He looked up at her, his eyes dazed and hungry as he breathed raggedly. Then he rolled her over, onto the mattress, and shut the curtains, He turned the lights off with a control he had on the nightstand. She heard him remove the rest of his clothes in the darkness, but she couldn't see anything at all. Adron ached to see her naked, but he didn't want any light whatsoever for her to see his damaged body. She might change her mind if she realized what an ugly monster he was. His cock hot and heavy for her, he unfastened the stiff, prickly brace on his left leg and let it fall to the floor. Next, he removed the one on his hand and arm.
Then, slowly, carefully, he pulled her clothes from her.
He ran his hand over her smooth, hot skin, delighting in her murmurs of pleasure. He'd never taken a Page 12
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virgin before, and the knowledge that he was her first lover added even more excitement to the moment. No man had ever touched her.
No one but him.
Even with his wings broken and clipped, he soared at that knowledge. Livia moaned as he covered her with his long, hot body. She'd never felt anything like all that lean, hard strength spread out evenly against her bare flesh. He kissed her fiercely as he separated her thighs with his knee. Then he pressed his thigh against the center of her body, the hairs on his leg teasing her intimately.
She ran her hand over his back, feeling the rugged terrain of scars, muscle, and skin.
"My name is Adron," he whispered a second before he traced the outline of her ear with his tongue.
"Adron," she repeated, testing the syllables. It was a strong name that suited him. He stroked her with his thigh, his tongue, and his hands. Arching her back, Livia welcomed his touch. It was so wickedly erotic to feel him all over and yet see nothing of him. It was like a vivid and yet surreal dream.
Reaching up, she freed his hair and let it fall around his face, then buried her hands in the silken strands of it. He leaned down and placed his lips in the crook of her arm where he suckled her flesh. Adron swallowed as he pulled back, wanting desperately to see her face. Instead, he lifted his hand to trace the contours of it. He could feel the tiny cleft in her chin, imagine the small oval face overwhelmed by large brown eyes that tugged at a heart he'd thought was dead. She was breathtaking. And for tonight, she was his.
All his.
Closing his eyes, he moved himself down her body, then cursed as a wave of fierce pain lanced up his leg and across his back.
She tensed beneath him. "What's wrong?"
Adron couldn't answer. The pain in his leg was so intense that it instantly quelled his desire. He rolled over onto his back and struggled to breathe.
"Adron?"
The concern in her voice ate at him. Gah, he was a pathetic waste of humanity.
"My leg," he said between clenched teeth. "I need the painkillers on my nightstand."
"Which leg?"
"Damn it, get my medicine."
"Which leg!" she insisted.
He groaned out loud, hating himself for the fact he couldn't keep it in. But the pain was just too much.
"The left one."
She took his knee into her hands.
He cursed as even more pain tore through him. "Stop!" he snarled.
"Just relax . . ." She massaged the joint.
A strange warmth came from her hands, seeping deep into his skin. He frowned as the ache began to diminish.
Suddenly, it was gone entirely.
For a full minute he lay there, tense, waiting for it to return. It didn't.
In fact, nothing hurt. Not his chest, not his arm, not his knee. Nothing.
"What did you do?"
She placed her hand against his chest. "It's only temporary. But for a few hours, it won't bother you at all."
Adron couldn't believe it. He'd learned to live in a state of constant, unrelenting pain. Physical agony so severe that he couldn't sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time. Until now.
The absence of it was unbelievable. His heart swelled with joy. He was free. Even if it was only temporary, he still had a moment to remember what he'd been like before his body had been cruelly, Page 13
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vengefully taken from him.
And it was all because of her.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her precious lips.
Livia felt his heart pounding under her hand, and she heard the laughter in his voice.
"Thank you."
She smiled. Until he moved down her body with his kisses. She moaned as fierce pleasure tore through her. His hands and mouth felt incredible against her bare skin. This was so much more than she'd expected. Krista had told her that a man who didn't know her would be quick with the deed, then let her leave.
But Adron was taking his time. He seemed to actually savor her body. It was as if he were really making love to her. And she wondered, if he was this tender with a stranger, how much more so would he be if they actually knew each other? If he actually cared for her?
But tonight was all they'd ever know. When it was over she'd leave, and this moment would be nothing more than a treasured memory she'd carry with her the rest of her life, which would probably be really short once her father found out what she'd done.
That was tomorrow.
Tonight, there was just the two of them.
And she would revel in it.
Adron drank in the smell and taste of her skin as he nibbled the bare flesh of her hip. Her taste was addictive, and her smell . . .
He could breathe in the sweet floral scent forever.
Her soft hands caressed his hair and neck in a way that made him burn. He'd never thought to have another night like this.
A night with no demons. No memories.
She engulfed him, and he gladly surrendered himself to her. She was his angel of mercy, delivering him from his sins and darkness. Delivering him from his loneliness and solitude. He would treasure this peaceful moment for the rest of his life. It would warm him and keep him company when his body returned to being hateful.
