"Here we are."
We came to a stop in a little clearing by the river.
"Nice place."
"Glad you like it."
He eased me down from Stellar's back, then looped a long leg over the horse's neck and slid to the ground in one fluid motion.
"Moon Cow, come meet Aleah." Everyone seemed to have picked up my name now. "Aleah, this is Moon Cow. Moon Cow, Aleah. I'm sure you'll get along. Although, Moon Cow, you might have to be patient with her, at first. Right, let's start by getting you mounted. Give me your foot."
He knelt in front of me and his proximity to my fluttering core made my arousal rise as I gave him my foot and he put it into one of the stirrups.
"Now, you take the reins in one hand and the front of the saddle in the other. I'll give you a boost. One, two, three, go."
I hoisted myself up as Killian pushed my bottom, and for a moment I thought I had got it in one, until I overbalanced and fell down on the far side of the horse. Moon Cow gave a snort that sounded an awful lot like laughter. It was possible that I had become distracted by the feel of Killian's hands on my backside.
Killian shook his head as he looked down at me in the dirt and patted Moon Cow's neck. "I've got a feeling this is going to be a long morning."
He was right. That was the first time I hit the dirt, it was not destined to be the last. It took two more tries for me to master mounting Moon Cow, and then Killian began to lead the horse around the clearing, first walking then trotting, while I hung on for dear life and pretended that I was in control. The feel of a horse between my legs was, obviously, completely different to riding sidesaddle. Even though it was much more secure, it was a totally alien feeling and one that would take some getting used to, I constantly felt as if I was on the verge of falling off, even when I wasn't. To my credit, I kept my seat while Killian was guiding Moon Cow around, but the moment he let go, leaving me in charge, I fell straight off. I thought it was more panic than anything else so we tried again and the same thing happened. I started to suspect that Moon Cow had it in for me. It was a bruising morning, and after a pleasant packed lunch in the shade of a willow tree, it turned into a bruising afternoon. But by the end of it, I was able to at least stay on, though I had to be the most graceless rider ever to mount a horse.
"I'm not sure you're a natural rider," said Killian, thoughtfully, as he helped me down. "Now take her for a drink."
Taking Moon Cow's reins, I led her to the water and she lowered her head. I was thirsty myself and dipped my hand to the river to scoop up water to drink. Then, on an impulse, I splashed a handful of water over Killian. He stared at me, startled for a moment, then broke into a smile as I giggled.
"Sorry, couldn't help myself."
"Well, then, I'm sure you won't mind if I do this." He grabbed me, sweeping me up into his arms, with me struggling, squealing and giggling.
"No don't!" I gasped as he marched towards the river, ready to dump me in.
"I see. You can dole it out but you can't take it."
"I can take it," I insisted, struggling against him, but more so I could rub my inflamed body against his than in any effort to get away. "Don't throw me. I'll do anything."
"You don't want me to throw you?"
"No. Killian."
Our eyes met and I saw the desire in his that I was sure matched my own.
"Maybe we can come to some sort of compromise?" Killian suggested.
"A compromise?"
Without warning, Killian dived forward, still holding me in his arms, dousing us both in the river. I scrabbled free, screaming and laughing at the same time, but he caught me again and dunked my head under the water. I grabbed him around the waist, catching him off balance and pulling him down on top of me. Our bodies wound together, grappling wildly in the water. Without meaning to, I found myself tugging at Killian's clothes. What was I doing? I liked Adrien. Didn't I? But I liked Killian, too, and he was here and I wanted him. And based on what I could now feel under his tunic, he wanted me, too.
Well, this was Norren. When in Norren, do as the Norren do.
By now, Killian's hands were as eager as mine, both of us following a primal urge that coursed through our bodies. Splashing through the water, barely able to stop touching each other, we landed back on the muddy bank with me on top of Killian.
I looked down at him through the wet strands of my hair. "What now?"
Killian looked back at me. "It occurs to me that there may be one riding lesson that I forgot."
