Gideon [The Marujan Brothers Series] Book Two (12 page)

"What the fuck is wrong
with her
now
?"

* * * 

M
ia sipped from the slender beer
bottle and sighed. What had she been thinking, agreeing to
journeying with those two lunatics? One only served to piss her off
at every second...and the other, she couldn't quite help the fact
that he made her feel more womanly than she ever had in years.
Malakai Baamel could have any woman he wanted. Which served to
enforce the raw truth: he'd never give her a second glance,
especially since she was another mortal to him. She had initiated
that tumble with Gideon Maruj only to make him jealous. How stupid
had she been to resort to such low a tactic? Instead, she'd only
accomplished great sex that felt nothing more than...great sex.
Gideon wasn't the one she wanted.

Besides, he was already
taken as far as she knew. No man would be up day and night
searching for a woman the way he did, if he didn't love her. She
wanted Malakai, and damn it, he had her panties in a storm over
it.
Ignoring the fleeting winks the baldheaded bartender sent her from
across the counter, she brought the bottle to her mouth again and
took a hefty swig. Without even looking up, she felt someone occupy
the stool next her. A raw masculine scent blew up around her,
intoxicating and somewhat overdone. Then the person slid a small
folded note next to her bottle and slipped away so quickly, she
couldn't even make out the movement between the huddle of patrons
in the crowded bar. 
Heart now hammering in her chest, she swallowed and looked around
her cautiously before picking up the note. Unfolding it carefully,
she read softly, "'Meet me at the table in the corner to your far
right. Hurry.'" 
Immediately, she looked up and slid from the high stool. Her gaze
found the table almost instantly and she pushed through the crowd
to get to it. She stopped in her tracks and stared. At the table
she saw a cloaked figure, too slender to be a man. The head was
bowed low. "Sit. I don't have much time." Yeah, it was a woman all
right. 
Mia frowned and sat, trying to see the woman's face but she only
pulled the hood lower. 
"Who are you?"
"No time. I need you to deliver a message to Gideon Maruj." A small
hand came up, shoving a slip of paper towards her. "These are
coordinates for the exact position he needs to meet me. The day
after tomorrow at noon. No sooner. No later."
"Why don't you give him yourself. I can go—"
"No! You don't understand. I cannot. Do only this." There was a
pause. "I beg you. Tell him it's crucial. His destiny depends on
it. Tell him...it's about what he's looking for."
"Okay." Mia eyed the note and slipped it hastily into the inside
pocket of her vest. "How did you know I was--"
"I have to go now!" The woman was on her feet and turning
away. 
"Wait." And the cloaked woman ran from her view, hidden beyond the
crowd.

It was then Mia realized
the sound of tables toppling over, the gasps of terrified
people...and the itch of danger crawling down her then perspiring
neck. She swallowed just in time to find herself being yanked up
from her seat by her collar. She fought wildly, arms and legs
flaying around in the air helplessly. 
"Who was the cloaked figure?"
Mia blinked wildly to come face to face with the ugliest man she
had ever seen. She couldn't miss the steely hardness in the man's
eyes no matter how well he tried to mask it as anger. She'd seen it
before. A Kankul soldier. Whoever the woman was, they must have
been after her or something. She could barely think, could hardly
come up with words to say. But when she opened her mouth, hoping
for the lie that would save her life, a wrenching scream escaped
her lips, deafening even to her own ears. The giant beast of a man
winced and scowled, releasing her like a heap on the wooden
table.

