Faery Queen (12 page)

Along one side of the room was a bathing pool. It was normally surrounded by green vines but the walls of the silver palace were not all that had changed with her mood. Once bright with vases of flowers and lovely vines, the plants no longer blossomed. The pool was scented and the water never needed changing, as it magically renewed itself. Near the pool, lounging chairs and fluffy floor pillows stuffed with feathers were on a platform. She used to entertain her special guests there, away from the court below. On the other side of the bed was the door to her tall wardrobe where her many beautiful, now neglected, gowns hung. Sewn with the thread of silk spiders, the lovely white dresses shimmered with the twinkling of stars. Only faeries knew the secret of weaving such magnificent fabric.

When she dressed that morning, she barely noted the thin material of the gown she'd materialized from the wardrobe to come over her. Now, with Hugh there, she looked at herself. The bodice was light, decorated with tiny cloth flowers over her breasts. The skirt flowed freely around her waist and hips, reaching to her calves. Beneath the gown, she was naked, a fact that had never been as noticeable to her as in that moment.

A silk blanket covered Hugh's legs and waist, but she knew he was naked beneath. His color was better with the dark tan once more in his muscled flesh. Tania bit her lip, staring at his chest. The last time she'd seen him like this, he'd been shackled to a bed, held her prisoner when she'd helped Juliana escape. He looked every bit as handsome as he did then. His dark brown hair was longer and there were smudges under his eyes, but she didn't care.

Her stomach tightened, aching terribly. It remembered Lord Bellemare in ways her mind couldn't. He'd kissed her, thought the most deliciously wicked thoughts of her. She knew the first moment he stepped into her hall that she wanted him and that he wanted her. Their minds connected and she'd heard his thoughts—not all, but the ones he had about her. That had never happened to her without the casting of a spell.

Now, Tania's wings fluttered so fast she hovered above his prone form. Her body was slender and she was taller than the rest of the females of her kind, even some of the men. Still, when she was in her larger form and had both feet rooted on the ground, the top of her head only came to the earl's chin. His chest was so broad she would barely be able to wrap her arms around him.

Moisture gathered between her thighs, just as it did whenever she thought of him. But now it was worse because his naked flesh was so close. His smell engulfed her senses, drawing her down to be closer to him.

Over the last year, she'd looked her fill of him, secretly watching from the stone island in the middle of the divination pool as he undressed. It was wrong of her, she knew that, but she was fascinated with watching him pleasure himself, his hand fisting his arousal, his muscled body flexing as he lay on his back, as he braced his hand against a wall, as he bathed, even once in the forest. Such a sexually virile man would unquestionably make for a fine lover. Tania had touched herself as she watched him, but the relief she found was temporary compared to the desperate need to feel his flesh that came over her.

Little sparks of pheromone erupted from her wings, showering over him. She flew down, landing on the bed. Lowering herself so she was on her knees, she knelt beside him on the stuffed mattress. He didn't move.

Tania couldn't stop herself as she touched his chest. Waiting to see what would happen, she was pleased that her contact didn't hurt him like before. He was hot beneath her fingers, his flesh dark compared to hers. She touched a small nipple, watching it bud beneath her fingers. Then, curious, she glanced down to his waist.

Hugh would be asleep awhile longer. He'd been so sick and the healing had taken much out of him and her faeries. What harm was there in a closer inspection? It wasn't as if he'd know.

Tania lifted up off the bed and hovered over his body, drifting down so she was above his legs. Taking the silk covers, she pulled them to the side. His male pride lay soft between his thighs. The faery queen lightly caressed his hip, letting the tips of her fingers dance closer to his member as she gathered her courage. The shaft was softer than she imagined it would be as she took it in her hand.

Tania bit her lip, rubbing him gently before moving to feel his hard, flat stomach. Her hand flush against him, she explored his abdomen, noting little scars along his tight frame. The man was a fighter and his flesh bore the marks of such a life.

Hugh's heat beckoned her and before she realized what she was doing, she'd lowered her legs over his, her knees pressing tight alongside his thighs. The skirt of her gown was loose, allowing room for her to move freely. The material covered his stomach, concealing his shaft.

