When his hand grazed her thigh, she sent a freeze blast, but he still didn’t stop. His fingers scraped over her hip and up her belly. She arched away, but he grabbed her bare breast and twisted it viciously. Her pain-filled cries echoed off the steel bars. In a panic, she resorted to raking her nails down his arm trying to make him let go, but he only dug in harder.
While she screamed and fought him, his laughter filled the air, much like the Ophig scum who had kidnapped her. They had both cruelly laughed at her pain.
“Why won’t you freeze?” she demanded.
“Because the devil will have his due, Princess, and it’s time you pay up.”
Grabbing her ankles, he dragged her from the cage. All around them, flames roared. The red devil seemed not to notice and rose to stand over her. His hands moved to the buttons of his pants, one at a time popping them open and revealing his huge shaft—obscenely big, about the size of her arm—the end glowing hot like forged metal.
“No, please,” she sobbed, sending wave after wave of ice and cold his way, trying to extinguish the fire so at least it wouldn’t burn her.
“Please me you will,” he crowed, grinning maniacally from ear to ear, as he bent and yanked her legs open.
“Don’t do this,” she begged. “You’re too big; it’s not possible.”
“Such a flatterer,” he replied, while ignoring her pleas to cease.
He dropped to his knees and, with his cock in hand, aligned himself with her entrance. She could feel the searing heat against her tender flesh, and her panic reached a new high. Twisting and writhing beneath him, she wailed helplessly, hoping someone might come to her aid.
He subdued her, pinning her hips to the floor with a hand on her belly.
“Time for the fuck of my life, frigid ice bitch, which unfortunately for you won’t be pleasant. If you’re rent apart, it could very well mean death, but that’s the way it is in hell. What you fear most is your constant, and what you want most you cannot have, unless you’re in charge. Which, of course, you aren’t. Here, on my ship, Princess, I am your master.”
She went wild, thrashing in his hold, not caring if the glowing hot knob scorched her skin, as long as he didn’t drive it into her and burn her from the inside out.
“Stop this, now,” he snapped.
She didn’t, not even when his hands gripped her arms and he shook her.
“Aurelia, you must stop.”
Saying her name didn’t break through her fright and panic. She’d rather die than be raped by this monster.
“You’re having a nightmare,” he said firmly. “It’s Darios. Wake up and come back to me.”
Finally, his words registered, and her eyes flew wide.
The man holding her and shaking her gently, calling to her in her nightmare, wasn’t the red devil at all. She sat up, and threw her arms around his neck, sobbing out the horror of her incredibly vivid dream as he rocked her gently.
“It’s over now, sweetness. I’ve got you.”
Although he held her firmly, it didn’t come close to being enough for her. Without thinking twice, she climbed into his lap, not caring that her robe fell open or that they were bare flesh to bare flesh, with her breasts crushed flat to his chest, and her sex, since she’d also wrapped her legs around his waist, pressed flush against his hard belly.
None of it mattered except him holding her in a way she couldn’t experience as a child when the night terrors came. With her face buried in his neck, she wept not only in fear from her nightmare, and the past few days, but for the time since her mother’s passing when she couldn’t bear anyone’s touch other than her twin’s.
***.
Rocking her slowly, Darios whispered soft words, many nonsensical but meant to reassure. It wasn’t easy listening to her distressed cries, or hearing her hitched, unsteady breathing, helpless to do more than hold her until she trembled no longer. And through it all, he struggled to control his visceral reaction to her lithe form clinging to his body without any barrier between them.
When her sobbing ceased, and she took a deep, shuddering cleansing breath, he felt her relax at long last. Then he moved quickly to put space between them. Shifting her onto one thigh, he wrapped her damp robe around her and stood with her in his arms.
“Let’s get you somewhere warm and dry.”
She angled her tear-streaked face slightly away from his, and said in a voice hoarse from crying, “I’m sorry for disturbing you. I’ll be fine now.”
