Her lips kissed along his shaft, tracing the contours with her tongue, while one hand cupped his sack, kneading gently.
Enar moaned, his hands clutching her hair, pushing her tighter against him.
Opening her lips, she welcomed him in, all the while her tongue flicked around the head of his shaft, finding the spot that elicited another moan. Wrapping her lips around him, she took more of him into her mouth, trying not to gag when he hit the back of her throat.
“Goddess, woman, that feels good,” Enar’s words rasped on an exhale of breath.
Lily smiled to herself as she slowly pulled him out until only the head remained. Circling her tongue around once, twice and then she took him back in only to repeat the process, until she tasted the salt of his essence. As she swallowed, he pulled out.
“If you keep that up any longer I’m going to explode in your mouth and I want to be in you when I come.”
Lily looked at Enar as her eyes shuttered in pleasure.
“I’m waiting.” She ran a finger along the hardness of his shaft, watching as a pearl of liquid beaded on the tip.
Enar’s hands lifted her, pulling her tunic off, pushing her trousers down. He picked her up, hands under the curves of her bottom, and carried her to the bed.
She landed with a muffled screech on the mattress, Enar dropping on top of her.
“Ah, Lily, love.” One of his hands came between them, flicking across the bud that gave her so much pleasure. His lips played with the lobe of her ear while his fingers stroked her. When he spoke, his voice was a whisper that sent shivers scuttling across her skin.
“What did I ever do without you?” The head of his shaft pressed against her wet opening before forging inside.
He pulled out, until he caught against her opening and then pushed back into her depths, stroking over her inner sweet spot. As if they moved of their own volition, her legs wrapped around his waist, drawing him deeper into her.
In and out, pushing and pulling until Lily didn’t know where he stopped and she started. All she knew was the pleasure his lips, tongue and shaft brought her. The crest of pleasure started in her core, working its way through her body until she screamed his name as the wave crashed over her, over him, until nothing mattered but the heat of his skin molded to hers.
So this is what love feels like.
She squelched that little thought. Just because Enar managed to break through the barriers of her heart did not mean she needed to pull out the big “L” word.
“What about that bath?” Enar raised up on one elbow, staring down at her.
“You coming?”
He cocked a grin. “Wild dragons couldn’t keep me from it.”
She returned the grin and pushed herself up. Lying around with him sounded good, but a warm bath sounded wonderful.
Beating Enar to the bathing room entrance, she pushed open the door and stepped into a tiled room with a step-down pool in the middle of it. Large enough to hold two, the stone tiles lining the pool gleamed white in the glow of the flameless torches set in iron sconces that dotted the walls. Steam floated above the water of the pool, heating the room. White fluffy towels sat in neat rows on wooden planks surrounding the pool.
Enar popped her on the bottom and she jumped. “Woman, are you going to stand around staring all night, or get in the water?”
Lily took in the wall of rippling muscle as Enar walked to the pool, stepping into the water. He had a point. Why was she standing around staring when she could be getting a bath? With Enar?
Several strides later and she stepped into the warm water. Ah, bliss. Hot water, good-looking man, what more could she want?
Soap.
“Looking for this?” Enar waded through the water toward her, his hands containing bubbles. The man must be a mind reader.
“Where did you find it?”
“Little indentions in the tile.” He ran his bubble-filled hands down her arms.
A thrill of excitement strummed through her core. Desire and lust warred with another emotion that slid into the depths of his gaze. His lips claimed hers as his soapy hands stroked over her breasts, down her sides.
And just like that, she wanted him again. Wanted him to fill her, to—dare she say the word—love her. Her brain spit out the word she’d been trying to hide in the inner recesses of her mind. Spit it out and left it standing there like a brand, searing her, refusing to leave.
She gave a mental curse.
Enar pulled away from her lips, his brows pulling together. “What’s wr—”
His words cut short as he doubled over as if in pain, hands clasped against his ears.
