Mirage

by Serena Janes

  That was when he touched her.

  She hadn’t expected that either. She was too full of words and feelings to be able to read his.

  He reached out a hand and picked up a strand of her hair, pulling it gently. This one small gesture sent a jolt of electric desire through her entire body. She began to tremble, acutely aware of his large, masculine shape beside her, the smell of his body, the sound of his deep voice.

  Looking up into his eyes, she anticipated what he would do next. And for a moment, he did nothing. Her mouth fell open as she waited, holding her breath, weak with longing. She wanted him to embrace her. Kiss her. Sweep her off her feet and transport her.

  Not breaking eye contact, he let go of her hair and moved his hand to the back of her neck, causing a shiver of pleasure to run down her back. Then, slowly, he lowered his face to hers, pulling her head up to his.

  His breath was hot and moist on her face, and she felt goose bumps race down her neck. His nose brushed hers, causing an exquisite tingling of pleasure all along her face. He kissed her cheek, first, and she felt it burn in response. Then he moved his mouth to her open lips and touched them with a feather-soft kiss.

  Her belly flipped. This visceral response to his first small kiss caught her unawares, and she gasped into his mouth, trying to catch her breath. Then she kissed him back. The taste of his warm, wet mouth made her dizzy. Everything seemed to slip sideways a little, and she reached out to grab his robe to keep herself from sliding to the ground. The fabric was soft in her fists, and she could feel the hard muscles of his chest underneath her fingers.

  They broke for air, dove back into each other, and she experienced the thrill of his big arms encircling her body, lifting it upwards. He was outrageously strong. She’d never been embraced by such a big man, and the effect was intensely erotic. She wanted to go limp in his arms, melt into him, so he could mold her body into his own. Her arms encircled his neck and she hung on as she sucked his hot, sweet tongue deep into her mouth.

  Pressing into him, she could feel his erection under the thin fabric of his robe. It sure didn’t feel like he was wearing any underwear, and she smiled in the middle of a kiss. His hands were running up and down along the length of her back. Her shawl slid to the ground as she pushed her breasts and belly into him.

  He pushed her backwards until her tailbone hit the edge of the stage. Then, in one swift movement, he lifted her so she was sitting on it, legs dangling. He wedged her knees apart by walking into her, kissing her more deeply, more passionately. Her dress rode up and she wrapped her legs around his hips, and held on.

  She had a feeling this was going to be the ride of her life.

  Chapter Five

  “Take this off,” Tor said, pulling at Julie’s dress. He liked the way she wiggled her butt to slip the dress up past her hips and then over her head. She leaned back, looking at him with her big, dark eyes. Somehow she could do the sexiest things with those eyes. He wondered if she knew the effect they had on him.

  He looked down at her lacy bra, almost shining in the dark, the whitest thing around for a mile. It pushed her generous breasts up and together, just the way he liked them. Her stomach was flat, and his gaze dropped to see she was wearing a tiny white thong. His hard cock throbbed when he thought what he would like to do next.

  Instead, he kissed her again. She was a good kisser, really into it. He could tell she was almost ready to let him inside, but he didn’t want to rush things. They had plenty of time.

  “You’re lovely,” he said into her neck. “I knew you would be. And you smell really good.”

  “So do you.” She snuffled his ear, then licked it, causing his cock to pulse even more and the back of his scalp to tingle.

  He pulled away from her slightly, afraid he’d come all over himself if she did that thing with her tongue again.

  Stepping back, he said, “I want you to get up on the stage for me. I want to look at you.”

  Eyes flashing reflected light, she smiled her pretty smile, took the hand he offered, and pulled herself to her feet. Then she stood up straight, about three feet off the ground, her belly button level with his nose.

  “Turn around.”

  Slowly, she obliged.

  “You have a magnificent ass.”

  “I know.”

  “And you’re very modest. I like that in a woman.”

  She laughed, and the sound pierced through the unhappiness he’d been carrying with him all the way from Denmark. He smiled.