He snorted. “After that deluge, I don’t think so. And you can’t stay here tonight.”
Her head came up, finely arched brows gathered. “Why not?” she asked, then she gasped when her gaze focused on the room behind him. He knew what she saw. A thick coating of ice encased the floor and four walls, and long icicles hung from the ceiling. Even now, after her tears had ceased, a fine frozen mist fell like sleet out of nowhere.
“Oh no. I’m so sorry.” Her apology came out raspy, clearly shaken by embarrassment rather than fear now, and another sob escaped. “This hasn’t happened since I was a child.”
He cut her off with a firm squeeze. “Dry your tears. We’ve weathered one ice storm and need to get you into a warm bath rather than endure another.”
“Why didn’t you...”
“Counteract it with heat? By the time I arrived, the ice coating the walls was already a foot thick. To melt it would have flooded the room.” He sent a small stream of air swirling around them to keep her warm while he carefully traversed the icy floor to reach the door. “It must have been one hell of a nightmare.”
“In my dream, I tried my power over and over, but nothing worked.”
“There isn’t anything wrong with your ability, trust me.”
“I’ve ruined everything,” she whispered as a tear tracked down her cheek. “My father will reimburse you. I’ll see to it.”
“Don’t insult me by suggesting such a thing. Remember when I explained about building with stone, which is impervious to fire? It’s damn resilient against water and ice, too.”
“But these were your mother’s things, my lord. I’m so sorry.”
One hand shifted beneath her bottom and he squeezed in warning. “Apologize one more time, little one, and you’ll test my patience.”
Another violent shudder rippled through her.
“What is it? Are you chilled?” Or, had he frightened her with his overly familiar gesture?
“No, my lord, you put out a lot of heat, it’s just... The devil in my dream said the same thing. The last part, I mean, about testing his patience.” Burying her face in his neck, her shaky whisper was barely audible when she added, “It seemed so real.”
Darios cursed and made his way down the hall to his room. Inside, he crossed to the bathing room and commanded, “Fill tub, warm.”
With the voice-activated spigots switched on and the tub filling rapidly, he set her on her feet and pulled her robe down her arms. It wasn’t easy, with her still clinging to his neck. “Aurelia, you must let go so I can put you into the water. You’re shivering.”
She reluctantly complied, loosening first one arm then the other, maintaining a firm grip on him the entire time as if she thought he might disappear.
“I’m real, princess, I promise.”
He lifted her once more and set her down in the large tub. With her submerged to the neck in the warm, churning water, he stood.
She bolted upright with a splash, reaching for him. “Don’t go yet.”
“I’m not leaving, love, just grabbing the soap.”
“I showered earlier.”
“Then you’ll be squeaky clean when you’ve been washed again.”
Without taking her eyes off him, she slid down in the bath until the steamy suds came up to her neck.
Still shaken and vulnerable after her fright, she needed him to focus on caring for her, not the glimpses he’d had of her glistening flawless skin and perfect curves. The uncomfortable tightness in the lounge pants he w
ore didn’t help matters.
Not his usual attire, they were the first thing he’d come across when he’d heard her screams. As snug as they were, he was afraid he’d terrify her if she saw how closely they molded to his very hard, extremely uncomfortable erection.
Giving her his back, he adjusted himself, silently scolded his uncooperative cock to behave, then gathered soap, a bathing cloth, and a thick towel, all of which he brought to the tub.
“Is the water warm enough?”
She shook her head, visibly shivering.
He dipped his hand beneath the surface and swirled it a few times, raising the temperature a few degrees, careful not to make it too hot and burn her.
“That’s a very handy skill to have,” she observed.
Noting her voice didn’t quiver with panic for the first time since he’d entered her room, he asked, “Feeling better?”
“No. I can’t get the images out of my head.”
“Care to talk about it?”
“No, thank you.”
“Sometimes it helps,” he advised. “Lean forward, and I’ll wash your back.”
