She looked at Valan, and frowned when she saw him giving warning glances to anyone who tried to approach them. On two occasions warriors tried to speak but he'd rebuffed them and pulled her away. Was he ashamed to be seen with her? Cringing at the thought, she peeked at the warriors around her. Several of them returned her gaze and smiled. Seeing one of the young warriors who'd given her a tour of the training field she smiled and he rushed towards them.
Valan saw Dag Arneson's approach and gave an exasperated sigh. He didn't want to allow the eager young warrior to greet Lia. If he allowed this one to speak to her, it wouldn't be long before a crowd gathered around her. The younger warriors were fascinated by the bondmates of the older warriors. Fascinated and infatuated! Not that he blamed them. Just thinking about his ability to impregnate Lia was enough to send him into a blazing frenzy. Before he could grab her and escape, Dag arrived.
"Greetings, Commander Eirikson," Dag said but his eyes were on Lia.
Valan didn't return his greeting and Dag shuffled his feet then began to back away.
"Valan, don't be so rude."
Dag gave her an alarmed look. "I shouldn't have bothered you."
Valan sighed and then grinned. "Bondmates are difficult creatures, Dag. You may greet this one."
Dag smiled and turned back to her. "Greetings, Madami Valan."
"Greetings, Dag Arneson."
"Now go away," Valan said, as he saw the approach of several other young warriors. He grabbed Lia's hand and tugged her down the path and into a rainbow of colors. Flowing gowns in every color imaginable surrounded them. She pulled a cream colored gown from a hanger. The cool, shiny material slid through her fingers and changed color. As she examined it she saw tiny, almost invisible bronze threads woven into the material.
Valan examined it, and tossed it over his shoulder. He reached for her right arm, grasped the armband and tugged, surprising her when it slid off.
"I didn't know you could remove the armband."
"Only I can and even then only one at a time."
"Can your bands be removed?"
"Only at my death as they’re a living part of me now. My bands have given you the special characteristics of a Zarronian. They’ve also made you a part of me. When we die they will be reunited and buried with us." He squeezed her band until it was the size of a band that would fit on her finger, and then he took the gown and threaded it through the small band. "This is how you test to see if the material is really from Lanteria. If it doesn't go through the band it's not Lanterian silk." He tossed the gown over his shoulder again and told her to choose some more.
She walked along the racks, looking at first one, then another. All of the gowns were of a similar design to the one she wore, only the tops were different. Some had straps, others had short sleeves and the necklines were rounded, squared or V-shaped and were all beautiful. Valan reached past her and took a gown from the racks. He tested it, then handed it and the cream gown to her. He chose ten more testing each one. She trailed behind him, as he piled gown after gown on her arms. When her arms were full, he escorted her to the counter where the shop owner watched them.
"My bondmate will take these gowns." He lifted them from her arms and placed them on the counter. The owner carefully folded and placed them in a box, and then ran some kind of scanner over Valan's armband before he handed him the box. Carelessly, he stuck it under his arm while he replaced the band on her arm. As it tightened, he took her hand and led her from the shop.
She looked at the box under his arm. He was smashing it. "I could carry the box, Valan."
"I'll carry it."
"You're smashing it and my gowns."
Cocking a brow, he pulled it from under his arm and held it in one hand by his side. "Better?"
"Yes, thank you."
Taking her hand, he pulled her into a leather shop. Once again when she took her time deciding which pairs of shoes she wanted, he chose three and purchased them, then he added the slippers to the box of gowns.
They strolled along the path, passing shops selling jewelry, info-discs, leather goods and furniture. Lia gazed into their interiors, astonished at the amount of goods available. At the end of the path, a small shop sat alone. The exotic scents drifting from it filled the air. Lia stepped inside the doorway and closed her eyes before she took a deep breath. A wave of pleasure flowed through her from the many fragrances of the shop.
She opened her eyes and saw a counter scattered with crystal jars of scented oil. She lifted one, sniffed it, and started to put it down. Valan caught her hand and raised the bottle to his nose. Frowning, he took it from her and put it on the counter.
