Born of Stone

Chapter Three

“What about my clothes?” she asked while they walked the short distance to his room.

“You’ll never wear such rags again.”

Orestes hoped he didn’t sound too possessive, but from this moment forward she would be covered in silks. Or perhaps satin? Maybe even lace and velvet when he could get it. Unfortunately, most of the finer fabrics weren’t made in Halstrid, but he knew where and how to get them. Being a Master definitely had its perks.

She said nothing else when they entered his room. He closed and locked the door before leading her to a table near his wardrobe. It held a small towel, an empty bowl and a clear flask filled with blue liquid. He set down his weapons and grabbed the flask. He pulled the stopper and turned to face her.

“You will take some of this in your mouth and swish it over your teeth. Then spit all of it out into the bowl.”

He demonstrated before grabbing the towel to wipe his lips. When he held out the flask, she simply frowned at it.

“Why? What is that?”

“A potion to cleanse your mouth. It will keep your teeth healthy and in your head.”

Her frown cleared and she took the flask, though she still looked skeptical. She sniffed it then did as he asked and spit the potion out daintily. He wiped her mouth with the towel.

“It tingles a bit on my tongue.”

“Yes, but it feels better too, doesn’t it? Fresher.”

“Yes, like a tea I once had.”

“Mint.”

“It was an herb.”

“Indeed.”

He was nearly at the end of his patience, knowing she was bare beneath the towel. He motioned to his bed with one hand. Luckily, he’d left the fire burning earlier so they could see but there was a chill in the room now. He saw her shudder as she walked to his bed. He grasped her hips and lifted her onto it before turning to the fireplace.

“Crawl beneath the blankets while I add logs to the fire. The room warms quickly.”

He attended his duties with half a mind, the rest of his attention zeroed in on the sound of her movements. He imagined the cool sheets sliding across her pale skin, her thick hair scenting his pillow. It was enough to have him burning his finger.

“Shite.”

He shook out his hand while the flame grew before him.

“Are you all right?”

Her soft voice sounded from his bed and he closed his eyes to calm his ardor. “Yes. A bit too close to the flame with one finger.”

“Oh.”

Before he realized what she intended, she was by his side. He stared in awe as she crouched beside his kneeling form and gently grasped his hand. It looked so huge between her much smaller palms. He almost couldn’t imagine touching her. Had he really pleasured her with these rough, massive fingers? It was a miracle he hadn’t hurt her.

She turned his hand over and inspected each finger until finding the one with a slight red mark at the tip. Then she brought it to her mouth and placed a light kiss on the sore. He nearly came on the spot. The erection that had lessened in the past few minutes sprang to immediate and pulsing life. He growled and pulled her into his arms.

“You would kiss away my pain?” he asked.

She gasped but didn’t fight his hold. “Yes.”

Her pink lips caught his eye and he could no longer ignore the siren’s call.

Astrid had never been kissed. Not really. Certainly not like this. When she had been much younger, her first kiss had come from a boy in her village. Their mothers had been friends for a while. But that was the last time anyone had touched her lips in a kiss. This was so much more. It was a claiming and she wasn’t fool enough to deny it. The wonder of a Master wanting to claim one such as her was quickly forgotten while she lost herself in his kiss.

He was gentle at first, though his hunger was unmistakable. His arms were strong as ever, like brick encasing her shoulders. Rather than intimidating, they made her feel safe. She relaxed into his hold. His lips moved against hers slowly, coaxing her into a deeper kiss. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than his warm tongue slid against the seam of her lips. She gasped and he took it as an invitation to invade her mouth.

His taste filled her senses and it was such a peculiar sensation she had to stifle a laugh. Luckily he didn’t seem to notice when she easily turned it into a moan. Who knew men could do such things? She gripped his arms before slipping her hands up to his massive shoulders. He continued to slide his tongue along hers and she tried to mimic his actions. Was she doing it right? Did he like it? She loved every second and prayed he wouldn’t push her away. Then he pulled her tongue between his lips and sucked on it like a treat. A lightning bolt of sensation shot straight to the apex of her legs and she jumped. Their teeth crashed lightly and they both quickly pulled back.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m so sorry,” she said as she tried to regain her breath.

