The Third Corridor

by The third corridor (NCP) (lit)

"I am playing a tiny little lute for your tiny little pity spree."

  Jerad sneered at him.

  Eunice returned and leaned over Jerad to refill his cup, giving him another eye full of her hefty bosoms.

  Sera felt like the googily green-eyed monster. If the little slattern bent over her husband one more time to show him her breasts, she was going to kick the shi...

  She did it again! Bitch!

  Sera threw down her napkin and snapped to a stand.

  I’m going to pound her into the dirt!

  Every one of her nerves was screaming with raw fury. She stopped suddenly when Mekal whispered something to the servant, who then hurried from the room. Sera sat back down.

  Mekal had spied the daggers of rage on Sera’s face as a reaction to Eunice’s coquetries.

  It was not good thing.

  A nasty turn was about to erupt and it was his obligation to spare his Noble friends from further humiliation. Mekal grabbed Eunice’s arm and pulled her downward. He whispered enticingly in her ear before discreetly nipping at the lobe. She giggled. Mekal told her to meet him outside the kitchen in one quarter segment. She smiled at him amorously before removing herself from the hall. With hungry eyes and a skewed grin, Mekal watched her strut away. Eunice was a voluptuous little strumpet with a licentious appetite. She would do nicely for him this luna.

  Mekal glanced toward Sera, relieved to see that she was no longer advancing. With the situation diffused, he returned his attention to Jerad.

  "You hide behind your arrogance and your pride, Chancellor."

  "What do you badger me about now, Noble?" Jerad leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms.

  "Only a brave man has the strength to seize a gift which might make him vulnerable."

  "Are you calling me a coward?"

  "If the boot fits…" Mekal let his remark trail as he took a bite of his food.

  Jerad chortled.

  Afraid of what?

  Making love to Sera, of loving her?

  Did he love her?

  He could not answer his own question. Jerad slumped in his chair, wallowing in his misery.

  Misery wants company, but Mekal was in no mood to oblige. He bid his leave-taking and left the hall, heading in the same direction that Eunice had gone.

  The life of a guardian was a hazardous undertaking, but someone had to do it.

  Jerad’s scowl clashed with Sera’s crestfallen expression. He felt a pang of guilt. If she kept looking at him like that he was going to finish the deed she attempted the luna afore and poke out his own eyeballs. Jerad slammed his mug on table.

  Hades’ fetid breath.

  He did not even care about the Edict any more. He wanted only Sera, to hold her in his arms, protect her, cherish her, love…

  Feeling ambushed by such intense feelings, Jerad lifted a shield to his heart, rejecting the barrage of emotions assailing him. He flew to his feet with such haste, his chair toppled to the floor. Jerad left the hall without giving Sera a second glance.

  He had to think.

  Sera watched him leave. Her bottom lip quivered. Ezra gave her a sympathetic pat on the hand. Phoebe huffed. But Sera’s mood suddenly and drastically changed. She became riled, consumed by a fierce possessiveness and a rampant, potent determination.

  Damn it all anyway!

  She might never gain his love, but she was most certainly going to claim his body.

  It was time to put an end to this ridiculous game.

  A crooked smile crossed the face of the swordsman facing Jerad. "I do think a more importunate Challenge is about to come to pass, Chancellor."

  Over Jerad’s shoulder, he watched the Noble Sera approach. Her rapid gait was stiff. Her angry eyes were steadfast on Jerad. Before Jerad could turn to see what his opponent was referring to, he felt the point of a blade in his back.

  Sera was behind him, arm outstretched, massive double edge sword in hand.

  Blasted!

  Why had she chosen Zoren’s sword? It was so heavy her extended arm was beginning to ache. Sondra’s lighter, single-edged blade would have been a better choice for Sera’s size but those wounds were still too fresh. Sera decided that it was better that the sword was kept out of sight for awhile.

  "Draw your weapon, barbarian."

  Jerad’s jaw ticked and he gritted his teeth, astounded by Sera’s audacity.

  How dare she.

  The others in the Grandstage laughed. The challenger in front of Jerad sheathed his sword, rubbed his bristled chin and backed away.

