The Warlord

by Gena Showalter

  How would Roc react to the news?

  So badly she yearned to hurl herself at him and demand everything he had to give, parting with her virginity, forgetting the complications, shedding the past and grabbing hold of the future. But she wouldn’t.

  Now more than ever, harpies required a strong leader. The strongest. Enemies they’d never before faced lurked about—enemies only the granddaughter of a god could take down.

  If other Generals can resist temptation, so can I.

  Would Roc understand? After today, she knew there was no way he would sacrifice her. Disgust for her origins? He had none, not any longer. The man had killed hundreds of phantoms to reach her, shouting her name in panic, erupting into those mystical flames when she got injured.

  Which was great—for her. But she kinda sorta didn’t want him and his men cursed, either.

  Before, she’d toyed with the idea of being with him for a few months or so. To be honest, the option hadn’t really struck her as a true possibility until Roc had willingly released her from the metal. Now he had.

  What should she do? Take what she could, while she could?

  If Roc upended his entire world for her, he would demand everything. She had no doubts about that. He would never be satisfied with a temporary arrangement, and he certainly wouldn’t agree to a sexless pairing.

  If the Astra were anything like the demon-possessed Lords of the Underworld her sisters scored, they were possessive and obsessive to the extreme. So. Yeah. Roc would insist on forever and lots and lots of sex. Taliyah would be forced to choose between her consort and her people. If he was her consort. Was he? Here, now, with his body covered in the blood of their foes, she wondered...

  If only she could chat with her sisters. They would offer advice and pep talks, helping her see what she needed to see and ignore what must be ignored. They would also make fun of her for the rest of her life. When every joke was deserved, however, you just had to laugh with them.

  “What is this?”

  She shook her head, clearing her thoughts and finding Roc in front of her, concern carved into his face.

  With a small smile, she told him, “Nothing I need to decide now.”

  The bathtub was partially full, the surface covered in sweet-smelling bubbles. Aw. Did the big, bad Astra sometimes enjoy a little pampering?

  “If you’re debating the merits of feeding from me,” he said, “let me put your mind at ease. You will do it, no matter what. I want those gashes gone.”

  See! This man could never end her. “Healing from my injuries requires blood, remember, not soul. Or, uh, seed.” They had yet to confirm if she’d sneaked past his defenses and taken his soul. Or if that little bit of seed had done the trick, when she’d licked her thumb in the shower. “My phantom side remains nourished.” Mostly.

  “Doesn’t matter. You can do it now or later, but you will do it. The blood you’ll take before we settle into the bath. Come. Let’s shower off the phantoms before we enter the tub.” He said nothing else as he drew her tank over her head.

  She stripped herself the rest of the way, watching as he undid his leathers. That mouthwatering erection popped free, making her belly clench. When she dropped her shorts, the firstones she’d stuffed in the pockets thudded. She planned to study them. And yeah, okay, she also kind of wanted Roc to work with them to develop an immunity to their effects. If anyone ganked him, it would be Taliyah, not phantoms or Erebus.

  To her surprise, his lips curved with amusement as he lifted the shorts and walked them out of the bathroom, disappearing from view. No words of rebuke from him?

  “Hey,” she called. “Those are mine.”

  “I put them in a safe you can easily open. This is for our protection. I must be able to flash, especially while I’m...otherwise occupied.”

  Okay. All right.

  In front of her again, he lifted the key around his neck and removed her belt. “You did well out there.”

  “Are you kidding? I got my butt handed to me. I’d never fought phantoms before. They disembodied and embodied at random in ways I never perfected because I was too busy pretending I was only casting illusions. Which changes now. Never again will I attempt to hide what I am.”

  “Why did you hide your origins in the first place?” He stepped into the shower stall and extended his hand. “Did you expect ridicule from the harpies?”

  If she was going to consider being with this man for any length of time, she’d have to share a little about herself. “My mother wanted me to avoid drawing Erebus’s notice.”

