A Hero's Bargain Read online

  His kiss gentled, coaxing her now with a soft plea to answer him. Her arms slid around his neck. Her lips opened. There was a low rumble in his chest as his arms tightened around her. Awareness of her surroundings faded. All she knew was his lips moving on hers and his warm hand slowly caressing her back. She was caught in the spell he wove, floating in some dark place where her body spoke to her of aching loneliness and whispered its hope of fulfillment.

  Softly, ever so softly, the kiss ended. His lips left hers, lingering a hairsbreadth away. His hands slid to her hips, grasping them with strong fingers and pulling her to him. The hard ridge of his manhood greeted her. She looked into his eyes, gone black with desire.

  “You’ll come to my bed first. Then I’ll talk to Tyree about weapons.”

  Chapter 8

  Ryder’s spine burned from his tailbone to the base of his skull. It wasn’t the searing fire of previous hours. It was almost bearable. The ache in his groin was more than bearable. He embraced it and would have welcomed more. Every molecule in his body screamed at him to lay his angel down and take her. But he’d have to wait. He wouldn’t feel like much of a man if he couldn’t finish what he started right now. Hard as a rock or not, he wasn’t sure about it lasting.

  He tried not to listen to the voice in his head yelling at him, asking him what if he never had another hard-on. This had to be a good sign the toxin was working out of his system. Surely.

  Sleep, and whatever that soup was she fed him had him feeling restored. Even at that he was smart enough to know the restoration might not be genuine. It could just be that his blood sugar was up a little bit and that’s what made him feel like he could take on the world. An hour from now he might well be a shaking, quivering mass of jelly once again.

  He stopped speculating and turned his attention back to the woman trembling in his arms. She licked her lips. He sucked in a quick breath and kissed her again. Her lips opened under his, more than accepting, but far from bold. His cock throbbed. He could have wept for joy.

  He pulled back from her and her eyelids popped open.

  “Will you have me now?” She swallowed, hard. Her uncertainty was evident. The unwelcome notion that she was a virgin formed behind his eyes. His penis clearly wasn’t concerned about such mundane matters.

  He caressed her cheek gently with his knuckles. “I don’t think I’m quite up to it, angel. No pun intended.”

  She thought about that for a moment. The corner of her mouth twitched. Her chin lifted. “I am pleased for you, Ryder, that you seem to be recovering.”

  “Yeah? If I let go of you, are you going to run to Tyree?”

  She shook her head. “We made a deal.”

  “Did we?” He searched her face. Her cheeks pinked. Realization dawned.

  Well, hell’s bells. A deal indeed. She simply wanted him.

  “Angel, you can have me, deal or not. Just say so. I’ll make a deal with Tyree for my weapons and leave you out of it.”

  “Tyree will not make deals with you. If pushed, he will simply take your weapons and figure them out for himself.”

  Ryder laughed softly. He knew she was telling the truth. What he wasn’t about to tell her or anyone else was his weapons were secure activated to his DNA. These people probably hadn’t ever heard of such a thing.

  “Tyree can examine them all he likes. I won’t mind.” He ran his hands down her back to cup her bottom. He squeezed. Lord, she was perfect in his hands.

  “Stop that!” She tried to back away from him. He grinned and pulled her back to him. Her lips thinned into an annoyed narrow line. He released her, holding his hands up in the air. He sighed.

  She may want him, but she didn’t understand all the byplay between the sexes.

  “Angel, I hate to be a pest, but I need…” He pointed at the back door. She looked at the door, nodded, and was out the front before he could grab her, calling for Tyree.

  Wonderful. Just fucking wonderful. It would be time to play Twenty Questions. Maybe more.

  Tyree showed up promptly, without Saba, ready to lend a hand—and ask his questions. At least he waited until Ryder was settled in the chair by the fire.

  “You are welcome here, Ryder Vaughan, but know this—I won’t tolerate deceit.”

  “You think I’ve been in a position to deceive you?”

  Tyree’s look darkened, but remained virtually unreadable. He’d be good at cards.

