Pearl Beyond Price

by Claire Delacroix

  Good Persian currency, as her father would have said. Kira plucked the coin triumphantly from the jumble and laid it beside the pearl. She held up three fingers and tapped the coin, pointing to the pearl.

  Three dinars. ’Twas a good gem. The warrior cocked a brow, skeptical, but Kira nodded vigorously. How could she tell him how good ’twas?

  “’Tis from Oman,” she said, waving the pearl beneath his nose and not knowing how much he comprehended. “The best pearls come from Oman. Oman,” she repeated. “And ’tis large—” she made a spreading motion with her hands “—and smooth. Not a blemish is there upon it.” Kira turned the pearl under the light so that he might note the perfection of its luster. “And its color is almost white, which is most valuable.”

  Kira glanced around the room for something with which to indicate color. She pointed at the oil in the bottom of the lamp, shaking her head disparagingly at its yellow tone, then pointed to the whitewashed wall and nodded with approval. She held the gem against the wall and nodded yet more. When she looked back, the warrior nodded in turn and Kira felt a thrill of victory surge through her veins. Had he truly understood her?

  He crossed the room to her with long strides and her heart began to pound at his intent. But he merely lifted the pearl from her fingertips and turned to leave the room.

  Did he mean to abandon her here? After their embrace, the thought was even more abhorrent than it had been before. She could not let him walk away from her! Kira panicked at the very idea and flew after him to clutch his sleeve. The warrior turned to look down at her with surprise.

  “Surely you cannot mean to leave me here,” she argued. Kira heard her words fall in a breathless rush, but was powerless to slow their flow. “I know no one in this city and have no coin with which to feed myself or—”

  The warrior’s finger landed against Kira’s lips and she fell silent. Her gaze rose to his, the warmth she found in his regard unsettled her, yet made her heart race once again.

  He held his fingers and thumb together, lifting his hand to his mouth as though he ate something, and met Kira’s gaze.

  She exhaled and granted him a smile.

  Aye, she was hungry and she nodded quick agreement. The warrior nodded, pointing to himself, then outside the room. He pointed to Kira in turn, very firmly indicating the room.

  She was to wait? But what if he didn’t come back? Some of her fear must have shown in her eyes for the warrior gripped her chin. He pointed to himself, then made a walking motion with his fingers, walking those fingers out of the room, then back into it. He indicated Kira, then himself, then made the eating gesture again before meeting her gaze once more.

  He was going to fetch some food. And what would follow? Kira licked her lips and flicked a finger at the pile of cushions. She pointed to him, then herself, then to the cushions. He nodded, dropping his cheek to his palm.

  ’Twas not what she was asking. Kira swallowed before she slipped her finger into her fist, pumping it as she had once before. Despite the heat burning in her cheeks at her audacity, she managed to look up to the warrior’s eyes.

  He shrugged. Kira blinked before the weight of his finger landed on her chest. He tapped her there solemnly, his gaze somber. Kira felt her lips part before he turned and walked to the door.

  The choice was hers.

  Kira’s heart began to thunder. She had not misread him! Indeed, it seemed she had judged him too harshly. Her heart skipped at the proof that he was a more honorable man than she had dared to believe.

  She could not let him simply walk away! She flew in pursuit of the warrior, finding him half-shrouded by the shadows cast across the stairs by the time she gained the doorway.

  “Thierry!” she cried, wanting only that he should glance back.

  Chapter 11

  The warrior halted abruptly before he turned silently to face her. His expression was inscrutable, but Kira was undaunted. She hurried to the top of the stairs and smiled to find their faces level.

  She tapped herself on the chest. “Kira,” she informed him. “My name is Kira.”

  He inclined his head slightly so that she could not see his expression in the shadows, then his eyes shone as he looked back to her.

  “Kira,” he repeated softly, a slight question in his tone, the way he rolled the r making her name sound strangely exotic.

  Kira nodded mutely and he shook his head as though amazed.

  “Kira,” he mused, almost to himself.

  Kira could not help but wonder what he was thinking.

