Mica (32 page)

He buried his face in her neck, licking her sensitive flesh until she giggled and squirmed with pleasure. Long, moist sweeps of his tongue stroked one of her breasts in decreasing circles, edging closer to her nipple. The delicate bud tingled. Her pulse quickened with anticipation. Finally his mouth covered her nipple and his tongue teased it with relentless strokes. She clutched his head and arched closer to him.

While his worshipping teeth and tongue paid homage to her nipple his hand caressed her belly and stroked through the curls between her legs. He savored every moment with her, knowing it would be a long time before they had a chance to be alone like this again.

One of his long fingers slipped inside her damp pussy. Keen pleasure darted through her. She shifted her hips when a second finger joined the first and his thumb stroked and circled her clit.

With a final sweep of his tongue across her fully awakened nipple he moved to the other one. The taste and scent of her raised his passion to fevered heights. He gently teased the very center of the bud.

“Ah, Mica,” she panted. By the Spirit he knew how to touch her.

Sucking hard on her nipple, he withdrew his drenched fingers from her pussy and used them to caress her clit. Up and down one side, over and over he stroked.

Her nipple popped free of his mouth and he edged down her body, his hand continually stroking her plump clit until his mouth took its place.
Sun gasped, spreading her legs wide. He gazed at their long, lean beauty for a moment before settling between them and sliding his arms under her thighs. Tugging her as close as possible, he used his tongue to explore her delectable flesh.

Sun floated on a haze of passion, only aware of the pounding of her heart, the rasp of her breath and the incredible pleasure building deep inside her.

Mica was relentless in his motions. Not a second passed when his lapping tongue wasn’t driving her toward a climax that threatened to hurl her into oblivion.

No man had ever given her pleasure like this dark, handsome Priest in Waiting.

“Ah,” she cried. Clutching his head closer, she tightened her buttocks and burst in hot, throbbing waves of climax.

No sooner had the last quiver run through her than he covered her body with his.

The very tip of his cock prodded her slick passage. He felt too wonderful for words.

“Do you want this, Dame Sun?” he panted.

Staring into his eyes, she noted the desire burning in his gaze. Tension, pure and sexual, tightened his jaw line in spite of the gentleness of his motions. She knew what he was asking. Was she ready to feel a man inside her after all she’d been through so recently at the hands of their enemies?

Mica was as different from those sadistic pigs as a rusty cooking knife was from the finest sword.

Looping her arms around his neck, she thrust her hips upward and his cock slipped a bit deeper inside her. “Yes I want this, Mica. I want you.”

He entered her slowly, lovingly, his gaze fixed on hers. Joined they stared at one another. So many words formed between them yet remained unspoken. The only communication they truly needed was through their gaze and touch.

He moved inside her, thrusting slow and deep. Sun knew he wanted to extend their pleasure as much as she did but their bodies dictated otherwise. The tight, wonderful sensation of impending orgasm enveloped Sun in its sensual embrace. She managed to keep her eyes open long enough to watch Mica’s flutter shut. He swallowed, his breath quickening along with his thrusting. He filled her pussy with his thick, hard cock as he filled her heart with love and desire.

“Mica. Oh, Mica,” she cried. Clutching him with arms and legs, she came, quaking and quivering, ripples of pleasure running from the top of her head to the soles of her feet.

“Sun. Ah. Goddess.” Panting, he surged into her with three short, fast thrusts then stiffened. Every muscle tense, he came long and hard into her throbbing body.

* * * * *

Sleep eluded both Mica and Sun that night. They lay in each other’s arms, talking softly until he finally drifted off.
All too soon sunlight illuminated the chamber. Mica kissed her then left the bed, his stomach tense. Ahead of him stretched the greatest challenge of his life—a challenge that he could not avoid lest he fail everyone.

Sun stretched, her gaze meeting his. She offered a slight smile and watched as he donned his blue robe and kaffiyeh.

“I wish you’d at least let me travel with you part of the way,” she said.

Tugging her into his arms, he brushed her mouth with a kiss. “I must do this alone, Sun. Keep safe.”

“You know how good both of us are at keeping safe.”

“I will miss you.” He cupped her cheek, loving the sensation of her smooth, soft flesh.

