J.C. Owens Gaven 03 Draconian Measures

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share the details with his men, crowing of his prowess?
The thought made me shudder in revulsion and shame, and I sat up, desperate
to escape.
Sadan was kneeling next to the fire, stoking it with more wood for those who
were waking. There were only two other Finnarians awake one bringing wood to
Sadan and the other kneeling next to the feeble flames, looking totally chilled as he
curled his arms around his body.
I froze as Sadan turned his head, immediately aware of my movement. His
eyes met mine, and the heat there made me cringe. That look was utterly
possessive, utterly self-assured, and I growled under my breath. He must have
heard, because he began to smile, a slow tilting of lips that made my anger rise in
proportion. Arrogant ass. I flung the blankets off, only belatedly remembering my
nudity. I snatched them back, my fury growing at the wider smile Sadan now
displayed.
I looked around for my clothing, realizing with a sinking feeling that I had left
it by the river.
Clutching the blankets to me like a hysterical virgin, I wondered with
increasing horror how I could traverse the camp in nothing but a blanket. My
dignity and reputation for ferocity was never going to survive this.
My frenzied musings were cut short as a bundle dropped onto my blanketed
lap.
My clothing.
I looked up into warm green eyes. Sadan slowly folded his arms over his chest
as though waiting for something.
I wanted to look away but refused the weakness. Damn it to the hells, I was
not going to back down from him. The bastard would think I was submissive or
some stupid thing. Instead I glared up at him.
58 J. C. Owens
This is not what you think, I snarled in low tones, trying not to wake the
still-sleeping Finnarians close by.
His brows rose in silent question, the amusement in his eyes deepening. It
took every bit of my courage to continue to look at him.
You mistakenly think that I wanted& that. I did not.
Sadan s lips quirked. That? You mean the sex?
Sssh, I hissed, clenching my fingers more tightly around the blanket I held
like a lifeline. Do you want everyone to hear? Lower your voice.
I would shout it to the heavens with great pride. I want everyone to know
what you are to me.
I stared at him in horrified fascination, like he had become a madman or
more of a madman than he had been before.
I am nothing to you. I am one of your men, and this should damn well never
have happened.
Sadan shrugged with nonchalant grace. Of course it was going to happen. You
are my destined mate. It was time.
I leaned back, feeling my eyes widen. I thought he had said those words in the
heat of passion, not with any truth behind them. Dear gods, what was this maniac
brewing in his little mind now?
I am not your fucking mate! I hissed, my entire body tensing with the need to
attack him. Bloody, fucking hells! What great evil had I perpetrated in another life
to have this crazy bastard forced into my presence?
Sadan just smiled, the ass. Smiled! Like I was not going to launch myself upon
him and rend him limb from limb. If he thought this mate shit was going to stay
my hand, he was sorely mistaken. The bastard would learn at his own cost.
I was not alone in this, Graitaan. Sadan s smooth voice purred over my name
as though he possessed it now. Your mating marks were clear indicators that your
body, if not your mind, knew full well who I was and accepted it completely.
Draconian Measures 59
It had nothing to do with you. I wished my words held as much conviction as
I wanted to project.
He tilted his head slightly, smile growing. So those marks come out for any
lover?
I wanted to lie, but I had never really learned how, and now that lack held me
pinned, wordless, beneath that hawklike stare.
I thought so, he said with deep satisfaction that galled me to the very core of
my being. I am your mate, Graitaan. Your body knows. Now we just have to work
on your mind.
I am never going to accept you as my mate, so do not get any fucking ideas, I
snarled, my claws extending from my fingertips, indicative of my fury.
The damn Finnarian did not even have the decency to flinch or look the least
bit intimidated. I know you are shy. He ignored the way my jaw dropped at the
ludicrous statement. I will give you time to adjust to the thought of being mine.
When you are ready, we will have a true ceremony to make it clear to everyone
else.
Like fucking hells. I fairly shook with fury, groping for my sword, dagger,
anything sharp at all.
Sadan smiled at me with soft affection that grated over my senses like burrs.
You will come to terms with this in time, my little one. I am a demanding lover,
true, but I am not without my gentle side. I will give you space to come to the
understanding that you crave me as much as I crave you. He turned on his heel
and strode back to the fire.
I trembled with emotion. Little one? I would gut the bastard, leave him out in
the sun for the carrion birds. I would&
Sadan
60 J. C. Owens
I strode back to the fire with such joy in my heart that it needed expression. I
wanted to have the king s messenger spread the word throughout the camp, wanted
to shout at the top of my lungs that Graitaan was mine, that we had sealed our
bonding by the most intimate of acts. I did not really think Graitaan could survive
the embarrassment of either wish being granted.
He was so shy, my little one. It was absolutely adorable. And his fierceness so
cute. The way his body tensed, his eyes blazed& My body tightened just at the
thought.
I took a deep breath, trying to bring myself under some form of control. All I
wanted at this moment was to repeat the experience we had shared in the river. Oh
my gods, the heat of him encasing my pulsing shaft. The taste of him& I closed my
eyes, licking my lips as though his blood still lay upon my tongue. It had been
unbelievable the impact of that taste upon my body, mind, my very soul. It was as
though Graitaan had flowed within me, as though his essence had joined with mine
to form a whole. I was no longer a single entity but half of a whole, something I had
never experienced before. A melding of self into something greater, something I
could never lose without being bereft and grief stricken.
He was mine. He bore my mark upon his neck. This first bite would scar; I had
not healed it with my saliva as I would every other from now on. He would bear that
mark for the rest of his life. My mark. My mate. The link forged could never be
broken.
I grinned. Despite his reluctance&
I fought down my exuberance and tended to the fire. Soon we would eat a cold [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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