The laughter died away as he lowered her, oh so slowly, to his bed. He knelt over her, his eyes drinking her in as if he’d been in the desert, only to stumble upon an oasis.
“Like what you see?” She tried to sound nonchalant, but she desperately needed to know that she pleased him as much as he did her.
“You are perfect.”
Cullen forgot how to breathe as Lusahn looked up at him, her damp hair spread upon his pillow, her soft mouth swollen from his kisses. He was so hard, he hurt. The urge to tumble down on the bed and just take her was driving him crazy, but she deserved better.
“It’s been a long time for me, Lusahn. I’ll try to go slow, but I don’t know that I can.” He stretched out beside her, leaving enough space between them to keep him sane for a few seconds more.
Her silver gray eyes and siren’s smile were enough to tempt a saint. And he sure as hell was no saint. Her long legs tangled with his, and her fingertips traced his jaw, carefully brushing his day-old beard.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t shave.” He kissed her finger.
“Don’t be.” She smiled. “I find I like whiskers.”
“You won’t when you get whisker burns on your face.” He glanced down the lean length of her body. “And other places.”
She gave him a puzzled look, then blushed when she realized what he meant. But his woman was a warrior, made of tough stuff.
“I’m willing to risk it.” Then she cupped her breasts and offered them up to his mouth.
She tasted so damned sweet, her breasts the perfect size for his hands and mouth. He suckled one and then the other gently. When he grazed her nipple with his teeth and then soothed the small hurt with his tongue, she moaned and eased her leg up over his, pulling him farther into the cradle of her body.
But they had all night, and he didn’t want their first time to be rushed. He slowly kissed his way down her body, lingering at the curve of her waist, again at her navel, and then at the juncture of her legs. She clenched her thighs, but he would have none of that.
“Let me in, Lusahn.” He used his hands to gently spread her legs apart, sliding his arm underneath to lift them up slightly. “Watch me, lover.”
Her eyes were wide open as she held her breath, waiting for what was coming next. He smiled to reassure her before slowly lowering his mouth to brush a kiss across the very center of her need. She immediately threw her head back and whimpered. Oh, yeah, she liked that, and was going to like what came next even more.
Using his tongue and teeth and lips, he drove her higher and higher until finally she dug her hands into the sheets, tossing her head from side to side. He eased a finger deep inside of her and then kissed her deeply one last time, sending her flying.
He climbed back up her body, stopping to admire all his favorite spots until he was poised at her entrance. Bracing himself on his elbows, he slowly thrust forward, burying himself deep inside her welcoming heat. It felt like coming home—as if he’d been waiting for this one perfect moment his entire life.
When her legs stirred restlessly underneath him, Cullen guided them up around his hips as he gave her time to adjust to the fit of their bodies. But he didn’t know how much longer he could last before his restraint shattered.
Her hands fluttered near his shoulders before finally coming to rest on his back. She moved them in soft circles, gradually down to rest on his hips. Gifting him with a smile that melted his bones, she kneaded his backside and thrust upward where their bodies were joined, whispering, “You feel so right. Let me know your strength.”
That did it. His control snapped as his muscles flexed, pounding his body against hers, striving to get closer, deeper, farther, in this race they were running. His hips swung with powerful strokes, plunging and retreating, fueled by the urgent little noises Lusahn made with each stroke.
The friction between their bodies generated a maelstrom of breathtaking heat, driving him onward, harder, faster, deeper. He wanted, needed, to mark this woman, to claim her, and to surrender himself to her. Their breaths met and mingled; the sweat on their skin scented the air as they met in a pulsating rush that made them one.
Afterward, Lusahn softly moaned as her legs eased back down onto the bed. Her hand brushed the back of Cullen’s head as he waited for his heart to start again and his lungs to rejoin the party. Finally he mustered the strength to roll to the side, taking Lusahn with him, cradling her head against his shoulder.