Chapter 13
There was a slight nervousness in me as I leaned down to kiss Killian and he kissed me back, his hands moving across my body, freeing me from my wet clothing.
It wasn't nervousness at having sex again, Adrien had given me such a good introduction that, inexperienced though I remained, there was only eagerness in me. Nor was it nervousness that I was in some way betraying Adrien. There had been something special between us, I was sure of that, but this was Norren and such things were common, and I felt the same attraction to Killian as I felt for his friend. Besides, given the reaction of the Norren women to Adrien's return, I didn't think he was the kind to worry about such silly things as jealousy where sex was concerned.
No, I was nervous because I was planning to betray Killian, Adrien and all of them later today. 'Betray' might seem a bit of a strong word given that I was just running away to go help a friend, but that was how it felt. They had treated me far better than 'my people' would have treated them, they had spoken up for me against the crowd when I arrived and had put in a good word for me with the king. Perhaps it was a minor betrayal but a betrayal was what it was. How could I possibly sleep with Killian, knowing all that? It would be wrong.
But when I pulled Killian's tunic over his head, revealing the lean muscles of his torso, gleaming with water, the word 'wrong' was not in my vocabulary. I knew that I had to tell him to stop now before it was too late - it would be hard to explain but it would be the only decent thing to do. But now Killian had removed my robe and, leaning up from where he lay, his lips traced a gentle path across the firm flesh of my breasts, and whatever slender resolve I might have had, evaporated. After all, if I pulled away now then surely that would seem suspicious after I had been so eager. He might guess my motives and the plan would be ruined. No, for Sadie's sake, I would have to have sex with Killian. It really was the only way. I might have taken a moment to feel guilty about using Sadie in this flimsy justification, but I felt too good at the moment. Killian's strong hands had found the curves of my backside and he was squeezing and massaging them, swiftly lighting fires in me as Adrien had two nights ago. I kissed him again, tasting his sweetness on my mouth and crushing my bare breasts against his taut chest. There was a good chance that my plan would end up with my death - didn't I deserve a little fun before I sacrificed myself? Didn't I deserve to indulge in something that had been denied to me and which I was about to voluntarily give up for the sake of my friend?
It didn't really matter what the answer was.
"Come here." Killian drew me up his body, my legs still straddling him, and I gasped as his tongue found my core and slicked inside me. When I tensed up, I felt his hands on my hips, my thighs and my ass cheeks, gently stroking me, calming me, easing me down and encouraging me to settle into my seat, spread across Killian's face as he explored my most intimate folds with his mouth. I leaned back, opening myself to him, my hands planted on Killian's tight abs. As I did so, my fingers brushed against something hot and I looked back over my shoulder. Killian's member lay hard against his stomach. It was not as thick as Adrien's but was perhaps a little longer and, like Killian himself, it was wiry and athletic.
The word 'stamina' drifted through my mind as something else I had heard that some men had. As I stared, the lovely thing twitched and I grinned, then made a grab for it. Killian skewered me deliciously with his tongue in response as I wrapped my hand about his long shaft and began to pump my hand up and down it as Adrien had tau
ght me. Apparently, he had taught me well as Killian moaned into me, and his tongue continued its devastating work.
"Oh..." I gasped as Killian's nimble fingers found a sensitive spot inside me and sent me plunging off the edge into orgasm. I ground my hips into Killian's face and, lost in ecstasy, beat furiously on his cock, hard enough that my fist banged against his hips.
As my orgasm subsided, Killian guided me down his body again.
"Time for you to mount up."
"Oh yes."
I felt the head of his weapon at my entrance and then Killian pushed into me, my wetness easing his passage. I whined with pleasure, my body stiffening and relaxing in rhythm as Killian, his hands on my undulating hips, eased me down the full length of his weapon. As our hips mashed together, I grit my teeth in a delighted grin, feeling him buried inside me to the hilt. I looked down at Killian and found his grin answering my own.
"You are a very beautiful woman."
"You are a very handsome steed," I replied, and he laughed.
"Let's start at a trot, then, shall we?"