  “Do not seek to play word games with me. I give this warning and I do not couch it in riddles. Deal openly and fairly with us and we’ll deal openly and fairly with you.”

  Might as well test some of those limits right now, Ryder, old boy.

  He met Tyree’s gaze, eye for eye. “Is this where you want me to bow and thank you for saving my life?”

  “You should thank Saba, and only Saba. I would have left you to die where you lay.”

  “Because of this errol?”

  Tyree looked surprised, but not unpleased. “You remember? Saba wasn’t sure you would.” He glanced at the door. “Truth, Ryder Vaughan. You were injured before your vessel crashed here, were you not?”

  Ryder nodded. “A very untrustworthy person may have tried to poison me. He certainly tried to kill me.” There was a thump outside the door.

  Ryder looked at Tyree, raising an eyebrow in silent question. Tyree shrugged and rose, going to the door on silent feet. He opened the door. Saba was just outside. He shook his head and motioned for her to come in. She reminded Ryder of a child caught red-handed with a fistful of candy. Tyree turned to her, hands on his hips.

  “Since you would hear this conversation, perhaps you would unearth some of the wine you keep hidden under the floor?”

  Her cheeks pinked again. Gods, she was cute when she blushed. Ryder grinned at her.

  She lifted a rug, pulled up a board and reached down. Tyree tried to look around her but she quickly let the board fall back into place.

  So. Tyree wasn’t privy to everything about Saba and maybe, just maybe, she wanted to keep it that way.

  She dusted off the bottle and carefully broke the seal before getting three tiny ceramic cylinders off her shelf. She poured one full for Tyree and handed it to him. Ryder received his with a warning.

  “Sip it slowly. It would not be good if it doesn’t sit well in your belly.”

  “Thank you, angel. I’ll sip.” He crossed his heart for her. She looked perplexed but didn’t ask. Tyree glowered at him.

  “Why would this very untrustworthy person want to harm you?”

  Ryder snorted. “You mean you don’t want to know what I was doing in the company of such an untrustworthy person?”

  “I warned you I would not play word games with you. I can only believe you are accustomed to be in the company of such.”

  Ryder lifted his wine, saluting Tyree. “Sometimes. Did you find a gold coin in what was left of my clothes?”

  Tyree reached into his vest pocket and flipped the coin to him in one smooth motion. Ryder caught it deftly. He ran his thumb over the embossing.

  Damn. Damn. Damn. The coin was Xenturan and worth a small fortune.

  For all the good it would do him on Adena.

  “Thank you. It’s supposed to be my good luck piece.”

  It was Tyree’s turn to snort. “You need a better one, my friend.” He sipped his wine. “Let us get to the point. Have you weapons?”

  “Hand weapons only, for self-defense. Nothing you could use to start a war.”

  “We do not seek to start a war. We need to kill only one very dangerous creature. Have you a weapon for that?”

  Honesty was not always the best policy, and he had some questions of his own. Ryder sipped, keeping his gaze locked with Tyree’s.

  “How do I know you won’t murder me in my sleep if I give you what I have?”

  Saba had been silent, but now she jumped to her feet. “We are Ramalho! We do not murder!”

  “Saba. We are only talking. It’s a valid question from one who doe
s not know us.” Tyree’s voice was gentle, but Ryder heard the censure in it. So did she.

  She sank back into her chair, bowing her head, putting her face in shadow.

  Tyree smiled. His lips bowed but his eyes remained cool. “We are Ramalho and we do not murder.”

  Ryder nodded. “That’s reassuring, I suppose. That and you’ve had ample opportunity to let me die.” He took another sip of his wine. It was blood-red, fragrant, and full-bodied. And very potent. His joints were loosening. He’d give Tyree more truth than the man probably expected at this juncture, and let the village headman worry on the bone.

  “Tyree, my weapons may not be of use to you. How big is this creature? Where is it from? Is its nervous system like mine? Or yours? If not, it’s very possible small hand weapons will not deter it, and may anger it into attacking instead.”