The perfumer sat on a stool behind a high counter in the back of the shop. Valan led her over to him. "My bondmate requires a perfume blended only for her."
Nodding, the man hopped down from his stool and walked around the counter to Lia. He lifted a strand of her hair and held it to his nose. Then, he moved closer and sniffed the air around her. Asking them to wait, he disappeared into the back of the shop.
To her right crystal jars of nail dye sat on shelves built into the wall. She picked up a deep rose color and held it to the light. Setting it down, she chose another. The bronze color shimmered in the jar.
"No. Choose another, Lia."
She chose a soft pink and held it up for his approval. He stared at it for a moment, then shook his head. Four more colors were chosen and rejected. Finally, she picked up a soft coral.
Valan grinned. "That one."
"It's the same color I'm wearing now."
His grin turned into a smile. "It's the color you will always wear."
Blushing because she knew why he liked it, she breathed a sigh of relief when the perfumer returned. Reverently carrying a small crystal jar, he handed it to Valan.
Taking it, Valan opened it and held it to his nose. His eyes flashed to the perfumer, and gave him an appreciative, accessing look. Gathering a drop of the perfume on the stopper, he stroked it over Lia's neck and wrists.
She raised her wrist to her nose and sniffed. The scent was delicately sweet with just a hint of something spicy. As her skin warmed, the scent grew stronger, reminding her of a midnight garden after a warm rain. She smiled at the perfumer and then at Valan, and her eyes glowed with pleasure. Valan paid and Lia bid the owner farewell as Valan pulled her out of the shop.
Several feet from the perfumer's shop was a bakery. Valan would have walked right by but Lia tugged on his hand, stopping him.
"I'm hungry."
Laughing, he led her into the bakery and grinned when she made her first quick choice of the cycle. Taking the sticky roll from the baker, he led her outside to a bench.
When she reached for it, he teasingly held it away from her.
She put her hand down, and he tore off a small piece and held it to her lips. She ate it, and then deliberately bit his fingers.
He snatched them away and looked at her mouth, remembered the previous night. He gave her a hot, scorching look. "You have the most beautiful mouth."
She blushed, then covered his lips with her fingers looking around to see if anyone heard him.
Valan sent her a steamy grin. "Let's go home."
***
That evening Eirik came to their house. He claimed it was to see if Lia was alright, but when he rose and said he was going home to fix himself dinner, Lia insisted he stay and eat with them. He laughed. "I hoped you’d invite me."
Together they'd gone into the kitchen, made their selections, and carried the food into the dining room. Valan ate, while Lia and his father spent most of their time talking. A smile curved her lips as Eirik talked about one of Valan’s childhood adventures.
"Valan was always slipping away with Cam and his other friends when he was a boy. Once he returned home carrying a saber-cub he'd captured. He was covered with scratches and bite marks and so dirty he stank. I told him to let the cub go, but he insisted since he'd caught it, it belonged to him."
; Lia glanced at Valan. He stared back at her, a silent message in his eyes.
"He spent months taming her. And, months covered with scratches and bites."
Lia watched as Valan rubbed his hand over the scars on his chest. Marks she'd given him.
"Finally, he won her trust. Afterward, the two of them were inseparable. Wherever Valan went, She-Cat followed."
"Valan said it's traditional he names our children. I hope he thinks of something better than Him-boy and Her-girl."
Eirik laughed. "We can only hope."
"Perhaps, he'll tell you the names he's chosen for our children. He won't tell me."
"That is our way. The names are not announced to anyone until the naming ceremony. Then they are spoken for the first time. Didn't Valan tell you?"
"He said it was a secret but I thought he meant only from me." Lia looked at Valan and smiled seeing the look in his eyes.
Eirik watched the two of them with a satisfied smile on his face. "It’s time for me to get home," Eirik said, drawing their attention from each other. Before they could even murmur a hasty goodnight, he was gone, leaving them alone in the quiet room.