“Enar! What’s wrong? Are you all right?”
She shook his shoulder, her stomach in knots. What was wrong? With a moan he straightened, white lines storming around his lips.
“Bloody Council. What do they think they’re doing, calling me twice in one day?” He stomped out of the pool, dripping water on the stones as he reached for a towel.
“Council?”
“Bloody, buggering group of males poking their noses into business best left alone.” His muttered words continued in a hot rush as he marched out of the bathing room.
Lily sucked in a breath as the cold air hit her wet body. Like Enar, she grabbed a towel, wrapped it around her waist and followed him into the bedroom.
“Twice in one day. It’s unheard of.”
“Twice?”
Enar fastened the laces on his leathers, his lip crawling up as he glanced at her. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“What do you mean ‘twice’?”
“The Council called Thoren and me to report on our mission. It’s normal when a spy pair returns to Draconia.”
“Do you always go out in pairs?”
He yanked his shirt over his head, his voice muffled by the cloth. “Yes. It’s a rule.” His head poked out of the neck-hole. “We have a mission, come back and report and then go our own way. We don’t get called back again.” He sat on the bed and reached for his boots. “Twice is unheard of.”
Lily leaned against the door frame and watched as Enar dressed. What she would give to have him back in the bath. “How do they call?”
“Didn’t you notice my head-pains?”
“Well, yes, but didn’t realize that’s what it was. You had me worried.”
His eyes widened and crinkled at her words. “They use mind-speak to tell you they request the honor of your presence in their Chamber and Goddess help you if you don’t show up immediately.”
Boots on, he strode to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “As I said, don’t go anywhere.” His lips crushed hers, a brief statement of possession that sent a thrill straight to her core. “I’ll be back.”
One of her fingers touched her lips as Enar walked to the door. He stopped and winked at her before pulling the door shut behind him. The click of the latch engaging freed her limbs and she rested her head against the wall.
So much for more sexy fun in the bath. She wiped dripping suds from her breast as she walked back to the bathing room. No sense in ignoring the bath. The hot water felt soothing as it embraced her in its heat, as she soaked in its slippery depths.
Resting on a conveniently located stone shelf that allowed most of her body to remain submerged, Lily floated her legs in front of her. If the rest of Draconia was as nice as this pool, she would enjoy living here.
But something told her Enar’s village would be different. How different? What was he hiding from her?
Despite the warmth of the water, a chill shook through her body and her eyes squinted closed. Before the vision struck, she pulled her upper body out of the water, pressing her cheek against the cold of the stone tile. The scene slammed through her mind like a knife through skin, the pain curling her fingers as she clawed at the unyielding stone.
A wail slammed through the room, echoing off the walls, rattling her bones.
Her cry as her heart felt ripped
into jagged shards. Dear Goddess, no!
Chapter 18
Enar stormed out of the Temple, crossing the Courtyard to the back gate in record time. As if his back sprouted wings and flew him. He wished he had wings. Then he could fly away someplace with Lily.
If dreams were gold pieces, he’d be rich.
The gate leading out of the Temple Courtyard squeaked open only to slam shut, the wood shuddering as Enar’s hand released it. Gravel crunched under his boots, his shadow elongated from the glowing orbs of light lining the path. Darkness crept to the edge of the light circles, rustling insects’ wings into a cascading symphony in the deepening twilight.
Twice in a day. What was the Council thinking to call him back into their presence? He’d rather have a cold enema.
Not only did his head hurt, but they interrupted his lovemaking with Lily. He needed to convince her she couldn’t live without him, despite his returning with her to his village. What would he do without her?
Goddess, but he loved that woman.
Enar froze at the thought. Just up and stopped moving. Love? His brain must be addled by the Council’s call. Yes, that was it. Love was a sappy emotion demonstrated by the average Draconi male. Like Thoren. Watchers didn’t possess anything resembling love.
