Dragon Lords 4-Warrior Prince (6 page)

In aggravation he dropped the fur back down and said, "We will discuss it later."

Pia heard him stand and stalk away. She smiled. He was definitely upset.

"There’s nothing to discuss," she answered, her tone flippant. "I’ll do whatever I wish."

A low grumble in the Qurilixen tongue was her only reply.

Chapter Four

The torches were beginning to dim when Pia took the fur coverlet from the sconces and pulled it around her naked body. Zoran lay on the bed, his ankles crossed and his hands threaded behind his head. He looked thoughtfully at her and gave her a slight, interested smile.

"Any chance you are planning on spending the night outside this tent?" she asked dryly.

Zoran grinned. He wasn’t going anywhere.

"Any chance you’re going to share that blanket with me?" he questioned instead. His eyes lit with meaning as they dipped over the fur.

"Not on your life." She came down next to him, though far enough that he couldn’t touch her without making an effort.

"What if I said I was cold?"

"Sorry," she answered without a moment’s consideration. She turned her back on him, snuggling into the warmth. Giving a contented sigh, she said, "I’d have to tell you to quit being a baby."

"I’d share with you."

Pia stiffened. His voice had drifted closer though she hadn’t felt him move. The bed hadn’t shifted under his weight. She closed her eyes, concentrating on him while pretending to fall asleep.

Gradually, she felt the light caress of a hand on her hip, running softly up her side over the fur. Her arms were buried beneath the blanket so he didn’t meet with flesh. Slowly, he worked his fingers into the bun in her hair, loosening the strands and combing them out with his fingers. Pia shivered, starting not to mind her hair for the first time since growing it. When she didn’t scream, Zoran grew bolder, edging closer so that his body wrapped next to hers.

Pia felt a tender kiss on her neck. His face buried into her locks, breathing deeply.

"I want to make love to you," he said boldly. "I’ve wanted to since the moment I first saw you."

Pia scrunched up her nose in disbelief. Some men would say anything.

Zoran’s hand discovered an opening in the fur and dipped in to find the heat of her bare stomach. He kissed her again, nudging the fur down over her arm. Pia couldn’t move, could barely breathe. She tensed against his expertly searching caress. Since first walking into his tent, she’d felt a wondrous fog tempting her. It now threatened her tired mind and she didn’t fight him as hard as she should have.

Zoran’s fingers bumped the long scar on her ribs. He trailed it down and found the navel buried in her flat stomach. He dipped his hand lower only to pause on her stomach. She tensed beneath his hand. He knew she didn’t sleep. She was holding her breath too tightly.

"Turn around," he urged against her long neck. "Let me kiss you."

Pia didn’t move. His kisses dotted insistently behind her small ear.

"I want to look at you," he murmured, his voice husky with desire.

To his amazement, her voice skeptical, she asked, "Why?"

Why? He pulled back. Was she serious?

"Because it would give me pleasure." He massaged her stomach in agonizingly little circles. Her skin felt so good, so soft against his callused palm.

Pia did turn, but it wasn’t to receive his kisses. "Do you think you’re funny?"

Pia grabbed his hand and threw it back. What had she been thinking, marrying a complete stranger? Oh, right, it was either this man or being skinned alive.

At least being skinned had a definite ending, she thought, wondering what it was going to be like living out the rest of her days with this gigantic frustration next to her.

"Pia...?" Zoran was confused.

"You want to see?" Pia fumed, tearing and kicking out of her blanket. She was completely naked except for her underwear. "Now will you leave me the hell alone? Huh?"

Zoran’s eyes unabashedly roamed her skin. Aside from the long gash on her ribs, she was smooth and tanned. He itched to explore her, his hand lifting to touch her. His mouth went dry. She was gorgeous.

"Have you had enough of a laugh, Zoran? Or do you want more?" Pia grabbed her underwear, tugged them off, and threw them. Outrage blazed in her heated gaze. "Is that enough? Have you seen enough?"

Pia didn’t stop there. She tore up from the bed, holding her hands out to the side before twirling in one angry circle. Her hair whipped erotically around her shoulders.

Zoran’s body lurched with molten desire. His eyes swept to the part between her thighs, enjoying the performance. The hair between them was trimmed short and instantly drew his attention. Unconsciously, he sat up, a smile beginning to line his masculine lips.