  Then he glanced up abruptly, his bright gaze pinning her to the spot. “Kira,” he repeated, and quirked one brow as he held up one finger on his right hand. “Thierry,” he said, adding the second finger with deliberation. He twined his index and second finger together, then gave them a shake. “Kira. Thierry,” he said with resolve.

  Wonder of wonders, as Kira held his gaze in her delight and surprise, for the first time she saw her warrior openly smile.

  The expression softened his features and she smiled at him in wonder. Then she flung herself at him, unspeakably encouraged by his response to learning her name. He caught her up triumphantly, his grin widening as Kira laughed and clasped her arms around his neck. Then his lips were on hers, his hands urging her closer, and she gave herself fully to his embrace for the first time. She was his woman. He had removed her last doubt and Kira intended to ensure that he had none, either.

  He groaned when she let her tongue meander into his mouth. Something primitive and feminine thrilled within Kira that she could garner such a response from him. Without breaking their embrace, he swung her up into his arms so that he clasped her knees against his chest and strode purposefully back into their room.

  Indeed, Kira reasoned, she was not that hungry. Thierry kicked the door shut behind them and Kira closed her eyes when his lips traced a burning path down her throat. She ached with the need to feel him within her. The cushions pressed against her back before she knew they had crossed the room, and Kira savored Thierry’s weight atop her. Her man. He unfastened the front of her kalat and Kira was surprised to find his fingers shaking.

  Her heart swelled with tenderness at the sign. Surely he could not doubt her response? Kira lifted his hands and pressed a kiss into each palm, stretching up to kiss the corners of his mouth before touching her lips to his. Thierry shivered and Kira could not believe he was so affected by her touch.

  This powerful man desired her but still he granted her a choice. An unbearable sweetness flooded Kira. She did not know much of intimacy, but she would learn.

  Kira knelt before Thierry and set to unfastening his garments. Thierry made to assist, but she pushed his hands away, waving a resolute finger under his nose. The corner of his mouth quirked but he did her bidding, kneeling silently before her as she worked. ’Twas a heady power to have one so much larger than she at her command and that made Kira bold. She was well aware of the warmth of his gaze and let her own admiration show when she had bared his chest to her view.

  She leaned forward and carefully licked one of his nipples. Thierry caught his breath but Kira did not halt. She laved the nipple and ran her teeth across it until it tightened defiantly, then turned her attention on its mate.

  When they both met with her satisfaction, Thierry’s breathing was ragged and his eyes glittered. But still he kept his hands at his sides, and Kira loved him for this gift.

  For whatever reason, he was granting her control of their loving. Kira would see that Thierry did not regret it. This night would he know fully how much she desired him.

  This night she would seduce him anew, knowing fully what she did.

  Kira climbed to her feet beneath his gaze and slowly began to peel off her garments. Thierry appeared transfixed. His admiration emboldened her. Kira cast her garments aside with abandon, leaning temptingly close to him as she bared her shoulders. Thierry swallowed carefully when her kalat and kurta were discarded, his gaze fixed on her bare breasts. Impulsively
, Kira teased them to peaks that matched his own. He clenched his hands and deliberately unclenched them but did not make a move toward her.

  Kira smiled and shed the rest of her garments, feeling more desirable than ever she had imagined she would. She unfastened the tie in her hair and shook out her plait, letting her hair cascade over her shoulders. Thierry’s nostrils flared as Kira pulled his kurta and kalat over his head, but still he did nothing. And when Kira pushed him in the chest with one finger, he obediently moved back to sit against the wall.

  She knelt before him and unfastened his boots, then tugged his chalwar from his hips. The sight of Thierry’s arousal halted her for a moment and her gaze flew uncertainly to his. Thierry smiled and lifted one brow eloquently, signifying that he intended to wait for her lead.

  Kira felt her breathing quicken when she reached for his braid. He leaned away from the wall and Kira knelt by his hip, tantalized by his proximity. His hair was thick and silky. She was well aware that his hand rested directly beside her knee, that her breast fairly brushed his arm. She could smell his skin and the scent taunted her with the promise of what was to come. Her fingers fumbled but recovered herself enough to unplait his hair and spread it over his shoulders.