But he couldn’t stop his chest from clenching as he thought about Lily, as he remembered the beauty in her face, her laugh, her smile.
She belonged to him. His.
Clearly he’d been around the Draconi too long as evidenced by these thoughts of l...He coughed. Not using that word again.
His feet got with the walking program and continued on their way to the Council.
Enar marched to the heavy wooden doors barring entrance to the Chamber of the Council, slapped his hands against them and shoved. The doors flew open with a bang, ricocheting off the stone walls. Enar caught them on the rebound, adding to their momentum so they slammed shut, the noise echoing in the round, stone chamber.
Thoren stood arms crossed in front of the half circle of men, his lips twisting into a grin at Enar’s approach.
Bloody, blithering bastards. Why had they called both him and Thoren?
His gaze ran over the faces of the thirteen, landing on his father’s snarl. And in an instant, his anger went from simmering to blown out rage.
Enar stalked past Thoren, stopping directly in front of Viktor.
“Twice in one day? I have a life outside of this Council.”
“Not by my wishes, you don’t,” Enar’s father hissed at him.
“Silence!” Alviss’s voice boomed throughout the room as he gestured for a snarling Enar to stand beside Thoren.
“You have been called here because intruders have been spotted on Draconi territory. We thought you would like to handle it.” Alviss’s eyes sparkled as he looked at them.
“Why us?” Thoren asked.
Good question. Usually reconnaissance specialists did not fight off intruders. On the rare occasion an intruder crossed into Draconia, the Council used their special set of Watchers and Draconi trained to handle that type of thing. And he and Thoren did not belong to that special set.
Not that he’d mind knocking around some heads at the moment. Starting with his father.
“Because of whom we suspect the intruders are.” Alviss waved his hand, causing a ball with flickering images to hover mid-air. He beckoned Thoren and Enar to peer into the depths.
White mist swirled in the seeing ball, coalescing into clouds that separated in half, forming a vision. Enar squinted at the flickering images. Son of a goat. How had they crossed the Draconian ward lines?
Simon from River’s Run and a figure wearing a cloak that hid his face sat around a campfire surrounded by a contingent of soldiers. Enar’s hands tingled at the thought of fighting the pompous lord from Lily’s village. Those men had kidnapped and drugged Keara, causing harm to a Draconi female.
For that alone they needed to die. Enar glanced at Thoren, taking in his best friend’s snarl as steam escaped his ears, whipping around his face.
One mad, mated male Draconi and his equally infuriated Watcher coming right up. Blood Seeker vibrated against his back as the sword shook in anticipation of drinking blood.
The thing was thirsty.
And he was more than happy to feed it. It had been a long time since the sword fed.
“Where are they?” Thoren growled.
“So they are the ones that captured Keara?” Alviss asked.
Thoren swallowed and the steam circling his head disappeared, the snarl crossing his lip remaining etched. “Yes.”
“Is the mission capture or destroy?” Enar fingered the hilt of Blood Seeker.
“Destroy,” Thoren said, his stare daring Alviss to refuse him.
Alviss’s wrinkles convulsed into a smile. “Destroy. These are the ones that harmed my granddaughter.” He peered closer, his eyes blinking. “Is the one in the cloak a Draconi?”
“According to Keara he is.” Thoren’s jaw ticked.
“Then you must capture him and bring him to us for questioning. Then you may kill him after we speak to him.”
“It will be my pleasure.”
“They are right inside Draconi territory. The wards must be weakened for them to have crossed the border or that rogue Draconi has more power than he should. After you have secured the territory, see if you can determine the strength of the wards so we can send someone out to restore them. May the Goddess bless your mission and may the ones that considered defiling my granddaughter die in pain.”
Thoren grabbed Enar’s arm and transported him to the woods where the soon-to-be-dead men camped.
Five fires burned brightly in a small clearing in the woods. Six men sat around each fire. If Simon and the rogue Draconi had prepared well, several men would be patrolling the perimeter of the camp. No more than forty men to their two. Not a problem.
