A Hero's Bargain Read online

  Saba met his kiss with total abandon. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, clinging to him as if her very life depended on it. He cupped her bottom and brought her body to his, trapping his hardness between them. She moaned into his mouth, lifting her leg to rest her knee on his hip. His hand slipped down to cup her heat and she flooded wet into his palm.

  She pressed against his hand, seeking, and he slipped two fingers into her moist welcome. Her nails dug into his shoulders. The small, sudden pain just fueled the lust that coiled in his belly. He didn’t have time to dwell on the pleasures of his own arousal. Saba was wild in his arms.

  “Easy, angel. Easy.” He thumbed across her bud. She cried out, sinking her teeth into the soft skin of his shoulder as her woman’s flesh pulsed under his hand.

  Ryder abandoned the notion of slowing her down and making love to her slowly as her inexperience demanded he do. She was way ahead of him. It astonished him even as it fueled his own ardor, and he pressed more firmly with his thumb.

  “Do you like that, Saba?” he whispered roughly in her ear. She whimpered, her inner walls clenching around his fingers. He knew in that moment she’d acquiesce to whatever he wanted to do to her. Desire danced darkly through the flames in his belly, demanding he pull her to her knees and take her in a primitive claiming.

  He couldn’t indulge that demon. She was too new to this dance of male and female. Still, there were a few things that shouldn’t shock her too badly. He rolled her on top of him.

  She made a sound of surprise, and frustration, but she didn’t let go of him. No, not that. She stretched out, full length, and rubbed her breasts on him. He grasped her hips.

  “Take me, angel.”

  Ryder was the one surprised. She didn’t hesitate but rose above him and straddled his hips. He reached between them taking his erection to steady things. Her gaze met his full of uncertainty and need.

  “Take me,” he repeated softly, fearing her retreat.

  Saba wavered for the barest moment then slowly moved over him, seeking. The look on her face when he slipped that first bit into her heat was not surprise. It was triumph. She eased down, taking him fully. Fire licked at him. He got a firm grip on her hips and urged her up. Her strong thighs lifted her, and then she slid down over him again, quickly finding a rhythm that fed her need. Ryder buried his thumbs into her nest of wet curls and began a gentle massage. She tightened around him, falling forward, her hands splayed on his chest. Her movements never ceased, never faltered. He gritted his teeth against the orgasm roaring up inside him. Sweat broke out all over his body. The muscles of his abdomen spasmed to the point of pain.

  Let it burn. He was not going to reach for the bliss until she could. And then she did.

  A small sob welled out of her. He drove up into her, hard, as her tender walls rippled around his shaft, plunging him toward insanity. Her body pulsed under his thumbs and she cried out. The flood of her pleasure rained down over his thighs. He could wait no longer to embrace the dancing demon.

  He grabbed her hips, pulling her down while thrusting into her. She was molten heat around him as his hands urged her to movement. Sensation skittered up his spine on delicate tendrils leaving him burning in its wake. His balls tightened. His thighs threatened to cramp. He forgot how to breathe. Time stopped.

  “Ryder!”

  He came, hard, emptying himself into her in waves of such incredible ecstasy, he feared he’d not live through it. It left him as quickly as it had seized him, leaving him panting and dazed. Saba collapsed onto his chest, weeping. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled them to their sides.

  “Shh, Saba. It’s all right.” Ryder cradled her head against his chest, not really understanding why women wept in such moments, and knowing he didn’t really want to understand them that well.

  With Saba, he’d hate like hell to find out it was disappointment with his declaration he wasn’t going to kill the errol without first finding out more about the creature. He couldn’t believe she wanted its death that badly.

  “I don’t know why I did that.” Her voice was muffled but he heard.

  “I’m just too irresistible, angel.” His lips brushed her forehead. “You’ll never be able to leave me alone now.”

  She sniffed. Then she sniffed him. He must have passed because she sniffed him again. She jumped, cracking the top of her head on his chin.

  “Owww!”

  “That hurt!”

  “You conceited whelp!” She struggled to break free of him, but he wasn’t in the mood to allow it. “I will leave you alone now!”

  “Be still before your knee hits a tender spot.” He managed to get a leg over her. “I was trying to make you feel better.” She glared at him but she stopped squirming.

  “You’re not irresistible. We had a deal.”

  “Oh, sweet gods. Not again.”

  Of all the females on this planet he ended up with the most stubborn one to be found. Just the way his luck ran.

  “I don’t want to talk about deals, angel. I just want you to let me hold you. The night is young.” And I want you again, and again, and again.

  “I’ve much to do. I must prepare the evening meal.”

  The bitterness in her voice made him curious. Did women everywhere resent cooking? Perhaps they did.

  “Who do you have to prepare a meal for? For me? I don’t require much.”

  “You must eat to regain your full strength.” She propped up on her elbow. “Although I’m thinking you’re more recovered than I believed.”

  “No, I still need special attention of the kind only you can give.” He took her hand and guided it to his genitals. “Can we still go get a bath, or is it too late?”

  “I’d very much like a bath.” Her eyes widened. “I didn’t mean…I mean…I don’t want a bath because of this…oh, Wae!”

