If you accepted me, I'd give you one. ...
"It's not like Tornin is a premium castle though," Sabine continued. "Don't you really want to get back in Tornin because of the well's power?"
He tensed. "Do you know what it does?" Because Rydstrom ... didn't.
"Maybe I do. But don't worry, I won't tell. I like that everyone's imagination runs wild. Some think it's a mystickal prison, a power base, a wish granter. Oh, and that it resurrects the dead. Do you even know?"
"I know that my breed of demon was created solely to protect that well. Tornin was constructed to house it. It's my duty to safeguard both."
"And you always do your duty. Doesn't it ever get boring? I think that's why you're so attracted to me, because I've shaken your reasonable, rational, ordered life. I'd wager that you've felt more excitement with me in the last week than in centuries."
That hit far too close to home. "And I think I've never known anyone as egotistical as you."
"Egotistical? Try self-confident. Should I be meek instead? Would you like me better then?"
"No. I've never wanted a meek woman for my own. I've wanted a queen-"
"And now you have one."
They carried on in silence as the terrain grew more punishing, leaving him to mull over her words. Even with their history, the fact remained that he had her.
The one he'd longed for... .
She began lagging behind again. Fortunately, the brush opened up just ahead, revealing a scene below them. The sun blazed down on a clear green pool fed by dozens of cascades.
"Do we have to cross this water, then?" She rubbed her forehead on her shoulder, trying to keep the sweat from her eyes. "I can't swim. Even if you released my hands."
He opened his canteen and helped her drink, then took a healthy swallow. "All Lore creatures can swim. It's instinctual."
She gave a bitter laugh. "I can't tell you how wrong that statement is."
"Have you drowned?"
"I don't know how to swim. Never learned. An out-doorswoman I am not."
Chapter 12
"Have-you-drowned?" he snapped.
"More-than-once?" she snapped back, her eyes growing blue with anger.
Obviously, this was a sensitive subject with the sor-ceress. "I'm weary of this, Sabine. You give me hints of what you're like, about your history. Am I supposed to spend the rest of the day wondering if you've drowned? Or why you don't like people touching your face-"
"Sorry I don't feel chatty just now! I'm out of breath and need to rest!"
He shook his head. "We press on-"
"We have to stop! I'm hurting here. My arms have been asleep for twenty-four hours. And when was the last time you wore metal against bare skin? There is one reason for this top-to look fabulous. Not to trek through the wilderness. Out here it collects sand, which rubs against my br**sts. And they are already far too sensitive because you were forever kissing and sucking on them last night!"
Memories of the night before flashed in his mind, and he stifled a groan. Throughout the day, he'd been recalling with pleasure all the things he'd done to her body-and planning with anticipation what he'd do to her tonight.
The most excitement in centuries? She was right. "Demon, are you listening to me? This isn't parity. I never kept you in pain or hurt your flesh."
"You're immortal. You'll be healed by sundown-"
"Just take a look at them! They'll be pink and tender. Oh! And I'll bet my face is getting more sunburned!"
It was, which made her freckle across the bridge of her nose, which meant she looked even less like an evil sorceress. Damn her. Her body was so fragile, not like other females of the Lore. A Valkyrie or furie would be laughing at a hike over this terrain.
"You want me to fix it?" He unfastened her top, then yanked it off her, dropping it to the ground.
If he'd expected her to gasp and stammer, he'd have been wrong. Instead she sighed, flexing her back and rolling her head on her neck.
Her br**sts were pink and looked tender. The tips budded right before his eyes. His mouth watered to lick and suckle her-
"Oh, don't you even think about it, demon!"
"You dare act angered with me?" Angered over his desire for her? The very need she'd stoked to a blaze?
Sabine stormed over to him, bare breasted, her hair shining like fire in the sun. "Yes, I dare!" She kicked his shin with the metal tip of her boot.
He gritted his teeth. "Do that again, sorceress, and you will not like the outcome."
"I'm beginning to wish I'd ordered more boy-on-boy shower-time for you."
His eyes went wide, then narrowed. "You're aching for your next spanking, aren't you? Keep this up, and I'll oblige you."
"You'd love that, wouldn't you? I think the reason you don't want to release me is because you'd have to part with this anger, and then you couldn't treat me like your sex slave each night. It's so good for you, you can't stand the thought of letting it go."
He cupped her nape. "You might be right."
"Of course I am!" Her eyes were blue, her lips parting around panting breaths. She was so damned sexy, too much so.
He dragged her into his chest. Had she gone up on her toes?
And then they were kissing each other, crazed, frenzied. Like the night he'd claimed her. Taking her trembling mouth was a madness, an addiction. Wring' ing those little moans and breathless cries . . .he could kiss her forever.
When she subtly arched her back, he groaned, raising his hand to gently pet her tender br**sts-
Her stomach growled. Loudly.
He broke the kiss, leaning his forehead to hers as they caught their breath. "We'll stop here for the night, sweet." He took off his tunic, draping it over her front like an apron, then tying the sleeves around her back. "Looks like I need to hunt for my woman."
She rolled her eyes. "I don't need you to hunt, demon, I need you to gather.'"
27
"Drop it, Sabine!" Rydstrom bellowed from a lower plateau.
Earlier, he'd set up camp on a high promontory, settled her by a fire, and finally threaded her arms into his tunic-retying her right after, naturally. Then he'd gone all he-man, marching off to snare the unwitting creature he'd just been dressing. Though he'd kept her in sight the entire time, he'd eventually gotten far enough away for her plans.
"Drop-the-wine!" He started charging for her. "Bloody now!"
In response, she maneuvered the bottle neck in her mouth's grasp, tightened her lips, and turned it up, gulping the contents.