Dragon Lords Books 1 - 4 Box Set: Anniversary Edition (55 page)

T
he presumption of that man
!

Olena was too irritated to eat the huge feast laid out before the brides on a long wooden table. The food consisted of roasted two-horned pigs, blocks of Qurilixen blue bread with whipped cheese, strange fruit, and crusted pastries. Servants walked by replenishing the food like they’d be hung if something was out of place.

Olena eyed the campground path that led to the Galaxy Brides’ ship. The corridor of male flesh was no longer there. How dare he act like she would just come to him willingly because he wished it to be so? Oh, she knew what he wanted from her. It was clear in his very lecherous gaze.

Reaching for a piece of blue bread so she could tear it into tiny pieces, she grumbled to herself,
Stupid, lecherous, handsome barbarian.

She shivered as she thought about his dark, come-hither smile. Olena frowned. As much as he annoyed her, she had to admit his confidence was attractive. That attraction irritated her.

Olena grabbed a slice of meat and took a bite out of spite, just to prove to herself that she wasn’t affected by the man. She could eat. She could have a good time. Watch as she lifted a glass in celebration. See how freaking merry and carefree she was?

Who was she kidding? She wanted nothing more than to run away and never look back. What made her think she could do this?

Simple,
she thought.
I didn’t think I’d feel anything.

What was wrong with her? She was better than this.

The married couples fed each other, as if it were a performance of marital bliss the brides were to watch. Servants carried pitchers and Olena eagerly waved one of them over. The man’s light blond hair fell over his shoulders as he bowed. The servants were more fully clothed than the grooms had been. She held up her goblet, barely giving him a second glance as she tasted the strange berry wine. It wasn’t a nerve-stiffening drink like she’d wanted, but she’d take what she could get.

“He makes for a peculiar servant,” Pia pondered at her side.

Olena glanced over, drinking as she did so. The woman’s gaze was suspicious as she watched the blond man walking away. He looked like a servant to her, not a very good one by the way he spilled some of the wine on the ground as he walked away, but a servant nonetheless.

“They make for a peculiar race,” Olena mumbled, secretly searching for the dark-haired stranger. She absently ran her fingers through her hair, touching the firefly hairpin she had stuck in her locks. It’s cold, black stones brought her a little comfort.

The wine settled her nerves and she was able to regain some of her composure. Surely it was shock that made her nervous. She hadn’t expected to find attraction. But that’s all it was. Momentary attraction brought on by a combination of her strange attire, and having been quarantined with a bunch of gossipy women.

Olena took a deep breath and smiled. She was ready for a good challenge. The men were forbidden to have sex this night. That just might work to her advantage. She’d have the dark barbarian turned around in circles before he ever knew what hit him.

Pia laughed softly. “Do you believe this whole deal?”

“What are you doing here anyway?” Olena asked curiously. “You hardly seem like the type to get trapped into coming.”

“Free benefits,” came Pia’s enigmatic answer. Her eyes shadowed for a moment and Olena wondered at the look. This woman was definitely hiding something. Before she could comment, Pia said, “I think I am going to follow that servant. He’s up to something.”

Pia stood but was kept from leaving as the grooms suddenly appeared before them, walking up to the table platform. They hadn’t changed out of the loincloths. Olena pretended not to notice the dark warrior coming for her.

Not all brides had been chosen and Olena grinned to see Gena still sitting alone with a look of horror on her stunned face.

Guess the magical breasts didn’t do the trick. Maybe you need to go just a bit bigger next time.
Olena tried so hard not to laugh at her own thoughts, she gave a small snort.

“I am Yusef.”

Olena glanced up, covering her mouth at having been caught making such an indelicate sound. She purposefully faked a yawned, as she looked up at the dark warrior. She felt Pia move away and wanted to reach out to make the woman stay. She didn’t.

“Come,” Yusef said, his accent as thrillingly dark as his gaze. He lifted his hand to take hers. It was a strong hand, with long tapered fingers. She saw calluses along the palm and shivered. Such a hand would feel so delectable against her skin.

