him. Eryk had given up the location of the tunnel
because he had no other choice.

Rechard, who stood across the courtyard preparing for the
sword fight, stared at them as they broke from the embrace. A loud cheer went
up for the kiss. Mia released Eryk reluctantly as he stepped away. He stood
near a table where his sword and shield lay ready. She’d learned from Asam that
shields weren’t normally used by Daryk Ones during a challenge fight like this
but that Rechard insisted on it to make the fight last longer. No. No. Mia
didn’t want it to last long. She wanted Eryk to cut Rechard and for them to
leave. Rechard had agreed to their release on one condition…that Asam stay and
heal more people here. That she couldn’t be used to heal Daryk Ones who fought
for Bardannia Castle in the days to come.

Asam had agreed, against Eryk and Mia’s advice. Asam
couldn’t be swayed, assuring them she would be fine. She’d lived in Bardannia
Castle for so long, no matter who ruled the place her skills would prove
helpful for whoever required them. After all, it was her home too.

Mia stood with the rest of the crowd and started the
breathing exercises Asam had instructed her to use to calm anxiety. Mia
repeated the words in her head.

All is as it should be.

All is what it is.

It is as it should be.

Mia’s body felt stiff, her emotions buzzing like an annoying
insect in her ear and tightening her muscles into rocks.

Again she breathed from the stomach to ensure she didn’t
breathe high in her chest and cause more fear.

All is as it should be.

It is what it should be.

Asam came to her side and watched as both men strapped on
additional shielding for their shoulders, their shins and forearms. Both wore
garb that kept out the icy weather but wouldn’t prevent a sword from making
contact. Rechard insisted on fighting outside rather than in an enclosed area
like the great hall. He liked the cold, he claimed. He’d given instructions
that no rogue would stop Eryk and Mia from leaving Bardannia if Rechard lost
the fight. Mia hoped they would listen to their leader.

The day was frosty, as cold as always. Clouds hung low,
obscuring the white sheen of snow. Soon only torches blazing along the walls
would illuminate the courtyard as night crept ever closer.

One man acted as the go-between for the fight. He moved away
from the middle and made a waving gesture. “Fight!”

Mia tensed as Rechard and Eryk came together in a clash of
swords. She breathed from the stomach.

The swords clanged, a metallic sound that hurt Mia’s ears.
She prayed as only a Magonian could pray. She breathed slowly. Certainly.
Evenly.

Rechard’s and Eryk’s armor and snow clothing kept Mia from
seeing their muscles strain and move with power and force but their grunts and
facial expressions told the story. Eryk moved forward, his advance relentless,
as Rechard started to lose ground. Rechard moved to the edge of the circle and
several rogues moved backward.

Mia noticed that a huge crowd had formed that was far larger
one than moments ago. That’s when she realized some of the men encircling the
area were from Eryk, Rayder and Dane’s group.

“Mia,” a voice said near her ear.

She glanced around and there was Rayder in all his strength
and glory. Dane stood next to her.

“Come,” Rayder said, still in a whisper.

“What?” Asam asked in surprise.

“Come with us.” Rayder took her arm gently. “Eryk wants you
out of here. He didn’t want you to wait until the fight was over.”

“But—” Mia started to say.

“Go,” Asam said. “Go now.”

With her throat tight, her concentration on calm broken, Mia
followed Rayder and Dane into the thick crowd.

Eryk knew that Rayder and Dane must have escorted Mia into
the secret tunnel by now and it gave him strength. All that mattered was Mia’s
safety.

And finding a way to cut Rechard and end this damn fight.
Relief mixed with determination inside him.

Rechard slashed at him, driving the sword point forward with
a swift and precise movement. Eryk blocked the stroke and drove his own point
forward. He felt the sword make impact with Rechard’s right arm and saw
Recard’s flinch as he drew back.

First blood
.

“First blood!” Voices rang out.

Recard dealt a blow to Eryk’s side. Pain stabbed Eryk’s ribs
and he growled in anger.

Rechard lifted his right hand and a stream of blood darkened
his white snow wear. For a horrifying second Eryk believed he’d done more
damage to his enemy than anticipated. He hadn’t intended to kill Rechard.

Again pain burned Eryk’s ribs and Rechard’s eyes widened as
he came toward Eryk.

“Friend,” Rechard said, “your injury. I’m sorry I lashed out
when you’d already drawn blood.”

Perplexed by the man’s concerned expression, Eryk looked
down at his left side and saw the material rapidly turning bright red. Perhaps
the cut was worse than he’d realized.

“Draconus,” Eryk cursed under his breath. “By the God.”

His vision dimmed and he clasped his hand against the wound.
Before he knew it Asam was next to him.

“Eryk, your wound is worse than you thought.” Asam pressed
her hand to his side and he gasped as pain lanced his body.

Rechard stood there too. “Take him to his quarters and work
your magic, Asam.”

“I’m fine.” Eryk didn’t want pampering. “Will you stick to
your word?”

Rechard glanced around and his mouth tightened. “I see Mia
is nowhere to be found. Where have you put her?”

“None of your concern. She’s safe and that’s all that
matters.”

Rechard’s smile acknowledged Eryk’s harsh assessment of what
should and shouldn’t concern him. “I understand your woman is important to you.
I didn’t say she could leave before the fight was over.”

“You also didn’t say she had to stay.”

Rechard chuckled. “You’re an intelligent man, Gauth.”

Eryk saw no sign of his men nor any sign of Mia, Dane or
Rayder. He knew his men would spring forward by evening and swamp the area from
strategic points. He planned to be with them when Daryk Ones returned Bardannia
Castle to their power.

Rechard’s expression turned hard. “Attend your wound, Gauth.
You won’t leave the castle now, even if your woman has left.”

Asam took his arm and propelled him from the courtyard.
“Come. You’re no good to Mia like this.”

Once inside his lodging Eryk took off his upper body
outerwear with little trouble. He wasn’t losing as much blood as he’d thought.

“Here, sit in this chair.” Asam pointed him toward a chair
at the table and he sank into it.

His body trembled and that surprised him. “Mia is safe.”

Asam dug into her pack filled with bandages and brought out
a roll. “She will be if she isn’t already.”

Asam wrapped his side rapidly to stanch the flow of blood
from his wound then placed her hand over the bloody spot. “This will sting but
I should be able to heal it in no time.”

“You must leave as soon as you’re done. My men will attack
soon. Who knows what will happen after that.”

“I’m staying.”

“I can see why Mia speaks so highly of you. You’re as stubborn
as she is.”

Asam laughed and closed her eyes, ready to knit together his
skin. Eryk felt the flow of heat from her fingers and hoped the wound would
heal fast.

But it didn’t. All her effort went for nothing even after
she applied herbs in a healing poultice.

“I don’t understand why this wound won’t heal.” Asam’s brow
furrowed and her frown deepened.

Eryk noted the bandage hadn’t soaked through with blood as
it had five times already but he could tell the wound hadn’t knitted together
as it should have under the healer’s touch.

“It doesn’t matter.” He rolled his shoulders to remove the
ache that had started in his body a few hours ago during the fight with
Rechard. “It’ll heal on its own.”

Asam stood with her hands on her hips and inspected him as
if he were an insect she’d never seen before. “This is very unusual. I don’t
like it.”

“That I have to heal like most men?”

“Yes. You’re a Daryk One with extraordinary healing powers
at your disposal even without my help. But your body is reacting like a very
regular man’s.”

“You’ve never failed to heal.”

“No.”

“Well this is a first then.”

Asam didn’t look appeased. “I’m puzzled as to what’s wrong.
I guess I’m proving your first suspicions of me to be right.”