"We need to start your lessons tonight. We don't have much time before I leave on my journey."
"What journey?"
"I have to take the Invincible for a test-run to make sure the new engine we've installed works properly."
"Can I go with you?"
"Not this time, but I'll take you with me another time."
Rising, he picked up his and Eirik's trays and carried them to the kitchen. She followed, carrying her own tray.
"Should we go to your den for the lesson?"
Hugging her, he told her their chamber would be a better place. They climbed the stairs and Valan told her to take off her gown and lie on the bed. She gave him a suspicious look, but did as he asked.
"I want you to close your eyes, and listen to the sound of your heartbeat." He gave her a few moments to do as he instructed. "Now, listen to your breathing. Take deep, slow breaths. Can you feel your lungs expanding with each breath? Concentrate on it, Lia." He paused again, until he knew she was focused on her heartbeat and breath. "I want you to think of a place you like, preferably a cool place. Maybe somewhere with water and shade. Try to picture it in your mind. Feel the shade on your skin. Do you hear the water? It's freezing cold and if it touched you it would make you shiver."
Lia pictured the small clearing with the fountain. She could hear the water running over the rocks, splashing against them. The trees above her cast cool shadows on her face. Their leaves rustled in the breeze. The sound of Valan's voice faded and she didn't notice when he began touching her. Gradually, she became aware of his hands softly stoking over her skin and her breath hitched.
"No, Lia. Concentrate on the images in your mind. Try to ignore the feel of my hands. Just for a while longer."
She tried to do as he instructed, and succeeded for another micro-unit. Then, his touch became too distracting and she lost the ability to focus on the clearing. All she knew was the sound of Valan's heartbeat and the heat from his hands. His fever flamed through her.
Valan felt her fever rise and eased her against him, kissing her mouth. "You did very well. We'll practice again tomorrow." His lips returned to hers, and he worked to put out the fire he'd built in her.
***
The next fourteen cycles passed quickly. Valan spent each morning working in his den, while Lia walked in the gardens or watched info-discs. Before lunch, he'd find her and they'd check the progress the workers were making on her arbor. Occasionally, they'd picnic in the garden and watch them.
Afterwards, they walked to the transfer station and went to Valan's ship. He would stride from one duty to another with Lia tagging along behind him. When she grew tired, he teasingly carried her to their quarters, tucked her under the white fur for a nap and returned to his work.
The first time they'd arrived on his ship his warriors were surprised to see her. But as he'd planned, they quickly became used to her presence, and he'd been forced to warn them not to discuss the plans for their journey to Zhang in front of her. Now, they'd look behind him before they spoke of the upcoming raid. She would eventually discover where he was going, and why, but he hoped to keep the knowledge from her as long as possible.
Their nights were spent together in their chamber. Every night he made her practice her meditation technique. When she told him she was worried about being able to control it for so long, he reassured her by explaining once he was gone the fever wouldn't be as powerful. Each night she became better at resisting his touch for a longer period of time.
Earlier she'd issued him a challenge. If he could ignore her touch for twenty micro-units he could choose a reward, but if he reached for her he would have to take her with him on his journey. Smugly, he'd accepted her challenge, telling her when he won she had to dance for him, naked.
They climbed the stairs, and she told him to undress. Her eyes followed every motion as he shrugged out of his vest, kicked off his boots, unlaced, and slid out of the leather pants. He sprawled on the black fur waiting for her to join him.
"Close your eyes Valan and try to think of someplace cool." Teasingly she added, "No peeking."
He closed his eyes and concentrated on his heartbeat, but the rustling of her gown as it slid down her body to the floor broke into his thoughts. He loved to watch her undress. Doggedly, he returned to listening to his heartbeat and relaxing his muscles. As she crawled onto the bed and slid against him, she placed one slender leg between his. Her hand slid over his chest and her fingers teased his nipple.