He had no words to describe what had just happened between them, even if he’d been able to catch his breath enough to talk. Maybe the silence could speak for him, letting her feel the slow slide of his hand up and down her back, and the way his pulse still pounded in his veins.
After a bit, as their skin cooled, he reached down to retrieve the blankets that they’d kicked out of their way and covered them both.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“I thought you might be getting cold.”
Lusahn lifted her head and grinned. “I wasn’t talking about the blanket.”
“Oh. Well, in that case, it was very much my pleasure, and will be again if you give me time to recuperate.” He planted a quick kiss on her mouth. Maybe it wouldn’t take as long as he thought before they could pick up where they’d left off.
Then sleep claimed them both.
Lusahn stared at their intertwined hands as they lay dozing spoon-style on Cullen’s bed. His fingers were broad and strong, making hers look more slender and female than usual. As different as they were, though, both of their hands bore the same calluses and small scars from handling swords for a living.
“Does the difference in our skin tones bother you?” Cullen’s voice was a deep rumble from behind her right shoulder.
“Not at all. I’m just not used to waking up with a man in my bed.” Even when she had indulged in passion, she’d never slept in a lover’s arms afterward. That required a degree of trust that she didn’t often feel.
“I could tell.” His mouth brushed her shoulder with a soft kiss.
As the meaning of his words sunk in, she stiffened, embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I wasn’t complaining.” He raised himself up and met her gaze with a slow, sexy smile. “When a choosy woman chooses me, I should feel honored.” He kissed her shoulder. “And believe me, I do.”
The appreciative heat in his eyes and smile warmed her heart…and a few other places. She pushed back against his body, pressing her bottom directly against his manhood, which swelled at her touch.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” His hands were already on the move, tracing her ribs on their way to capture the sensitive swell of her breast.
“I choose you again, human.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As he kissed her thoroughly, his hand splayed low on her belly, making its way down to tangle in the curls between her legs.
She could feel his blunt length already poised to take her. He stroked her, his fingers growing damp with her body’s readiness for him. She nudged backward, gasping with the thick intrusion, yet loving the overwhelming sensations he created within her with each touch.
“Oh, yes, Cullen Finley. I choose you.” Then she gave herself up to the moment.
Chapter 6
S eattle had a well-deserved reputation for long stretches of cloudy, rainy weather, but Cullen found the early-morning gloom of Lusahn’s world far more dreary. The sky was an unrelenting dusty gray that blended into the distant hills. Low and tired looking, they were barren and brown, an occasional clump of scraggly shrubs the only splash of color.
Cullen kept his borrowed cloak pulled close to his face to disguise his alien nature, but also to ward off the bone-chilling cold. Lusahn looked as miserable as he did.
“Does your weather change with the seasons?” He knew she didn’t like answering questions about the differences in their worlds, but climate seemed an innocuous enough subject.
She gave him a puzzled look. “What do yo
u mean, seasons?”
“Back home we have four seasons of the year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Each has different weather, which controls the growth cycle of plants and affects most animals, as well.”
She shook her head. “Our history speaks of such things. But as the star fades, it is always more of the same. Sometimes colder, sometimes warmer, but always gray.”
He hated the sadness in her expression, and changed the subject. “What do you think Joq wants to show us?”
“I don’t know.” At the mention of her friend’s name, fleeting worry crossed her face. “Joq is a law unto himself. Even when he was a Sworn Guardian, he ignored the rules of the Guild if he felt the situation merited it. The only reason the Guildmaster put up with him was that Joq got results. People respected him, and that kept the peace.”
“I’m familiar with the type.”
After all, he fought alongside a whole cadre of the toughest sons of bitches around. Paladins played hard, fought even harder, and lived their lives on the wild and raw edge of violence. Most viewed operating outside of the rules imposed by the Regents as a game. But to a man, they took their duty to protect damned seriously.
“He doesn’t seem all that old. Why did he retire?”
