Sharyn’s long blade was unsheathed, the tip angled down in the dirt. Her light gray mare grazed on the short grass as she leaned against the trunk of a wide oak, ankles crossed, and brows knit in confusion.
“Rhia, why are you dressed this way? I believed that when you left me that you were off to change your clothes. If RuArk sees you in aught but the sarand you will earn nothing but punishment.”
She’d thought of nothing else since leaving her friend’s apartment. She’d rebelled because she’d been angry, but now she just felt plain silly. Mounted quickly, she urged Sharyn to do the same.
After riding at a good clip out on the trails in the buffer zone, Sharyn slowed her mount to a walk.
“We agreed when we first became sisters that I would help you learn of our people, and most important, learn the Wind Storm. I do not recall recommending stubbornness. And regardless of whether you want to submit or not, you gave your word. Thirty days of total agreement, yes?”
She had indeed. Her word was so important to her that if RuArk asked her to strip naked, jump up on the tables during dinner and yodel, she would do it. So why wouldn’t she wear what she was supposed to wear? With a sigh and a few blue expletives, Rhia relented.
“You’re right. I did promise. I’m just having a hard time with being treated like a child.”
“A warrior acts with the sole thought of protecting his family, his mate, whether she feels he needs to do so or not. Let him do his duty, Rhia. He will feel less than a man if he cannot do what he was born to do.”
She hadn’t thought of it that way. Did he really feel less than if he couldn’t take care of her, make her happy? It was an amazing thing to hear, yet it made sense. She’d lived and breathed her responsibilities to the Society of War. Anytime she’d failed to keep her word or do what she’d promised, no matter who she’d made the promise to, she’d felt like crap. Who wanted to be known as a woman who didn’t keep her word?
Another blasted mess you’ve gotten yourself into.
“You could have so much more from the Wind Storm if you bend but a little, Rhia. Bending branches do not break. If you give your mate what he wants by wearing the sarand and continue to learn the ways of the Gaian, what have you lost by doing so?”
Good question. Of course Rhia had no answer for it.
“Or when he asks you to spend more time learning how your home is run, or to visit some of the women in the township to see how they fare? They may not be soldiers, but are they not worthy of your time?”
She felt her cheeks heat as Sharyn continued. Rhia remained silent and took her medicine like a woman. It was nasty stuff, but take it she did.
“There is a saying that you can gain more with sweet honey than with vinegar, yes? That applies to warriors, too. Give him what he wants, Rhia, and you will find you are able to do whatever you please, when you please because he will seek to give you all that you wish.”
“You’ve got to teach me this stuff before I get in trouble, Sharyn,” Rhia said, shaking her head at herself. “Let’s get back before RuArk sees me dressed like this.”
“Are you asking for my help in deceiving your mate, sister?” Sharyn asked, her expression one of pure innocence.
Rhia wasn’t fooled. If there was one thing that Sharyn had learned about her since the day they met was that Rhia hated to ask for help.
“Sharyn Miwatani, you are exasperating.” She flipped her palm up, slapped it over her forehead, and said in her most dramatic sigh, “Oh, please, please help me. I simply can’t go on without your help, Sharyn! Oh, please help me....”
Sharyn waved her hands frantically, her expression one of horror. It was so out of character that Rhia burst out laughing as her friend said, “All right, all right! Anything if you will cease your wailing!”
They took the long way around the estate, and slipped into the villa through one of the side entrances that led to the kitchens. There was a sally port between the cooking area and the great hall with small port-holes in the doors that allowed the housemen and kitchen staff to peek in and see how things progressed with the meals.
Standing just short of the doors, Rhia instinctively closed her eyes for a second and concentrated on her husband. The bond flared to life and she knew immediately that he was close by. With a quick glance, she spotted him on the other side of the great hall in front of the fireplace. His back was to her as he spoke with someone several inches shorter than himself. She couldn’t make out who it was at this distance, and certainly wasn’t going to take time worrying about it now.
She whispered to Sharyn, who had crept up behind her, “He’s way over there by the fireplace. Ready?”
“I wonder how I, a warrior woman, have lowered myself to creeping,” Sharyn hissed through her teeth, not missing the strange looks cast their way by the warriors and housemen filing in and out of the kitchens.
“Sssh! You’re supposed to be helping me, remember? Not getting me caught.”
Sharyn growled her response, and slipped her bow off of her back so it wouldn’t be seen sticking up as they made their escape. They entered the great hall, whose exit doors were unfortunately right in front of the stairs that led to their apartments upstairs.
Running would bring more attention to them, so they walked briskly instead and cleared the room in seconds. On the way up the steps, both the women craned her neck to look quickly into the hall.
“Whew, he’s still occupied.”
With that, Rhia bolted silently up the stairway with a very annoyed Sharyn on her heels.
◊ ◊ ◊
With Sharyn’s help, Rhia donned a light gray silk sarand with gold threading woven throughout. Her hair was artfully piled atop her head with a few wisps left to dangle about her ears. She’d never been a big fan of jewelry, but her mother-in-law had given her several strands of the most precious black pearls. A single strand was clasped around her neck. Matching earrings finished off the ensemble.
