by Kat Brewer
“And what about last night, My Lady?” he sputtered.
He was at sea with this woman. He honestly didn’t know how to act. She was a paradox, and now he found that he desired her even more now that he had lain with her.
“What about last night, Darien? We had sex. It was nice, and it changes nothing.”
“It was NICE?” he bellowed.
Darien was accustomed to women currying his favor and reveling in any intimate connection with him, but this one had just passed one of the more satisfying sexual encounters of his life off as “nice.”
“Yes, very nice. You have the makings of an excellent lover.” Cassie was crowing inside; she had finally got his goat and she intended to torture him with it.
She smiled up at him innocently as she pulled her door closed and headed out of the Palace.
“Were we in the same bed? You know as well as I do that it was incredible!” He couldn’t believe the words that were pouring out of his mouth, but he couldn’t seem to stop them either. He pulled her to a stop.
“My God, Darien. Was I your first?” she asked, laughing up at him before she deftly stepped around him and headed across the cavernous passageway towards the steps with Darien jogging in an unwelcome attempt to catch up to her.
“You know damn well you were not my first. I am at a loss to understand how you can dismiss this so easily,” he ground out.
Cassie just eased along, munching on a piece of fruit. She could see the frustration and aggravation on his face and laughed inwardly with glee.
Serves him right!
When they reached the assembled fighters, Cassie motioned for them to come to attention as Nall joined them. Kara slipped into the front line. Darien was seething with anger, and that emotion was etched on his face for all to see.
“Warriors, I am turning the training over to King Darien this morning so that we may become adept at many different styles,” Cassie announced.
The women and men all nodded.
“My Lord,” Cassie bowed to Darien, whose face displayed his dismay and anger in equal measure.
She had completely caught him off guard, but undaunted, Darien became all business and led the entire force through a very rigorous training session. Several hours later, they were all sweating and breathless, and Cassie was forced to admit that the Destian King trained very hard. She could easily see how he got his impressive physique.
“That was an excellent workout, Your Highness,” she said as they stood together drinking cups of water.
Kara agreed and asked some questions regarding specific techniques. Darien, along with Nall, explained some of the tactics they had gone over that were specifically suited to the mountainous terrain that they both occupied.
The discussion ran for about half an hour when Cassie suggested to Kara that they take a ride. The men, not to be excluded, readily agreed. Inwardly, Cassie rolled her eyes at her own foolishness in speaking with them so near, but she sucked it up and smiled, calling out for their horses to be brought around.
The groom handed Cassie the reins to her horse and when she moved to mount, she found Darien there waiting to help her into the saddle. Gritting her teeth, she forced a polite smile onto her lips and allowed him to assist her. Darien grinned as he moved to take his own mount.
Cassie growled and kicked her horse into a gallop, leaving a perplexed Kara to follow with the men. They soon caught up with her as she slowed to ride through the fields. She was trying to avoid the field slaves, who watched them through their lashes with their heads bowed respectfully.
Once they cleared the fields, Darien moved his horse next to hers. He was so close that their legs touched with the animal’s movements. While Kara and Nall talked together of training and Nall’s country, Darien spoke to Cassie in a low, intimate voice.
“Lady Cassandra, I wish to apologize for my lack of discretion earlier. I had no right to raise my voice to you.” The words were humble, but the glint in his eyes was wicked, and Cassie felt her stomach tighten.
“Please, Lord Darien, do not trouble yourself over it. I had no idea that in Destia sex was such a sacred thing. Here in Erla, we often have sex with those whom we find attractive with no commitment.”
She hoped she sounded convincing because she was not like that; she couldn’t even bring herself to use the Queen’s slaves. She just did not want to develop feelings for this man as she had no intention of leaving Erla to become his chattel. Cassie was conscious of the fact that she still wanted him, but the price was too high.