  "This should be quite amusing, Chancellor." His smirk only served to irritate Jerad further.

  Without turning, Jerad placed his hand to the hilt of his sheathed sword. "Dear wife, I fear I will humble you here today."

  Sera forced a puff of air through her pursed lips as if to say, yah right.

  Such mettle did his wife possess. Jerad turned slowly to face her. His breath hitched in his throat. By the Origins she was beautiful when she was angry!

  Sera was fire and fury, emphasized by the bright red vest and pitch black pants she now wore.

  And Zoren’s sword? Who did she think she was fooling? She could barely lift the blade, yet her determination was clearly evident by the fierce look on her lovely face.

  He couldn’t wait to get his hands on her.

  "State your charge."

  "Spousal neglect."

  "And what penalty do you seek?"

  "Your bed. With you in it." Sera boldly jerked her head back, heedless of who might hear her. He was her husband and she was taking him down.

  Jerad actually blushed at her bold request, but regained his wits quickly. "I should warn you wife, the last time a consort challenged her husband for such plunder, she found herself in a state of undress for seven full rises."

  "Oh yah?" Sera looked at him defiantly. "So tell me Noble husband, who actually won that challenge?"

  Jerad choked back a laugh. Battle lust or bed lust, it did not matter. She was his wife and one way or another, he was taking her down.

  With a lightning blitz, Jerad swung his arms. His clasped fists crashed down on Sera’s wrist rattling her with such pain that she dropped the sword. Sera yelped and grabbed the throbbing appendage. She felt like a fledgling novice, but she was a stubborn one, and determined not to surrender. It was better that she no longer had the blade. It’s not like she knew how to use it anyway.

  Sera crouched with her feet widely spread and knees bent. Her arms were stretched out, her hands clawed. Strands of her dark hair loosened from its weaving and were tousled about her head. Sera blew a wayward tendril away from her face.

  Jerad chuckled. She looked like a wild animal ready to pounce, needing to be tamed.

  Before he could ponder the thought any further, Sera hurtled toward him bringing a foot to his chest. Jerad was caught completely off guard. The blow knocked him off balance and he landed on his rump. Laughter from the onlookers filled the room. Sera too had been thrown backward by the force, but they were both immediately on their feet and she was charging again, throwing her shoulder with all of her might into his abdomen. He stiffened. Sera bounced, landing on her backside again. Much to her dismay Jerad flew forward and grabbed her arms. He twisted around, tossed Sera onto her back, pinned her arms over her head and crushed her with his body. All in one sweeping motion.

  Again more sniggers could be heard.

  "You are defeated." His face was merely inches from hers.

  Sera thought briefly that she might bite his nose, but instead tried to buck him off. She stilled when she felt a thickening bulge press against her thigh.

  "Settle yourself, woman," Jerad whispered. "I do not wish an audience for this grand but intimate greeting." He bent his face close to hers, his eyes twinkling with mirth. She was at his mercy.

  "Let me up, you’re hurting me. I...I can’t breath."

  His insolent grin was pissing her off.

  "You are talking, therefore you are breathing."
/>   He did not move.

  "I’m going to faint." She rolled her eyes back into her head as if fainting.

  He chuckled.

  "I’m going to scream!"

  "So scream. Who here will help you?"

  "Let-me-up," she snarled through clenched teeth, emphasizing each word.

  "No."

  No?

  He pressed his weight harder against her. "Address me as master and say please."

  Sera looked at him, and oh if looks could kill. "No way! Get off of me!"

  "I think not."

  His calmness was infuriating. "Get off of me, you big oaf!"

  He pressed his full weight down on her, smirking.

  Damn! He was enjoying this!

  Sera relented as she struggled to suck air into her lungs.

  "Okay. Okay," She croaked. "Uncle."

  Jerad shook his head. "Ochi, I said call me master, kopella."

  Wench? Was there a Greek word for wench?

  Evidently.

  Well, that did it!

  She bit his nose--hard.

  Jerad let out a painful howl and he began rising off of her, but Sera rose with him refusing to release her teeth.