To Rhia’s surprise, the garment was light about her body and she could still move swiftly without the material floating up to expose her thighs to all. The slits in the harem styled pants allowed her to get to her mother’s artfully etched dagger that was strapped to her thigh without having to sift through the layers of silk to find it. Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to wear after all?
Through the wide open great hall doors drifted conversation and the delicious smell of old fashioned, well-prepared food. Some chose to stick to the bland fare of their province, but many who served in the villa had quickly abandoned the tasteless stuff in exchange for Gaian food. She couldn’t wait for Joan to see the place. Her friend would probably spend the majority of her time in the kitchen stealing recipes from the cook, who was really starting to get the hang of real cooking.
RuArk had just taken a sip out of a sturdy looking cup when he looked up and caught her eye as she descended the same stairs she’d snuck up less than an hour before. The man stopped eating and went completely still, mid-chew.
She was surprised that his assessment made her tummy all wiggly inside. Sharyn had dressed her in a sarand that flowed about her body and gave the occasional glimpse here and there of silky caramel skin. Since the joining festivities had all been held in the clearing by day and the bonfires by night, this was technically their first meal in this room.
Rhia’s back went ramrod straight when she realized that not only was RuArk watching her, but everyone watched her enter the hall. Her chest swelled with pride to see these people, their people, from different places and experiences mingling and learning one another. It wasn’t anything she’d expected to experience in her lifetime. Yet, her father and RuArk had made this happen. Their motives didn’t matter right then.
All of the men stood at once as Rhia made her way to RuArk at the head table. RuArk offered his hand, and slowly took in her curves before he seated her in the chair next to him. Linc, standing on RuArk’s left, offered a seat to Sharyn. That particular First Commander only had eyes for
Sharyn’s dark beauty in a red sarand with gray trim. She smiled warmly, but declined his offer of a seat, and took up her usual post at RuArk’s back. To RuArk’s right was... Brita’s brother?
“Ricard! It’s so nice to see you. What are you doing here?”
He took one look at a granite-faced, fully-armed Sharyn. Gaze flared with recognition and he plopped down in his chair so fast it almost toppled over backwards. Quickly composing himself, he said, “I brought some of my sister’s things. I hoped to visit with her a little while.”
“How thoughtful of you,” Rhia beamed, looking from Ricard to Brita. Brita’s lips were pressed together in a tremulous line. She was clearly uncomfortable. Rhia subtly tipped her head in question, but Brita wouldn’t look up at her. Strange. And when Rhia looked at RuArk, he now wore his civil granite face. He may have appeared polite to everyone else, but she was coming to know that look well. Whatever reason he looked so stoic, it wasn’t good.
Ricard took a loud slurp from his wine glass, and broke the thick silence. “I know it’s a bit soon to visit a newly married couple, but I hope you don’t mind,” he said hopefully. To RuArk he said, “I offer my congratulations on your joining.”
Rhia watched RuArk chew slowly, methodically, and waited for him to answer their guest. But he didn’t. Ricard began to shift his weight from one cheek to the other in his chair as a new, more tense silence began.
“Of course we don’t mind.” Rhia’s voice was a bit too syrupy, even to her own ears as she tried to fill the awkwardness of the moment. She eyed her husband and Brita, and wished they would say something. Hell, anything. RuArk looked like he’d rather walk over Ricard than acknowledge the man’s request to stay. The color had seeped from Brita’s face all together. The woman looked pale as death as she twisted her napkin around her fingers. Rhia didn’t think her companion had eaten a bite of the food she’d pushed around on her plate.
Finished eating, Rhia opened her mouth to ask RuArk why he was behaving so strangely. Before she could form the words he stood, and took her gently by the elbow and pulled her into a sweet kiss.
When he eased back a bit, she stared up at him. The intensity that rolled off of him set her teeth on edge, but she could tell that she wasn’t the issue.
Finally, he spoke. “I’ll be near if you need me.”
“RuArk, I’ll be doing what I always do in the evenings. Bath, read, bed.”
“Still, should you need me, just reach out. I’ll come.”
Her mind swung a dirty left.
“Careful, Rhia, or you won’t make it out of here. Go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you later. Brita, join her, please.”
Rhia furrowed her brow. “But RuArk, we haven’t had dessert yet. And we have a guest...”
“I am aware of what we have and have not done. Go, I will see you shortly. And no, Rhia, I am not angry with you,” he said before leaning down to whisper for her ears alone. “Even though you did not wear the sarand today as you promised, you have more than made up for it by wearing it to please me this eve.”
She gasped.
He winked.
Her mouth fell open and eyes went wide as dinner plates. Damn him, he knew! But, how? Quickly wiping the surprise off her face, she schooled her features, gave him a warm smile, and then turned and left the hall.
An hour later, RuArk walked into their bathing room, lifted her wet from the tub and took her straight to the bed.
The night was warm and the terrace doors were left open to let in some of the evening breeze. It did nothing whatsoever to cool her body. RuArk feasted on her breasts, and took the entire crown into his mouth until she arched up off the soft, silken bedcovers. He knew just how and where to touch, and his fingers, followed by his mouth, relished every inch of her body until the very hair on her head reached for the stars.
