“Mother of Light.” His hissed curse was almost reverent. “I know you’re naturally modest, so last night I didn’t look at you all that closely, Kymora. Not even when you entered the water.” His hands spanned the width of her rib cage, just touching the undersides of her breasts. “Now I wish I had.”
Kymora drew in an unsteady breath, expecting him to touch her then. He did, but with only a single finger, one from each hand. He traced circles on her breasts, drawing them smaller and smaller, the speed slowing the closer he came to her nipples. The burning beneath her skin intensified the closer he came to her nipples. They throbbed with the concentrated sensation. She clenched her hands in the soft material of the pillow, needing the contact to ground her.
“You like that.” Satisfaction and hunger laced Varian’s words.
Her smile trembled as much as she did. “Yes.”
His thumbs brushed over nipples. Pure pleasure speared from the point of contact to the heat coiled tightly between her thighs. Her back arched from the bed. Wet heat engulfed her left breast, a tongue swirling around the quickly peaking nub.
“Varian!” She choked on the fiery experience. He began to suckle.
Kymora remained breathless as Varian took his time pleasuring her breasts with his mouth, his tongue, and his lips, his entire attention concentrated on her and how she responded. His absolute regard, his focused intent pushed against her mind even as she spiraled higher and higher, swept away by what he was doing to her. Everything seemed to be moving too fast, yet every moment felt drawn out, like time had been dipped in treacle.
“I could spend the whole day doing this.” Varian’s voice was a low rumble against her hypersensitive skin.
Kymora sucked in an uneven breath. “By the Light, you’d kill me if you did!” Hot breath brushed over her dampened skin as he laughed. Lady, how she loved the deep, sensual sound of it. “Can I touch you yet?”
He issued a negative sound. “I won’t be able to concentrate if you do.” One hand smoothed down her side. The rough calluses on his palms and fingers lightly abraded her skin. The sensation made her shiver. “I want to see the rest of you.”
He dragged the blanket all the way off her this time. At the long, drawn-out silence, Kymora swallowed against a dry throat. “Varian?”
“Hmm?” He sounded distracted. His weight shifted farther down the bed. One warm hand clasped her hip, then a bristled jaw scraped across her thigh and rested there. “Your scent makes my mouth water, Kymora. It’s like honey and spice. Unique.” He grunted. “You know, now that I’ve memorized it, you won’t be able to approach me without my knowing it anymore.”
“But I’m aroused.”
“Doesn’t matter, aroused or not, I’ll still know when you’re near.”
The idea held a certain appeal. “My aura-reading skills, your sense of smell. Now we’re even.”
Soft chuckling accompanied the slide of his hand on her hip. She felt the lightest of touches brush the curls on her mound, a soft downward stroke. First one side, then the other.
“Do all humans have hair here?”
Kymora smiled at the curious question. From firsthand experience, she now knew Na’Chi bodies were naturally hairless, a characteristic inherited from their demon parent.
“Yes.”
His thumb parted her folds and brushed against her swollen core. Her breath hissed in through her teeth.
“So hot and wet.”
Her laugh was more of a hiccup. “That’s your fault, Varian.”
“So it is.” Lips nibbled the skin of her inner knee. “I want to see more.”
Varian’s heart pounded in his chest at the sight of her stretched out on his bed. He pushed her leg to the side, watching for any sign of reluctance or discomfort. That she’d allowed him the liberties he’d already taken astounded him.
The color in her cheeks darkened. Her teeth clamped on her bottom lip as he opened her to his gaze.
“Tell me if you don’t like this, Kymora.”
Her lips curved as he used her own words from last night.
“This is all new to me.” The lilt in her voice was more pronounced. “It’s the unknown, not you, that’s making me anxious.”
“It’s new to me, too. Remember?” He stroked the soft skin on her thigh, then pressed a kiss there. “Comfortable?”
“Not yet, but if you get on with whatever you’re doing, I’m sure I’ll get there.” The corners of her mouth twitched. “Eventually.”
