Meri (5 page)

“Get your skinny Drakian ass out of that bed!”

Rolling over, Ademis cracked his eyelids open and focused on the owner of the gravelly voice. By the side of the bed, a rather formidable, matronly woman dressed in the livery of the Medirian royal house stood with her hands fisted on her hips glaring at him. Though darker skin tone denoted Nissian ancestry, her obvious Aradab musculature added to her redoubtable appearance while the chain full of keys hanging from her belt identified her as the palace housekeeper. Behind her, a couple of older maids stared down their noses at him.

“Did you hear me, you lascivious womanizer? If you want to take a woman to your bed, then do it in your assigned room. This one was empty so now you’ve made more work for my maids.” She crossed her arms over her ample bosom. “And if I discover it was one of my maids who brought you here, she’ll be doing extra work. She’s lucky she left you before I found the two of you fornicating. She’d be looking for a new job.”

Ademis didn’t need the housekeeper’s affirmation that he was alone. Though he hadn’t heard Meri’s departure, the eldest daughter of the king certainly didn’t want to get caught in bed with a Drakian. As soon as he’d awakened, the lack of perfumed warmth from the other side of the bed had told him she was gone. Closing his eyes, he smiled. They’d had quite a night. Never in his wildest imagination had he dreamed he’d have fantastic sex with a Medirian princess nor that she’d be so uninhibited.

“Harbinger of the dols and orcs or not, if you don’t get out of that bed right now, I’ll send for the Matriarch’s grandsons and let them drag you bare-assed naked through the corridors. I don’t care how important or famous you are, I’ll not have you mussing my clean rooms with your Drakian debauchery!”

Ademis cracked his eyelids again. He doubted that she needed any help from anyone, although the two harridans behind her looked like they’d like to get their hands on him. The housekeeper looked strong enough to haul him through the corridors herself. And the way she was now cracking her knuckles intimated she just might try.

Smiling, he threw off the light sheet that covered his hips and legs and rose to his feet. “As you wish, madam.”

Obviously unimpressed by his nakedness, she sniffed and pointed to the floor. “Take your clothes with you and leave by the balcony. I’ll not have you stalking about stark naked and sending my maids and the king’s guests into a tizzy.”

The two women behind the housekeeper dropped their gazes to his cock. Neither smiled, but the one on the left winked at him.

Ademis never stopped smiling. Bowing, he grabbed the housekeeper’s hand and bussed the back of it. As he straightened, he asked, “And how might I find my room, madam? In all honesty, I’m not quite sure where I am. The palace is rather large.”

Smiles trembled on the maids’ lips. The housekeeper’s face remained stern but grudging respect flickered in her eyes. “Once you’re on the balcony, go right then up the stairs and then left. The door to the sitting room of the Alalakan suite will be the second one you come to.”

After a nod, Ademis bent, gathered up his clothing, tucked them under his arm and strode out through the balcony door—naked. Like any Drakian, he didn’t really give a damn who saw him without his clothing on.

“Not bad for a Drakian,” he heard one of the maids say. “He’s got some flesh and muscle on those bones. Not so skinny like so many of them are. I’d give him a try in my bed if he were interested.”

“Get your mind from between your legs and get to work, Salisaa,” the housekeeper snapped.

Chuckling as he followed the housekeeper’s directions, Ademis headed for his room where he planned to shower, dress and search for Meri. Somehow, the sex he’d shared with her last night had been different than anything he’d ever experienced before and he wanted to discover why.

“If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”

Pulling up short as he reached the level of the Alalakan suite, Ademis stared at Bandalardrac Hardan. A stern look on his face, Char’s womanizing cousin leaned nonchalantly against the balcony railing.

Ademis straightened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ban snorted. “Enough people saw you and Meri leave together, and neither of you were in your own rooms last night.”

Ademis shrugged. “Who’s to say I was with her? There are a lot of willing women in the palace eager to crawl into bed with a man who has a tail.”

For a moment Ban simply stared at Ademis. Then he burst into laughter. When Ban finally regained control of himself, he said, “And here I thought you didn’t have a sense of humor.”

Ademis swallowed the curse that rose in his gorge. “Is there anything else, Bandalardrac?”

Still chuckling, Ban shook his head. “Just don’t forget what I said.” Spinning on his heel, he sauntered away.

