Men of Anderas II: Dak the Protector

by Cheryl Johnson

  “Damn. I just asked a simple question. Women.” He mumbled to himself as he finished his breakfast.

  “Your fish is getting cold!” He yelled in the general direction of her room. A slammed door was her response. “Fine. Go hungry. I don’t have time to baby-sit.”

  The heavy door muffled her response and he didn’t really want to know what she said. Shrugging, he cleaned the table; wrapped her breakfast in a clean cloth and placed it beside the oven to stay warm just in case she got over whatever it was that was bothering her.

  Several hours later he tied the last knot in the rope. The bed was finished. Removing the headboard and footboard Dak carried the first piece to the cave. He paused in the doorway to see if Kierin was in the room and if she was still angry. He was getting pretty good at knowing where she was in the massive cave even if he couldn’t hear her. If he heard the little voice in his head whisper that this was strange, unusual or spooky, he ignored it.

  “Good, she’s in her drying room.” She spent hours in that room drying all the plants, herbs and roots she used in making her healing powders. Before he took two steps into the room he knew what was wrong this morning.

  She’s on her period. That explains her temper. He did wonder why he was so sure about this and how he knew this morning before the flow started. He needed to ask Kierin if being around all these crystals could cause this side effect.

  It took him almost an hour to set up the bed. It didn’t leave much room but she only had a small stool and the chest that sat at the side of her bed. She would need new sheets and blankets eventually but she could manage for now. He couldn’t decide if he wanted to call her from the drying room or let her discover the bed when she came to change clothes. Thinking about her with nothing on--standing near the bed--easy decision. She can find it on her own. He turned to leave when a dull pain spread across his lower abdomen. Thinking his breakfast didn’t agree with him, he hurried to his room and the inci-n-can.

  By the time of the midday meal, Dak still had stomach cramps but nothing else. Kierin stopped long enough to eat the soup he warmed from their dinner the night before. As soon as her bowl was empty she excused herself and said she wasn’t feeling well and wanted to lie down for a while.

  “Do you usually have a difficult period, little witch?” He asked softly. He didn’t like starting the morning with an argument.

  “How did you know …? Never mind. I don’t want to know and I will not discuss such a personal matter with you. I will be fine by tomorrow when the cramping stops.”

  “When did the cramps begin?” Dak asked, suddenly alert.

  “Will you please just drop the subject? It’s none of your concern and I really need to lie down.”

  “When, Kierin?”

  “Fine. If I tell you all the intimate little details will you let me go to bed?” With her hands on her waist, she stared into his face, waiting for him to answer.

  He nodded slowly.

  “Yes, I started my monthly cycle this morning. Yes, I have cramps the first day. They started ….”

  “A couple of hours ago?” Dak finished for her.

  “Yes, now may I go to bed?”

  “I feel the same cramps.” Okay, now he was definitely spooked.

  “What? You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m as serious as death. Did you break your promise, Kierin? Did you use another crystal on me? Is that why I can suddenly know where you are in this massive cave? How I knew you started your period? Feel your pain?” With each question, he got angrier, his tone hard and unyielding.

  “No, Dak, I did not break my promise. I have not used another crystal on you. It must be all the crystals around you. It takes years of training to filter their power. When you go back home it won’t happen.”

  Without another word she turned and went to her room. If she noticed the new bed she didn’t voice her opinion. He waited for almost an hour, wondering if she liked his gift.

  “What the hell do you care? She can go back to sleeping on that rock slab she called a bed.” Dak grumbled in disgust. “She could have said thank you or something.”

  It wasn’t until he was cleaning the remains of their meal that he remembered she didn’t look at him when she made her declaration; her face flamed; and that orange crystal she wore everyday was pulsing like a living heart.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Three more days and he was free! Dak couldn’t believe it. He was afraid to believe it. These past days were torture. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Kierin was doing something to him. Every breath--awake or asleep--carried her unique fragrance. Her restless tossing and turning at night kept him awake as well. She might have been in his bed so strong did he feel her movements. When he questioned her about her sleep, she said it was getting used to a new bed, nothing more. He might have believed her if she once looked at him when she answered.

