Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

Arousal spiraled through her. Her shy explorations, alone in her bed at night, had never roused this intense response. Her skin felt fevered, hyperresponsive to his touch. She had known Tanner all her life and felt safer with him than with anyone else, but today he had changed. His dark edge excited her.

He released one of her hands and fondled her breast. She didnt remember undressing, but she lay beneath him with nothing on except a chain around her hips. No man had ever touched her this way before. She felt exposed and helpless, unable to stop himand incredibly aroused. He slid down her body, his clothes rough on her skin, and settled his hips between her knees in a way that felt familiar, though she had never lain with him like this. He took her nipple into his mouth and suckled, pulling hard, his teeth against her skin. She sighed as sensations tingled through her, and she ran her free hand through his hair. The curls felt thick and soft, longer than she remembered, more ragged.

He came back up and kissed her while he stroked her sides, his palms sliding from her breasts to her hips. He was moving his pelvis against hers in a steady rhythm, and she felt his erection through his trousers. His chest was strong, more muscled than she remembered. She fumbled at his shirt, trying to pull it off so she could feel his body against hers. But instead of buttons, her fingers caught on complicated fastenings, loops and ties. Then he grasped her wrists in one hand and pulled her arms over her head. Holding her wrists down in the hay, he captured her.

Let me go, she said, straining to embrace him.

He slid his hand between their pelvises, and she murmured a protest, wanting to feel his hardness against her. She couldnt free her hands to pull him closer, couldnt do anything but strain against him. Never would she have expected Tanner to affect her this way. He smelled different, an intoxicating musky scent. His palms were rough with calluses, but more like those of a swordsman than a farm boy. He stroked her between her thighs where she had never felt a mans touch, and she groaned as shudders of pleasure shot through her.

Tanner unfastened his trousers, pulling at the ties, his knuckles rubbing her sensually. Then his fist pressed between her thighs. No, not his fist. He was trying to enter her, and she tensed, suddenly afraid.

Its all right, he said. Ill go slow. Relax, sweet night bird. Youre ready for me.

Warmth swirled within her. Her body strained toward him, and he finally freed her wrists. She embraced him, pressing against his muscled torso while he slowly pushed into her.

Ah, gods, he said. I cant hold With a groan, he thrust hard and buried himself inside her. She cried out, barely able to take him, and he stopped, lying on top of her, his heart beating hard, so hard. But she didnt want him to stop. Her dreamlike urgency overwhelmed the pain, and she rocked against him. He began to thrust then, with a strong, steady rhythm, stretching her, filling her. It was so different from how she had imagined, delicious and frightening at the same time. Sensations flooded her like the crest of a wave, and she never wanted it to stop. She was so close, so close to the top.

“Beautiful Allegra, he murmured.

His unshaven chin scratched her cheek with a days growthand it was far too heavy for Tanner. She struggled awake. She wasnt dreaming, she did actually hold that incredibly beautiful body in her arms, and he was moving steadily, his rhythm quickening, his breath urgent. It wasnt safe, secure Tanner. He had never had this sultry, powerful hunger.

“Markus? she whispered.

He lifted his head in the darkness and gazed at her, his eyes glazed. The entire time, he kept moving, stronger, faster. Bending his head, he kissed her with a passion almost out of control. Then he groaned, giving a huge thrust, and held himself deep inside her, his body rigid, his muscles like steel cables. His hips jerked and he arched back his head, the tendons in his neck standing out.

With a gasp, Markus collapsed on top of her, breathing heavily. She lay under him, stunned. She had let him take her, urged him, but he wasnt the boy she had loved all her life. On some level she must have known, but when she comprehended what had happened, tears welled in her eyes.

Markus sighed, then rolled off her, onto his back. Pulling her into his arms, he laid her head on his shoulder. “So lovely, he murmured.

Allegra lay still, too stunned to respond.

After a while, he brushed her inner thigh tenderly. “Youre bleeding.

“I neverNot before this

“I know. He kissed the top of her head. “Even if they hadnt told me, I would have known. Youre so innocent.

She couldnt answer. He thought she had welcomed him into her arms.

“Allegra? he asked. “Are you all right?

“Yes, she lied. She felt as if she were an instrument played just long enough to warm up, then left without a performance of the concerto. But she couldnt go any further.

Markus turned on his side and gently slid his palm between her thighs. “Did I leave you hungry, night bird? I can help. He rubbed circles with his palm, and pleasure surged through her, but now it felt overwhelming, too much. She pushed him away.

“Are you sore? he asked.

“INo. A little. She didnt know what to say.

“Later, then, he murmured, smiling. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. “I wish we could lie here all day. But it will be dawn in about an hour, and I want to be on the move before the sun rises.

Too much had happened. Allegra had reached saturation. She just stared at the ceiling, her hand resting over the triangle between her thighs as if to protect herself from her own desire.

Markus looked back at her. “Youre quiet this morning.

“You surprised me, she said. “I was dreaming.

His lips curved upward. “Of me?

She thought of lying, but she couldnt dishonor Tanner that way. Miserably she said, “Of my boyfriend in Aronsdale.

A long silence followed her words. Then he spoke in a curt voice. “ Gods. I have never met a woman so capable of humiliating a man with so few words.

“Im sorry. Her voice caught. “I thought I was going to marry him. Then you took away my life.

He spoke tightly. “So you sought refuge from me in dreams about him?

“No. I mean, Ive never had a dream like that.

Markus leaned closer, his eyes intense. “Thats because you dont want this boy the way you want me.

“No. Thats not true.

“Then why havent you dreamed of him before? Why do you crave him only when I touch you? Anger edged his voice, but she needed no mood spell to know it masked hurt.

Allegra had no glib answers, so she spoke the truth. “He has been like a brother to me. A friend. Ive never thought of him as a lover. I thought perhaps if we married, that would change.

“Those were moans of passion, Allegra. You were loving me, not some callow Aronsdale boy.

“It wasnt love, she said, bewildered.

“You cant deny what you felt.

“You think making love is the same as loving someone?

“Of course it is. He leaned over her, his voice sharp with his hurt. “You cant deny it. It was me you wanted.

She wondered if he even saw her as capable of more than a sexual response. “Youve taken away my life, my family, everyone I love. You think youre entitled. You tell me I must be whatever you want. And its true, youve caught me. I cant resist drugs and bonds and starvation forever. With pain, she said, “But even if you have my passion, you cant force me to love you.

Silence followed her outburst, and she regretted revealing so much of herself. The words had torn out of her before shed had time to think.

Then Markus spoke heavily. “Come. We must go. He took a cloth off the carpet, one he must have brought over, since it hadnt been there when she had lain down earlier. He cleaned himself off, then climbed to his feet and fastened his pants. “I want to change. And we must prepare to ride.