Another beast of a man next
to him stepped forward and sighed, "Who is she?"
Cursing brutally, he observed her clothing with a swift sweep of
his gaze, taking in her loose-fitted skirt and tiny vest. At that
moment, more than ever, Mia was happy she had changed from her
regular unconventional leather pants and boots. The man then spun
fiercely from her. "Just a fucking loudmouth barmaid!"
It hadn't taken long for the patrons to settle back to their own
businesses. Mia scrambled off the table with the help of shaking
limbs and was surprised she could even stand after what had
happened. She moved swiftly through the crowd, around the bar and
headed straight for the staircase that would lead to the rooms. One
foot on the first step, she saw Gideon and Malakai rushing down
towards her. 
"What happened?" Gideon almost shouted. 
"S
hh
," Mia
shushed him, glancing anxiously behind her. "Don't make a scene. We
should leave. Now."
"What is it?" This time, Malakai reached out and grabbed her by the
arm, almost shaking her bones loose.
"I have a message for you." She looked directly at Gideon and shook
her head, not even bothering to shake Malakai off. "Some-Some woman
left. Said it was important. Let's go. There are fucking Kankul
soldiers down there!"
Both men tensed. "She's right," Gideon said. "We shouldn't cause a
scene. We'll leave now. As soon as we're a mile out, I want to hear
everything about that damn message." And he moved past them, edging
for the door.
Malakai chuckled, staring down into her sparkling eyes. "Good job,
Mia. Good job."
And she frowned up at him, wondering really if he was mocking or
complimenting her. 

T
hey
didn't stop moving until Almahill was out of their sight and looked
barely larger than a tiny spec of light blinking in the distance.
Malakai shoved a bottle, he had pawned just before fleeing the
village, at Mia who grabbed it gratefully. Wrenching off the cork,
she gulped down the crystal water and sighed. It tasted heavenly.
Flinging herself down on the ground, she leaned against the thick
trunk of a tree and blew out an exhausted breath. She was
dog-tired, while the two men did not look as if they'd even broken
a drop of sweat. 
"Okay." She heard Gideon's voice hiss down at her. "Time to talk
about the message."
Mia rolled her eyes and retrieved the note, slamming it into his
palm. "Those are coordinates for the location you're supposed to
meet her."
"Her? Since when was it a woman?" Malakai questioned, stooping
before her. 
"Does it matter?" she almost screamed, trying desperately to catch
her breath. "And yeah, it was a woman. She kept her face
well-hidden under a hoodie too."
Gideon stared down at the set of coordinates scribbled on the
paper. The bright moonshine provided him with just enough light to
see the numbers clearly. Frowning, he handed the paper to Malakai.
He hadn't a clue where that position was. 
"It's the location of the old dungeon." Malakai stared down at the
numbers a second time. 
"Are you sure?"
“Yes," he drawled, glaring at Gideon. "I couldn't forget even if I
wanted to. I know that place better than my own mother."
"You have a mother?" Mia stared up at him, looking utterly
appalled.
Malakai glared at her. "It's a fucking expression, woman." He shook
his head and sighed. "Anyway, the dungeon must be well guarded so
we'd better be prepared to kick more asses than you can even think
of."
Gideon smirked. "Like that'll be a problem..."
"Wait, there's something else." Mia groaned as she rose to her
feet. "She said specifically that you should meet her there the day
after tomorrow. At exactly noon. 'No sooner, no later'."
Gideon began to pace. He spoke directly to Malakai, "You think it's
a trap?"
"I'm positive it's not a trap. Deorci would never put such faith in
a woman. For Kankuls, there is a caste system and women are at the
bottom of it. They are used for breeding and as energy concubines.
Deorci feeds off their energy. Which is why he always snatches a
few on raids."
Gideon was silent for a moment. Glancing at Mia, he then looked to
the starry sky and sighed. "Mia, maybe you should turn back to your
group. Things might get a little dangerous."
"Like hell I will!" Mia stared at him as if he had suddenly
sprouted another head. "I am not going anywhere. The least you
could do--both of you--is thank me for delivering this damn
message."
"You could be killed, woman!" Malakai snapped, advancing on her
with a murderous glint in his eyes.
"Since when does a man of your ancestry give a damn?" she
countered, eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as she met his gaze
head-on.
"So help me, I will kill you my fucking self if you don't grow some
sense quick!"
Gideon stared on at the two and shook his head. He was surrounded
by two lunatics, he was sure of it. Two lovesick lunatics! He
sighed. What he'd give to at least have argument with Esyth again.
"You two look just about ready to jump each other. Just get at it
already so I can have some damn peace and quiet."
The look Mia gave Gideon reminded him of the old stray cat he'd
caught thieving scraps from the kitchens while he was a boy. She
was about ready to take off like a wild feline. Malakai, on the
other hand, sneered at him but not before giving Mia his warning.
"Stay out of my way!" he almost barked.
"Gladly!" she screeched back, turning on her heels to put
sufficient distance between them. Oh, how she wished she could just
dig his eyes out and feed them to the vultures in the
morning. 

