Winter's Scorching Kisses

by Lily Thomas

  Just when she was about to go sit by the fire to run her hands through her wet hair, the door to her room busted open, slamming against the inside wall.

  Spinning on a wet foot, she found Mathar striding into her room, only to stop as his eyes widened at the sight of her. Her heart stopped before thundering against her chest in anticipation as a fire lit in those onyx eyes.

  Mathar stopped cold when he found Adorra naked, firelight shimmering off the droplets of water on her skin. His cock responded immediately. She was like a naked goddess, glowing with all her glory. And those eyes. Her hazel eyes had softened, and her lips had parted, not in surprise but anticipation.

  “Do you want me to leave?” He prayed she would say no.

  “No.”

  Stepping into the room, Mathar reached out, grasped the edge of the door and swung it shut. It was all he needed to hear.

  Adorra walked towards him, water dripping off the strands of her hair, rolling down her legs and arms.

  He stood stock still lest he scare her away. She might be human and he a giant, but he wanted her, not just sexually, but he found himself seeking her out for company. Why else had he entered rather than just walk away?

  “I was worried about you.”

  “Why?” Adorra pulled up in front of him.

  “You’ve holed yourself up here, and no one’s seen you for a bit.”

  “I needed some alone time… time with my thoughts.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his head down. “Kiss me.”

  “Gladly.” Mathar bent down and captured her lips with his. He wanted to be tender and show her there was something between them. He wasn’t sure what it was, but whatever it was, it was there.

  She broke away. “Kiss me harder, like you mean it.”

  Mathar raised a hand to her face and cupped her cheek. “I want to show you that I’m more than a mindless barbarian.”

  With a growl, she captured his bottom lip with her teeth and pulled at it lightly before letting it go. “I want you to be a mindless barbarian.”

  Mathar leaned back and eyed her. “Have you been drinking?”

  “No, and I can prove it.” She blew lightly into his face.

  “Nothing on your breath.”

  Adorra smiled. “So show me your best, my silver-haired barbarian.”

  His hand worked its way into her hair, and he pulled her head back. “I’m not a barbarian, but I can still give you what you want.”

  She smiled up at him. “Good.”

  Adorra wasn’t sure what she might be signing herself up for, but she knew he wouldn’t hurt her, only pleasure her.

  A slow smile spread across his face, and her heart rate sped up like a herd of galloping horses. He leaned down and captured her lips, gone were the tender caresses and all that was left was a dominating male who was ready to shower her in nothing but pleasure.

  She melted under him as his hands roamed over her wet skin. His warm palms sent thrills through her. Then one of his hands landed on one of her breasts. He cupped the flesh before kneading it and rubbing the pad of his thumb over her nipple.

  Slowly, he backed her up, never halting in his assault against her lips. The back of her thighs bumped into the mattress, but he didn’t stop pushing towards her. They toppled onto the bed.

  Adorra gasped as Mathar landed on top of her, but he used his forearms to hold his weight off of her.

  Trailing her fingers over his face, she whispered, “I’d like to see you naked.”

  Mathar placed a kiss to her forehead. “Did I hear you wrong? I thought I was to be the barbarian, not you.” He teased her.

  She shrugged. “What can I say? I know what I want, and I find it hard to resist getting it.”

  “So be it, my lady.”

  Mathar pushed up and away from the bed, and she watched on with eager eyes as his hands whipped off his shirt exposing a mass of muscle she’d never appreciated before. She licked her lips. Then his hands undid the ties of his pants. She bit the inside of her cheek. He bent over as he rolled his pants down his legs, but when he stood back up, she smiled.

  She caught his chest puffing out. He had every right to be proud. He was well endowed and knew how to use it.

  “Should I continue to be a barbarian?”

  “Think you have it in you?” She spread her thighs in open invitation.

  A growl ripped up his throat before he jumped her. His weight pressed her into the mattress. One of his hands palmed one of her wet breasts. The nipple instantly stiffened, eager and straining for the attention.

