by Mandy Rosko
“What? No! God no, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to say that. I guess, ah, it just came out when you made that comment. I’m not a virgin. I guess that’s something you should know, too, if you were interested in having me for any reason. You should know all my faults, too.”
She didn’t think it was a fault, though now she was sweating a little at the idea of him turning her away.
It was another one of her moments when she didn’t know what she wanted. She was confusing herself, that was for damned sure.
Amanda’s heart slammed around in a panic in her chest at the thought that he wouldn’t want her. At the same time, it would make it so easy to walk away, to finally put things in perspective and show her that this world wasn’t that different from how she’d been imagining it, how she’d been writing it.
Go on. Show me what an asshole you are. Tell me I’m a whore and send me away. Do it. Come on.
Hargreave took a deep breath. “Then…it matters not. So long as you are safe, and happy, away from that monster, that is all that is of concern to me.”
Fuck. Now her insides were melting.
Hargreave knocked on the heavy wooden door. Someone opened it from the other side, a woman, a small woman, and what looked like a couple of young boys. It was brighter in the room than it was in the hall, warmer too, thanks to all the torches and fires.
That was saying something, considering it was bright enough in the halls that Hargreave didn’t have to carry a torch.
“These servants will bathe you, and they have fresh clothes for you. Food will arrive shortly.”
Amanda stepped into the room, felt how Hargreave wasn’t behind her anymore, and turned. It shocked and unnerved her to see him still in the doorway.
“You’re really not coming inside?”
That shouldn’t be disappointing, but it was. His playful smirk when he’d teased her before…she wanted him in here with her.
Hargreave shook his head, smiling, though there was something disappointed and longing in his eyes. “I must check on the injured. No one was killed rescuing you, but there are…wounds.”
Amanda shivered. “Anything bad?”
Hargreave opened his mouth, closed it, then finally spoke. “A man lost three fingers. Another might lose his entire arm. The healers are seeing to them. I would be no prince if I didn’t offer my gratitude for their sacrifice.”
“Should I…I mean, that happened to them because of me, right? I should thank them with you.” Amanda wanted to go with him. She wanted to thank them with him, to meet the warriors who loved and respected Hargreave enough to follow him into battle just to get one woman.
Hargreave smiled, shaking his head. “The healers will have my head if you arrive like that. I will have to bathe as well.”
There must have been something on Amanda’s face that spoke to how much she still wanted to go, because Hargreave stepped into the room, reached his hand out, and touched her cheek.
The heat came back. It rushed through his fingers and into her skin when his lips came so close but still did not touch her. “Think nothing of it for now. You will have your chance at the feast tonight. The men want to meet their queen.”
Amanda nodded, utterly lost in his red eyes. “Okay.”
His eyes became half lidded. Hargreave pressed his lips together. Amanda leaned forward, kissing him because he wouldn’t kiss her.
That same heat she felt through the touch of his hand pulsed through her at the touch of his lips. It was all the more exciting because she had been the one to initiate it.
No more hoping this feeling would go away. By kissing him, Amanda was admitting to herself that she liked this feeling, that she wanted more of it, and was planning on acting on it.
At least for however long she was able to stay here.
Hargreave’s hand found its way into her hair. He gripped it tightly. Amanda grunted, her mouth opening for him as he suddenly stopped being so shy about everything and took what he wanted.
That excitement she’d felt just a minute ago? It was nothing compared to what he was doing to her now. The slide of his warm, wet tongue in her mouth was better than anything she’d ever felt in her life. The spark was there. The one she’d written about in a number of her novels but had never felt until now. The feeling of warmth pooling in her stomach and between her legs, the sizzling electricity that pulsed through her, making her toes curl and giving her that urge to lift up one of her feet. Make it pop, just like in that Princess Diaries movie.
Hargreave pulled back from her before she could get that far. His cheeks were flushed, red eyes brighter, glowing even, and he smiled as he panted. “Much as I would love to take this farther, sweet, I cannot avoid my duty to my people any longer.”
“Go do it then.”
Hargreave hesitated before pulling away from her, as if he didn’t want to. God, that made a girl feel all kinds of special. She couldn’t help herself. She didn’t want him to go, and she couldn’t stop smiling either as Hargreave continued to look back at her before he left the room and one of the servants shut the door behind him.
Amanda composed herself real quick after that. She’d completely forgotten there were other people in the room when Hargreave had his mouth on hers.
The realization made her blush even hotter. Hargreave’s touch and kiss were enough to make Amanda forget there were people watching her when she was making out with him.
“My lady?”
Amanda jumped a little.
The servant girl, who couldn’t have been much older than Olga, and hardly any bigger, put her hand on Amanda’s shoulder. “Your bath is cooling.”
Amanda looked to the steaming tub. This wasn’t a bathroom. There was a large bed on the other side of the room, a fireplace, chest, and even a wardrobe. Someone must have carried that bath into the room itself and filled it with hot water.
It didn’t seem like an easy task, even in a castle where water was easy to come by, and she didn’t want to make all their work for nothing.