Angry and confusing thoughts rolling around in his head, Ademis strode down the balcony, slid open the door to the Alalakan suite and entered just as Chardadon walked from his bedroom into the sitting room.

Ademis threw the clothing he carried onto a chair. “Has Bandalardrac had any training as an assassin?”

Stopping abruptly, Char stared at him then snorted. “Ban’s only talent is fucking. Why?”

“He just threatened me.”

Char snorted again. “Don’t worry. You aren’t his type so he won’t be fucking you to death.” Then he frowned. “I’m sure he’s had some training in self-defense. Why did he threaten you?”

Ademis pursed his lips. Char was his best friend, but the Alalakan ties with the Medirian royal family were generations old. Still, he had made his thoughts about Meri clear to his friend.

“I spent the night with Meri.”

Grunting, Char stepped across the room to a table holding covered dishes. “I know. You and she were and are the center of a private discussion among the royal family, the Nissian Patriarch and Aradab Matriarch.”

As the ball of lead dropped into Ademis’ stomach, he collapsed onto a chair. “What…” He cleared his throat. “What did they have to say?”

Sipping the hot morning tea favored by the Medirians, Char shook his head. After setting the cup down, he turned to Ademis. “I wasn’t privy to the entire conversation, but we will not be leaving today.”

Ademis broke out into a cold sweat.

Char grinned at him. “Cheer up. It’s not like you took a Gattan virgin to bed. The Medirians are more open-minded, and Findal’s not a big stickler for royal protocol. You aren’t going to be arrested because you had sex with the king’s daughter. She’s old enough to make her own decisions.” Then Char frowned. “That is… She wasn’t a virgin, was she?”

Ademis shook his head.

Grinning again, Char began to pile breakfast foods onto his plate. “Then you don’t have anything to worry about. Meri’s like another sister to me. She’s not going to complain to her father.” He glanced at his friend. “That is, of course, unless you didn’t satisfy her.”

“Fuck you,” Ademis snapped as he pushed himself out of the chair and headed for the bath. He needed that shower and then he was going to find Meri and discover what was going on.

* * * * *

“He may not agree.”

“He has no choice,” the Aradab Matriarch stated in a firm voice. “He is the ‘Path to the Dols and Orcs’.”

“Has anyone bothered to ask Meri?” the Medirian queen interjected. “I want the dols and orcs returned as much as everyone else, but I will not have my daughter forced into marriage.”

“Nobody is forcing Meri to do anything she doesn’t want to,” the king said as he patted his wife’s hand.

She arched an eyebrow. “Oh, what would you call it? She doesn’t even know the man. You just finished lecturing your mother about trying to manipulate Meri into a marriage she didn’t want and now you’re talking about doing the same thing.”

“Your Majesty,” the Nissian Patriarch said, “if she weren’t interested in him, she wouldn’t have spent the night with him. Besides, the prophecy says that the ‘Path to the Dols and Orcs’ will be joined with the royal house of Mediria.”

The queen waved a hand. “He’s just a passing fancy. One night in a man’s bed doesn’t guarantee love. And there are other ways to add him to the family. We could always adopt him.”

“Bah! Marriage is better. For the dols and the orcs, love is not necessary,” stated the Matriarch. “Having them returned is far more important than the feelings of one young woman.”

“Not when she is my daughter!” the queen snapped as she leaped to her feet. “Meri’s happiness is more important.”

“She will be happy when she swims with the dols and the orcs. Any sacrifice is worth that joy,” the Matriarch continued stubbornly.

“Nothing is worth my daughter’s—”

“Enough! Both of you,” the king ordered. “I’ll talk to Meri and Ademis. Tying him to our family would be the best route to the dols and the orcs but not the only one.”

The Nissian Patriarch rested his hands on the table and leaned forward. “Your Majesties, Matriarch, the fates have begun their dance with Merilinlalissa and Ademis. It is in our best interest, I think, to allow them to find their own way. Neither, I truly believe, will disappoint us.”

