by H. C. Brown
She gazed at the leathery-skinned man, his old disfigured hands swollen with arthritis. If she had planned to stay in this town, she would have been able to help him. She turned away and grinned at Lumos. The Fae wore his hat pulled down over his pointed ears, his long hair tied neatly back in a braid. An ankle-length black cloak covered his unusual leather clothes. With a crooked smile, he took her hand, and led her toward the tavern. She drew in the rich woodsy scent of him and reveled in the heat pouring into her from his hot flesh.
The town bustled with people. Cattle and sheep moved up and down the street, going to and from a noisy livestock market. Women carried chickens by their feet or herded geese into the auction ring. They had arrived at an opportune time—the monthly market provided them with a good variety of necessities, from water flasks to saddlebags, and blankets. The noise of men arguing over the price of wool rose and fell in the packed tavern. Inside, hot air spilled from the kitchen, bringing the delicious aromas of fresh bread and roast meats to mingle with the heavy smell of ale and men.
Thalia followed Lumos through the crowded room to the polished wooden bar. Secure under Lumos’s arm, she marveled at the way he instantly gained the landlord’s attention. The ruddy-faced proprietor wiped his hands on a filthy cloth hanging at his waist and came forward.
“I need two meals and a room for the night.” Lumos placed a silver coin on the bar.
“We do not have anything available. All my rooms are booked. You see, with the markets like they are, the merchants come here regularly every month.” The proprietor smiled. “The meals I can supply and you can sleep in the stable with yer horses. No charge.”
“I must insist.” Lumos offered a gold coin. “My wife cannot sleep in a stable. It is not safe with so many men around. Would you have the loss of her good name on your hands?” He rested his hand in the small of her back.
She lifted her chin and gave the landlord her best innocent expression. “I would be most grateful, good sir.”
“A woman yer say?” The proprietor blinked at her and rubbed the whiskers on his chin. “Well, far be it for me to allow danger to befall such a young one.” He took the gold coin. “Top of the stairs, turn left, room number six… One night only, mind.” He looked at her intently and ran a hand through his hair. “I will send up the meals. You are correct, sir. If these men drink any more, this will not be a safe place for her, either.” He swallowed. “I will get the maids to fill a bath, too.”
“I would be much obliged.” Lumos smiled. He gazed down at her and winked. “Pull the hood of your cloak over your face, my dear, and I will take you up to our room.”
They climbed the creaky wooden steps and walked along the narrow, dark passageway. She could not fail to notice stains on the wooden floor and dark red splashes on the walls. Gods, someone has been murdered here.
“Here, number six.” Lumos threw open the door. “Hmm … it is small but clean.”
A glowing fire heated the small room. The pinecones crackling in the hearth barely covered the stink of the previous occupant. The accommodation was spartan, furnished with only a narrow bed, two upright wooden chairs, and a scarred oak table. The room had one small window overlooking the stables. She strolled to the casement and using the hem of her cloak, wiped a small hole in the condensation. Her stomach fluttered. Goddess, she would sleep beside Lumos tonight. How would she react if he touched her? Would she run screaming from the room or give in to the desire throbbing through her? He would not kiss her, he had said as much. Did he feel the same tingling sensations at her touch as she did every time his hand accidentally brushed her skin? Or had he left his love in Drakka? He had only mentioned Lucinda once. How many lovers did the Fae have? I bet you kissed all of them.
Turning at a knock on the door, she gathered her wits and smiled at Lumos. He had unpacked her nightgown and laid it on the bed. He threw her a boyish grin and opened the door. The smell of hot food wafted inside. Thalia’s stomach rumbled. A maid placed a large tray on the table and two young women followed carrying a tin bath, which they placed in front of the fire. She sat on the edge of the bed and watched the servants trek back and forth with pails of hot water. Finally, she was alone with him. She stood and joined Lumos at the table.
“Ah, this looks good.” Lumos took the plates of meat pie and potatoes off the tray. “And we have a jug of ale too.” He turned to her with a mischievous grin. “I do hope you drink ale, little one?”