  He had to smile at her reaction to the huge bed. She loved to run and flop into the middle of the mattress, giggling like a schoolgirl when the ropes gently bounced with her actions.

  So maybe all the sleepless nights are worth it if she gets that much enjoyment from something so simple.

  His constant erection was so hard he was amazed he could walk upright. Taking matters in his own hand lasted just long enough to get his clothes back together. He lived in Kierin’s head. He heard her humming while she prepared her healing powders; felt her happiness when she discovered a new combination. There wasn’t a room in the cave where she could hide from him.

  One small consolation to all this sharing came while they slept. Whether it was his fantasies feeding her dreams or the natural awakening of a grown woman, the results were the same. They both woke up tired and edgy and caught in the release of a wet dream. When he made jokes about a powder to put an end to their mutual problem, she stuttered and mumbled and made an excuse to leave the room.

  Oh, yes, his little witch was definitely up to something.

  Dak stayed outside as much as possible. Distance kept the arguments to a minimum. He knew he was a bear on wheels but saw no possible solution except the one that he couldn’t enjoy.

  The corral bore little resemblance to the dilapidated pile of rotting timbers that greeted him weeks ago. The small stone cavern once used as a stable now housed hay baled from the thick grasses throughout the fortress. Kierin’s horse now had a warm, dry stall and the smaller corral made it easier for her to catch and care for the mare after he left. The new stable had more than enough room for any other animals she might gather.

  He fed the horses and cleaned the stables. Taking extra time to brush both animals. Kierin’s mare pushed against him, silently begging for more.

  “You’re a sweetheart. Too bad your mistress isn’t as sweet as you are. We wouldn’t have all this … tension between us.” Dak scratched the horse behind her ears. “Compared to that Phantom Rider, this must seem like paradise to you, doesn’t it? You take care of her when I leave, okay? Don’t make her chase you all over this pasture. She might not care for your playful antics.” The mare answered with a soft wicker and a shake of her head.

  Laughing softly, Dak finished in the stable and slowly walked into the corral. He knew he was as much to blame for the discord between them as Kierin. It was like being split apart. He desperately wanted to find his men and return to Anderas; yet, part of him longed to embrace the peace and solitude of this mountain retreat. Other than the constant, unrelieved sexual arousal and Kierin’s limited food options, he had few complaints.

  He felt good about everything he accomplished during the past month. There was enough firewood chopped and stacked just inside the mouth of the cave to last for several winters. The small mountain of dried grasses would stay dry in the small cave through the wettest weather and feed her animals through the winter and beyond.

  Making Kierin’s home more comfortable wasn’t the job she offered out in the wilderness but in the weeks he’d been here he hadn’t seen any sign of trouble. He knew Draago
n was out there somewhere waiting for an opportunity to grab the little witch. He couldn’t convince her to leave this place and he couldn’t stay indefinitely. These little repairs were easy and he enjoyed working with his hands. He even managed to convince himself that what he did would make up for leaving her alone and defenseless--at least for a few hours at a time.

  The tension between them made the simplest actions awkward. At dinner earlier she wore the blue and aqua outfit he remembered from the bath house. The swirls of color brought out the pale aqua color of her eyes. He told her she looked nice but he just couldn’t leave it alone.

  “All I said,” he explained to the chilly air around him, “was a sapphire would look better with her tunic than that orange thing she always wears.” Dak shook his head, bewildered by the tears and hurt he saw in her eyes--before she threw her napkin at him and stormed off to her room.

  “What did I say wrong?” No answer came drifting with the breeze and the night air was too cold to stay outside any longer. Snow already covered the top of Kierin’s mountain. How long before it covered the ground around the cave?

