The Quest for the Heart Orb (The Orbs of Rathira)

by Laura Jo Phillips

  Bredon was patient. He traced her lips with his tongue, reminding her of their first real kisses a few days earlier. When he felt her relax, he deepened the kiss, delving into her mouth, teasing her tongue with slow, careful strokes before retreating, then starting over again. Kaia caught on quickly and was soon following his tongue back into his mouth. She was rewarded with a deep, rumbling groan that thrilled her to her toes. When he finally gave in and broke the kiss they were both gasping for air.

  “Tell me what you want, Kapia,” Bredon said.

  “What I want?” she asked, still panting.

  “Yes,” he said, placing light, teasing kisses along her jaw. “Is there anything you’ve wished to experience above all else?”

  “I want to touch you,” she whispered.

  Bredon stilled, his heart skipping a beat before it began to pound so hard he wondered if she could hear it. “You wish to touch me?” he clarified in a strained voice.

  “More than anything.”

  “I am yours to do with as you will,” he said, using his free hand to open the fastenings on his winter vest. Kapia reached up with one hand and placed her palm on the center of his chest. He closed his eyes, savoring the soft, hesitant touch of her hand against his bare flesh. When he opened his eyes again, it was to see her smile as she raised her other hand to his neck. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes half closed with desire, her lips red from his kisses.

  He kissed her again, deeper this time, more demanding. She moved restlessly in his lap, her hip brushing against his arousal in a tantalizing caress. He reached for the hem of her skirt and raised it high enough that he could place his hand just above her ankle. He waited, but Kapia gave no sign of resistance, so he slid his hand higher, groaning again at the silky feel of her leg beneath his hand.

  Kapia slid her hands down his chest, then around to his back, exploring the ridges of muscle with her sensitive fingertips. When Bredon’s hand moved up to her thigh it was all she could do not to dig her nails into him in anticipation. He held the back of her head still in the palm of one hand as his tongue claimed her mouth with raw passion unlike anything she’d felt from him before. She was so swept away in the heat of it that she barely noticed at first when his hand reached the seam between her thighs. The light pressure of his fingers urged her to part her legs, and she did so without hesitation. She moaned softly into his mouth as he ran his fingers through her curls, then dipped into her hot, moist folds. He stroked something incredibly sensitive with his thumb, and her hips bucked.

  Kapia broke the kiss with a gasp of surprised pleasure, her eyes wide. Bredon smiled, then stroked her again, and again, setting up a slow, steady rhythm as he leaned down to kiss her neck, just below her ear. When she moaned again, he nipped the delicate flesh, smiling again when she jerked in his arms.

  Kapia’s body tensed as the pleasure built and built until she sensed that something momentous was going to happen. She arched against him, pressing herself helplessly against is hand in a silent plea for she knew not what. Suddenly Bredon’s fingers slid inside of her while his thumb pressed against that small secret spot, and her pleasure exploded into a million bright fragments behind her eyes. Bredon’s mouth captured her screams of pleasure even as he fed it with stronger, harder strokes. When her orgasm faded, he lightened his touch, bringing her down gently.

  When her eyes opened again she felt almost sleepy she was so relaxed. When he removed his hand from her and raised it to his mouth, licking her essence from his fingers, she shuddered as new heat flashed through her. “You are so sweet, Kapia,” he said hoarsely. “I cannot wait to put my mouth there and lick you into orgasm.”

  Kapia’s eyes widened in surprise, her belly tightening at the thought. Then she noticed the strain around his mouth and eyes. “Help me,” she whispered.

  “Of course, love,” he said. “What do you need?”

  “To touch you, as you touched me,” she said.

  Bredon stared into her eyes for a moment, then smiled tightly at the desire and curiosity he saw there. “It would be my pleasure.” He reached down to untie the laces of his pants, then reached inside to free himself from the soft leather. She shifted in his lap so that she could see the heavy shaft that now rested between them. She’d never seen a naked male, man, boy, or even infant. If not for Karma’s unembarrassed and forthright explanations, she would have been quite shocked at the sight. Instead she was fascinated. She brushed her fingers over it lightly, surprised by its silky softness. “What do I do?”

