Knight of Valor: Knights of Valor

by Elizabeth Drake

  “You love me?” Her words caught.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean-”

  “Never tell a girl you love her and say you’re sorry.” She hugged him, and the room warmed with the glow of her magic. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  Marcus’s heart soared. He jumped up and spun her around, then frowned as he stared into her bright aqua eyes. “You’re not just doing this because-”

  She touched a finger to his lips. “I love you, Marcus. I’m doing this because I would rather be on horseback all day and sleeping on the ground beside you than in Aerius sleeping on featherbeds and eating chocolate without you.”

  He grinned. “Now that’s true love.”

  She loved him as he loved her. His grin widened. He felt stupid, euphoric, and nauseous all at once. He was a man in love.

  Marcus set her down and clasped his hands over hers. He lowered his head and said a prayer to the gods. A soft golden glow grew between their hands. He offered the gods their marriage vows, then Brelynn repeated them.

  The golden glow washed across them and filled the room.

  “Our promise before the gods,” he said. “Husband and wife.”

  Happiness infused him. The other aspect of the Twin’s curse was Their gift. Pain and euphoria.

  And Brelynn’s love was worth every drop of pain.

  Chapter 52

  The gods had accepted their promise.

  Brelynn smiled up at her husband, and her heart soared.

  Here, now, she had everything she’d ever wanted and far more than she ever thought she could have.

  Closing her eyes, Brelynn silently thanked the Twins.

  No matter what Arch-Grimveldt Korvar did to her, she would always have this moment.

  The thought of forever with Marcus warmed her, filled her, and her magic radiated around them.

  Brelynn wasn’t sure what the Dragon Church, the Crown, or Marcus’s family would think of him making her his wife. But whether or not others considered them married, Marcus did, and she felt the difference in his kiss when his lips met hers.

  The indecision and hesitation were gone, and the emotional wall he’d built between them crumbled away.

  He held nothing back as he parted her lips and kissed her. She savored him hot and hard beside her, truly and wholly with her as he explored every curve of her body.

  He slid his hands under her riding habit and stroked her.

  Heat sizzled through her at her his touch, heightening each kiss, each caress.

  “I want to see you. All of you.”

  Desire coiled in her stomach, and Brelynn nodded.

  Marcus flicked open the buttons of her top and feathered his fingers over her delicate skin. He smiled when her breath caught. “By the gods, I love you.”

  The thought reverberated through her as Marcus skimmed his hands over the swell of her breasts then gently kneaded the sensitive globes.

  He thumbed over her pert nipples, and Brelynn arched and filled his hands with her, reveling in the feel of his strong sword-calloused fingers.

  Marcus’s smile deepened, and holding her tightly against him, he kissed her again.

  Her breasts rubbed again the velvet of his tunic, a sensual contrast to his hard hands. Desire burned through her. She wanted him, all of him.

  And he gave it.

  Without breaking the kiss, Marcus lifted her into his arms and carried her to the large bed. Laying her down, he skated his hands over her body, touching and stroking as he finished undressing her.

  He stared down at her naked and flushed with desire.

  A whisper of self-consciousness stole through Brelynn, then his lop-sided smile lit his face.

  “You are so beautiful, inside and out. The gods truly blessed me.”

  She stroked his cheek. “I love you, Marcus.”

  Her words brought back his happy lop-sided grin, and Marcus gathered her to him and kissed her.

  Brelynn gave herself over to him completely and totally. She wanted him, all of him.

  She tugged up his shirt so she could feel his flesh against hers, and the light sprinkle of hair on his chest tickled her nipples, amplifying the sensation of his hardness against her.

  Brelynn traced her fingers up his taunt abdomen and over his powerful chest. She then grazed her nails along his broad shoulders and down his arms before sliding them up the thickly muscled expanse of his back.

  A low growl escaped Marcus, and he stripped off his shirt and trousers, offering her complete access to him.

  Access she took as she pressed closer and enjoyed the sensual contrast of his hard body against her softness.

  Marcus held her as he caressed the flushed silk of her skin, trailing the tips of his fingers over her, softly, reverently. He stroked the curve of her hip and explored her rounded belly before dipping lower and brushing over her dark curls.

  A whisper of moisture coated his fingertips, and he stroked between her soft folds until he flicked over her hidden nubbin.

  Sensation assaulted her, and Brelynn parted her thighs for him, silently begging him for more.

  He answered, thumbing over the tiny ball of nerve endings over and over again.

  Brelynn’s breath tangled in her throat as she tried to process the waves of feeling coursing through her, and she gloried in the sensations electrifying her body. Never had she felt so alive, so powerless, and yet so in control.

  A low moan escaped her, and she dug her fingers into Marcus’s broad shoulders, clinging to him as the onslaught of sensation threatened to carry her away.

  Marcus lifted his head and feathered a kiss over her cheek. “If you ever want me to stop, all you have to do is ask. I-”

  She answered by pulling him to her and kissing him hot and hard on the mouth. Their lips and tongues tangled in imitation of a far more intimate act.

  By the gods, she wanted him. Wanted him completely and totally.

