His skin was cold.
He whispered an apology and pulled away. But I"d have none of that. Without really opening my eyes, I moved closer.
He was cold. Fool Warlord, standing outside to talk to the guards, naked. I shifted slowly, crawling over him to press my body as close as I could.
He drew a deep breath as I covered his body with mine. A shudder ran through him as I pressed my b.r.e.a.s.t.s to his chest, letting my warm skin come into full contact with his chilled flesh. I lifted one hand to cup his cheek, and used the other to stroke the muscles of his upper arm.
I moved my legs between his, and tried to place my feet so that they covered his toes. With my head on his shoulder my hair spread out like a blanket over him. I hummed in pleasure at the feel of his body. The soft skin of his stomach, the coa.r.s.e hairs of his legs. The occasional scar. All of it Keir. My Keir.
He relaxed beneath me, whispering thanks. I just smiled, and let my thumb trace the soft skin of his lips. The blankets and furs held the heat of our bodies and the scent of his skin.
There were sounds of movement outside, probably a change of the guards. The wind was picking up, causing the tent to vibrate a little. We were coming down out of the mountains, but the chill of winter followed at our heels. Yet within this small shelter we were warm, safe, and dry.
Gradually Keir"s body warmed and I shifted off to his side, so that the poor man didn"t have to bear my weight. I was careful to return to my side of the bed. Keir slept with his weapons next to him, and I"d no desire to bed that cold steel. I nestled down next to him, content with his comfort and ready to return to sleep.
But I"d warmed Keir in more than one way...
Chapter 2.
Now it was Keir"s turn, his hands moving over my skin, causing my heat to rise. His touch was gentle and I sighed at the pure pleasure of it.
Encouraged, Keir claimed my lips and we spent long slow moments exploring each other"s mouths. Not that his hands stopped for a moment, teasing my skin with soft strokes of his fingertips. I squirmed as he caressed my thighs, wanting more. "Keir . . ."
He chuckled softly. "There is no hurry, Lara."
"Keir," I pleaded, but he just kissed me again.
Boldly, I reached for what I craved, but he captured my wrists in one hand, thwarting my efforts. I growled, he laughed, and we tussled for a moment until he pinned my wrists over my head.
The bedding had fallen away and the cold air danced over my heated skin, tightening my nipples and stealing my breath from my body.
Keir loomed over me. There was just enough light to see his eyes glittering with desire, and a playfulness
that I"d never seen before.
I lifted my head, trying to gain his mouth, but he would only allow my lips to brush against his. I lay back, and puffed out a breath in frustration. Satisfied, he lowered his mouth to my chest, licked the skin be tween my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and blew over the moist area. I sucked in a deep breath, closed my eyes and lost my self in the sensation.
Keir didn"t stop, exploring my b.r.e.a.s.t.s with his mouth, ignoring the tips to concentrate on the flesh around them. I"d never felt that my b.r.e.a.s.t.s were attractive, being on the small side.
Keir seemed content.
He slipped his free hand under my back, forcing me to arch up into his mouth. Lips, tongue, even the barest sc.r.a.pe of his teeth, all combined to make me shiver.
"Keir," I begged.
"Lara," he murmured.
The cold air only accented the heat between our bodies. His legs moved over mine, keeping them
pressed to the bed. I moaned, trying to shift him, trying to give him access, but he ignored me, and
continued to worship my b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
Finally, he moved his hand to cover my lower belly, letting his warm fingers splay out. I moved my hips, but he wouldn"t let his fingers move any lower.
"You are so beautiful," he whispered.
My eyes opened wide to stare into his. "I"m not. . . not really. I"m-"
"Perfect." His lips hovered over mine. "Everything you are is beautiful, flame of my heart."
I sobbed.
He moved then, his fingers seeking out my depths and stroking gently. He released my wrists and I clung
to him, crying out my joy and pleasure all at the same time. But it wasn"t enough. I wanted more, wanted him, and with a swift move he entered me, and I had what I wanted, and more, so much more.
