Mica (38 page)

“Will you be silent?” Mica snapped, his heart pounding so hard he thought it would burst through his chest. What the hell was he doing?

Pausing, he drew a deep breath and reprimanded himself for his cowardice. He’d just survived bog tremors, fought the Blood War and lost the love of his life. Castration should be nothing compared to all that.

The Priests began their loud chanting and Mica glanced at Kado who stood at the head of the ritual table. A smaller, round table filled with gleaming metal clamps and surgical blades stood beside him.

He stopped in front of Kado who placed firm hands on Mica’s shoulders.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Kado whispered so only Mica could hear.

Nodding, Mica lay on the ritual table. Priests bound his hands and ankles so that he was stretched, immobile.

The chanting increased in speed and volume as Kado reached for a clamp.

The temple’s double doors burst open. Carrying the ends of two long chains, Sir Lock rushed toward the table.

The Priests shouted and attacked the Knight who fastened the chains around the wooden legs at the foot of the table.

“Lock, what the hell are you doing?” Mica bellowed, struggling against the bonds but he was held fast.
“I’m helping you, fool,” Lock shouted, knocking aside two Priests and kicking a third into Kado. “I’m sorry, men, but this has to be done.”

By the time the Priests formed a second attack Lock had sprung toward the window and shouted, “Now, Sun. Go.”

The table jerked, pulled directly through the temple doors.

Mica managed to lift his neck enough to see two horses dragging him off, Sun mounted on one of them.

“Sun, stop,” he bellowed. People ran from shops and houses, shouting and pointing at the spectacle he made, shackled naked to a ritual table being dragged down the streets of Ademene. “Stop the horses!”

The bitch ignored him and continued all the way to Marta’s stable just beside her tavern. Inside the horses and the table stopped. The animals stood blowing and whinnying while Sun and Marta closed the stable doors to curious outsiders.

“Thank you, Marta.” Sun and the tavern owner shook hands.

“It was the least I could do.”

“When I get up I’m going to kill you, Dame Sun,” Mica roared, struggling so hard against his bonds that his wrists and ankles nearly bled. “And you, Marta. How could you do this?”

“It’s for your own good,” said the tavern owner, her gaze lingering over his sizeable cock and balls. “And the good of womankind.”

Struggling, Mica gritted his teeth.

Marta left by the back door of the stable.

Sun approached, her gaze sweeping Mica. By the Spirit the man had a perfect body.

Long, hard muscles strained beneath dark skin. The gold ring glittered in his sac yet the adornment wasn’t nearly as gorgeous as the testicles themselves. How could he have considered castration?

“What the hell were you thinking?” he growled. “Dame Sun, this is beyond even your crudity.”

“Me? Crude? You’re the one who was about to get your balls sliced off.”

“It was my decision. Let me up.”

“Only if you promise to calm down.”

“Yes.” Mica’s voice softened though his eyes still flashed and his chest heaved with agitated breathing. “I am calm.”

“No you’re not.”

“Let me up.”

She narrowed her eyes, folded her arms beneath her breasts and tapped her booted foot.

“You can’t keep me here forever.”
“That’s true.” She sighed, releasing his ankles then his wrists. He leapt up so quickly that she scarcely had a chance to think before she found herself thrown onto her back, his big body pinning hers to the table.

“How do you explain this?” Mica snarled through clenched teeth, his nose nearly touching hers.

“I didn’t want you to make a mistake and ruin your life. Let me up.”

“Why should you care what I do with my life? You’re no longer part of it. But maybe you should be. You ruined my ritual so I’m going to take my revenge.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You wanted my manhood so much. Here it is.” Mica grasped both of her wrists in one hand and held them above her head while he used his free hand to jerk down her trousers. She struggled but he was strong as steel. Still she managed to shove him slightly aside. With Mica still clinging to her she stumbled off the table.

“Oh no you don’t,” he hissed.

Sun kicked at his mid-section. He dodged her foot and blocked two strikes aimed at his face before shoving her against the stable wall. His body pressed hers to the wood.

His lips hovered over hers and their panting breaths filled the otherwise quiet stable.

“So you’re going to rape me like the rest of the swine?” she snarled. “I always knew you were a vicious liar just like your damn father.”

