Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition

by Michelle M. Pillow

  “And we sail the high skies,” plunk, “looking for gold,” plunk, plunk, “looking for treasures that never,” plunk, “grow old. The wind in our sails, lads, the stars at our feet,” plunk, “as we plunder for women, thick brown, and good mead,” ker-plunk, plunk, plunk.

  Olena dusted her hands on her apron, as she watched the churning water.

  “What’s thick brown?” Yusef asked when she just stared at the food, unmoving. A wave of her sadness washed over him.

  Yusef closed his eyes. He felt her pain as if it was his own. She didn’t have to say it. They were joining, the bond between them growing, as real as his arm or leg. If she would only open up to him completely, she would be able to feel him the same way and the loneliness would leave her. Such was the way for his people.

  Oh, but she was too stubborn.

  She turned to him briefly. From her feelings, he thought she might be crying. Instead, mischief lined her eyes. He imagined the expression took much effort on her part.

  “You shouldn’t eavesdrop,” she said turning back to the boiling water, keeping her tone even. “It isn’t polite.”

  “I know. So what’s thick brown?”

  Olena laughed softly to herself. “Beer.”

  “Ah.” He’d heard her use some interesting terms in passing since he’d first met her. “Did Jack teach you that song?”

  Olena stiffened before turning to look at him. Her eyes narrowed and she forced a confused look to her face, trying to pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about. “Who?”

  Yusef had hoped if he gave her an opening to talk about her past, she would. He now saw that wasn’t going to be the case. “My mistake. I thought you had said your father’s name was Jack.”

  “Oh, Jack.” She carelessly shrugged her shoulder. With a straight face, she lied, “He was more like an uncle. We weren’t very close. I barely knew him.”

  “I see.” If he had to venture a guess, he would say that this Jack person had been her whole world before he died. A coldness filled him and he felt her pulling away behind the mask of her easy nature. The idea he was jealous of a dead pirate named Jack, because the man owned so much of his wife’s heart and loyalty, was not lost on him. Yusef doubted he had any of it.

  “You’re speaking to me again.” Olena turned and grabbed two bowls, carelessly ladling the soup into them. She put one in front of him and leaned over the counter to eat. “Does this mean you give up and I am out of chastisement?”

  She always does that, Yusef thought. Whenever the topic gets too serious, she tries to bait me into a fight. Not this time.

  As if suddenly realizing she’d forgotten spoons, she turned around and grabbed a couple from a drawer.

  “No.” Yusef took a hesitant bite. The soup was bland, a little undercooked, but edible. Hadn’t his wife ever learned about spices? Standing, he went to the cabinet and grabbed several spice containers. Olena watched him suspiciously.

  He took the bowls, emptied them back in the pot and began seasoning.

  Olena studied what he was doing. “If you don’t like my cooking, don’t eat it, but you don’t have to be rude.”

  Yusef smiled and lifted the spoon. “Here, try this.”

  She furrowed her brows but leaned forward to sip. The look on her face revealed that it tasted better than hers. “Fine, it’s better your way. But I never said I was a chef.”

  “Why are you always so defensive? Did I say anything?” He was keenly aware of how close their bodies were. He’d almost gone insane the past several days, watching her bend over as she…by all that was sacred. Even the memory of it was agony. He didn’t dare think of it now, not with her so close.

  “Why are you so stubborn?” she asked.

  “Me?” He laughed, amazed. “You’re the one who won’t admit that you were wrong and you might actually like me just a little. That you’re attracted to me and can’t keep your hands off me no matter how hard you try.”

  * * *

  A small tremble of excitement started in Olena’s stomach and spread throughout her entire body. She tried to avert her gaze, but “That’s because I don’t like you and I’m not attracted to you. I…I think you’re ugly and…and you smell like…sweat.”

  All right, Olena thought. So I am attracted to you, and you don’t smell like sweat, and you are the most handsome creature I have ever laid eyes on and…Ugh, curse you anyway, dragon.

  Yusef smiled at her.