  When his hand remained outstretched, despite the mention of his foe, she placed her fingers against his.

  “Wise of her,” he said, drawing Taliyah closer.

  Well. He’d accepted the confession better than she’d expected.

  He fiddled with knobs until warm water burst from the overhead spouts. Once the blood and viscera rinsed from their bodies, he pulled her against his chest and bared his neck. “Drink.”

  Her gaze dropped to his racing pulse, visible beneath his skin, and she trembled. “Are you sure? If your block is down, I might accidentally steal some of your soul. Before you force me to feed, I mean.”

  He gripped her by the nape, his eyelids hooding, his pupils pulsing. “Take whatever you need, Taya. I’ll recover.”

  “Okay, but only because you’re insisting.” With a moan, she leaned forward...and sank her fangs into his vein.

  He tightened his hold. And yes, his block was down. As hot blood trickled down her throat, she fought not to imbibe any of his soul. Must resist. He’d offered what she needed, but she declined the option of taking what she didn’t.

  Heat cascaded through her as she drank, and her veins fizzed. The most powerful medicine she’d ever consumed. Incredible strength flooded her limbs. Gashes wove together at last. Any fractured bones mended.

  “That’s the way,” he told her, cupping her backside to grind her against his length. “That’s my Taya. Take more.”

  More. All. Everything. What could be better than this?

  Drinking him while he thrusts inside you...

  Spooked, she gently plucked her fangs from his flesh. “That’s...that’s enough.” Her tremors worsened as she wiped her mouth, scooping up any remaining beads of blood and licking her fingers. “I’m healed.”

  “But you drank so little.” He pouted with keen disappointment. “I have more than enough. I can provide all you require, Taliyah.”

  “I’m sure you can.” Shivers and pangs blended together, revealing unknown vulnerabilities. This new dynamic between them might require some getting used to. “I’m good, I promise.”

  The disappointment dulled, flames of arousal flickering in those golden irises.

  They exited the shower. He led her to the tub, eased down at the far edge and pulled her between his legs. Splayed out before him, she presented a veritable buffet of pleasures, giving him full access to places she ached. Fragrant steam enveloped them, painting the air with a dreamy haze.

  “I think I know how you are a phantom and...you.” He settled his hands on her shoulders and massaged, her eyelids sliding shut. “I suspect Erebus and his brother did something to your people during their raids.”

  He was so close to the truth, yet so far away. “Yes and no. No,” she added when he prepared to comment further. “I’ll say no more on the subject right now.”

  “Very well.” Leaning over, he collected a vial of soap and lathered her up. He took great care with her breasts, kneading to make sure they got extra clean. Especially her lucky nipple piercing.

  Her arousal accumulated in select locations, sharpening the delicious aches between her legs. As she rocked her hips, seeking a touch, a kiss, something, the water rippled.

  “Is there something you wish to discuss?” he rasped near her ear.

  Goose bum
ps spread over her limbs. “So many things,” she admitted. “Let’s start with your safety. What are you going to do about the stones?”

  “Fight, despite them. Begin training with them. But let’s not talk about that, either.” He ran a hand down her left arm and traced his thumb over the stars on her wrist. “How did you earn these?”

  Every touch electrified. His curiosity produced a similar effect. “Well, for this one—” she pointed “—I won my first Harpy Games. That’s our version of the Olympics, mixed with MMA, mixed with The Amazing Race.” Not that he knew what any of those things were, probably. “I won my second Harpy Games just to prove I could and took first, second and third place because no one was willing to stand on the podium with me. Apparently, I didn’t play nice during either event.”

  “That, I believe.” He tapped another star. “And this one?”

  Before she responded, he used his free hand to pluck her nipple piercing. Pleasure arced through her. “Wait. What?” She’d already forgotten his question.

  His husky chuckle caressed her heating skin. “How did you earn this star?” His naughty hand moved to her navel, his fingers gliding around and around, teasing and tormenting.