Anger faded from Mica’s eyes and he loosened his grip. “I could never hurt you, Dame Sun. You should know that.”

The familiar tenderness in his expression and the gentleness in his voice reached the deepest part of her soul. She wanted to be with him so badly it was a physical ache but she couldn’t. Tears sprang into her eyes.

“What is it, Sun?” Mica stroked her face. “Please tell me what’s wrong. Please tell me why you rejected me.”

Sun shook her head, furious when tears began trickling from her eyes.

“Sun?” He kissed her temple, his fingers brushing moisture from her face.

“I can’t be with you, Mica.”

“Why?”

“Because you want children.”

“I don’t need to have children other than Ebony if you don’t want them.”

Wiping her face with the back of her hand, she tried to look away, but he wouldn’t let her. “No, I want them.”

“I don’t understand.”

“When I was a child and my village was attacked…Mica, after what they did I can never have children.” Sun’s throat constricted and she couldn’t speak, only sob. What was wrong with her? She was a Dame of the Opal Order, not some sniveling, weak little maiden.
“My love,” Mica whispered, his arms slipping around her.

Sun closed her eyes and pressed her face against his smooth, warm shoulder. He stroked her hair.

“You should find someone who can give you a family. Don’t destroy your body with that ritual.”

“I won’t be happy without you.”

“But—”

“Sun, there are thousands of children in need of parents. We have Ebony and we can foster others if you would like. I want a family but only with you.”

She looked at him, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “You still want to marry me?”

“Goddess yes.” He smiled, kissing her forehead then her mouth. “I love you, Sun. I want you to be my wife.”

“Mica.” Sun embraced him, kissing his neck. Her hands caressed his back and ribs.

Suddenly she became very aware of his nudity.

Apparently so did he. He slipped her shirt over her head and kissed her bare breasts. Sun sighed, her eyes slipping shut as he drew one of her nipples into his mouth and laved it with his tongue. Pleasure darted through her, weakening her legs. Mica’s tongue trailed beneath her breasts and across her stomach. He slid down her body and tugged her trousers to her ankles. She kicked them off, her heart pounding with desire.

Mica’s lips, tongue and hands thrust all coherent thoughts from her mind. All she could do was feel.

“I want you so badly, Dame Sun.” His mouth trailed over her hips and thighs, relishing their softness.

Sighing with pleasure, she thought how wonderful it felt to be in his arms again.

She ran her hands over his smooth, beautifully shaped head. His tongue teased her clit, running down one side then the other. Sun gasped, her legs weakening. Tenderly he licked the delicate folds of her moist, pink flesh. The rough, sensual tickle of his goatee was enough to drive her mad with desire.

“Mica. Oh yes. I want you so much.” She leaned heavily against the wall, her legs trembling as his tongue thrust inside her then returned to her swollen, throbbing clit.

She’d dreamed of being with him again. Now it was happening and happiness overwhelmed her. The soft, rhythmic pressure flung her headlong into a breath-stealing climax. She slid downward but his arms held her upright, his body pressing hers to the wall. Her arms locked around his neck, Sun purred with contentment. The smooth, warm tip of his cock teased first her clit then her slick pussy lips.

“Dame Sun,” he sighed, grasping her hands and pinning them beside her head. His cock slipped slowly into her. “I love you.”

Sun’s eyes opened and she nodded. His expression was filled with tenderness and affection but also desire. Their hearts pounded in unison. His chest rose and fell with excited breathing. Bending his knees, he teased her with slow, steady thrusts.
She gripped his back, savoring the rippling of powerful muscles beneath smooth skin. His thrusting increased and her long, sleek legs wrapped around him. No matter how close they were, she wanted him closer still. His panting breath fanned her neck.

Their pelvises ground together with frantic motions, igniting sensations that sent their hearts racing out of control.

“Mica. Oh by the Spirit. Mica.”

Lunging hard, he groaned deep in his throat. Her pussy clenched and quaked around his stiff cock until he burst in an orgasm that tore a cry of raw male passion from his throat, the sound of it thrilling her.

“Dame Sun,” he breathed against her lips.

Slowly she loosened her grip on him but he refused to let her go.

Sated, they leaned against the wall.