Olena glanced over his bronzed flesh, as if he was a piece of meat at a fueling station, and she the intergalactic health inspector. His chest was cut and chiseled, an effort of much hard work and training. Seeing his large arms, she knew she would never be able to take this man in a fair fight. That fact was disconcerting. He would crush her if she even dared. There was pride in him, an arrogance that came with such handsomeness. But the confidence didn’t deter her. She liked a man who knew his own worth. Being trapped with him for a few months might not be so bad. It might even be downright enjoyable.

Finishing her bold examination, she shrugged as if it were no big deal and said, “Sure, supernova, why not?”

A quizzical smile came to his mouth at her words. Olena took another leisurely drink of the wine. His expression wasn’t what she’d expected.

Without taking his offered hand, Olena pushed up from her chair and strode around the table by herself. She let her hips sway slightly, knowing from years of experience that he would be looking at them. Even though she appeared calm, her heart beat erratically fast. His voice sent chills over her flesh and turned her nervous system to water.

When Yusef merely watched her step down from the platform to the ground, her emerald eyes sparkled in mischief, as she said lightly, “Well, come on, won’t you? Let’s go get this over with.”

Yusef slowly came down from the platform, stopping to eye her as she had him. It was a bold stare, one that left no doubt he was undressing her with his mind. Olena’s confidence wavered slightly. He licked his lips.

“Are you done?” she demanded, her voice coming out a little harsh. Olena covered up her emotions with ease, slipping from one role to another despite what she felt on the inside. It was the only way a pirate of the high skies could survive.

“No,” he answered obstinately, continuing to look his fill. Olena’s arms crossed over her chest. He looked at her creamy breasts, pushed up and together by her defiant motion.

The crystal hanging from his neck pulsed and Olena discovered that her body was trying to pulse along with it. Narrowing her eyes, she stared at the stone. Something wasn’t quite right. Her head was beginning to fog over with pleasure. What exactly were these barbarians up to? She glanced back at the table, seeing that more brides were being led off, their eyes glassy as they listlessly followed their future husbands.

Olena grinned, remembering all she had learned of the Qurilixian customs. Stepping boldly forward, she reached to grab his fur-covered manhood. To her surprise, it was already at half arousal. Squeezing it, she asked, “You want it here, barbarian?”

Y
usef stiffened
. His breath caught in amazement that his bride had actually grabbed him in public viewing. Her boldness excited him, but he also knew this was not the place. He wouldn’t dishonor his family or his name by acting like a greenknight at his first battlefront. Reading the mischief in her eyes, he knew she was teasing him.

The woman waited, her brow poised in dangerous challenge on her forehead, as she slowly licked her lips. The arousal beneath her fingers lurched. She grinned.

Before she had a chance to figure out his plan, Yusef leaned over and lifted her over his shoulder. She made a weak noise. Though clearly self-assured, she didn’t have a man’s strength to back up her fierce stance. Her body was light and he walked easily with her through the campground. His hand curled over her thighs, digging under the thin strips of material, to fasten on smooth, naked skin. His other arm wrapped around her dangling legs, trapping her to him.

Yusef strode with his prize, smiling like a fool. Seeing his friend Agro nearby pointing at him and laughing, he waved jauntily. A cry of amusement went over the onlookers.

His bride, clearly not to be outdone, ran her fingernails over the muscular curves of his back, scratching lightly. He shivered beneath her touch. His heart beat hard, thumping a wonderfully erotic rhythm beside her leg.

Without losing breath, he carted her through the entire encampment to the far end of the field. Keeping her balanced on his shoulder, he pushed open a black tent flap and carried her inside. He did not let her go, choosing to hold onto her, liking the silky feel of her body.

She pushed up on his shoulder to look around. He held her up from beneath the under curve of her ass, hugging her tightly to his chest. Tapping her nails lightly on his shoulders, she turned to look the other way. His face pressed next to her hip, as he breathed in the womanly scent of her.

Torches lit up the black walls, casting an eerie light over them. It glowed seductively on the creamy flesh of her legs. He automatically looked at the bed covered in fur in the middle of the tent. It had chains strapped to the four posts. He suppressed a growl as he thought of how fun it would be to have her chain him.

