If he had thrown her to the ground right then and there, she doubted very much that she would have even tried to resist.
“Thor! You did not say that you would come to festival!”
They jumped apart guiltily and turned toward the feminine voice.
Still more than a little dazed, it took several moments for Alexis to recognize the woman who stood only a few feet from them, pale with fury, despite obvious efforts to hide it.
Wonderful! Alexis thought. As if Helen didn’t hate me enough already only for breathing!
Alexis glanced from Helen to Thor. He looked about as uncomfortable as anyone she’d ever seen in her life.
Unfortunately, Alexis couldn’t think of a thing to diffuse the situation.
She should not feel sorry for Thor. He had cheated on Helen. He deserved the worst tongue lashing she could give out, at the very least.
But she was just as guilty. Helen had very clearly staked her claim.
And, in the end, wasn’t a woman more to blame, or at least as much? Men were biologically inclined to rut with every female that crossed their path. Not that that excused their behavior. They had a brain. They had the choice of using it. They didn’t have to give in to their animal instincts. They could learn a little self control.
On the other hand, to be perfectly fair, women were just as inclined to excuse their own behavior because of their biological makeup, throwing tantrums and/or crying jags because it was ‘their time of the month’ and it was hard to control their emotions.
“Actually, it was my idea. I was bored.”
Helen’s gaze could have drilled a hole through her chest. The look she gave Thor was almost triumphant. “Really? So soon? Poor Thor. I guess that puts you in your place. Perhaps she misses Adonis?”
Alexis flushed beat red. So much for acting civilized and pretending nothing had happened.
Up until that point, Thor had merely looked harassed. The mention of Adonis, however, was sufficient to bring a glare in her direction.
Alexis felt her jaw drop in surprise before indignation took its place. How dare he look as if she’d cheated on him!
In the first place, he knew damned well Adonis hadn’t finished what he’d started.
In the second, it wasn’t any of his damned business anyway!
She was on the point of telling him as much when she realized she probably didn’t have to. He would have read her thoughts as easily as he might have heard her voice had she spoken aloud.
He did not, however, look either contrite or mollified.
If anything, he looked angrier than ever.
“I do believe I’ll just find the festival myself,” Alexis said coldly.
She tried to push past him. He grasped her arm, pulling her to a halt.
“We will all go to the festival,” he said grimly.
“Oh joy! This will be such fun!” Alexis said sarcastically.
Helen said nothing, merely slipping her arm through Thor’s, almost with a smug look at Alexis, even as Thor took Alexis’ hand.
Silence reigned between the three of them as they moved in the direction of the bright lights Alexis could now discern in the distance.
She had a feeling, however, that Thor and Helen were deep in telepathic discussion.
After a moment, Alexis pulled her hand from Thor’s, wrapping the cloak more snugly against her. He glanced at her, but said nothing.
Alexis focused on her surroundings.
She was beginning to develop a headache. She wasn’t certain whether it was because they were nearing an area where many people were gathered, all chattering telepathically and therefore bombarding her brain with waves she could feel, even though she could not discern the speech, or if it was her own efforts to filter out interlopers.
In the end, the cause didn’t really matter. There wasn’t anything she could do about it.
Despite her headache, she was able to look upon the festival with some interest. It looked much like a county fair. Stalls lined several narrow thoroughfares, each filled with the wares of the merchant presenting them. In truth, she could see little difference, at first, between the festival and the market she’d noticed when she’d passed through on her first day on her way to find Adonis’ home. As they reached the center of activity, however, she saw that the festival included performers. A stage had been set up near a fountain. To her surprise, musicians were assembling there. She stopped, feeling a thrill of anticipation as she watched. Within moments, the strains of a haunting melody drifted over the milling crowd. Everyone became still, listening intently.
Doubtless, music was a rare treat indeed for these folks.
She loved music.
She hadn’t realized, until she heard it, how much she’d missed it.