  Tyree rose. “You are still weak and need to heal. Word has come the errol is on the far side of its range, almost a seven-day walk from here.” He held out his hand to Ryder, who grasped it.

  “You understand what we need. Think on it as you enjoy the meager hospitality we have left to extend to you. Before the errol, we could feed you better.”

  Ryder looked up at him. It was clear why Tyree was the headman here. The man knew the questions he posed were simply a way to stall for time.

  “I’ll consider my options, Tyree. And the hospitality of the Ramalho is exemplary. Far better than I’m used to.”

  Tyree nodded and walked out, closing the door. Saba raised her head and glared at Ryder.

  “Do not toy with him.”

  “I’m not, angel. I’m really not. Tyree and I are coming to an understanding.” He finished his wine and held the little cylinder out. “May I have a bit more?”

  “It will make you sleep, and I do not understand the ways of men.”

  “I’m sure,” he said dryly. If he went to sleep maybe he’d forget about trying to get her naked. Maybe.

  Maybe he’d dream of taking her. That would be fine. She sat quietly, watching him with those beautiful dark eyes that would haunt his sleep.

  She looked at the closed door, licking her lips. The color came back into her cheeks. “What of our deal?”

  The jolt of carnal desperation that shot through his belly about undid him. Sweat broke out on his back. He started to swell.

  “I plan to collect.”

  Her gaze flicked to his, then quickly away, but not before he saw her fear—and her longing. His groin tightened again and his erection completed. Thank the gods.

  “Just give me another shot of that wine and then go about your business so I can take another nap. Can you do that?”

  She stared at the embers in the hearth for several long moments and then she reached for the wine bottle and handed it to him.

  “You may have as much as you like. I won’t trouble you over it. Sleep is the best thing for you right now. Tyree has agreed that I can go outside to gather plants. If the errol is days away, I can go now without fear and without escort.”

  His angel outside the protection of the walls alone? His skin prickled.

  “Take someone with you, Saba. Take me with you.”

  “You? You cannot walk yet! Don’t be foolish, Ryder.”

  “That goes for you, too. Don’t be foolish and go alone,” he shot back at her. He rose, cautiously straightening his back. She rushed to his side.

  “What are you doing?” Her hands fluttered around him. He kept a firm hold on his blanket, keeping it wrapped around him and bunched up in the front to hide a few things.

  “I’m going over there to get in that bed. It’s yours, isn’t it?”

  Her mouth dropped open then snapped shut. He grinned at her.

  “You’ll want me to be there later, angel. Admit it.”

  She squared her shoulders and glared up at him. “We made a deal. I will honor it.”

  “Honor.” He shook his head sadly. “Angel, you shouldn’t make deals with people who have no honor, and I’m one of them.” He took a tentative step. Then another.

  He moved along rather easily, and he prayed it stayed that way. If it did, he’d be back to normal in a day or two. He plopped down on the edge of the bed.

  “I’d really like to acquire a pair of trousers, angel. I can’t run around the village without them, can I?”

  She put her hands on her hips. “You are…you are…”

  “What? Annoying? I know.” He grinned at her then crooked his finger at her. “Come here.”

  She backed away, shaking her head. “No. I have things I must do while it’s daylight. You should rest. Take the bed. I’ll sleep on the pallet.”

  “Remember our little deal, angel.” He let the blanket slip just a hair. Her eyes flicked down to his groin. She licked her lips. His cock twitched. He could have howled with glee at the response.

  She’d take the pallet his ass. Who was she trying to fool? Her curiosity about the stranger in her care consumed her.

  Ryder tossed the blanket over the foot of her bed and let her get a good look at him as he worked his way beneath the covers. The bed was longer and softer than the pallet, and he stretched out. It was heavenly to suddenly be comfortable—and free of pain. Ryder tucked the covers around his hips before he looked at her. She watched him, stared at him, actually. He met her gaze.

  “I’ll rest, angel. I anticipate a long nigh.”