Plus, she was dying for a soak.
“Right, thank you, but, ah, one thing?”
The servant girl looked at her while the two boys pulled a number of items out of one of the chests. Glass jars and a fresh gown and shoes.
“Are you all supposed to help me have a bath?”
The girl blinked at her. “We are your servants, my lady.”
Right. She thought so. “Eldric had servants like this, too. Okay, that’s fine, but can it be just you that helps me? Maybe the boys can, I don’t know, do something else? If I can be quick about this, then when I’m done with the bath, they can bring me to Hargreave to thank the injured with him? Then maybe have the night off?”
Amanda wasn’t sure if she was allowed to offer that, but she just did.
The servant girl blinked again, clearly confused, but she turned to the two young boys anyway and gave the command for them to go.
Both boys looked at each other, then grinned broadly as they headed for the door, thanking Amanda on her way out. “We will be close by,” said the taller of the two boys.
Amanda nodded
When they were gone, Amanda was able to relax, though she smiled apologetically at the remaining servant girl. “Sorry. I just have trouble with boys around when I’m cleaning up.”
“It’s no trouble at all, my lady. Let me help you out of this.”
Amanda let the girl work. She would have let her leave, too, except Amanda had trouble getting out of the dresses that Eldric had given her to wear, and if she wanted to get into that tub, clean up, and get out in time to get to Hargreave and the injured, she was going to have to let this girl do her work.
When she was able to sink into the warm, clean water, Amanda sighed, then smiled when she realized the hot water was still ocean salt water. She breathed it in, feeling so much better, so relaxed as the servant girl helped her wash her hair, even though Amanda said she could do it on her own.
Amanda still felt the tingle
of Hargreave’s touch on her cheek, and especially on her lips, but there was an added problem to it now.
The moment her body was submerged in the water, the heat intensified, playing off the temperature of her bath. Amanda rubbed her legs together. The water was slick with the perfumed oils that had been poured into it. She wanted to touch herself. She needed to do it, and do it thinking about Hargreave’s mouth, but she couldn’t because the servant girl was here.
Okay, five minutes. She could spare five minutes. Hopefully.
“I think…I think I can do this on my own.” Amanda quickly reached out for the next bottle the servant girl had in her hands. The girl didn’t let it go. Instead, she looked down at Amanda like she was the craziest person alive.
Amanda needed to get rid of her. She needed some privacy because there was no way this was going to wait. “I’m sorry. I thought I could handle it with another person in here with me. I’ll call you back in when I need to dry off and get dressed. I promise.”
The girl pressed her lips together, uncertainty in her eyes.
“Will you get in trouble?”
“No, my lady. You commanded it, but it’s not…common.”
“I won’t tell anyone, will you?”
The girl shook her head, releasing the bottle to Amanda. “Very well. That is to soften your hair. Do you know how to use it?”
She knew how to use conditioner, and after thanking the girl and assuring her she would be fine on her own two more times, Amanda was relieved and amazed she’d managed to get rid of her without having to get out of the bath and physically shove her out of the door.
She didn’t have the ability to get out of the bath and make sure the door was locked. Her hands immediately moved to her breasts. Her nipples were already hard, and a shock of pleasure ignited within her, shooting down to her sex, the instant she tweaked them.
Amanda gasped. “Oh my God.”
Her hand moved lower, and it was all she could do to keep from making any noise that would bring that girl back in here. Amanda bit her lip and groaned softly, feeling Hargreave’s arms around her, and his strong hand gripping her hair as he kissed her.
She needed to be quick if she was going to get to the injured warriors in time to see them with Hargreave.
Chapter 10
Hargreave had no bath waiting for him. He was not a fine lady, and he had gone many years without such luxuries, so he rarely did more than bathe in the sea water that had swallowed half of his home.
He jumped into the water, clothing and all, holding his breath and staying down there long enough until he was certain the stink would be off him. He glanced down into the dark depths of what used to be his father’s throne room, and he smiled.
Eldric and his father were both fools and cowards. He couldn’t wait to show this to his queen.
Hargreave stayed in the water longer than he should have, memories of what this vast room looked like before it plummeted into the sea water distracting him.
He took what he needed before he left the water, shaking hair out of his eyes and swimming back to the entrance. He had servants waiting for him by the door he’d cut into the stone when he’d returned home.
He dropped out of his clothes, standing naked and using the heat of his fire to dry himself quickly.
He dressed swiftly, then went to see to his men.
They looked to him, some with grim expressions, others with eager eyes, eager for whatever it was he might say.
Hargreave moved to the severely injured first. The man with the lost fingers might still yet fight. The one who had lost his arm likely would not.
Hargreave put his hand on their shoulders one at a time. He promised care for them and their wives until the day they either died or their children grew old enough to care for their mothers instead. He dropped gold into the hands of the two men, though Hargreave didn’t know if he would find it worthy compensation if he were to ever lose one of his arms or some of his fingers.
They seemed grateful enough, and their mates, who had been standing with them, wept with joy over their husbands.