She didn’t recognize the song, but the melody was almost hypnotic. She swayed to it, longing to dance … but no one was dancing.
Thor took her hand, pulling her against him. She looked up at him in surprise, realizing only then that she’d actually put the bickering pair from her mind when she’d stopped to listen to the music.
Helen, she saw, had disappeared.
She decided to enjoy the dance, and the music. Thor, she discovered, was a surprisingly graceful dancer for such a large man.
The crowd separated around them until they were encircled, as if they had become part of the entertainment.
After some minutes, however, others began to pair up. Alexis was disappointed when the music ended. After only a slight pause, however, the musicians struck up once more, this time playing a lively tune. The Atlanteans formed a line and began some sort of country dance. Unfamiliar with the dance, Alexis, almost reluctantly, turned to go, but Thor, laughing, pulled her back. “This is not difficult. Come. I will show you.”
Alexis shook her head. “I don’t know how to do this. I’ll just stomp all over your feet and embarrass both of us.”
“Coward.”
Alexis lifted her chin. “OK. You asked for it,” she said, laughing.
What she lacked in skill, she made up for in enthusiasm. She managed, most of the time anyway, to refrain from romping on Thor’s feet. Halfway through the third dance, however, she was just about ready to collapse.
“Time!” she said breathlessly. “I need liquid! I’m completely dehydrated.”
Chuckling, Thor left her and went in search of refreshment.
Hot from the rigorous exercise, Alexis was tempted to remove the cloak. No one was paying her any attention, and most were dressed as scantily as she was, or not dressed at all. In the end, however, she contented herself with merely fanning the cloak to cool herself. She was watching the other dancers when someone suddenly slammed in to her.
A little stunned, she chuckled, thinking one of the Atlanteans had drunk too much beer or wine and stumbled into her. In the next instant, however, she was grasped from behind in a bear hug and felt her feet leave the ground.
Alexis looked down at the scaly, inhuman arms gripping her, then twisted around to see what held her. It was beaked, like a giant bird, but instead of feathers, the rough, knobby skin of a reptile covered it. It’s wings, stretching out behind it like a para-sail, were like those of a bat. A forked tongue flicked from its beaked mouth. Alexis screamed.
Chapter Eight
The festival dropped below her as wind rushed past her ears. Frantically, Alexis clawed at the arms gripping her, trying, in mindless terror, to free herself until she finally realized she was so high the fall would kill her if she succeeded in breaking free.
Fear gripped her, shattering her thoughts into chaos. She tried to gather her wits, but she could think of nothing except that some horrible winged creature had her, was most likely taking her to dinner, possibly for its young.
Below her, closing fast, she saw another winged creature. Her heart almost stopped as the vision immediately assailed her of the two creatures fighting over her mid-air, rending her flesh, like two wolves fighting for the same haunch of meat.
>
A wave of dizziness assailed her and she realized that she was hyper-ventilating, that she would pass out if she didn’t control her breathing.
She closed her eyes. Unable to bear the images, trying to banish them from her mind, trying to slow her breathing. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt as if it would burst from her chest.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw that the second winged creature was Thor. In his hand was the sword he carried by his side, the one she’d thought was more or less purely for decoration. As she watched, he pointed it and fire shot from the tip in a blinding flash of white light.
“Oh my god!” She slammed her eyes shut, tensing against the pain she knew would come. Instead, she heard the creature that held her scream in agony. It’s grip loosened and Alexis gasped, now clutching frantically at the creature she’d only moments earlier tried to free herself from, feeling her fingers claw uselessly at nothing but air, feeling herself falling.
The ground was rushing up to meet her.
She squeezed her eyes closed against the terrifying sight.
She landed with a thump that knocked the air out of her lungs, felt arms grasp her against a rock hard chest. She opened her eyes, looked up at Thor and fainted.
She woke screaming.
Thor pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly, rocking her.
