by B N Miles
“But I take it that hasn’t worked.”
“No, it hasn’t.”
She was quiet for a breath. “The army’s more important than anything else,” she said softly. “More important than Lagon or any of his men. If it were any other time, I might wonder. But now, I know you did the right thing.”
“If it were any other time, I wouldn’t have killed him.” Cam kept staring into the distance. “I’m worried, Brice. I’m worried I’m becoming something I don’t want to be.”
“What’s that?”
He looked at her, at the gentle slope of her nose, the hard line of her chin, the soft brown of her eyes. She leaned her head toward him, and he wanted to taste her lips again, wanted to touch her cheek and pull her close.
“Some kind of dictator,” he said. “I don’t want to rule by force or fear. I don’t even want to rule at all. I just want to do what’s right for the world and for our people.”
“Sometimes you have to use force,” she said. “Sometimes there’s no other way.”
“I don’t know if that’s true,” he said. “There’s always another way.”
“You haven’t found it yet.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Then you have to keep doing what you’re doing.” She shifted closer. Her thigh pressed against his. Her hair slipped down her shoulder as she looked up at him. “We’ll meet the wolves out on the battlefield soon. And after that, maybe you can change the way things are going.”
“Maybe,” he said. “But I worry that even after this is finished, the Mansion’s going to need leadership. There are factions all around us, Brice, men that would take power and do horrible things if given the chance.”
“It’s okay,” she said, and put a hand on his knee.
He stared at that hand then up into her eyes. “I’m afraid it isn’t.”
“You’ll do what you have to do. I promise, you’re going to get through this.”
“I know I will,’ he said. “I only worry what the world will be like once we’re there.”
He reached out and touched her face. He felt a chill run down him mingled with a tight desire. She didn’t pull away, and instead pressed herself closer to him.
Cam leaned down and kissed her. It was a slow, quiet kiss at first. He felt the fear and sadness still trickling down his spine.
But then her warmth spread to him, her taste flooded his mouth. The kiss turned deeper, rougher. She took a sharp breath through her nose as Cam pulled her on top of him.
She straddled his hips and kissed him hard. Her hands pressed against the tree trunk. Cam reached up and unbuttoned her tunic as she began to move her hips in a slow circle, biting hard on her lip.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked. “With the man that’s going to dominate this army.”
“I want it,” she said. “There aren’t many men that could handle me.”
He smiled and finished unbuttoning her tunic. Her breasts were larger than he thought, round and soft, her nipples pink and hard already. He tried to palm them but they were too big to fit in his hands. She let out a soft moan and he moved forward, sitting up, her chest pressed against his as he grabbed her hair and kissed her deep.
He rolled her over onto a nest of soft grass and finished undressing her. She tugged at his pants and managed to get them off as his fingers explored between her legs. She moaned in soft, gentle gasps. He bit her lip and slid his fingers inside then back out, rolling his fingers along her clit. Her body was muscular and toned, but her breasts were soft and gorgeous as he ran a tongue around one nipple, his fingers buried deep between her legs.
She pushed him back, her eyes fire. She tugged down his pants and got them off. Cam was hard when she took him in her hands and stroked his length. He let out a gentle groan of pleasure as he leaned back in the grass. Brice’s hair fell around her as she took him in her mouth, sucked him hard, licked his shaft from top to bottom.
Her mouth felt like heaven. She sucked him fast and moaned as she did it. He watched her reach a hand between her legs and tease herself as she took his cock deeper into her throat. It was the most beautiful thing he’d seen in a long time, this strong, intense warrior with her hand between her legs and his cock between her lips.
He pulled her up and kissed her. She moved to straddle him, but he pushed her back and pinned her down on the ground.
“Is that how you want to play?” she asked, grinning.
Cam smirked back, bit her lip. He spread he legs and she struggled playfully against him. He laughed, pinned her down, kissed her leg, bit her nipple. She moaned and laughed with him as she pressed his cock against her slick spot and slowly sank himself inside.
She gasped and her back arched.
“Oh, yes,” she groaned. “I think I like it when you dominate me.”
“You like a man in control, don’t you?” He slowly moved himself in and out, his cock filling her up. She was tight, warm, slick, and each new thrust drove him wild as her breasts bounced and her lips parted.
“I love a man that knows what he wants,” she said. “And a man that takes it.”
“Like I’m taking this?” He pressed himself deep and licked one of her nipples then bit down.
“Ah,” she gasped. “Exactly like that.”
“You’ve been waiting for me,” he said. “You’ve been waiting for me to decide I wanted to have you.”
“I know how you’ve been looking at me.” She chewed her lip and pulled him down, kissing him hard. “I’m not blind,” she said when she released him.
He thrust faster, deeper. Her cheeks flushed and her back arched.
“Even in your armor, you’re gorgeous,” he said. “I think I find you sexier when you’re wrapped in metal and holding a long sword.”
“I bet you do,” she said, grinning.
He pulled back and turned her over. She gasped as her ass was in the air, her pussy slick and dripping. He gripped her hips and held one of her hands behind her back. Her face pressed against the grass as he slid himself in from behind.