Pia mistook the look for amusement. Her lips trembled and her eyes pooled with moisture. Quivering, she snatched up the fur and wrapped it around her arms. Her movements jerky, she stomped around the bed and lay down on the opposite side.

Zoran frowned. Rolling over, he was undaunted as he reached out to touch her. She jerked her arm away and scooted to the outermost edge of the low bed.

"Pia," he began.

This time she scooted so far she nearly fell off. Zoran lurched forward and grabbed her hip, holding her up. Forcibly dragging her into his embrace, he turned her face to his. He stroked her skin. Her wide hazel eyes stared back at him. They were the loveliest shade of brown and green, perfectly combined.

Pia was torn. The way he had looked at her, the smile on his face, it had tore at her soul to have him see her. He was so handsome. Even if he seemed pleased with her now, even if she could believe his touch wasn’t meant in ridicule, in the morning it would be different. He would be ashamed of her. How could he not be? She was ashamed of herself.

The crystal glowed softly between them, drawing his lips forward to kiss her pain away. His mouth was gentle. His hands were searching, as he slowly peeled the fur aside to find her flesh.

Zoran wouldn’t make the mistake of calling her beautiful again. But she was beautiful. So beautiful that it was inconceivable that she didn’t know it. So, he just assumed that she did know and had been hurt because of it.

He stroked down her neck, happily feeling her racing pulse. He glided his fingers through the valley of her breasts and down her stomach. When turned, moving to cup her between the thighs, she jolted.

"Ahhh," she moaned, trying to close her legs to him. It was too late. He had his hand there and had no intention of moving it away.

"Sh," he whispered into her mouth, keeping her dazed with his soft kiss. "Don’t think, Pia. Just feel me. Just feel my hand. I’m not going to hurt you."

To his relief, her fingers lifted to his shoulder and lay still, tentatively holding him to her, but poised so she could push at any moment.

His words were soothing, as if taming a wild animal. "Close your eyes."

She obeyed.

"You are my wife," he stated, so there would be no mistake. "I’ll look at you. I’ll have you look at me. Do you understand?"

Weakly, she nodded. The power of him transferred into her, connecting them so she felt his longing for her.

"I’ll kiss you, Pia," he murmured, deepening his kiss slightly before pulling back to whisper his words against her panting mouth. He lifted his hand from her thigh to touch her neck. "And I’ll touch you."

Pia moaned when he moved his hand down to her breasts, circling his thumb around her sensitive nub. He was so commanding, everything about him whispering of power and strength. Pia had never been a woman who could be easily controlled, but this warrior did something to her.

"I’ll touch you here." Zoran caressed the other breast in his palm, taking his time.

Pia’s hand clutched absently at him. She felt as if she was falling through clouds. She kept her eyes shut, not wanting to break the spell he wove.

"And I’ll most definitely," he continued, trailing his hand back to her thighs, "be touching you here."

As Zoran said the word ‘here,’ he let his finger slip into her moistened folds. Pia’s hips jerked. Inside he groaned with satisfaction, outside he kept his voice calm. It wouldn’t do for this wild mare to buck him off quite yet. He had every intention of taming her.

"Zoran," she cried as his stroke deepened. Her back arched.

Zoran took the sound into him, relishing it. It pleased him greatly to hear his name calling forth on her lips.

"Do you understand what I have told you?" Zoran’s voice left no doubt that he was in control of their situation and that he was in control of her. He stroked her a little deeper, staying on the outer rim of her sex. Her hips tentatively moved against him.

"Yes," she breathed.

"Yes, what?" he insisted, not wanting to mistake her pleasure for an honest answer.

"Yes, I understand," she moaned loudly biting her lip. The ache that started when she first looked at his glistening tanned body grew, until she finally realized the hot blaze was her desire--stirred and put there by him.

Zoran’s erection begged for freedom. Pia convulsed tightly around him. The warrior in him couldn’t resist as he explored her, probing deep. She was so snug, as if it had been a long time since she’d been with a man.

"Take the fur from my hips," Zoran instructed her. Again he stroked her, dipping ever so slightly deeper inside her moist cavern. "Look at me, Pia. Look at your husband. I want you to touch me, feel how I am. Feel what I’ll touch you here with."

Pia trembled, pulling at the fur loincloth. It fell to the side. She hesitated, her hand stopping near his stomach.