“Lady, let me leave you in no doubt of my regard. We do indeed have casual affairs in Destia, but I must confess to feeling for you that I have never felt for any other woman. You have captured my interest, Lady Cassandra. Make no mistake, I am unused to apologizing to a woman, and I certainly have never confessed my feelings so directly.” His face was very serious, lacking its usual mocking grin.
Cassie was speechless for a moment. She could only stare into his eyes where the truth of his words was there for her to see. She smiled vaguely and urged her mount on to hide her own internal struggle.
Darien sighed in frustration and he spurred his horse onward after her. He was not sure how he expected her to react, but he had thought to get some response.
Cassie didn’t know what to think, and her mind swirled around his words. What did he expect? She only knew she was not in love with him; it was only lust she felt. She wished she had never given in to the temptation.
His presence was so strong, so commanding. He was a primal male, oozing confidence and sexuality. He was the complete opposite of the men she did love dearly, and she had desired him in an equally primitive way. She sighed as her horse ran headlong into the lush forest.
At the sound of rushing water, Cassie halted her horse and dismounted. She was a good deal ahead of the others, but she was still in their sight when she pulled back the foliage and looked down at a beautiful clear blue pool fed by a waterfall. She scanned the area, located the path down to the beach, and returning to her horse, she jumped into the saddle and motioned him down the path to the pool as the others followed.
Arriving on the beach, Cassie dismounted and left the reins loose so her horse could drink. Kara, Darien, and Nall arrived and did likewise. Nall came to stand next to her as she gazed at the water.
She looked up into his eyes and smiled in return. She was still shaking off the exasperation that the merest contact with Darien seemed to create. She was suddenly glad she hadn’t given in to what she felt for Nall, something told her it would have been far worse. The Serlenn Prince touched her in a more visceral way than the Destian King.
Just then, the subject of her thoughts walked past her grinning and shucked his clothes walking into the water completely naked. Cassie unwillingly felt a jolt of arousal at the sight of his tight ass as he slowly moved into the water.
Suddenly, a very naked Kara ran past and leapt into the water, making Cassie jump in surprise. Kara splashed them both as they stood staring. She emerged, laughing and begging them to join in when she came back up. As for Darien, he began a lazy swim towards the waterfall. The sun beating down on her shoulders encouraged Cassie to shed her inhibitions and get into the inviting water. She was unbuttoning her leather vest and untying her pants when she looked up into Nall’s face.
He stood before her as she was undressing, and his actions mimicked hers. Indigo eyes shimmered with want as he watched her body come completely into view. Cassie’s gaze lowered to where his long, lean fingers were sliding his pants over his narrow hips.
Nall was an incredibly sexy man. He was tall with tanned skin and silky white-blond hair. His shoulders were very broad, his waist nipped in, and his legs were long and muscular. He had several scars on his body from battle that only added to his appeal as far as Cassie was concerned.
Darien and Nall shared a very similar physique with the only difference being their hair and eye color. Now that she saw Nall naked, they could practically be twins
physically; only their coloring and scars differentiated them.
Darien, seeing her interest in Nall, called out for them to join him in the water, successfully drawing her attention away from Nall’s physical attributes. Cassie shucked out of her pants, dropped her vest, and ran into the water, followed closely by Nall.
She swam strongly towards the waterfall and then glided lazily, trying desperately to still her raging thoughts and hormones.
Nall’s mind also was churning. The way she watched him as he removed his pants screamed of desire. It confused him that she would treat him like a comrade in arms, but then, out of nowhere, she would burn him with these lusty, hot looks.
During the past several days, Nall had spent a great deal of time with Kara, and he had grown to respect and admire her. He found her beautiful and stimulating, and he had even lain with her. Even so, neither one of them could claim any lasting emotions other than those of friendship. It was Cassandra who fired his blood and woke his heart. He was ashamed to admit it, even to himself that he had used Kara as a stand-in for the woman he truly wanted.