Lusahn sighed. “Partly because of me. The Guild only allows so many Sworn Guardians at any one time. Joq kept pushing them to give me my own Blade, but they wouldn’t make an exception. In a fit of temper, he offered to resign if that’s what it took to get me my own command. The Guildmaster was only too glad to accept.”
She stopped talking long enough to pass by a group of young Others, her hand resting on the pommel of her sword. They automatically stepped to the side of the road, giving Lusahn and Cullen plenty of room. Once they were well beyond hearing, she picked up where she’d left off.
“I tried to talk Joq out of his foolishness, but he says he has no regrets.”
“He wouldn’t have wanted you to have your own Blade if you didn’t deserve it, Lusahn. There’s no reason for you to feel guilty.”
She gave a soft laugh. “You sound just like him. I know I’m good at my job, but I wish I hadn’t had to climb over a friend to get it.”
They’d finally reached the far edge of town. The terrain grew rockier, and their feet stirred up small clouds of dust as they walked.
The thinner air kept Cullen silent as he struggled to catch his breath and maintain the brisk pace Lusahn had set once they’d left the town behind. If his pride had allowed him to ask her to slow down, she probably would have. Although he kept thinking his body would adjust, maybe there was some other component in the air that affected his breathing.
When they reached the top of a small rise, Lusahn paused for several seconds. Maybe she wasn’t as unaware of his struggles as he’d hoped. She smiled at him. “We’re almost there.”
“Good.” As they started downhill, he moved out at a faster pace. He knew his ego was pushing him along, but he also needed to know how much his body could handle if the need to fight arose. He hadn’t survived this long without knowing his weaknesses as well as his strengths.
When they circled around a cluster of large boulders, he had a clear view of a small house nestled against a rocky incline. Joq was sitting on a bench against his house. His eyes were closed, his arms crossed on his chest, but he wasn’t asleep. There was too much tension in the set of his shoulders, nor had Cullen missed seeing the sword lying by Joq’s right hand. He’d bet it wasn’t the only weapon Joq had within easy reach.
The Other male stirred and sat up. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d changed your mind about coming.”
“If I had, I would’ve sent word, Joq. I know you too well to leave you waiting.” Lusahn gave her mentor an impudent grin. “I’d have been looking over my shoulder until you got even.”
“See, human, I taught her well.” Joq rose to his feet. “Come inside for a cool drink and to catch your breath. We still have some distance to cover today, and I’d just as soon not end up carrying you.”
Cullen ignored the jibe, figuring any reaction would only encourage Joq to keep poking and prodding at his temper until he got the response he was after. As Cullen ducked his head to walk through the low doorway into the house, Joq’s nostrils flared, his eyes narrowing. Whatever he sensed didn’t improve his mood.
Regardless, Joq poured them each a tall glass of the juice Lusahn served with meals. Its sharp citrus flavor washed the dust out of Cullen’s throat. He leaned against a nearby counter and waited for their host to reveal his plans.
Lusahn drank about half of hers before setting down her glass. “Where are you taking us, Joq?”
“To the eastern tunnels.”
She frowned. “Why there? We haven’t heard about any activity along that stretch of the barrier recently.”
“Just because you haven’t been told about it doesn’t mean there hasn’t been any, Lusahn. You know the Guildmaster doesn’t tell the Guardians any more than he absolutely has to.”
“But if he knows something is going on, why hasn’t he been sending in the Blades to deal with it?” She stood up, hands on her hips.
Cullen quickly finished the last of his juice before pushing away from the counter. He was getting a bad feeling about Joq’s plans for them. He put his hand on the pommel of his sword, an action that Joq didn’t fail to notice.
Widening his stance, Cullen spoke to Lusahn, but kept his eyes solely on Joq. “I think what he’s hinting at, Lusahn, is that your Guildmaster either doesn’t know that something is going on in your eastern tunnels, which makes him incompetent, or he does know and doesn’t want the Guardians involved—which means he’s involved up to his eyeballs.”