She licked her lips and picked up a fork. “Aye, I do but it makes me a little muddle- headed.” Slipping a portion of meat pie into her mouth, she sighed. “A bath would be wonderful. It has been a long time since I had the pleasure of a hot bath.”
“Then I will let you go first, as long as you use a little magyck to reheat the water for me. The water is so cold against my hot skin.”
You intend to bathe here in front of me, and I must be naked in front of you? Oh my. Mind reeling with the implications of seeing him naked again, she chewed slowly, and reached for the ale. She had seen him undressed before—why must she make an issue of this now? The image of Lumos rising from the pool flashed into her mind. She swallowed hard and examined the man before her. Gods, he looked so wonderful. She loved the way his silky, black hair framed his deliciously handsome face, and those stunning eyes could trap a woman forever. He would be sleeping with her.
Holding her.
Touching her.
Stop acting like a fool. If he had meant to hurt me, he would have when we were alone, not here in a crowded tavern.
“I think perhaps I should sleep in the stable.” Lumos regarded her over the rim of his tankard. “You have that look again, sweetness, as if you think I will force myself upon you.”
How do you know these things?
She shook her head. “No, of course not! Do not be silly. I do trust you, really I do.” She glanced at him. “Tell me about Lucinda … your lover. Does she pine for you in Drakka? How long have you been lovers? Have you kissed her?”
“Uh-huh… Oh, little one, do I feel a spark of jealousy?” Lumos grinned. “You have so many questions about Lucinda. Must I supply you with the names of all my lovers to placate you? I have lived a long time—gods, it will take all night to remember a quarter of them. Very well, my sweet butterfly, yes, Lucinda and I were lovers for about a year, and aye, I kissed her. In truth, I have kissed many Faeries, made love to hundreds. Do not look so shocked, my love, it is what we do. I cannot compel Fae with my kiss. Lucinda and other Faeries visited my bed often, but I refused all of them after I heard your song. Does she pine for me? I doubt it. She will have other lovers by now.”
“This does not concern you?” Heat filled her cheeks. Lumos’s obvious pride in his conquests made her squirm. “Do you feel a little used?”
“Not at all. She is free to bed whomever she pleases. It is not as if I loved her. I cared for her as I do for all of them but love … no.” Lumos covered her trembling fingers. “Fae only fall in love once and that love lasts forever.” He squeezed her hand. “I told you, the Fae have intimate relationships before they take their life mate. We enjoy what the gods have given us, an insatiable desire, and the freedom to love, to give and receive pleasure.”
She pushed the food around her plate. Gods, she did not intend to become one of Lumos’s many lovers. I wonder, how many children has he sired?
“This freedom, does it produce many by-blows? Do you have many children, Lumos?”
“No.” He chuckled. “Fae can control their child seed—we only give a child to a true mate and, before you ask, I have never had a Nomag or a witch for a lover. I want you to know, you are very special to me, Thalia.”
“Is that what you want from me … to be your new lover until someone else comes along?” She straightened her back. If we were lovers, the pain of losing you would be too much to tolerate. “I would be hurt if you cast me aside for another. I am not a Fae, Lumos. I have different feelings about love and commitment. In my world, a lady only gives
herself to her husband after marriage.”
“If you became truly mine, little one, I would never cast you aside. Fae mate for eternity.” Lumos sighed. “Although, you must understand, I do not want to have you just as my lover, but, at the moment, you are not yet ready to give yourself to me completely. Your experiences with men have ruined your trust and you know nothing of the delights of lovemaking… Lovemaking, not simply a male satisfying himself by using your body for his own lust.” He brushed her cheek. “I could give you delight without entering your body or kissing your lips, although the idea of loving you haunts my dreams.” He ran his thumb across her bottom lip. “In truth, even if you begged me to plunge into your soft, wet heat, I would refuse.”
A sharp pain stabbed her heart. She ached for his love, his friendship, or just to feel his strong arms around her. His silken tongue had done little to calm her nerves. Doubts swirled in her mind. He had made it perfectly clear he did not intend to consummate their relationship. Her heart twisted. It would seem, after trusting him with the intimate details of her ordeal, Lumos thought her too soiled to love, just as she had suspected.
“Why? Do not you want me?”