His heart tender for her, he spread her legs and placed his body between them. Livia bit her lip, expecting him to enter her.
He didn't.
Instead, he kissed a small path down her thigh while he buried his hand at the center of her body. She groaned from the pleasure of his touch. It was sweet, pure bliss. And he took his time circling her with his fingers, delving, stroking, caressing.
"That's it," he breathed against her leg as she rubbed herself against his hand. "Don't be embarrassed."
She should be, and yet she wasn't.
At least not until he took her into his mouth.
Blind ecstasy ripped her asunder. "Adron? Are you supposed to do that?"
He gave her one long, deep lick. "Does it feel good?"
"Oh, yes."
"Then I'm supposed to be doing it." Without another word, he returned his mouth to her. Livia writhed in his arms as his tongue tormented her. And when he slid his finger inside her, she thought she would perish from the pleasure. Krista had told her to expect pain, but there was nothing painful in his touch. Nothing but heaven. She threw her head back as he swirled his finger inside her, around and around, matching the rhythm of his tongue. Assaulted by fierce, fiery sensations, Livia felt her body quiver and jerk as if it had a mind of its own.
Her ecstasy mounted until she could stand no more, and then just as she was ready to beg him to stop, her body ripped apart.
She screamed out as her release came hard and fast. Still he toyed with her. His finger and tongue pleasured her until the sensitive flesh couldn't bear his touch any longer. Page 14
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"Please," she cried. "Please, have mercy on me."
Adron laughed at her tone and was amazed at the foreign so
und. He couldn't remember the last time he'd laughed.
He pulled back, but kept his finger inside her for a moment longer. He could feel her maidenhead still intact. His body burned, demanding he take her. But he couldn't do that. He hadn't done any real damage to her yet.
Once he broke that barrier, there would be no going back. No second chances. It would be like when he decided to . . .
He flinched at the memory. His life had been completely ruined by one impulsive act. He wouldn't let her ruin hers the same way.
She was kind and gentle. A pure heart in a world of corrupt ones. He wouldn't spoil that. He couldn't.
Closing his eyes, he was mystified by what he felt for her. At the fact that he was able to pull himself back and rein in his treacherous body.
It had been years since he'd done anything noble. Years since he'd wanted to do anything noble. And for the first time in almost a decade, he felt like the man he'd once been. And it felt good.
He reached down for the blanket and covered her with it.
Livia paused as he spooned up to her back and held her close. She reveled in the feel of his arms around her, but he didn't seem to be making any move to . . .
"Adron?"
"Yes?"
"We're not through, are we?"
He rubbed his cheek against her shoulder. "I gave you your pleasure, Livia. What more do you want?"
She turned to look at him, but in the darkness all she could see was the vaguest of outlines of his face.
"But you didn't . . . You know."
"I know."
"Why?"
"Don't you think you should wait until you find someone you care about?"
"I care about you."
Adron snorted. "You don't even know me."
She turned in his arms and reached up to place her hand against his scarred cheek. "You're right, I don't know you. And yet I've already shared my body with you. I want you to finish."
He pulled away from her. "Livia--"
"Adron. If you don't, I'll be forced into marriage with a man I despise. I don't want him to touch me the way you have. Please help me. If I'm not a virgin, he'll refuse the marriage. I can't marry him. I can'
t."
Her words tore through him. An image of Alia flashed through his mind. He'd been forced for political reasons to marry her. And she'd shown him a whole new meaning to the word hell. It was something he'
d wish on no one.
Livia skimmed her hand over his chest, down across his stomach. His gut contracted fiercely at her touch as her nails brushed at the hairs between his legs until she held him in her hand. His cock tightened and swelled even more. In that instant, he knew he was lost.
And when she kissed him, his entire world came undone. Livia was unprepared for his reaction. He growled low in his throat and rolled her over, pinning her against the mattress. He was wild and untamed as he kissed her lips, then buried his face against her neck where he licked and teased her flesh, burning her all over. He reached down between them, stroking her until she lost all reason, all sanity. His gaze locked with hers, he spread her legs wider. She felt the tip of his cock against her core. In a sweet gesture, he took her hand in his and held it above her head. He kissed her lightly on the lips and slid himself deep inside her. As he filled her, she bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out at the unexpected pain that intruded on her pleasure. He was so large that her body ached at the foreign feel of Page 15
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him.
But at least it was done.
She was a virgin no more.
Adron held himself perfectly still, waiting for her body to adjust to his. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her, but by the fierce grip she had on his hand, he knew what she was hiding. He also knew better than anyone that a person couldn't feel pleasure and pain at the same time. And he refused to hurt her tonight.
Reluctantly, he let go of her hand and raised himself up on his arms to look down at her. He was used to the darkness. So much so that he saw her eyes tightly shut.
"Don't be afraid," he whispered, skimming his hand down her body until he touched her between her legs again.
Livia sighed as his hand stroked her nub. The pain receded behind a wave of building delight.