Lusahn frowned. “I don’t like the Guildmaster any more than you do, Joq, but we can’t accuse him of something like this without proof. He could have us both up on charges of treason for spreading such a rumor.”
“Do you want to find out what’s going on with the blue stones or not?” Already reaching for his cloak, Joq didn’t wait for her answer.
Cullen blocked the doorway. “If the evidence is so clear, why haven’t you reported it yourself? Why involve Lusahn at all?”
“Because I’m no longer a Guardian. It’s not my job; it’s hers.” Joq clenched his hands into fists. “Of course, if the two of you are too busy with other things, we can just forget about it.”
The look on his face made it clear just what kind of other things he was talking about. Cullen surged forward, ready to teach the bastard some respect.
Lusahn stopped him. “Settle down, you two. We don’t have time for this. Joq, quit being rude and tell me what you’ve seen.”
“I want you to see for yourself.” Joq ignored Cullen, keeping his gaze on Lusahn. “I will leave it for you to draw your own conclusions. Once you see what I’ve seen, we’ll make plans. Let’s go.”
Cullen’s gut feeling was that Joq was up to something, but he had no choice but to let Lusahn make the call on whether to trust Joq or to walk away from her mentor. He stepped to the side, allowing the Other male to pass by. He wasn’t surprised when Lusahn immediately followed him out into the dim light of the midday star. Even if she wasn’t as sure of her old mentor as she’d like to be, her sense of duty wouldn’t allow her to duck a difficult situation.
But if Joq was leading them into a trap, the bastard would be the first one to die.
They were being followed. Lusahn even knew who it was; the only question was what to do about it. Larem’s suspicions were obviously worse than she’d feared. If he no longer trusted her, then his days as a member of her Blade were over. A Sworn Guardian was only as strong as the Blade that served her; there was no room for doubts and second-guessing. She would have no choice but to ask for his resignation.
If that were the extent of the problem, she’d find some way to live with it. However, the Guild wouldn’t reassign Larem to another Blade without investigating what had caused the rift between them. And since Kit and G
lyn looked to Larem for leadership almost as much as they did her, they might ask for a new assignment, as well.
It wasn’t as if she didn’t already have enough complications in her life, the biggest one of which was marching along beside her in grim silence. Cullen hadn’t taken his eyes off Joq since they’d started for the eastern tunnels, nor had his hand strayed far from his sword.
Joq wasn’t behaving any better. He’d charged off ahead of them, never once stopping since they’d left his house. Why was he so angry? He’d probably guessed that she and Cullen had spent the night together, but who was he to question her decisions? Hadn’t he been the one who’d been telling her that she needed a male in her life?
If she didn’t know better, she might have thought he was jealous—but how could that be? He’d never done anything that suggested he thought of her that way.
As Joq rounded a bend in the trail, Lusahn took the opportunity to touch Cullen’s arm and whisper, “We’re being followed.”
“I know. He’s been dogging our footsteps since we left Joq’s house. Do you want me to hide behind those rocks ahead and take him out?”
“No! It’s Larem, one of my Blademates. The big question is, why is he following us?”
“Do you think he suspects I’m not one of you?”
Her stomach roiled. “He definitely suspects something, but I have no idea what. I know he doesn’t trust Joq.”
“Smart man.” His dark eyes swept past her in the direction Joq had gone. “I don’t, either. He’s up to something.”
She wanted to scream. “Cullen, I don’t need that from you, too. Larem wasn’t happy being left outside when I talked to Joq about you. He and I have been friends since childhood, yet I can’t begin to guess what Larem is thinking right now. And when he finds out about us, he’ll go for his sword.”
Cullen’s dark eyes sparked with cold fury. Gone was her easy, laughing lover from last night. In his place was the hard-edged warrior she’d faced all those weeks ago. “All the more reason for me to fall back and invite him to the party. Either he’s on your side, in which case we can use the backup, or he’s on their side, whoever they turn out to be.”
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