  Parting her thighs wider, she offered him all she was.

  Chapter 53

  Marcus reveled in the need he’d built within Brelynn, in the pleasure he could give her. He wanted to take her, to feel her most intimate of embraces as she cried his name, to consummate all they’d promised.

  Caging his own desires, he focused on her, on stoking the molten need already coursing through her. He caressed the silken nubbin between her thighs, alternating speed and pressure until her hips wriggled beneath him.

  Brelynn’s eyes widened, and she gripped him as fresh sensation jolted her. Soft gasps and breathy moans escaped her lips as she clung to his broad back and opened her thighs wider yet for him.

  Marcus understood her need and shared it as he slid his knees between hers. He eased forward, his weight pressing her into the bed as he stroked her tender nubbin, enjoying the soft cries of desire that escaped her.

  Brelynn dug her fingers into his broad shoulders as she silently begged him to take more, to show her all he promised.

  Gently cupping the tender junction of her thighs in his sword-calloused hands, he rubbed a finger from her throbbing nubbin to the entrance of her body, coating himself in her wetness.

  Brelynn whimpered and arched her hips up to meet him.

  He slid his finger into her hot silken sheath, the wet heat of her scalding him. His erection throbbed.

  Her whole body tightened around him as her hips wriggled in time to his gentle thrusts.

  Marcus savored her delicious response, and he eased his finger deeper into her. Her maidenhead halted his advance, reminding him of how little experience she had in such things.

  She loved him, trusted him, and he would do everything in his power to be worthy of both.

  “Marcus,” she gasped as she dug her fingers into his back. “Please, please…”

  He devoured the sound of his name on her lips. By the gods, he loved her, and he wanted to see her face as he brought her to climax.

  Withdrawing his hand, Marcus guided himself between her parted thighs, her slick softness beckoning
him.

  Brelynn gasped as he touched her in the most intimate of ways and tugged him to her.

  He grit his teeth as he leashed his own need and gently eased into her.

  Her sheath tightened around him, and she grimaced in pain. A quiet gasp escaped her that had nothing to do with pleasure, and she stiffened beneath him.

  Clamping down on his own desire, Marcus pulled back. He wasn’t sure what he was doing wrong, but their joining should be pleasurable for her as well as him. The last thing he wanted was to cause her pain.

  Brelynn loved him. Trusted him. He wouldn’t hurt her, especially not when she was so open and vulnerable.

  She blinked up at him.

  “Marcus, please,” she begged as she tugged him down to her, kissing him, then parting her lips in invitation.

  He accepted, taking her mouth as his hand again found the silken sheath between her thighs. He slipped a digit inside her as his thumb teased her hidden nubbin, taunting and stroking it as her hips moved in time to his ministrations.

  “Marcus,” she whimpered, saying his name over and over as he guided her up the golden slopes of desire.

  Her soft breasts rubbed against the sprinkle of hair on his chest, and he savored the softness of her against the length of him.

  His body screamed for him to take her, to consummate all they’d promised, but it wasn’t the first time he’d overcome physical need to do what was right. And she was worth it. So worth it.

  Marcus stroked his finger into her as he teased his thumb across her nubbin over and over, listening to her breath hitch.

  He pushed her higher and higher, closer to the peak.

  Then over.

  Brelynn cried out as desire exploded in wave after wave of golden bliss.

  She slumped against him, her body soft and pliant with spent pleasure.

  Marcus held her close as she eased back down from the dizzying heights of desire. Kissing her gently, tenderly, he gathered his wife to him and smiled.

  Chapter 54

  Moonlight peeped through the velvet curtains, and Brelynn snuggled closer to Marcus. Proof of his pent-up desire pressed against her belly.

  He kissed the top of her head and stroked a hand down her back. A contented sigh escaped her.

  Tipping her head up, she met Marcus’s gaze.

  By the gods, he was handsome. His hard body warm and protective against hers both comforted and aroused. The sweet glow of fulfilled pleasure still flowed through her veins, and she wanted to give him the same.

  No stopping.

  No holding back.

  She wanted all of him.

  Brelynn had glimpsed the occasional shirtless vampire or half-naked servant, but they were nothing compared to Marcus’s hard strong body spread out before her. He was a feast for her senses, and she could relax and enjoy him, knowing that even now he would never hurt her.

  He was glorious, and he was all hers.

  Leaning closer, Brelynn nibbled along his collar bone while her hands spread over the wide expanse of his chest. She touched and stroked, exploring his taunt flesh as his thick muscles rippled under her questing fingers.

  The scent of him, rich and wholly masculine, surrounded and intoxicated her.

  She wanted more. More of him. More of the growing passion fueled by their love. She wanted all of him, even if it meant a bit of pain.

  Marcus teased his fingertips over her bare arm and along the swell of her breast, tracing down the indentation of her waist and over the curve of her hip.

  “Hands on the headboard.” Brelynn leaned forward and teased her bare breasts over his chest as she nuzzled his ear.

  “What?”

  She took each of his hands and placed them on the headboard. “No letting go until I tell you it’s okay.”

  He frowned, but he obeyed.