Chapter
Fifteen

L
avender!
Damn, he was getting tired of this. Esyth was...far out of his
reach and yet he could still smell her as if she was right there in
his arms. He knew, perhaps, that he should have looked a bit more
desperate and withered by frustration and heartache. In truth, he
was. He was feeling so many emotions at the moment he worried
immensely if he could contain them all. He'd been trying his best
to remain as optimistic as he could. He would find her. And even
though, in the current moment, his body still fighting hard against
the sting of tears behind his closed lids, he could not allow them
to be shed. He was less than ten feet from one of his greatest
enemies, for The First's sake! He would simply have to put his
emotions aside, keep them in check and protect his pride.
Vulnerability was not an option; at least, not until he'd
accomplished his goal: reuniting with Esyth. 
Gideon shifted on his makeshift bed, an itchy weathered blanket he
had taken from the inn in Almahill. Crossing his arms, he sighed
deeply and squeezed his tears away, however it pained him to. But a
much deeper pain made its way past his self-inflicted barriers and
into his mind. He could see her more vividly now. Long tresses of
glossy blonde hair curved the frame of her beautiful face...and
those eyes... Those green eyes that forever seemed like liquid
serenity whenever he gazed into them. He'd missed such
serenity.
Across from him, maybe some five feet away, Mia lay sound asleep on
her side, facing towards his direction and a thick blanket tossed
over her. Malakai Baamel sat next to her, a tree supporting his
back as he dosed soundlessly. They had no fire as that would only
draw enough attention that they surely did not need. But the air
was chilly--cold, really--reminding Gideon of the familiar warm
embrace he missed so much and hadn't had the chance to thoroughly
enjoy. 
Yes, three years ago his friends and acquaintances probably would
have laughed at how lovesick he had become; and he would have felt
heavily defensive over his pride. But now, he didn't give a shit
what they would think. He loved that woman and he would not stop
until he got her back and personally saw to Deorci releasing his
very last stinking breath. 
Shaking his head forlornly, Gideon eased himself up and immediately
met Malakai's alert and scrutinizing glare. "Nature calls," he
murmured loud enough for him to hear and walked away. Baamel did
not follow but merely went back to sleep, likely keeping one eye
open. Neither men would ever grow to like, much less trust, each
other. Gideon knew that much for he surely had no yearning for any
friendly truce either. The raw hatred between them had been bred in
their blood for generations, brewing a never-ending war between the
Marujan and the Kankul kingdoms. They were each journeying together
for one purpose alone. Gideon knew what his prize would be; he saw
flashes of her stunning face every second. And Malakai would be
content with beheading his former ruler and sporting his head for a
trophy. Then they would part ways.
Flexing his slightly paining neck, Gideon made his way towards a
reasonable spot while unzipping his pants to take a well-needed
piss. He could feel the light breeze blowing through the overgrown
hair at the back of his neck and tickling his nape. He chuckled to
himself and blew out a breath. Who knew taking a piss could feel so
good? More like a burden had been lifted from his
shoulders. 
"
You've grown
..."
The words came so softly, so sweetly he'd almost thought his mind
had been playing tricks on him. Gideon pivoted immediately, his
flaccid cock hardening almost instantly as his gaze clashed with
two very green and very familiar eyes. His heart lurched in his
chest, almost finding its way to his throat. Or maybe it had, for
at the moment he somehow could not summon the strength or the will
to speak. He was simply too...stunned. Gideon opened his mouth to
say something but only ended up groaning as his cock began to throb
with a need he had never felt before. His startled eyes scanned her