"Touch me," Zoran demanded, needing more than anything to feel her hands on him. He closed his eyes so she couldn’t see their shifting. He growled. "Lower."

Pia’s hand dipped lower.

"Lower," he insisted. "Take me in your hand."

Pia’s hand journeyed down at the heated request. He tensed as if in pain. When her hand bumped the tip of his hot erection, she jerked back in surprise.

"Argh," Zoran growled. Removing his hand from her, he guided her fingers to grip around him. He urged her to stroke him. All the time he continued to ply kisses on her face. "Just like that. Oh yeah, Pia, just like that."

Zoran’s hand moved back to touch her and his mind was numb to anything but release. He slid his finger once more inside her. Gulping, he shook. She was moving her fingers as he taught her.

"You’re so tight." His voice was a tortured rumble to the flesh of her throat. His hot breath panted beneath her ear. "Have you been with a man?"

Pia innocently shook her head, past the point of lying or caring.

The admission was more than he could take. The conqueror in him needed to lay claim to her. The sweet smell of her, the taste of her mouth, it was all blessed insanity. Maybe she’d been right, maybe he was mad. He didn’t care.

Before Zoran could stop himself, he was above her, opening her thighs, poising to drive into her. Pia stiffened in fear, but her body was singing so sweetly. A moan escaped her followed by a ragged pant. She wanted him. She wanted his touch. Her body arched in virtuous offering, trusting him completely.

Zoran brought himself to her, felt her moist fire calling to him. Suddenly, he got a hard jolt to his chest. The crystal was fading fast. He looked at Pia’s face.

Pia’s wide eyes stared at him. Her chest heaved. She felt the sensation, too.

With a grimace, Zoran pulled away from her. He couldn’t take her. Not tonight. The crystal would fade and the council elders would know. She would be sent away and he would have to live out his many years all alone.

Pia saw his look as he pulled away. Her body was poised, open to him. Immediately, she recoiled, curling into a humiliated ball. He couldn’t pretend. He couldn’t force himself to do it. Silent tears poured bitterly down her cheeks. She held perfectly still.

"I can’t." Zoran was nearly mindless with the agony of denial. "Not yet."

Pia nodded, believing to understand. She couldn’t speak. He’d given it a valiant effort, but could she really blame him? Even as she hurt, she forgave him. She knew what she was. She wasn’t pretty. She wasn’t anything. She felt Zoran wasn’t a mean man, she saw it in the tender way he’d looked at her. He’d tried. She would give him that.

"It’s fine," she said softly. "I know."

Zoran took the fur and put it tenderly over her lean shoulders. The sight of her naked back was pure torture. His hand actually trembled as he drew it away.

Pia took a deep breath, knowing he couldn’t look at her anymore. She lay quietly for a long time, barely breathing as she tried not to move. As she felt his even breath, Pia didn’t turn around to look at him. She was unable to sleep throughout the long night. Her body ached too badly. Never had being ugly hurt so much. Her tears were silent and she sucked them inside, burying her pain. Even in his sleep, Zoran didn’t touch her again.

* * * *

Morning came slow to the planet of Qurilixen and Pia was awake to watch the sunlight as it crept in from the tent flap. Slowly, she stretched her arms, pushing quietly forward as she suppressed a yawn.

Her tired eyes glanced over to Zoran and she felt a little resentful at him for the ache in her loins that wouldn’t go away. Taking the fur coverlet with her, she walked over to the table. Her stomach churned with hunger and she picked up a couple pieces of fruit and ate them. Eyeing the feast, wished there was something else besides chocolate and cream sauce--and, lest she forget, the disgusting wine.

Suddenly, she heard a quiet shuffling at the door. Her arms stiffened. Was this it? Were his friends coming after all to have their peek at her? She swallowed, angrily crossing over to the tent flap.

The servant on the other side startled in surprise to see her enraged face. Pia blinked as the young man recoiled from her in shock.

"My lady," he mumbled to Pia with an awkward bow. "Your clothes for the ceremony today. King Llyr and Queen Mede request your presence."

"Ah, thanks," she answered, taking the bundle from him. The man bowed his head, but scurried away from her. Pia glanced down at the black and red clothing she’d been given. The dark material was of a fine quality with red stitching that suspiciously matched the tent walls.