Dragon Lords 4-Warrior Prince (25 page)

Pia’s eye narrowed.

"What?" Zoran urged.

"I got drunk. The Mayor’s son thought it would be fun to drag me out into the alley and rape me. I killed him and ran away. The Rayvikian Mayor owns a torture club and there’s a hefty price on my head to get me there alive. I contacted Galaxy Brides and here I am." Pia’s voice was cold as she quickly finished the story. "He was the only other man to ever ... try to ... be...."

Pia waved her hand, dismissing the statement. Zoran already knew the man hadn’t been successful in completing his task.

"What unique qualifications did you have?" he asked quietly.

"Last night I didn’t tell you everything. When my father ... during that explosion, I was hit too." Pia turned to study his reaction. "I was burnt over sixty percent of my body. Since the Rayvikians were looking for a scarred woman and the surgeries to correct it would be exceptionally expensive, I had no choice but to become a bride. It took the Galaxy Bride doctors two weeks of constant surgery just to smooth the scarring out."

"So it was either me or terrible death," he concluded.

"I’m sorry, Zoran," Pia whispered. "I know it wasn’t what you wanted to hear, but now you know everything. I understand if you want to send me away."

"Where would you go?" he asked, coming toward her.

"I don’t know. I have some contacts. I could feel around for a job. As long as the doctors didn’t take my picture, I’ll manage to disappear."

"Is that what you want?" he asked, carefully studying her.

"No," she whispered, honest.

"What do you want?" Zoran asked, taking another step forward.

"I don’t know," she lied. Oh, but Pia did know. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to stay here and have him tell her she was beautiful for the rest of her life. She wanted him to love her as she undeniably loved him.

Zoran easily sensed that she was lying.

"Take off your clothes," he ordered her.

Pia blinked, meeting his bold gaze. When she didn’t act, he went to her.

"Take them off," Zoran stated more firmly.

"Why--?"

"Do not question me," he broke in darkly. "Just do it."

Pia stiffened but obeyed. Slowly lifting her cotton shirt over her shoulders, she then pushed off her pants. She kicked them aside.

"Don’t move," he demanded in a whisper. "I want to examine you."

Pia stood tall. Zoran didn’t touch her as he inspected her with the exactness of a commander to his very lovely female soldier. He took steps around her, his eyes devouring every curve. When Pia tried to turn to see what he was doing behind her, he snapped, "Eyes straight."

Pia’s breathing deepened. Zoran took a hand to her backside, cupping it in his palm. She tensed.

"Very nice," he murmured in a low, possessive tone. Giving the fleshy mound a squeeze, he said, "Firm."

Pia jumped, trying to move. Suddenly, teeth were on her neck, biting lightly. Zoran let his fangs grow slightly to press in warning to her soft skin.

"I ordered you not to move," he whispered. "If you give me reason to, I can rip the throat from your neck."

Pia held still. Leisurely, he lips took the place of his teeth and kissed her before pulling away.

"What are you--?" Pia tried to ask, her voice weak.

"Silence," Zoran demanded, his tone harsh. He’d heard enough of her words. It was his turn. If it killed him, he was going to make her realize that she desired him as badly as he did her--even if that meant ordering her about to do it.

"Zora--?"

"Silence!" Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "For someone who was raised on a military base, you certainly lack discipline. Speak again without permission and I’ll have to reprimand you."

"Zoran, what are y--?"

Zoran growled, smacking her hard on her backside with the flat of his palm. Pia jumped in surprise even as she almost moaned in pleasure. She bit her tongue. Her knees tried to buckle, but she didn’t let them.

"That’s better," he urged after time had passed and she didn’t move or speak again. He knelt behind her and lightly kissed where his hand imprinted red on her flesh. Coming back up to her ear, he stated, "I don’t want to have to punish you, but I will. Do you understand?"

"Yes," she gasped.

Zoran smacked her firmly on her other cheek. This time his hand stayed boldly planted on her heated flesh.

"Yes, what?" he challenged.

"Yes, sir." Pia sucked in a fast breath. Her eyes closed as she nearly swooned.