Alexis burst into tears. She’d had no one to give her comfort since her father had died. She hadn’t expected the kindness. It demolished her defenses.
Slowly, she regained some control, enough to realize she was in Thor’s bed, in his home. Had she dreamed it then? Had it been nothing more than a horrible nightmare?
“He is gone. He will not harm you. I will not allow it.”
Alexis pulled away. “He?” She shook her head. He must have been too far away to get a good look at it. “It was a monster. I saw it. It was something horrible.”
Thor studied her a moment. Lifting his hand, he wiped the tears from her cheeks. “It was a man. He had shifted into a flying beast to steal you away.”
Alexis stared at him, sniffing. “A man?”
“I should not have left you alone.”
“But—I don’t understand. You said—everyone said it was safe here.”
Thor gently pushed her back against the pillows. Sliding under the covers beside her, he wrapped his arms around her once more, pulling her fully against his length.
Alexis didn’t protest. She felt chilled to her very marrow. She snuggled gratefully against him, burrowing her head beneath his chin. He filled her senses: the warmth of his skin seeping into hers, warming her; the hardness of his muscles—his sheer size—soothing her with the illusion, at least, of safety; his scent welcome, reassuringly familiar.
“I will protect you. I will let no harm come to you. I give you my word.”
“You didn’t catch him, though, did you?”
“No.”
“Do you think he’s dead?”
Thor seemed to wrestle with his thoughts a moment. “He was not alone.”
Alexis pulled away from him so that she could look up at him. “I’ve decided I don’t much like it here,” she said, trying to make the words come out in a joking tone. Instead, it sounded child-like, terrified—which she was.
Thor lifted a hand, brushed the hair carefully from her cheek, then threaded his fingers through it, cupping the back of her head, pulling her to him as he lowered his head and captured her mouth with his own.
Alexis kissed him back with urgency, opening her mouth to him as she felt his tongue touch her lips, suckling on his tongue as it plunged inside. He groaned, his hand moving from her hair, down her back until he cupped her buttock, gripped it, pulling her against his rock hard arousal.
Alexis moved her uppermost leg over his waist, undulating against him in an effort to get closer, and closer still. When he would have broken the kiss, she followed him, plunging her tongue into his mouth. Rolling until she lay half on top of him, Alexis rubbed her moist cleft against his swollen member, pressing her clit against the rounded head of his cock, then rocking back before pressing fully against it again.
He moved so that he was gripping both cheeks of her bottom, lifting her, impaling her on his erection. Alexis groaned, ending the kiss, trailing her parted lips along his cheek to his neck as he changed his position again. He came upright, shifted until he was sitting on his bent legs, Alexis in his lap, impaled to the root of his swollen shaft. She had looped her arms tightly around his neck to keep her balance as he changed positions. She loosened them, leaning back to study his face as she began to move slowly against him, in a grinding, almost circular motion that sent sharp needles of desire flowing through her from her clit into her belly, causing her muscles to contract around him.
His face hardened with desire, a muscle flexing in his jaw as he sought control, but his hands kneaded her buttocks, urging her to set a rhythm.
Alexis ignored him, catering to her own needs, feeling her body build quickly toward climax as she massaged her clit against him, moved her body so that she could feel his cock nudging against her G-spot teasingly, tantalizing her with the promise of imminent release.
He gasped, gritted his teeth, as Alexis threw her head back, groaning as the pleasure began to produce little quakes inside her, the muscles in her belly clenching and releasing in a like rhythm to her movements.
Bending, Thor took her breast into his mouth, suckling her nipple hard.
Alexis cried out, quaking with pleasure as her climax took her abruptly, pleasure rushing throughout her body.
Thor threw her to her back among the pillows, pumping into her so hard and fast he lifted her from the bed with each thrust. She dug her heels into the bed, slipped her arms around his waist and dug her fingertips into his buttocks as she arched to meet him.