One of the three pyramid corners held a bath, steaming hot and very inviting. In the second corner was a table laden with food and drink. Traditionally, they were offerings left by the family to encourage a fertile marriage. Yusef didn’t think he’d need a plate full of chocolate aphrodisiacs to ensure he would do everything it took to make a fruitful marriage bed.

Slowly, he loosened his grip so she slid down his chest. He hugged his arms around her narrow waist. Her breast came before his face and he paused in his release to smile impishly up at her. He enjoyed the physical contact. Her soft body molded easily to his. Her exotic cinnamon scent washed over him, propelling his heart to race with desire and lust. He ached to taste her flesh. And she wanted him too.

Her eyes were in a constant state of mischief, though he guessed the look was meant to hide her other emotions. His little bride was a great mystery. He knew she was up to something, he just couldn’t tell what. He would have to be careful until he figured her out. But, in the meantime, he’d just wait and enjoy whatever wild ride she had in store for him.

Suddenly, her legs wrapped around his waist and she lowered herself letting her breasts brush by his lips. With one swift move, he could’ve taken her right then. He smelled it on her, wafting up from her hips like a perfume to tempt him into beastly madness.

O
lena grew nervous
, wondering if she was pushing things too far. He was a man after all and she didn’t have a weapon to defend herself. But, seeing the restraint on his face and knowing the penalty for him would be great if he coupled with her, she relaxed. It was just a game, a game the Pirate Olena was determined to win.

Wiggling her hips, she said throatily, a pout forming on her lips, “Aren’t you supposed to ask me something, Yusef?”

Yusef smiled, simply stating, “Choose.”

Olena grinned at him as if she hadn’t a care in the world, but it was an emotion she couldn’t feel in her trembling heart. The heat of his body spread into her limbs. The impression of his skin drove her to distraction. None of these things mattered. Once Olena chose a course of action she did not back down. That was what made her so good at her trade. That was what made her one of the most sought after thieves in galactic history.

“Well, if you insist,” she purred. Threading her fingers into his soft black hair, she wound the locks around her fingers. His bronzed skin clashed with the white of her hands. Without untying the straps, she took much more time than necessary to work the mask off his head.

When she saw his face for the first time, all well-thought-out plans momentarily fled her. He was handsome, breathtakingly so. He stared at her with the most gorgeously shaped eyes she had ever seen—and she had seen a lot. His dark gray gaze shifted before her, flashing with yellow.

Now, that was something she hadn’t seen for a while. This man was a shifter.

The thought brought her up short and she knew she had to be very careful. Shifters could be exceedingly dangerous, depending on what they shifted into. It was a genetic defense, so it wasn’t like he’d turn into a cute and fuzzy bunny. No, they usually shifted into strong, warrior beasts.

“Why don’t you put me down,” she murmured, impishly throwing the mask behind her, “so I can unwrap my prize?”

He didn’t readily respond. She was careful not to give anything away with her expression. Fear tried to work its way through her and her heart quickened.

Yusef lowered her to the ground, letting her feel the entire length of his heated body, including the stiff arousal pressing from beneath the loincloth. She held her breath. Her eyes widened as the erection hit dangerously close to her lower stomach. Her nipples ached, reaching for him like little traitors. She was not supposed to desire him. The idea was to get
him
to desire
her
. Once she had him frustrated with need, he would be putty in her hands and give her anything she wanted for just a chance of fulfillment—a fulfillment that would never come.

To her dismay, as he let her go, her knees weakened and she stumbled. His arrogant grin was not lost on her. She tightened a fist, automatically wanting to wipe the insolent look off his face. However, when she saw his eyes narrow in warning, she held back and smiled instead.

“Well?” she questioned, gesturing at him. “Let’s see.”

“I thought you wished to unwrap your prize.” His voice dripped over her body like warm syrup. His Qurilixian accent rolled softly from firm lips. Olena fought for control of her stirring desires. Those lips moved in such a way that she knew he would be able to shower her with toe-curling kisses—just looking at them made her skin tingle and her heart race.

