Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition (42 page)

“
W
hat’s wrong
?” Olek asked, as his wife rushed inside their home. He stood up from the table, shoving his sketches into a folder to hide them. He’d been thinking about her, almost tempted to send a guard to for search her—only he was having a hard time coming up with a good enough excuse.

“I met your brother,” Nadja said. Her rounded blue eyes glistened from the frame of her porcelain skin.

“Oh?” Olek asked, wondering why she was so shaken. Her hands trembled as she stepped forward. She stopped by the fountain and swayed lightly on her feet, prompting him to question, “Which one?”

“Zoran,” she answered, weakly. The word was a delicate whisper and her lips quivered.

“What happened?” Olek came for her, unable to keep from gathering her into his arms. His eyes devoured her, searching her for injury or a clue as to why she was upset. He trusted his brother to be honorable, but he couldn’t deny his wife’s expression. She trembled beneath his hands and, to his amazement, the reserved Nadja began to cry. He pulled her close and cupped the back of her head to his shoulder. “Nadja, what happened? What’s wrong?”

If Zoran has done anything to her, I’ll kill him!

“Pia and I were practicing. She was trying to show me how to defend myself and I accidentally kicked her in the ribs,” Nadja managed between sobs. She gasped as she tried to get her story out. “I thought she was ready for me, but she wasn’t, and she fell on a sword display and was stabbed and there was blood and I didn’t mean to hurt her, but there was so much blood, and Tal—”

“Nadja,” Olek interrupted as she began to babble incoherently. He brushed back her hair. “Is Pia going to be all right?”

“Yes, the medic said that she’d be fine.” Nadja sniffed. Pulling back miserably, her wet eyes studied him. “But I think your brother wants to… He looked really angry with me.”

Olek frowned as her head dropped forward and she burrowed into his chest. He wasn’t sure what to say to her. He’d never seen her this vulnerable, this willing to stay in the comfort of his arms. His body stirred with hot desire—that always happened when she was near—but beyond the desire there was more. He wanted to keep her in his embrace, to protect her. It was a new, deeper feeling, a connection that stirred between them, pulling them together. He felt every nerve in his body drawing her closer, as if he could fold her inside himself and keep her next to his heart.

Feeling her shiver, Olek soothed, “Zoran has a temper but he’s a reasonable man. He won’t hurt you, Nadja. I’m sure he’s just worried. I would be if it happened to you.”

Nadja pulled back to study him. She didn’t appear so sure. “You didn’t see his face, Olek.”

“I’ll tell you a secret. He always looks like that. It can’t be helped.”

Nadja laughed through her tears and hit him lightly on the chest. “You’re not funny.”

“Ah,” Olek murmured softly, brushing a tear back with his thumb. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see. I’ll even talk to Zoran first thing tomorrow for you.”

“You’ll tell him I didn’t mean it?”

Olek nodded. His eyes dipped to her mouth. Nadja lifted up on her toes and kissed him first. He groaned in surprise. Her hands wound up into his hair, pulling him closer. Her soft body pressed along his. Her lips were tentative, but she didn’t stop. With a moan, she forced him back toward the couch.

Olek’s knees hit the side and he was instantly pushed down. Before he knew what was happening, Nadja had his hips straddled with her thighs and was rubbing her warm sex against his full arousal. He felt her getting wet for him, her heated center dampening her clothes. She pulled back from her kiss, holding his face as she panted for air. Her eyes bore into him, pleading. He read her passion for him, but also saw her confusion. She didn’t know what to do next. It was an appeal he couldn’t resist answering.

N
adja had looked
into the deep, liquid pools of Olek’s green eyes, eyes that were so soft and giving, and was unable to resist them. His hands stroked her gently. She’d seen he wanted to protect her and for the first time in her life, she felt as if nothing could reach her—not even her father’s wrath.

She couldn’t stop herself. His lips moved beneath hers and it was all she could do not to devour him. The temptingly masculine scent of him urged her onward and she had to keep kissing him. Her hands moved over hard flesh, wishing he was naked so she could better explore.

Olek took control. His hands ran up into her hair to free the silky brown locks before moving down to her hips. He pulled her onto his clothed erection, grinding her hips against his harder. Nadja moaned, liking the added pressure, as she moved along the extraordinarily thick length of his cock.

