by G. A. Aiken
“That’s a lie, Talaith.” He gently grasped her chin and forced her to look him in the eye. “We both know that’s a lie. You would have never kept this, much less wear it, if it meant nothing to you.”
Her panic now vied with her lust, but Briec knew why. She didn’t want him to know how much he meant to her. She still wanted to maintain distance and, in the end, control.
“Don’t be foolish. No one’s ever given me jewelry before. I couldn’t simply toss it away, now could I?”
Briec shook his head. “Talaith, exactly how good an assassin could you be when you are such an incredibly bad liar?”
“I’m not a bad liar. I mean, I’m not lying. I mean—”
“Sssh.” He held onto the necklace and used it to pull her closer. “For the love of all that’s holy, woman,” he whispered, “stop talking.”
Staring at his mouth, “But I still have so much more to say, you selfish bastard.”
He grinned, unable to help himself. Then he kissed her, keeping it simple at first. His lips touching hers. But she moaned and went up on her toes to get closer to him. That was more than he could handle.
He released the necklace so he could dig his hands into her hair—his gentle control gone. He licked her lips and she opened her mouth to him. Now he moaned as her tongue touched his, sweeping around it, stroking against it.
Unwilling and unable to wait any longer, he slipped his fingers under the dress, pushing it off her shoulders. He pulled away, easing the dress down her body as he knelt in front of her.
“Step out of it.”
She did with no argument, and he quickly tossed the dress into the nearest chair.
As always, she had her blade tied to her upper thigh. “Still keeping this around, eh?”
“Oh.” Talaith went to grab the sheathed dagger, but Briec caught hold of her hand.
“No. Leave it.” He smiled up into her startled face. “I like it.”
Nothing made him lustier than the thought of her legs wrapped around his waist with that damn blade tied to her thigh. Besides, he trusted her.
He stood before he could toss her to the floor and fuck her within an inch of her life.
“Get on the bed, Talaith,” he ordered while he nearly ripped his own clothes off.
One eyebrow perked up on that beautiful face. “Should I get on all fours, lord? Or merely lie there? Like a forest animal awaiting slaughter.”
Laughing, his upper body now bare, Briec lifted her up by the waist. “Must you argue everything, woman?” She squealed as he tossed her back on the bed. “Can you not just lie there and take it? Like a good little lover?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Oh, that’s nice. How some female hasn’t snapped you up already—I’ll never know.”
“I think that’s because I’ve been waiting my whole life for you. And no one else would do.” It was an honest answer, and one she in no way could handle as she made a strange little “eep” sound and tried to climb off the bed.
“No, no. You’re not going anywhere.” He pushed her back, covering her body with his own. “Now kiss me, you chatty cow.”
“Go to—” He kissed her before she could finish that lovely little statement.
Pushing her legs apart with his knee, Briec settled himself comfortably in the vee of her body, allowing his hands to roam freely over her soft skin.
“Hell!” she finished when he finally pulled his mouth away from hers.
“Now is that anyway to talk to me?” He kissed her neck, his fingers circling her hard nipples. “Especially since you so clearly adore me.”
“Is it nice in your dream world, dragon?” she gasped out, her body arching into his hands, then his mouth as he moved down. “Are there fairies and elves there to keep you company?”
“Who needs old wives’ tales about fairies, when I’ve got you—an old wife?”
He felt that punch to his shoulder long before it arrived. Still, it made him laugh more. Sitting up, he stared down at her. She tried glaring at him, but her uncontrolled panting as well as her flushed cheeks and body made it much less intimidating.
Briec grinned, grabbed both her legs, and flipped her onto her stomach.
“Oi!”
“Up on those knees, love.” He pushed her legs up, raising her lovely ass quite nicely. “I need access to this ridiculously wet pussy of yours. Have many plans for it this evening, you know?”
She started to say something, but he didn’t hear her and she stopped talking as soon as he buried his face between her thighs. He thrust his tongue inside her, enjoying the taste of her wetness sliding down his throat.
