TheRedKing (29 page)

Standing over the table in Seth’s workshop at the infirmary,
Delia focused on the thick herbal syrup she was mixing to aid in the winter
cough that had run rampant through the castle and village.

Sir Blaze had sent the recipe from border where the same
illness had swept through the soldiers on guard. Seth had grumbled at first
upon reading it, but set to work mixing it straight away with Delia and Echo.
It amused Delia that Seth had actually written to Blaze first about the
situation. While he was more open than people realized to trying new ideas, people
often feared approaching him due to his grouchiness.

“It’s his way of coping with life,” Echo had explained once.
“For some reason he feels he needs to lash out at others before they lash out
at him. Alexa said he was like that, even as a child.”

“Yes and at times I think it also amuses him to watch people
tiptoe around him,” Delia added.

“That too, but you and I have learned not to tiptoe.”

“What are you two gossiping about in here?” Seth demanded,
returning to the infirmary with a small barrel of honey.

“Did you steal that from the kitchen?” Echo asked, her eyes
wide. “It’s coveted by the cooks at this time of year. If they find out you
took it—”

“The head cook has come down with the illness as well, so
instead of complaining that he has nothing to sweeten his tea and biscuits,
he’d better thank me for keeping him from coughing up a lung.”

“He has a point,” Delia said.

It had been a month since she had lost her baby. Her health
had returned and recently, so had her physical desires. Though she slept in
Areus’s arms every night, he hadn’t initiated lovemaking and she sensed that he
was waiting for her to let him know she was ready.

A smile tugged at her lips. Tonight she would make it clear how
much she wanted and needed him. They had been married nearly half a year. Time
was running out for her to fulfill the promise of an heir within a year—not
that she believed Areus would enforce that part of their bargain. Now that she
had lost a child, she wanted one more than ever. What if for some reason she
wasn’t able to carry a child to term? If she could never give Areus an heir,
what good would she be?

Her stomach clenched. She hated how she had started to think
like every other woman she had ever known, except Katerina. Her friend from the
convent believed in lovemaking for pleasure only. She believed that women
should take pleasure from men, but only bear children if they truly wanted to.
One day Katerina’s uncle would marry her off, and Delia chuckled to think about
the hell that man would pay if he didn’t please her.

She often thought of Katerina and the sisters. Since the
battle, letters had been fewer. Delia had written to them over the past week to
catch them up on her life. According to Katerina, little had changed at the
convent.

When she finished in the infirmary, it was nearly time for dinner.
Delia had already sent a message to Areus to join her for a private dinner in
her chamber. He was in a meeting, but had respond affirmatively.

In Delia’s chamber, Echo helped the queen undress, then Delia
washed and put on a fresh shift and her robe. The maid brushed Delia’s
waist-length hair and left it hanging free, in accordance with the queen’s
wishes. After Echo turned down the bedcovers and stoked the fire, Delia
dismissed her, wanting some time alone to prepare before Areus arrived. She
told Echo that she wouldn’t need her again until morning. Echo looked pleased and
Delia had no doubt she would be spending the night in Seth’s company.

Just moments after Echo left, servants delivered the meal. Delia
dismissed them as well, saying that she and the king preferred to serve
themselves tonight.

Areus had yet to arrive and Delia didn’t exactly feel
nervous, but eager. It seemed forever since they had made love. He had been
recovering from injuries for so long, then she had miscarried just when they
had started being intimate again. This wasn’t quite like the first time they
had made love, but similar, except this was even better. They already cared about
each other. They knew how to pleasure each other. They had simply been deprived
of each other for too long.

Delia heard footsteps in the corridor, then Areus’s door
closing. Her heart beat faster and she glanced around the room. How did she
want to appear when he entered? Should she lounge on the bed or should she sit
by the fire?

Her hands actually trembled as she loosened her belt and
shrugged off her robe. She tossed it on the bed, hurried to the hearth and sat
in a chair. It was warmer there and without the robe she was quite chilly on
this wintry night. Her nipples stood out stiff against the thin shift. She
smiled slightly, knowing that sight would please Areus.