Olek groaned into her mouth as he thrust his hips up. His lips slid form her mouth as she bounced on his lap. He kissed her throat, tilting her head back so her hair fell over her shoulders. He gripped her, forcing her down so her sex pressed hard against his shaft.

“My sweet solarflower.” He growled against her flesh.

Nadja didn’t try to fight him. She was tired of fighting her body. She only wanted to feel him and the safety he provided her. He artfully swept her onto the couch so she lay beneath him, his hand cradling her head. His body rocked into hers. His hands were everywhere at once, on her stomach, curving to her hip, digging beneath her shirt to free her swelling breasts to the onslaught of his searching lips. When he touched her it was as if nothing could ever harm her again. She was safe.

“Tell me you want me.” Olek moaned hoarsely, desperately.

“Yes,” Nadja said and was rewarded with another press of him between her legs. Her body arched. “I want you, Olek.”

Her hands went to his shirt, and she frantically pulled it over his head. She glided her fingers over his chest, tracing the solid bulges of his muscles. Olek reached for the drawstring tie on his pants, intent on freeing his arousal.

Suddenly, he stopped.

Nadja gasped, about ready to smack him if he dared to pull away now.

A groan left his parted lips and he nearly collapsed in frustration. That’s when she heard it. Someone was knocking on the door.

Taking a deep breath, Nadja’s mind began to clear. She covered her chest from view and began to unwind her legs. A blush crept over her features.

Olek grabbed her face and kissed her. “Just leave it. They’ll go away,” he said, ready to continue.

“But…” Nadja said, having regained a bit of her sanity. “What if it’s about Pia? What if she’s hurt worse than I thought?”

Olek slowly nodded and climbed off her. With a frustrated sigh, he yelled, “One moment!”

He grabbed his shirt, tugging it over his head. Nadja followed suit. Her body hated her. Her sex ached, nearly throbbing in protest. Tiny waves of desire shot up from her neglected sex. Her nipples stood at hard points against the material of her shirt.

Leaning over, Olek kissed her cheek and whispered the heated promise, “We’re not finished with this, solarflower.”

Nadja’s fingers fumbled at the admission. She trembled, now that she had time to stop and think about what she was doing. The old insecurities hit her hard. Olek had been so passionate, so bold, and she became frightened she wouldn’t measure up to his expectations.

Olek strode to the door, walking around the fountain, as if eager to send whoever it was away. Nadja righted her clothes. Still on the couch, she used the fountain as a blockade between her and the door until she felt she could properly receive their guest. Her cheeks and neck were flushed and she tried to fan her face with her hands.

“
Draea Anwealda
,” a servant acknowledged. Olek glanced over his shoulder to where Nadja still sat. She dropped her hands to listen. “The king bids you to join him immediately in his office. Prince Zoran is back from his mission and has reported. The king wishes to discuss his findings with you. Furthermore, he said to tell you there is a problem with the trade agreement and he wishes to go over the final preparations for tomorrow’s event.”

Stiffly, Olek nodded. “Inform my father I’ll be there in a moment.”

“Very good, my lord,” said the servant, leaving to do as he was told.

Nadja stood as Olek turned to face her. The door slid shut behind him. Her clothes were smoothed and she kept her gaze guarded.

“Nadja,” he said hoarsely, as if feeling the need to explain.

“Go,” she told him calmly. “I was a little emotional. I’m fine now. Your kingdom needs you.”

“But…” His eyes roamed over her.

“I know, you have work to do.” She tried to keep the sour note out of her voice and failed. “Duty is duty. Now, go. The king is waiting.”

He hesitated before nodding once and striding to the door.

Nadja watched him leave. As soon as the door slid shut behind him, she let loose a ragged breath of air and fell back onto the couch. She couldn’t move to save her life. Her body sang with the tumultuous fire of his touch. But, as she had time to cool her thoughts, she grew frightened by the passion in him. His eyes had been so determined, so possessive. His hands were so forceful and confident. After what she’d done to Pia, she had been so vulnerable, and his arms were so comforting.

She had never acted rashly, never just leapt before thinking. This time, she’d leapt into his arms, no debate, no considering the consequences. She shivered, thoroughly confused.

“This is not the life I had planned,” she whispered. “And he is nothing like the husband I envisioned.”