Talaith groaned and so did Briec. Did he really think he’d ever be done with this woman? Did he really think he’d ever be able to walk away from her? Unable to wait a second longer, he nearly destroyed his chainmail leggings as he pushed them down his legs to his knees.
He leaned up, resting against her back. Getting a strong grip on her wrists, he held her in place as he drove his painfully hard cock inside her. She hissed, her legs spreading farther apart to allow more of him in. He obliged, shoving into her until his balls slammed against the soft cushion of her ass.
“Gods you feel good,” he gasped, her muscles tightening around his cock. “You’re strangling me.”
“I would,” she panted back. “But you have my hands pinned.”
“Callous cow.”
“Irritating bastard.”
Yes. Now this, this was home. Right where he belonged. Where he’d always belong. With this rude, sarcastic woman. And he knew she felt the same as soon as he stroked himself in and out of her sweet pussy. Without even realizing it, she moaned his name, begging him not to stop.
“I won’t stop, little witch.” He picked up his pace, unable to keep any semblance of control while inside her. “I won’t ever stop.” Because he couldn’t. Not where she was concerned.
Using his free hand, he reached around her waist and slipped his fingers in between her thighs. He found her clit and stroked it, desperate to bring her to climax before he lost all reason. She must have been close, she panted and moaned his name into the pillow, her pussy spasming around his cock, dragging him deeper inside her wet heat. And, with a relieved sigh, he came hard inside her.
Panting, sweating, and momentarily exhausted, the pair crashed onto the bed. Her hand grabbed his, removing it from her clit. “You’re killing me.”
“Not yet. But that could change any day.”
Laughing, she punched his thigh while he kissed her neck. He pulled out of her gently, slowly turning her so that she faced him.
He kissed her forehead. Her cheeks. Her nose.
“I missed you,” he murmured against her lips. “Don’t do that again.”
Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him close. “Don’t do what again?” she sighed, his lips moving to her throat. He knew she loved when he kissed her throat.
“Leave me. Don’t leave me again, Talaith.”
Her body stilled in surprise, but before she could say anything, he kissed her. Long and deep, enjoying the sweet taste that belonged only to her.
Just as he belonged only to her.
Chapter Twenty-One
Annwyl knew she was in trouble when she woke to find Fearghus standing over her, his arms crossed over that massive chest, and his jaw clenching and unclenching.
“We need to discuss your assassin situation, mate.”
Somehow she’d managed to put him off the night before. It must have been when she wrapped her mouth around his cock. But clearly that tactic wouldn’t work this morning. She guessed he’d been up for awhile…seething. Partly mad she found it so easy to distract him. Partly because it still angered him she’d kept something like this from him. Fearghus really hated that. But telling him about Talaith would have just upset him unnecessarily. Not that he’d ever understand that.
“Fearghus, there’s nothing to tell. So let it be.” She tried to turn over and go back to sleep, and that’s when
she realized he’d tied her to the bed.
“Oi! You bloody bastard! Let me go!”
His fingers brushed against the inside of her leg. “Not until we have a nice long discussion about you keeping things from me. We’ve got all morning. And I have unlimited patience.”
Uh-oh.
Talaith’s eyes snapped open when she heard the queen of Dark Plains cry out, “Gods! Oh, gods! Fearghus!” Since she sounded extremely far from actual pain, Talaith didn’t worry.
Instead, she grinned. Those two.
Stretching, Talaith enjoyed the feel of Briec’s arms around her. In fact, since she was in no rush this particular morn…
Turning over, she said huskily, “Time to wake up that great, big coc—Izzy!”
Standing at the end of the bed was her only daughter. The girl grinned at her.
“How did you…how did you get in here?”
“Picked the lock.”
Pulling the fur coverings she’d thankfully already had around her even tighter, “Nice to know you have that skill.” She elbowed Briec awake.