Varian bit the flesh so temptingly close to his mouth for her taunting. She yelped, then laughed. He let her feel his smile against her skin. “Be careful I don’t consider that a challenge, Kymora.”
She shivered with his warning. Her scent grew stronger. He drew it deeply into his lungs and let it wrap around him, like her hand had last night. The memory made him ache and throb now.
Kymora moaned softly. “I can feel that, Varian.” Her husky voice drove like a spike through him.
His hands shook as he smoothed them along each of her thighs, up to where he finally allowed his gaze to settle. Her feminine folds glistened, so wet and swollen. “Dear Mother… you’re beautiful.”
He used two fingers this time to tease open her folds. Her soft, swift inhalation told him just how sensitive she was. He stroked, gently, learning the contours of her sex, watching how his touch made her respond. A gasp. A groan. Flesh flinching, then flushing with need.
Discovering what pleasured her most.
And what drove him to the fiery edge of insanity.
From conversations among his scouts, Varian knew a Na’Chi female could be stimulated to her peak with his fingers, but there was another way. One much more intimate. Anticipation unfurled in his gut. Since beginning this game of experimentation, he’d been aching to try it. But would a human woman… would Kymora like it?
“Yes!” Her hissed affirmation surprised him. Was he broadcasting his emotions that strongly? “Please, Varian!”
Rising up on his knees, he placed his mouth over her, wanting… needing to taste her. Her salt-sweet essence exploded on his tongue the same time she cried out and shuddered. Her hips pushed up, undulating. She worked herself against his mouth, muscles straining against him. Moving his tongue against her changed her cry to a moan, and the shudder became a convulsion. Her flavor intensified.
He held her tight, steadying her with his hands, drawing out her pleasure until the power of her need abated. She collapsed onto the bed in a loose tangle of limbs.
Varian drew back, her taste still coating his lips. Intense satisfaction at the sight of her so sated replaced his reluctance in letting her go. Moving up beside her, he enjoyed watching Kymora come down from her peak. Her breathing remained erratic. He could hear the heavy thumping of her heart as well as see it pulsing in her throat. Wetness sparkled on her closed eyelids.
His heart thudded hard. Once. Had he hurt her?
Tentatively, he touched her flushed face. “Are you all right?”
Kymora curled into him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. “I hope you’re done experimenting, Varian.” Her voice was a hoarse whisper. Her fingernails dug into the skin low on his back. “Not sure if I’ll survive anything more right now.”
The wide grin on his face felt unfamiliar, but he couldn’t contain it. He released a slow breath and dared to savor the way she fit against him.
“Smugness doesn’t become you, Na’Chi,” she murmured against his chest.
He grunted and considered her statement. Sure, there was an element of conceit in what he’d done for her, but most of what he felt was satisfaction. Yet something else was there, another emotion, hidden beneath them. What was it? The heat reminded him of desire, but it was infinitely deeper, softer. Definitely unfamiliar.
His gut tightened as he tried to figure out what it was; frustration heated his blood when he couldn’t. Not wanting to spoil the moment, he dismissed it with a shake of his head. Later. He’d worry about whatever it was lat
er.
A faint knocking drew Varian from his thoughts.
Kymora stirred beside him. “Someone’s at your door.”
“Stay here.” He pulled the blanket up over her as he slid out of the bed. A quick search in the chest at the foot of his bed produced a clean pair of breeches. “I’ll see who it is.”
As he left, he pulled the door to his room partway closed, not wanting anyone intruding on Kymora’s privacy. His plans for the morning included spending time with her, so seeing who their visitor was and getting rid of them quickly took priority over anything else.
Lisella stood on the other side of his apartment door, an apologetic smile on her face. “I’m sorry to disturb you.” She fiddled with the end of her plait, twisting the black strands around her fingers. Voices and laughter echoed down the corridor from the main living area. It seemed others were already up, even at this early hour. “Is Kymora with you?”
Varian raised an eyebrow. “You know she is, Lisella,” he said, and folded his arms. “I can hear Ehrinne’s voice in the common room. She wouldn’t be here if Kymora wasn’t.”