  No. He was laughing at her.

  “You are absolutely, positively the most unappealing man I have ever had the displeasure of meeting.” Olena drew closer to his mouth with each enunciated word. She frowned and pulled back. Was she flirting with him? Stiffening, she waited to see how he would respond.

  “Is that so?”

  “Yeah, that’s so,” she confirmed. “And I know you are a dragon, but that doesn’t mean you should have the breath of one.”

  “So I have bad breath, too, do I?” Taking a step closer, he leaned his face close to hers.

  All right, so his breath smells like mint. Think, Olena, think. No, stop staring at his mouth. This tactic’s not working. Whatever you do, don’t let him kiss you.

  “While you’re listing all my fine qualities, are there any other complaints you would like to voice?” The words were low and sultry, giving her chills.

  It was hard to concentrate with him so close, especially when his dark eyes were studying her so intently. He smelled so good. She wanted to run her hands through his hair and…

  “No,” she said weakly, breathless. “That’s it.”

  “So I take it you are not ready to apologize?”

  Lifting her chin with a bravado she did not feel, she said, “No. I have to stand by my convictions. I am not in the least attracted to you and no matter what you do, I’ll never feel anything. When you touch me, it’s like…like, oh, I don’t know, having the dentist pull a perfectly good tooth without the numbing—unpleasant, irritating, and leaves you with a big hollow spot.”

  “I think it’s time to go to the second stage of your chastisement,” he concluded, clearly not buying her denouncement.

  Olena wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. “Second? Can’t we just forget about it and have soup?”

  “I’m sorry.” He turned the burner on the stove off, never taking his eyes off of her. “The law is the law and no matter how distasteful you may find it…” Yusef didn’t finish.

  Olena eyed the door, tempted to make a run for it. But to where? To another embarrassing accident in the forest? To another reason to have him save her life and put her in his debt?

  How she longed for her crew. For a wide-open sea of stars with no planet in sight. For a good starship chase through and past the horizon. For the feeling of freedom and trails of stardust. Tears threatened and it took everything she had to hold them back. She was homesick.

  “What’s the second punishment, knight?” she asked.

  “Tsk, tsk.” His eyes flashed causing a wave of pleasure to warm her. His steps forced her to back away. “It isn’t punishment, firebird. It’s chastisement.”

  Chapter 20

  Olena took off across the floor, her bare feet pattering as she tried to reach the patio door. She almost made it too, before a strong arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her into the air.

  “Oh,” she screamed, struggling as Yusef drew her back into his chest and held tight. She tried to elbow him in the stomach. “Let me go, you stupid dragon!”

  Yusef just laughed, as he hauled her kicking and screaming into the bedroom.

  “I thought your kind didn’t rape.” In outrage, she flailed wildly to punch him, missing each time at her disadvantaged angle.

  He threw her on the bed with a growl. She bounced on the mattress and stared up at him. His strength excited her even as it terrified. Blood rushed through her veins, only to be sped by his dark, piercing eyes as they shot into hers.

  “Careful, wife, your words carry you too far.”
/>
  “What will you do?” She was too weak to move as she searched his face. Passion warred with survival instinct. She took a deep breath, excited by the sense of adventure she felt. Her life certainly hadn’t been boring since he strode into it.

  “I’m going to make you face your passion,” he proclaimed as his gaze bore into her. “I’m tired of the lies and the games. There isn’t a translator invented that could decipher your true meaning in half the words you say. This should be simple to understand. We are married. You are destined to be my wife, and I your husband. I know you desire me as I desire you. I hear your heart beat quicken. I hear your breath catch. I see your eyes linger. And I feel the pull of our bodies as they strain to join.”

  “No, I—”She vehemently shook her head in denial.

  “Stop. I only need to know one thing from you right now. Do you take off your clothes or do I take them off for you?”

  “I don—”

  “I said stop,” Yusef ordered, louder. Her mouth snapped shut in surprise. “The only things you are allowed to say to me are that you are sorry for what you did and that you want me. Those are the two truths I would hear you admit. Do you understand?”

