Kitrina took a deep breath. “I’m fine.”
What on Albrath was wrong with her today? Hadn’t the last three years taught her anything at all? What kind of woman would still long for the touch of a man who’d made a fool of her? Who had laughed at her with another woman? And not just any other woman, but the barbarian fiancée he hadn’t even bothered to tell her he had.
But she did. Not only did she long for his touch, but she craved it as if it were a drug and she an addict. Her body still remembered the feel of his hands, his taste, and the glorious sensations his cock had given her when buried deep within her, thrusting, stroking, melding them into one.
Kitrina sighed again and stiffened her spine. She didn’t love him anymore, really she didn’t, and she wasn’t ever going to love him again. But there was no denying the fact that, whether it was the very last kernels of that long lost love or simply a healthy dose of lust plaguing her right this moment, it was still going to be a very long semester if she didn’t get herself under control.
****
If he didn’t get off this damn horse soon, he was going to embarrass himself. Zander fought his cock’s desire to harden like a man fighting for his very life. He tried thinking of naked trolls, ugly ogres, scary gnome sex games, and even his crazy ex-fiancée, Asla, but nothing helped. Kitrina’s luscious ass brushed against the length of his partial erection with every step the horse took, and he was in a constant state of miserable ecstasy.
How could one tiny human female undo years of training in self-control, and with no more effort than it took to simply be who she was?
Lightning suddenly flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance. Clouds rolled in, and Zander was immensely relieved when, moments later, the stables came into view. Knowing in his heart that if this exquisite torture lasted much longer, he would lose his mind, throw Kitrina to the ground, and ravish her right then and there, in the middle of a downpour, like the barbarian he was.
Wouldn’t that surprise Graydon, Gareth, Pierced, and Leeky? Zander chuckled. Perhaps not Leeky. He was pretty sure nothing could surprise Leeky Shortz.
Before the horse even stopped, Kitrina flipped her leg over its back and slid stealthily to the ground. He wanted to feel pride for her ability to move so effectively, but all Zander felt was anger. It was obvious she wasn’t having the same difficulties he was as far as attraction. Oh, no, the little chit couldn’t wait to get as far away from him as she could.
Zander shook his head. It was becoming blatantly obvious, if he wished to get any rest at all tonight, after he got Kitrina settled, he needed to make a visit to his friend, Talon. He needed a dose of the special treatment only the big barbarian could dish out.
Dismounting his horse, he tossed the reins to the stable lad and grabbed their bags. His mood grew fouler with each breath he took.
Zander didn’t speak to Graydon, Gareth, Leeky, or Pierced as he stalked toward the wide double doors of the castle where his residence was located. Not an I’ll see you later, not a thank you for accompanying us, not a thing. He didn’t look back, and he had only two words to say, and they were meant for Kitrina. “Follow me.”
Down a long hallway, they silently walked. Past first one door then another before stopping at the third door on the left. Zander pointed back toward door number two. “That’s Graydon and Gareth’s room.” He then pointed across the hall to the door opposite his own. “That room is saved for two more of my cousins. They’ll be here sometime before the beginning of the semester next week.” Then he opened the door and ushered her inside.
****
Kitrina’s breath caught, and a wave of dizziness threatened to overtake her. When Zander had said this was his room, what he had really meant to say was this was his single room with a bed, barely big enough to accommodate his huge barbarian body, let alone hers. It was pushed up against the far wall.
The room did contain a fireplace for heat, and a tiny alcove for bathing and bodily functions off to the side. Even that, though, was only partially obscured from sight with a threadbare curtain of linen.
And the not-much-bigger-than-a-dungeon cell did sport a small table and two hardback chairs so a meal could conceivably be shared. It also had a tiny closet, a four-drawer dresser with a mirror hanging over it, one bedside stand, and that was it.
Not one single knick-knack, picture, or ornamentation of any kind. The walls were gray stone, the linens on the bed a gray mystery fabric, and even the shower curtain, though probably once pristine white, was a dull grey. How depressing, and even more importantly, where was she supposed to sleep?