  Chapter 9

  Saba watched as Ryder settled in her bed. By the goodness of Wae but he was well formed. Her belly drew strangely tight and full as her legs grew heavy and her knees trembled. He reclined on the bed, grinning, which made her breasts ache oddly and her nipples grow hard.

  Suddenly off balance, she grabbed the table to keep from keeling over. This was truly desire, then. It had to be. It was far beyond what she’d felt as a young girl and sneaked a few cautious kisses with the boys of the village. She lifted her chin. Let him laugh at her.

  They needed his weapons and she meant to make sure he would give them up. That it would not be something she suffered through shouldn’t matter. And yet if she were truthful with herself, she was glad for the fluttering nerves in her stomach and the ache in her belly. Letting him take her would not be a hardship.

  She plucked her gathering basket from its hook and retrieved her hat from the window ledge. She stole a glance at him. His eyelids snapped closed. Best she ignore him and just go about her tasks. His voice reached her just as she eased the door closed.

  “Be careful, angel.”

  Oh, she would be careful—of him. The first thing she would gather was green ynoteb. She’d brew a tea from the boiled leaves to drink and then squeeze the moisture from the leaves and slip them inside her woman’s sheath in the morning, afterwards. The tea was likely enough to do what she needed on its own but she wasn’t willing to take undue risks. Ryder may be a handsome man but she did not want to find herself carrying his child.

  She called to Jennica to join her in her gathering. Her aunt came willingly with her own basket, followed by a few more of the women. Tyree was with a small hunting party just outside the gate. He nodded when she informed him the women were going north, and told her the men would hunt to the south and west. It was almost like old times, before the errol came. They could pretend it so, at least for the rest of this day.

  The women reached the shelter of the woods and disbursed. Each had something in particular they wanted. Saba wanted mainly medicinal plants and Jennica would gather with her. At the end of the day, some of what was gathered would be shared.

  Saba knew one of the others, Feya, searched for a tuber that was boiled, mashed and allowed to ferment. When the liquid was strained from the mash it became akdov, a wonderfully potent liquor then flavored with whatever fruit the drinker preferred. Saba hoped Feya had success so she could trade some of her wine for the more powerful akdov.

  Jennica stilled and looked at her queerly as she harvested the ynoteb. Saba was not surprised. Her aunt often knew things witho
ut being told. Jennica had seen the errol in a dream and told Saba of an approaching danger months before the fireball ripped through their skies. And yet, she’d sensed nothing about this stranger who fell from the sky.

  “What are you planning, Saba? Is this wise?”

  “Do we need to discuss this, Aunt? You know as well as any what this plant is used for.”

  “Have you and Tyree discussed this?”

  Saba dropped to her knees and kept cutting the tough stalks off near the ground. They would regrow in a matter of days.

  “This has nothing to do with Tyree. He has no voice in whom I take to my bed.”

  “Saba, this man could be dangerous. He likely is dangerous. Do not put yourself at risk.”

  Saba glanced around. She and Jennica were far enough away from the others that she could talk freely.

  “Ryder has weapons that may be powerful enough to kill the errol. The only coin I have is my body. I will use it. No!” She held up her hand to stop her aunt’s protests. “I do this for me as well. He…he intrigues me.”

  Jennica shook her head sadly. “Saba, this will lead to heartache. Surely there is another way. What will Tyree think when he learns of your actions?”

  “I don’t care what Tyree will think. We’re not for each other, Aunt. We never will be. And yet none of the men of the village will approach me for fear of angering him. Ryder doesn’t fear Tyree’s anger.”

  Jennica’s fingers closed around her wrist. “Perhaps he should. Saba, you cannot do this.”

  Saba pulled away. “I’ve already agreed and made the pact. I must honor it.”

  “Then be sure and use at least six leaves for the tea. And you will need to drink it every morning until you have the cleansing bleeding.”

  Saba squeezed her aunt’s hand. “I know, Jennica, but thank you for reminding me.”

  “You know what else you should do with the boiled leaves?”

  “Yes,” Saba replied dryly. “I know.”