He stopped suddenly, arching back, his face reflecting the intensity of his climax. Inside her belly, she could feel him, throbbing, pulsating, could feel heat flood her belly as his seed washed through her.
She released her grip on him, her arms, weak and heavy with fatigue, falling against the bed as he lowered himself against her, gasping for air. In a few moments, he moved to the bed beside her, pulling her with him so that she rested once more snugly against his side.
Alexis shifted, turning so that her back was to him, nudging his sated member with her butt.
A faint smile curled her lips. Who’d have thought a great he-man like Thor would want to snuggle afterwards? He was a wonderful lover. It was a shame, really.
* * * *
Alexis was uneasy when Moira left her at Aurora’s door the following morning. She had not seen Thor. Typically, he was gone when she woke, and Moira, unfortunately, was not handy enough with her vocal chords to tell Alexis where he’d gone—even if she’d been so inclined, or knew.
Moira had managed to convey the information, however, that Aurora was expecting Alexis.
Alexis knew what that meant.
Tests.
Aurora smiled at Alexis’ expression as she entered the room and stood nervously by the door, motioning for her to come forward. Reluctantly, Alexis moved from the door and sat on the edge of the chaise, where she’d lain the last time she’d found herself in Aurora’s chambers.
“You look frightened to death, child. Did I not tell you that there was no need to fear the tests?”
Alexis nodded jerkily. “It’s just—I really hate hospitals, doctors, medical tests.”
Aurora studied her thoughtfully a moment and a look of sympathy crossed her features. “Your mother?”
Alexis felt a touch of surprise, despite the fact that she knew by now that her thoughts were not private in this place. She nodded.
“You do not trust easily, Alexis.”
Alexis shrugged. “It depends, really. Sometimes, about some things—and then I usually regret it.”
Aurora closed her eyes. “He was a charming rogue, and you a young woman lost and in desperate need of comfort.
Don’t blame yourself for failing to see the warning signs about Eric.”
It was kindly said, and yet Alexis knew she would never be able to forgive herself, not completely. It was she who’d opened the door for her father’s murder. If she had not allowed Eric into her life, he would not have seen what there was to gain by killing her father.
“You did not open the door to the wolf, Alexis. The wolf had already found you, had already targeted you. You think it was a crime of opportunity, one you presented him with when, in fact, he had already learned everything there was to know about your father’s business interests, and you, long before that first ‘chance’ meeting. It is near impossible to protect yourself, and your loved ones, from the plotting of a stranger. You cannot blame yourself.”
“How could you know this?” Alexis asked, stunned.
Aurora smiled wryly. “I have my ways.”
Alexis stared at her, understanding dawned, and as it did so an excitement seized her. “You time walked!”
“Something like that.”
Alexis leapt up, falling to her knees in front of the old woman. “You could undo it! You could change it, so that my father doesn’t die. Please! Please help me.”
Aurora looked at her sadly. “The past cannot be changed. Only the future.”
“But … but you could! All you would have to do is warn him.”
Aurora touched her shoulder.
Alexis’ head swam. Images flashed through her mind. She saw her father, standing in his kitchen. He was cooking. Behind him, at the kitchen table, sat Eric. They were talking, laughing. As her father turned back to check his cooking on the stove, Eric stood. Pulling a knife from his jacket, he stepped up behind her father and, grasping her father’s head, slit his throat. Blood spurted in every direction. Her father grasped his throat, turning wild, questioning eyes on the man he had not thought was a threat. He went to his knees, fell forward, went still.
A stranger appeared in the doorway of the back hall, a woman Alexis didn’t recognize. She helped Eric to drag her father into the garage. Together they placed him in the chest freezer, covering his body with the food the woman had undoubtedly taken from the freezer in preparation for the murder. Returning to the kitchen, they carefully cleaned away all evidence of their presence and their crime.
Atlantium Trilogy I: Bride of Atlantis Page 9