She moaned and bucked her back with each thrust. He released a growl and felt all his aggression, his anger, his pent-up energy, and the desire that had been building for Brice since the moment he first saw her suddenly unleash on her body. He took her, felt her and teased her, fucked her and licked her, their bodies sweating and moving in the grass.
She whispered his name as she moved back and kissed him. He teased her breasts and nipples as he thrust faster. Her hair blew in the wind and her body shuddered with pleasure, and he knew she was close. His fingers found her clit as his cock took her deep, and she leaned down, face in the grass again, moaning wildly, saying his name.
He felt her come, felt her drip down along his shaft. She came in wild waves, her back arched and shaking, her moans a low and uncontrolled groan. As she finished, he slid himself out and smiled as she fell onto her side then rolled onto her back, sweating and breathing hard, her beautiful body flush with joy, a big grin on her face.
“Oh god, yes,” she whispered and looked at him. “That’s exactly what I wanted.”
He smirked and stroked himself. “I’m not done with you yet.”
She bit her lip and got onto her knees. “What do you want from me?”
He guided her down onto the grass again, on her back, and let her wrap her legs around his hips. He slid himself inside and took her, slowly at first. He kept his body pressed against hers, kissed her lips, tasted her tongue, fucked her deep but gentle. She moaned, hips writhing, and he felt her dripping wet, her moans coming faster, her breathing harder.
“I’ve been picturing this for a while,” he whispered in her ear. “My cock buried between your legs. I wondered what you’d look like after you came.”
“Do you like it?” she asked. He could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
“I love it,” he said. “You look beautiful. Your breasts are perfect, and the way you say my name makes me so hard it almost hurts.”
He took her faster, faster. She moved her hips in time with him. Pleasure built between them, and Cam felt like his world was one long glowing moment of bliss as he kept filling her, filling her, filling her.
She began to whisper his name again. “Cam,” she moaned. “Oh god again, Cam, again.”
Faster, harder, their bodies sweating, writhing in the grass. He felt her clench and explode again, but this time he didn’t stop or slow. His own orgasm ripped from his body and Brice’s back arched, her eyes flying open, her face locked in sheer bliss. Magic rushed from him and flowed into her, magic he hadn’t even realized was there, magic left over from Lagon’s execution. His orgasm took them to a new level, and Brice floated, flew, hovered, reveled in the bliss only Cam could bring her.
And slowly they came down again. She shivered, quivered, hands on her breasts. He slid himself out and collapsed on the grass next to her, sweating and grinning.
“What— what was that?” she asked.
“That’s what happens when a shaman releases,” he said. “That was some of my magic, leaving my body and entering yours.”
“Oh, Urspirit,” she whispered. “Oh, my gods. That was…”
“I know.” He laughed a little and found her hand. He intertwined his fingers with hers. “It never gets old.”
She looked at him. Golden sunlight kissed her skin. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes wide, her lips pulled into a smile.
“Now I get why you have so many girlfriends,” she said.
“And a wife,” he said.
“Lucky man.” She moved closer and kissed his chest. “Are you going to add me to your little group?”
“I might,” he said. “If you’re lucky. And the other girls want you.”
“Do I have any say in this?”
“I think you already had your say when you came twice for me.”
She looked up at him and grinned then kissed his chest again and lay still.
“I’ve never let a man talk to me like that before,” she said.
“And yet you like it.”
She laughed, soft and giddy. “I really do.”
He ran a hand down her smooth skin and rested it on her hip.
“Let’s stay here for a while,” he said. “I just want to stay here with you and forget about all that shit back at camp.”
“Okay,” she said. “We can do that.”
He put his other arm behind his head and closed his eyes.
With Brice pressed against him, he didn’t need to meditate. Somehow, the world felt right, at least for a while.
31
Cam sat back in his chair with his feet up on a pile of blankets and took a long drink from his watered-down beer.
Felin sat with Miuri at a small, round table. They ate their dinner from shallow wooden bowls as Miuri told Felin about moving between the two armies and slipping past the wolves. Key and Brice stood a few feet away, their meals already finished, admiring the spear Cam had gotten Key before the wedding to Galla.
He watched the girls with a smile on his face and felt like he was home for the first time in a very long time.
It was hard to have them scattered all over the valley. He missed Galla and wished she could be with them, but he knew she was safe in the Mansion at least. This was the first time in weeks his girls had all been in the same room, and now he wondered if Brice was going to be a more permanent fixture.
“What are you smiling about?” Key asked when she noticed Cam’s gaze.
“Nothing,” he said. “Just admiring you.”
She put a hand on her hip and leaned on her spear. “I bet you are,” she said. “Can’t help yourself, can you?”
“He has a tent full of women,” Miuri said, “can you blame him? I’m sure I know what’s on his mind right now.”
“Oh, right, typical man,” Cam said. “All I think about is sex. Me big man, me want fuck little lady folk.”
“Pretty much,” Felin said. “Were you doing an impression of yourself just now? Because it was pretty good.”
Cam dipped his fingers in his beer and flicked it at Felin. She laughed and launched a wad of potatoes back at him, which he batted away.
