Torn (14 page)

“Then are you disappointed because I’ve been with men before?”

“No. You’re with me now. That’s all I care about.” He took her face in his hands and kissed her.

She tugged up his tunic and pulled it over his head, baring his warm flesh to her touch. His body was lean and hard. Dark hair dusted his chest, tapered to his flat, muscled stomach, and disappeared beneath his leather trousers. She touched her lips to the healing pink wound on his chest. Her fingers splayed against it, clutching solid muscle dusted with soft hair.

He sank to his knees in front of her and lifted her dress. He kissed her from knee to thigh to abdomen as he pushed the dress over her head and dropped it on the chair so she stood completely naked before him. His hands warmed her shoulders, and his eyes ravished her body, lingering on the generous curves of her firm breasts. Honey Wine took his hands and placed them on her breasts, covering them with her own and squeezing gently. As his thumbs brushed her nipples, she dropped her hands and closed her eyes. He kissed her cheek, her neck. Every inch of her breasts and ribs were covered with kisses while she stood helpless before his carnal exploration. With frustrating gentleness, his hands trailed over her calves, knees, and thighs while he pressed his cheek to her stomach.

“So soft,” he murmured, touching his lips to her abdomen. His tongue traced her navel, and she shivered, fingers tightening in his hair, pressing him closer to her body. “I’ve wanted to love you like this for so long, without being forced. I’ve dreamed of you almost every night since I saw you, Honey Wine.”

“I want to feel you,” she said, tugging him to his feet and yanking the waist of his trousers. “All of you. Take these bloody things off.”

He willingly obliged, and by the time he stepped out of the trousers, Honey Wine awaited him on the bed.

“Turn over,” he said.

“Why?”

He rolled her onto her stomach, sweeping aside her hair and kissing her nape. His lips brushed her shoulders and back while his hands encircled her waist, cupped her buttocks, and caressed her hips. Her entire body felt both relaxed and aroused beneath his touch. When he turned her over, she looked up at him through half-lidded eyes. The tip of his tongue moistened his lips before he lowered his head to her breasts. His tongue flicked over one nipple, then the other. Honey Wine moaned, aching for him, yearning to be devoured.

He sucked on one of her nipples, and she arched her back, pressing his head closer.

She reached for his cock, her fingertips tracing the veins and flesh she already knew well, but wanted to know more, without being gawked at by the guards or without concern for their safety. Her fist tightened gently as she stroked him, feeling him swell even more beneath the velvety skin.

His body tensed at her touch. She leaned forward and kissed his neck, his shoulder. He relaxed a bit, though when she placed her hand to his chest, his heart slammed against her palm.

Smiling mischievously, she pushed him onto his back, knelt between the muscular, hair-roughened length of his legs, and took his cock between her lips.

She licked the underside and laved the head before sucking him deep into her mouth. His cock head brushed the back of her throat and she heard him panting with desire. She pulled back slightly and buried her face in the root of his cock. She licked upward, paying close attention to the veins and the ridge on the underside of his cock. She lapped the head, the tip of her tongue caressing the little eye and tasting the first of his essence. One of her hands squeezed and kneaded his sack while she continued tasting and teasing his cock.

His hands trembled on her hair then slipped from her head to grip the sheets. Unsure of how much longer he could endure her exploration of his finely-shaped weapon, she drew back only to slide up the length of his body so they lay, breast to chest, lips inches apart.

He caught her hips, and gently tossed her onto her back. He parted her thighs, his callused fingertip touching her slick passage, caressing her heated softness. Torn’s face lowered to her swollen clit. His exploration was tentative at first, but as she tightened her fingers in his hair and shivered beneath his lips and tongue, his ministrations became more sure and thorough. He tasted every soft fold of flesh and stroked her pussy with his tongue. Following the positioning of Honey Wine’s hands, he noted the ragged sound of her breath until she teetered on the verge of ultimate fulfillment.

“Do it now,” she panted, tugging him onto her, guiding him to her heated pussy. His fingers entwined with hers as he pressed her hands into the pillows.

