Mica (29 page)

Valor released Lock and the two nodded at one another before joining Mica and the women.

Mica noted a frustrated expression in the Knight’s eyes. Losing was never easy but he’d put up a more than respectable fight. The surprise on Zimm-Bella’s face alone should have pacified the Knight at least a bit.

The Colonel’s gaze fixed on Lock and she cocked an eyebrow. “Perhaps you would be welcome to train in Nalmar after all.”

Valor extended his hand to the Knight who accepted it.

“It was a good fight,” the Nalmite said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been thrown before,” Lock admitted.
“If it’s any consolation you’re the strongest human I’ve ever met,” Valor said before he and the Colonel returned to their troops.

“That was entertaining.” Sun winked at Lock, handing back his sword.

“Don’t look so happy. That wolf man nearly beat my ass.”

“Nearly?” Mica grinned.

Lock wagged a finger in his face. “If I were you I’d wait until I was healthy enough to back up my mouth before I mocked a man.”

“That’s the difference between me and you then.”

“Intelligence?”

“Nerve.”

“I’ll give you nerve, you bald-headed scarecrow.” Curling his lip, Lock glared at Mica.

“Forgive my sense of humor, Sir.” Mica’s smile broadened. “I meant no offense.”

“Right.”

“Can’t you accept a joke?”

“I’m talking to you, aren’t I?”

Sun looked disgusted. “You two argue like ladies in a sewing circle. Let’s go back to your room, Mica. You shouldn’t be out of bed.”

“I’m tired of sitting in bed. As soon as I’m finished with the portia, I’ll be back on the field.”

“Then you can back up that mouth of yours,” Lock commented.

“Is that a challenge?” Mica asked.

“One I look forward to. We’ll use staves.”

“Why staves?”

“Because Sun told me how proficient you are.”

Mica folded his arms across his chest and studied Lock. “You must like to pick fights you’re sure to lose.”

“What better way to learn new skills?” The Knight’s anger seemed to melt away and he left to join several of his men in swordplay.

Mica grinned. “You know that man actually has wisdom.”

When they arrived at the room, Mica seemed tired from his first morning out. He took Sun’s hand and tugged her toward his bed where she stretched out beside him.

She felt uncharacteristically sore from training. Though she had always been a quick healer, recovering from imprisonment was no simple task. Her sleep was haunted by nightmares of assault and though she struggled she couldn’t seem to win.

She told herself they were only dreams. The next time she met those bastards she’d be armed and ready.
“Are you all right?” Mica glanced at her, running a fingertip down her cheek.

“Fine.”

“How do you feel about me, Dame Sun?”

His question took her by surprise. How did she feel? She was in love with him. She could no longer deny it but now that he was well again could she tell him? The one time she’d admitted her affection aloud he’d been unconscious. Now with his gaze fixed on hers could she confess such a vulnerability?

“Sun?”

“How do
you
feel?”

Mica grinned. “That’s not fair. I asked first.”

“I don’t hate you anymore.”

He raised his eyes to heaven. “I gathered that much.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Because I care for you deeply.” He drew a long breath and held it, searching her face. Finally he said, “I’ve asked Kado to postpone my ritual until after the war.”

Sun’s brow furrowed. “After the war? Mica, you have no way of knowing when the war will end.”

“It will be sooner than you think.”

“How can you know that?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Sun raised herself onto her elbow and stared into his eyes. “Mica, if you’re keeping something from me—”

“Traditions are different in the Kennas. Trust me when I say this war could end more quickly than it began. That’s not what I wanted to talk about though. It’s the ceremony—”

“I understand why you’re postponing it. Getting castrated will put you off the field for a while I imagine but is that the only reason or have Zareb and the rest of us finally talked some sense into you?”

“I take my vocation seriously. Nothing could turn me from the Priesthood except you.”

“Me?”

So there
was
love between them. How could she possibly cope with it?

“We don’t have to discuss details now. It would be wiser to wait until we’re out of danger.”

“
Details
. What details?” Sun stood, pacing the room.