  Sure he was committing the unforgivable by doing so, but not caring, Ryder laughed. “I know it wasn’t intended as an insult, angel.”

  “Perhaps it should have been. Let me go.”

  “No. Not yet. Kiss me again and then tell me why you cried.” He puckered his lips for her. She shook her head.

  “I don’t know why I cried. I just did and that is all I’m going to say. As for kissing you again—I don’t want to right now.” She slipped from the bed, taking the blanket with her and wrapping it around her shoulders. He rolled to his feet and abruptly sat back down, dizzy.

  The healer was at his side in an instant, hovering over him.

  “I’m fine, angel. I just stood up too fast. It’s already passed.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. To his surprise, she opened the blanket and cradled his head to her breasts.

  “Let us go to the bathing chamber, Ryder. The warm water will be soothing.”

  He kissed each breast before looking up at her. “Truth, angel. Are you sore?”

  She hesitated. “A little, perhaps. Not very.” She kissed him, then, a light brushing of her lips to his. “I do not mind in the least.” She gave him a speculative look. “Are you sore?”

  He snorted. “No, but I itch like hell. Did you have to shave me? And oh, by the way, thanks for having a steady hand with the razor.” He remembered being bathed but the shaving happened when he was passed out.

  She grinned from ear to ear.

  “It was truly necessary in case…” Her voice trailed off. He nodded.

  In case he’d lost all feeling and all control permanently. He was sorry she’d had to tend him in such a state but very relieved she understood. And very, very relieved he’d recovered. He was feeling stronger by the hour as the toxin continued to break down with increasing speed and be eliminated by his system.

  She was still grinning at him.

  “What? Angel, you might as well tell me before you burst from trying to keep it in.”

  “Tyree did the shaving and he did suggest incapacitating you. Just in case.”

  It was a good thing he had been out cold. Another man
messing around with his private bits was more than he really wanted to contemplate.

  She kissed him again, pressing her lips firmly to his this time. He kissed her in return, moving his lips softly across hers. The echoes of their shared passion resonated between them. Saba pulled away and rested her forehead on his.

  “But I’m very glad he did not.”

  Chapter 13

  Saba gathered what few things she needed for bathing. Her trip outside the village wall had given her the opportunity to find a few of those plants that made life more pleasant. She’d be able to wash her hair again and have it sweet smelling and shiny. Ryder’s, too.

  She really wanted to bury her fingers in his amazingly silky mane again. She was sure there must be something wrong with her for wanting to play with his hair. She’d never heard of the other women talk about doing it with their mates. Perhaps it was such a sinful pleasure everyone was too embarrassed to talk about it.

  Saba slipped into her drying lean-to and plucked six leaves from a ynoteb stalk. She’d drink the tea tonight when they returned, just to be on the safe side. She was less sure about using the steeped leaves internally. If the leaves were placed inside her, they’d not be able to make love again. And she definitely wanted him again, a little tender or not.

  Perhaps it didn’t matter if she used the leaves as long as she had the tea. Many women only used the tea and still obtained the desired protection. And she’d just had her flow. It would be several weeks before she’d be fertile. Perhaps she’d wait and use the leaves then for extra protection. They’d be more comfortable with each other by then. If he stayed.

  Ryder watched her from his perch on the edge of the bed. He’d pulled on the trousers Tyree had given him, but not the shirt. She was a little self-conscious as she moved about. Did he suspect how different her body felt to her? Could he know she had this wonderful new awareness of being female?

  Could he know that the very air brushing her damp thighs was driving her insane?

  He certainly looked smug enough to know all those things and she just knew he was the kind of male who would know. She suspected he’d had a great many dealings with females, most of which she didn’t want to learn about. She slipped into a long, flowing robe, gathered up her small bundle and turned to him. They’d not need footwear just to cross the yard, and besides, he didn’t have any yet.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  “Whenever you are.” He rose and stretched cautiously.

  She watched with interest but he didn’t flinch or grimace. Another few days and he would be free of the toxin. Her mind shied away from what would happen then. Tyree would not take Ryder’s refusal to kill the errol lightly.

  They stepped into the stillness of late evening. Light shone from the windows of most of the huts. Many were about their evening meal and the yard was vacant. They walked to Hezetta’s hut in silence. Ryder kept a little distance between them for which she was strangely grateful.

  She glanced over at Tyree’s hut. His door was closed, an indication he was elsewhere. She looked about surreptitiously, but did not see him. That was just as well for he would not be pleased to discover she’d taken Ryder into her bed. There was no way to hide the fact—the village was too small and the Ramalho too closely knit to hide much of anything.

  Hezetta was gracious as she ushered them inside her hut that had been constructed over the entrance to a small cave. Saba wasn’t surprised. It was the woman’s first chance to get a look at the stranger who had come from the skies. Ryder was polite but distant with Hezetta, which made a small warm ball of satisfaction take shape somewhere in the vicinity of Saba’s heart. Hezetta was very pretty and most men fell all over themselves flirting with her.

  They passed under a leather curtain and into a short tunnel that opened at the bathing chamber. Someone had already been here. Several logs in the fire pit were still burning, the smoke rising into a funnel shaped scoop and out a natural chimney.