  He sucked the eager tit into his mouth, and her back arched pushing her breast against his face. Her hands curled in the furs as pleasure rocked through her. Mathar reached for her hands, grabbed them, and forced them above her head. Then he pushed her thighs further apart with his knees.

  His cock brushed up against the inside of her thigh, and she shifted her hips eagerly, wishing he would drive it home already. She could feel she was wet and ready. When it came to Mathar, she was always wet and ready. All he needed to do was send her a heated look, and her heart would skitter away in delight.

  “You should hate me.” He panted against her flesh.

  “I should.” She agreed. Her hands worked their way into his hair until she got a hold and pulled his hair and his head back. His head rose as his lips let go of her nipple with a wet pop.

  “Yet here you are below me, panting.”

  She let go of his head and ran her hands down his bronzed chest. “How has your skin been so sun-kissed up here under these clouds?”

  “I spend every moment I can outside and away from these castle walls.”

  Mathar thrust his hips against her, brushing his arousal against her thigh. “I’m going to make you burn for me.”

  His deep-throated promise sent her mind reeling with anticipation. His cock pulsed against her soft inner thigh. He grabbed a hold of his cock with a hand and rubbed the tip of his cock against her nub, sending her senses reeling into oblivion.

  He shifted her hips, helping his cock slip between her plump pussy lips, but he never drove it home.

  Adorra growled in irritation. “I want you inside me.”

  He continued to rub his cock against her, driving her insane, but not giving her the release she sought.

  Catching him by surprise, she raised her hands, pressed them against his shoulders and rolled him over until she was on top. Then she grabbed a hold of his cock and slammed it into her hot sheath.

  “Gods woman!” Mathar bellowed to the ceiling.

  Adorra pumped herself up and down on his length. Perhaps she was the barbarian in this relationship, but he hadn’t been giving her what she wanted.

  Mathar reached up and tweaked one of her nipples between his forefinger and his thumb, and his other hand gripped one of her buttocks in a tight hold. His fingers dug into her flesh, spurring her on.

  “Bounce those breasts for me, Adorra.”

  His hand abandoned her nipple and gripped her other buttock. He slammed her up and down, her breasts jiggling wildly.

  “Yes.” He panted.

  Adorra smiled as she began to feel her body clench around his hard length. He was hitting every spot and filling her completely.

  “Coax me until I spill my seed into you.” Mathar’s voice turned dark and seductive as his a fire burned in those onyx eyes of his.

  Mathar watched Adorra’s head tilt back as her nipples bounced in front of his face. He wasn’t entirely sure who was claiming who here. She was a goddess gone wild. Her silky fold of flesh welcomed his cock with every single thrust.

  When she began to clamp down over his cock, he groaned. She was possessing him, and he was just laying there and letting her. Using his grip on her buttocks, he drew her up until only the tip of his cock was inside her sheath. She slammed herself back down on him until her hot flesh slapped into his groan.

  Adorra panted above him, her head falling forward, and her long brown hair falling around the
ir faces, shielding them from the room until it was only them.

  Their eyes collided and neither of them could look away, even when their climax rocked through them. It was only them.

  Adorra woke to find the spot next to her on the bed vacant. She was glad Mathar wasn’t there. One moment she was pushing him away, and the very next she was spreading her thighs for him. Not only was he an ice giant, but he was a killer… just a man for hire.

  Flipping over, she buried her face in the soft pillow and groaned. What would Edmund think? She was sleeping with his killer.

  “But he’s so nice.” She moped into the pillow.

  Mathar really was. The way he saw to her needs wasn’t how she’d expect a murderer to be. He could snap her neck with a flick of his fingers, but he’d always handled her gently like she was a delicate flower. She needed to figure out her emotions when it came to Mathar because this was getting confusing and quickly. She felt like she should hate him, but she got the feeling there wasn’t a single thread of hate in her heart.