  “Do you know what I want you to do now?”

  “I have a pretty good idea.” She turned around to face him again, putting her hands on her hips and rolling them suggestively.

  “Oh, do you now? Tell me what you think I’m going to say.”

  “You’re probably going to tell me to take off the rest of my clothes.” Her dark eyes, her pretty face, her smile were all irresistible.

  “Hmm. A good guess, but you’re wrong.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “So, surprise me.”

  “I want you to get down on your hands and knees.”

  He watched her mouth form a little O. Then she recovered, smiled again and slowly dropped to her knees, her bewitching eyes never leaving his. Bending over, she placed her palms flat on the floor of the stone stage and curved her back downwards. Her eyes challenged him. “Like this?”

  “Yeah. Like that. Now turn a bit so I can see you from the side.” She adjusted her position until he said, “Enough. That’s just right.”

  She had to turn her head to look at him now, and the expression on her face made his knees weak. He moved toward her and slowly ran one hand along her spine. He swore she trembled at his touch.

  “You are exquisite like this. Do your knees hurt?”

  “Not yet.” Her voice was low, provocative. With one hand he stroked her buttocks, gleaming in the dim light. With the other he cupped her breasts. He rubbed her belly, her flanks, her thighs, and then he placed his mouth on her shoulder. It tasted slightly salty. She was shaking visibly, now. All over.

  “Imagine you are Queen Zenobia,” he said softly into her neck. “And you’ve come here late at night with your favorite slave.”

  He could hear her breathing grow louder as he continued to read the contours of her body with his fingertips like a blind man. She groaned when he let his lips follow the paths of his fingers.

  “If this is uncomfortable, just tell me.”

  “I will,” she said in a whisper so low he wondered if he’d heard her right.

  “You don’t want me to stop?”

  “No. Don’t stop.”

  “You like it, then?” He ran a forefinger lightly along the back of her thong to where it disappeared between her legs. She was soaking wet.

  He heard a sharp intake of breath as she flinched. “Yes.”

  “Or maybe you’d rather be one of Nero’s slaves? Brought into the arena after everyone else has gone to bed.”

  “Ummph,” was all she said.

  “Imagine the emperor places you here on the stage just like this. So he can admire you before he ravishes you.”

  “Yes,” she said with an exhalation.

  “And is there anything in particular you’d like me to do for you before I ravish you?” He smiled at her arousal as he gathered her thick hair in one hand and moved it aside so he could kiss her neck.

  “Yes.”

  “Tell me.” He licked along the length of her neck, then bit her gently.

  She jumped. “I want you to take off that fucking robe.”

  He laughed. “It’s a deal.”

  Breathing loudly through her mouth, she leaned back on her haunches and watched him pull the didashah over his head and throw it down beside her. He was naked underneath, and his swollen penis leaped free, bouncing in the night air.

  “Happy now?”

  Eyes big, she nodded solemnly. He knew she was studying his tattoo. It was centered on his right
shoulder but ran part way across his upper chest and back.

  “Now it’s my turn again. I want you to lie down on this.” He spread the robe as flat as he could on the edge of the stage. “On your back.”

  She did as he asked. “Okay? What do you want now?”

  “Not so fast. I want to look at you some more.”

  He examined every inch of her. Her skin was pale and flawless. Her curves were all woman, but her arms and legs were long and toned.

  “Queen or slave girl, you are a perfect specimen of a woman. Any man—slave or emperor—would be powerless to resist you.”

  Watching her smile, he began to explore her body with his hands. He stroked her soft belly, felt the ribs beneath her smooth midriff, the strong muscles in her legs. He removed her sandals, slowly, sensually, and rubbed her feet. Then he kissed her insteps, one at a time, making her entire body twitch.

  He felt her eyes watching every move he made, and when he used his tongue to trace a path from her quivering bellybutton to the tiny white triangle of damp fabric, he heard her sharp intake of breath.