She scooted toward him then curled forward, pulling her hair over her shoulders and exposing her perfect skin. He poured soap into the cloth and squeezed it into a lather, then gently scrubbed her shoulders, drifting lower in an act of self-torture.
Twisting sideways to face him, she gripped his wrist. “One thing that might help.”
“Name it.”
“My life seems to be spinning out of control. Would you...make love to me, Darios? I know I’m being forward, but I noticed your, um—” Her eyes skated down his front briefly then returned to his face just as quick. A becoming blush suffused her cheeks when, for lack of a better word, she blurted out, “Your interest. If you’re attracted to me, and if you wouldn’t mind, it would help me greatly if I could feel something...real.”
His eyes locked on hers a moment then he took her by the shoulders and turned her back around. He continued to scrub when he gave his answer. “You’re frightened and not thinking straight.”
“Make me forget.”
“You need an outlet. This is not it.”
“Then do it because I’m well past my majority and have never been with a man. The truth is, I never wanted to because I’ve never known a man who stirred me as you do.”
“Aurelia,” he demurred gently.
“It’s true. I’ve been aroused and aching from the moment I saw you without your helmet in medical on the Atagan.”
His chin dropped to his chest, eyes closed, struggling to do what he thought was right, but the naked, glistening-wet, gorgeous woman in his tub made it damn hard. He understood her need to feel close to him after the frightening dream, but this had to be her desperation speaking.
“Please.”
The softly spoken plea sent a trill of desire straight to his cock. He wanted her, badly, and was sorely tempted. “You don’t know what you’re asking, little one.”
“I do. I have wanted nothing more.”
He opened his eyes and searched hers, placing his hand on her back while he attempted to scry the truth, but couldn’t. Still, he could tell by her dilated pupils, the flush of her skin, her parted lips, and the pretty pink nipples, hard and peeking through the bubbles that she wanted him.
Or, was this his own desire mistaking the lingering effects of her dream that could have caused all these reactions?
“On my life, I speak true.” Then she did something that weakened his resolve even further. She raised a wet hand and laid it upon his cheek.
He dropped the cloth and stood up. “Aurelia, you’re still a maiden. If we do this, there is no going back.”
She came to her feet as well, water sluicing off her flawless fair skin, her pale hair a twisted wet mass clinging to her shoulders, streaming down her back to her hips, a few wet tendrils curling over her breasts which were dewy pink from the hot bath and glistening prettily in the light. His eyes followed the rivulets of soapy water trickling down her concave belly and sleek thighs, but what captivated him most, the small thatch of pale wet curls and the treasure it shielded.
“I know how it works, my lord,” she said softly, as she stepped out of the tub, standing close to him, though not quite touching. “My virginity matters not to me. I’m not the heir, so it has no bearing. I’m an adult free to choose, and I choose you, Darios.”
Once more, she raised her hand, laying it flat against his chest this time. The coolness of her skin where his was hot, her fairness next to his darker tone, reminded him of their differences, but made him want her all the more.
“I want to be with a man without experiencing his turbulent emotions or reliving the painful ones from his past. But more so, because I want you more than any man I’ve ever met, and I know, with you, come the morning, I’ll have no regrets.”
He sent warm air swirling around her, drying her hair and body in a few short bursts then his arms encircled her. With one hand in the small of her back, pulling her hips into his own, the other moved up her spine and into her long wavy curls. Her skin felt like silk, her hair smelled fresh and fragrant, and she was soft all over, more than he imagined she would be. Everything about her surpassed his imagination, and he intended to exceed her expectations as well.
In a low, hungry growl he gave her his vow, “I’ll do everything in my power to ensure, come morning, you don’t regret a moment of the night to come,” right before his mouth claimed hers.
But he wasn’t about to let her first time happen in his bathing chamber. Without breaking the seal of their lips, he tightened his hold on her waist and lifted her. When her arms and legs wound around him, he carried her through the door to his bed.