  He’d either saved her life or killed an innocent man.

  Adorra rolled back onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, but she wasn’t about to figure this all out on an empty stomach. What she needed was some food to munch on. She always thought better with a full stomach.

  With a groan, Adorra rolled out of bed in a less than a ladylike manner. She slumped out of bed. The area between her legs were sore from the way she’d ridden Mathar. Leave it to him when it came to turning her into a lust-driven being.

  She wanted to blame the raging snowstorm of last night, the firelight, and her being naked and wet from her bath, but she knew it hadn’t just been that.

  Adorra threw on another of the fur dresses, happy that it was simple and didn’t take her years to slip on with three handmaidens helping her. Life up here was a little more simple and so far… enjoyable.

  Adorra quickly ran her hands through her hair, slipped her feet into a pair of shoes, and then headed out to the great hall. It was time to have some breakfast and see what everyone was up to today.

  Chapter 19

  The moment Adorra stepped foot into the great hall, she felt the buzz in the air. Something was going on, and there was a tangible excitement. All the faces around her had smiles, and there was a gleam in all the ice giant eyes.

  She approached the head table where Jasmine sat looking like a queen. Her little sister was going to be an ice giant queen. She didn’t look so little in a fur dress, her hair done up in small braids that formed a bun on the back of her head.

  “Is there something I need to know about?”

  “Know about?” Jasmine turned and glanced at her, looking a little weary after their last conversation.

  “What has everyone excited?” Adorra seated herself beside her sister and snagged a couple of slices of cheese to nibble on as her gaze flickered over the crowd of ice giants in the hall and then back to her sister.

  “Oh, that!” The light and sparkle returned to Jasmine’s hazel eyes as she clapped her hands together in front of her protruding stomach. “I guess we never told you about the games.”

  “The games?”

  “The games the ice giants use to celebrate their good fortune of living up here in the mountains where they are protected. Men will participate in the games, along with a few women, and at the end of each game there will be a winner.”

  “Women?” Adorra reached for a slice of meat nearby. “What kind of games are these?”

  “All sorts! Maybe you’d like to watch?” Jasmine smiled at her. “I know I’d enjoy having you there.”

  Adorra nippled on the piece of meat she’d snatched as she debated it in her head. She couldn’t come up with a reason why she shouldn’t go and watch the games. It would give her something to entertain her mind, and she’d have more time with her sister.

  “Where will these games be held?”

  “Outside in an arena where the snow has been cleared off. So don’t worry about the snow too much, but you will want to bundle up. Today will be the first round of games.”

  Adorra nodded.

  “I’ll have some thick cloaks sent up to your room so you’ll be warm enough.”

  “When will the games start?” Adorra was yet again doing something she shouldn’t. The more she did with these people, the more they had a chance to work their way into her heart.

  “Soon after we break our fast.” Jasmine waved over a servant. “Send some cloaks up to Adorra’s room and also bring one here to the great hall.” The servant dashed off, eager to see to her queen’s needs.

  “Are you ready for the games?” Dryden walked up beside them and rested a hand on Jasmine’s shoulder.

  “I was just telling Adorra about it.” Jasmine tilted her head back to study her soon-to-be-husband. “With the excitement of her arrival, I forgot to even mention it!”

  “I can promise you that you’ve never been to a celebration quite like this,” Dryden said with a twinkle in his eye. His silver hair had been braided, which was a new look for him.

  “What are the ice giant’s celebrating?” She asked.

  “Our wedding, of course!” Jasmine said, excitement coating her every word.

  “Of course.” Adorra should’ve guessed. “Will you be participating in any of the activities?” She turned her gaze up to Dryden.

  A smile spread across his lips. “I will be.”

  “Anything dangerous?”

  It took them a second before Dryden’s eyes darkened a little and Jasmine cried out, “Adorra!” She shook her head. “I know what you’re implying, and it’s most distasteful.”