“Of course I desire you, but you know me as Lumos, a simple male. Tell me, Thalia, will my true self appall you? Will my wings frighten you? Can you, in truth, stand before the Nightdragon and not tremble in fear? I am Lumos, a Dragonfae. I am not a man.” He met her gaze and held it. “You must accept all of me, man, Faerie and dragon, for us to be joined in body and soul. There can be no turning back once I kiss you, little one.” He sighed. “For now, let me hold you and perhaps show you the delights of love. Then, when the dragon is free, you can decide.”
With a shrug, she resumed eating. The delights of love—really? Nothing in the grunting, slobbering, and rutting she had experienced had given her any delight whatsoever. She had no idea how a man might give her delight, although she knew exactly how a man used a woman’s body for his own selfish pleasure. Oh, yes, that particular disgusting delight had engraved itself in her memory. Lumos had made his position very clear. In truth, the thought of him morphing into a massive black dragon made her heart race. Could this really be possible? The Faerie wings would mesmerize her. If what he had said was true, did she have enough love inside her to care for a dragon, too? She must, for as the goddess was her witness, she had fallen deeply in love with Lumos—the man.
Chapter Ten
Lumos pushed the key in the lock and turned to gaze at Thalia. His little witch sat in the small copper bath in front of the fire, her long hair hanging down limp over the back of the bath. He placed the jug of ale on the table and flung off his cloak. “I think it is going to snow. Apparently this is quite normal for this altitude.” He spread his cloak over the bed. “Do not worry, I will keep you warm.”
“I know you will.” Thalia reached for a thick linen sheet, stood and wrapped it around her. “The water is hot and, although the soap smells like horse dung, it does the job.” She wrinkled her nose and stepped from the tub. “Why are you always so hot?”
Pulling his tunic over his head, he chuckled. “The dragon supplies the heat and, when he gets angry, steam rises from my skin and pours from my nose.” He removed his boots and peeled off his pants. “Although I am biased, I have to say the Nightdragon is a beautiful creature. His skin is as a sky at midnight and we have the same eyes. I hope you will like him, little one, because he cares deeply for you.”
“I hope so, too.” Thalia cleared her throat. “Although seeing you naked is… Well, I have to say, my heart is pounding so hard I think it will break through my ribs and bounce across the floor.” She tightened the linen around her chest. “If you affect me so, I have no idea how I may react to the Nightdragon.”
He blew out the candle. “There. Now you cannot see me.” He stepped into the water. “Use the spell I taught you to dry your hair and get into bed.”
“I will dry your hair, too. Where is my nightgown?”
“You do not need it. I will keep you warm. Now do get into bed before you catch a chill.” He washed swiftly and stepped from the bath. “My hair is dry, little one.” He picked up a linen sheet and dried off.
In the glow of the fire, he noticed the fear in Thalia’s eyes, the set of her jaw. He walked around the narrow bed, lifted the covers and slipped in behind her. Her back remained rigid and he heard a ragged intake of breath. With a gentle touch, he ran a hand down her arm. Thalia’s soft skin shimmered under his palm. “Turn over and rest your head on my shoulder. The same as you do when we are in the wagon. I want to hold you close.”
To his delight, she rolled onto her back and snuggled against him. This was not a delicate Faerie in his bed. The gods had designed Thalia’s voluptuous body for male devotion. He cradled her in his arms with as much tenderness as he possessed. Her heart fluttered against his flesh. So afraid. I will not hurt you. He held her for some time without speaking waiting for her heartbeat to slow. Thalia’s hand rested hesitantly on his chest, and she absently caressed his with her delicate fingers. The innocent touch sent blood straight to his shaft. He bit back a groan and pressed a kiss on her temple. Slowly, he stroked her ribs, and moved to cup her breast. The warm globe swelled under his palm. Hesitantly, he toyed with the hard point. “Do your breasts ache when I am near?”
“Aye, they ache now. Although this is a fascinating hurt, not true pain.”
With gentle care, he skimmed his thumb in circles over the erect nipple. A tremble went through her. She gasped and arched her back, pressing her swollen breast into his hand. Gods, his mouth watered with the desire to taste the perfect twin globes tipped with cherry-red buds.