We both lay gasping, our over-heated bodies cooling in the night air. Reaching for the blankets and furs almost seemed like too much effort, but I stirred, knowing that we"d need their warmth. I pulled them up and over us. They still held our heat, and I settled back with a sigh, making sure we were both well covered.
Keir opened his eyes and gave me a sated smile as I settled in next to him. We held each other close, and were just starting to drift off to sleep when he spoke. "You were hurt."
His hand was on my upper arm. I nodded. "Just a bruise. I didn"t block the blow."
"Marcus said you want to learn to fight." He rubbed my arm gently. "To protect me."
"It scared me, when Iften . . ." My voice trailed off as I remembered finding Iften standing over Keir, as he lay in the grips of the plague. Keir wrapped his arms around me, and I lay my head on his chest. "It warms me that you want to do this, Lara." His voice was soft in the darkness. "And to some extent, Marcus is wrong. With enough practice, you could become a fighter, if you choose. Maybe not as fast as those of the Plains, but with training you could do it. You could do anything, if you minded to."
I smiled against his chest.
"But your time is better spent at what you do best, Master Healer," Keir suggested. "Learn how to react,
and to work with your guards, to be sure. But think on the abilities that you have now, and not the ones you don"t have."
I lifted my head. "Just as well. All that armor is hot and uncomfortable. It makes me sweat."
His eyes took on a gleam, and he rolled me to my back. "Is there something wrong with sweaty?"
"Nothing at all." I laughed as I hooked my arm over his neck and pulled his mouth down to mine. "Let me
prove it to you again."
And again . . .
The next morning I woke, with a smile on my face, to an empty bed. Keir had probably left me before dawn, his usual practice.
I stretched under the warm covers and relaxed. That was when I noticed the silence. Where were the normal sounds of the morning, the sound of moving warriors?
How late had I slept?
I reached out for the pile of clothing I"d left close to the bed. I eased them into the warmth, and lay there for a moment, letting them lose some of their chill before dressing quickly. I slung my satchel over my head and settled it on my hip before emerging from the tent.
Marcus was sitting there, with my guards. When I came out, they sprang up, and started moving toward the tent. Marcus spoke, his voice cutting through my morning fog. "Finally."
"Marcus?" I stepped out, pulling my cloak on behind me. As I left the tent, I heard it collapse behind me, and saw that Rafe, Prest and Ander were disa.s.sembling it even as I drank.
"Hisself said to let you sleep, and so I did," Marcus explained, as he thrust out a piece of bread with cold meat wrapped in it, and a cup of kavage. "We must ride to catch him."
I stuffed the food in my mouth, nodding even as I chewed. Marcus kicked the fire out and poured the last of the kavage into my cup, before packing the rest of his gear. I drank the bitter brew and looked around. The sky was a bright blue, with not a cloud anywhere to be seen. But snow lurked beyond the mountains. I could smell it in the brisk air.
The army had already packed up and started moving. I could see the last of the warriors and horses moving off into the trees. How I"d slept through that I"d nev- Then I remembered what Keir and I had done last night, and smiled into my kavage.
Marcus moved off to aid Rafe and Prest in the packing. Ander and Yveni went for one of the pack horses that stood nearby. Greatheart was with the other horses. He was asleep, of course. I was fairly certain that was why he"d been picked for me, given my so-called riding skills. I gulped more kavage as the activity caused the big brown horse to open his eyes. When he spotted me, he whickered, and started to walk my way. The other horses shook themselves as well, as if understanding that we were about to leave.
"Where is Keir?" I asked as I finished the kavage down to the dregs. I felt much more alert with each swallow.
"We ride to meet him," Rafe answered, securing the packs on the horses. He said nothing more, but he had a slight smirk on his face, which was mirrored on Prest"s lips. Something was up.
Greatheart was smelling my hair, and I reached out to stroke the scar on his chest and to scratch his ears. He was a good-sized horse, and I had to chuckle at the idea that I might be able to leap onto his back.
"Hurry." Marcus gestured for me to mount. The guards waited until I was settled in the saddle before they mounted as well, and we took off at a trot.
