Warlord's Flame (Krystile Warriors Book 2)

by Owner

  Var’s eyes softened. “I am difficult to kill.”

  He felt much too close. Bess remembered the muscles of his thigh against her face when she pressed herself against his leg in the courtyard. Surely, he felt her desire, her willingness, when he held her hand. The rise and fall of his magnificent chest made it difficult to think. She wanted to become one with his breath. When did she begin to feel safe with him, to adore him? It didn’t matter.

  When he let go of her hand, she thought probably he was no longer able to feel her emotions. Bess still felt his, just not as strong. The pain she experienced from their lack of contact split down the center of her being. She was incomplete without him.

  Bess only wanted to be closer to him. In truth, she could not bear to think of anyone hurting him. She read what he felt through contact with her. He knew.

  Chapter 37

  The expression on Var’s face was hard. His blue eyes glittered like diamonds catching the light.

  He studied her and his face and voice softened. “I should not want you but, wanting you has consumed me. My people have a custom of claiming their mate. It means I would protect you always. I would also mate with you. I would know if you want that as well.”

  Whispering, Bess asked. “Will you be only mine if we do this?”

  “I do not share little mouse. We will be for each other. Only.”

  Bess smiled up at him. She knew he saw everything in her eyes and he felt her emotions. “Yes. I want that.”

  Var leaned his head forward to place a light kiss on her forehead. “I would know if you understand what I expect.”

  Bess shook her head slowly. He hesitated. Maybe her lack of experience was a bad thing.

  “I saw many matings while on the slave line. They were not all pleasant.”

  “That was not mating, mouse, that was docking.”

  Bess opened her mouth, but no words came.

  “I will tell you.”

  “You will undress for me. I will see you and touch you. There will be no barriers between us. You will submit to that. I will try to make it something that you enjoy.”

  She shivered, but not from cold. Then she nodded her head. This might be the biggest mistake of her life, yet she wanted it more than her next breath.

  “I would hear the words. Say ‘yes’.”

  Something was stuck, frozen, in her throat. “Will you love me?”

  Var tilted his head. “Little mouse, I pledge myself to you for always. I will care for you, always.”

  Finally she managed to whisper, “I understand.”

  “I will mate you. Mating binds a male and female to each other. I will be bound to you forever as you will be to me. I would know if that is acceptable to you.”

  Bess felt his nervousness. He worried she might not want him. Her voice sounded breathy. “Yes.”

  Var’s eyes softened. “Undress for me.” His voice, even lower than usual, the gravelly sound caused something deep within her to move. Her world shifted.

  With trembling hands, Bess pulled the towel open and dropped it. His scrutiny burned her. Aware of the air caressing her breasts, her skin, she fought the urge to cover herself. Bess wanted to press herself against him and feel his warmth.

  He studied her as if memorizing her body before he nodded and held out his hand, inviting her closer.

  Bess took another step and slid her hand into his. Lust. His lust hit her hard, but she felt more than lust from him. There was also something softer and more caring and very strong.

  “You are beautiful, female. The most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” He guided her closer. The warmth of his body on her cool skin drove her to press herself against his bare chest.

  Var groaned as his hands slid down past the small of her back. He pulled her closer, reached lower to spread her legs over him. He stroked her hair, letting it caress his hand.

  Bess opened to him. She needed to be vulnerable with him. Her core melted for him. Self-conscious at straddling his lap, she began to pull back.

  Var pulled her closer. Movements slowed as if they were under water.

  With her pebbled nipples touching the warm firmness of his chest, she whimpered. Var’s body, so male, was all hard planes and rippled muscles. His calloused hands moved over her skin while her core melted. She had the impression that he worshiped her body with his hands.

  Her own emotions allowed her to read his. Lust, primal and forceful, flowed from him. He wanted her. Var wanted her with an intensity that should be frightening to her.

  He turned her face up and brushed her lips lightly with his own. Once. Twice. Then he slowly licked her full lower lip. His gentle touch, barely there, only served to make her want more. Through contact with him, she knew he tasted her.

  He held her against him. It felt right to be in his arms.

  Bess felt exposed, body and emotions to him, wanting whatever he chose to give her and trusting that he could and would take care of her.

  He tilted her chin up with his fingers. She saw the question in his eyes and she knew he saw the fear in hers.

  “I will be gentle,” he rasped before he kissed her face.

  Bess had never been kissed until Var. The closeness of it felt better even than she remembered from their previous kiss. He felt good. The intimacy, a sharing like she could not imagine before him filled her. This sharing. She wanted more of this. Yes, he needed to finish what he started in the hunting camp. Her stomach fell as if from a great height. When he finally broke the kiss, she placed light little kisses on his chin and at the corners of his mouth. She moved to kiss the scars on his face, and felt him stiffen.

  “No,” she said. “You are beautiful. Let me kiss you.”

  His body shook and he tightened his grip on her. He touched her face, her skin, his hands grazing down her back as he explored her body.

  With her legs spread open, she began to squirm. She needed — something. More with each passing moment. Bess put her arms on his shoulders and pulled herself against him, pressing her softness against his hard body. She could not move close enough to him with the part of her body now open between her thighs. Open and empty.