“Do you want me to kiss your beautiful nipples? I promise my touch will be most pleasurable.” He nuzzled her neck. “You only have to say the word and I will stop. I will never hurt you.”
“You will not bite? Erik…”
I will kill him slowly for hurting you. “Hush… No, only pleasure.”
He lowered his head and kissed the full, heavy breasts, cupping one then the other. He suckled the hard peaks with gentle care and flicked each delicious nub with his tongue. Her unique flavor of strawberries and sunshine spilled over his taste buds. Thalia’s small hands fisted his hair. The act sent shooting pleasure-pain straight to his balls. Blood rushed to his throbbing shaft. He raised his head and met her smoldering gaze. Gods, he could smell her arousal. Her sweet feminine scent sent his dragon into a frenzy.
“No, dragon. Tonight, I will take the pain and she will have only pleasure.”
Slowly, he trailed his fingers down her belly. Her muscles moved in liquid waves against his touch. With gentle caresses, he circled her navel then down to sink his fingertips into the fire of curls at her apex. He stroked her silk and bent his head again to torment her rosy nipples.
“Is this pain or pleasure, sweet butterfly?”
“I cannot breathe. Pleasure … gods.” Thalia tipped back her head and moaned.
With a smile, he slid deeper into her slick folds. He touched her reverently, sensing her emotion.
Your sweet folds weep. I know you want me. Thank the gods. She was so wet, so deliciously slick, he could almost taste her ravishing fragrance. That delight must wait. He teased her hard clit. Her body trembled at his touch and her sweet mews filled the room.
“You are so beautiful. Relax. Let yourself go, little one.”
His dick filled to bursting, he could not hide his desire from her any longer and ground his throbbing shaft against her hip. He swirled her nub increasing the intensity until she shook and sobbed out his name. With relish, he used his mouth to torment her breasts. She began to pant, her body undulating. She arched her spine, rearing up, pushing against his fingers. Then, to his delight, she palmed him, and circled the tip of his aching cock with her small thumb.
“Oh, sweetness… Yes, that is so good.” He rocked his hips, taking the gift she had offered so selflessly. Thalia uttered a long sigh and her sweat-soaked body
shuddered. She thrashed her head back and forth, and called out his name on a long, throaty groan. “You are so sweet. Oh darling, yes little one, come for me.” He closed his eyes and fell into the darkness to ride the waves of an incredible climax.
Thalia slipped her arms around Lumos. What had happened? Something wonderful, glorious. Her core still clenched with delight. How did he know such things? His touch had been magyck and his scent—goddess—had surrounded her like a potent aphrodisiac. If his scent did this to her, what incredible delight would come from his kiss? She smiled into the darkness with pride at her achievement. Gods. She had held his heavy cock without fear. The stories from the milkmaids about pleasuring a man with hand or mouth had been true, after all. To have Lumos in her mouth—her face grew hot at the thought.
With her face pressed against his heaving chest, she licked at the tiny, flat nipples. So hot, the heat radiated from his slick flesh, intensifying her desire for him. The taste of him engulfed her and she suckled. At once, his long fingers combed her hair.
“Do you want more, little one?” Lumos rested his knee across her thigh. “Soon, I promise. You should rest a while. Let me get a rag to clean up.” He slipped from the bed.
Boldness and a new surge of confidence whipped through her. She watched unashamed as he took a rag, dipped it in the tub to wash his hands, and wiped the silvery seed from his belly.
“You look at me without fear. This is good.” He met her frank appraisal with a smile. “I am delighted you touched me … and surprised.” He sat on the bed and wiped the seed from her hip. “How did you know what to do?”
She dropped her lashes, embarrassed. “I heard the milkmaids talking and I admit I dallied in the garden to hear their conversations.” She swallowed hard and lifted her chin. Gods, you are so deliciously handsome. “They spoke of preventing pregnancy by using their hand to please a man.” Her face grew hot. “Or they told of relieving a man’s passion by using their mouth. They said to hold a man in thrall, to control his pleasure in one’s mouth or hand, was a remarkable delight. Until tonight, I thought they had lied.”