  “I believe it’s my turn, now,” she said, after clearing her throat.

  “Go on, then. What do you want?”

  “I want you to take off my bra. And kiss my breasts.”

  “So demanding! But if I must, I must.”

  She arched her back and unclasped the back of her bra, leaving him the task of peeling it off. Like the thong, it was damp with her excitement and stuck to her skin.

  He heard her moan again as he lowered his head to take a nipple in his mouth. He sucked it, gently at first, then more urgently. He moved to the other one, drawing a similar moan. He filled his hands with her flesh, and buried his face in her cleavage.

  Then he lifted his head abruptly. “My turn, again.”

  “Umph,” was all she said.

  “Lift up.” He tugged at her thong. “This has to go.”

  “But that was my next turn,” she said as he whipped off the soggy bit of fabric.

  “You don’t get any more turns.” He buried his nose in her bush.

  “Why not?” She could barely articulate the two simple words as she opened her thighs.

  “Because I said so.” His tongue dipped between her folds and his mouth filled with saliva as he tasted nectar more intoxicating than anything he’d even known. Sweet, sweet honey, with a deep undertone of salty sex.

  She made a funny little growling noise deep in her throat and spread her legs wider.

  “No,” he said. “That’s enough of that. It’s my turn again and I want you back on your hands and knees.”

  “No! It’s my turn! And I want you to fuck me.” Her voice sounded different. Insistent, sexy, yes, but also endearingly sweet.

  “I said up. Hands and knees. Now!”

  He saw her throw him a startled look.

  In a softer voice, he added, “You won’t be sorry. I promise you.”

  She rolled over and got up on her knees, a little pout on her pretty lips.

  “Turn around this time. Like this.” He guided her hips so her ass was facing him. “Good. Now bend over.”

  She did, without another word.

  “You can rest your head on the ground, if you’d like,” he said gently. “You might be in this position for a while.”

  She laid her cheek on the didashah and said, “Why?”

  “Because you’ll like what I’m going to do to you next. Just imagine there are hundreds of people sitting around us, watching. And you’re the star attraction.”

  That shut her up. She held herself perfectly still. Her round ass was pointing to the stars, her legs were spread, and Tor had full access to every inch of her body.

  He kissed the tip of one buttock, rubbing his nose along it until he reached the wetness of her cunt. She was literally oozing nectar, like a split honeycomb. He flicked his tongue into her wet folds, loving the taste. Then he got down to work.

  Tor knew how to please a woman. He knew what to lick, kiss, nuzzle, nibble and what to avoid until the time was just right. His efforts were rewarded almost instantly when Julie pulled away, saying, “Stop, stop, stop or I’m going to come all over your face. Oh my god!”

  “That’s the idea, sugar pie.” He grabbed her hips and pulled her into his face to launch another round of attack.

  “No, oh, oh, oh…Don’t! Oh, no, no! Fuck! Yes!”

  He held her tightly as she bucked and pushed back at him, every muscle straining, trembling, then suddenly growing slack. He inserted a finger in her vagina, pleased at the strength of her contractions, keeping it there until the last pulse.

  She collapsed in a heap in front of him, breathing hard.

  “Whose turn is it now? I lost track,” she said as she rolled onto her side and smiled the smile of a satisfied woman.

  “Mine,” he said, joining her on the stage. She rolled onto her back and opened her legs to meet him as he covered her.

  He pushed into her effortlessly—he was a big man and had learned to be gentle with women. He didn’t like hurting them. But Julie was loose and wet from her orgasm and seemed to suck him in. Still, she made a sort of squeak as he hit bottom.

  For a few seconds he thought he’d lose it, and he held himself rigid.

  Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! This was worth the wait!

  He strained against the exquisite pleasure of being imbedded in this woman’s body. He wanted the moment to last forever. It was too good to bring to a crashing close.