“What?”
“Look who has come to wake us up.” Perhaps the floor would open up and drag her to the pits of hell rather than waiting until she officially died.
Briec scratched his head and yawned. “Good morn, Izzy.” He rubbed his eyes with his knuckles. “Now as you may have realized, you’re upsetting your mother. So why exactly are you here?”
“Making sure you treated her right.” Her daughter grinned and Talaith remembered seeing that expression on Izzy’s father’s face more than once. That’s probably what snagged her heart in the first place. “And it looks like you have.”
Embarrassed, Talaith yelped, “Iseabail! Out!”
“No need to yell.” She sauntered toward the door, no longer in a gown but leather leggings, boots and a green, soft cotton shirt. “I’ll have the servants bring up food and hot water to bathe.”
The servants? Seemed her daughter had quickly gotten used to court life.
Izzy easily pulled open the heavy wood door. “And no need to rush.”
The girl, who Talaith was seriously considering disowning at the moment, stepped out into the hallway, but before she closed the door, she heard her daughter say, “I told you I could get past any lock, Gwenvael. Now you owe me ten gold pieces.”
Talaith buried her face in her hands, but unfortunately she couldn’t block out Briec’s voice. “I like her.”
“Shut up.”
Hours later, Talaith found Annwyl asleep on her throne. Her legs thrown over the arm of the chair, her branded arms crossed in front of her oh-so-ample chest…and she snored.
Yes. That’s very attractive, Queen Annwyl.
Unwilling to wait for the woman to wake up, Talaith tapped her shoulder. But froze when she felt the tip of Annwyl’s dagger against her throat. The queen hadn’t even opened her eyes yet. When she finally did, she blinked several times. “Oh. Sorry, Talaith.” She placed the dagger back in the sheath at her side.
Yawning and stretching, she said, “What is it?”
“Wondered if you wanted to go for a ride with me?”
She had to get out of this castle while she had the chance. Briec had kept her in bed for another four hours before he’d finally taken a quick bath and disappeared. She knew if he found her anywhere near that room or any bedroom, he’d have her flat on her back before she could blink.
Annwyl sat up, but winced. “All right. I’ll go. But no trotting or galloping. I’m sore in my—”
“Really, my queen. I don’t need anymore detail than that.”
“How much time do we have?”
Gwenvael sat back on his haunches. “Weeks. His army’s large. He won’t be getting it this far quickly.”
Fearghus had sent them into Madron lands to find out exactly how far Hamish was willing to go in his quest to destroy Annwyl. Apparently quite far. They soon discovered his army was on the move, heading toward Dark Plains and Annwyl.
“Still,” Briec cut in. “We should be ready by the time he gets here.”
Fearghus glanced at Gwenvael, then back at Briec. “We? Planning on staying?”
“As long as she’s here—I’m here.”
Sighing, Gwenvael stepped away from his kin, knowing this would get very ugly, very fast.
“Well, I no longer want her here. I want her gone.”
Briec shook his head at Fearghus’ order. “No. She stays.”
Gwenvael usually enjoyed a good fight between his siblings, especially when no one paid him any mind. But this felt different. It felt…dangerous. He hadn’t seen Fearghus this angry since their father tried to kill Annwyl. Nor had he seen Briec this determined about anything ever.
“She tried to kill my mate.”
“You act like that’s a first.”
“Don’t play with me, Briec.”
By a stream deep in the forest, the four brothers had returned to dragon form for this meeting and even spoke in the ancient language of their kind. Which made this feel even more serious to Gwenvael.
“I’m not. But I’ll be damned if I let you push her from this place. She’s happy here. She feels safe here. As does her daughter. So they both stay.”
“You barely know this bitch, and yet you protect her like—”
“Take care, brother, how you speak of her.”
Gwenvael looked at Éibhear who had been surprisingly quiet during this conversation. He could tell by the expression on his baby brother’s face he felt no better about the course of this discussion. They may not get along very well, his family, but they always protected each other. Gwenvael would hate to see some female get between them.