What was taking him so long? He hadn’t come from the field,
so he didn’t need to remove piles of leather and mail.

When he tapped on the door, she actually jumped a bit and
her heart skipped a beat. She tried to collect herself.

Her knees were pressed together from nerves, so she softened
them and even draped a leg over the chair arm. No. That wasn’t subtle at
all…but he might like it. She left her leg where it was.

“Delia?” he called.

She drew a deep breath, released it and said, “Come in.”

The door opened and Areus stepped in, his green gaze fixed
on her. He wore black trousers and a black tunic that hugged his lean,
broad-shouldered frame. His hair was combed back, though nothing could
completely control those reddish curls.

Delia stared at her handsome husband. There was something
different about him. He looked younger somehow. Then it struck her. Her gaze
widened as it roamed over the contours of his angular face and she grinned in
surprise.

“Areus, you shaved off your beard.”

He smiled and touched his chin. “What do you think?”

“You look so young.” Grinning, she stood and approached.

His hungry gaze swept her, lingering on her breasts and the
curve of her hips. He strode toward her and grasped her waist, tugging her
closer.

“You look beautiful,” he said and kissed her.

Delia caressed his face, enjoying the smoothness of his
skin. It was so strange, having known only the texture of his beard.

The kiss broke and she stared at him, chuckling softly.

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re laughing. You don’t
like it.”

“It’s not that. You have a very handsome face.” She trailed
her fingertips over his chiseled jaw.

“I thought most women disliked beards.”

“Since when have I been like most women?”

A smile touched his lips. “True. So you don’t like it.”

“Areus—”

“It’s a relief actually. I don’t feel very commanding like
this.” He rubbed his smooth jaw.

“You always look commanding,” she said truthfully.

It was in his manner, the way he spoke and stood. His
strength shone in his eyes, as did his tenderness at times.

“But the beard makes you look wise,” she added.

“Old?”

“As you said—commanding.”

Another smile flirted with his lips. He seemed to like that
answer.

Delia’s smile faded as she thread her fingers with his,
gazed into his eyes and stated, “Command me.”

He narrowed his eyes again, then wrapped his arm around her
waist, buried his hand in her hair and covered her mouth in a passionate kiss.

Delia closed her eyes and melted against him. His mouth moved
against hers and she moaned softly, opening her lips to his warm, wet tongue.
Hers met it and they moved together in an intimate dance.

He swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. Their
kiss broke as he placed her on it. Sitting beside her, he pulled off his shirt.
Delia took it from him. Holding it to her face, she breathed deeply, loving how
his scent clung to it.

His intense green gaze bore into her, making her tingle with
anticipation. He took the shirt back and tossed it aside, then leaned down to
kiss her again. Delia wove her fingers through his thick curls.

Areus’s hands roamed over her. He cupped her breast and
kneaded it. His thumb swept her nipple and it stiffened even more.

He kissed her throat, then covered her nipple with his
mouth. He licked and sucked it, wetting the thin fabric of her shift.

Moaning softly, Delia writhed a bit. Her clit ached. She
wanted him so badly.

Areus’s hand cupped her soft mound, kneading her while he
continued licking and sucking her nipple.

“Oh Areus,” she murmured. “I want you so much.”

“You want me to command you?” he teased, his voice husky.
The sound of it made her quiver. She loved his voice—sometimes soft, other
times guttural.

“Heavens yes,” she panted.

He smiled wickedly and pushed the shift upward, lifting her
buttocks so that he could pull the garment up her body. She shifted position so
that he could easily remove it. He flung it aside, leaving her completely
naked. His gaze roamed over her, then he flicked his tongue over her tight
nipple while caressing her other breast. Closing his eyes, he gently rubbed his
smooth cheek over her belly.

Then he stood to remove his trousers. While pushing them
off, he said, “Put your hand between your legs and pleasure yourself.”