  With a great show of force, and drawing on every warrior skill afforded to him through relentless training, Jerad, mighty warrior, descendant of Antheia, Third Corridor of the Tenth Zone…

  …grabbed her breasts and squeezed--in full view of their entire audience.

  Kollef, one of the men in the room could no longer contain himself. He dropped to the floor, rolling with laughter.

  What a pitiful pair they made with Sera’s mouth clamped to Jerad’s nose and Jerad bent inelegantly over her, his hands clamped to her bosoms.

  Sera gasped and her mouth fell open. She jumped away from Jerad, crossing her arms over her chest protectively. He rubbed his nose. Their eyes collided in a blazing lock.

  Stubborn beautiful madwoman!

  Gorgeous warrior jerk!

  Sera turned on her heels and stormed away spitting, "Damn Greek speaking, medieval barbarian!"

  "Does she talk to herself often?" Kollef grinned, recovering from his fit of hysteria.

  "Only when her mouth is not otherwise occupied," Jerad replied, more amused at Sera now, than angry.

  The snickers from the onlookers served to further inflame Sera’s temper.

  "I heard that!" She sputtered without looking back. "Go boff yourself!"

  Jerad was utterly shocked. Never would he have expected such a vulgar suggestion from his wife’s mouth. He tracked Sera’s movement but watched only momentarily.

  With a quick stride Jerad was instantly behind her. Sera shrieked as he wrapped both arms tightly around her, pinning her arms to her side. He easily lifted her feet from the ground.

  Sera squirmed and flailed her legs in a futile attempt to break free. She jabbered threats toward him as she struggled.

  "Ah, I think you shall not leave me so quickly my foul-mouthed captive."

  "She puts up a mighty fight, Jerad," Corde sniggered. "I bet she is quite the spirit in the bed chamber."

  Jerad flashed a searing look. "Stifle that crude tongue of yours, Corde! She is still my wife, and you will respect her as such."

  Sera blushed. To add to her humiliation Jerad shifted her to one arm while still restraining her. He effortlessly bent down and picked up Zoren’s sword, stood and tucked it under his belt.

  "I believe that this now belongs to me."

  He set her down.

  "As does this." His eyes poured over her body with carnal intent.

  Jerad grabbed the front of her vest and pulled her out of the arena.

  When they were away from the earshot of the others, he abruptly turned, throwing her a fierce look. "Barbarian? I will show you what kind of barbarian I am, siren."

  Sera’s lip contorted, her eyes narrowed, and she sneered at him. Jerad shook his head and dragged her to the stable just outside the Grandstage.

  "Why did you bring me here?"

  He said nothing, but did release her briefly.

  She watched as he retrieved a rope from one of the stalls. Her eyes widened and she turned to run. He grabbed her around the waist and hauled her back. She landed flat against his chest. A woosh of air escaped her lungs. Jerad grabbed her hair, wrapped it around his hand and tugged on it. He turned her around and tipped her face upward. His lips curled aloft. He seized her mouth in a deepened kiss, ravenously probing with his tongue. Sera’s efforts to resist were futile. At first she furiously tried to pull away, but her body, as it seemed always in want to do with him, betrayed her mind. She returned his kiss, sinking into him. With his mouth still clasped to hers, he took both of her hands and wrapped the rope around her forearms until he reached her elbows.

  Her arms were hog tied before she realized what was happening.

  He released her lips. Sera looked down at the ropes and then back to Jerad. "What do you think you are doing?"

  "What I should have done a long time ago. Claiming what is mine."

  Jerad held the free end of the rope and pulled her toward the castle, leading her like a slave. They passed Ezra on the way.

  "Good luna to you, Jerad and Sera." She greeted them casually, as if a warrior dragging his bride by a rope were an ordinary occurrence.

  "And to you, Ezra," they both responded simultaneously.

  Ezra continued on her way without looking back.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Some honeymoon this turned out to be.

  Kinky bastard.