She opened her eyes and stared directly into his burning blue eyes. His first movements were deliberately slow. Too slow. She was starving for him, and by the sound of his ragged breathing, he was just as hungry for her. Eyes closed, she clenched the hard muscles of his shoulders and back, urging him to move faster. Her hips matched the frantic thrusting of his while her legs clutched his lean, strong body. Suddenly she throbbed in a warm, blinding, orgasmic swirl.

She held him tightly as he joined her in ecstasy, his long, hard body pumping into hers. His weight pinned her to the bed and his heart beat in wild time with hers.

After a moment, he rolled onto his back and pulled her into his arms. Her cheek rested against his chest, and she stroked his ribs with her fingertips.

Then she laughed.

“What? What’s funny?” His voice possessed a defensive edge.

She raised herself onto her elbow and met his eyes. “If your ‘first’ time was this good, then I have many happy years ahead of me.”

He smiled and guided her hand to his cock, which, to her surprise, swelled beneath her touch. “They say practice makes perfect.”

Grinning, she slid back down his body, her legs entwining with his. It was going to be a wonderfully long night!

Early the next morning, as Torn and Honey Wine entered the great hall to break their fast, she wondered if she looked as glowing as she felt inside. Their wedding night had been more pleasurable than her deepest fantasies, and already she looked forward to the coming evening.

As they joined Rain, Iris, and Mage at one of the tables, Mage smirked, “I’d ask how the wedding night was, but I’d probably get my teeth knocked out.”

“Only if you’re lucky,” Torn replied, tearing a slice of warm bread and offering Honey Wine half. He glanced at Rain. “Are you and Warrant ready to get to work this morning?”

“Warrant is on the field waiting for us.”

“I won’t be late again tomorrow,” Torn, said.

“I was a little surprised to see you so soon.” Rain took a long drink of water.

“When we get back, you ought to take some time off. Show Honey Wine the valley. Women love that place in the summertime.”

“Why is that?” Iris glanced at Rain.

The bearded Knight shrugged. “All the wild flowers, I guess.”

“Iris wouldn’t care about such things,” Mage said of his sister. “She’d rather race horses on the shoreline.”

“Didn’t know you were such an able rider.” Rain glanced at Iris.

Mage laughed. “Don’t start with that, Rain. She’ll probably challenge you to a race.”

“Surely she knows her limits.” Rain chuckled with good humor.

“Apparently better than you know yours.” Iris’s cheeks flushed with anger, and Honey Wine nearly laughed. Obviously her attraction to Rain didn’t tame her high spirits.

Rain’s eyes widened with surprise as Iris continued, “The weather today is perfect to race, unless you’re afraid of losing to a woman, Sir?”

Mage smirked at Rain. “Told you.”

“I’m afraid this race will have to wait until later.” Torn stood. “Rain, we’d better find Warrant and start training.”

Torn dropped a quick kiss on Honey Wine’s cheek before he and Rain walked from the hall. Mage also excused himself, leaving Iris and Honey Wine seated alone.

Iris dropped her head onto her folded arms and moaned, “Oh, Honey Wine.

See what I mean? How flirtatious is that, challenging him to a horse race?”

Honey Wine shrugged. “By the look in his eyes, I think he found it exciting.”

Iris looked up, her expression hopeful. “Do you really think so?”

“Yes. Not all men like women who spend their days stitching tapestries and feigning fragility. I know Torn surely doesn’t.”

“I heard you were Captain of the guard in Sophianna. How about teaching me how to handle a sword? Mage wouldn’t show me.”

“I’d be glad to.”

Honey Wine was thrilled to find a female companion who shared her interests. Mahir was kind enough to loan them some weapons, and they rode off to an empty field behind the fortress where they spent the day training, swimming, and hiking in the nearby woods.

By the time Honey Wine returned to the Order, her body ached pleasantly, and she felt freer than she had in years. It was wonderful to pick up her active lifestyle and begin to sharpen skills that had lain dormant during her captivity.

Shortly before dusk. Torn, Rain, and Warrant joined the women in the great hall. Rain and Iris excused themselves to see to their wager; Iris’s expression competitive, Rain’s indulgent. Honey Wine smiled inwardly. She’d seen Iris’s skill on horseback that day and wondered if Rain would look so smug when they returned. Even if she didn’t beat him, she’d give him fiercer competition than he planned.