  Adorra cocked her head to the side as she glanced over at Dryden. “But he knows I’m only jesting.” It was a challenge. He could take it seriously and admit he was no good at the games or he could take it as a jest and let them all move on. It was up to him.

  Dryden smiled. “I only hope I can impress the both of you during the games.” Then he took a seat on Jasmine’s other side and dug into the food that was laid out on the table in front of them.

  “That was bad manners Adorra,” Jasmine scolded her. “And to think you were the one always scolding me on my bad manners when we visited court or had guests over at the manor.”

  “Stuffing your face in a book and ignoring the people we had around us is considered rude.” Adorra set her sister straight. “Challenging an ice giant is not the same thing.”

  Jasmine huffed as she scowled at Adorra. She wasn’t going to let her little sister make her feel bad about hoping for Dryden’s sudden demise. Without him around, she might finally convince Jasmine to leave this castle and these people behind.

  The servant rushed back a thick cloak draped over her arms, “Here you are, Your Majesty.” The servant offered the cloak to Jasmine, and Adorra had to hide her surprise at the title. It was strange to think her younger sister would be a queen.

  “Thank you!” Jasmine accepted the cloak and presented it to Adorra. “This should keep you warm enough while we watch the games. But don’t worry too much about the cold, because there will be all sorts of warm treats to heat you up as we watch.” Jasmine smiled. “I suppose that’s the great part about being the queen of the ice giants.”

  “To think my sister would be a queen someday. All I remember was a bookish girl who would rather be holed up in some dark corner with a candlestick while you read a book you just can’t get enough of, but here you are about to be queen.” Adorra shook her head.

  “I know.” Jasmine smiled dreamily.

  “Imagine all the ice giants who will look to you for guidance and assistance.” Adorra couldn’t help herself.

  The smile slowly faded off of Jasmine’s face. “What do you mean?”

  “They will turn to you for guidance.” Adorra smiled at her sister. “It might be with the wrong people, but it’s nice to see you changing.”

  Dryden must have been listening in because he leaned over and glared at Adorra. “Don’t you g
o scaring my Jasmine away from me. She may be queen, but I will oversee the people unless Jasmine wants to be involved. There will be plenty of time for her to stick her nose in a book like you say.”

  Jasmine sighed in relief. “I would be happy to participate in any activities I must and oversee the ice giant people. Just as long as I have plenty of time for books, and you to back me up of course.” She sent a smile over her shoulder to Dryden.

  Adorra sighed. No matter how hard she tried, she was failing to convince her sister to leave this castle and these people long behind. It didn’t help that Dryden wasn’t a monster, and he was always nearby to quell any of Jasmine’s fears of becoming queen.

  “Have you had enough to eat?” Jasmine turned back to her, her spirits rebounding with little effort.

  “I have.” Adorra watched as ice giants began to file out of the great hall the noise going with them.

  “Good, because it’s time for us to head out before the games start.” Jasmine bolted to her feet, a grin plastered on her face. “I never thought I’d convince you to come to the games.”

  Adorra was surprised as well.

  What she should do was not go, but if she wanted any chance of swaying her sister’s opinion of these people then she needed to stick around. And she wasn’t about to admit to any feelings of excitement or interest in the games.

  “I’ll see you out there. I’ll be the dashing one, of course.” Dryden planted a kiss on Jasmine’s lips before heading off.

  “Isn’t he just the cutest?” Jasmine placed a hand to her heart.

  Adorra raised an eyebrow. “Cutest?” She shook her head. “I don’t think Dryden falls into the cute category, more like the ruggedly handsome or infinitely scary category.”

  “Nonsense,” Jasmine argued. “He is nothing but the absolute sweetest. You’ll see in time.”

  Adorra shook her head. Only her sister could look at the fierce silver-haired, onyx eyed ice giant and think he was the ‘absolute sweetest’, because any other human woman would take one look and run the other way.