Kara dove under the water and came up behind Cassie, dunking her under. Cassie resurfaced and sputtered before launching a counter attack. The men stayed back initially, happy to watch the women’s nude bodies bounce in and out of the water, before finally joining them in their play.
Cassie squealed as strong hands grabbed at her waist. She dove under the waterfall, swimming to the other side to escape. Treading water, she looked into the cave behind the cascade where it was damp and cool.
Crystals glowed in the indirect light coming through the water. In the next moment, the water surged and a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against a hard chest. At first, she stiffened in the arms that held her in place. As hot lips found the curve of her neck, however, she relaxed into the embrace. She felt his arousal as his pelvis rubbed against her buttocks.
She turned her head, expecting to see Darien, but white hair flowed wetly across her shoulder and she gasped. Turning to face Nall, he pulled her close, their bodies sliding together intimately. Cassie was shocked at the jolt of hunger that rippled through her body.
His eyes were nearly black with desire as he lowered his head to kiss her. Just before his lips touched hers, he was yanked under the water and pulled her with him. When they surfaced, Cassie was sputtering and laughing, meeting the eyes of Kara and Darien.
“Gotcha!” Kara giggled in a very un-Kara-like way. Cassie laughed and splashed her.
As they tried to dunk one another, Kara was pushed into Darien’s arms, and as her behind came into contact with his arousal, her eyes widened and she turned to look into his face.
Darien thought to make Cassie jealous and pulled Kara to him, settling his mouth on hers for a deep kiss.
Cassie knew what he was doing, and it didn’t make her jealous. His actions only served to make her angry that he would use her friend like that.
When Nall came up behind her once more, she could feel his breath on her ear, and it sent tremors through her belly. Cassie turned towards him, putting her hands behind her on the rock shelf to hoist herself up to sit on the rock.
Darien continued his assault on Kara, who looked at Cassie for permission, and Cassie gave her a thumbs up. Kara, having a voracious appetite for male flesh and receiving Cassie’s blessing, allowed herself to respond to Darien’s skillful caresses.
Darien, in his anger and disappointment, had no idea he was completely ruining any possibility of having Cassie in his bed ever again.
Nall moved up to Cassie, perilously close to her womanhood with his head between her legs and he grinned at her as he ran his tongue along her thigh. She shivered and laughed then pushed him under the water with her foot.
A groan drew her attention to where Darien had Kara up against the wall in the water, and by their movements, she knew they were engaged in sex.
Darien’s eyes burned into Cassie’s as he took Kara, and Cassie shook her head while getting to her feet. The man was driving her further and further away from him with his reckless actions.
Cassie truly did not mind that Kara was enjoying him. The fact that he was only having sex with Kara to try to hurt Cassie angered her.
Nall emerged from the water and followed her to the back of the cave.
“What is it, Cassandra?” he asked gently, seeing her anger.
Nall completely misread her reactions and assumed she was angry at his bold caress. He had enjoyed their play, but had no intention of pressuring her into intimacy unless she wanted it.
Cassie looked up and smiled slightly, “I just thought they might want some privacy.” She nodded towards the entwined couple across the way.
“Lady Cassandra, I don’t think King Darien would care if a hundred watched. It would only stroke his ego.” He laughed, and a reluctant smile lit Cassie’s face. Nall was completely right.
She relaxed, realizing that Kara was unlikely to be hurt by such an encounter. She was using Darien as much as he was using her after all. Kara was very straightforward when it came to sex. If she wanted it, she had it. No regrets.
Cassie really liked Nall, and when she suddenly found herself in his arms, she hugged him tightly. Nall pulled back slightly to look at her, and she smiled into his face, squeezing him a little more tightly before releasing him and walking out of the cave and into the sunlight.
She had always loved being in the sun, so she sat on a large rock on the beach and let the sun dry and warm her skin. Nall lowered his large frame down onto the rock beside her, smiling up into the bright sunshine.
