Fervor (The Fervor Chronicles Book 1) (8 page)

Her stomach felt like it had been invaded by a swarm of snow-flies. She lifted one arm, then another.

He examined every inch of her, even demanding she lift her hair and pull up her skirt to examine her legs. Self conscious, she said, “If you don’t believe me…”

“Who did this to you?” The fire in his eyes ignited an answering heat.

“The drudges.”

“I’ll kill them.” His voice was low and devoid of emotion.

Sucking in a deep breath, she spluttered, “You will not! They were only doing their duty. My father is the one who decreed it, so. You can’t possibly think…”

“I’ll kill him, then.” His tone was final, deadly.

“You cannot threaten my father. He is king.”

“Do you hurt?”

The question caught her off guard and caused a whole new kind of warmth in her chest. “I-I’m fine as long as I don’t touch anything, or walk too quickly, or…”

“Talk too loudly?” The soft quirk of his mouth made the cold around her heart crack, then splinter.

Oh, that smile
. In her world it was such a rare thing to see, and something that had never been directed solely toward her. Except by Addy, of course, but she had never made her feel this way. The soft lift of his lips sent desire spiraling through her, making her womb clench.

“Keep looking at me like that, Princess, and I will finish all by myself.” His hips thrust forward then settled back and his whiskey eyes burned.

“Finish? O-oh, you mean complete the act of… You can do that? Alone?” The idea of watching him finish was irresistible, a memory she could file away for all the cold, lonely nights she’d have to endure, once this stranger was gone.

“I can, and I have.”

Yes.
“Do that. Now.”

His low chuckle tickled her stomach. “Just like that? Gods, I am on fire, but… I don’t like to play alone. So
, no.”

Her eyes narrowed, the only hint of her irritation. “You would deny me?”

“When you look at me like that, never.
Gods, yes.
Say it.” He demanded with a groan.

It was a sound she felt to her toes. “What?”

“Say you want to see me come.” His eyes never left hers, and his stare made her flush. Shocked, she touched her cheeks in wonder.

Would it change your mind if I did?

Something had changed. Gone was the teasing Giant, and in his place an aching tyrant. His skin seemed to ignite, a slow pulse coating him, raising his deep, rich hair, making it rise and fall as if a silent current ignited him from within.

“What’s happening to you?” Fascinated by his body, she stepped forward, watching the flexing muscles, trying to memorize the hills and valleys of bronze skin, so different from her own. “Is it the same as the feeling racing through my body?

He speared her with a look. The energy of it seared her. “What do you feel? Tell me.”

She shivered. “I feel a fullness in my chest.” Touching herself, she gasped as she brushed against the glass embedded in her skin. “It’s so strange… and it’s spreading. Going lower.” Trailing her hand further down, she noticed his reaction, his eyes locked on her traveling palm. “What is it? What’s happening?”

He took his time in answering, never taking his eyes from the fingers that sat low on her stomach. How she itched to go further, to cup her throbbing sex. Never had she felt such need.

“It’s…” he forcibly swallowed, finally raising his eyes to her. He seemed to hesitate, even with his neck cording in pain. “It’s a
fervor—
a need. It happens to my people at a certain time in their lives. We need touch, release, ah
gods…”

Her stomach dropped at his words, “Release?”

His eyes found her, bored into her, demanding she maintain his focus. “It makes me need you, want you, have to be inside of you. And now you feel it, too.”

She’d never heard of such a thing. Her people would never acknowledge anything to do with
need
. They were ruled by ice, frozen to the demands of their bodies. At least that’s what she’d assumed; no one had ever spoken to her about sex or bonding. If only she’d had a mother to teach her these things. Shaking her head, she whispered, “It can’t be. Our people have no such thing.”

“Princess, the electricity is scorching me.”

His hair moved and flowed and a strange current seemed to skim above his skin. Sparks lit the air above his chest, and still she couldn’t turn away. Hesitant, she reached out, her hand floating inches from his stomach and she saw a silvery light jump from his skin to hers. The tips of her fingers tingled then sizzled. Warmth, a sensation she’d dreamed of.

I want more.

Would it burn her? It didn’t seem to matter; she was helpless to stop. She lowered her hand and they both groaned as their skin fused. Warmth, heat,
power
soaked into her skin and she couldn’t control her shudder. His hips lifted, and he groaned again. Glancing up, she gasped. His eyes were lost to white.

“Your eyes!”

“I’m—It’s the
fervor.
Don’t know why. This has never happened before. No, don’t stop. Keep touching. Need more… Your hands… magic. Your cool touch makes it better.”

Delirious, wanting, needing… All from her touch. The knowledge thrilled and terrified her. It was only a matter of time before the guards returned, and he would be defenseless. But oh, the small sense of power, that she could have such an effect on this powerful man. His admission helped with her decision.

Her hand skimmed lower, resting above the waistband of his pants, making her thighs spasm in anticipation. A flood of warmth pooled between her legs. Her eyes returned to his massive cock, and she knew what he wanted her to do. She wanted it, too.

His eyes were closed, and for a split second he looked vulnerable. “Touch me!
Now.”

So much for vulnerability.

“I want to. I don’t—What do I do?”

“Open my pants.”

Oh gods, can I do this?
Grasping the top of his pants, she tugged, careful when his full cock caught on the edge of his pants. With a quick pull, his penis jumped forward and slapped against his stomach, almost touching his bellybutton. Never in her life had she seen anything the size of him. Her mouth watered at the idea of running her tongue against his mushroom head, but knew she could never be so bold. All of her information about sex had come from Addy, but she’d never described a man this size.

“Touch. Now.”