Guided by Killian's hands, I began to move my hips up and down in a steady rhythm, allowing about half his length to slide out of me before diving my hips back down to swallow him up again, relishing the intimate friction that was already fueling a second impending orgasm. I let my hands trail up and down his torso in the same rhythm, enjoying the feel of his muscles moving beneath my fingers.
"That's so wonderful." I leaned forward to kiss him, my nipples scratching against his chest, and as I did so he began to move his hips underneath me, picking up my pace and arcing his shaft in and out of me in long, indulgent thrusts.
The pleasure pooled like a tight ball in my tummy and I found myself laughing from sheer joy, releasing some of that pent-up tension. I sat back astride my lover, starting to move faster now so my ass cheeks smacked noticeably against his narrow hips.
"Moving up to a canter?" asked Killian. I could see the muscles in his stomach ripple as he urged his hips up from beneath to meet me.
My breath was coming short and fast as I rode him, while he drew in long, low breaths and exhaled for a count of three, pacing himself like the thoroughbred he was. I got the impression that Killian could do this all day long without breaking a sweat, while I was clinging onto sanity with my teeth, perspiration breaking out all over my body, which had already turned an attractive shade of pink. Killian sensed how near I was getting and clearly wasn't done yet.
"Whoa there a minute."
"Whoa?" I gasped. "Who's the horse around here; you or me?"
He laughed. "Turn around."
"Turn around."
"No need to lift up, just twist about in the saddle."
"Will that still work?" I frowned. If we were not face to face would everything still fit together? I seemed to recall from something I was not supposed to overhear or from a book that I was not supposed to have read, that if sex was not face to face then it was evil - or more evil than before.
"Trust me. That's it, lift your leg."
"Ooh." The feel of twisting my body about on the pivot of Killian's hard weapon, buried inside me, was yet another new and exciting one, pulling and stretching my inside in delectable new ways. The simple hundred and eighty-degree turn seemed to drain all the energy out of me and I practically collapsed onto Killian's legs, facing his feet.
"Ahh..." Killian had definitely enjoyed the sensation, too. "Now," his hands took a firm hold of my hips, his thumbs digging into my sweat-sheened butt cheeks, "come to a trot."
I began to rise and fall in the slow rhythm in which we had started, squeaking like a mouse as Killian penetrated me at this new angle.
"Canter." His breath was coming a little harder now while mine was still more shallow and rapid as I pounded my backside back into his hips.
"Now, gallop..." I didn't know what I had left to give but I gave it all. Bouncing wildly up and down on Killian's impaling shaft as fast as I could go, clinging to his outstretched legs with white-knuckled hands. I felt his grip on my hips tighten as he thrust up to meet me, matching my pace and surpassing it, grunting with each smack of his hips into mine.
I cried out with each impact, driven up to and beyond the point of ecstasy, finally throwing myself backwards to lie full length along Killian's supine form while he continued to thrust into me from beneath. The orgasm hit me hard and fast, overwhelming me completely. I writhed against Killian as if his body was red hot, making noises I couldn't begin to describe as I rode out the mind-blowing come, finally collapsing limply across him.
After a few minutes to get my breath back, I spoke. "You didn't come." I could still feel him hard within me.
"Are you done?"
I wriggled happily against him. "I'm not if you're not."
I twisted my head about so we could kiss and then squealed as Killian rolled over so we were on our sides.
"Eww, I'm getting all muddy," I said in mock complaint.
"That will never do." He took a blob of mud on his finger and playfully smeared it across my nose as his hips began to move once more, stirring me into fresh murmurs of pleasure.
I giggled and scooped up a handful of mud to push back at his face. The game continued, each of us plastering the other with mud from the bank as Killian's cock sawed in and out of me faster and faster, his hips pounding against my vulnerable backside. I came again quickly, clutching at the mud with clawed hands as pleasure wracked me once more.
As I came down, Killian pulled out of me and got to his feet.
"We'd best get cleaned up." He offered me a hand and helped me to my feet.