He left the bed and grasped her shoulders. “Sun, I know I’m not fit for you now but Blaze has given me a chance to take my life back. How many people have that opportunity? I won’t waste it. If I choose the Priesthood I’ll be making good use of it but
if I marry I can still work with the Bedouins—or people elsewhere if my wife has duties that cause her to travel.”

Sun stared at him, her heart throbbing so hard she felt momentarily lightheaded.

“Are you asking me to marry you?”

“I’m asking you to think about it.”

Sun forced a laugh. “Well at least it’s one way to stop you from going through with that stupid ritual.”

“I don’t want that to be the reason you consent if at all.”

“Mica, take a good look at me. I’m not the marrying kind.”

“You are from what I can see.” He touched her face but she turned away. His caresses felt too good and the idea of spending the rest of her life with him was far too tempting.

“Mica, there are reasons I can’t marry the least of which is I’ve vowed not to.”

His eyes narrowed. “I thought Dames could marry?”

“It’s a vow I’ve made to myself.”

“Why?”

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “My Order is in Travelle. You live in Ademene.”

Shrugging, he said, “I can travel.”

“Your life is dedicated to the Bedouins.”

“If an alliance is formed between your Order and Ademene you may request to be stationed here.” He held her gaze, as if searching for a more solid reason why she rebelled against marriage.

“You know as well as I do that just because a request is made doesn’t mean it will be granted.”

“It will be.”

“Are you a prophet or something? I thought that was Lock’s role?”

“I’m not a prophet but I have a feeling.”

Sun curled her lip. “You also had the feeling you should have your balls cut off.”

“We don’t need to decide anything now. All I’m asking is that you consider it.”

“Yes I’ll consider it.” The words popped out of her mouth before she could stop them. Could she really marry Mica? She loved the idea but would the warmth between them turn to ice if he decided he couldn’t spend the rest of his life with a woman who couldn’t provide the most basic requirement of marriage? She didn’t have to think about it now. They had no idea what would happen over the coming months. He might decide—though she prayed he wouldn’t—that Priesthood was for him after all.

“Good.” He shrugged off his clothes and lay on his back, gazing at her through hooded eyes. “Come here.”
Sun grinned, loosening her sheath and placing her weapons aside. “Feeling that much better, are you?”

“Much.”

“But you still shouldn’t exert yourself.” She seductively dropped each piece of her clothing, warmed by the lustful expression on his face. Wearing nothing but a tight leather loincloth and two leather wrist cuffs, she loomed over the bed. She unfastened her hair from its braid and shook it down her back.

“I’m more than ready to exert myself.” He sat up, grasping her waist and covering her belly with kisses.

Sun drew a deep breath, her nipples tight with passion. Her palms ran over his scalp and she was struck by a sudden pang of longing for the silky hair she had so loved to touch.

His hair meant
nothing
. She had Mica. That’s all that mattered.

His mouth covered her nipple and all coherent thoughts left her. He licked and sucked, his lips tugging and teeth worrying gently. Moisture flooded her pussy. Her clit throbbed and ached with need. For all the times she had been hurt in her life Mica’s touch soothed her. Nothing felt as good as making love with him or simply kissing and embracing him.

“Dame Sun,” he whispered, his breath fanning her flesh.

“Lie back,” she ordered, pushing at his shoulders. When he refused to move she stroked his neck and murmured, “Please?”

Mica paused and tilted his face to hers. His blue gaze held her captive and he smiled gently. “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you ask so nicely for something.”

He stretched out on his back and spread his legs to accommodate her as she knelt between them.

“Do you remember the oasis?” she asked, her body tingling at her memories of the time they made love there.

“How could I forget?”

Her hand clasped the root of his shaft and her warm, wet tongue swirled over his cock head.

Mica’s eyes slipped shut and he entangled his fingers in her hair. Enjoying every marvelous sensation breaking over him he wished this spectacular foreplay could last forever. Weakness from more than just illness washed over him. With Sun it took all his willpower to keep from bursting in instant orgasm. Sometimes he thought he might climax just from thinking about her and the intimate moments they had shared. To have her tender, moist lips actually surrounding his straining cock, to feel her gentle yet callused hands squeezing and kneading his balls was almost more than he could endure.