  Her lips tightened and she glared.

  “Do you understand?” He came to the edge of the bed.

  Olena growled in response. There was so much promise in him, as if he knew she would easily succumb to his whims. And why wouldn’t he think that? In the past it had only taken a kiss and she was tearing off his clothes.

  Well, not this time!

  “I’m assuming that’s a yes.” He gave her a very domineering grin. She considered hitting him.

  Even in her irritation, her chest heaved in excitement, anticipating the challenge he so boldly issued. Curse him for being right. She did want him. Against everything she’d ever known, she wanted him.

  Yusef crawled forward on the bed, his eyes holding hers. Her lips parted, sucking in ragged, panting breaths. He crawled over her, holding himself above her on all fours.

  Olena’s lips pressed tightly and she tried to knee his groin. His leg twisted to hold her down.

  “I will kick back,” he warned. Olena let her leg drop.

  Slowly, he reached forward. A sharpened talon grew from his finger as he reached for her. Olena’s mouth opened wide as she watched his hand. The dangerous claw touched at the base of her throat, lightly circling around the hollow he found there. Her eyes closed. She held perfectly still.

  She liked the danger he presented when his eyes flashed and his body shifted. Her heart leapt in her chest, beating erratically as he drew his finger down. Snagging the cotton shirt, he pulled up, ripping the material in a long, slow tear. When he was finished, the shirt fell open to reveal her bare breasts.

  Olena opened her eyes. He was licking his lips as he watched her chest rise and fall in rapid succession. She reached for her shirt.

  “No,” he whispered as he took her wrists and pinned them together above her head. With his free hand, he made quick work of her shirt, tearing strips from it to tie her hands above her head to the bed. When he finished, he eyed his handiwork in satisfaction. “There.”

  “I hate you.”

  “Last chance, firebird.” He ignored her low words, as he brought his mouth down to her ear. “Tell me you want me.”

  Her jaw lifted in defiance. Her lips pressed tightly shut.

  “I was hoping you’d say that,” he chuckled, reaching to nip at her ear.

  Olena closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on despising him. It didn’t work. As soon as his lips touched her throat, she quivered.

  He kissed his way down her neck, his touch light and airy against her flesh. He let his breath do most of the caressing. His mouth began a haphazard trek along her collarbone, over her shoulder to nip at her inner arm. She shivered in pleasure at the little surprise. Next, he moved down her sensitive side, taking his time. He journeyed across her flat stomach, touching her in ways she’d never imagined. Her body tensed and jerked beneath him.

  It was agonizing torture and he had barely even begun to explore her. Olena gasped, arching her back as he made his way from her navel to the valley between her breasts.

  Breathing hotly against an erect nipple, he asked, “Do you want me?”

  She shook her head, denying him. She didn’t want him to ever stop.

  Yusef drew back from her breast, leaving it untouched and wanting. His kisses continued, steaming against her flesh. He leaned back, reaching her hips. His hands were warm as he drew them along her waistband. Meeting in the middle, he untied the laces.

  Olena watched him. He slowly pulled down her pants, pausing as he kissed one hipbone and then the other. Qurilixian fashion did not provide underwear and so he met with little resistance. Kissing and licking a hot, wet path, he crawled his way down her legs and drew the pants off her ankles.

  “Tell me you want me.” His chest heaved and he threw the pants aside. His eyes devoured her.

  She stubbornly refused, shaking her head violently against the pillow. She couldn’t speak. Her breath rasped out in heavy pants. Her throat worked as she tried to swallow.

  This time when he touched her, he pressed more firmly to her skin. He ran his hand up her inner legs to her stiffening thighs. A slight moan came from her throat and she bit her lips to keep from crying out as his caress ran up her body. He moved around the curves of her breasts, ignoring the straining nipples.

  Yusef worked his legs in between hers. His erection strained to be free of his clothing. Sweat glistened on her body as she tried to deny them both. Her knees bent to weakly rub along his waist.

