Offering her a hand he tossed her atop her horse. Opening her mouth with a rebuttal she was too late.Turning he headed to Onyx and mounted without another word. But he veered the mount to stroll behind them. Close enough he could eavesdrop on Nim’s conversations with his inhuman hearing.Let’s see what she has to say now.Nim waited until Lonnix somehow mustered his way up onto the mare, sweat marking his brow as he breathed raggedly. Dangling over the horse’s mane.Unsure if a heart attack was imminent, Nim reluctantly guided her nag closer. “Are you well?”Not in the least. Disseus eyed the chubby fellow. Aware this was often how he sounded after climbing atop his mount.“No.” Lonnix huffed. “No. I am fat.” He put his cheek to his horse and wheezed until managing to catch his breath.Smile teasing her lips, Nim gave the back of his head a light reassuring pat.As if he’s a child recovering from some tiny wound. Disseus restrained himself from snorting at her motherly reaction.When
“We’ll break for camp.”“But shouldn’t we-” Nim started. Wanting to press on.Wanting to avoid bedding down for the night.Because she knows where I’ll expect to have her.“We’ll break for camp.” Disseus cut her off with a glower. Grabbing his bow, he headed toward deeper woods.Almora and Lonnix were already collecting kindling for the evening fire. Knowing it would be needed to keep the Battling Dogs at bay.Movement toward the trees behind him, caught Disseus’ attention.Nim.Walking alone through the woods this close to dusk. What is she thinking?Heading through the trees in the opposite direction of their camp she was glancing furtively over her shoulder to make sure they didn’t follow her.She wants away from the rest of us.Why? She knows this is dangerous country. His curiosity had him veering off his trajectory to trail after her.He followed her awhile but became nervous upon seeing how far she’d drawn from Lon and Almora despite that Battling creatures had so recently dema
A strange sort of calm pain began to seep into every fiber of his being.He needed to salvage his hatred. But her words had cut. And she was right. She had a son out there, one in danger. And even that trumped the importance of Disseus’ game of cat and mouse.He sat rubbing his face and squatted against the tree trying not to think about that warm sensual body being lapped by the ripples of cold water. He shook his head roughly.Trying so hard not to focus on the sounds of her washing he barely heard the slosh of her rising from the lake. Teeth gritted he stared at the ground. His fingers burrowing into dirt, leaves and moss as he concentrated his control.A bare expanse of leg moved into his peripheral. He followed that long silky length up into the parted folds of her cloak. She stared down at him knowingly. Lifting her chin slightly, she stared at him chastisingly.As if she thinks to reprimand me for watching her. When I’d merely been out her to protect her. Blowing out a whooshin
Nim sat near the fire listening to the soft crackling. Taking in the scent of burning logs and a coming rain. Though she dreaded its arrival, for now the lull was peaceful.Disseus had not said a word more to her since their argument and subsequent loving this evening. He somehow managed to make even his silence toward her hostile.Yet she preferred that over his biting comments. Or so it seems by her utter lack of conversation.Right now, he turned a couple plump rabbits on a spit. Occasionally, his eyes slid sideways to glower at her.Although Nim had expected his impatience and irritation, she’d not anticipated blatant animosity. In-fact she’d only rarely seen him lose temper. Especially when he was permitted to sate all that rage within her body.***Lonnix and Almora had continued talking to him as though oblivious to his sour mood.Nim was huddled under her cloak shivering.She’s always cold at night. Disseus thought in annoyance. Wondering why she’d not brought more clothes or
Feeling his body tightening he abandoned his meal, muttering. “I’m getting some kindling.”Upon returning he found only the bare bones of his portion of food. His gaze flew to Nim shivering beneath her cloak and saw the remnants of hers as well.Apparently, her appetite hadn’t changed. Though his stomach grumbled objections at the stolen rations a smile pulled at his lips.She was unspeakably lovely in slumber. He could forget how plush her lips were in the light of day when they were so often tightened in frustration with him. Now they were thick and slick and begged to be kissed. Her Long dark lashes rested against the smoothness of her cheek. The firelight played with the slim shadow of her cheekbones. Easing closer to stare down at her, he noticed the quaking of her shoulders and clacking of her teeth.Rain began to fall. It’d be much colder in a short time.Cursing himself for a fool, he dragged his bed roll close and dropped down behind her. Scooting an arm beneath her he pulled
“It’d taken me decades of ending the fight. Of pretending I’d given up.”“Resisting him?” Disseus cut in. His voice harsh.She swallowed hard and he noticed that her body began to tremble in his grip. “Yes. For months I pretended I had not the merest hint of fight any longer. I let him take the husk he held captive and no longer clawed or bit or attacked him.”“You pretended to submit to his violation?” Disseus’ throat tightened and he was sickened. Imagining her, fierce creature that she was, playing dead for so long to meet the needs of some long game plan.It must’ve killed her.And though he’d already harbored deep hatred for the Demon King, now it rose to new heights.But am I really any better? That made Disseus mouth dry and his strong heart thrum fiercely. She’s doing the same for me now.And he wondered what he was doing to her mind. She has to be nearly broken from what she’d endured.Though he’d seen no sign of that yet.***“It was for a purpose.” She dismissed. Unwilling
“Don’t worry about it.” He growled.I’m not stopping. He was savoring the feel of their skin melded but even more than that…Her response. Her desire and her heat.“Just look at me, Nim. Please.” He softened his tone.To his surprise she tossed up her red hair and clung to his shoulder. Meeting his intense gaze.They stared at each other, nearly afraid to blink as they moved together in fading firelight. The sounds of their pleasure swallowed by the storm.She bit her lip to stem the sounds which had been bubbling up her throat and parting her lips with wild abandon. She strove to control her primal reaction.“No. No walls. No shells. Just be with me.” His voice was a low rumble. Marked by a flash of lightening which brightened the harsh lines of his face. Brightening his blue eyes until they seemed nearly white in the night.He felt her soften. The tension in her thighs easing as she embraced him with those and her arms.In no time, he had her making that mewling purr.Just the way I
“So...Good night?” Lon’s familiar voice cut through the blissful peace of slumber.Disseus peeled open his eyes to see Lonnix standing over him. Peering over his wide belly with a knowing smirk.“Was.” Disseus rolled over to get up. “’Til I woke to your face.”Where the hell is she?She wasn’t next to him.In-fact she was nowhere in sight. He frowned at Lonnix.“Don’t glare at me, My Friend.” Lon frowned. “Wasn’t my doing that drove her off. She headed down to the river.”“Said she had to go ‘wash off a mistake’.” Lon mimicked a shrill womanly voice.“So…how good a mistake was it?” He wiggled his brows suggestively. “Was it?”I’m not talking about that. Disseus glared at him.“She can wash all she wants.” He called loudly down to the river. “But she won’t be able to wash away what she did.”Came to me warm, wet and willing.That was no fault of mine.Glancing over his shoulder toward the bank, Lonnix winced and shuffled away. Unwilling to see her come stalking back after biting that b