Delia’s heartbeat quickened. Moistening her lips, she did as
he ordered. Her hand strayed to her pussy. Kissing him already had her wet, so
she easily pushed two fingers in, then withdrew them to stroke her clit.

“Slowly.” He held her gaze. He was naked now as well. Still
standing near the bed, he curled his fist around his cock and stroked himself,
his eyes locked on hers.

For several moments they stared into each other’s eyes while
caressing themselves. Delia followed Areus, slowing and speeding her motions
along with him. Even without words, he commanded her through his smoldering gaze.

“I’m going to taste you, Delia.”

“Yes, please.”

He moved onto the bed. Settling between her legs, he guided
them over his shoulders, cupped her bottom and lifted it slightly as his mouth
descended on her clit.

“Oh!” Delia gasped, her heart pounding.

He took his time, licking and sucking her. The very tip of
his tongue teased the sensitive side of her clit, then he lapped with upward
strokes that hurled her into an intense climax. His mouth didn’t leave her
until the last delicious ripple tore through her.

Delia lay with her eyes closed, her breath and heartbeat
slowing. She felt him stretch out beside her, but it was several moments before
she found the strength to open her eyes. When she finally glanced at him, he
was studying her with aroused green eyes. His long, sinewy legs were spread a
bit and his fist curled around his cock, stroking it slowly.

When she reached toward his cock, he said, “Pleasure me with
your mouth.”

Her lips parted and her heartbeat quickened again. She loved
using her mouth on him as much as she enjoyed his mouth on her.

She climbed between his legs, her hands stroking his hard, hair-dusted
thighs. She kissed his inner thighs, then trailed her tongue along the joining
of his legs and pelvis. Closing her eyes, she brushed her cheek against the
thatch of dark-red hair surrounding his hard cock.

Then she clasped his cock and slid her mouth over the tip.
She opened her eyes and tilted her gaze toward his face.

Areus’s eyes were half-closed and glistening with pleasure,
his finely drawn lips parted. His sinewy arms were folded behind his head.

Delia pushed down his foreskin, rolled her tongue over his
crown, then tickled the underside.

He moaned softly. That sound combined with the pleasure of
licking him made Delia’s clit tingle and ache again. She closed her eyes and
sucked Areus deeply into her mouth. Her tongue swirled around his cock and she
cupped his balls, kneading them.

She went on for several moments before he stopped her by
gently pushing her away.

Pressing her onto her stomach, he grasped her wrists and
pinned them on either side of her head. He kissed the back of her neck while
easing his cock into her from behind.

Her heart racing, Delia moaned and writhed as he thrust into
her soaked pussy. Areus released her wrists to cover her hands with his. Their
fingers entwined, squeezing gently.

He slid a hand beneath her to rub her clit while he pumped
into her.

“Oh Areus!” she moaned and gasped, pulsing and quivering in
another breath-stealing climax.

Areus’s breathing hoarsened and he moved faster and harder.
Seconds later, he came too.

When he finished, he lay on top of her for a moment, his
lean, hard body pressed close to hers.

Then he moved aside and pulled her into his arms.

Her eyes still closed, Delia smiled and snuggled against his
chest.

Moments later, he said softly, “Are you ready to eat? I’m
starving.”

Delia chuckled. She opened her eyes and lifted her head to
gaze at him. “Just like a man. Always thinking with your stomach.”

“Not always,” he said with a playful grin.

* * * * *

Despite the winter snow, Hypatios convinced his father that
he should again travel south to train. He spent most of the winter there and
also questioned the residents of Cassandra’s village regarding her whereabouts.
He uncovered the same information as the guards who had reported to his father.

He returned home in late winter, prepared to lead one final
attack on Lortia as soon as the spring thaw came.

Soldiers from the palace in Zaltana often ventured from the
barracks to taverns and brothels in the capital city. The palace itself rested
on a hilltop in the center of the city, shadowed by the Mountains of Wrath.

Obsessed with destroying Areus, Hypatios rarely left the
palace grounds, moving between his chamber and the training fields.