Ellora's Cavemen: Tales from the Temple II (17 page)

He gave her his seed a split second after her body began to shudder with the pleasure. There were endless waves of sensation that carried both of them in their wake.

Even when it ebbed Aaron pulled her along his body and secured her to his side.

Looking ahead had never served her so well.

“Someone is still sleeping.” Three voices erupted into giggles as Leah snapped her eyes open. The warm covers of the bed were pulled off her as Myra appeared by her head.

“Come on, lazy! These two are driving me to near death with their excitement. Up!

Up! Do you really want Aaron’s ego to become too large?” Myra pulled Leah off the bed and shepherded her toward the bathing room again. “Let him think you will sleep the day away and there will be no living with the man!”

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Faye and Syria collapsed into another round of giggles and Leah joined them, even if her face was turning red. The morning after her marriage to Howard no one would look her in the eye, as if it were some great shame. Leah decided she far preferred the Tailarmarian view on the subject of marriage relations.

“We must hurry. The warriors are all waiting for their chance to impress you.”

Faye dumped a pitcher of water over Leah’s head. Wiping the water from her face, Leah aimed confused eyes at Myra.

“Why would they be waiting for me?”

Faye dropped soap into Leah’s hair and began to wash it for her. Being bathed by someone would take a little getting used to.

Myra smiled with glee as she held up a dress similar to her own. It was pale blue with gold shot through it. “You have until sundown to choose another warrior for your bed or accept Aaron as your mate.”

“Only one day?” Somehow, Leah had thought she might have a little longer to make such a permanent decision.

“Warriors must not be given time to fight over a woman. It would cause trouble in the community. It is best this way. Besides, if Aaron has not captured your passion, you should choose another.”

The two girls pulled her out of the water as Leah considered Myra’s words. There were so many differences here, her head was spinning as she tried to keep them straight.

“How long do you have to choose a mate in your world?” Faye asked the question as she used a towel to dry Leah’s hair.

“Well, my late husband spoke to my father. Howard did sit at Sunday dinner with us a few times.”

Faye looked at her with pity. “You were life-promised to a man who had never touched you?”

“Well, yes.” All three girls muttered with sympathy as they guided Leah into the strange clothing. They brushed her lips with color and traced her eyes with darker color.

Leah had been surrounded with sympathy on her wedding day too, but it had been so very different. These women helped her to display her sexuality instead of suppress it. Turning toward the mirror, Leah marveled at her transformation. She was exotic and sensual. Her hair was tumbling down her back as the dress moved with her to grant teasing peeks at her belly.

“Well, I hope there is food involved.” Her companions laughed and pulled her along with them.

The front courtyard was filled with people. Laughter drifted up as they talked.

Music filtered to her ears as well and Leah noticed musicians gathered in one area of the yard where a shade canopy was set up.

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But the warriors captured her complete attention. There had to be at least two hundred of the huge men present. They were all together and their deep voices rose and fell as they jostled one another.

The entire group fell silent as Leah stepped out into the sunshine. She felt their eyes move over her body with blatant appreciation. But then her mind simply filled with Aaron’s emotions. Leah searched for him as she considered the unease she felt projecting from his mind.

His face was completely emotionless when Leah found him. Aaron nodded his head in greeting but kept his face smooth and free from expression.

Oh, the man was arrogant. Leah let a tiny smile cover her face as she considered the way he kept his nervousness to himself. The rest of the men sent up a collective groan and several slapped Aaron on the back. His stiff composure cracked as his lips lifted into a wolfish smile.

“There will be no living with him now.” Myra tried to scold her but Leah was simply ridiculously happy.

The entire group of men began to engage in games of strength and skill. Women mingled with them, but all the ones who walked among the men wore black. All the woman talking around Leah wore bright colors that sparkled with metallic accents.

Pointing towards the women, Leah looked at Myra.

“Why do they wear black?”

“Those are maidens. The dull color reminds the men to treat them appropriately.”