Always giving orders.
Why do I like it?
“I wish I could take my time.” But she knew she couldn’t. She wanted a few seconds more to study the skin that coated his steely shaft. So lovely. Straight and ready for attention, just for her. A small slit lined the top. A drop of moisture gathered at the head.

“Put your hand on my cock.”

Yes, she would. Slowly, she wrapped her hand around the base of him, and they groaned simultaneously. “You’re so large.”

“Use your other hand. Now slowly. Yes, just like that. Move up and down.” He clenched his hands and ratcheted his hips forward. “Squeeze harder. Your hands, so soft. Oh
gods!
So good! The feel of… It’s too much.”

Her chest heaved with the effort. The current racing through him was intensifying, traveling through her palms and up her arms as she watched her blue-white fingers change to a light pink. Gasping in wonder, she relished the warmth, a warmth she’d craved without ever realizing what it could feel like.

“Gods, wait. Wait!” His voice, gruff, just above a whisper. “It’s too much. Your hands are perfection… but you have to stop.”

The ache between her legs made her weak, the moisture pooling, silky smooth. “Stop?” She was in a daze.

“This power inside me is growing. I don’t understand it. It’s… alive. I can’t control it.”

Her hands continued up and down his penis, half listening, she continued to squeeze, finding the perfect rhythm. She felt entranced and didn’t want to let go. She couldn’t stop, not after waiting so long. “All I have is tonight.”

“So good. Don’t want to… Might hurt you.” He jerked aside and her hands tightened.

The current racing across his skin increased and she gasped as an electric spark, which looked like the lightning that cut the sky during an ice storm, arched above them. But it didn’t hurt her, she absorbed the heat, reveled in it. The pink glow now inched past her elbows, and she needed more.

“You have to—I can’t! I can’t… Yes! Don’t stop, don’t!” The Giant’s hips were wrenched off the table, pistoning in her hands. His neck muscles were strained, and his shoulders bunched. “I wish I could see you.” With one last jerk, his cock jumped, and a milky-white fluid erupted from the head, coating her hands and his chest.

On and on he released, and she drank in every movement, burning it into her brain. The beauty of the act was shocking. His glorious body shook and shuddered. Continuing to stroke him, she removed one hand and touched the warm liquid, spreading it over his chest. Bringing up one finger, she placed it against her tongue and savored the tangy liquid.

Looking down, she saw that his eyes remained white, but they were locked on her. “Your taste is… divine.” Her words caused another spasm, and she felt his groan deep between her legs. The pressure between her thighs was unrelenting. She knew there was something more she’d missed, but it had all been worth it.

Her hands fell away from him and she watched as they faded from pink to light pink, to white then blue-white. The cold had returned. For a split second, helplessness filled her, the color a reminder of the responsibilities she held as Princess to the Glissante.

Time to say goodbye.
She reached for him, hesitated, and allowed her arms to drop.
You can do this!
Determined, she tried again, lifting both hands and placing them on either side of his face. Never in her life had she ever initiated contact, even with Addy. He was the only other person she’d ever laid her hands on. The scruff of his cheek tickled her palm. Every inch of him promised new tactile experiences.

Shivering slightly, she leaned forward. Her golden-white braids cascaded around them, cocooning them in, and for a few seconds she imagined they were the only two people in the world.

No time left.

“May I press my lips against yours?” It was what she coveted most, dreamed of late at night and was desperate to experience.

“Gods, yes.” He lifted his head from the slab, meeting her halfway.

Her lips pressed against his, a gentle sharing, a tender moment exchanged. It almost broke her, the soft caress of his lips. She had come to the end of this fascinating experiment, and she wanted him to understand what he had given her. Sliding her hands under his head, to support his neck, she whispered, “You’ve warmed me for the first time in my life.”

“You are
everything.”

The memory of the half smile tugging at his lips would have to last her a lifetime. She rested his head against the stone, reluctantly sliding her hands away, touching her lips with two fingers to seal the kiss in place.

Before she turned away for good, she lightly touched one of the metal bands circling his wrist. Concentrating, she watched as the
freeze
stretched from her finger, spreading against the metal. She stopped before she froze too much. He’d have a chance now.

A faint scuffling sound caught her attention; someone was opening the outer doors. She’d given him a fighting chance, now it was up to him. With one last look, she turned, knowing she had to flee before he had an inkling of her plans. She ran for the door. Never looking back, she pounded down the hallway.

She heard the bellow, a deep, booming,
“NO! No, no, noooo!”
echoing through the deepest part of the dungeon and straight into her heart, shattering her, but still she never slowed.

‡

S
he will not
leave me!

Tensing his muscles, he pulled at the manacles, shocked when one of his wrists flew through the air, destroying the metal with one good tug. In seconds he ripped the second from his arm. Had she frozen the metal to help him escape? But, it didn’t make sense.
She
didn’t make sense. The princess was long gone, and by the sound of it, the piss-ant guards were on their way.

He still couldn’t see. He was blind.
Blind.
And his mate had left him, abandoned him in an icy cell. The words she’d spoken, it’d melted him. Had it meant nothing to her? Obviously, not. All of her feminine instincts must have been frozen to hell by this icebox of a kingdom. A chill raced down his spine. What if it wasn’t the place, but her? Maybe the
fervor
had no power over her people. No drive to nurture, protect, and care for her mate.

No.
She wanted him. She’d showed him. Had taken him in hand so gently, so tenderly…

Arun growled his frustration, embracing the strange sensation coursing through his body. His power had grown at her touch, and it didn’t disappear with his release. A current built in his palms, jumping back and forth between his hands. He didn’t know what it was, because he couldn’t see it, but he could feel it, and it felt damn good. He’d have time later to dissect this new ability. For now, he needed to find her.