  Stardust glittered there, distracting her. Somehow, she rallied. “I led a successful military campaign against a prick of a king who had enslaved some of our people. I put his insides on his outsides. And yes, I said outsides, plural. At the time, the king was in pieces.” She lost her train of thought when Roc reached the apex of her thighs.

  Tremors rocked her as she waited for him to initiate a more intimate caress. Seconds passed. Minutes. The teasing and tormenting persisted...

  Breathless, she gave herself an inner shake. “Comments? Questions?”

  “I have created and destroyed worlds, conquered kingdoms and claimed other men’s armies as my own. But I’ve never faced an opponent quite like you.”

  She arched, thrusting up her breasts, reaching overhead to fist his hair. “That might be the sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me.” And if he kept his hand where it was much longer, she would go insane! “Tell me about you. What are your likes? Your dislikes?”

  “I like—” he kissed her cheek and finally glided a finger through her silvery curls, rubbing her clit at long last “—slippery snarpies.”

  Her eyes nearly rolled back in her head. “And?”

  “I like—” he stroked the throbbing bud “—moaning, gasping snarpies.”

  “Oh, yeah?” She couldn’t catch her breath. “Anything else?”

  “I like...my gravita.” He applied more pressure, right where she needed it most.

  A cry tapered into a moan. “Roc.” She didn’t pretend not to want this. Didn’t tell herself this was merely another test of wills. She knew the truth. This was two people who shouldn’t like each other exploring what could be.

  New tests would come tomorrow; an inevitable outcome, considering their situation. Today, though, they celebrated a victory.

  “Don’t stop. Whatever you do, baby, don’t stop.”

  “Never, Taya.” He rubbed, glided, then plunged his fingers inside her, just the way they both liked. Stretching her. Then he did it all over again. Rubbing. Gliding. Plunging. Keeping her suspended at the threshold of an earth-shattering climax.

  “The things you do to my body.” Taliyah writhed against him, water lapping at the sides of the tub.

  “Look at you.” Awe thickened his voice. “Has there ever been a more exquisite sight?”

  “No,” she told him, and he rewarded her with another of those husky chuckles.

  Her lids grew heavy as sensations replaced thoughts. Arching further, thrusting her breasts higher, she steadied her head on his shoulder, letting herself feel and enjoy...everything.

  She thought he might be gentling her, a feat no other had managed. But then, she gentled him, too. The more he touched her, the more he trembled.

  Suddenly desperate for him, she angled her face, seeking his kiss. He gave it to her eagerly, his tongue twining with hers. Their breaths mingled, heat and passion consuming her, setting off an avalanche of shivers.

  His groans sent a second wave of heat crashing through her and...

  “Yes!” The kiss broke as she climaxed, her inner walls clenching around his fingers.

  “Do you know what you do to me, woman?” He heaved every breath. Working her. Grinding his erection against her. Relentless. Ruthless. Wonderful.

  “The same thing you do to me?” Quaking, far from finished, Taliyah leaned forward, freeing her wings. With an expert spin, she faced him. Water splashed. The kiss resumed, hotter and more frenzied by the second.

  He ground his length against her sensitive core. His flesh sizzled, branding her, and she cried out again, her need reaching new levels. Grinding. Grinding harder.

  Desperation returned. The bliss! Her thoughts fractured. More. More.

  Pressure built. “Just a little more.” She chased her next orgasm. Never had she wanted like this. Never had she felt so empty.

  I’ll say no. I will. She just wanted...more.

  He spun them both, pushing her against the back of the tub. Gripping one of her legs, just above her knee, he settled his full weight against her. All ferocity and wonder, he rotated his hips.

  “Yes!” Taliyah clawed at his flesh, urging him on. “Like this.” So good, so good, so good.

  He whispered every wicked thing he planned to do to her body, driving her wild with lust. Each time he drew back to thrust against her again, he bent his head to lick or lightly bite her nipples. When he vibrated his fingers against her clit, she became incoherent, losing herself in the throes, the hot, sexual haze.