  Saba put two more pieces of wood on the fire and made a mental note to make sure a few of the boys were put to work replenishing the woodpile.

  She placed their towels on the small bench that sat beside the drying rock, which was a large slab of stone beside the pool always warmed by fire. She loved to sit on the heated slab by the fire and dry her hair. It was a few minutes of stolen time before the demands of being the headwoman and the healer intruded again.

  She’d had a firm grip on her nerves as they’d walked. She’d even managed to chat normally with Hezetta. But now he was standing there, blue eyes gleaming with mischief, a bulge in the front of his pants. She took a ragged breath and tried to ignore him, but her pulse fluttered and the urge to press her thighs together was almost overwhelming.

  Ryder wasn’t ignoring her, though. He crossed to where she stood in two steps and yanked her robe over her head. Saba folded her arms across her chest, her hands cupping her breasts in a vain attempt to shield them from his view. He merely grinned at her.

  A big, open, smug, smirking male grin. How strangely appealing.

  “Enough of this procrastinating, angel. We’re getting wet.” His trousers dropped to the floor and he stepped out of them. His swollen manhood dropped free, heavy and full. The fluttering in her belly became a drumbeat. Moisture dewed her thighs as she thought of him inside her, pleasuring her endlessly. How often could he take her?

  He laughed wickedly, seeing her interest, and then he tugged at her hips. She swatted at his hands and tried to act like it didn’t affect her when really she wanted to reach out and grab him. She finally got a firm grip on his hands.

  “Just get in the water and wet your hair. I’ll hand you the lotion for it.”

  Ryder flashed her one of those speculative looks he was so good at, but he hopped down into the water.

  “Very nice. Just the right temperature.” He splashed a few handfuls of water up onto his chest, then scratched the center where dark stubble showed. “Did you have to shave my chest, too?”

  She licked her lips as his hand disappeared under the water. She was sure he’d stroked himself although his expression didn’t change. She batted her eyelids coyly at him.

  “We truly did not know how long you would be bedridden. I should think you’d forgive us since you’ve recovered.”

  He laughed at her teasing tone and held his arms out to her. “Come get wet.”

  She met his gaze. His blue eyes turned a smoky gray. She placed the eola leaves on the edge of the pool and then jumped in. He grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her to him. It was heavenly to be skin-to-skin with him in the warm water. He cupped her bottom and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist.

  “Kiss me, angel.” His request was low, his voice husky with more than desire. The richness of it surprised her, called her to do his bidding without thought, or question. She slanted her mouth across his.

  His lips opened under hers, inviting her, daring her, to bravely give herself over to her innermost desires. Gooseflesh shivered all over her. She just wasn’t brave enough to give in to passion with Hezetta just a few feet away. His fingers teased at her from behind.

  “We should bathe,” she whispered breathlessly. Those clever fingers were getting bolder. He nibbled at her neck before raising his head to look at her.

  “Is that all you really want, angel?” His eyes had that gleam to them again, the one that seemed to slip through her resolve.

  “I…” She had to clear her throat. The corner of his mouth quirked up in a little smile. “I want many things, Ryder Vaughan. Right now I want to be clean.”

  He released her and she dipped into the water. She took a breath and held it, going all the way under to wet her hair. She broke the surface and wiped her eyes. He followed her example, going under and coming up an arm’s length away. She grinned at him.

  “You look like a drowned sutar.”

  He snorted rudely. “I don’t think that’s praise of my manly form, angel.”

 
; “You cannot possibly know what a sutar is.”

  His look turned cautious. “That’s just it, Saba. I do know what you’re talking about. It’s a smallish, brown creature with a long naked tail, tiny ears, and big bright eyes. Don’t you wonder how it’s our languages are so close that we understand each other without difficulty?”

  Maybe she could make love after all. Hezetta hearing them would be preferable to having this conversation with him.

  She had wondered. In truth it bothered her greatly. She was sure all the implications of it were beyond her reasoning, but a few of them were not. First and foremost, had he been to her world before? Adena was vast. There were other peoples beyond the seas. Hallaf’s grandfather had come from one of those distant places.

  Then there was the theory the gods had traveled far and wide through the heavens, to world after world, and left their offspring to populate those worlds. She had thought that believable until the errol had come. Was that creature a child of the gods, too? Yet, here was Ryder, speaking the words of the Ramalho, and so alike physically she had to believe the gods had seeded themselves far and wide. It was the only thing she could believe.

  Ryder’s statement that to kill the errol could be murder was quite disturbing. She didn’t want to think of the errol in terms other than as a brutal, senseless killer. Yes, making love was much more attractive than pursuing these thoughts. She floated through the water, back to his side.

  She crushed one of the eola leaves and rubbed until it worked into a rich lather then she worked the lather into her hair. His hands reached to cover hers and work the suds through to her scalp, his strong fingers giving her a heavenly massage. She closed her eyes and relaxed into it. He chuckled softly.

  “I’ll give you a full-body massage later, angel, if you like.” She heard the coaxing note in his voice. He liked the idea. So did she, so much so her skin tingled all over.