“And to think you wanted your balls cut off.”

“I must have been crazy,” he murmured.

They slipped to the floor, wrapped in each other’s arms.

“I brought Mica some clothes—” Lock burst into the stable, caught sight of the naked lovers in the hay and turned his back. “Bloody hell. Sun, if you were going to hump him you could have had the courtesy to let me know.”

“Well excuse me, Lock.” Sun stood, pulling on her clothes. “Next time I’ll make sure my lovemaking accommodates you.”

Mica strode across the stable and took the robe from Lock’s hand.

“Thank you, Sir Lock,” he said. “And you may turn around. Sun is clothed.”

“Now at least we can—” Lock turned just as Mica’s fist flew at his face. The Knight staggered against the stable doors, pressing a hand to his bloody lips. He spat in the hay. “What the hell was that for?”

“For helping Sun with that humiliating plan.”

“You didn’t look any worse for wear a few moments ago.”

“That’s beside the point.”

“Will you both stop arguing?” Sun snapped. “You’re like a couple of old hens.

Lock, can’t you just call it even so can we go back to the palace?”

“Call it even? I do this to help the two of you and I end up with a bloody lip for my trouble.”

“I’m sure it’s not the first you’ve ever had,” Mica quipped.

“I should have let them hack off your balls.”

“Now I have to go explain all this to Kado and the others. After this display I’ll be lucky if they even let me become a Messenger.”

“You could become a Knight,” Sun ventured.

“A Knight?”
“Not a bad idea.” Lock wiped his lips on his sleeve. “Blaze has been talking about asking Sir Mahir if we can set up a mission to lend aid in the Kennas. It would be good to have a Knight stationed here who’s actually from the Kennas.”

“A Knight,” Mica repeated, looking thoughtful. “It is a worthy consideration.”

“You could most likely work with the Bedouins and continue training as a warrior.

Joining the Order was the best decision I ever made,” Lock told him. “Think about it.”

“I will.” Mica wrapped an arm around Sun and kissed her cheek. He glanced over his shoulder at the ritual table. “We’d better return that.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Lock said. “It seems you two have a marriage to announce.”

Mica grinned at Sun. “Yes. That would be a wise idea.”
Chapter Nineteen
Before returning to the palace Mica and Sun decided to stop at the temple to apologize to the Priests.

In spite of his lingering feelings of embarrassment Mica walked proudly through the streets, meeting the gazes of those who dared to stare. Some wore amused expressions while others hid their laughing faces.

By the time he reached the temple Mica began to see the humor of the situation.

“I
am
sorry if you were embarrassed,” Sun told him after she’d glared at two giggling women.

Mica winked at her. “It was worth the humiliation.”

Inside the temple they spoke to the Priests. Kado still waited there, a stern expression on his face until he, Mica and Sun stepped out of the temple and began walking home.

“I am sorry, Mica, but now I must laugh.” The High Advisor’s voice quivered with amusement.

“I don’t think it was
that
funny,” Mica said.

“Yet it was well deserved. For you to have loved this woman enough to marry her yet decide to take the vows of Priesthood was a farce. And it was a decision you would have spent your life regretting. Not that I condone disrespecting a Temple of the Goddess but I’m glad Dame Sun and Sir Lock disrupted the ceremony.”

“So am I.”

Turning to Mica, Kado asked, “Now what is your decision? Will you become a Messenger?”

“You’d still have me?”

“Of course though I wonder if a Messenger’s life would fit you either. I know you’re loyal to the Goddess but she can be served in many ways, not just by becoming a Priest or a Messenger.”

Mica glanced at Kado. “I’ve been considering joining the Ruby Order.”

His expression thoughtful, Kado said, “Sir Blaze and I have been discussing a mission of Knights serving the Kennas. It would be best if they’re guided by one of us.

As a Knight all your skills could be put to use.”

“If I’m accepted,” Mica said.

“It would be their loss to deny you. I know we’ll regret losing you in the temples, however if it is agreed that you will be stationed here the wound will heal more quickly.”
“If you are sent here I could ask to be stationed to represent the Dames,” Sun said.

“Many couples work together.”

“We should discuss it with Sir Blaze over dinner,” Mica suggested.