  Brelynn rolled him onto his back and straddled him, heat pooling in her stomach at the feel of him hard and strong between her knees. She spread her hands over his broad heavily muscled chest, the heat of him sinking into her.

  The steel of his muscles corded under her fingers, and his erection strengthened against her.

  A smile curved her lips as she delighted in the pleasure she brought him.

  She wanted to give him more. Give him everything he’d given her.

  The scent of him filled her as she teased kisses over his heated flesh. She dipped lower, following her fingers with her tongue as she slid down his hard abdomen.

  She moved lower yet, her hands brushing over him.

  “Brelynn,” he whispered, but his words faded to garbled nonsense as she gripped him and slid her fingers along his shaft in a slow steady rhythm as she explored him.

  Large and thick, Marcus’s erection swelled under her attention, and his fists balled on the headboard. She flicked her tongue over his tip and listened in satisfaction as a low growl escaped him.

  She took her time, exploring him with her fingers, lips and tongue. He swelled in her hands, and his whole body tensed beneath her.

  Brelynn delighted in his reaction to her, to the way she could affect him and bring him the same pleasure he had to her.

  She wanted to give him more, to see him reach the same golden peak she had. To join him there.

  When his body tightened to the point he bucked beneath her, Brelynn slid forward, straddled his hips, and guided the tip of him between her soft womanly folds.

  Marcus grabbed her around the waist and lifted her off of him.

  “Hey, hands on the headboard.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You’re not going to do anything. Now hands on the headboard.”

  “I never said I wouldn’t move my hands-”

  She silenced him with a kiss, soft, gentle, but unyielding. “If you don’t want me, that’s one thing. But if you’re denying me what I most want to protect me, that’s something else.”

  He eased her onto the bed beside him. “I love you, Brelynn, and I’d do anything not to hurt you.”

  “I’ve never wanted anything more than I want you. All of you, no holding back.” She threaded her fingers through his hair. “Stop protecting me and take me.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

  He cupped her cheek as she met his pale purple gaze. Then he touched his lips to hers, a gentle caress that promised so much more.

  Brelynn wrapped her arms around him, trying to show him how much she wanted him and all that was between them.

  Angling his head over hers, Marcus deepened the kiss and focused her attention on the desire building between them.

  His hands stroked down her body, touching her silken skin and sending sparks of desire coursing through her. He teased over a nipple then rolled it between his thumb and forefinger.

  Heat poured through her from his touch, faster, hotter, fueled by anticipation. Now that she had tasted what could be between them, she wanted it again, wanted to reach the golden halo that had exploded within her before, but this time, she wanted him with her.

  She wanted him to fill her, to complete her, to consummate their promises to each other.

  He stroked up the smooth column of her leg and caressed her bare flesh before parting her thighs and skating up their soft inner curve. He cupped her, then parted her tender folds before dipping inside her.

  She was already slick with desire, and he coated his finger with her wetness before easing it into her as he teased her nub.

  Sensation shot through her, hot and bright, and she parted herself wider for him.

  Soft gasps slipped from her lips as he touched her most intimate parts, and her body moved in time to the thrusts of his finger. Brelynn gripped his shoulders, and her head fell back against the pillow as the maelstrom of desire intensified.

  He withdrew his fingers, and he pressed against her again, hot, hard and impossibly large. Marcus held her close, teasing her with light kisses, focusing her attention on his hands as he pal
med her swollen breasts and teased her taunt nipples.

  Then he thrust forward and took her.

  Pain jolted her.

  Brelynn stiffened but never let go of him. Marcus held her close and pressed kisses to her forehead, jaw, and cheek.

  He was so large, so hard, he filled her and touched her inner-most recesses. She felt totally open and vulnerable to him, yet completely safe and protected.

  Her Lich Slayer. Her Knight of Valor. Her husband.

  Brelynn loved him beyond words, beyond measure, and she held him tightly as she gave herself to him.

  Marcus kissed her as he remained buried deep inside of her, and after a few minutes, her body stretched to accommodate his massive girth. The pain ebbed and mounting desire replaced it.

  Brelynn reveled in him large and strong above her, filling her, completing her.

  He felt so good, so right. The sprinkle of hair on his chest teased her nipples as he again found her marvelous little nubbin and stroked it.

  Need shot through her, amplified by their joining, and she began to move beneath him, her need further easing his entry.

  Once she lifted her hips to take him even deeper, Marcus gently eased back before sliding into her again.

  She gasped as she clung to him, instinct guiding her as she moved with him. He guided their movements, amplifying the intensity of her pleasure.

  Brelynn gave herself over to the passion that flowed through her like molten gold. She gripped his taunt muscular back as he thrust into her, as he channeled all his power, all his strength, into an ancient dance that pushed them both higher, closer to the golden peak.

  The heat built within her, scorching her and pooling in her belly.

  She burned for him, and he answered, filling her over and over again, fueling the fire between them as he pushed them both toward the final cliff.

  The feel of him so hard and so wholly male touching her softest, deepest, and most intimate places overwhelmed her. She yielded to him, offering him all he wanted, glorying as he took and gave all of himself in return.