She smiled and licked her lips. “You don’t like it? Tell me what you want.”
“I want your mouth on my cock. All of it,” he told her and watched the pleased smile spread across her face.
Her lips lowered to his shaft. She licked the head before taking it between her lips. She sucked him into her mouth. He felt the muscles at the back of her throat close as she took his shaft deeper. She pulled back and drew in a deep breath.
“Easy, slowly. It feels so good.” Rygar’s fingers stroked softly through her hair. He could tell she hadn’t done this much but her eager response thrilled him.
She sucked at the head, her tongue stroking before her mouth slowly slid down his shaft again. She drew him deep. Her throat tightened again and she pulled back a little but tried again taking him a little deeper. He gritted his teeth as his hips rose off the bed. She hummed softly and the vibration nearly sent him reeling. His balls pulled tight. Rioche, his body burned with need. The feel of her mouth and tongue drove him close to coming in her mouth. Cupping her face, he gently urged her back. Her mouth left his cock with a distinct pop.
She looked up at him a question in her eyes.
“I want to be inside you. Do you want me?” He looked down at her. He could smell her arousal, feel it just beyond the throbbing urgency of his own need.
“You know I do.” Her hand lifted, covering one of his.
“Turn around and get on your hands and knees,” he urged.
She smiled and pulled back. “Anything you want.”
He drew in a hissing breath. “Woman, an offer like that is going to get you into some interesting positions.”
Her eyes burned with sultry heat and she slowly licked her lips. “I’m sure I’ll enjoy them.”
She turned away from him, dropping to her hands and knees on the lumpy mattress. Rygar eyed the gorgeous curve of her butt and moved up behind her. He smoothed his hands up over the globes, around her hips. One hand slid over her stomach and to the soft springy hair covering her pussy. His fingers slipped between the swollen lips.
“You’re wet, slick with your juices.” He pressed his hips against her buttocks, sliding his cock against the plump folds as he flicked at the hard nub of her clit.
Her hips rolled and her breath caught. The sound of her excitement thrilled him but he wanted more. He wanted her wild, ready to attack him to get what she needed. He didn’t dare slide into her heat. A few rolls of those hips and he’d lose what little control he had left. He stroked the hard little clit. She moaned and her hips wriggled.
“There’s only one problem with this position.” He brushed a kiss over her shoulder as he drew his fingers back to probe at her slick opening.
“W-what?” she stammered, her breath coming in sharp pants.
“I can’t see these, can’t take them into my mouth.” He cupped one of her breasts, his fingers tugging at the nipple.
She moaned and he felt a gush of liquid as he slid two of his fingers into her pussy. Her hips pushed back against his. Her inner muscles tightened around his fingers and she trembled. He pulled them free and drew back just enough to position his cock at her aching slit. Slowly, he pushed into her tight sheath, straining for control. He wanted to drive into her until they both found their pleasure but first he needed to know she’d be with him all the way.
His fingers brushed her clit. She pressed back into him, her muscles tightening. The urge to fuck her grew and he didn’t try to resist any longer. He pulled back, his cock slowly withdrawing. She hummed softly and wriggled demandingly. He gripped her hips as he drove into her. She moaned and he felt her tensing, shivers rippling through her body. A soft cry spilled from her lips as she trembled. Her inner muscles clenched, pulling at his cock. The feel of her pussy tightening as she came flung him into his own climax. He thrust against her. Her buttocks smacked softly against his hips and belly. A sizzling bolt of lightning streaked through his body. He stiffened and came, his body shaking as his seed spurted into her. She shook and came again as the re’kai took her.
* * * * *
Dari came slowly awake with the vague feeling that something was wrong. She blinked into the darkness. The mattress didn’t feel quite right and it took her a moment to remember that they weren’t at the Taivain. She reached out and felt on the bed beside her for Rygar’s muscled form. She thought maybe he’d rolled over or something and she’d woken. Her eyes snapped wide when she couldn’t feel even an arm. She sat up and looked around the room.