Leah understood. The games these warriors played gave the women the chance to see prospective mates. The girls in black floated among the men, watching them. The entire thing was done in full view of the community. One or two men even pressed light kisses onto the girls, but it never went beyond the carefree touch of flirting.

Leah suddenly felt very envious of the girls in black. She had almost chewed her fingernails clean off when she’d met Howard the first time. Unmarried members of the fellowship were never permitted to socialize before an engagement was arranged. Being allowed to interact often with these huge men would certainly make a Tailarmarian woman more at ease when it came to matters of intimacy.

Celebration permeated the air, and Leah felt herself join the emotion. She turned to Myra and grinned. “Just where is that food you promised me?”

The day turned into an endless festival of games and entertainment. Happiness surrounded her as the community gave her their welcome. She wasn’t simply a possession to these people, instead she was an addition to their lives. Joy was openly expressed, as was affection. It was a freedom that Leah had never witnessed before.

It was barely afternoon when Leah stopped enjoying the games. Aaron was doing his best to defeat his friend in a wrestling match and all she could think about was how she’d rather have him wrapping his muscular arms around her instead. The past night had turned her into a wanton for certain.

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Aaron dug his legs into the ground and tried to push his opponent over. Leah watched his muscles tense and her mouth went dry. Her nipples actually drew into tight little buds as she looked at his hands.

The things he could do with those hands made her tremble.

Aaron landed on his backside a second later and sent a furious look at her. His eyes aimed pure fire at her as he suddenly filled her mind. Leah felt a naughty little smile lift her mouth. She’d forgotten the man could read her emotions. Aaron rose to his full height with a menacing frown on his face. Leah let her smile grow larger. He wasn’t really mad. She could feel his hunger.

In fact, Leah let her eyes slip down his body ‘til she found the rather large bulge of his staff. She looked back up to find his black eyes attempting to reprimand her.

“I do not like losing.”

Leah looked back at the growing bulge in his pants before she shrugged her shoulders. “I noticed.”

“Aaron, I protest! You have clearly not fed your woman’s appetite.” Lucian stepped forward and tried to capture Leah’s waist.

Aaron sent her a wink before he cut off his friend’s movements. “She would be starving had you tried to feed her.”

The two huge men charged each other like bulls and immediately began wrestling again. Leah stumbled back as she giggled with the rest of the women. Aaron made short work of the competition this time. He tossed the other man over and stood while the surrounding warriors cheered him.

Lucian grinned as he sat up. “Put some of that strength to work on your mate. She is making the rest of us pity her.”

The blatant sexual joking made her face turn scarlet but Leah smiled as well. Her clothing was suddenly too hot again and she wanted it off her skin. Aaron stood among his men and waited. Myra’s words floated through her memory.

It was her choice. Leah couldn’t even look at the other warriors because her body only noticed one. She let her eyes slip over his arms again and she smiled as she saw his strength.

Lifting her hand, she held it out to her warrior.

Leah found herself wrapped in his arms a second later. Her feet left the ground and the rest of the warriors cheered Aaron on as he boldly walked away with her in his arms. The wide hallways of the house passed in a blur as Aaron set a determined pace towards their bedchamber.

Once again he dropped her onto the bed and stood watching her. This time Leah rose to her knees and slowly undid the top part of her dress. She let it hang on her breasts as she watched his black eyes focus on her chest.

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A surge of power made her roll her shoulder until the garment fell free. Leah wanted this man and by bringing her into his world, he’d granted her the ability to take him. It was so completely freeing.

“Do you still think that you lost?” That wolfish smile covered Aaron’s face at Leah’s question, his hands worked quickly to unfasten his pants. Leah watched his erect staff thrust out at her.

Reaching forward she curled her fingers around his staff. The organ throbbed in her grasp as Aaron stiffly pulled his breath in. Leaning forward she let her lips catch the tip of it as she used her tongue to flick over the flesh.