  Bredon placed his hand over hers and gently wrapped her hand around his erection, then guided her so that she was soon stroking him in a steady up and down motion. After a moment he removed his hand from hers and continued to watch, unable to tear his eyes from the sight of her hand on him. “I’ve dreamed of this, Kapia,” he whispered. “Your hand on me, stroking me, just like this.”

  “You like this?”

  “So much,” he groaned. “Faster, surna, please. Squeeze me harder.”

  Kapia complied, her gaze torn between Bredon’s face, and his arousal, her own excitement rising quickly to match his. They were both panting now, and she felt him move as though reaching for something, but she didn’t look up until he leaned down to kiss her again. She parted her lips and surprised him by slipping her tongue into his mouth first. Bredon’s entire body stiffened. He tore his mouth from hers and groaned deeply, his arm tightening around her shoulders as his body shivered and shook, his other hand covering hers and squeezing as his hot flesh pulsed over and over in her hand. She looked down and frowned when she saw that he’d covered himself with a cloth. She wondered at that for a moment, until she realized why. Then her cheeks heated again. Bredon relaxed, and rested his head on her shoulder as he fought to catch his breath. His hand relaxed around hers, so she released him and leaned her head against his chest.

  “Are you well?” Bredon asked, his voice rumbling against her ear.

  “Yes, I am,” she said. “You?”

  Bredon’s shoulders shook with silent laughter. “That was the single most exciting experience of my life, Kapia.”

  “Then why are you laughing?”

  “Because I’m a man,” he said. “What we just did was exciting and beautiful and unforgettable and much more than I ever expected we’d share outside of marriage. And yet, I still feel like a starving man denied a banquet after one small taste.” Bredon’s breath caught. “That reminds me of how very good you tasted,” he said, his voice deepening as he looked down at her with hot eyes. “The next time we’re alone, I plan to thoroughly indulge myself.”

  Kapia’s eyes widened, then narrowed. “Are you teasing me?”

  “Not even a little,” he replied. “Does the idea shock you?”

  “Yes, it does,” she said. “But it makes me wonder, too.”

  “About what?”

  “Whether or not you would let me do the same to you.”

  Bredon stared at her in surprise, then gasped as he grew instantly hard again. He pulled her close and kissed her long and deep before pulling back and forcing himself to release her. “We must stop now,” he said while still trying to catch his breath. “Our hour is almost up.” He pulled Kapia’s skirt back down to her ankles and lifted her out of his lap and onto the cushion beside him. She knelt gracefully and ran her fingers through her hair to smooth it, careful not to watch Bredon as he attempted to close his pants over his raging erection.

  After tying his laces loosely, he closed his vest and got up to raise the flap on the entrance. Then he poured himself and Kapia each a small glass of wine and sat back down. Kapia sipped her wine, feeling nervous and unsettled. It took Bredon a few minutes to calm himself before he realized something was bothering her.

  “Kapia?” he asked, pretending he didn’t notice Zakiel walk by and glance in. “What’s the matter?”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I thought…I mean I know that you’re…I didn’t mean to leave….” She waved a hand in the vague direc
tion of his groin and he understood.

  “Do not be sorry, love,” he said, keeping his voice low. “It’s practically a permanent condition when I’m around you, or thinking of you. It doesn’t mean you didn’t give me the most exquisite pleasure I’ve ever experienced, because you did. I must admit though, that I’m extremely satisfied with myself.”

  “You are?”

  “Oh yes,” he said, smiling that little smile again that she was just beginning to understand. He leaned forward and whispered. “I tasted your first pleasure, an honor I will remember for all time. It was deliciously beautiful. I’m looking forward to repeating the experience again, and again.”