He answered her question before she could ask it. “You take the inside. I can protect you better that way.”
Kitrina bristled. “And just who’s going to protect me from you? I’m not sleeping there. That wasn’t part of the bargain. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t sleep in the same bed as you even if I had the hounds of VoT on my tail.”
Zander ginned, but there wasn’t anything humorous about it.
“Suite yourself, my lady, but if you thought my horse not comfortable enough for you, you’ll find the floor downright miserable.” He stomped on it as if to make the point. “Solid granite. And as far as those hounds from the Valley of Torment, well, honey, that’s exactly what you do have coming for that sweet little ass of yours.”
She had a retort all ready for him but was forced to stifle it when Leeky Shortz stuck his head in the still open doorway.
“What the gooey jam stuck betwixt the hairy toes of a drunk ogre trying ta ballet dance down Main Street at midnight in a pink tutu are ya doing, lass? Ya can put ya things away later. Aunt Laycee will be expecting ya to come and at least say hi ta her and Lavender.”
Leeky took her bag and tossed it on the bed. “Anyway, I need ta talk with ya. Already told Zander, Graydon, and Gareth, all I know about the other three commanders, but ya had already gone ta bed last night. Come along ta my place, and I’ll fill ya in. I’m pretty sure Zander here can find some way ta keep himself occupied till ya get back.”
She didn’t get a chance to answer. Zander did it for her. “That’s a good idea, Leeky. You babysit her for a while. I do have somewhere else to be.”
Then, without so much as a glance, he stomped off.
Along the hallway, she followed the gnome down one set of stairs and then another until they were in the very bowels of The Academy. Kitrina had been to Leeky’s and Laycee’s home on more than a few occasions with her parents, but today the silence was…creepy. With classes not starting until next week, The Academy was all but deserted.
To take her mind off the hollow echoes of the hallway, she thought about Zander. What did the arrogant barbarian have to be so pissed off about? She hadn’t been the one to wrong him, and if he hadn’t really wanted to help her, then why had he offered up a plan in the first place? He didn’t owe her or her family anything.
Had his offer been just for show? She grudgingly shook her head. No, she had no choice but to admit, Zander, though perhaps a scoundrel of a deflowerer, was an honorable man. He always had been.
But then where had he taken off to in such a hurry? To some other woman probably. And, she’d bet her favorite dagger it was a barbarian woman and not an unsuitable human.
This very moment, he was probably entering her door, kissing her lips, sticking his tongue down her throat, fondling her breasts, and ramming his cock deep in her pussy. And where was Kitrina headed? She was on her way to an evening spent in weird world. For that was the kindest way to describe Leeky’s household.
Kitrina fought back the tears she didn’t even understand. Why should she care who Zander Hammerstrike fucked with as long as it wasn’t her? She did, though, and the realization of that made her want to cry even more.
****
He hit the ground with an umph. Zander glanced up at the barbarian standing above him and raised a hand. “Help me up, Talon. Three or four more pummelings like that last one should just about do the t
rick.”
The other man shook his head and sighed. “’Tis not the answer, my lord, and I’m telling you, it won’t work. The only way to exorcise a woman from your head is to take her to your bed.”
Slowly, Zander made his way to his feet. He winced as he tried to take in a deep breath and realized the crack he’d heard on his last fall must have been another rib.
“That, my friend, is exactly what I’m trying to prevent. I promised her father I wouldn’t take advantage of the fact she and I would be forced to share a bed. If anything happens between us, it must be initiated by her.” He grimaced. “That’s not likely to happen, trust me. She could barely stand to sit on the same horse with me for the short trip it took to pass through the portal. She won’t be trying to seduce me anytime soon, so the only way I can see to keep my promise is if I’m in too much pain to move. You told me you’d help, so hit me again.”
With a thud that reverberated off the walls of the arena, the barbarian who stood a head taller and twenty-five pounds of solid muscle heavier than Zander did just that.
Again, Zander struggled to stand, and this time Talon did help him up. When he was finally erect, Zander pointed to his left side. “I think you’ve done enough damage to this one. Let’s work the other for a while.”