Lisella’s smile faded and her gaze searched his. After several moments, she took a deep breath, like she’d made up her mind about something.
“I’ve been worried about you, Varian,” she said. His nostrils flared as he caught a sharp peppery scent coming from her. “We used to talk, but ever since we arrived in human territory, that hasn’t happened much.”
The truth in her statement prodded his conscience. Lisella had always sought him out as he’d never been one for mixing with others. Sometimes they’d talked, sometimes he’d just listened while Lisella filled him in on the goings-on of their group. With the alliance, something new always seemed to be cropping up. Establishing a new home, planting crops, meeting and living with Guild-families, training the Light Blades; all new issues and problems to cope with.
Still, guilt prodded him. “There’s been a lot going on. We’ve both been busy, Lisella.”
“True,” she agreed, a sad smile curving her lips. “But perhaps we’ve both been remiss, letting that get in the way. I should’ve made more of an effort to spend time with you.”
“You can’t split yourself a hundred ways. I’m able to look after myself. There are others who need you more.”
“But it helps to have a friend to share the load.” Her gaze met his again, and the green flecks in them warned him she wasn’t going to be deflected. “When Zaune came back to the common room alone last night, I was surprised. I didn’t think Kymora would be able to reach you this time, not after what Taybor told me.”
Varian’s mouth flattened. Who else had he spoken to about what happened out on that patrol?
“I know you both don’t always get on, Varian, but he was genuinely concerned about you. Don’t forget you share the same Gift. You might be the strongest scout among us, but he knows the struggle of dealing with battle rush. His fears concerning it aren’t all that different than yours.”
His head jerked up. “He believes he’ll end up like me?”
“You two are more alike than you think, Varian.” Lisella’s voice softened. “One thing I’ve noticed though is that the scouts who mingle with others seem to recover from it faster and cope with it better.”
His thoughts turned inward. If what she’d observed was true, then it could explain why he was having difficulty dealing with battle rush. Since their arrival in human territory, he hadn’t spent as much time with her or the children as he’d done in the past. Too many other things had taken precedence.
“I’ll say just one thing more, then leave the subject alone. I don’t know what sort of friendship you share with Kymora but I’m glad she visited you. And that you didn’t turn her away.” She reached out to lay a hand on his arm. “You needed her last night, as much as she needed you.”
Lisella had to be curious about their relationship, but he was glad she didn’t question him. He glanced toward his room.
“Kymora didn’t actually take heed of my no, Lisella. I’m sure Zaune told you that.” A small smile twitched on her lips. He grunted, suspicions confirmed. “She’s too much like you.”
“Scary, huh?” Her eyes sparkled. His narrow-eyed glare was ignored. “It’s about time someone refused to put up with your stubbornness.”
Leveling his gaze on her, he lifted an eyebrow. “So, why are you here, Lisella?”
She cleared her throat but thankfully said nothing else. Her expression sobered. “Rissa just arrived from the hospice with a message from Candra.”
This early? Varian straightened. “What was the Master Healer’s message?”
“Kalan’s awake and asking to see both of you.”
Chapter 28
KALAN lay propped on a stack of pillows with Candra and Annika flanking him. He looked drawn, even after a night’s rest, and his skin was pale, but the hard gleam in his gaze as he greeted everyone offset any physical weakness.
Except for the white bandage wrapped around his waist, the human leader was bare chested, and it made the bruising radiating from underneath it easy to see. The patch of skin above the top edge of the bandage was almost black. In close, Na’Reish fists could do a lot of damage. Had he not been wearing armor to absorb any impact during the battle, Varian suspected Kalan might have also sustained broken ribs. A shiver slithered down his back at how close they’d come to losing him.
“Against my advice, the Chosen has insisted on this Council meeting.” The stern expression on Candra’s face informed everyone gathered in the hospice that she had her Master Healer’s pouch well and truly strapped around her waist. “Keep it short.”