  ’Twas lighter than she had expected, more chestnut than black in shade, its texture more wavy than straight. Kira brushed its thickness back from his temple and leaned forward to press her lips there.

  She could not stop once she had touched him, for the taste of his skin was as intoxicating to her as the most potent qumis. She traced little kisses all around his ear and along the line of his jaw, mimicking the way he had given her pleasure. The heat rising from his skin drove her to distraction and she dared to rest her fingertips on his shoulders. From there they seemed to move of their own volition to trace mirrored paths across his shoulders and chest. Kira caught her breath at the feel of him, so solid and strong.

  “Thierry,” she whispered behind his ear. He shuddered from head to toe at the flurry of her breath there and suddenly his restraint finally broke.

  “Kira,” he growled as he turned to her, his eyes blazing. He was taut with intent but Kira was aware of only his hands upon her.

  He rolled her to her back and Kira arched against his weight, tangling her fingers in his hair. She loved his strength, his heat, the unexpected gentleness of his touch. Thierry’s mouth closed around her breast and she gasped at the sweetness of his caress. She writhed against him and he moved to the other breast, his hands cupping her ribs as he teased her nipples to peaks that rivaled the state of his own. The tension rose within her again and she wanted nothing else than to touch and taste him everywhere.

  His tongue was in her navel, his hands bracketing her pelvis, then Kira gasped aloud as he moved yet lower. His palms slid over her thighs in an endless caress as his tongue dove between her legs, and Kira found herself arching to meet his touch. She recalled the pleasure he had granted her from that tender point and, this night, she knew she would taste it again.

  Though she moved against him, Thierry granted her no respite from his wicked tongue. Kira’s heart leaped when she felt again that quickening beneath her skin. Her nails bit into his shoulders and she strained against him in pursuit of that elusive pleasure.

  When the tumult claimed her, she was certain that her cry would be heard all the way to Tiflis. She was powerless against the hot wave that surged through her veins. She stretched high as she cried out, her hips bucking. Kira reached a height beyond what she had tasted before and tumbled from the heights of pleasure to land securely in Thierry’s arms.

  She might have been mortified at her wanton behavior, but she saw Thierry’s slow smile of satisfaction as he loomed over her. Kira reached up to touch the side of his face, loving how different ’twas in texture from her own and marveling that this man had claimed her. She ran her fingers lightly across his shoulders and nuzzled against his chest as he leaned over her.

  His feather-light kisses dotted her eyelids, her brow, her earlobe, the underside of her jaw, and Kira fairly purred with pleasure at his caresses. She felt the tension rising within her again and opened her eyes to find his eyes sparkling in the half-light.

  Unable to deny him the pleasure he had granted her, Kira reached up to touch her lips to his. Thierry’s one hand enfolded the back of her neck, the other cupping her breast. When his thumb dragged leisurely across her taut nipple, Kira parted her legs and locked them around his waist.

  Thierry caught his breath, but Kira held his gaze in silent challenge. She smiled slowly and let her fingertip trail across his lips. He opened his mouth and she continued her caress across his teeth. Thierry bit gently on her inquisitive finger and Kira lifted her hips demandingly against him. His eyes widened, he smiled, and then he slipped within her.

  Thierry moved slowly, as though he feared to frighten her. Kira willed herself to welcome this natural union. The concern in his eyes now showed her that she had been right to trust him. When he rested fully within her, he paused and Kira moved slightly to accustom herself to him. Thierry blanched as he closed his eyes and Kira was amazed by the extent of his weakness for her.

  She rolled her hips as she had in the dance she had learned and watched him grit his teeth. Kira nearly laughed aloud at the possibility that she might be able to please him as he had pleasured her. She arched back and deliberately stretched her arms above her head, dancing as well as she could stretched on her back beneath him.