  His mouth near her breast, he said, “Tell me.”

  “No. I don’t want you.” The sound of her voice was weak, the tone belying the words.

  Yusef took her nipple in his mouth, biting the tender nub and then licking it. Her back arched. Spasms of pleasure jolted through her body at his every touch. Her muscles tensed. He moved his hand to her thighs, stroking boldly up to her center heat.

  “Tell me,” Yusef growled, insistent.

  “No.” Olena’s hips bucked into his hand and he let her rub against his palm. She was ready for him—wet and hot. He kissed her other breast, giving it the same bittersweet torment. This time she did cry out.

  His eyes flashing, he rose up on his hands. It would be so easy for him to take her like this. Their breaths mingled. Their eyes locked in battle. His erection begged for freedom, brushing ever so lightly against her pussy through his clothing.

  “Why won’t you admit you want me?” he asked in frustration. “I can see that you do.”

  Her body worked restlessly beneath him. Her arms pulled, the muscles bunching as they wrenched against the ties.

  “Because I’ll never want you.” Why wouldn’t he just end their torment and take her already?

  “Gods’ bones, but you are a stubborn woman!” Yusef pulled away from her, his expression tormented. His arms tensed and she wondered if he wanted to strike her. She knew he wouldn’t. “I won’t force your body if your mind still refuses me.”

  Yusef turned, angrily digging through his dresser drawers. He pulled out a formal black tunic jacket and matching breeches. Next, he grabbed a silver belt. Keeping his back to her, he threw off his shirt and put an undertunic on in its place. He changed his pants. Olena watched his glorious body as it was unveiled and then veiled once more. Slipping a jacket over his shoulders, he tied the cloth belt around his waist.

  “Where are you going?” she asked, breathless from having watched the little performance of him dressing.

  “I was going to take you to a celebration tonight at the palace. But seeing as you have no desire to be my wife, I’ll have to leave you right where you are.”

  “What?” This time the ties were too short and she wouldn’t be able to chew her way loose. When she looked at him, she saw that he knew it too. She wasn’t going anywhere. “You can’t leave me like this, knight.”

  “T
hen admit that you want to be with me.” He grabbed her pants, threaded them over her feet and jerked them back over her hips. Grabbing the covers, he threw them over her naked chest. He sat next to her and tenderly touched her cheek. “Come with me tonight as my wife.”

  “I can’t. Why can’t you understand that? I can’t want anyone like that.”

  “Then why did you marry me?” The question was hard and loud, as he tore his hand away from her skin. He stood, glaring down at her in frustration.

  There was a deafening silence as she refused to speak for a very long moment. She forced herself to recognize her position tied to a bed on an alien planet with no one but herself to rely upon. If she was smart, she’d give in and lie. She’d tell him yes and smile and take her sorry pirate ass to a party at the royal palace where she could skim nobles for treasure. Something kept her from saying the words.

  Olena’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him. Her lips twisted cruelly. “Because I had to. Because I needed to disappear for a while. I need to find a ship and my crew. Don’t worry, as soon as they come for me, I’ll be out of your life forever. I never intended on staying here with you, Yusef. You’re just some superstitious fool I’m biding my time with on this godforsaken planet until I can hitch a ride out of here.”

  It was the truth. The fact she said it surprised her. What surprised her more was the fact that she was sorry for the reality of it.

  He looked as if she’d ripped out his heart and stomped on it. There was so much agony in his dark gaze that she instantly wanted to take the confession back. Slowly, he nodded at her—a stiff, regal nod. Without saying a word, he left her tied to the bed.

  Olena held deathly still, listening for a sound. She got one. It was the front door closing as he left her.

  “That should just about do it, Olena.” She closed her eyes. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “He won’t want you after this.”

  Where she should have felt joy, she only felt excruciating pain. It was a loss much deeper than she’d expected. For the first time in her life since being sold into slavery, she began to cry. It was a wretched, awful sound that poured out of her heart. “I hope you’re happy with your little pirate, Jack. I hope you’re dancing in your grave.”