  But he also wanted to come. Quite desperately. He wanted it now—right now. He was crazy with need. But not yet! He didn’t want it yet.

  Perhaps she sensed his dual needs. Without moving a muscle, she seemed to will him deeper inside, to suck him in as far as she could. He felt trapped. Out of control.

  He was caught in a state of limbo, afraid to move. The fact she somehow pulling him in deeper—seemingly without moving—wasn’t helping. He was going to lose it…

  Abruptly, he pulled out and rolled off.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Come on. I want you over here.”

  He leaped off the side of the stage and held out his arms to lift her down. Then, taking her hand, he led her to the first row of seats at the side of the arena.

  Sitting down, he pulled her on top of him so she straddled his body, facing him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply. He needed to cool down a bit.

  “Just think about all the people who once sat in these seats,” he said into her hair, breathing hard. “Two thousand years ago.” He filled his hands with her breasts and squeezed.

  “I know. I was. When you were giving me the orgasm of my life back there.”

  He laughed. “Were you turned on by the thought of getting it right there up on the stage?”

  “You know I was,” she said as she nipped his chin with her teeth.

  Now he was ready. He took a deep breath and lifted her hips, guiding his cock back into her honey pot. This time she moaned and squirmed to accommodate him more deeply.

  “And now,” he said as he slowly began to raise and lower her body onto his, “just think how many couples have sneaked into this place to do exactly what we’re doing right now. Almost two thousand years of clandestine fucking. Under the stars. Queens, concubines, emperors, slaves.”

  “Bakers, lawyers. Murderers. Thieves,” she said just before she thrust her tongue into his mouth. She rolled her hips and snaked her fingers through his hair. Grabbing fistfuls, she whispered near his ear. “Oh, Tor. I think you’re going to do it to me again.”

  She began to make little yelping noises, but he was oblivious to everything but his own need. Lifting her higher, dropping her harder, he felt her growing hotter and hotter, sweeter and sweeter, until his entire body seemed to explode in a thousand shattering lights. From a great distance he heard the roar of his own pleasure echoing in his head.

  Chapter Six

&nbs
p; Julie shivered in the night air, her ears ringing. She wondered if she was deaf now—Tor had bellowed so loudly. But then she knew she was all right when she heard his labored breathing. And then her own.

  Her arms were still wrapped tightly around his chest, and for a moment she couldn’t feel anything below her waist. She tried to wiggle her toes, and was rewarded by a sharp cramp in one foot.

  “I have to get off,” she said, trying to balance on his lap as she disentangled her arms and legs from his. “I’m stuck. Help!”

  She laughed at the awkwardness of two spent, sweaty people trying to regain their composure and struggle to their feet on the dusty arena floor. Her legs trembled with weakness when she took the first few steps.

  She hobbled over to the stage, where she could see her shoes sitting beside Tor’s robe. But she couldn’t find her dress or her underwear.

  “What did you do with my clothes? Or are you planning to hold me here as your sex slave?”

  Wearing nothing but a pair of sandals, he walked toward her, grinning.

  God, he’s gorgeous! Deliciously perfect, in every way.

  The shadowy light emphasized the best parts of his body—the lean belly, the muscled chest and arms, the long, solid legs. Julie liked chest hair on a man—within reason, of course—and Tor’s was just right. She especially admired the way a thin line of hair ran from his sternum down to his belly, then straight into his groin. Although his penis was flaccid, it was still pretty big. Larger than she’d ever had before. She liked it, although she guessed she’d be sore for the next few days.

  The light was too dim to make out the details of his intricate tattoo. She thought she saw a figure of a man and a ship’s sail, but couldn’t piece together anything else. It looked awfully good on him, though.

  “I’m sure they’re around here somewhere,” he said as he picked up his didashah and shook it out. Her bra and panties fell onto the ground, and Julie winced as she thought about how dusty they’d be. She crushed them into a damp ball and shoved them into her purse.

  To hell with underwear. I’m going to be as comfortable as he is.