“Is this what it’s like for you all the time?” Brice asked, her arms crossed over her chest. “I mean, for… all of you.”
“I think she’s asking if it’s always normal,” Miuri said. “And the answer is yes.”
Key slipped the cover over her spear tip then placed it down on the ground. She walked over to Cam and sat on his lap. He grinned up at her as she leaned down to kiss him and looked back at Brice, who lingered a few feet away, looking slightly unsure of herself.
“I know it’s a little odd,” Key said. “At least at first. But we’re just… a family.”
“Yeah,” Cam said. “We’re a family. And I was just thinking about how nice it is to have you all in my tent again. It’s been too long.”
“Oh god, I miss our bed,” Key said. “Don’t get me wrong, I really love sleeping on the ground under canvas every night, but that bed.”
“I know,” Miuri said. “Believe me, I’ve been dreaming about it.”
“Bed?” Brice asked.
“We have this enormous bed back at the Mansion,” Cam said. “You’re welcome to spend some time in it when this is all over.”
Brice drifted over to him. Key got out of his lap and grinned at her.
“I’d be happy to share the bed with you,” Key said.
“How generous.” Brice gave her a tight smile then looked at Miuri and Felin. “You all share one bed?”
“It’s a really big bed,” Felin said. “And it’s nice and warm with a bunch of bodies in there.”
“We don’t do a ton of sleeping, though,” Miuri said. “To be totally fair.”
Brice blushed as Key threw an arm around her shoulders. “Oh, don’t be shy,” Key said. “I mean, we all know why you’re here right now. You and Cam have a thing, right?”
“What?” Brice’s cheeks managed to turn even redder. “I mean— I don’t—”
“It’s okay,” Miuri said. “We’ve come to expect it.”
“I look forward to it,” Felin said, gesturing with her small wooden spoon. “I mean, more girls to play with? Can’t complain. But just remember that I’m the alpha.”
Key grinned and leaned closer to Brice. “We let her think that,” Key stage-whispered.
Brice looked at Cam helplessly. Cam grinned back at her and shook his head. “Leave her alone, girls,” he said. “I’m not sure she’s ready to dive in head first.”
“That’s a shame.” Key dropped her arm from Brice’s shoulder. “I won’t pretend like I haven’t noticed how you and Cam look at each other. I was sort of looking forward to you joining our little group.”
“Thank you,” Brice said, and her voice sounded about an octave higher than normal. “I appreciate… your hospitality… and your kindness, I just…”
“It’s okay, sweetie,” Miuri said. “You take your time and get used to it.”
Key walked over and flopped down on a pile of blankets and pillows Cam kept in a corner of his tent.
“Alright, we got that out of the way,” she said. “What’s the situation, General?”
Cam finished his beer and gave Brice a look. She was still bright red, but she managed to control her expression as she walked over and sat down at the table with Miuri and Felin. Miuri gave her a kind look and patted her hand, which Brice seemed to appreciate.
“I wanted to start with reports,” Cam said. “Key, how are the men?”
“Better,” she said. “Much better. After skirmishing in the vanguard for weeks, I have to admit that they’re coming together.”
“Good enough to stand up to a full out assault?” Cam asked.
She hesitated. “Motivated enough,” she said. “But good enough? I don’t know.”
Cam looked at Brice. “What about the heavy divisions?”
“They’re solid,” she said. �
��And ready. Eager, even, which isn’t always a good thing. But in this case, I think they know we’re going to be front and center, and a lot depends on what we do.”
“Any rumblings? Any issues?” he asked.
She shook her head. “None, especially not after what you did with Lagon. They saw you spare the lives of Lagon’s men and they respect you for it.”
Cam nodded and forced himself to ignore the surge of pride he felt. Even if a few men respected him for his clemency, the rest feared him for his justice.
“And you, Miuri?” Cam asked. “Do you think your father will make it in time?”
“If we can stall a few more days, I don’t see why not.”
He nodded and took a deep breath. “We’re ready for this, aren’t we?”
“As ready as we’ll ever be,” Key said. “I’m not sure we’ll ever be truly ready.”
“Not much of a choice though,” Felin said. “We either stand and fight or we get overwhelmed.”
Cam nodded and tapped his foot on the ground. “We’re two days from the northern pass. We’ll take a detour tomorrow. You might have to fight a few running battles, Key, but otherwise we’ll aim to reach the pass in three days. From there, we’ll set up lines, get the men organized, and prepare to fight.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Key said.
Miuri stood, stretched her long body, and came around the table to Cam. She kissed his cheek and leaned her head against his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his chest.
“You’re going to be okay,” she said. “You’ve done as much as you can. Better than anyone could’ve thought, really.”
“She’s right,” Key said, joining them. Key hugged him, kissed his lips, then leaned her head against his other shoulder. “I’m not sure how far we would’ve gotten if it weren’t for you.”
“I just aimed the army and told it to go,” Cam said.
“You changed strategy midway through,” Key said. “You were flexible and smart. You clamped down when there were whispers of discontent and now the army’s more cohesive for it. You did all that, Cam, and I don’t know if some other commander would’ve figure it all out in time.”