It didn"t take long, since the army was moving at a walking pace. Marcus kept up our pace as we pa.s.sed the warriors, clearly intent on catching Keir as quickly as possible. A few of the warriors called greetings to me as we pa.s.sed, but others scowled. I had to sigh at the clear evidence that Iften was still spreading dissent among the ranks.
After a while, Marcus raised his head and warbled out a cry, calling to Keir. There was a response up ahead, and Marcus urged the horses to a gallop. Rafe and Prest had the lead, with Ander and Yveni following, easily keeping up the pace.
Then we broke free from the trees to see Keir galloping toward us.
We came together, and brought the horses to a stop. "Herself slept long," Marcus explained.
"She had good reason." Keir"s face was neutral, but there was a gleam in his eye. I blushed, which made the corners of his eyes crinkle up. He sidled his horse close to Greatheart and leaned over to stroke my cheek with his hand. "I would ask something of you."
"Yes?"
He cleared his throat. "I would give you your first glimpse of the Plains, if you would come. The scouts found it during their sweep. You can see the Plains from there, and I wish to be the one to show you."
"Of course."
He looked a bit embarra.s.sed. "Would you . . . could I..."
I gave him a puzzled look, since it wasn"t like him to be indecisive.
Keir puffed out a breath in frustration. "I would have you in my arms for this first sight of my land." He held out his arm in a pleading gesture.
Without a word, I leaned over so that he could wrap his arm around my waist and pull me into the saddle in front of him. "I"d like nothing more, my Warlord," I whispered as I settled in front of him.
He flushed with pleasure, and urged his horse on. Greatheart followed, as did the others.
We headed off into the trees, working our way at an angle down a small track. I nestled in closer to Keir and felt his arms tighten around me. We"d ridden this way the second time he"d claimed me. Or I had claimed him, depending on who was talking. It felt right that my first sight of the Plains would be in Keir"s arms.
The trail took us past a stone wall, overgrown with vines and falling down in some places. I craned my neck to see through the gaps what seemed to be an old tower, fallen into disuse by the look of things. I wondered how it came to be here, along the border, but I had no idea-I"d studied healing, not history.
Keir urged his black along and it didn"t take as long as I thought to reach the spot, or maybe the time just flew faster than I realized. But Keir spoke into my ear. "Close your eyes, Lara." I smiled, and closed them tight.
I felt the sun on my face, so we were out from under the trees. He pulled his horse to a stop, and I heard the others surround us. He adjusted our positions so that I was facing out, and then with a satisfied tone, spoke out loud. "Behold the Plains, Warprize."
I opened my eyes, and my stomach dropped.
We were on a ridge that dropped away at a steep angle. Beyond, we looked out to where the valley opened up, the trees ended, and the land rolled out like a great, wide carpet. The land shimmered with heat, red and yellow flames flickering in the distance.
"It"s burning," I said with a hush.
Keir chuckled. "No, Lara. The gra.s.ses, they turn all colors of red before the seasons of the snows. The winds move the gra.s.ses. But I will admit that it looks like it is on fire."
Of course. The Firelands. That must be how they were named. I could just make out the front of the army starting to touch the foothills, the long line of warriors snaking back toward us, to be lost in the trees below. I glanced back for a moment at the old keep. What a view there must be from the top.
But my eyes were drawn back to the horizon, a long flat line that stretched out endlessly. The land spread out for as far as I could see. The sky was huge, bigger than I"d ever thought the sky could be. It spread from horizon to horizon, and I had no words to describe it, or how I felt. I"d lived my whole life in the shelter of the mountains, looking down the narrow valley from the Castle of Water"s Fall. It did odd things to my stomach, to see the world open and exposed, so wild, so free, so ... limitless.
Just as my life had opened when Keir had claimed me.
I swallowed hard, taking it all in, and shivered. I"d grown comfortable with Keir, with his people. The last few weeks, I"d been so busy dealing with so many problems that I"d forgotten to be afraid.