  The rope banister around the stairs to the entrance was damp against his palm. Did it freeze during the winter or would the heat from the hot springs keep it clear? And what about the steps? Snow would blow into the mouth and pile up against the walls. Would the steam from the springs cause ice to form?

  “Give it a rest!” He grumbled. “She’s lived here for years. She knows how to survive. She is not your problem.”

  The glow of embers banked in the fireplace was the only light in this central room. Dak, used to the luxuries of a palace, realized he enjoyed the minimalist design of Kierin’s home. A wooden table with three mismatched chairs; an odd assortment of dishes, pots and utensils on the shelves of an open cabinet; and two worn, padded chairs that faced each other in front of the fire. Rugs in a multitude of colors, designs and sizes covered the stone floor and walls giving the room a hominess that he couldn’t ignore. Most of the items were payment for her healing herbs and crystals from people who barely kept their own families fed and sheltered. His bedroom on Anderas was bigger than this room but it didn’t have the inviting warmth of this hole in a mountain. With that disturbing thought digging into his heart, Dak headed for bed. It was going to be another long, miserable night but he might be able to get a couple of hours sleep between the erotic dreams. By the Beard of the Ancients, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a good night’s rest.

  * * * *

  Several hours later he still tossed restlessly, unable to sleep. His body throbbed with need. Every heartbeat echoed through his groin. Every breath brought the scent of woman--aroused and ready. Giving up on sleep, Dak pulled on his pants and headed for the central room. It would be sunrise in a couple of hours and he could escape outside. A glass of dark Anderan wine would be wonderful, but he would have to settle for a cup of tea. Waiting for the water to boil, he heard Kierin moaning. She was caught in their nightly craving for release. His heart beat in time with hers and the cave echoed the beats around and around until the sound became a living, breathing entity.

  The tendrils of smoke from the fire swirled and danced and pointed to Kierin’s room. His tea forgotten, Dak fought the images in his head; tried to ignore the blood pounding through his crotch; and took the first step across the floor. He told himself he would just peek through the door and make sure she was dreaming and not really in pain.

  Before his hand touched the door he heard her whispering his name. He knew she still dreamed. He knew she was in no pain. He knew if he opened that door there would be no turning back.

  Walk away! You can’t do this! There is too much at risk to take a chance on unprotected sex! Walk away! Walk! Away! He touched the door and the voice of reason screamed one last echoing denial before going silent.

  Evidence of her troubled slumber was there in the twisted bedclothes. Her gown rode high on her thighs and every restless shift of her legs gave him a glimpse of the moist haven between them. Even from the door he could see the glistening dew of her arousal. Her hair--that glorious mane of snowy white--tumbled around her like a living blanket. She would play hell getting the tangles out in the morning but all he wanted to do was bury his hands in the strands and create even more chaos.

  He told himself he could still walk away; that he was still in control of his own body. Until, Kierin opened her eyes. The lone candle on the table turned aqua eyes into mysterious pools and reflected off the orange stone around her neck that pulsed with the same heartbeat as the cave itself. All it took was a raised hand and her whispered Dak. He was lost. They were lost.

  Dak dropped his pants and climbed onto the bed beside Kierin. He rolled over her and into her in the same movement. Her cry of pain lasted mere seconds before it became the keening of her climax. His release followed hers the instant she gripped him with her internal muscle spasms.

  When he could breathe and move at the same time, he brushed the damp hair from her face. “Are you all right? That was probably the fastest seduction in the history of man. I’m sorry it was so quick. I’ll do better the next time.” He couldn’t stop stroking her face. He punctuated his words with tiny kisses against her eyes, the shell of her ears, her chin before settling on her lips. He was right. A man could live on a diet of her mouth.

  Kierin didn’t know how to answer him. She had no point of reference to aid her. He was still deep inside her--still semi-erect and her body gently pulsed against him. All right?! She honestly didn’t know. What she did know was that she wanted more of Dak. She needed to store up a lifetime of memories because he would soon be gone from her world.