Talon shook his head. “You may one day be my king, but you, my friend, are a damn fool.”
Zander sighed. “Every muscle, Talon, every single muscle must hurt. If I’m left with even a fingertip that does not pain me, I’ll reach out and touch her, stroke her, I know I will. She hates me, and with reason I suppose. I can’t chance doing something that will dishonor myself further in her eyes.”
The barbarian punched him again, this time in the gut, and Zander dropped to his knees.
“I still don’t understand how doing what the lass asked you to do brought dishonor in the first place.”
Zander grasped for breath but didn’t try to rise. “It’s not what I did. It’s what I didn’t do. I didn’t tell her about Asla before I bedded her.”
“Oh” was all Talon said before he once more helped Zander to his feet, then promptly knocked him back down again.
****
Kitrina took a deep breath and braced herself for the opening of the door to Leeky Shortz’s apartment, knowing from previous experience there was no telling what she might see. But it was a waste of time. Nothing could’ve prepared her for what was going on inside.
“Mom…Lumpy and Steve are playing Ride-Em-Cowboy in the living room…again.”
Sixteen-year-old Lavender Shortz sat on the colorful sofa made from panties her father had stolen over the years from female students. She was rolling her eyes and pointing toward the bizarre couple in the middle of the room.
A totally naked dark-elf was on his hands and knees, his snow-white hair hanging in his eyes, his dark indigo-blue skin shining in the glow of lamplight, and his bare ass up in the air.
Riding on his back—Kitrina gulped—not really riding on his back but rather attached to his ass with his stubby little feet braced against the back of the dark-elf’s thighs, was a naked Pierced Shortz.
He had what looked to be a harness of some type around the poor man’s neck, and he was…fucking him. His marble-sized balls slapped the elf’s ass as Pierced yelled, “Giddy-up! Yee-haw! Buck me off if ya can, Bronco Steve! Buck me off if ya can!”
Then while never slowing his stroke, he let go with one hand and pointed toward his sister. “How many times do I have ta tell ya? Don’t call me Lumpy anymore. I’m Pierced, and I can prove it. I don’t tell ya where ta play with your friends so just shut ya hiney hole about mine.”
Then he turned his attention to the doorway. “Hi, Da. Hi ya, Kitrina. Meet Steve, my boyfriend.” He smacked the dark-elf on the ass. “Steve, this is Kitrina, the human I told ya about.”
Steve turned his head, grinned, lifted one hand, and waved.
It was then Laycee stormed into the room with a scowl on her face and hands on her hips. “How many times do I have ta tell ya boys, no Ride-Em-Cowboy in the living room? Take ya fun elsewhere. Ya know very well how hard it is ta get greasy lube stains outta the rug.”
She turned toward the door with a wide smile on her face. “Kitrina, Leeky said ya was coming ta visit. Get on in here and make yaself comfortable. I’ll have dinner ready in just a bit. We’re having chili.”
Then Laycee Shortz disappeared back into her kitchen.
Kitrina should have been disgusted by what she’d witnessed, revolted at the very least, but she wasn’t.
She sighed. If the sight of gnome sex didn’t act as ice-cold water splashed upon her libido, nothing would. And it hadn’t either. As a matter of fact, if anything it made it worse. Her pussy virtually hummed.
It had been a very long time, too long since anyone had fucked her. As a matter of fact, not since she’d passed her final sexual practices exams over two years ago, and she couldn’t even remember that partner’s name or face.
She sighed once again. The dark-elf Steve might be gay, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t had an impressive cock. The length and width of which reminded her of Zander.
Even as she took a seat in an armchair close to the door, her clit reminded her that no matter what Zander might be doing right now or where he might be at the moment, he wasn’t far enough away to dampen the throbbing between her thighs.
She tried to take her mind off the fact her heart was pounding, she was sweating, and her pebbly hard nipples were being taunted by the fabric of her tunic. Looking for something, anything to distract her current train of thought, Kitrina glanced toward Lavender and the other three occupants of the couch.