O
lek frowned
, resenting his father’s man for his horrible timing. Never had he cursed his position as much as he did in that moment. His body had been strained to the point of explosion. He didn’t want to leave his wife. He wanted her to beg him to stay. If she’d have asked, he would have defied the order and gone back into her arms without hesitation.

Duty is duty. Now, go. The king is waiting.

Olek flinched. She’d been calm as she said it—too calm. What happened to the fiery passion of just moments ago? He wanted that version of his wife back.

He hesitated, torn between going back to Nadja and continuing on to the royal office. Knowing she had been right, he growled and stormed down the hall to meet his father. What else could he do?

O
lek’s mood
had turned disagreeable by the time he arrived back home. The king’s need of him lasted well into the night. Zoran had nothing of relevance to report. He had followed a suspected Var spy into the swamps, but had to turn back before he could completely track the man down. Otherwise, he would not have made it to the coronation on time.

As if coronations, planetary Var threats, and unhappy marriages were not enough, they now had reports of a possible alien threat to their northern ore mines. Even though the rumors were unconfirmed, it was something they had to take very seriously.
Galaxa-promethium
was the lifeblood of the Draig intergalactic economy. The special ore was how they paid for everything offworld, including Galaxy Brides’ shipments.

Olek pressed a finger to the center of his throbbing forehead. After the problems with the current bridal shipment, they were forced to reconsider the Galaxy Brides’ trade agreement as well. Olek’s grandfather had put it into place during his rule hundreds of years ago. They had come to depend on bridal procurement for their very survival. If they stopped trading, he wasn’t sure what the people would do—especially the unmarried people. It could be the first Draig uprising in remembered history.

The Lithor Republic sent a communication via Lord Mirek much sooner than Olek had expected. It was nearly one hundred pages long and came with a ten page request that basically asked to set up an official meeting between two of their dignitaries. As always, Lord Mirek would go and meet with their dignitary, Barun Monke. For some reason, the Lithorian people insisted on formality each and every year and required a member of the immediate royal family to sign the agreement. They also sent all communications on paper with no electronic copy. Honor and common sense dictated the prince read every page, every time, to look for changes in the wording. It was one of Olek’s most dreaded tasks. His father took pity on him and helped with the smaller document. His generosity, however, did not extend to the one hundred page contractual tome. By the time they were finished drafting a response to the dignitary request, the king had decided to put the ceremony’s final preparations off until the next morning.

Olek’s head ached terribly from having to decipher the first part of the Lithorian mess. He deposited the hundred page communication on his desk, none too eager to sift through it.

Nadja was asleep. He looked at her for a long time, lying on his couch with a blanket and pillow. He wondered why she chose to sleep there instead of the bed where she had been staying. There wasn’t room for two of them and he had no wish to wake her so late. His body aching, his head throbbing, he fell into bed still wearing his clothes.

The next morning he awoke late. Nadja was already gone. He assumed she was checking on Princess Pia.

His dreams had been haunted by her kisses, overshadowed by the duties he faced and the attendance of the Var at the coronation festivities. The prince would not have admitted it, but the possibility of a Var threat to the royal princesses was in the back of his mind. He had no proof of their conspiring, only a husband’s worry over his bride.

Dressing quickly in a fresh change of clothes, he had no choice but to go back to the royal office to prepare for the night’s ceremony. The sooner he could get it done, the sooner he could be back home with his Nadja. A smile found his lips as he thought of her. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be too averse to picking up where they had left off.

N
adja trembled in nervous excitement
, despite her determination to be calm and dignified. She’d been to celebrations, balls, parties, and numerous other royal events before. She’d even been the guest of honor, along with her father, at many of those functions, giving joint speeches with him, shaking hands, and smiling prettily for the crowds. So tonight should have been no different—but it was.

In her nervous anticipation, Nadja took twice as long with her hair to make sure it was perfectly upswept. She put on makeup and perfume. Looking at her bare throat and ears, she wished she hadn’t been so rash when getting rid of all her jewelry. Her diamond necklace would have gone perfectly with the gown she was to wear.

She’d spent most of the day with Pia, helping the woman get ready. Pia acted as if being accidently stabbed was an everyday occurrence. She moved around as if nothing had happened though Nadja knew the woman had to be sore. Pia didn’t hold a grudge and Nadja was glad for it, though she still felt guilty. Luckily, and to her great relief, Zoran was away while she was there.

Finishing her makeup, Nadja practiced smiling into the mirror before getting her gown. She held the light robe at her waist as she walked. Olek was still gone. She knew he was more than likely with his father.