“Nay, I won. For certain I have won.” Whatever else he might have said died as she took him into her mouth. Aaron grasped her head and groaned. She was truly a fit mate. Stroking his hands through her hair he pulled her head back before he spilled his seed.

Pushing her onto his bed Aaron tugged her pants down before he let his fingers roam over her belly and toward the little nub at the top of her sex. She shuddered against him and he dropped his mouth onto hers in demand.

Sensation spun her out of control and Leah rejoiced in it. Aaron joined their bodies together as he filled her head. It became more than the quest for a son. Instead there blossomed the foundation for a family that would grow from their joined souls.

Beyond the boundaries of society there always lurked the permeate hand of fate.

Destiny bound souls together with a force that couldn’t be denied.

And Leah looked forward to it.

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About the author:

I writes to reassure myself that reality really is survivable. Between traffic jams and children’s sporting schedules, there is romance lurking for anyone with the imagination to find it.

I spend my days making corsets and petticoats as a historical costumer. If you send me an invitation marked formal dress, you’d better give a date or I just might show up wearing my bustle.

I love to read a good romance and with the completion of my first novel, I’ve discovered I am addicted to writing these stories as well.

Dream big or you might never get beyond your front yard.

I love to hear what you think of my writing: [email protected].

Mary welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1337 Commerce Drive, Suite 13, Stow OH 44224.

Also by Mary Wine:

Dream Shadow

RAPTOR’S PREY

Delilah Devlin

Raptor’s Prey

I dreamt of him. My dark warrior.

He pulled me from a deep REM cycle with the force of his summons. Standing with my toes
sinking into heat, I found myself on a ridge of shifting sand—red as Mars and hot as the fury of
his gaze. And I was naked. Again.

Rays from an orange sun beat down on my skin. Wind lifted my hair and brushed it against
my nipples. Even knowing he was angry, my stomach tightened and my breasts grew heavy with
desire. His hard, golden-eyed gaze raked my body, pinning me like a rabbit between his
namesake’s talons. And yet, I longed to thread my fingers through his long, dark hair and drag
his mouth toward mine. He had taught me to crave the taste of his lips.

“I shouldn’t be dreaming,” I said, breathless with anticipation of what new sensual wonder
we would explore.

“Are you?” His deep voice rumbled, and yet his lips didn’t move. He stood still as a pillar,
naked as I was. Aroused.

“I must be. How else am I here with you?” Emboldened by the thought that within my
dream I was free to explore my fantasy, I reached to touch his face. He didn’t move as I brushed
his sun-warmed skin and feathered a light touch over his high cheekbones and sharply defined
nose. My fingers paused at his mouth, and then I swept my thumb over his lower lip and pressed
inside. The tip of his tongue stroked my finger and I gasped, imagining its moist heat teasing the
hardening points of my breasts.

His expression didn’t change, and his gaze didn’t leave my face as though gauging my
responses. The calculating gleam in his brown eyes gave me a moment’s pause.

“If this is a dream, then why don’t you give me what I seek?” he asked. “What harm would
there be?”

My hands fell to his shoulders and I kneaded the muscles there, fascinated by his strength.

“If I tell you, you won’t call me back to you.”

“Do you think your password is all I desire from you?” His gaze swept over me, scorching
me everywhere it paused—my mouth, my breasts, my belly, the juncture of my thighs.

Heat licked at my loins and my glance fell to his erection. “No, but surrendering to you
would give you power.”

“I would not abuse that power any more than I would abuse the gift of your body.” A strong
hand lifted my chin. His steady, hypnotic gaze seemed to pull me closer and made me flush with
warmth. “Have I caused you pain? Haven’t I fulfilled your fantasies?”

I ignored his questions, knowing my blush colored my face and breasts. He had taught me to
find pleasure centers in my body I’d never known existed. “I’ve watched you, while you sleep in
your suspension chamber.” The admission was difficult even knowing this wasn’t real—he
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