“Sun. Beautiful Sun.”
She smiled around his cock head then sucked him deep into her mouth. The smooth, sensitive crown of his erection brushed the back of her throat. His hips shifted upward, following her rhythm as gently as he could for fear of harming her.

She didn’t seem worried though. Her deep, strong sucking continued. Mica’s pulse raced and he drifted in a haze of passion.

“That’s enough,” he gasped. “Sun, any longer and I won’t be able to stop myself.”

She uttered a sound of approval and continued holding his cock firmly between her lips.

The wonderful tightening started deep in his balls, spread up his cock and flared through his entire body. Waves of climax pulsed through him, shooting out the top of his head and the soles of his feet. His buttocks tightened to rock-hard spheres and colors burst behind his tightly closed eyes.

* * * * *

Sun slipped from the bed and glanced at Mica. She couldn’t resist smiling as she watched him sleep. Her lips brushed his before she left the room to find Sparrow. For the first time she could remember she actually needed a female companion to discuss women’s issues.

Sun found Sparrow in the palace library. The spacious room contained hundreds of books and scrolls as well as paintings and statues of past emperors and generals.

Absorbed in a thick volume scrawled in heavy black ink, Sparrow sat in a cushioned chair by a window overlooking the courtyard. Her one-year-old daughter, Shea-Ann, played on the floor nearby.

“Interesting book?” Sun dragged another chair across from Sparrow.

“Laws. I’m afraid I’m not nearly as familiar with the laws of the Kennas as I am with their language. Just trying to catch up so I’ll be of use when the Orders start forming alliances here.”

Sparrow looked absorbed in her work. Facilitating the alliances was far more important than Sun’s love life. “We’ll talk another time.”

“Wait.” Sparrow placed a ribbon in the book to mark her place then pushed the volume aside. “I need some diversion. Reading laws isn’t my favorite pastime.”

“Kind of like studying the healing arts when you’d rather be practicing swordplay.”

Sparrow smiled. “Something like that. I’ve always thought it funny that Lock being how he is found the healing arts to be a rewarding part of his training.”

“Well, helping people makes you feel good but I’m more of a fighter.”

Sparrow stared at her with a knowing expression. “Not according to Blaze and Mica. It seems you’ve given yourself a permanent assignment nursing Mica back to health.”

“He’s a good man.” Sun stood and gazed out the window. Shea-Ann tugged herself
to her feet, using Sun’s leg for balance. She picked up the little girl. “You know I can’t tell if she looks more like you or Lock.”

“Well she has Lock’s attitude, that’s for certain.” Sparrow’s amused expression belied her disgusted words. “And she loves riding on the ship. But let’s not change the subject. I want to hear more about you and Mica.”

Sun shrugged. “What’s to hear? Except perhaps that he’s asked me to consider marrying him.”

Sparrow’s jaw dropped and her eyes widened. “He asked you to marry him? That’s wonderful, Sun. I’m so happy for you.”

Sun switched Shea-Ann to her other shoulder and held up a hand in defense. “Wait a moment. Nothing’s definite.”

“I imagine he’ll forego the castration. It would make for an unpleasant wedding night.”

“That’s another problem. I’ve been trying to make him change his mind about that stupid ritual but he’s so stubborn.” Sun dropped onto her chair and gently uncurled Shea-Ann’s fist from her hair. She placed the squirming toddler on the floor.

“Don’t tell me he still wants the ritual even if you marry?”

“Of course not. He told me the only way he’d ever withdraw from the Priesthood is if I marry him. He’s very dedicated to his vocation but he said he…”

Sparrow leaned forward. “Well don’t keep me in suspense. He what?”

“He said he loves me.”

“Why wouldn’t he? You’re a wonderful woman.”

“I’m not meant for marriage.”

“I thought the same thing until I met Lock. The big ox changed my mind completely.”

“Lock’s one of the best. You’re lucky.”

“Mica seems like a caring man. I understand he’s done much for the desert people.

He sounds like he’d make a good Knight.”

“He’d look handsome in the uniform.” Sun’s heartbeat quickened at the thought of Mica’s lean body draped in the traditional black silk of the Ruby Order. “And he has all the best traits of a Knight. He’s kind, generous, courageous.”