I remembered crouching in the deep grass, watching the bodies fall. Some of them still on fire and screaming. Lighting the oil slicks that coated the water from our attempts at defense. Watching towers burn and flames engulf the outside of the walls. Climbing from the window slits in every room on the South facing wall. Everything I’d ever known had burned. Every person I’d ever loved had died. And I’d sat there, huddled in the grass, covered in soot and blood. Cowering and trembling. The only clean spots on my face were trails burned by the endless tears. Tears which had not stopped streaming my cheeks since I saw my parents bloodied bodies and then seeing Gray walking from my brother’s room with the bloody dagger and my brother bleeding out, and already unmoving on the floor behind him. I’d known what had happened before my eyes landed on Gray’s unfeeling face. Seeing no trace of emotion and realizing that who I’d thought I
“Fiere!” He snarled venomously. Infuriated. I was getting under his skin now. Never had I gotten that kind of tone. This was possibly the maddest I’d ever seen him. He doesn’t get mad. “Stop.” He commanded in a solid tone. “It’s a valid question, Gray. One you never answer.” I taunted. Knowing I was provoking him too far. “You cut everyone else’s, why not mine?” If he had I wouldn’t be running through the woods trying to escape every vile thing climbing atop me and jamming into me. “I told you, you’re wrong.” He said acidly before declaring. “I’m not explaining all this out here!” He shook his head like a mad bull. But still isn’t stopping walking. He paused with me over his shoulder as he waited for his men to push open the huge cracked, wooden doors. “You should’ve cut me ear to ear that day, Gray and been done. Just like you said.” I announced. Inexplicably hurt that
“Fiere.” He said in a hushed voice. Those lush lips moving deliciously as he spoke my name in that husky voice. Reminding me to finish my task. My eyes fell and I reached the other sleeve. Pushing it down and wiggling the gown over my rounded hips before letting it fall to the floor. He swallowed so hard that I could literally watch the lump traveling down his corded throat. “What are you going to do?” I asked. He lifted his chin and looked haughtily down his nose. His chest swelling with each fierce breath. He reached up and flicked the clips at his shoulders that unlatched his blue cloak. Sending it swishing to the floor. Something about it dimmed the breadth of his shoulders made him seem less fierce then when he was standing there in that shining gold armor with the thick plates at his shoulders for pinning his cloak to. His face as carved and hard as that of a statue. Blue eyes sparking viciously. Looking every inch like a commander any m
I blinked at him in horror before I looked down again, noticing that my dark nipples were clearly obvious under the flimsy white garment. “Don’t worry.” He laughed. “Nothing there to see, Baby Girl.” He leaned back to close the door but I slapped it and pushed through the crack. “Don’t do that!” “What?” He took a step back. Lifting his hands. “Stop always taunting me.” “I don’t always taunt you.” He began strolling back toward his bed. I was on his heels. “More often than not!” He shrugged. “Archer is just as bad as me but you’re fawning all over him.” “Archer is kind to me to. He brings me berries and sometimes holds my hand.” “Oh, impressive.” He rounded to mutter down at me. “He’s clearly a seducer of maids...” Goading me so far, that even my hair felt like it was on fire. My skin burning in furious rage. I curled my hands into fists that itchedto strike him. “He’s not s
I turned to a puddle. My head dropped forward on my shoulders. My jaw hung. To say I was gaping, did not fully cover my expression of shock. “For the Eternus alliance?” I managed to expostulate. Unable to think of a single other logical reason. He gave a cold laugh. “I don’t want to be King.” He pointed out. “You know that.” It was true. I’d heard he and my brother, Roger discussing exactly that on many occasions. Roger usually told him that he’d like it when he became it, but no man was excited for it. Jackson had argued that he liked being free to run outside and to chase the animals, hunt and work with the weapons. He didn’t want to sit in a throne and make boring decisions. “They’re only boring if you’re not smart.” Archer would point out. Which caused the anticipated angry response from Jackson. Ending in them rolling in a scuffle in the dirt. Laughing between whacking each other. I returned to the
“I’m not a troll.” I defended. Annoyed by his newest antagonistic comment. “You rather look like one when you’re mad.” “Why are you always so mean!” I did stomp that time. “To get your attention.” He shrugged. “And to get that reaction. You look positively adorable when you’re mad.” I grabbed the nearest candlestick from a stand by the door and hurled it over my head in his direction. He palmed it away and it clattered against the wall. “Uh-oh, Fiere. Better run. Daddy won’t give you a choice if he catches you sneaking from my chamber in the dead of night.” That’s probably very, very true. I winced. “He won’t give you one either!” “I’ve already made it clear I’d welcome that. And,” he added ominously. “trapping you in it, if need be.” “That’s not gentlemanly.” “You keep accusing me of that as if one day I will be.” “You’re not!” “Nope.” “Jacks!” “Better run, Fiere
“You talking about dishonoring me, Jackson?” “Only until the ceremony can be arranged. No dishonor between a man and a woman when good intentions are planned.” He said huskily. “It’s when others get involved and in the middle that it becomes dishonoring.” “Ah.” I tapped my lip. “I get it now.” I flicked his nose and gave a feminine giggle in my throat. “Get what, Fiere?” He called after me. When I didn’t respond he called. “I don’t think you do...” But I did. At least, I thought so. He’s promising me a gown and a mark for me to hop in his sheets. Ha! Now I was sure that my brother wasn’t part of this ploy. This is all Jackson. How many women has this worked on? I was sure there were a number. I’ll not be one of them. *** But later that day he caught me by the stables. Closing the corral gate before I could get out of the horse pen. Calling acro
I felt his hands sliding down my belly and caressing along the outsides of my legs. Digging in slightly at the supple flesh along my hips. He kissed along the inside of my leg. His lips brushing sensually from the inside of my knee and further up. Further. Further. Until I could feel his hot breath brushing along my most intimate parts. Making me want to clench my legs together, but his shoulders were there. Keeping me from it. I blew a long breath as I felt the texture of his tongue trailing up along the crease alongside my lips. Then drawing back down. He moved to the otherside and did the same. My breath caught. His tongue darted out and licked along my slit. Brushing the small nub along the top that made me arch toward him. Offering him more. “Mmm.” He rumbled against me. “You’re sweet.” I shuddered in pleasure at his words. His hands smoothed along the outside of my hips and up to overlap al