He grinned and cradled the side of her face with one large hand. “Nothing to be sorry for. Unless you mean for stealing my wits.”

If not for his grin she might have been frightened. But he was obviously joking and the dimple that appeared to one side of his mouth stole her senses.

“Oh…”

He chuckled and placed a light kiss on her mouth before pushing to his feet. He carried her as if she weighed no more than a feather. Compared to his strength, she probably didn’t. But where his form had initially intimidated her into fear, she now felt safe and perhaps even cherished. He was so careful when he set her on his bed. She moved to the middle to allow him room and her towel slipped from where she had wrapped it around her breasts. She was about to pull it back up when he stopped her with a hand on hers.

“No.”

He pulled her towel away and dropped it onto the floor before allowing his to follow. This was her first real look at his full naked glory. He was absolutely magnificent.

“Oh, Goddess…”

He slid between the covers and moved over until his skin touched hers. She remained in place, awaiting his command. Anything this man asked of her would surely be a pleasure. Was it really such a short time ago she’d thought he might harm her? His care since the first moment he touched her had proven otherwise. She only prayed there wasn’t a hidden side to his personality. Oh, she knew as a protector he would be fierce and violent to enemies of the realm. But so far, his human side proved gentle and exciting. She couldn’t stop herself from touching his smooth, hairless chest.

“Do none of you have hair on your bodies?” she asked.

Heat immediately filled her face. She hadn’t meant to ask the question that burned through her mind. Luckily he didn’t seem to care.

“Only on our heads. When we’re in fighting form, even that hardens to stone. Does it bother you?”

She immediately shook her head. “No. I haven’t seen many men naked, but the humans seem so dirty with all their hair.”

He laughed. “Well then, I’m glad for my lack.”

“Um…I’ve heard the women of Keva are also hairless.”

His humor melted away and he nodded. “Yes, that is true.”

“Uh. Is that your preference?”

His brow wrinkled slightly and he moved so he was leaning over her on one elbow. He set that hand against the top of her head and used the other to push her hair from her face. The damp strands tried to stick but he patiently smoothed them away.

“I’ve never really thought about it one way or another. But at the moment, I can say my preference is definitely for the human in my bed.”

Then he was kissing her again. She relaxed into the softness beneath her and reveled in his hardness above her. The contrast of sensations was almost too much, and put together with the magic of his mouth and the devilry of his roaming hand, she almost forgot to breathe. He left her lips and she sucked in much-needed air, which left her again quickly when his teeth found her nipples. He bit down lightly but even that slight sting was a riot of sensation. She had never felt the like before.

“Wha-what…are…you…doing?” she asked.

Astrid’s breathless pants filled his ears along with the wonder of her query. She wasn’t fully innocent by her own admission, but it was so close as to not really matter. The two human men who had touched her before obviously had only their own gratification in mind. The thought both angered and elated Orestes. He wanted her to know pleasure only from him. Anytime in the future when she remembered these sensations, he wanted only his name on her tongue.

“O-Orestes?”

“Yes?”

“What are you doing?”

“Tasting your sweet nipples. Next I’ll take the full, plump breast into my mouth and then I’ll lick every part of you until I reach those tantalizing curls.”

His keen hearing picked up the racing of her heart and he smiled against her flesh. A tremor ran through her body but she didn’t try to stop him when he once again lightly suckled her nipple.

“Oh…”

Her soft moans hardened his cock almost to the point of pain, but there was no way he would indulge until fulfilling his quest. He would taste every part of her he could and then worry about his own arousal.

He pulled the sweet bud between his lips and suckled it until most of her breast was in his mouth. She grabbed his shoulders and dug her short fingernails into his skin. That only served to ratchet up his excitement and he vaguely wondered if telling her so would scare her. There were many things he wished to do with her that might be frightening to the naïve human. For now, he concentrated on sucking her breast like a starving babe. Then he moved to the other before switching back. By the time he’d had his fill of both, she was writhing beneath him with soft mewls escaping her throat.

“Like that?” he asked.

