Catherine Asaro - The Night Bird

“Markus! She swatted his hand. “If anyone looks up here, theyll see you mauling me.

“Theyll wish it was them instead of me. He opened the clasp.

“Behave yourself. She grabbed the clasp, holding the halter closed so her breasts wouldnt fall out.

Markus suddenly hefted her up into his hold, with one arm under her legs and another behind her back. He carried her away from the edge and then set her down on her feet. “Better?

It was better, but she was still annoyed with him. When he pulled her into his arms and tweaked open her halter, baring her breasts, she tried to twist away. He held her close, trapping her arms between them. She wished he didnt smell so good, with soap and leather and some indefinable smell that was just him.

“You quit that, she told him, trying to free herself. She wasnt sure what she wanted him to stoptouching her or being desirable.

“I cant quit that, he said, laughing. “You are a spell-caster, I know, because youve done something to me. Im useless! I cant stop thinking about my luscious pleasure girl. He bit gently at her neck as he slid his hand from her breasts to her back, then over her bottom and between her legs from behind. “You must take pity on me and release me from this torment.

“You dont sound tormented to me. He was doing maddening things to her. She was still aroused from this morning, and his touch sent shivers through her that she really, really didnt want to feel for this unrepentant scalawag.

Markus blew into her ear. “Youre ready for me, Allegra. You cant hide it. He stroked and teased her in the most distracting way. “Such sweet honey.

This morning she had come so close to her peak. And then stopped. Without completion. Now he held her against that beautifully muscled physique of his, and her traitorous body reacted.

When she stopped fighting, Markus relaxed. She immediately twisted around in his arms, putting her back to his front, and jabbed back with her elbow, hitting him in the stomach. When he grunted, his hold loosened and she wrenched free. Turning to face him, she stepped away from both him and the edge of the mesa.

He glared at her, holding his side where her elbow had hit. “What the blazes was that for?

She fumbled with the clasp on her halter, trying to cover her breasts. “Stop pawing me.

“Oh, no, night bird. You cant tease me this way. He grasped her arm and pulled her forward. Then he kissed her hard, with his tongue, his hands cupping her bottom as he lifted her pelvis up against his. Startled, she squirmed, trying to get down.

Markus abruptly set her on her feet again. Then he put his thumb against her shoulder and gave a push. She backed up a step, away from the edge of the mesa. He thumbed her shoulder again, and she backed up more. He did it a third, then a fourth time. Confused, she kept backing awayright into a cluster of rock spears. It was why he had chosen this lookout; the spears formed a wall that offered shade from the sun. Or so he claimed. Now she wondered if he had other reasons. He trapped her against the wall and kissed her while he worked off her robe and dropped it on the ground.

“Mmmph, she protested.

“That was articulate, he murmured against her lips. Then he went back to kissing her. He tugged down the chains that held her halter over her shoulders, fending off her attempts to hinder him. The halter slid off and hit the ground with a clink.

Allegra pulled her head away. “If you dont stop, Ill put you to sleep for a century.

His wicked smile flashed. “Only if you can use your own delectable curves. He slid her up the wall, lifting her until his pelvis pressed against hers, his erection rubbing the silk of her skirt where he had teased so mercilessly.

Allegra struggled, her hands sliding against his biceps, her body moving against his. Her attempts to free herself backfired; the more she fought, the more it aroused him. It affected her almost as much to feel his strong body and the flex of his muscles while she inhaled his smell, sweaty and soapy at the same time.

“Prince Markus? a man called from somewhere distant.

“Not now, Markus muttered, tugging on her skirt.

“Youd better answer him, Allegra said.

He bit her earlobe while he rubbed his erection against her stomach. “Hell go away if I dont.

She tried to wriggle down from where he was holding her, but he just slid her up higher on the wall, enough so he could suckle her breast. She groaned as her nipples hardened. Damn man. Somehow he knew just how to arouse her.

Embarrassed as much by her own reaction as by what he was doing, she thwacked him on the head. “Quit groping me, Your Hedonistic Highness.

“My what? Laughing, he let her slide to her feet. “Come on, Allegra, he coaxed. “Stop fighting me. Admit it. You like the way I touch you.

“Sire? the man called. He sounded closer, maybe even near the top of the path that led up the mesa.

“Ah, hells, Markus said. He scooped her clothes off the ground and thrust them into her hands. “Cover yourself up.

By the time the man came around the wall of rock, she had the halter back in place and had almost finished pulling on her robe. Markus stood in front of her, blocking her from view, but she saw who had arrived. Lieutenant Borjan.

“Sire, General Yargazon sent me Borjan stopped when he saw Allegra quickly tying the robe. “Ah. Oh. He scratched his ear. “My apologies. I didnt mean to disturb you.

“What does Yargazon want? Markus asked.

“A scout just came in. He thought you would want a report.

“Oh. Yes, I do. Markus pushed his hand through his hair, disarraying the locks Allegra had so carefully brushed last night. “Tell him Ill be right down.

“Right away. The lieutenant made a fast exit.

“I have to attend to this, Markus grumbled. “Well finish later. Under his breath, he added, “If I dont go crazy by then.

She couldnt help but smile. “You mean you havent already? she asked innocently.

“I swear, you will drive me to it. He gathered up his pack and motioned her toward the path. “Come.

“I can wait for you up here, she offered.

“And run away as soon as Im gone, no doubt. He stretched out his arm, pointing at the path. “Come. Now, woman.

“Markus, cant you at least be courteous about it?

“What?

“Come, she said in a deep voice, mimicking him. “Now, woman. You order me around like Im your dog.

“Youre not my dog, he said crossly. “Youre my slave.

Allegra folded her arms, glared at him and stayed put.

Markus lifted his hand as if inviting her to dinner. “Allegra, will you please accompany me down to my tent?

Saints above. He could actually be courteous. She lowered her arms. “Yes, certainly.

The path wound down the outside of the mesa. It dropped off to their left, but it was wide enough that she didnt fear she would fall. She kept her hand on the cliff to her right for support. Although sand dribbled off under her palm, the stone was solid.

Markus followed her. “How deeply can you make a person sleep? he asked.

“I dont know.

“Could you do it so they didnt wake up?

Allegra froze. Then she swung around to him. “Are you asking me if I can kill?

He stood above her on the path. “Well, no. But its a good question. Can you?

“No! Even if I could, I never would. How could you ask such a thing?

He came closer to her. “Im the outlawed sovereign of a conquered country. I have to think in those terms to survive.

She spoke more quietly. “I dont know what the empress did, but its not something I could replicate even if I were willing. I have nothing resembling that kind of power.

He cupped his hand under her chin. “I dont know what you can do. But Ill find out.