“This is my kingdom, Briec,” Fearghus growled out. “I’ll speak of her anyway I like.”
“She stays.”
“She goes.”
“Perhaps,” Éibhear finally piped in, “we should ask the women.”
“Why would we do that?” the two eldest asked in unison.
Éibhear motioned with his head. “Because here they come.”
All four of them looked at the rough trail that led through this forest. They could see Annwyl on her pitch-black war stallion, Violence, and Talaith on a much smaller brown mare Gwenvael didn’t recognize. Not surprising really. No one caught him trying to eat the brown mare like Annwyl caught him with Violence.
The women walked slowly through the trees, speaking softly. But it was Talaith who saw them first. Well, actually, she seemed to see Briec before she saw any of them. Again, not really surprising, as her horse reared up, almost unseating her.
Violence, however, was quite used to dragons by now.
Annwyl caught sight of the brothers and her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “And what goes on here, I wonder?” she called out.
“Nothing to concern yourself with, mate.”
“Really?” Annwyl rode her horse closer as Talaith worked hard to control her much more skittish mare. She wasn’t doing a half-bad job either.
“Why don’t I believe you…mate?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because there’s been so much lying going on here of late.”
“I never lied to you, Fearghus.”
“You didn’t tell me the truth.”
“Because I knew you would act this way. And if this is about Talaith—she stays. As does her daughter. Until I say differently.”
“This is our kingdom to rule together. Remember?”
“Dragons are your domain. Humans are mine.”
“She tried to kill you, Annwyl.”
“So did your father and yet he’s welcome here for meals.”
Gwenvael snorted out a laugh. “She’s got you there, brother.”
Fearghus’ tail slapped him so hard in the snout, he actually saw stars for a moment.
“Ow! What was that for?”
“Accident.”
Annwyl rode up to Fearghus. “Did you stop trusting me, Fearghus?”
“Of course not—”<
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“Then trust me now.”
The mated pair stared at each other for a long time, until Annwyl’s hand finally reached out and brushed against Fearghus’ neck. “Walk with me, Fearghus.”
He nodded and silently the two walked off. Briec headed toward Talaith, but his dragon form was apparently too much for the beast she rode. The mare reared back, throwing Talaith off, and bolted into the woods.
Talaith waited until she could breathe again before she forced her eyes open. What she didn’t expect was to look up at three dragon snouts staring down at her.
Like something out of a nightmare.
“She breathes!”
“Of course she does. She just got the wind knocked out of her.”
It was now official—Even my nightmares are getting ridiculous.
Talaith pushed herself up until she sat. It was very hard not to cringe when all those snouts brushed against her.
“Could you all move back a bit? You’re crowding me.”
“Sorry, m’lady.”
She grinned at Éibhear. “You insist on calling me that, Éibhear.”
“You seem like a lady to me.”
“Only because he’s been around Annwyl too much,” Gwenvael joked.
Talaith grabbed a talon from the two younger brothers, barely able to get her entire hand around them, and allowed both to haul her to her feet. She now stood in front of Briec. He’d kept his dragon form, and she studied him carefully.
Annwyl seemed so comfortable with Fearghus, whether dragon or human. But the dragon part of Briec still disturbed her a bit.
It’s probably those scales…or the fangs.
“Are you all right?”
“Aye.” She rubbed her backside. “Just a little sore, is all.”
Gwenvael bowed low, his dragon snout scraping the ground, his eyes focused on her rear. “Perhaps I can help you with that, m’lady.”
Briec didn’t even look at him as he slammed his tail into Gwenvael’s chest, sending him flying back into the trees.
Éibhear shook his head as he walked off in the opposite direction toward a clearing. “He really does bring that on himself.”
Briec waited until his brothers were away, then he focused on Talaith. “I’m scaring you, aren’t I?”