  He lifted her up until his mouth touched the softness of her breast. She jumped when his tongue licked her. He used his mouth kissing and licking one and then the other. Var groaned when she arched her back and thrust her breast toward him.

  A fleeting thought that he branded her soul as he branded her body with the heat of his mouth undid her. Bess was unable to control the sounds that came from her throat, even as she felt how they stirred his sexual longing. Her desire melded with his and overcame any fear of her inexperience.

  Bess opened her mouth and let her head fall back when he sucked the peak into his mouth. His tongue licked her tender tip until it hardened almost painfully. He held her, one hand on her back as he caressed the other breast with his hand. His thumb strummed across her sensitive crest.

  Bess tried desperately to push against him. Open, she needed something.

  His low chuckle at her squirming surprised her.

  “I need,” she whispered.

  “I know. Not yet.” He slowly dragged his tongue across her nipple, pinching and rolling the other between his thumb and forefinger.

  Bess thought she might die. His touch drove her to a precipice, and there she waited while he did delicious things to her. She wiggled and tried to push her molten center against him, more and more desperate. Bess whimpered again. She could not stop the sounds she made. “Please,” she moaned.

  He moved a hand between them while he pulled her nipple with his teeth and flicked his tongue across it.

  Bess sucked in air when he moved his hand to touch her. Instinctively, she stilled in anticipation. His finger probed her and she gasped. She moaned when his thumb stroked the sensitive flesh in her center. The sensation overwhelmed her until she thought she would explode from his touch. Her body burned, lit by the fire in her soul. The big warlord held her easily with one arm w
hile he tested her core. Stroking, probing and slowly invading her.

  Bess opened her eyes to find him watching her. She read that he was surprised at the heat he found there, but he liked it.

  Var observed her with such ferocity she thought they might both burst into flame. “Caress your breasts for me.”

  She reacted to the sound of his voice and brought her hands to her own breasts trying to imitate the things he’d done to her. Her hips pulsed closer to him and back. She could not get close enough.

  “Look at me.” His voice was deep and soft, dark and dangerous.

  Bess looked. When did he remove the towel? The sight of him brought a shocked gasp from her throat. “T-That will not — fit.” She heard the desperation in her own whisper. What would he do now? Surely he could see the impossibility.

  “I will go slow, little mouse.”

  Bess saw patience in his eyes. Infinite patience with her and she trusted him.

  She opened her empath abilities and let him experience what she was feeling. A look of surprise crossed his face when she shared her feelings with him. Bess knew what seeing her naked body did to him, felt his need of her. It was only fair that she let him know how she felt.

  He whispered in her ear. “Tell me you want me, mouse.”

  When he stroked himself across the entrance to her core, she moaned and shivered and felt his satisfaction. The realization hit her that he derived pleasure from pleasing her, from making her lose control. Suddenly she could wait no longer. Her need overcame her fear. Bess made sure he felt that. “I want you. Fill me, Var.”

  Var lifted her up until his maleness pressed against her entrance and slowly, ever so slowly, let her down.

  She cried out when he began to stretch her, fill her. Her body bucked against his in a panic, but he held her tight.

  “Slow,” he grated. “Relax.”

  His body shuddered at her wet warmth. “Oh.” She knew how much he needed to hear her. He listened to her and based everything he did on her reactions to him.

  “I do not want to hurt you, sweet Bess, but I know no way to avoid it. The pain will not last long.”

  Bess never imagined being so full. Her body needed him, needed what he could give her. As he filled her, impaled her softness on his male hardness, she knew she shocked him with her wanting. Bess needed to feel the slow, delicious invasion of her body and Var needed to know it.

  She tried to push herself down, to make it happen quickly, but he held her firmly and slowly lowered her.

  “I would know who you think is in control.” His voice was gravel. Again her stomach felt as if it flipped over.

  “You are in control, warlord.” She had to struggle to say that, but feared he might stop if she didn’t admit it.

  “Yes. I am and we will go slowly.” Var let her down a little more and breached her maidenhead. When she cried out, he pulled her tight against his chest and kissed her forehead.

  “Bess, sweet Bess,” he groaned against her hair. “My little mouse. The pain will stop. I will make it better for you.”

  She could not hold back the sob that escaped her throat. “I still need.”

  Var rubbed circles with his big hand on her back. When she relaxed as much as she was able, he began to lower her again. Holding her tight, he let her down slowly, knowing how he felt to her. Bess let him experience every sensation as she felt it. She made sounds in her throat, but she never stopped needing him to fill her.

  “My sweet Bess,” he whispered. “You have all of me. My brave mate. You are mine and I am yours.” He kissed her face, her hair, and held her close.

  Bess felt suspended between the earth and the sky. Impaled on him while feelings she’d never experienced whirled through her like a violent windstorm. Finally, she rested against his powerful chest, enclosed in the strength of his arms. Tears trickled down her cheeks onto him.

  “I’m glad,” she said. “I wanted you. I needed to do this for you.”