Rygar wasn’t in the room. She stood and grabbed her skirt and shirt from the foot of the bed. She hurriedly slipped on her shirt and skirt, securing only enough buttons to keep them from falling off. Satisfied that she was covered, she started for the door.
A noise outside the door raised her suspicions. It hadn’t been the sound of quiet conversation or even the sound of a loud drunk trying to find his room. No this was hushed whispers and a distinct thud. She opened the door slightly to peer out into the hallway. She saw a muscular shoulder slam into the hall right beside the door. The arm bore some familiar-looking tattoos. She gasped.
“Get him! Before he comes out of it,” a male voice whispered just beyond the door.
Dari’s eyes widened. She couldn’t just let this happen. She threw open the door. A white powder flew into her face, blinding her. She stumbled back. Her eyes burned and when she took a breath, her throat tightened and felt dry and stung. She rubbed at her eyes trying to get rid of the burning powder. Her eyes streamed with tears but it didn’t seem to help clear her vision.
The sounds of struggle reached her ears. She wanted to help but she could barely see blurry shapes and no definition. If she went out there swinging, she was more likely to hit a wall than any person, much less the person who’d thrown that powder into her face.
Abruptly the sounds of struggle stopped. She heard a distinct thump. She put her hands up as a blurry figure moved into her sight. She saw the shape moving but couldn’t really tell how far away it was. It didn’t look close and she waited. Her fists clenched. When it got close enough, she was going to take the man down. A fist slammed into her jaw and she barely had the time to acknowledge she’d been wrong. Blackness swirled in front of her eyes. She fought to stay conscious, fought the dizziness, pain and lightheadedness swarming through her.
“We need to hurry and get this one down with the others. He’s just what we need,” a male voice said.
“He’s strong. He threw both of us off him. This man shouldn’t be a disappointment. He should last a few rounds before he’s killed,” another man offered.
Dari didn’t have time to wonder about what the man meant. She lost the battle to stay conscious and couldn’t think.
* * * * *
Dari woke to pain. Her eyes felt gritty and dry and her head pounded. Pain throbbed along the right side of her jaw but that was the least of her worries. She lay on the wood floor. She recognized the bedroom at the inn but there was still no sign of Rygar.
He would have come back to the room if he’d been able to do it. She remembered the man’s shoulder that she’d seen before she’d flung the door open wide. That could have been him. A wave of guilt poured over her. She didn’t know what had made him go out into the hall but she should have found a way to help him. The powder had blinded her but she’d failed him. He’d needed help and she hadn’t been there for him. Just like Jaina.
Her hand fisted at her side. It wouldn’t happen again. She wasn’t losing him. From the bits of the conversation she’d heard, she was almost certain she knew where they were taking him. There was only one place where men were pitted against each other in battles against their will. At least, she hoped there was only one place.
Why had he left the room? And where were the other four warriors? Why hadn’t they helped? She stood, slipping into her shoes and grabbed the bag with their clothing. She looked around the room to make sure she wasn’t forgetting anything and noticed Rygar’s two knives on the small table beside th
e bed. She looked on the floor just beside the bed. His sword was gone. He’d obviously thought he’d find trouble when he left the room. She grabbed the knives. She might need them. Had he heard something last night and taken his sword when he went to investigate? She moved along the hall. Most of the doors were partly open. She pushed the first door fully open. She saw a woman sprawled partly across a bed, a dark bruise covering her cheek and temple.
Dari frowned, inhaling. She didn’t pick up even a hint of Zarain scent in the room. Moving to the next door, she pushed it open a little wider. There was no one in the room but she picked up a familiar Zarain scent. A dagger lay on one of the small tables and his pack lay on its side, the contents spilling out onto the floor. She stepped back and moved to the next room. A woman was just sitting up on the bed and looking around the room. Dari moved a single step into it. Inhaling, she caught the scent of another Zarain. She continued down the hall. There were no men in any of the rooms. She found the last of the rooms used by the Zarain males. The bed had been destroyed in one of them, the frame cracked, table knocked onto its side. Unless one or two of the men had gotten up early and left the room, it seemed that all the men had been taken. She wouldn’t leave until she was sure.