The sounds of the lovers reaching their peak echoed off of the cave walls, and several moments later, they swam out under the falls and joined Cassie and Nall on the beach. Kara looked at Cassie questioningly, and Cassie shook her head and smiled.
Darien was angry with himself and Cassie, but mostly with himself. He’d had no intention of having sex with Kara. He had started his play to make Cassie jealous, and he was angry that she was unfazed by his encounter with her friend.
His body had responded naturally to having a beautiful, desirable woman touching him, but it had been Cassie he had thought of while he was with Kara. He fumed silently, feeling like the asshole she had called him.
He was also angry because he didn’t like the feeling that he had erred in having sex with an available and attractive woman. He’d had every right to do so. So, why was he being nagged by a sense of guilt now?
There was no shame in enjoying a willing woman he told himself, hating the knot he felt growing inside his gut as his anger mixed with regret and disappointment and lay simmering within him.
On the ride back to the Palace, Kara rode next to Cassie, and the men followed. Arriving at the Palace, Cassie left her horse with the groom and walked swiftly towards her chambers. Nall jogged to catch up with her while Darien lagged behind, his face inscrutable.
“Lady Cassandra, would you honor me with your presence for dinner this evening?” Nall asked and Cassie hesitated. He must think he had offended her because his behavior had been so erratic this afternoon.
Sighing, she said, “Thank you, Lord Nall, but I would be poor company. I think I will make an early night of it. Please forgive me, and I do hope it won’t be the last time you ask,” she said, smiling with effort.
“You may count on it. I wish you good rest.” Nall bowed and smiled as he left her at her door.
Cassie entered and went directly to her clothes chest and pulled out a black outfit and put it on. Stretching and sighing, she looked longingly at her bed and then set out to find her men. She soon found them in the exercise room, finishing their workout. They smiled at her and bowed. She asked them if they had slept well.
“Indeed, Mistress. We are quite refreshed,” Mika answered for the group. “Had you a good day, My Lady?”
“Well, I will just say that it was educational,” was her reply, and they looked at her in confusion.
“My Lady
, may we have your leave to clean ourselves?” he asked, and at her nod, they bowed as they quickly made their way into the bathing chamber.
On impulse, Cassie followed them and sat on a cushion watching them disrobe and bathe.
It was sheer heaven to just soak up the sight, and she felt her tension start to drain. She wished she were able to shake the bad feeling she had in the pit of her stomach when she thought of Darien.
Her slaves’ bodies gleamed, and their muscles rolled enticingly under their flesh as they entered the water and bathed themselves sensuously for the pleasure it gave their Lady.
Her mistakes with Darien were numerous. Why couldn’t she have controlled the lust she felt? She knew she ran hot for Nall too, but managed to control herself. She did recognize that she held such tight control with Nall because he was the more dangerous of the two when it came to her emotions. At least she had been wise enough to realize that.
She sighed again and heard a knock at the front door. Rising, she motioned for her men to continue their bath and went to see who was there.
She opened the door to see Kara standing on the other side and stepped back to let her in. The women moved together towards the main seating area where Kara sat rigidly and looked at Cassie with a pensive expression.
Cassie frowned, curious what had her Second was acting so strange.
“Kara, what is the matter?”
“I believe I owe you an apology for my behavior today,” Kara said stiffly, and Cassie’s face twisted in confusion.
“Whatever for?” Cassie asked.
“My Lady, it occurs to me that you and King Darien may have had some sort of relationship that I may have infringed upon. I want you to know I would never purposely do anything to harm or offend you. I forget sometimes that these men are so different from our own, and that you were not always Erlan.”
“Kara, please. I am not unhappy with you in any way. It’s my fault, really. I believe I have made mistakes with King Darien. I am not angry or jealous of you being with him today. He is a good lover, and I am sure you received gratification. At least, it sounded like it,” Cassie said, grinning at her, and she saw Kara finally relax.