completely, taking in the thin black fabric of the lacy dress that
met her only mid-thigh. His astonishment immediately turned to
anger as recognition dawned on him. She was dressed as a common
whore. "
Sssh
,"
she coaxed, moving closer to him as if she'd read his mind. "Don't
be angry. Right now I need you, Gideon."
"Damn, Esyth. Where...? How...? I've been looking
everywhere
for you!" He
rushed over to her, his hands shaking as he cupped her face,
thanking The First for the warmth he felt in her cheeks. "I don't
understand..."
Tears surfaced in her eyes and glistened beneath the moonlight; her
eyes now like glossy emeralds in the night. "I promise I'll explain
it all to you. I just... I need you now, Gideon. We can talk all
you want later. I promise. I just...want you inside me. Now."
Gideon swallowed deeply, staring down at her as if he'd never seen
her before. Pure elation, gladness and relief washed over him like
a cool breeze in a scorching dessert. His hands immediately went
searching, checking for bruises and broken bones. "Are you
okay?
Where's Deorci?
HOW did you get here?" 
Esyth playfully swatted away his hands and placed a finger across
his lips. "I'm fine. Really. I'm not hurt."
"Fuck!" he groaned as he grabbed her up in his arms. Never had he
felt so happy in his life. She was here. Esyth...was here! "I need
to go tell the others!" His grin was so wide, it bared two rows of
glistening white teeth in the darkness. He then squeezed her
closer, burying his face in her neck. "You smell...the same. Fuck,
Esyth. When you disappeared, I thought my life had ended. I wanted
to die. Maybe later I'll spank you for it... oh god, I want you!
Shit, I love you." Gideon eased her back only a bit so he could
stare into those eyes he loved so much, wet with unshed tears.
"
I love you
. You
know that, don't you?"
She smiled, the tears now spilling over her cheeks. "I know. I love
you too. So much. Thanks for coming for me."
Gideon felt his cock twitch with excitement as he ground his hips
into her, his fingers squeezing her ass eagerly. "Damn. The first
priest I find, I'm going to make you mine, you hear that? But
now..." He swallowed thickly as his gaze swept her bare throat and
fleshy firm breasts, the paleness of her skin seductively erotic
against the dark lace. "Now, I'm going to fuck you
senseless."
Gideon reached for her, tugging at the gem of the flimsy dress. His
heated when his palms made contact with the creamy soft skin he had
become to know those three years ago. Just the feel and scent of
her made him want to come there and then. 
Esyth swatted his greedy hands away, batting those sexy lashes at
him. Twisting out of his grip, she took one delicious step back and
planted on hand on her right hip, regarding him. The way she stood,
staring at him like she'd eat him any minute, gave Gideon a shudder
as a hot and cold sensation shot up his spine. He was sure of it;
Esyth would be the death of him. 
"We've got all night, babe. And an eternity after that," she said
softly, a small pink tongue jotting out to moisten her juicy lips.
For a moment, Gideon wished he were those lips. Her gaze raked over
him hotly, landing on the fly of his pants. Gideon felt his cock
lurch in response. "But for now..." Her gaze lifted back to his
eyes. "I want to taste you." 
The muscles around his groin tightened at the sound of her lustful
proposition. Gideon didn't know if he'd last the night much less a
minute with his cock in her mouth. He'd probably come the moment he
felt her hot breath on the tip of his dick.
Gideon swallowed as Esyth lowered herself to her knees before him,
her hand working swiftly at his belt and zipper. He ran his hand
over her long bountiful hair, his nails grazing her scalf gently.
"That's it, baby," he groaned, sucking in a breath as she took his
cock in her hand. "Fuck me with that sexy mouth."
Esyth gave him a delicious smile and winked up at him before
running her tongue over the tip of him. Gideon stiffened, his
fingers clenching in the thickness of her hair as he threw his head
back and moaned. 
"Look at me, babe," she said. "Watch me while I suck your big hard