Chapter Nine
Dari had searched the city for hours but hadn’t found a trace of any of the Zarain men. She’d tried to get into touch with Rygar through their link. Her head ached from her efforts but he just wasn’t there. She’d try a dream tonight but she wasn’t sure she could connect with him. That was one thing she’d never tried. She just hoped it was something that came naturally.
She headed for the gatehouse. She wanted to get as far as possible before she stopped for the night. It wasn’t going to be easy just getting there. She knew Rygar would probably object to her entire plan. That wasn’t going to make any difference to what she intended to do. He should know by now that she wouldn’t just meekly wait for someone to come and get her. She was going to do everything she could to help him. It would be days, possibly weeks, before anyone from the Taivain could get close enough to help.
Throughout the day, she tried to contact Rygar but never even felt that she connected with him. After having to wait in long lines at every gate she used, she only managed to go through five gates that day. She was also a little uncomfortable with the attention she’d gotten at times. It hadn’t been because she was a woman. There had been other women traveling but they’d been in groups. She’d have liked to get out of the city but the fact that she was alone would make her too vulnerable. The walls and doors of a room offered some security. She found an inn and rented a room, eating a quick bowl of soup before she went up to try to get some rest. Waking up to find Rygar gone had shaken her. Locking and barring the door, she moved a table in front of it as an added barrier. She wouldn’t be able to sleep through that being shoved out of the way if anyone tried to get into the room.
She settled onto the bed, thinking of Rygar, thinking of dreaming with him. As she slowly went to sleep, she had no idea if she’d succeed but she hoped she’d get through to him this way.
Dari found herself floating in a gray void. Fear trickled through her. The gray around her shimmered. She blinked, realizing that this must be the dreaming, not a nightmare as she’d thought at first. But the times she’d been here with Rygar, it had never looked like this. So there must be a way to give it a more inviting look. Maybe like their room at the Taivain.
The gray rippled, changing, forming creamy walls and a large bed. A purple blanket covered the long bed. Two comfortable chairs formed a quiet conversation area near the fireplace.
She settled into one of the chairs, running her fingers over the nubby fabric. Now she just had to wait and see if Rygar actually appeared. She was thrilled that she’d actually succeeded in getting here but she needed to talk to him. She needed to find out if she was right, if he’d been taken as a warrior for the arena.
“Dari!” Rygar’s voice came from just behind her. He sounded worried. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. What about you? I haven’t been able to touch your mind since I woke. I’ve been so worried.” Dari bounded to her feet and ran over to him, throwing her arms around him.
“I’m alive, which is the most important thing. You haven’t been able to connect with me, because I haven’t woken yet. I’ve been frantic, wondering if they’d killed you.” His arms closed around her, hugging her tight.
She smiled, feeling suddenly more secure. “What happened? Why did you go out of the room?”
“Dren called to me on the mind path. He was being attacked. I went out to help him. I threw one man away from him but another tossed something into my eyes.” Rygar grimaced.
“You couldn’t see and it hurt to breathe, right? I got the same powder in my face. It was embarrassingly easy for the men to knock me out after that.” She shook her head remembering just how little work the man had done.
“They didn’t knock me out. I felt some kind of wet cloth cover my face and then nothing. You stay there. Logan will come for you just as soon as I contact him.” Rygar held her away from him, looking down at her. She could tell he was absolutely serious.
“No, I’m not waiting. You can yell at me the next time you see me but I’m going to follow you. I’m going to find you. I’m not going to just stay in some room at an inn safe while you’re in danger and alone out there,” she said. She pushed out of his arms. Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared at him. She couldn’t believe he was asking that of her. He knew about Jaina and her life. He wanted her to wait as if she was some sheltered little female who couldn’t survive outside the Taivain.
