study."
"Not really. My lessons have not been very challenging in the past few days. I thought you were going to teach me. I thought you were going to increase my magical abilities so I'll be better able to fight."
"I have much to do," Sian explained. "And you are not ready."
He was so dismissive, it would be easiest to turn and leave him alone. She did not.
Sian was an aggravating man, but also a fascinating one. He was powerful magically and physically, handsome in a manly way she had not recognized when she'd first seen him, self-assured… and that was an understatement. His nose was a bit large, but it suited his face somehow. And he tasted wonderful, with lips firm enough and soft enough…
Ariana blinked hard. She had no idea what Sian tasted like! He was so dismissive of her, she would likely never know such a thing, even if she were so inclined. And yet, she did know what he tasted like. Deep inside, she was so certain the memory called up his scent, his taste, the feel of him in her hand.
That unexpected and very real thought must be the result of a dream she had forgotten. She'd been dreaming about Sian, but not remembering the dreams. That was the only explanation. Like it or not, she was attracted to him. Just thinking about how he tasted and felt caused an unexpected reaction at her very core. A warmth. A calling. There had been times in the past two years when she'd considered taking a lover, but no man had ever called to her strongly enough to help her take that step. Sian could, if she allowed it. He could call to her very well.
Suddenly she felt a little dizzy, and to steady herself she gripped the back of Sian's chair. "What happened in Level Thirteen?"
"I told you what happened."
"You told me a fragment of a dark spirit entered my body and conversed with you, telling you about the Isen Demon."
"Yes."
"What else happened?"
"Nothing."
What she remembered, what she
knew
… it was too distinctive to be a remnant of a dream. "Then why do I know the taste of your mouth?"
Why do I want you the way a woman wants a lover
?
For a moment, Sian didn't answer. He was very still and quiet, and then he turned to look up at her. She searched his shadowed eyes for an answer, and found none.
How could he possibly explain this one away? Sian was surprised that Ariana remembered anything of the kiss, but then she had been present, in a way. Diella had been in control, but Ariana had not been entirely absent. While he tried to formulate an explanation, Ariana reached out and caressed his face. The move was unexpected, and Sian found himself flinching. She did not withdraw.
"It's all right, you know," she whispered. "This is all very scary for me, and I like the fact that I'm not alone. Who else can I turn to for comfort, Sian? Who else can I hold when the fear grows too deep and too strong? Only you. No one else." She tilted her head to one side. "Are you afraid of me?"
"Of course not."
"Do you want me?" she whispered.
Should he be honest or prudent? Normally he would choose prudence in this situation, but with what was coming, Ariana deserved honesty. "Yes."
"Then why don't you take me?"
The offer was so bluntly spoken, Sian was again taken by surprise. Before he had a chance to respond, Ariana sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her voluminous skirts brushed the edge of the table and sent papers scattering to the floor, and when she laid her mouth on his throat, he dismissed all thoughts of ancient witches' ledgers and notes.
He had been a while without a woman. Long enough that it didn't take much in the way of seduction to drive everything else but this woman from his mind. War could wait. Demons could wait. Ariana wanted him.
She kissed his mouth, and he tasted desperation on her fine lips. She moaned a little as they kissed, making that maddening little sound deep in her throat, that sound women called upon to drive men wild. This was a woman who could possess him, who could
"Not really. My lessons have not been very challenging in the past few days. I thought you were going to teach me. I thought you were going to increase my magical abilities so I'll be better able to fight."
"I have much to do," Sian explained. "And you are not ready."
He was so dismissive, it would be easiest to turn and leave him alone. She did not.
Sian was an aggravating man, but also a fascinating one. He was powerful magically and physically, handsome in a manly way she had not recognized when she'd first seen him, self-assured… and that was an understatement. His nose was a bit large, but it suited his face somehow. And he tasted wonderful, with lips firm enough and soft enough…
Ariana blinked hard. She had no idea what Sian tasted like! He was so dismissive of her, she would likely never know such a thing, even if she were so inclined. And yet, she did know what he tasted like. Deep inside, she was so certain the memory called up his scent, his taste, the feel of him in her hand.
That unexpected and very real thought must be the result of a dream she had forgotten. She'd been dreaming about Sian, but not remembering the dreams. That was the only explanation. Like it or not, she was attracted to him. Just thinking about how he tasted and felt caused an unexpected reaction at her very core. A warmth. A calling. There had been times in the past two years when she'd considered taking a lover, but no man had ever called to her strongly enough to help her take that step. Sian could, if she allowed it. He could call to her very well.
Suddenly she felt a little dizzy, and to steady herself she gripped the back of Sian's chair. "What happened in Level Thirteen?"
"I told you what happened."
"You told me a fragment of a dark spirit entered my body and conversed with you, telling you about the Isen Demon."
"Yes."
"What else happened?"
"Nothing."
What she remembered, what she
knew
… it was too distinctive to be a remnant of a dream. "Then why do I know the taste of your mouth?"
Why do I want you the way a woman wants a lover
?
For a moment, Sian didn't answer. He was very still and quiet, and then he turned to look up at her. She searched his shadowed eyes for an answer, and found none.
How could he possibly explain this one away? Sian was surprised that Ariana remembered anything of the kiss, but then she had been present, in a way. Diella had been in control, but Ariana had not been entirely absent. While he tried to formulate an explanation, Ariana reached out and caressed his face. The move was unexpected, and Sian found himself flinching. She did not withdraw.
"It's all right, you know," she whispered. "This is all very scary for me, and I like the fact that I'm not alone. Who else can I turn to for comfort, Sian? Who else can I hold when the fear grows too deep and too strong? Only you. No one else." She tilted her head to one side. "Are you afraid of me?"
"Of course not."
"Do you want me?" she whispered.
Should he be honest or prudent? Normally he would choose prudence in this situation, but with what was coming, Ariana deserved honesty. "Yes."
"Then why don't you take me?"
The offer was so bluntly spoken, Sian was again taken by surprise. Before he had a chance to respond, Ariana sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her voluminous skirts brushed the edge of the table and sent papers scattering to the floor, and when she laid her mouth on his throat, he dismissed all thoughts of ancient witches' ledgers and notes.
He had been a while without a woman. Long enough that it didn't take much in the way of seduction to drive everything else but this woman from his mind. War could wait. Demons could wait. Ariana wanted him.
She kissed his mouth, and he tasted desperation on her fine lips. She moaned a little as they kissed, making that maddening little sound deep in her throat, that sound women called upon to drive men wild. This was a woman who could possess him, who could
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