The affectionate look in her eyes touched his heart. Abruptly he pulled away.

Picking up his long wooden fighting staff and a satchel containing his few belongings, he headed for the door.

“Mica—”

“I can’t look back, Dame Sun. I can’t look back and still bring myself to go.”

He strode down the corridor and out of the palace.

* * * * *

Since his horse couldn’t reach his ultimate destination Mica traveled by foot.

Initially his stomach churned with apprehension as violently as his mind churned with thoughts. He couldn’t quite believe he was cured of bog tremors. As he crossed miles of desert he wondered if another attack might take him before he fulfilled his duty.

The strength coursing through him proved otherwise. By the end of the first night his confidence had nearly returned in full. He would do everything in his power to ensure the safety of his people. None of this could have happened without Blaze, Sun and Valor. The only way he could show his gratitude to them—and to his emperor and the Priests for believing in him—would be to win the Blood War. Even if it meant sacrificing his life Mica vowed to defeat Karlus and Teman. He only prayed his challenge would be accepted, avoiding the deaths of thousands.

Goddess, Mica, you sound so self-absorbed. Don’t forget you can lose what you have as
quickly as you gained it.

Dusk fell and he huddled deeper into his robe to avoid the night’s chill.

Gazing at the starlit sky, he wondered what Sun was doing. Was she thinking of him? Longing for the softness of her naked curves pressed against him, he fell asleep.
Chapter Sixteen
After nearly a week of hard travel Mica saw Goddess Peak rising in the distance.

Tall and slender it shone against the sky like a dark beauty seated on a veil of pale blue velvet. Mica’s heartbeat quickened and he forced his pace to remain steady. One of the most important lessons he’d learned on Goddess Peak was patience.

Early the next morning he arrived at the base of the peak. It appeared much larger than the narrow shadow on the horizon the day before. Smooth to the top the mountainside was nearly impossible to climb. Carved into the eastern side—a result of ancestors’ diligent labor—was a narrow stone staircase. Mica craned his neck and squinted, straining for a glimpse of the mountaintop. It had been years since he’d sought the most revered of the Goddess’ followers. To ask for their training he must travel the steep staircase to their place of worship.

Though eager to continue the final steps of his journey he realized such a climb required tremendous endurance and he had yet to regain his full strength. The rules were simple when approaching Goddess Peak. Either make the entire journey by nightfall or else descend and begin again.

After a brief rest Mica shrugged on his travel pack, picked up his staff and began the ascension.

With less than a tenth of the staircase behind him he already felt the effects of the climb. Wiping sweat from his eyes, he paused, taking several deep breaths, his heart pounding in his ears. There had been a time when he could run the stairs and still retain energy when he reached the top. Continuing upward, he realized how much he’d lost after years with bog tremors. Yes, he’d retained his fighting skills and kept in adequate condition between bouts of illness but it would take diligent training to summon the strength and skill required to win the Blood War.

Staff in hand he ignored the soreness in his legs and pushed upward, stopping several times to rest.

Halfway up the mountainside he sensed someone watching him and paused. A slender, white-robed man stepped from behind a boulder off the side of a particularly wide step. Mica knew such steps served as guard posts in several places on the mountainside.

“Mica?” the man—an aide to the High Priestess—smiled. “I never thought to see you again. You’re feeling well?”

“I’m cured, Shen.”

Curiosity glistened in Shen’s eyes. “How?”

“A Knight of the Ruby Order knew of a cure.”
“They are an honorable group.”

“Yes. As are the Dames of the Opal Order.” Mica tried to ignore the ache in his chest when he thought about Sun. He missed her so much. Many times during the journey he wished she was with him. He even missed her foul temper and sharp tongue.

Shen glanced skyward, measuring the daylight. “It’s after midday, my friend. I fear you won’t reach the top today.”

Mica sighed. “I know. I had to make frequent stops. I’ve recovered only recently.

I’m not the man I once was.”

Shen laughed. “Who is? You seem determined to reach us though.”

“The fate of the Kennas depends on whether or not you’ll help me.”

“Taking on the responsibility of many again, Mica?” Shen folded his arms across his chest and raised an eyebrow. “Arrogance was always a problem for you.”