Torn sat quietly beside Honey Wine at the table, and she immediately sensed his preoccupation.

“Are you all right?” she whispered, touching her hand to his knee.

He nodded and smiled at her. “Just thinking about the plans we’ve been making.”

“A river of apprehension, like lava beneath the fragile ground,” Blaze said as he took the seat beside Honey Wine. He shook his head at Torn. “Spat up from the pit only to be thrust back into it.”

Honey Wine nodded slowly, finally starting to understand the peculiar Knight’s manner of speaking. He too sensed Torn’s fear of returning to Sophianna.

Blaze gestured toward Torn, holding his palms up. “Admiration, Sir Knight, not only mine but all those with branded flesh who paid forced homage to the raven-haired queen.”

Torn gave a wry laugh and muttered, “One wrong move and they can thank me in person.”

“Torn…” Honey Wine reached for his hand.

He shook his head and offered her a comforting smile. “But that’s not going to happen. Lets forget about it for tonight.”

“I’m told you heal, Sweet Liquid,” Blaze said. “It’s my life’s dedication. We could share our knowledge.”

“I’m sure I could learn far more from you than you could from me,” Honey Wine said.

Blaze looked to the empty space beside her and pointed. “She is. She is progression. Observational and bold.” His pale blue eyes focused on Honey Wine. “Save some time for me, with your husband’s permission.”

Honey Wine glanced at Torn who shrugged. “Blaze heads the Green Faction.

If you’re interested in expanding your healing skills, he’s the man to see.”

“I’d appreciate your help,” Honey Wine told Blaze, hoping she could understand him enough to retain what he taught her.

He bowed from the neck. “The honor is mine, Sweet Liquid.”

“Her name is Honey Wine, Blaze.” Torn sighed, a half-smile on his lips.

“Forgive me,” Blaze said. “For so long before we met, the spirits whispered your name. Sweet Liquid, Mead, the drink of…I speak too much, the shadows say.”

The auburn-haired Knight fell silent and didn’t speak again throughout the entire meal.

They’d almost finished eating when Rain and Iris, both looking hot and dusty, entered the hall. Rain’s mouth was pressed into a serious line, his brow furrowed. Iris skipped ahead of him, smiling, and dropped into an empty chair beside Blaze. Dirt smudged her cheek, and her red hair was disheveled, but she didn’t seem to care as she took a meat pie from one of the trays.

“Don’t tell me.” Mage shook his head disgustedly at Rain. “She won?”

“Only by a nose,” Rain said.

Iris smiled. “It could have gone either way.”

“You cheated,” Rain said. “If you hadn’t pretended to lose control of that horse, I never would have tried to help you and lost.”

Iris shook her head. “By the time you began judging me as an opponent instead of a woman, the race was already won.”

Rain smiled humorlessly at Mage. “Charming girl, your sister.”

“Told you.” Mage shook his head.

“A toast to the winner.” Honey Wine lifted her glass, and the others, even a grudging Rain, drank with her.

When they finished eating, Torn and Honey Wine retired to their room where they made love and fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.

Honey Wine awoke around midnight and reached for Torn but found the bed empty beside her. Shrugging on a robe, she walked barefoot down the corridor, thinking he might have gone to the great hall, or perhaps taken a walk in the courtyard. He had been so restless with thoughts of the mission back to Sophianna, not that she blamed him.

The night had grown cool, and Honey Wine shivered as she stood in the doorway of the great hall and glanced around the moonlit courtyard. A noise in the corner caught her attention, and she noticed two figures beneath one of the taller trees. Blaze knelt on the grass, his face buried in his arms resting on a gray stone bench. Torn squatted beside him, one hand on Blaze’s shoulder. It took Honey Wine a moment to realize the auburn-haired Knight was sobbing.

Torn waited several moments before he stood and approached the great hall. His eyes met Honey Wine’s, and he sighed.

“What’s wrong with him?” Honey Wine whispered as Torn drew her into his arms. Together they walked back to their room.

“He doesn’t tell us half of what he sees,” Torn said. “The rest of us experience our own problems, but he experiences those of the dead. I don’t begin to understand it. Who knows what’s he’s seeing right now, what he’s feeling? Sometimes I wonder how he keeps any semblance of sanity.”