cock."
His balls tightened at her words. Gideon had never heard Esyth talk
so dirty before. The whole sentiment of it all was so damn erotic,
he couldn't do anything love the sound of it. It was as if The
First had created her just for him.
Her sweet hot mouth took him in inch by fucking good inch, sucking
him slowly, her head bobbing back and forth on his rock-hard dick.
Gideon clenched his teeth, guiding her head as she sucked him hard
and deep. It felt so damn good he didn't know if he'd last long
enough to give her the pleasure he'd had in mind. But then she took
him in much further, he head of his cock touching the back of her
warm throat. 
"Oh fuck!" he gasped, his hands shaking. He could already feel the
buckling of his knees. Hissing out another expletive, Gideon gently
eased her away and yanked her up against him hard and fierce,
slamming his mouth down against hers. He could taste the intense
taste of him on her lips and his nose flared at the eroticism it
gave. 
His tongue jotted forward, plunging deep inside her mouth, tasting
and savoring her sweetness. Her arms circled his neck, fingernails
biting into his flesh but he didn't give a damn. 
He was going to fuck till she couldn't walk for a week. 
Gideon held her tight against him, moving forward until he held her
firm against the support of a large tree. His blood was racing in
his veins as he snatched her dress up and stuffed the hem up
beneath her bra. Ripping away her panties, Gideon let out a feral
groan as his fingers made contact with her pussy. 
"Damn! You're so fucking wet for me," he grunted, slipping on
finger deep inside her weeping cunt. Esyth moaned as she bit down
hard in his shoulder. "Mm, you love that don't you?" And he slipped
another finger in, teasing and tempting her, his thumb occasionally
rubbing hotly over her hardening clit until she writhing
uncontrollably against him. "God, I love how you make me so damn
hard for you, babe!"
Esyth moaned loud in his ear, her breath gushing quick and shallow
against neck. Her pelvis slammed against his, begging and pleading
with him. Then she let out a groan so deep, so throaty, he realized
that teasing her only served to tease himself. As if knowing the
direction of his thoughts, Esyth leaned back, looking up at him
beneath quivering lowered lashes. 
"S-Stop teasing me, Gideon!" she gasped, her hips bucking as he
fingered her still. "I want your cock now. Please! Fuck me,
Gideon."
He needed no more invitation than that. Gideon lifted her left leg,
supporting it as far as it could go up over the inside bend of his
right elbow. He then slammed his mouth over gets again, sucking on
that talented tongue as he buried himself deep inside her tight
pussy. 
"Shit!" he hissed, the slick walls of her cunt tightening around
him, threatening to milk him dry. 
"Yes! Oh yes! Harder. Fuck me harder.
Ahhh.
.."
Gideon withdrew in one fast pull and them thrust deep again,
filling her to the hilt. Esyth screams echoed around them in the
darkness, sending his ego up another notch. He fucked her hard and
fast, drilling her as if there weren't to be a tomorrow and he
didn't care one bit. He'd gone too fucking long without his
pussy. 
"Wrap your legs around me, baby," he grunted. "Take me all in."
Esyth wrapped her legs around him, locking tight at the ankles,
moving up and down his cock in a sweet slow rhythm. "Oh damn! Your
pussy feels so good." Esyth moaned, eyes shut tight in the spasms
of pleasure. Gideon grunted and grabbed her ass firmly, rocking her
against him as he pounded her fiercely. He held her tight around
the waist, his other hand pulling on her hair as he forced her to
look at him. "This is my pussy," he hissed in her face. "Who's
pussy is this?"
"
Your
pussy!" she
screamed, shaking her head frantically. "Only yours." 
And he never let go until Esyth shouting out his name and shivering
from a mind-blowing climax so unreal it was likely to be stamped
into her mind forever. 
Only then did he let go, his own release coming surely after as he
came full-force inside her, his seed shooting up and across her
womb.