“I know only an arrogant man would do what I plan to but the risk must be taken.”

Wagging a finger in reprimand, Shen said, “You didn’t let me finish. Arrogance was a problem for you but so was selflessness.”

“I didn’t know you considered that a problem.”

“Only to yourself. It is an honorable trait. Funny that so often arrogance and selflessness go hand in hand.”

Mica longed to ask Shen if he thought the others would help him but he knew the Priest wouldn’t reply. Only when he reached the top would he know if he would be allowed to train.

For the next several moments he spoke with Shen about day-to-day issues then descended the steps. Tomorrow he would try again then the day after that and the day after that until he reached his destination. Time was running out however. The longer he took to prepare the more people would die during the battles raging between the Kennas.

* * * * *

“Damn it.” Mica stumbled on the stone step. His heart pounding, he nearly slipped down the mountainside.

For a moment he sat, catching his breath and using his sleeve to stanch blood leaking from his skinned knee. Muttering a curse, he glanced at the jagged hole the rough stone had torn in his robe.

It had been nearly three days since he’d arrived at Goddess Peak. Each day he pushed to reach the top but by dusk he was forced to turn back and spend the night frustrated at the mountain’s base. His muscles ached from climbing but the pain was nothing compared to bog tremors and it was a good, familiar soreness. He could become a true warrior again. Perhaps even better than before.
At the very least I’ll impress Sun.

“Fool.” Mica shook his head. Shen was right. He was arrogant and childish. Why when his kingdom teetered on the edge of destruction should he think about impressing a woman who had seen him at his absolute worst?

“You still need to learn patience, Mica of Ademene.”

Mica glanced up at the tall, dark-skinned woman dressed in flowing red robes.

“Dayle.” Mica bowed from the neck before pushing himself to his feet.

“You can’t hurry fate.”

“But time is of essence. I need your wisdom. Our world is in danger.”

Dayle nodded. “We’ve seen.”

“Will you help me?”

“You know our way, Mica. When and if you reach the top the High Priestess will decide.”

“She must—”

“If everyone obeyed the word of the Goddess there would be far less suffering. No murder. No rape.”

Rape.
Mica’s stomach clenched. Karlus must be destroyed.

“Your anger doesn’t help your cause.”

“Have you become a mind reader now?”

Dayle smiled. “No, I’m guessing by your narrowed eyes and clenched teeth something has peeved you.”

“I can’t help it, Dayle. Someone I love has been hurt by an enemy of our kingdom.”

“You want to avenge her.”

“Her. Me. I want to avenge us all.”

“I understand your desire for revenge but don’t become so obsessed with retribution that you defeat yourself. You were a respected general once. You didn’t secure victories by allowing emotions to rule you.”

“On the contrary my greatest victory occurred when I listened to my heart. By striving for the good of the people I helped overthrow my father and the false emperor.”

“Striving for the good of the people is what the Goddess wishes. Don’t forget that, Mica. Whatever happens.”

“I’ll try.”

“And now I suggest you turn back. You won’t reach the top by dusk.”

Mica’s teeth clenched and his hand tightened on his staff. Dayle wagged a finger at him. “Patience.”

Forcing a smile, he turned back down the steps.
* * * * *

Mica reached the top of Goddess Peak just as dusk settled over the desert. The temple of carved rock stood in the center of the flat mountaintop. Cacti twice Mica’s height lined the dirt pathway to the temple’s double doors.

Panting, his staff poised, Mica blinked sweat from his eyes and waited for the attack he knew would come. Though they ventured into the desert to lend aid to communities in need, the High Priests and Priestesses of Goddess Peak were a cloistered group. Most followers of the Goddess approached the temple to train even for a short time but few remained. Not everyone who ventured there was given the opportunity to learn from its inhabitants. Their skills were revered throughout the Kennas but they chose their students carefully.

After abandoning the false emperor, Mica had been allowed to study on Goddess Peak. He’d left to join the emperor and defeat his father’s army with the hope of one day returning to continue his training. Imprisonment followed by bog tremors had dashed his hopes though he remained true to his promise to serve the Goddess.