Her brown-eyed gaze strafed each Blade Council member and him in clear warning that they heed her instruction before she settled herself on her seat next to Kalan’s bed.
She placed her hand on his arm. “I don’t care how strong you think you are, Chosen, if you tire I will call a halt to the proceedings.”
Her words were murmured, too low for any human to hear, but Varian caught them. With a wry twist on his lips, Kalan inclined his head in acknowledgment.
“Chosen, I’m sure we can postpone this meeting a few days.” The gray-haired woman sitting farthest away smoothed a hand over the folds of her dress. “At least until you’re on your feet.”
“This can’t wait, Councilor Shellana,” Kalan refuted. “Although I thank you for your concern.”
Varian scanned the group, curious as to why he and Commander Yevni, the senior Light Blade trainer, had been invited to attend. Sitting next to Kymora, the barrel-chested warrior was easily the biggest man in the room, his silver gray hair and sun-weathered face more suited to the training fields than the sterile healers’ hall.
Beneath the pervading odor of Vaa’jahn, Varian detected the aromatic scent of fresh-fallen rain. Even without the exchange of glances and inquisitive raised brows passing between them, it seemed the other Councilors were wondering the same thing.
“Temple Elect, would you mind opening this meeting with a prayer as well as a benediction for Second Barial?” Kalan asked. While the request had been made steadily enough, the tautness in his jaw betrayed his inner turmoil.
Varian grimaced, his gaze darting to Kymora in time to catch the flash of pain that crossed her face. There’d been no time to speak with her about Arek and what had happened during the patrol. Last night hadn’t been an appropriate time and then the request had come from Candra to visit the hospice.
Yevni reached out to place his large hand over hers where it lay on her lap. “Temple Elect, if you don’t mind, I’d like to do that.” The warrior’s bass tone, usually full and loud from shouting orders on the training fields, was subdued. His pale blue eyes were bright with unshed tears. “I knew Arek since he was a babe and a youngster pestering me for his first sword. It’d be an honor if you’d let me lead the prayers.”
“Thank you, Yevni.” Kymora placed her other hand on his, her voice husky. “I think Arek would have l
iked that.”
The warrior glanced to Kalan and earned a nod of gratitude. The others bowed their heads. Varian dug his fingers into his thighs. As Yevni began speaking, familiar tendrils of guilt wrapped around him. He closed his eyes, not to pray, but to escape the memory of failing Arek the day of the battle. There was no escaping it though in the darkness.
“With leadership comes responsibility.” Hesia’s soft voice whispered in his head.
His hand trembled as he fisted it. He’d accepted that burden long ago, but the pain of a bad decision or loss of a life never hurt any less. When so many relied on you, there was always that niggle of doubt he could have done something differently.
“Thank you, Yevni.” Kalan’s voice brought him back to the moment. He allowed several moments of respectful silence, time for anyone who needed it to compose themselves.
Kymora used the sleeve of her dress to wipe her eyes. Varian resisted the urge to cross the circle and gather her into his arms.
Had it been just Candra, Kalan, and Annika present, he might have considered comforting her, but with nine others watching, his solace would cause only speculation that could harm her reputation, and he refused to do that.
“With Arek gone, I need a new Second.” Kalan’s statement drew several murmurs and nods of agreement. Yevni’s presence now made sense. “Varian, will you accept the position?”
A frisson of shock ripped along Varian’s spine. He stiffened.
“What?” Rellyn Nyon, one of the retired Light Blades on the Council, stood up from his seat. “Chosen, surely Yevni’s the better choice.”
The beefy warrior threw back his head and laughed, his teeth showing white against his dark tan. The booming sound startled them all.
“Councilors, Kalan knows better than to offer me the rank of Second. My strength lies in training and strategy, not leadership.” The big man gestured across the circle. “Anyone with eyes knows Varian can fight and lead. Arek often spoke of his respect for him as a trainer.” He leaned forward on one knee. “The Na’Chi is the more experienced warrior for what Kalan needs right now, especially in the situation we face with the Na’Reish.”
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