“I see you guys still have Laycee’s blow-up doll, Tug McGroin, and Leeky’s, Miss Bunny 2000, but is the plastic sheep a new addition to the family?”
Lavender, with her perky pigtails the same color as her name, giggled. “Yeah, that’s cousin Baabette. Uncle Tug and Aunt Bunny adopted her.”
Kitrina’s only response was “Oh.”
“What the purple poppies growing in a circle round a couple of troll transvestites doing the humpity-bumpity and the wiggly-giggle squirt in the moonlight are ya going on about, lass? This isn’t the time for small talk. There’ll be plenty of time for that later. We need ta be discussing commanders and strategy.”
Lavender rolled her eyes again and stood. “Sorry, Kitrina, I can’t sit through another of Da’s old war tales right now. You’re on your own.”
Kitrina watched the teen gnome walk away and was suddenly self-conscious. She had done her best to put the Dragon Heart Opal, the Stone of Anthion, and what they meant out of her mind for most of the day, and guilt engulfed her for it. Her family was counting on her. If the three commanders weren’t stopped here, it was her sister Lara they would be coming for next.
Leeky’s voice drew her from her melancholy. “I know Bugger the ogre personally. We served together on the same side. He’s a mean one and sneaky for an ogre. Oh, and he’s a master of disguise. He once dressed up as a high-elf call girl, and I almost did him myself before I realized.”
He leaned in close and whispered, “No matter what he’s wearing, he can’t seem ta hide his left hairy big toe. Dead giveaway.”
Pierced chose that moment to sprint into the room still bare-assed naked. He grabbed up Baabette, the plastic sheep, and said only one word before turning and running back. “Ménage!”
Kitrina couldn’t help but smile.
Leeky Shortz wasn’t smiling, though. “Bugger’s almost as good with a dagger as I am, but unlike me, he doesn’t care who he sticks it in. The one thing ya have on ya side is, the ogre’s impatient. He’ll be the first ta come after ya. I can promise ya that. Ya just have ta be on the lookout for him.”
Kitrina nodded, a lump of dread growing in her gut.
“As far as the dwarf, Wizzit, and the troll, Marquart, I’ve never seen them face ta face cause we were on opposite sides of the battle. But I do know that dwarf could be s
tanding right beside ya and ya wouldn’t suspect him. He’s known ta be sweeter than honey, till he stabs ya in the back, that is. So, it’s best not ta trust dwarves, any of them. Nasty bunch anyway.”
Kitrina nodded.
“And as for the troll. For a female, Marquart is rumored to be so vicious, even the meanest male trolls under her command shudder when she walks by. Slayed over a hundred men barehanded I’ve been told, and that was on a slow day.”
Kitrina was sitting on the edge of her seat. “So, how do we defeat an enemy we can’t see coming and don’t even recognize?”
Leeky snickered. “What the pink pasties on the nipples of a halfling harlot plying her trade down by the docks of the Tansian Sea do ya think we’re going ta do, lass? We’re gonna catch ’em, and we’re gonna kill ’em, and that will be that.”
The door to Pierced’s room suddenly swung open and out popped a completely disturbing sight. There stood the dark elf, Steve, with Pierced impaled upon the head of his penis and Pierced with Baabette dangling from his own. Pierced yelled, “Surprise!” Then the trio disappeared back into their room.
Kitrina didn’t know why. Perhaps it was the stress of the situation, perhaps it was the fear of what she knew was coming for her, perhaps it was the horror of the sight she’d just witnessed, or perhaps she was simply tired. But she broke out first into a fit of giggles, then a deluge of tears.
Chapter Four
Kitrina hadn’t been back in Zander’s room more than a quarter turn of the hourglass before the door crashed open and in walked the biggest man she’d ever seen in her life. He wasn’t alone, either. He was half dragging, half carrying Zander.
“Unconscious, and with any luck, he’ll be that way for a while, lass,” was all he said before tossing Zander’s limp form onto the bed.
Tamed by the Fire Page 5