It was too much to finally have the earl within her grasp. The memory of his kisses was as strong as the day he'd given them to her. Wiggling, she angled her sex to lightly touch his, only to pull back in surprise to feel it was warmer than it had been in her hand. She looked down, lifting her skirt to discover that it had grown in length, hardening like it did when she watched him alone.

Tania hadn't meant to arouse him, not when he was recovering from Lucien's cruelty. But to see his reaction to her, the base desire, she quivered. Her wings fluttered wildly, showering them again in pheromone. Pushing her hands over the firm planes of his chest, she explored his jaw. It was rough beneath her fingers. A light moan of sheer sexual pleasure escaped her.

Just a kiss. One simple kiss and she would leave him to rest.

Tania leaned down, torn between her anger toward his rejection, the anticipation of his nearness and the fear that she couldn't make him love her. She looked at her hand, seeing the dark lines that had formed. The markings on her flesh had not lessened with his presence.

With her mouth inches from his, she stopped to listen to him breathe. She hesitated and did not move to close the distance. Stolen kisses when he was asleep were not what she brought him here for. She touched his still lips, running her fingers across the firm length. Pulling them away, she pressed her hand to her own lips.

“I waited for you.” An ache filled her. Why did she still hurt? He was here, in her grasp. She shouldn't hurt anymore. The pain should have left her. A tear slipped over her cheek as she whispered down to him. “I waited and you never came back like you promised to do. What does Bellemare have that I do not? What pleasure does it offer you that I cannot give to you? What beauty does it hold that I cannot make for you? Am I not beautiful enough for you? Why do not you want me?”

The lines on her body grew, vining across her waist and hip. She could feel them burning as they moved. There was no need to see them to know they were there. Another tear slipped from her eye, falling across his cheek. Hugh jolted beneath her, groaning as he blinked to wakefulness.

Dark brown eyes met hers, filtering with confusion as he looked at her face. Glancing down his body, then again at her, he frowned. Tania waited breathlessly to hear what he would say. It reminded her of the first time she'd detained him in her palace, when she'd had him beneath her just like he was now. Only this time he wasn't bound to the bed. His arms were free and she didn't have the magic in her to restrain him.

His mouth opened, as if he would speak. A low moan sounded as he grabbed her by the arms, jerking her forward to his mouth. Tania gasped at the sudden impact of his lips to hers. He kissed her hard, plundering her mouth with his tongue, biting her lips with his teeth. She barely had time to react before he was rolling her beneath him. Her wings crushed, bending awkwardly beneath her back, but she didn't care.

Hugh's naked body covered hers, pinning her down. His thighs pressed along the outside of hers, trapping her so his thick erection burned into her hip. If she wanted, she could shift into her smaller form and escape, but her mind was lost and she couldn't remember how to perform the simple little trick.

He let go of her arms, only to reach between them. She felt him tugging on her gown, lifting the skirt, as he maneuvered his thighs to settle between her legs. He broke the kiss, moving to lick at her jaw and neck. Tania's eyes opened wide, shocked by the sudden onslaught of pleasure and heat she felt. Never had she imagined a man's kisses would feel like this, so commanding and sure. The weight of his body pressed in on her, making her burn wherever their flesh met. She was scared, exhilarated, unsure.

Hugh pulled at the delicate bodice of her gown, ripping it to free a breast. With a deep groan, he wrapped it in his palm, rubbing the globe hard only to pinch the nipple between the side of his thumb and finger. He moved his kisses from her neck to her chest, tearing the bodice more as he freed the second breast. Warm lips covered her nipple, sucking and moaning against her flesh as if he would devour her whole. She wiggled beneath him, her legs held open by his strong thighs.

Touching his shoulders, she lightly caressed his arms. His hand slid from her breast, continuing to rip its way down over her waist until the entire front of her dress was torn and her body exposed. Hugh explored her hip, each touch passionate as he moved to wet her other nipple with his hot kisses.

The earl didn't speak, save for the animalistic grunts that sounded each time he moved. He pulled away, his eyes closed as he took her hand and forced it down between them. His breathing deepened, becoming harsh, as he put her hand to his erection. It was big in her palm and no longer soft. The earl resumed his kisses on her chest, rocking himself against her palm. She kept her eyes wide, overwhelmed with sensations. Pleasure hummed within her flesh until every piece of her seemed to be under his spell. Nothing had ever felt as good as the temptation she found in his arms.