Zoran firmly hit her again, feeling her tremble beneath his hand. He smelled desire pooling between her thighs to tempt him. He smiled so she couldn’t see. Maybe Agro had been wrong. Maybe Pia didn’t need to be conquered, but commanded. He was just the commander to do it. Perhaps if he took her will away from her and told her what to do, her brain would stop getting in the way and she would give them what they both wanted.

"Yes, sir, I understand," she answered.

"Good," Zoran murmured, rubbing his hand teasingly over her hip. He growled into her shoulder, "Very nice."

Zoran came around. Pia’s eyes were closed and her lips were firmly pressed together. He took his time watching her with his sultry gaze, waiting until she looked at him before he moved.

When Pia finally peeked at him through her lashes, the look on his face was devilishly handsome. His mouth curled at the corner as he purposefully made a show of looking at every naked inch of her. When his gaze stopped at the hair between her thighs, he licked his lips in anticipation.

He lifted his hand, just as high as her breasts. Turning his palm to her, he ordered, "Step forward."

She did.

"Put your breast in my hand. Let me feel it," he ordered.

Pia looked up at him. Her backside still stung with the pleasure-pain of his touch and she didn’t think to disobey the command. She stepped up to him and pressed her chest forward, not moving her arms.

"Rub it," Zoran ordered softly. His blank eyes were hiding a wealth of powerful emotions. But he wouldn’t frighten her away with them yet. "Make your nipple pucker into my palm."

Pia closed her eyes and obeyed. Raising her chest with ever increasing pants for air, she caressed herself with him.

"Now, the other," he commanded when the nipple became almost instantly erect.

Pia moved. She let her other breast get the same torturous treatment.

"You like that, don’t you," he growled. "Tell me you like it."

"I like it," she breathed.

Zoran reached around and spanked her hard. Pia’s hips bucked.

"I like it, sir," she corrected instantly.

"Oh," he murmured in a low tone. "You like it when I spank you?"

He spanked her again. Her breast pressed harder into his unmoving palm.

"Yes, sir," she cried. She was rewarded with another slap.

"You’re a disobedient woman, aren’t you, Pia?" he whispered, though there was no disapproval in his tone.

"Yes, sir."

"You need to be taught to obey me, don’t you?" he probed.

"Yes, sir." Pia groaned. Her body ached with need. The very significant places within her throbbed for him.

Zoran pulled his hand away. Pia blinked in surprise.

"Undress me," he ordered.

Pia instantly went to him, no hesitation. She grabbed his battle-stained tunic and pulled it over his head. Then, with the same urgency, she pulled the pants from his hips. She gasped at his hard erection. He lifted his feet to help her with his boots. When she finished, she moved to touch him.

"I didn’t give you permission," he said quietly, though he was pleased with her willingness.

Pia drew back.

"I’m sore from fighting," he said, bringing to mind one of his most predominant fantasies of her wet body in the shower. "You will wash me and massage me. Come."

Without giving her time to respond, Zoran turned and marched straight for the shower, turned it on, and stepped in. Sitting on the seat, he placed his arms to the side. It would be sweet torture, but he would let her get used to his body. He watched as she dutifully followed him in. Her nipples, still straining, were instantly moistened with droplets from the shower.

His motioned his fingers to the soap, and said simply, "Wash."

Water sprayed all around her body, wetting her hair. She pushed the locks away from her face and reached for soap. Eyeing him, she didn’t know where to begin. Seeing her dilemma, he lifted a foot. Pia dropped to her knees and began gliding her fingers over his flesh.

Zoran’s gaze narrowed as he watched her. His body strained painfully, but he didn’t hide his arousal from her. He wanted her to see it. He wanted her to feel and explore him. She gripped firmly, massaging his calf muscles with her strong fingers.

Pia felt him tense as she worked her way up to his thighs. He was so strong--pure muscle. She rose on her knees, massaging his legs. Her eyes stayed focused on his arousal and the two soft globes beneath it as she worked her way over his large thighs. It quivered as she neared it.

Pia didn’t dare touch his erection as she worked over his hips to his stomach and chest. She rubbed and cleaned all the battle sweat from his glorious skin. Zoran watched her with eyes of liquid fire. She explored his arms and neck. She slid her fingers between his stronger ones as she lifted and washed his hands.

"Stand," she whispered, unable to get his back.

Zoran’s brow rose on his manly face.