ON HER BACK ON A BED twice as wide as the one she’d started the night in, she looked up at Darios standing over her. She’d been to museums aplenty, and seen fine works of art, but never had she seen the beauty and intricate detail that went into the exquisite designs inked into his skin.
She wanted to trace every line with her fingertips and every swirl with her tongue. But later. Right now, she wanted to feel him next to, around, and inside her.
When his hands dropped to the drawstring tie of his loose-fitting trousers, he tested her conviction one more time. “You’re certain of this, Aurelia?”
“Never have I been surer of anything in my life.” She raised her arms, reaching for him. “I want you, Darios.”
After tugging on the string, his thumbs dipped inside the waistband, and he pulled the pants down his legs. When he rose, her breath caught in her throat. He was big all over and radiated a raw and primal strength. His skin gleamed and his muscles bulged, the planes and contours of his body were pure perfection, as if chiseled by a sculptor’s hand, and the part of him that would soon take her innocence was equally impressive.
The bed shifted beneath his weight as he put a knee on the mattress and moved on top her. Without a hint of shyness, she touched him, her hands running greedily over his chest, shoulders, and biceps.
While she explored, he dipped his head and kissed her gently. His head came up a moment later, and his eyes, alight with gold and orange embers burned down into hers. When she gazed back at him without reservation, he bent and took her mouth with more heat. The next kiss included the long, hot glide of his tongue.
Too distracted to continue her survey of his phenomenal body, she curled her hands around the back of his neck and hung on.
Now, his kisses consumed her, so much so, she didn’t notice his thick thigh between her own until it nudged her intimately. Alerted to more than his lips and tongue, she felt every inch of his smooth hardness when he hooked her leg around his hip and his shaft slid along the seam of her wet flesh.
Open to him in every way, he pressed more firmly against the entrance to her body and deepened his kiss.
His groan answered her whimper as she arched into him.
“Last chance. Any further and I may not be able to stop.”
<
br /> “I don’t want you to.”
“Thank the gods for that, princess,” he growled with his lips brushing hers, “because it would be hell to leave you like this.”
He kissed his way down her cheek, nibbled over her throat and across her breast, seeking out an erect nipple. When he licked it, then swirled around the peak with his tongue, and finally sucked it into his mouth, her back bowed off the bead.
“Dear heavens,” she gasped, watching through half-lidded eyes as he feasted on first one breast then the other. She luxuriated in the sensations, her body vibrating in response as she clung to his broad shoulders. Never had she felt so alive and so very warm.
“Darios,” she whispered, about to urge him to hurry, when he shifted and moved again. Hot and sultry, his mouth and tongue traced down her belly and claimed her there.
Her breath caught in her throat while intense pleasure coursed through her, and though it was happening to her, she had a hard time grasping such intimacy existed. Her fingers threaded into the longer hair on top of his head, unsure whether to pull him in because it was so right, or tug him back up where he belonged because it was so decadently wrong.
Soon, she didn’t care as his tongue found the pulse point in front and teased it, flicking it rapidly back and forth. Like a coiled spring pulled to the extreme, she felt ready to snap when something slid inside her. With his tongue busy in front, it had to be his finger. She became more certain when it slowly withdrew then eased back inside her.
The spring sprang at this point. Starting at her center, where he worked her still, pleasure washed over her in cascading waves. Her toes curled, her back arched, her fingers flexed, and this time, certain beyond a shadow’s doubt, she pulled him in, not away, while ecstasy swept through her.
It left her amazed and shattered on the sheets as he moved up her body, leaving kisses here and there as he went, on her woman’s mound, her quivering belly, each sensitive and hard-peaked breast then, finally, his handsome face was above hers.
“Darios, that was...”
Words escaped her.
“Apparently, so good it left you speechless,” he teased with a grin. “You know this prelude is merely the introduction, right?”
Claimed by the Warlord Page 11