“This isn’t optional. I’m giving you an order as your mate.” Rygar growled, his teeth bared, leaning forward until they were eye to eye.
She glared back. “I told you I didn’t always follow orders. You ignored me. I’m going to find you. When you’re in front of me and free, I’ll start considering your opinion. Until then, I’m following my own judgment.”
“Dari…” he began.
“No, you can yell, confine me to the Taivain afterward, whatever you think you have to do but I’m not leaving you alone,” she told him flatly. This wasn’t negotiable to her.
“You could get hurt, killed. Wait for Logan.” He released her and began pacing.
“Too late. I’ve already left and am traveling.” She kept her face in a calm mask. In spite of her need to help she wanted to reassure him.
“Dari, I have no doubt that if you got here you could help but it’s you traveling through the worlds alone that scares me. There are so many men out there who see a lone woman as easy prey.” His voice rose and his hands fisted. She could practically see the tension in him.
“Rygar, I know the danger. I’m willing to face it. Remember I can take care of myself. I’m not going to be anyone’s easy prey.” She walked over to him and put her hand on his arm.
“It’s too great a risk. If I were anywhere near you, I’d tie you down to keep you safe.” He thrust a hand through his hair.
“I’ll be fine and you’re not near me. If you were, I wouldn’t have to do this. I’m not reckless. I don’t chase danger but I will do what I can to help when necessary,” she said softly, slowly stroking his arm.
She actually heard his teeth grind.
“Do not get hurt.” His eyes closed for a moment and he seemed to come to a decision.
“I’ll take care of myself and I’ll find you.” She hugged him. “Don’t worry.”
“Don’t worry. I couldn’t find a nice normal mate,” he muttered under his breath. “I get a woman who thinks nothing of facing danger and seems to love it.”
Her hands landed on her hips and she glared at him. “I am nice and I am normal. I know at least twenty other women who’d do the same thing including Caidi, the Acine of Oroyai pack. You’re just too accustomed to weak women.”
“Settle down. I was just frustrated. I never thought my mate would run into danger.
It’s not an easy thing to think about.” He lifted one of her hands off her hips and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Settle down!” She heard a growl in her voice and leaned close to him. “I do not run into danger. It’s not my fault your women are too sheltered. I just do what I have to do.”
“You know I want you and I wouldn’t change anything about you. Most of the time I don’t want to change anything about you. It’s just I hate to have you in danger.” He held on to her as she tried to pull away from him.
She narrowed her eyes and stood stiffly in his arms. Sighing, she slowly relaxed. The man was naturally possessive and protective. She was following him alone. He was bound to be tense and grumpy. “I know you can’t change the way you are but I can’t change who I am either.”
He grimaced. “Most of the time, I wouldn’t want you to but right now…”
Rygar’s head pounded and throbbed with pain. He’d been desperate to wake up but now he almost wished for the peace of that void. He tried to raise his hands to his head and only then felt the ache in his shoulders. A metal chain dug into his back as he tried to bring his arms up. He relaxed slowly and the metal clinked as it fell back to the wooden floor. He could feel movement, a slow rocking, and hear the crunch of dirt and stone beneath wheels as well. Dim light filtered through gaps in a canvas awning.
He swallowed and his throat ached and felt so dry. He’d definitely been taken. Who had done it was still in question but he’d deal with that later. Now he needed to get in touch with Logan. Maybe once Logan was actually on the way, he could talk Dari into waiting for Logan, letting him take the risks.
Logan. Rygar tried to connect with his brother.
Rygar, where have you been? I’ve been trying to contact you for the past day! Logan’s voice burst through the silence.
Rygar could hear his brother’s frustration.
I’ve been taken but it’s not me I’m worried about, Rygar sighed, it’s Dari.
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