The men still appeared dazed. The warrior with the lost arm looked to Hargreave imploringly. “How will I fight? What use is my life now?”
Hargreave stared the man in the eyes. Warriors did not take well to being removed from the battle or their brethren. The mates were usually pleased when their husbands were returned to them, but this man would suffer, no matter what riches Hargreave brought him.
“You still have your wings, yes? Your legs? One good strong arm?”
The warrior nodded, and Hargreave turned his gaze around to the rest of the injured warriors. Many in this room suffered little more than scratches—one man had an arrow through his thigh—and they were all listening intently to Hargreave.
“You will learn how to battle with that arm, well enough that you will teach others. I’ve seen you fight; you are a monster to be reckoned with. Unless you were to battle with me, of course. You always lost then.”
A chuckle sounded throughout the room. The smiles, even among the warrior with the lost arm, were a welcome sight.
“I don’t know your name, warrior, but today, I will learn it and never forget it. You brought me my queen. You all did.” He looked around himself. “For that, I owe you all an eternal gratitude.” Hargreave turned back to the pale warrior without his arm. The man smiled eagerly. “If you want to return to battle, I will give it to you. If you want to teach the others how to handle a sword without slicing themselves like fools, I will do that, too. Anything.”
The man nodded. “Thank you, my prince.”
His wife no longer wept tears of joy, though Hargreave expected she would spend the night attempting to convince her husband to teach the boys who wanted to be men. Hargreave hoped she would succeed. He didn’t like seeing his men die needlessly, and if that was his wrong arm he had left, it was likely he would.
Hargreave noted the lack of sound from the rest of his men. He looked up and around. Their gazes were turned in one direction. Towards the door.
Amanda stood there, cleaned, dressed in fresh clothing that would give the healers in the room no cause for concern. Her hair was still wet around her shoulders, and her grey gaze was on no one but Hargreave. She had eyes only for him, an affection within those stormy depths that was unmistakable.
She stepped forward. Few were in her way; those that were, moved out of it. This was the woman they had all risked so much for. The one who was now their queen.
Hargreave had wanted to give her a proper introduction, but she was here, and now was as good a time as any.
Hargreave held out his hand to his woman. She reached for it, squeezed it tight.
A shock of sensation rushed through him at her touch. A realization came immediately after, and he smiled wide down at her. She had been pleasuring herself. Thinking of him.
Amanda’s face colored with a pink blush, as if she could see this realization in his eyes.
“I…” She scratched the back of her neck. “I know you said to wait, but I wanted to say thank you, to your men.” Amanda looked down at the beds, where the warriors who had the worst of it were lying with their mates. “Thank you for what you did.”
They nodded to her, attempting to sit with their backs straight. The warrior with the lost arm attempted to stand. Luckily, his wife prevented that.
“Stay down,” Hargreave said. “It’s enough that you would stand for us at all.”
Amanda continued to squeeze Hargreave’s hand. She had to be aware of the many eyes of each warrior, each healer in the room looking at her. Some critical, others with curiosity. Of course they would be curious of the woman they had risked so much to rescue.
The man nodded. “My lady, for whatever service I can be to you, you have it.”
Amanda swallowed hard. “Thank you.” She seemed to hesitate for a few brief seconds before stepping forward. She held out her hand to him.
He looked at it, then at Hargr
eave.
Hargreave nodded.
The warrior took the offered hand and kissed the back of it. Amanda appeared startled, though her recovery was quick.
“Thank you again.”
The warrior nodded.
Hargreave took Amanda’s hand for himself again. He did not know if a man not her mate would be able to sense what Hargreave did when he touched her, but he didn’t plan on taking that risk. He respected and adored his warriors for their bravery and skill at times, but he didn’t intend for them to share in his mate’s secret pleasures.
Hargreave kissed her hand, as though that would chase away the mouth of his warrior. Amanda smiled softly, but there was no more blushing out of her. The warriors around her, and their injuries, were likely too much.
Hargreave announced to them, “What sort of prince would I be if there was no feast for the prince’s men?”
The cheer was immediate, the noise filling the room, and his men banged on the tables and walls, magnifying the sound.
“Good!” Hargreave called. “Now stay alive a few more hours yet, unless your wounds are too much to survive, then I’m afraid you will have to miss out.”
Laughter sounded just then. Booming laughter. Hargreave looked down into his mate’s face, and was pleased to see the sound having its proper effect on her as well. She was smiling and laughing. There was no hint that her time with Eldric, or her unorthodox rescue, had left a cloud over her experience with Hargreave or his men.
“Clean yourselves up, you fools! Or there will be no feast for you.” Overcome with his good mood, infected with it by his men, Hargreave swiftly leaned down and picked his woman up into his arms to an even louder cheer.
He walked out with her, listening to the whistling noises, the calls for good luck—not that he needed them—and the shouts of the healers for them to stop before they pulled their wounds back open.
Amanda laughed in his arms, leaning against his chest, her blue-tipped hair flying around her shoulders. “Where are we going?”