  “It is not over and I want you to do it for yourself.”

  Bess realized he was barely holding onto his control. She read him and the scent of her blood affected him, called forth something primal from deep within him. Amazingly, she had no fear of him. Primal seemed right to her. In fact, she needed those feelings from him.

  Var began to move, slowly. He lifted her up and let her slide back down. It took forever.

  “Oh...” When he stopped she wiggled on him. “Please don’t stop. Never stop.”

  Var slid out of her and then back in when he lowered her.

  She could not imagine a sensation like it or that such a beautiful joining was possible. It felt right. Var’s enjoyment of the feeling surprised her. His need was primal, but he controlled it so she would enjoy the coupling.

  In a fit of need, Bess bucked her hips, trying to move faster.

  “No,” he said. “You will take what I give you. Feel it as I let you. You will have your reward, little mouse.”

  She gave a frustrated groan.

  “Soon,” he said, “soon.”

  He continued his slow movement until she was struggling and crying in frustration. She begged him and blinked her surprise when she realized he enjoyed her begging.

  Her breasts grazed his hard body as he moved her up and down. She gave herself over to feeling, not just her body and emotions, but his as well. Bess smiled when she felt how much he craved her softness.

  Soon she could not distinguish his need from her own. She whimpered and finally he sped up. Moving, stroking in and out of her, filling, stretching, and then pulling back until she feared he would leave her empty and needing. Instinctively, Bess knew he could help her break the tension that made her breath ragged, the need growing inside her to a raging conflagration that threatened to consume them both.

  Something like rage ran through him. His feelings hit her, raced through her. It broke then, something deep inside her and the power of it was more than she had imagined. His emotions broke over her like a wave with all the force and heaviness of the ocean, it flooded her, consumed her, washed over and through her. All she could do was scream out her pleasure as it filled her. The first wave was followed by another and then another. Wave after wave of ecstasy pounded her as the storm waves against the shore. Her release triggered Var’s pleasure, which also rolled through her. She felt his release and let him feel hers. Var’s emotions hit her hard, threatened to split her open. He grunted low and guttural and held her close while she screamed again and again.

  The emotions of their release shook her down to her essence.

  She felt his waves of gratification deep inside her. When it was over, he held her tight against his chest and stroked her hair.

  Bess cried then. The release had been emotional, physical, and sexual. She knew Var understood.

  He comforted her, held her close and made soothing sounds.

  “Are you alright, mouse?” he asked.

  Bess nodded. She finally recovered enough to speak. “Yes.” Her voice was a shaking whisper as if she were afraid to break the spell.

  He moved her, but kept her in his lap.

  She was trembling from the intensity of their love making and the emotions that came from it.

  Var touched her core again, moved his blood-covered finger to his lips, and tasted her.

  She did not hide her shock.

  “It is our way,” he answered. “The virgin blood is sacred. I will mate and claim you. You are mine as I am yours. I will die to keep you safe and I can always find you.”

  Bess was experiencing so much emotion, she couldn’t think about what that meant right now.

  “Didn’t we just – mate?”

  Var smiled. “No, mouse. Mating is more. More. We will do that when you are ready. I do not want to hurt you.”

  “Was I alright?” she asked in a shaky voice.

  Var hugged her closer. “I have never experienced anything like it, sweet Bess.”

  “Oh, you want to do it again?” Bess was amaze
d at what she felt from him.

  “I will always want you. But now, I will care for you.” He stood and lifted her as if she weighed nothing. Var walked into the pool of hot water and let her down gently. The water came up to her breasts. The bath was round with jets of water coming out of the sides. Var led her to the side and urged her to sit down on a shelf under the water. “There are minerals in this water. It will help relieve the soreness.”

  The warm water covered her, but she shivered.

  Var pulled her close.

  She relaxed against him and closed her eyes.

  “MX don’t — we do not have sex.”

  “The Facility put drugs in your food to suppress your abilities and your hormones. They thought it made you more manageable.”

  Bess nodded. “I suspected that. When I came here, everything changed. We were slaves. All of us.” Her voice was a whisper. “They were terrified that we would breed because we’re monsters.”

  “I will hear no more of that.”

  Bess pulled away, surprised at the force of his words. “But I am. I...”

  Var shook his head. “No. I will not hear it.” He kissed the top of her head. “You are mine. Never again will you be a slave. And you are not a monster. I do not want to hear you say that again. Such beautiful lips should be put to better use.”

  He was wrong, she thought. She was now a slave to him, a slave to his need for her and to her own need for him.

  And she most definitely was a monster. He just didn’t know it yet.

  Chapter 38

  Var chose a piece of meat from where it lay warming in the embers.

  Mack grinned, “You let the little MX sleep now.”

  Var, ignoring Mack, took a big bite.

  “Foord was telling us that the king’s people have some way to block our communications.” Mack said. “The interruptions appear to be solar interference, but it is a machine that they installed here. Dare figured it out. He and Foord found and destroyed it.”

  “It was in the volcano,” Foord said. “We recovered the krystiles and wrecked their equipment. Dare is working on a way to prevent krystiles being used in that way again.”