“Yes. Oh yes…”

He grinned while pleasure filled him. Her eyes were glazed with passion, her breaths fast and unsteady, and a fine sheen of moisture coated her skin. She was slick from the warmth of the fire and their exertions. The scent of sex hung lightly in the air and made him hungrier for the feel of her around his cock.

He went back to kissing her, starting with the spot between her perfect breasts. She had a small scar there and more all over her torso. He decided to lick every single one. Some were small scratches—others appeared to have been made by a whip. He pushed aside his anger but vowed to question her more on Simon’s part in these scars. That also brought to mind her earlier injury and he froze.

“Astrid, does your back pain you?”

“Hmm? Oh. Uh…no. I’m in no pain right now.”

That eased his mind and gave him leave to continue.

He took his time, licking, sucking, tasting, moaning against her flesh. Her answering sounds pleased him immensely. The Keva were usually passionate, well-built women, but they knew their worth. They could be demanding in bed to the point of insult and his last lover hadn’t been very satisfying. Astrid blew that memory away in a heartbeat. Her soft cries and biting fingernails mixed with her taste and scent were driving him mad. He couldn’t remember ever being so ready to bury himself in a woman’s body before.

But not yet. He had finally made his way down to her mons. The bushy curls tickled his chin and he brushed his fingers through them gently to find her slit. She jumped but he steadied her with a hand on her lower belly.

“Easy, my sweet. I’m just looking for your hidden treasure. Open your legs as wide as you’re able.”

Though her nervousness and confusion were palpable, she did as he said without question. She was learning to trust him. A good sign for things to come. And he definitely wanted more time with her. That was also new for him. Usually his Kevan lovers lasted only the night—or day if he arrived early enough—but never beyond that. Sometimes he had the same lover again from a time before. But even so, those women never expected any more from him. Would Astrid?

Instinctively, he knew she would expect only what he promised. She was used to having so little. He instantly vowed to treat her like a queen for as long as she held his interest, but knew that might not be very long.

He pushed those thoughts aside even while parting her curls with his fingers. There was her true prize—the soft, glistening flesh of her sex. She opened her legs wider for him and he was again struck by her easy trust. He rewarded it with the most intimate kiss he could give and she screamed his name.

“Orestes!”

Her fingers clamped in his hair but he ignored the slight sting to kiss her again. Then he ran his tongue through her moisture before stabbing it into her body. She writhed and he had to grab her thighs to keep her still for his feasting. He rubbed his lips against her and hummed in masculine approval.

“Oh Goddess…oh, Orestes…”

She moved her hips off the bed in a weak attempt to fuck his face. He growled and stabbed his tongue in again before finding her sensitive bud with his thumb. One touch was all it took and she was screaming, crying out incoherently while her muscles tightened in climax. Her fingers gripped his hair more viciously before letting go completely. Then a spasm racked her small frame before she fully relaxed. After one final swipe of his tongue he sat up to look her over.

She was panting, her small hands curled into fists as slight tremors shook her. Her damp skin glistened in the firelight, and he’d never seen anything more beautiful in his bed. Despite his thoughts of mere seconds ago, he knew she wouldn’t be leaving it anytime soon.

He ran his hands over her lightly, soothing her tremors until her breathing had slowed to a more normal pace. He didn’t want to hurt or frighten her and wasn’t entirely certain of just how much a human could handle. So far she had surprised him, but he didn’t want to push her too far.

“Are you thirsty?” he asked.

Her throat moved and her swallow sounded loudly. He was already heading for a flask of wine when she finally nodded. He grabbed the flask and a cup from his desk and returned to the bed. It was strong wine, but for all he knew she was a drinker. That thought made him frown and he poured less than half the cup full before handing it to her. She sat up only enough to sip and immediately started coughing. He grabbed the cup and she cleared her throat.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes. Sorry. I don’t usually drink wine.”

That made him chuckle and he returned the flask to his desk. He found a second one with water and took it to her.

“Here, try this.”

He held it to her lips and she drank tentatively at first. Once she realized what it was, she took a few more gulps before gently pushing it away.

“Much better. Thank you.”