  Chapter Seven

  By the middle of the second week everyone was well used to traveling again, but the cold, damp weather was hard on people born and raised in the desert. That they were actually on their way home went a long way toward keeping everyone’s spirits from sinking too low. There were no more demon attacks, so they made very good time in spite of the mountainous terrain, which didn’t hurt spirits either. Whether they had Marene to thank for that, or the increasing cold, was uncertain.

  Ren had finally passed the period of pain that came with riding day after day, which was a huge relief. She’d expected to become bored with the routine after the first few days, but found that she was so distracted by all of the new things around her that time passed fairly quickly. Best of all, she was finally coming to accept that no one was going to leap up and begin calling her names or accuse her of being a demon when she least expected it. Everyone treated her as though she were no different from the other women, which was almost too much to believe at times. She was even beginning to think she might, one day, become used to it.

  Garundel kept his distance from her, though she couldn’t decide if he was avoiding her, or just busy. She hadn’t had another chance to offer the package to him, which troubled her. She considered, briefly, asking Marl to give it to him for her, but decided that she had to keep to the letter of the promise she’d made to her mother, and give it to him herself. Besides, she hadn’t yet told Marl that Garundel was her father.

  Marl struggled to keep his distance from Ren, but it was a battle he couldn’t seem to win. Each night he decided that he would ask Garundel to reassign him, and each morning he swore that he would perform his duties as though she were a stranger. But when she looked at him with those clear, green eyes that seemed to look straight through to his soul and invited him to share dinner with her, or lunch, or just to ride side by side with her for a time, he wanted nothing more in the world than to say yes. He didn’t always give into his own desires though. He managed to refuse her about half the time. It was the other half that ate at him.

  It was agonizing enough to know that he was not honorable enough to court her. That he was too weak to deny himself the joy of her company was almost unbearable. The situation was beginning to take a serious toll on him. He ate little, slept less, and remained in a constant state of worry and indecision.

  Ren knew that Marl struggled, and she understood why. She noticed that his face was becoming gaunt, and that the dark circles under his eyes grew heavier daily. She also knew that unless something happened soon, the empty place in his mind would destroy him, and she’d be powerless to stop it. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t grasp whatever thought she’d missed the day he’d told her what had happened to him. She began to think it had been her imagination.

  Zakiel had his own set of worries. The first thing he did each morning was to check the direction of the wind. So far it had not blown out of the north, proof that winter was holding back its worst. He knew their luck wouldn’t last much longer, though. He took advantage of the respite and pushed the company to travel as quickly as he dared without compromising safety. It was the last day of the second week of their journey when, shortly after striking camp, the dreaded north wind began to blow. It brought with it a drop in temperature, a sky full of dark gray clouds that spoke of snow, and a feeling of dread.

  They traveled as quickly as they could while the storm built throughout the day until it became nearly dark in the middle of the afternoon. Zakiel called a halt and the tents were pitched while everyone kept a wary eye on the sky. Then, much to everyone’s surprise and relief, the worst of the clouds drifted away, the wind died down, and everyone relaxed with the knowledge that their first big winter storm had granted them a reprieve. There was still the feel of snow on the air, but no sign of a blizzard.

  Since they had extra time, Karma and Kapia asked Lashi and Caral to prepare an especially nice meal that evening. Bredon came early to visit with Kapia, so Ren decided to go for a walk and give them a little time alone. The first person she saw when she stepped out of the tent was Marl. He was walking toward her, so she went to meet him half way.

  “Would you like to have dinner with us tonight?” she asked when they stopped inches from each other in the middle of the camp. “Karma, Prince Zakiel, Tiari, Sir Tomas, and Sir Bredon will be joining Kapia and me in the women’s tent.”

  “I’m not sure that would be a good idea, Hara Ren,” Marl said.

  “Why not?” Ren asked, undeterred. He initially declined her invitations more often than not. “You need to eat, and I know you love Lashi’s cooking.”

  “Yes, I do,” Marl agreed, then shook his head sharply. “It’s still not a good idea.”