Blood Seeker started to hum as it scented fresh blood, vibrating through its sheath, through the cloth of Enar’s shirt. The hum cycled into a higher pitch as Enar pulled the sword from its sheath, the vibrations traveling up the metal into the flesh of his hands. Power ran alongside the vibrations, power that slammed through his veins, infusing him with its magic, its strength. Enough power to defeat all the intruders, but Enar knew better than to kill Simon or the hooded Draconi. Thoren wanted that privilege.
Thoren crouched in the shadows, staring across the campfires into the darkness of the trees, obviously locating his target. Those who sat out in the open, defiling Draconi lands by their mere presence.
“Blood Seeker is thirsty. Are you going to sit on your arse all night or do we get to have some fun?” Enar stroked the runes on Blood Seeker’s blade, readying the sword to drink.
“Simon and the Draconi are mine.”
Just as he planned. Enar inclined his head. “May the Goddess go with you.”
“And also with you.”
Enar crept away from Thoren, leaving his best friend to his own devices. Once out of Thoren’s listening range, Enar touched Blood Seeker’s blade again, this time whispering words to turn the sword into a conduit. Each blow dealt, each life taken, each drop of blood spilled onto the cold metal blade infused Enar with powerful magic, rendering him virtually invincible to anything non-magical.
The runes pulsed beneath his fingers, a wordless communication. Enar said a brief prayer to the Goddess and then let out a war cry as he ran into the clearing.
The soldiers scrambled for their weapons, tripping over their feet, turning the clearing into a frantic jumble of bodies. Enar swung at his first victim, Blood Seeker severing a head of a slow moving soldier. He tilted the sword’s tip toward the canopy of leaves, crimson rivulets streaking across the runes etched into the blade. Blood Seeker hummed as it absorbed the blood’s power, sending a jolt of energy through Enar’s hands, supercharging the blood running through his veins. Strength, power, invincibility.
Time slowed, soldiers running toward him as if stuck
in mud, their movements slow, cumbersome. A thrust through the heart, turn, parry, block. Another fell, rid of his spirit, his life’s blood fueling the fight.
This part of a battle thrilled him, the hum of too much power coursing through his veins, the knowledge of invincibility. One against thirty, more like twenty-eight, make that twenty-seven now. Soldiers from the other campfires joined the fight, trying to circle around Enar. He heard their footsteps crackling in leaves, the pop of a log settling in the fire, the brilliance of sounds loud with his hyped-up senses. He looked the soldier in front of him directly in the eye, and bared his teeth.
“Don’t move.”
The Adam’s apple of the soldier bobbed, the mouth opening in horror as Enar rammed his sword into the man’s belly.
The power of persuasion was a real killer.
A whish of air heralded the movement of a weapon from behind him. Enar jumped to the side and spun, Blood Seeker slicing through the neck of a narrow-eyed soldier. Twenty-five left.
He might be the laughingstock of his village, but no one, not even his father, could refute his fighting skills. Speed and agility followed him in a fight, making him the fastest Watcher with a blooded magical sword. He won all practice fights against men stronger than himself.
But speed and agility only slowed the taunts.
Thoughts like those didn’t belong on a battlefield. Wiping everything but what stood before him from his mind, Enar swung at the soldier standing in front of him. Another speed-impaired man fell. The quicker he dispatched the soldiers, the quicker he could return to Lily’s side. He picked up his pace.
His last fight had been so long ago he had forgotten the rate at which time slowed. How quick his movements became in relation to his opponents. The heightened senses. The more Blood Seeker drank, the faster Enar moved. The faster Enar moved, the more soldiers died.
And thanks to the magic passed to him through his mother, he could suggest a man stand still and let Enar kill him. It might not be the most sporting thing to do, but it had its advantages. Like now.
Warrior Lover (Draconia Tales) Page 17