I felt as if I could barely stand after the exhausting lovemaking to which Killian had subjected me, my knees wobbled as I tried to find my feet. He, on the other hand, was apparently not so tired, or, at least, not all of him. I stroked my hand along the slick, raw length of his cock. "Wow."
"Thanks. It's a blessing and a curse." He shrugged. "Mostly a blessing."
I stood up on tip toes to give him a light kiss. "To me, it's been all blessing."
We waded out into the water and washed each other's bodies free of the mud. I couldn't keep my hands off of Killian's diamond-hard cock and, as the last of the mud vanished in the clear water, I dropped to my knees in front of him and took him into my mouth.
Killian sighed and stroked my wet hair as I sucked at him long and hard, my head moving rhythmically back and forth. Above me, I could hear his breath, less controlled now, coming irregularly as he fought to maintain his composure. Finally, I felt his hands on me, gently prying me away.
"One last ride." I got back to my feet and he whispered, "Mount up."
I understood instantly and I sprang up. Killian caught my weight in his hands, holding me against him and guiding me down onto him once more. I looped my arms about his neck and closed my legs tight behind his back. I began to rise and fall on him once more, whimpering with delight at how it felt to have him in me again. It was not destined to be a long one, Killian had been holding off for too long now, was too aroused to last for long, but as he moaned "Oh, Aleah," I felt his weapon throb within me and then pulse, and then... Killian shot his load into me. The sensation of it, the first time that a man had ever done that to me, was enough to trigger one last orgasm for me, and we stood locked in that ungainly tableau a moment till the exhaustion of completion overtook us both and we tumbled into the water.
We both resurfaced, laughing uproariously, and crawled to the bank. As we lay there, still laughing in between trying to get our breath back, Killian looked over at me.
"I guess I was wrong."
"About what?"
"Turns out, you're a natural rider, after all."
I grinned. "I just need the right stallion."
Chapter 14
The sun was low over the mountains when we got back to Holm's Rest, and Killian took Moon Cow and Stellar back to the stables. We walked back to the keep together, not holding hands, but I felt that anyone looking at u
s must have known what we had spent the afternoon doing - surely there was a glow about us. Certainly, I felt as if I was radiating a warm aura of satisfaction. I felt 'fulfilled', yet another word that I was only just getting to grips with. Whatever urgent desires had been awakened by my one night with Adrien, Killian had put to rest, at least for now. I had a feeling the itch would come back, and it burned at me that, if all went according to plan tonight, none of the guys would be around to scratch that itch for me. It was probably selfish to think thoughts like that when I was going off to save Sadie and perhaps all of the Chosen, but I was fast learning that sexual desire only thinks of itself. It was strange to discover something one day and become an addict the next, but that was how I felt.
In the shadow of the stairwell, Killian and I kissed a brief but intense goodbye before I ran - practically skipped - up to my room. As I did so, I realized that I had no guard on my door and no rope around my waist. Was this an oversight? Or perhaps an instruction from King Aelric, who had seemed to like me. Perhaps they trusted me now. It felt a shame to abuse that trust. On the other hand, it would make life easier.
Returning to my room, I discovered that new clothes had been laid out for me. They were clothes of the sort that Norren women wore - tough, hard-wearing, and roomier in the cleavage area than I really needed. They were also colorful. I had an orange skirt and a sky blue woolen top. They felt heavy on me after a lifetime of wearing nothing but white silk, but I was glad of the weight. It made me feel real. Again, I suffered a slight pang at the thought of leaving these people who had so generously taken me in and made me feel so at home. But what else could I do?
Aelric was apparently busy with affairs of state - which in Norren could mean anything from a border to raid to a buxom blonde - so I ate with my four 'captors'. They seemed pleased to see me and I tried to catch the eyes of Adrien and Killian without the others noticing. Did it matter that I had had sex with both of them? Not in Norren it didn't, but I still wasn't anxious to tell either of them. However much this openness was the way of the people of Norren, I still felt as if Adrien and I had shared something truly special. I also felt that Killian and I had shared something truly special. Was that a contradiction? I didn't know, but it was how I felt.
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