Forcing himself to focus on his breathing, he succeeded in ignoring her touch. This wasn’t as easy as he'd thought. He imagined himself in the clearing with the fountain. The leaves rustled and cast a cool shadow over his body. The sound of the water rushing over the rocks cooled him, until she began nibbling on his neck. She licked his earlobe, sucked it into her mouth, and nibbled. He took a deep breath and reined in his thoughts, concentrating on the clearing and his breathing.
Lia kissed and nibbled her way down his neck and across his chest. Her fingers played with one of his nipples, then she replaced them with her lips. She moved to the other one and gently nipped it, and then licked the sting away.
His breath hitched and he began to burn. Desperately, he fought for control and won until she moved lower, licking and kissing his belly and tonguing his navel. Her hand slid between his legs and fondled him. His erection jerked against her wrist and she slid her fingers over him, then away. She teased him, again and again before she kissed and licked a path to the top of his thigh, then over to his other thigh.
His breath became erratic and his heartbeat thundered in his chest. Her long hair tickled over his cock, and he clenched his fists in the fur trying to regain control. He almost succeeded—until she took him in her mouth. Involuntarily, his hips jerked and he groaned. She licked the length of his shaft, and closed her lips over the head and hummed. He went wild. He rolled her onto her belly, pulled her hips up and plunged into her. She gasped and he jerked to a stop.
"Lia?"
"Don't stop, Valan. Don't stop." She rocked her hips, forcing him deeper and moaning with pleasure. "I love it when you're inside me, stretching me, claiming me!"
Grasping her hips, he withdrew, then thrust into her. He couldn't get enough! Would never get enough! His hips moved forcefully, as his pleasure built and built. As it rushed through him, he slid his fingers over her belly and down to her clit, stroking her once and then again. She gasped his name as tremors of pleasure rushed through her.
Gently, he eased her to the bed and slid down on his side next to her. His heart thundered in his chest, his breath harsh and ragged. She still trembled with pleasure as he glided his hand up and down her back calming her. She snuggled into his chest and one of her slender legs wiggled a path between his as she slid her hand over his waist. Sighing, she kissed his neck and fell asleep.
He couldn't believe he'd lost the challenge. He should have known better! Lia was clever and intuitive. She'd found his weakest point and attacked it. He grinned at his thoughts. She'd make one hell of a warrior. Gently, he eased her onto her back and nuzzled his cheek on her breasts. He'd think of something.
Chapter Ten
"Lia?"
"Hmm?" She was engrossed in another info-disc. This one about the animal life of Zarronia. Some of the animals were the fiercest, and most beautiful, she'd ever seen. When she'd seen her first saber-cat, she'd understood why Eirik wanted Valan to release it. The beasts were huge, with shiny black coats, and long, sharp teeth. She'd been amazed by their bright aqua eyes.
"I've invited Cam to dinner tonight. He should be here soon."
Lia remembered Cam was bonded to Minda, and she casually asked, "Is he coming alone?"
"No. I believe he said something about bringing his bondmate, Minda."
She laughingly threw herself into his arms, then just as quickly jumped up and ran from the room.
He watched as she ran up the stairs. "Where are you going?"
"I have to change my gown." The words drifted down to him.
Several minutes later, the bell in the hallway rang.
Before he could answer it, their chamber door flew open and she came running down the stairs, wearing the cream and bronze gown. Her red-gold hair formed a soft cloud around her excited face, as she passed him and pulled the door open. "Minda!"
"Lia!"
Laughing, they hugged each other, and burst into tears. Lia grabbed Minda's hand and pulled her through the hallway and into the reception room to one of the couches. Valan and Cam followed them.
"Why are they crying? I thought they'd be happy to see each other!" Cam said.
"I did, too." Stopping in the entrance, Valan rubbed the back of his neck and exchanged a beleaguered grin with Cam. In unison they turned and headed for the kitchen and the ale. "We’ll give them a few minutes to calm down."
Valan's Bondmate (Zarronian Warriors Book 1) Page 17
