“To reach a place where I could be comfortable, alone, with a man not my brother.”
Her eyes met his and the vulnerable trust they held pulled at his heart—while the words she left unspoken broke it. What had the Haarb done to her?
“I am afraid. I am afraid creatures from the depths of the seven hells stalk the village of Sh’r Un Kree . I am afraid Mother Lyre and Primus G’hed are dead, or worse.” Sophi’s voice dropped to a whisper. “And I lied. I am afraid of what you want from me.”
She threw her head back and held his gaze steadily. “I am so very, very tired of being afraid. I can do nothing but pray for Sh’r Un Kree, Mother Lyre and Primus G’hed. But the other? I don’t want to fear it any more. I think you could change that for me.”
He stood and gently pulled her up against him. Tucking her head under his chin, Eric wrapped his arms around her. Her body molded itself to his and her arms wrapped his back, holding him loosely. He stood quiet for a few moments, allowing her to absorb the feeling of being held without demand, of simply being close. Pleasure at her ease in his embrace gratified a longing he’d had since their flight from L’ago Mistero.
He pulled away just enough to catch her eyes. “You are exhausted and fatigue magnifies fears. It conjures flesh-eating monsters out of mice and unholy specters from naught but night air. Your fears will fade with the rising of the sun and the passing of time. I want you, Sophi, and I plan to make love to you until neither of us can stand—but not now and not here.”
It pleased him her eyes held disappointment —not fear.
He le d her to the bed and pulled back the covers. “I would hold you in my arms tonight—but that is all I’ll do, sweetling. Perhaps I can keep your worst imaginings away.”
His discarded pants and shirt fell to the floor as he crawled into the bed. He held out an arm in invitation. “Come. My body is no mystery to you. Come lie with me and let’s get some rest.”
Wit h a soft sigh, Sophi slipped under the covers and spooned herself to his chest. He heard her soft snort. “Until I can’t stand, Commander?”
“Ummhmm. ” He felt her soft hands adjust his arms to wrap her chest, then fold on top of his hands.
“From pleasure or fatigue?” Sophi murmured.
H e admired her brave teasing and placed a soft kiss on her shoulder. “Pleasure, Flight Leader . A surfeit of pleasure.”
“Braggart.”
“Mmm. No brag. Truth.”
* * *
Sophi snuggled her cheek into the pillow, reluctant to open her eyes and begin what the light streaming in the small window announced as a new day. Wait. Not a pillow. Flesh! The prior evening’s events flashed through her mind. I am in bed with Eric. A joyous smile crossed her face. I slept, through the night, with a man! Me, Sophi!
Gently turning in his arms, she examined his now-familiar face. Such a handsome man. Such a good man. Blessings on you for sending him, brother. Buoyed by a delighted sense of accomplishment, she touched her lips to his. Warm, soft. She pulled back and placed gentle kisses at the corners of his generous mouth and then on his squared chin, rough with the dark bristles of his unshaven beard. She felt his arms close on her ribs and hold her to him. The lips she had just kissed quirked up in a smile.
“Good morning, Flight Leader .” Eric studied her face with sleepy, half-lidded eyes.
No man should have such outrageously long eyelashes.
“No more night fears?”
She smiled back and shook her head, her blond hair a silky wave around her shoulders. “It is as you said. The sunlight and rest silenced them.” She snuggled her head on his chest. “I am quite content at the moment.” She wiggled, trying to find a better position, then huffed in mock protest. “Though my mattress has developed a lump.” His erection hardened further against her inner thigh. Against her cheek, his chest vibrated with his chuckle.
“Um, yes. This
Her eyes met his and the vulnerable trust they held pulled at his heart—while the words she left unspoken broke it. What had the Haarb done to her?
“I am afraid. I am afraid creatures from the depths of the seven hells stalk the village of Sh’r Un Kree . I am afraid Mother Lyre and Primus G’hed are dead, or worse.” Sophi’s voice dropped to a whisper. “And I lied. I am afraid of what you want from me.”
She threw her head back and held his gaze steadily. “I am so very, very tired of being afraid. I can do nothing but pray for Sh’r Un Kree, Mother Lyre and Primus G’hed. But the other? I don’t want to fear it any more. I think you could change that for me.”
He stood and gently pulled her up against him. Tucking her head under his chin, Eric wrapped his arms around her. Her body molded itself to his and her arms wrapped his back, holding him loosely. He stood quiet for a few moments, allowing her to absorb the feeling of being held without demand, of simply being close. Pleasure at her ease in his embrace gratified a longing he’d had since their flight from L’ago Mistero.
He pulled away just enough to catch her eyes. “You are exhausted and fatigue magnifies fears. It conjures flesh-eating monsters out of mice and unholy specters from naught but night air. Your fears will fade with the rising of the sun and the passing of time. I want you, Sophi, and I plan to make love to you until neither of us can stand—but not now and not here.”
It pleased him her eyes held disappointment —not fear.
He le d her to the bed and pulled back the covers. “I would hold you in my arms tonight—but that is all I’ll do, sweetling. Perhaps I can keep your worst imaginings away.”
His discarded pants and shirt fell to the floor as he crawled into the bed. He held out an arm in invitation. “Come. My body is no mystery to you. Come lie with me and let’s get some rest.”
Wit h a soft sigh, Sophi slipped under the covers and spooned herself to his chest. He heard her soft snort. “Until I can’t stand, Commander?”
“Ummhmm. ” He felt her soft hands adjust his arms to wrap her chest, then fold on top of his hands.
“From pleasure or fatigue?” Sophi murmured.
H e admired her brave teasing and placed a soft kiss on her shoulder. “Pleasure, Flight Leader . A surfeit of pleasure.”
“Braggart.”
“Mmm. No brag. Truth.”
* * *
Sophi snuggled her cheek into the pillow, reluctant to open her eyes and begin what the light streaming in the small window announced as a new day. Wait. Not a pillow. Flesh! The prior evening’s events flashed through her mind. I am in bed with Eric. A joyous smile crossed her face. I slept, through the night, with a man! Me, Sophi!
Gently turning in his arms, she examined his now-familiar face. Such a handsome man. Such a good man. Blessings on you for sending him, brother. Buoyed by a delighted sense of accomplishment, she touched her lips to his. Warm, soft. She pulled back and placed gentle kisses at the corners of his generous mouth and then on his squared chin, rough with the dark bristles of his unshaven beard. She felt his arms close on her ribs and hold her to him. The lips she had just kissed quirked up in a smile.
“Good morning, Flight Leader .” Eric studied her face with sleepy, half-lidded eyes.
No man should have such outrageously long eyelashes.
“No more night fears?”
She smiled back and shook her head, her blond hair a silky wave around her shoulders. “It is as you said. The sunlight and rest silenced them.” She snuggled her head on his chest. “I am quite content at the moment.” She wiggled, trying to find a better position, then huffed in mock protest. “Though my mattress has developed a lump.” His erection hardened further against her inner thigh. Against her cheek, his chest vibrated with his chuckle.
“Um, yes. This
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