He set it on a table beside his bed. “You’re welcome.”

She relaxed against the pillows again and smiled at him. Then her gaze lowered until she was looking at the still-hard evidence of his arousal. A blush filled her cheeks and she met his gaze again quickly.

“Oh. Uh…you’re not done?”

He threw his head back and laughed, partly at her innocence and partly in pure pleasure of her. She was such a refreshing change.

“No, my little star, not even close.”

He moved back onto the bed and pushed her legs apart so he could kneel between them. She allowed him to move her easily, an expression of curiosity on her face. He slid his palms over her legs, then up her sides to her breasts. She shuddered and then seemed to calm under his touch. He smiled down at her while he leaned with his weight on his elbows and knees over her. She put her small hands flat on his chest but didn’t push him away.

“Is this okay?” he asked.

“Yes. But, um…”

“Yes?”

She looked down between their bodies where only a breath of air separated their skin. The hungriest part of him already rubbed against her.

“I, uh…the men I was with before were a lot smaller than you. I don’t think it’s going to fit.”

He wanted to laugh but her concerned look killed his amusement. She still blushed and chewed on her lower lip. Did she fear his anger? He vowed to calm her fears and renew her passion, starting with a kiss.

She moaned into his mouth as he slipped his tongue between her lips. Already she had learned from him and met every action with her own. Within seconds his cooling ardor had reheated until he was hungry for her as ever. She began to move against him and he knew she would soon be ready too. He smoothed a hand to her breast, lightly squeezing the plump flesh before rubbing his thumb over her nipple. It hardened beneath his touch and she wrapped one leg over his thigh.

When she began to thrust her hips, he knew she was ready. He pushed his thigh against the apex of her legs and allowed her to move against it for a few torturous seconds. Then he grabbed her leg and swung it back around his hip, opening her to him again. He lowered his hand to her sex and slipped a finger inside. She jumped against him, pulling back from his kiss. They both took in much-needed air and he searched her face for discomfort. When he saw only passion he slipped in a second finger.

“Oh…”

She thrust her hips against his hand.

“Yes, Astrid. Fuck my fingers, lovely. Suck them into your beautiful body.”

She moaned and writhed, and he added a third finger. Her breaths sped up and moisture leaked from the tip of his cock onto her belly. She didn’t seem to notice but he watched it trail across her skin. He pumped his fingers in and out of her slick opening until he was certain she could take him. Then he slowly pulled them out.

“Orestes?”

Her breathless query brought his head up and he found her frowning at him. “Fear not,” he said. “You’re ready for me now.”

He gripped the base of his cock and rubbed his tip against her sex. Her breath hitched but she made no move to stop him. After a few seconds of that sweet torture, he finally fit the head against her opening. She was warm, wet and ready. He felt her pulse where their bodies met and knew this would be the most amazing sex of his life.

“It might burn a little, my sweet, but I promise to go slowly.”

“Okay…I’m ready.”

She bent her knees, opening up as much as her body allowed, and he pushed his cock into her heat. They both moaned and he gripped the sheets beneath her. She gasped and he froze. Remaining still was one of the hardest things he’d ever done in his long life.

“Astrid?”

“Just a moment…please…”

He rested his forehead against hers while she caught her breath. It seemed to take a lifetime for her body to relax beneath his and her feminine walls to ease enough for his entry. He was only halfway buried within her but soon she rested her hands on his ass and pressed.

“Okay…more.”

And he gave her all he had. He thrust his hips slowly, easing the rest of his cock into her slender body. Her fingers tightened on his ass but she only urged him on. He pulled back and thrust in again, keeping the motions smooth and easy. There would be time for a rough, fast taking later. First she had to become accustomed to him, accustomed to sex. He would be a patient teacher.

Normally he was known for his staying power, fucking the Kevan women long into the night or day. But this little human tested every part of him and too soon his balls tightened up. A tingle ran down his spine and he knew he was about to spend. He reached a hand between them and found her clit with his thumb even as his lips latched onto a nipple. Within seconds, she cried out in release. Her muscles squeezed his painfully hard cock and he finally let go. He threw his head back and growled while he came hard within her.