Olena took a step forward, forcing her legs to be still. Tilting her head, she licked her lips and looked him over. She lifted her hands to his chest and drifted down the hard length of him to the fur waistband of his loincloth. When her fingers reached his stomach, his muscles tightened. He grabbed her wrists.

“What?” Olena pouted, before teasing, “Embarrassed? I’m sure it’s fine, supernova.”

“Use your mouth,” he commanded, not taking the bait.

Olena was stunned, but she hoped she didn’t show it. Swallowing, she let him bend her forward so that her face was close to his waist. She widened her stance and pushed out her backside. He held her hands out to the side, so she couldn’t cheat.

Yusef groaned, as Olena swayed her hips beyond his reach. Lightly, she kissed his abdomen and dragged her tongue over his stiffening stomach. She worked her mouth over the fur, not liking the way the strands stuck to her lips. Taking hold with her teeth, she jerked her head back. When she stood before him, loincloth hanging from mouth, hair wildly tousled about her back and shoulders, she impishly winked at him.

Unable to stem her curiosity, she peered down. Her eyes widened before she could hide her surprise. Now that was something she hadn’t seen before. It would seem this barbarian toted a large warrior all his own.

Yusef stepped to her, spreading her arms wider as his hands remained shackled around her wrists. The material straps at her waist ripped free with the movement. Olena shivered at the sheer power of him. With a quick strike, he grabbed the end of the fur with his own lips and took it from her mouth only to growl, jerking it like a wild dog before tossing it to the side.

Before she knew what was happening, he kissed her. It was a blistering caress that stole her breath and stopped her heart in her chest. It was a kiss full of passion and unleashed desire. Here was a man who knew what he wanted and went for it without thought. Before she knew what she was doing, Olena was kissing him back.

Olena moaned. She had been kissed before, but never like this—never like she was the last woman in the galaxy. With her arms out to the side, she couldn’t fight him off. To her shame she realized, if not for his hold on her arms, she wouldn’t have been fighting him, but encouraging him.

Angry more at her loss of control than at him, she bit him—hard. Yusef jerked back, his lip bleeding. He blinked, stunned. She licked her swollen lips, tasting his blood on them. She narrowed her gaze, silently daring him to punish her for it.

Yusef touched his injured lip and arched a brow.

“You didn’t say please,” Olena explained.

“Please,” he growled under his breath, his gaze dancing with heat. Stepping forward again, he resumed the kiss where they had left off. Only this time he bit back. Olena gasped, her leg lifting to kick him in reflex. He dropped her arms, only to wrap her in his forced embrace. Her leg missed its target, moving instead to intimately rub the side of his naked hip.

“Let me go,” Olena demanded against his mouth, struggling as she tasted their intermingled blood on her lips, not knowing how much of it was hers and how much was his.

“Please,” he whispered, leaning over to lick her wound. Nudging her lightly with his jaw, he said again, “Please.”

Olena couldn’t refuse the rolling sound of his seductive words. The crystal pulsed between them, but this time she ignored her suspicions as he once more claimed her. Her blood simmered, and the sensation of passion pooled between her hips to create a feeling of desperation and longing.

His kiss was gentle, probing and soothing. She melted into his arms, forgetting the battle as he called her unwillingly to a truce. She couldn’t think against his onslaught of tenderness. She wanted him, like she had never wanted anything. The fog, that had tried to invade her thoughts all night, had crept into her brain during that kiss and now held her in its mist—unwilling to let her think, only feel what its master wanted her to.

Y
usef knew
he was pushing her, waiting for the eruption that appeared to be simmering under her fiery surface. Maybe it was her flaming red hair, or perhaps it was the way she seemed so sure she was in control of the situation. Whatever the reason, he wanted to push her, and keep pushing her until she ignited into a passionate explosion. If he boiled this little vixen’s blood, he knew the rewards would be great.

He felt her weakening in his arms. Pulling back from the kiss, he looked into her passion-hazed eyes. She wanted him, nearly as badly as he wanted to possess her.

“Now,” he breathed hotly against her lips. “Let me see what I have won.”