Breath whooshed from her chest in sharp pants. Body shuddered when his teeth came into play with playful nips here, there. Everywhere. Kisses rained from her neck, down her back and along the tingling globes of her cheeks. From her eyebrows to her toes, he played her like the finest instrument. He hovered at the juncture of her thighs, and blew over the damp skin.
Suddenly, her skin erupted with goosebumps as their bond flared to life. This time the potency of the connection they shared took her breath away. Suddenly, she felt what he felt, wanted what he wanted. Saw how her pleasure made him wild, and knew the more he gave her, the more he wanted to give. Her moans became wails, then raw, wild screams. She yelled his name, and begged him to surge inside her wet, willing body, and end the sumptuous torture. When his hard length stretched and filled her, she saw stars. Literally.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Before Rhia cracked open her eyes, she knew RuArk was gone. There was no alarm or worry, but rather a realization that in such a short time they were beginning to establish a routine around one another. Right now, he was working out with his men, or at the Society of Blacksmiths commissioning some wicked new weapon.
He did, after all, have excellent taste in gear.
She might still need work in the adjustment department regarding her new life, but at least there was progress. She smiled at the thought that her wonderful husband hadn’t even slapped her with any “Yes, RuArk” challenge loss penalty days. Breaking her word meant forfeiture of the deal she’d made with RuArk at the creek that day, and her little foray out and about yesterday, minus her sarand, should have cost her two more weeks of service.
Out on the terrace, the edges of her robe flapped around her ankles as she soaked in a few minutes of early morning sun. The sky was crystal blue and the breeze crisp. It promised to be warm with a chance for some much needed rain later on. Dressed quickly, Rhia met her tutor in the great hall for a quick casual breakfast.
More bleary-eyed than usual, Sharyn nodded to the Houseman who’d delivered the largest mug of black coffee Rhia had ever seen. Loading up a plate with fresh fruit and protein she munched a bit, then turned to her tutor with a suggestion.
“So, since it’s supposed to be crap weather later, how about we ride now, get back before the storm hits, then do lessons after?”
Sharyn took a huge gulp of coffee and nodded. “Excellent. Meet you at the stables?”
Another wordless nod.
“Soooo, what kept you up late last night?”
Sharyn glared.
Holy shit, was that a blush? Sharyn Miwatani, hard ass extraordinaire, was blushing... but not talking. There was obviously a story there, but as grumpy as the woman was right then, it was obvious she wasn’t in a sharing mood.
“Fine. I’ve got to run upstairs and change. See you in ten.”
Down at the stables, her excitement fell down around her ears as she neared her horse’s stall. It was empty. Where the hell was Moonlight?
“I wondered when you would arrive. Moonlight was beginning to miss you.”
She jumped at the deep voice behind her, surprised she hadn’t felt or heard the approach of the man it belonged to.
Rhia jerked around to see RuArk leading her mount to a tie down post. Her heart burst at the sight of him while her mind momentarily flew off on its own, screaming, ‘Come, touch me!’
She shook herself and managed to remember that she wanted to go out on the trails. If RuArk touched her, she would melt all over him, and riding would be out of the question. Besides, she was supposed to be annoyed at what had occurred once she’d gone back upstairs to put on a sarand over her riding pants.
Instead of snarling about it, she held her tongue since her agreed upon “Yes, RuArk” days were far from over.
She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin a few notches. Her body still tingled from the loving she received the night before. Images of her naked and writhing as she tried to impale herself on his long, wide cock danced before her eyes. She had to get control of herself.
Even after a deep breath and a step back, when she opened her mouth, her booted foot began to tap as she ground out her words.
A thick, dark brow winged upward as he replied with a simple, “And?”
“So, what’s the deal then? Someone’s going to come with me when I have to take a pee? Look, I know something is going on, RuArk. What?”
“I will tell you more when I have more, Rhia. For now, you will accept my judgment in this,” he said smoothly, not moved one whit by her rising temper.
Back ramrod straight, she looked RuArk in the face as best she could, given his amazing height, and then proceeded to deliver a thorough, though quietly controlled, tongue-lashing. Sharyn’s words rang in her head. She should allow RuArk to protect her, but being constantly surrounded by a bunch of walking trees all the time was not what Rhia had in mind.
“I am a grown woman and a Blademaster. I will not be treated like a child. Regardless of what you might think, mister Protector of the Realm, I can bloody well watch out for my own blasted self, which I’ve done successfully for a whole lot of cycles before you came along. If you want to send Sharyn with me, fine. But I don’t need a whole pack of giants at my back all the blasted time.”
“Pack of giants?” he chuckled.
Rhia growled deep in her chest and nailed him with a glare. “Furthermore, I can take care of my own horse, thank you very much.”
He stepped closer than was needed.
“In case you’ve forgotten, Rhia, I am lord here. If I so choose, I can be nice to my lifemate and brush down her horse anytime I please,” he said before bending down to plant a loud smack on her lips. And now it was her turn to blush.
Wind and Fire Page 23