  Jerad’s hands grazed lazily over the lush material of her vest and trousers--just before he cut them from her body. She stood there naked before him, in their bedchamber, with her back against the bedpost. He had tied her hands to the canopy rail above the bed, the rope now replaced by the shears of the bed curtain. She did not resist him, but instead watched with anticipation as a thick haze of yearning swept over her.

  Jerad responded with a deep, appreciative look before settling into the chaise. He sat fully clothed, lounging with one foot up and the other on the floor. He sipped wine from a crystal chalice.

  His eyes roamed her body, ravaged her mentally, scorched her erotically.

  Sera noticed three distinct movements on Jerad’s face. His eyebrow twitched, his nostrils flared, and a devious grin crept across his lips.

  Jerad gritted his teeth. She was glorious. Her skin sparkled like the early rise against a misty sky.

  Why had he cut her clothes off her?

  It only served to bring his blood to a roiling simmer. Never had his lust escalated to such heights afore. He could not help it. Once he laid claim to her in the Grandstage, he felt a raw, primal need surge through him. When he led her to the bedchamber and tied her to the bedpost, he became absurdly predatory, like a great falcon swooping down on its prey.

  Like the Ptino asteri in the mural, he mused, except it was he who had captured her.

  Now he sat like a daft fool, trying with every shred of his will to beckon his inner restraint. He dare not touch her, lest he explode in his trousers.

  That would not do.

  Jerad tensed against the blistering desire taunting him, resisting the building urge to shed his clothing, plunge deep inside her and thrust with all his might until he found his release.

  Ochi.

  He needed to love her gently, with his lips and his hands, caress her skin, her soft, silky skin--that now flushed with a passionate glow, begging him to plunge deep inside her and thrust with all his might until...

  Ack, and blasted!

  Jerad expelled a harsh breath.

  He knew the female form, knew it well in fact. Being a physician afforded him such knowledge. With his patients, it was a sterile situation, his interest being clinical at best. As a warrior he laid hands or body against women in the midst of competition or battle, with only an ever so slight titillation that dissipated quickly in the throes of the contest.

  Purely platonic events.


  Ochi. He had never physically engaged a woman, though there had been plenty willing to enlighten him to the art of lovemaking. It had been difficult to resist, the restraint excruciating at times. With Sera, it would be markedly different. She was his mate, his wife. They were bonded. It was his right, and his privilege. He could touch her, with his fingers, with his mouth, and with his body--learn to heed to the simple and complex nuances that revealed a woman’s passion--Sera’s passion, and how to elicit responses to give gratification to her needs.

  And he was now free to unbridle his needs as a man.

  At the moment, a very aroused man.

  The expectation was nearly killing him. He craved Sera beyond all rationality.

  He needed to get himself under control.

  "Untie me Jerad," Sera pleaded.

  She could have wiggled free. The bonds Jerad tied around her wrists were not very tight, but he did not know that, and she was enjoying his dominance over her.

  He shook his head slowly and deliberately from side to side. He knew she could wiggle free, but as long as she was willing to play this game, he was more than willing to accommodate her.

  Fine, Sera thought. I’ll play the game.

  If it was seduction he wanted, it was seduction he was going to get.

  Sera inhaled slowly and stretched her back, causing her breasts to jut and roll with the motion. She met his gaze with an enticing come-hither look and brazenly licked her lips. Jerad released a choked groan and tossed his head back. He laughed softly, then returned a whetted gaze in Sera’s direction. She was assailed by a pulsating ache in her most private, feminine place. It threatened to undo her. She responded with a shrewd smile.

  He stood and picked up a blue, bell-shaped piece of fruit from a bowl to his right, and approached her with smoldering eyes.

  "I find food to be a very sensual thing, don’t you Sera?" He suckled the fruit, and then bit into the soft flesh.

  Without touching her, he leaned his face toward her and pushed the fruit from his mouth to between her lips.

  He certainly did like to play with his food.

  Sera clamped her lips around it and crushed it before leisurely working it around in her mouth and swallowing it. A stream of sticky, blue juice dripped from the corner of her mouth, trailed down her chin and along her neckline before it curved inward to rest between her breasts.