She shivered, as if too stunned by the feel of his lips to move. He caressed her cheek and neck. He trailed his hands over her gown, her flesh burning him through the silk as if the material didn’t exist. He flexed his fingers, letting his palms do most of the touching. They moved down her hips, over her waist only to come up, cupping naturally around her smaller breasts. The soft globes fit beautifully into his hands and he touched them as if they already belonged to him.

His bride gasped. Yusef kept his eyes locked to hers. He ran his finger up her delicate neck, so fragile he could have strangled the life from her with little effort. But he would never cause her pain. Well, except for the bittersweet agony building inside their bodies.

Taking the dress, Yusef tore it. The material ripped loudly, causing her to jump in surprise. He tossed the gown aside. Her nipples puckered as the warm air of the tent hit the naked flesh. The buds beckoned him, tempted him.

Yusef stepped back, boldly taking her in. Her skin was white and flawless. She looked so pure compared to his tanned flesh. Undergarments hugged her hips, taunting him with their lacy barrier. Oh, how he’d like to bite them from her as she had done to his loincloth. Freckles dotted her shoulders, like light and airy kisses. He promised his mouth he would kiss each and every one of them in time.

Her body was well-built, muscular and strong, but still gentle and soft—just like her playful eyes. There was a quiet innocence to her gaze, but with their growing physical connection Yusef felt deeper inside her emotions than mere appearances allowed. He knew the looks she gave him weren’t all true, and yet it wasn’t all an act.

By the calluses on her hands, though they did not appear rough, he could tell she worked hard. Already he concluded this woman knew how to use a gun. He felt the bump on her trigger finger as if she’d fired one often.

She lifted her hair off her back and gave it a small shake. His eyes instantly went to the shower of red waves. Yusef swallowed, already tortured by what was to come. Still, he couldn’t think to stop it.

Questions swam in his mind. He wanted to know who she was, why she came to his planet. He understood it was partly their combined fate that brought her to Qurilixen, but he wanted to know her other reasons. Was she hiding from something? Was she looking for something? There was more to her, and he instinctively knew he wouldn’t discover the answers easily.

O
lena dropped
her arms as she watched him devour her with his eyes. It made her hot to see his desire for her, unfiltered in its brazen intent. A wave of guilt overcame her, for she knew she would never succumb to him. She would use him and then leave him behind just as soon as she had a chance. He was a means to an end—and her end was escape from this exile of a planet.

Thinking of that goal, she blinked away the crystal fog, fighting it. It was clear her feelings had something to do with the stone around his neck, as well as the wine they had given her to drink. It had taken her a moment to place it, but she had tasted something akin to that unique blend of herbs before. Psychiatrists liked to use them because they opened the mind and loosened the tongue, a practice that was illegal in many quadrants. Narrowing her eyes, she stiffened her resolve. This man had tried to drug her, tried to take away her will.

Her eyes shone brightly with an innocence she did not feel. “Like what you see?”

His response was a bestial growl. He didn’t look away.

Taking a finger to her lips, she felt the drying blood on them. The straps still wound up her arms and she left them there. She kicked off her shoes. Sucking her finger, her eyes growing wide, she turned to pose shyly for him.

Her eyes fell on the tub. It had been a long time since she had a water bath. The Galaxy Brides’ ship had a decontamination unit, which basically sucked the germs and oil off your skin in a swift puff of air and sweep of lasers.

Olena blinked as she murmured in her most sultry of tones, “I think I got myself dirty, Yusef. Maybe you should clean me up.”

M
aybe you should clean
me up.

Yusef couldn’t help the fever that ignited in his body at the request. He knew he was going to regret it. His warrior instincts told him to be careful, that this woman was cunning, that she was going to be trouble.

Her lush, full lips called to him. They pursed when she talked, begging to be touched. He saw the swollen cut where his teeth had bitten her and he felt the matching sore on his own lip.

The firefly pin atop her locks glistened when she moved. The little black gemstones sparkled like stars, winking mischievously at him. Reaching for her, he glided a hand down her cheek, cupping her jaw. Not heeding his own instincts, he let his lust do the thinking as he obeyed the naked vixen staring at him.