The coronation gown was nothing like she’d pictured when she saw Bara’s quick sketch of the queen’s design. The dress was divided into two layers. The first was a softened, cream-colored, faille silk that overlaid a tight corset bodice on the top, with non-existent sleeves. It pushed her breasts up, but not too much. The cream skirt then flared out from the hips in a light sweeping effect that glided beautifully when she walked.

The top layer was more of a high-collared jacket of dark green. She’d been told green was Prince Olek’s royal color and she would be wearing it in some form at most royal functions, whether it was a gown or a simple sash. The jacket met at her waist with silver miniature dragon clips. The overskirt flowed, though it was heavier than the cream. Slipping into green dress slippers, she sighed, feeling every inch a princess.

“You look…lovely,” Olek said from the bedroom door. His gaze roamed hungrily over her.

Nadja turned, not having heard him walk in. She smiled, brushing down her skirt. “You don’t think it’s too much? The queen said—”

“It’s perfect,” he murmured. His eyes transfixed on her bodice, he seemed unable to stop himself from going to her. He began to reach for her waist. Nadja darted out of his embrace. Olek glanced up in surprise, clearly confused.

“I spent three hours on this hair. You are not going to ruin it,” she said, seriously. Her hands lifted to make sure he stayed back.

Olek gave her an easy smile. He took a step for her again, teasing her as he pretended to reach for her.

“Oh, stay back,” Nadja cried. “I mean it!”

Olek laughed. “I’ll agree, but only if you give me one kiss.”

Nadja eyed him suspiciously.

“Just one,” he said, taking a step forward. He dropped his hands to the side. “I won’t even touch you. See, I’ll keep my hands right here.”

Nadja, still watching him carefully, eased forward. His mouth stuck out expectantly and she pecked him on the cheek.

Olek’s hands instantly found her waist, pulling her to him. “You call that a kiss?”

Nadja struggled against his hold, though the power in his arms excited her. She swatted at his hands, trying to get free. “Olek, come on, let go.”

“Fine, but I will not forget. Promise to kiss me later and I’ll let you go for now,” Olek said. His eyes dipped down to her cleavage with untold promises. Nadja knew he would be expecting more this night than just a kiss.

Weakly she nodded. “Now let me go. I have to go check on my hair and make sure you didn’t shake it loose.”

Olek nuzzled her neck playfully. “What if I promised not to touch your hair? Would you at least let me see the rest of this dress?”

Confused, she looked down, trying to see what he meant. “This is the whole dress.”

Olek’s hand shifted to undo one of the dragon clasps and his fingers dipped beneath the jacket at her waist. “I want to see under here.”

Nadja swallowed.

“And under here,” Olek huskily continued, his hand trailing underneath the overskirt to the back of her thigh. “Let me see what you’re wearing underneath this skirt. Will you take it off for me?”

Nadja was naked beneath the gown. Qurilixian fashion didn’t supply much in the way of underclothing. She nearly swooned when his lips gently assaulted her neck. Passion readily flooded into her limbs.

“You smell so good,” he whispered. “You feel so good.”

She moaned.

Olek undid the second and third clasps, completely freeing the top layer. He groaned as his eyes moved over the tight bodice clinging to her breasts. Her nipples tightened under the gown, responding to him.

“We’re going to be late,” Nadja said, though in truth she had no idea when the event was due to start. She swatted at his searching hands.

Olek chuckled, and grinned as if he’d been expecting her to come to her senses and stop him.

“Ah, solarflower,” Olek teased, “I won’t take too long.”

Nadja scrunched her nose, not completely understanding, but not liking the idea of a fast whatever-it-was he was planning.

“Is that a no?” Olek asked, stroking her thigh one last time before giving the bottom curve of her ass a hard squeeze. He let her go.

“Get dressed,” Nadja ordered, glancing at the bed. “Your clothes are right there.”

Olek’s eyes followed her nod. She’d already laid out the formal tunic that would match her dress the best. Leaning forward, he smacked her loudly on the lips and let her go. Nadja was almost sorry to feel his protective arms leave her.

“Do you want to help me get dressed?” he asked mischievously.

“I have to go fix this mess you’ve made of me,” she scolded, walking from the room.

Olek smiled after her like a fool. Then, sighing, he went about making himself presentable.