  At this point she generally let it go. She never pushed him to accept, and she never asked why he refused. This time, before she knew she was going to do it, she asked, “Will you tell me why?”

  “Because I want you, Ren,” he blurted, sounding almost angry. “Were it not for the darkness in my mind, I would ask…it doesn’t matter,” he finished, shaking his head. “I’m not worthy of you, and yet I cannot make myself stay away no matter how hard I try. And you don’t make it any easier for me with your constant invitations.”

  “You make that sound like an accusation,” Ren said.

  “It is,” Marl said, then took a deep breath to calm himself. “You shouldn’t want me around you.”

  “I don’t agree,” she said.

  “You should,” Marl said. “I’m tainted, Ren, and I refuse to spread that taint to you. You deserve better.”

  “Isn’t that for me to decide?”

  “It’s for both of us to decide, and my decision is to keep my distance from now on,” Marl said. “I will ask Garundel to assign a new guard for you.”

  “What if you never learn what happened during those lost days?” Ren asked, wrapping her arms around herself in a useless effort to hold back the pain she was trying so desperately to hide. “Must we both sacrifice our future happiness to the unknown?”

  “I see no other choice, Ren,” Marl said, gentling his voice. “I want you to be happy above all things, and I cannot see that being possible so long as I am in your life.”

  Ren searched his eyes for a long time before nodding slowly. “I see that I cannot change your mind.”

  “No, you cannot. But don’t worry, there are other men in the world. Good men.”

  Ren gave him a sad smile, then took a deep, shaky breath, and lifted her chin. “You’ve made your choice, Sir Marl, and I’ve made mine. I will wait until you realize that your honor is a part of you that can never be changed by outside forces. However long that takes.”

  “Ren,” Marl began, but she held up one hand to stop him.

  “I will not change my mind,” she said with all the calm she could display with a shattered heart. “Now, will you come to dinner?”

  “I’m afraid I must decline,” Marl said with a stiff bow. “But I thank you for the invitation.” Ren nodded, then turned around and went back to the women’s tent, careful to keep her shoulders back, her head up, and her tears deep inside where no one could see them.

  ***

  Karma, Kapia, and Tiari knew that something was bothering Ren, and they knew it had something to do with Marl. Since she was not inclined to talk about it,
they did the only thing they could do for her; they attempted to divert the men’s attention from her during dinner. Nobody could reasonably label Zakiel, Bredon, or Tomas as unobservant, so it was no surprise that they all figured out that something was wrong, and what that something likely was, before Timon and Lashi finished ladling the soup. Fortunately, Ren was unobservant, barely noticing anything or anyone throughout the meal, so deep was her despair. By the time dinner was finished they were all ready to knock some sense into Marl. They’d even decided to flip a coin to see who went first while the rest held him down, all without Ren being any the wiser.

  After dinner Zakiel left to meet with the Hunters not on guard duty, and Tomas and Bredon went to oversee a shift change. Ren excused herself to her chamber, to no one’s surprise, and Karma visited with Tiari and Kapia until Bredon and Tomas returned. Though both couples urged her to stay, Karma knew they were just being polite. Besides, the imminent change in the weather had her feeling edgy and restless. She wished them all a good night and stepped outside, deciding that a brisk walk around camp before bed was just what she needed.

  She saw Zakiel sitting at the central campfire with a group of men, their heads together as they talked. Not wanting to interrupt them, she turned around and walked in the opposite direction, careful to stay within the light of the torches circling the camp.

  Something cold and wet hit her cheek and she looked up to see snowflakes floating down from the dark sky in the torchlight. She wiped it away, idly wondering where Nikura had gone off to, when she heard the sound of running footsteps behind her and a hoarse shout. She turned around in time to see a tall, thin man with a vaguely familiar face, running straight at her. His mouth and eyes were opened wide, and he was holding a large butcher knife in one fist high above his head. She barely had time to register that much before the man plowed into her, slamming her to the ground so hard that it knocked the wind out of her.