  “When is the next time?” She asked softly, arching her breasts into his chest and pulling him deeper. Her reward was a surging erection and a kiss that curled her toes. When he pulled free of her, she cried her dismay.

  “Easy, little witch. I’m only going to that bowl of water on your chest. “

  Kierin marveled at Dak’s confidence; his total lack of concern for his nudity. His body was a masterpiece of masculine beauty. Hard ridges of toned muscle rippled with every movement. The scars of battle and abuse did nothing to detract from his perfection. When he dipped a cloth into the tepid water and cleaned himself, she turned away from the sight and prayed her face wasn’t as fiery red as it felt.

  When he touched her intimately with the cloth, Kierin jumped and tried to twist away. His grip on her knee held her steady.

  “You can’t … it’s too personal … please don’t …,” her embarrassment threatened to choke her.

  “It’s not any more personal than what we just did and what we’re going to continue doing. Let me care for you, little witch.” His touch was gentle, almost reverent, when he cleaned the residue of their joining from between her legs.

  She really had no choice. Her awkwardness was quickly giving way to need. When she traced the line of his jaw with her fingertip Dak turned his burning gaze to her face. Flames of desire scorched the last remnants of shyness into dust.

  “You said something about a next time.” She whispered.

  Grinning like a fool, Dak tossed the cloth in the general direction of the bowl. “Your wish is my command, my lady.”

  When she spread her knees he shook his head slowly. “Not this time, Kierin. This time we take it slow. Let’s get rid of this gown.”

  Her pale skin glowed ivory in the candlelight. By the Beard of the Prophet he dreamed of her laid before him like a pagan offering. The necklace with its pulsing orange stone caught on the hardened nub of her nipple. He was going to remove it as well when he scraped the chain against her sensitive breast. Her back arched and a gasp of pleasure had him reevaluating that decision.

  Warming to the game, he used that chain on first one nipple then the next until she writhed with need. Stretching out beside her, Dak took one nipple into his mouth, sucking strongly while he played with the chain on the other. Her orgasm took them both by surprise. Giving he
r no chance to recover, he moved to the other breast until her fingers tangled in his hair. He didn’t know if she was trying to push him away or pull him closer.

  “Dak.” She gasped. “Please. It’s too much.”

  “Whatever you say, little witch.” With a wolfish grin, he slowly kissed his way across her abdomen. The tiny whorl of her navel received as much attention as her breasts. When he nipped at the soft skin of her inner thigh she tried to pull away.

  “Wha … what are you doing? You can’t … I can’t ….”

  “Yes you can and yes I can. Just relax, little witch. You’ll like it as much as I do. I promise.” He lowered his head and worshiped her. The scent of wildflowers mingled with the natural honey of her arousal and a spicy something that was uniquely Kierin. His tongue delved deep before circling the knot of hypersensitive nerves. Using all the skill at his command, he kept her on the razor edge of release. With a final flick of his tongue he climbed back up her body until he was holding her face between his palms.

  Aqua eyes glazed with passion; her lips swollen from her own teeth; she was elemental woman. Every man’s vision of hot, mind-blowing, sex. And she was his. Never breaking eye contact, Dak slowly slid into the slick channel of her body. He waited until her body adjusted fully to his before moving. Wanting to go slow doesn’t mean squat to a body screaming for release. Within minutes he was pounding into her. Whatever worries he had about hurting her disappeared when she wrapped her legs around his waist and met him lunge for lunge. When the tingling in his back warned of impending release, he increased his tempo even more. His roar melded with her scream when their orgasms seized their bodies, their breath, and their very souls.

  Dak rolled to his side, bringing Kierin with him. Exhausted, drained and feeling better than he’d ever felt in his life, he was just drifting off to sleep when he noticed the stone in her necklace. It no longer glowed with inner fire nor pulsed with her heartbeat. Dread slithered down his spine.