  Thierry’s eyes flew open, his eyes blazing with desire. Kira merely granted him a smile and continued her “dance.” He reared up onto his knees abruptly and carried her with him, both of his hands clasping around her waist to hold her upright before him. Kira dropped her toes to the ground and stretched high to dance, loving the strength of his grip and the flame smoldering in his eyes. She knew he would not let her fall. She knew he found her beautiful.

  And that gave her all the confidence she needed to seduce him fully.

  Thierry tipped back his head and roared as he began to lift her up and down. The very movement made Kira almost forget to dance, for he rubbed himself against her so that that secret spot was reawakened. She met his gaze and saw the awareness of his feat gleaming there.

  Knowing ’twas his intent, she could not deny him. Kira stretched high, struggling to dance even as the heat gathered within her. They moved together in a timeless tempo, their pace increasing to a frenzy, their gazes hot and locked. Kira’s heart thundered and her skin heated. She could not look away from the bright glitter of Thierry’s eyes and danced her best, for him. Suddenly he arched high and tightened from head to toe, his gesture driving him against her so that Kira cried out. She heard him roar, but this time, ’twas in pleasure, then collapsed against his chest.

  ’Twas impossible to believe that she had feared this union. The promise of coupling thus over and over again fairly made her tremble, and Kira closed her eyes against the rise of exhaustion. The man would see she never slept. Kira smiled to herself, for she might ensure he never slept.

  But the languor stealing through her in the wake of their loving could not be denied. Perhaps later she would see he never slept.

  Kira barely felt Thierry’s lips brush across her brow before she slept within the safe haven of his embrace.

  Kira was still sleeping soundly when Thierry slipped reluctantly away from her side. Dawn had come and he had not moved as was his habit, but he could linger no more. The road to Paris was long enough without lingering abed all the day. He smiled to himself as Kira rolled over and burrowed into the warm spot he had just abandoned. Indeed, he felt more lighthearted than he had in years.

  All because a woman had confided in him her name.

  Although Kira had granted him more than that. Thierry almost whistled with satisfaction as he hastily dressed, only the fear that he would awaken her keeping him silent. No sound may have crossed his lips, but Thierry was more than aware that his expression was not nearly as stern as usual.

&nbs
p; Perhaps ’twas not so bad to see the civilized man revived within him.

  Perhaps something of import awaited him in his homeland.

  On this morning all seemed possible. Thierry almost reconsidered the tangled mess he had left behind in Khanbaliq, but checked his impulse in time. He spared a last glance to the sleeping beauty on the other side of the room and shook his head.

  Even Kira could not heal that wound. It should be enough that she appeared capable of healing all the rest.

  He hesitated on the threshold for a long moment, watching her sleep. Knowing he had no choice but to fetch supplies did little to bolster his resolve to leave. Kira would never know he was gone, for he had noted already that she was a sound sleeper. If he moved quickly, he could return before she awakened and they could be on their way before the sun reached its zenith.

  Nogai was undoubtedly waiting impatiently at the gates already. That realization spurred Thierry on and he closed the door to the room behind himself as he departed.

  The souk in Constantinople was as colorful and busy as any Thierry had seen. Indeed, if he had not such a finely honed sense of direction, he might easily have found himself lost amidst the confusion. All manner of goods were for sale, fineries collected from all corners of the world, and their attributes were recited to the thronging crowd by numerous loud merchants.

  Thierry pushed his way through the crowd and acquired the goods he had need of, ignoring the rest. Dried meat, flat bread, some cheese and dried fruit. He bought another pair of blankets, for the air would be growing colder as they traveled farther north. Kira would feel the cold, no doubt.

  His errands completed, Thierry turned at the savory scent of roast lamb, thinking to fetch Kira a treat. Instead, his attention was snared by an inconspicuous shop.

  Round gems gleamed in the shadows and a black-robed man sat nodding behind the display. His beard fell long and white over his chest, his thick eyebrows the same shade, his black turban making his face appear more lined than perhaps it was. He glanced up and met Thierry’s gaze and those dark eyes flashed. The man beckoned with a bony finger and Thierry could not help but comply.