"That's it," he said before he slowly started to rock his hips against hers. Livia arched her back as his hot touch washed away the pain. He felt so good inside her, and every stroke seemed to reach deeper as she clung to his broad, muscular shoulders. She'd never imagined it could feel so wonderful.
Adron watched her face as she surrendered herself to him. He ground his teeth at the incredible feel of her. She was so wet and hot beneath and around him. He'd forgotten the pleasure to be had in a woman'
s arms.
Had forgotten the incredible feel of someone just holding him in the darkness. He lowered himself and took her into his arms, where he cradled her head in his hands as he thrust against her. Her breath fell against his bare shoulder, burning him. She turned her head to kiss his neck as she ran her hands over his back. He growled, scalded by the bliss of it. Gah, let me die right here and right now. Before the pain returned. Before he remembered what a worthless piece of shit he was. Desperate for her, he didn't want this moment to end.
Livia wrapped her legs around his lean waist. He held her so tenderly that it touched her deep inside her heart. Krista had told her he would use her without any feelings for her whatsoever. But it didn't feel like that.
Not the way he held on to her like she was unspeakably precious. He returned to her lips, and she moaned at the taste of his tongue. He stroked her faster. Deeper. Harder. She held him close as her pleasure started building again. Oh goodness, what was it about him that made her feel like this?
And this time when her release came, he joined her. He growled low in his throat as he delivered one last, deep stroke and shuddered in her arms.
Adron collapsed on top of her. Completely spent, he lay there, holding her as he waited to drift back down from heaven and into his body. So much for meaningless sex. There had been absolutely nothing meaningless about what they'd just shared. And what terrified him most was the fact that he didn't want her to leave.
He didn't want to return to the vacant emptiness of his life. He'd been alone for so long. Had lived without anyone other than servants and family.
But she'd changed that, and he didn't want to go back.
"That was amazing." Her breath teased his ear. "Can we do it again?"
He laughed, and was shocked to feel his body already stirring. "Yes, we can." In fact, he wasn't going to stop until she again begged him for mercy.
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TWO
Adron came awake slowly to the most incredible feeling he'd ever known. Livia by his side.
She lay nestled in his arms, facing away from him. He wasn't sure what time they'd finally fallen asleep. All he knew was that he'd never experienced such peace. Such warmth. And there was no pain. Neither physical nor mental.
Reveling in the moment, he buried his face in her hair and inhaled the fresh, sweet scent of her as he pressed his skin to hers.
His body stirred immediately.
How?
After the night they'd shared, he should be sated for days to come, and yet here he was craving her in a way that was almost inhuman. He didn't understand it.
He pulled away to kiss her shoulder, then froze as he saw her skin in the faint morning light. Frowning, he ran his hand over her bare shoulder and the vicious scars that marred her back. She'd been beaten. Severely by the looks of it.
Was she a runaway slave?
She sighed contentedly and snuggled against him. Adron forgot the scars as her buttocks collided with his erection. He tightened his arms around her while he nudged her legs apart with his thigh. God help him, but he wanted mo
re of her.
Livia came awake to the sensation of Adron behind her, filling her again. "Oh my goodness," she breathed as he thrust himself deep and hard into her body. Biting her lip, she groaned in pleasure. "Don't you ever get tired?"
"Not of you, I don't."
She smiled at that. No one had ever made her feel so treasured. And she had to admit, a woman could get used to waking up like this.
Closing her eyes to savor his long, luscious strokes, she surrendered herself to him. She came an instant before he did.
Livia rolled over to see a gentle smile on his face as he stared at her in wonder.
"Thank you, Livia. For everything."
She returned his smile. "Thank you." She placed her lips against his. Adron's senses swirled as he cupped her head in his hand. He was definitely going to keep her in his bed for the rest of the day.
"Adron, you're not going to believe what--" His father's voice broke off the instant his bedroom door swung open. Gaping at them lying entwined on the bed, his father froze. Then, all hell broke loose.
Livia dove beneath the covers at the same time a fetid curse rang out. Adron looked from her cowering in his bed to the six men surrounding his father. Two of them wore royal Vistan robes, marking them as an emperor and his heir. The other four wore the dark-gray uniform of imperial bodyguards.
"I told you it was true!" the elder Vistan snarled at Adron's father. His dark-brown eyes were filled with hatred as he tilted his head to look up at Adron's father. At six foot six, and a former League assassin himself, his father wasn't the kind of man you addressed in anything except the most reverent of tones.
Not unless you wanted to die, anyway.
And he saw the warning glint in his father's eyes that denoted a wrath the Vistan emperor would do well to fear.
"The informant was correct when he said your son left with her."
Adron arched a brow at the contemptuous sneer on the man's face. And it was then he realized the Vistan emperor had hair the same color and hue as the woman cowering in his bed. And as he scanned the younger Vistan heir, he saw further confirmation of who Livia really was. Page 17
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Shit.
He'd slept with a Vistan princess.
"You whore!" Her brother threw the covers back and grabbed Livia by the wrist. Adron removed her brother's hand from her and shoved him back. "She didn't do anything wrong."
In Other Worlds Page 3