* * * * *

Sucking in a deep breath of salty air, Meri dragged her toe through the wet sand and stared out across the blue-green ocean. Pale yellow seabirds squawked above her as the tiny, white-capped waves lapped her toes. The sun sparkled on myriad multicolored, gemlike seashells deposited on the orange sand by the surf. Black crabs, their pincers raised in defense, scuttled away from her. She didn’t notice any of it. All her thoughts were centered on the previous night—the night she’d spent with Ademis. Never had she been so…overwhelmed, so…satisfied…by a man. Granted, her sexual experience wasn’t that vast, but…

Deep in her heart, she knew that the night she’d spent with the Drakian Lillalistross don al’ Ademis had been far from normal, more than just mutually satisfying sex. When she’d awakened early this morning and stared at his sleeping form, she hadn’t wanted to leave him. Instead, she’d wanted to start kissing his toes and working her way up his body to his mouth. No man had ever affected her like that. Except for time spent beneath the sea with the Nissians, only twice had she spent an entire night with a man, and both times, she’d been eager to leave him and get back to her own bed even though both nights had been sexually satisfying. Something different had happened between Ademis and her, something special. What? And why?

She sucked in another breath of fresh air and let it out in a long sigh. Why did she want to return to him? Was it because of the dol etched on his shoulder? Is that what caused her interest in him? Meri closed her eyes and imagined him without the tattoo. His form didn’t disappear with it and she opened her eyes. The tattoo didn’t matter. She still wanted
him
.

A soft splash demanded her attention as the tall, dark-skinned man rose from the water and smiled at her. His long cock hung heavy before him as he held out his hand.

Meri smiled at the handsome Nissian. Nylyn, her friend, her confidant, her first lover. Three years ago, deep in ocean, he’d initiated her in the ways of love, teaching her, guiding her, showing her the joy, fulfillment and pleasure sex could bring. A few times each year he returned to her and led her into the sea where she spent a day or two in weightless, sexual abandonment.

She hadn’t seen him in months.

Taking his hand, she stepped toward him. “Nylyn. It’s been too long since I’ve enjoyed your company.”

When Nylyn pulled her into his arms, she didn’t resist. Nor did she pull away when he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. Cupping her breast, he kneed her thighs apart, slid his hard cock between them and rubbed it against her inner thigh.

Her breath caught in her throat as her body began to respond—sluggishly. “Why have you come?”

Raising his head, he smiled down into her face. “I sensed you needed me.” He stroked his other hand down her back, cupped her ass and pulled her against him.

Sighing, Meri buried her face in his chest. His caresses felt lukewarm at best, and when he kissed her, it was Ademis’ face she saw in her mind, not Nylyn’s.

Sliding a hand under her chin, he lifted her head. “What troubles you?”

“A man, a Drakian.”

He grinned. “Ah, enchanted by his sensuous tail, are you? I told you to beware of them.”

Meri shook her head. “No, he never used it.” That stray comment caused Meri to frown to herself. Why
hadn’t
he used his tail?

Nylyn’s voice interrupted her train of thought. “Then what is it?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I can’t stop thinking about him.”

“Is it because he’s the ‘Path to the Dols and Orcs’?”

Startled, Meri searched his face.

He grinned. “News such as that flies on the wings of birds and swims with the speed of a narlfish.”

Again she shook her head. “No. At first I thought it might be that, but it isn’t.”

“What does your heart tell you?”

She shrugged and turned her head away. “I don’t know. I only met him yesterday.”

He cupped her chin again and turned her face back to his. “He flies a dragon on his shoulder with the dol. All Medirians know of the steadfastness of that clan. The Alalakans would not allow him that dragon if he didn’t deserve it.”

“Then you answered your own question. Ademis is a good man.”

Nylyn smiled. “Your heart tells you that he’s a good man. What does your soul tell you?”

Meri pulled a picture of Ademis’ smiling face into her mind and happiness bloomed in her soul. Eyes widening, she stared up at Nylyn. “I love him. I love him? How can I love him? I barely know him!”

Lifting a curl the breeze had blown over her face and pushing it behind her ear, he said, “Our hearts and souls guide us, much to the frustration of our minds.” Gently clasping her upper arms, he stared deeply into her eyes. “What’s important, at times, is to follow your heart and soul and ignore your head. Love has very little to do with logic and vice versa. This man is for you, Princess Merilinlalissa. Do not make the mistake of losing him. No other will ever make you as happy—or love you as much.”