Then, he reached down between her thighs and thrust a finger into her sex. The action bumped her arm aside and she let go of his arousal. She was wet for him, but the sudden penetration took her by surprise. Hugh groaned, louder than before as he circled his finger inside her tight body.

“Hugh.” She suddenly panicked.

“Aye,” he groaned, removing his finger. The way he said the word gave her the impression that he wasn't answering her so much as talking to himself.

Taking his shaft in hand, he guided his sex to hers. She tensed, not made to wait long before he was thrusting in. Hugh lifted up on his hands, angling his body better to hers. The intense length of his erection stretched her, making her burn deep inside where he touched. She wiggled beneath him, somewhat trying to get away from his impaling member. He gripped one of her hips, holding her still.

“It has been so long,” he mumbled, over and over. “So long, so long…”

Working back and forth, he eased his way in, not gentle but not brutal either. Finally, he pushed deep, filling her as he seated himself to the hilt. A loud cry left him and he started pumping, as if mindless of what he was doing.

“Hugh?” She was torn between the pressure he caused and the pleasure she felt.

He bent his knees, holding her open as he leaned over and captured her mouth. Though passionate, he gentled his hold, slowing so her body could build to join his. Tension focused in her lower stomach, as he reached between them. His finger circled her clit. Tania tensed, her body convulsing in orgasm. Hugh groaned in approval, his mouth smiling against hers as he too began to jerk with release.

His lips hovered over hers as he breathed hard, not moving. She lightly touched his arms, reveling in the sensations of their joining. Hope blossomed inside her, sending energy out over her room. The vines and flowers drank of her power and perked up.

“You got what you wanted from me,” Hugh said, not opening his eyes. He was still inside her, his body covering hers. “Now let me go.”

What?
Tania pulled back to study his face.

Hugh rolled off her, not looking at her as he sat on the bed. He put his head in his hands. “Where are my clothes?”

Tania watched him, not sure what she was waiting for him to do. She pushed up from the bed, feeling the ends of her tattered gown tickling her flesh as it fell aside. The clothes were unwearable.

“They were too bloody. I had them thrown out.” She reached to touch him, only to stop as she saw her hand. The dark lines on her flesh hadn't faded. She drew her hand back to her lap, itching at it as she tried to rub the marks off. How could it be? They'd joined. The darkness within her should be gone. Her full power should've come back. The goodness and happiness should've come back. She looked at the vines. They had perked up, but they were still wilted and didn't bloom. Arching her back, she stretched her crushed wing, fluttering it back and forth to straighten it.

“Do you think nakedness will trap me in your palace?” Finally, he turned to look at her. There was no love in his eyes for her, only an emotionless resistance. Hugh paused and she saw his eyes following some of her lines. Why hadn't this worked? Why hadn't she changed? Why didn't he? “You will be better off trying to restrain me again, only this time I will know it is coming and I will not be as merciful when I find my freedom.”

Her gaze narrowed in anger.

“You have nothing to say, queen?” Hugh stood from the bed, completely naked and seeming not to care. Derisively, he drawled, “Well that is wonderful, is it not?”

“What do you expect me to say? You are being hateful.” She crossed her arms, pouting out her lip.

“Me? I am hateful? You are one to talk, Tania. You join forces with the King of the Damned, kill my horses, do something to my brother, haunt me like a spirit only to have me beaten and kidnapped, and then have the impudence to tell me I am being hateful? Aye, I do hate you and what you have done to me and my family. Every time you are near I lose someone I care about. First, you send Juliana to that monster. And now William is missing.” His eyes were hard, his body rigid. “All I can determine is that you do all this because you are bored and wish to amuse yourself with me and my family. You are a wicked being, Tania. You stole my sister from me just to be part of some faery tale story between Juliana and Merrick—a man, by the way, who can never love her, and now you take my brother. What will you do with William? What have you done? Where did you send him? To the giant Lord Angus? What faery tale do you think to be part of now?”