  Strain contorted his features, any veneer of calm stripped away, his expression savage and primal with barely harnessed aggression.

  He flashed her to the bed. Sweat beaded his brow as he stared down at her, heaving his breaths. “I want inside you.”

  His voice was...unrecognizable. A culmination of inconceivable arousal and unmitigated power, making mincemeat of her common sense. Because she wanted him inside her, too. Somehow, she resisted. “We—we can’t.”

  He didn’t try to change her mind, as part of her...hoped. With a growl, he claimed her mouth in another fierce kiss, thrusting his tongue against hers. Gentleness? He had none.

  Caught up in the frenzy, Taliyah needed his aggression. The next time he ground against her, she lifted her hips to meet him. Greater pressure, greater pleasure. Greater torment.

  The tempo of the kiss quickened. They devoured each other. He rolled his hips faster, his shaft gliding over her slick clitoris again and again. She rolled her hips in turn, meeting the sensual assault with one of her own. Their bodies mimicked the motions of sex, straining together. Desperate, so desperate, pleasure and pressure still building...

  Any moment...

  Yes! Taliyah exploded. Without thought, she bit the cord of his neck. The second her fangs pierced his flesh, he roared, jetting hot seed all over her belly. She clung to him through every white-hot lash, pure satisfaction pouring through her.

  Let him go? No. Not now, not...ever?

  29

  Roc reclined in bed with Taliyah longer than he’d intended, loath to leave her. They’d calmed and cleaned up hours ago, and he had things to do. But his mind remained in torment.

  Holding her like this, he thought he might prefer to die in her place. If only he had the option!

  How could he ever dare to harm this woman?

  He loved the feel of her, especially after he’d pleasured her well. Though not as well as he’d wanted. Multiple times, he’d had to remind himself of the blessing, of her dream to become General—of anything but sinking his shaft deep into her sex.

  She yawned, and he kissed her temple.

  “Go to sleep, Taya,” he said, playing with her hair.
She was draped over his chest, boneless and sated. “I’ll keep you safe.” He needed to brief and question his men about the latest battles. They must discuss the stones and what was soon to happen. Even still, Roc stayed put, content.

  “Nah. I’m good.” A second yawn nearly cracked her jaw, but still she held her eyes open.

  He scoured a hand over his face, but said nothing else on the subject. Harpies only slept around their consorts. He knew that. What he wouldn’t give to be that blessed male.

  Could she ever accept him as such?

  What have you done to earn such a position?

  What could he do? He was a man tugged in two different directions. Duty versus duty. Love for his men versus...whatever he felt for his wife. Adoration? Definitely obsession. He couldn’t get enough of the woman. But the duality of his desires left him fumbling, as evidenced by his torment. No longer could he rely on a once-prized possession: his resolve.

  The events of the day had scrambled his thoughts. Nothing made sense anymore. Not his past. Not his present. Not his future. He owed protection and provision to his soldiers, but he also owed protection and provision to Taliyah. He had no desire to give her up in twenty-five days. Or ever. Could he even manage such a feat?

  Guilt and shame collided as he recalled the terrible things he’d done and said to her only yesterday. The terrible things he’d done and said to Solar, all those centuries ago.

  Solar had hungered for his siren bride with the same intensity Roc now hungered for his snarpy, yet Roc had—

  “Shhh, shhh.” Taliyah stroked his chest. “Everything will be all right.”

  He jolted, shaking the entire bed. Soothed by her words, her tone and her touch, he relaxed.

  If they weren’t going to sleep, they might as well chat to keep him out of his head. “Do you know the other phantom-harpy?” he asked softly, not wanting to rouse her defenses.

  Strain emanated from her. A long while passed before she nodded, shocking him. “I do. She’s my cousin. And my sister. Long story. But she isn’t controlled by Erebus, either, so don’t even think about reneging the orders to your men and harming her.”