"Please, sir," she whispered.

He nodded and stood for her, turning around.

Pia rubbed his shoulders more thoroughly from behind. His head dropped and she heard him sigh as she eased the tension from them. She gave the same careful treatment to his back that she had the rest of him, only hesitating as she reached his taut backside.

He turned to eye her and she quickly touched him, massaging and cupping him in her palms as she finished.

Pia drew her hands away. Zoran turned, towering over her. The shower washed off all the soap she’d put on his body. He looked down pointedly at his arousal and said, his voice hoarse, "You missed a spot."

Pia looked down and didn’t move.

Zoran took her hand in his, squirted more soap into it, and brought it forward to his member. Moving her hand, he had her cup the base, rubbing the soft globes before moving her fingers around his shaft, lathering himself with her hand. His eyes stayed steadily on hers as he forced her to stroke him several times. It was almost more than his body could take.

Pia felt the unyielding power of him beneath her palm as he made her learn his body. It tortured her and, although she remembered how hard of a fit he was inside her, she suddenly wanted to try it again. Didn’t Nadja say the second time wasn’t so bad?

Zoran almost lost himself as she tightened her fingers. She took over, stroking him more insistently in her own desire. He groaned and forced her hand from him.

"I think I’m clean enough," Zoran stated, his voice husky. He looked her wet body over. He wanted nothing more than to touch it. If he did, he would never be able to draw this out like he planned. "Wash yourself, wife, and then come into the bedroom."

Pia gulped. Her mouth was dry.

Zoran looked her over with a dominating consideration. "Don’t bother to get dressed."

Pia shivered. Zoran strode out of the shower. He grabbed a towel and didn’t look back. Collecting herself, she did as he commanded, washing as quickly as she could with shaking fingers.

Chapter Seventeen

Pia couldn’t quite get herself to walk across the house naked. She tried. But, in the end, she grabbed a thick terry cloth robe off the wall by the sauna and wrapped it around her shivering body.

Zoran had been exquisite to explore. The feel of him amazed her, the hot texture of his flesh, the deep folds of his muscles, the size of his.... Just thinking about it made her blush furiously in embarrassment and she couldn’t finish the thought.

When he looked at her in his commanding way, she really wanted to obey him. She wanted to please him and she wanted to be pleased by him. Her body ached for his touch, knowing that a set of explosives would go off at the lightest of his caresses.

Pia poked her head out of the bathroom door, looking out into the front room. It was empty. Slowly, she inched out, padding barefoot across the wooden floor. She paused to see that the bedroom door was closed.

Pia’s heart hammered in her chest. She panicked. Spinning on her heels, she made a move for the front door. Her lips parted ready to call out a command for it to open. She was too late, Zoran had heard her.

"Lose the robe and come here."

Pia shivered. When she looked, he wasn’t there but the door was open. A soft flickering came from the bedroom and Pia saw the dancing flames of numerous candles haphazardly trailing along the dresser and floor like twinkling stars.

She clutched the robe to her chest, slowly going to him. Curiosity overcame her fear and she stopped at the bedroom door. Zoran was lounging on the bed naked, waiting for her. Her eyes widened, instantly turning down and away.

When she merely stood, clutching the robe in a deathlike grip that turned her knuckles white, Zoran frowned. He felt her heart beating as if it were his own. He’d detected her hurried footsteps as she came to him only to stop. And, as he heard her heading toward the door, knew she contemplated running away. It would seem he still had some taming to do. Zoran idly smiled, up to the challenge.

Moving stealthily from the bed, he was soon before her. Pia tensed. Zoran grabbed her belt and jerked it from around her waist.

"Take off the robe," he said quietly. Her lips tightened and he lowered his mouth to them. Whispering against her, he let his mouth brush hers, as he urged, "Please, take it off. I’m aching to touch you."

Zoran’s hands lifted to her shoulders, delving beneath the material to brush across her skin. He forced the robe from her shoulders and it pooled onto the floor.

"Better," he murmured, as if to himself.

Pia shivered.

"Do not try to hide from me again," Zoran instructed. "From this moment on, I’ll look at you and touch you whenever and however I wish. And you will touch me. This is what we both want. You are my wife. You will stay as my wife. None of the other things matter."