“No.” Hades kicked back in his throne, rested his elbows on the arms and steepled his fingers together. “Let’s give them a few hours to bond. Marko wants to fuck the woman and we’ll give him time to do so. The more responsible he feels for her, the more likely he is to bargain for her release.”
Or the more likely he was to kill her in order to save her from Hades. Mordecai kept that thought to himself. Hades thought he understood the warriors, what motivated them, but he had no idea what drove them. Mordecai knew them all as well as he knew himself. The bear would fight until the bitter end. There was no give in the warrior. The world was black and white for Marko. There were no shades of gray. Mordecai snorted under his breath. His world was nothing but gray.
“You’re cutting it close,” he reminded Hades.
Hades eyes flashed. “Are you questioning me?”
Having a healthy respect for the god and not having a death wish, Mordecai shook his head. “No. Simply pointing out the facts.”
Hades glared at him. “Go get laid or something. Brittany could suck the paint off a bedrail. Have her take care of your dick, you’re annoying me.”
Mordecai bowed out of the room, leaving Hades alone. No way was he having anything to do with the crazy succubus. He had things to do before the final confrontation between Hades and Marko.
Chapter Sixteen
Marko knew they had to stop soon. In spite of the hunger gnawing at his gut and the thirst raking his throat, he could go on indefinitely. He was used to such hardships. Kellsie, however, was human. She couldn’t take much more of this. He could hear her gasping for breath with each step she took. Yet she never complained, never asked to stop. He was in awe of her courage.
He sensed the cave up on the other side of the mountain meadow. He cocked his head to one side and could hear the trickle of a stream not too far off. Good. At least she could drink and rest.
There was a cougar prowling through the trees not far from here and a fox about ten feet to his right crouched beneath a bush. But the animals wouldn’t bother them. They might be curious about Kellsie, but they also scented his bear and acknowledged him as the apex predator of the forest. The only things they had to fear here were Hades and his demons.
“We’ll stop here.” He came to a halt and she plowed right into his back. She would have landed on her butt if he hadn’t whirled around and caught her. He growled as he swept her into his arms. “I should have carried you.”
Kellsie snuggled closer to his chest and rested her cheek against his flesh. “I needed to walk. My legs were getting too cramped riding you.”
Riding him. Just hearing her say those words had all sorts of images running through his brain, all of them sexual. Which wasn’t appropriate at the moment considering how exhausted she was. He was more than an animal. He would take care of her.
He carried her to the stream first. He could tell the moment she heard the sound of the stream. She perked up and licked her lips. “Water?”
He tightened his hold on her. “You can drink and wash up. You’ll feel better.” He broke through some low alder bushes and saw the shallow river. It wasn’t very deep, but it was more than enough to serve their needs.
He lowered Kellsie to the ground and she all but fell face first into the water. She rolled her head from side-to-side before sitting back and laughing. “That feels so good.”
Her hair was plastered to her skull, there was dirt on her forehead and her shirt was ripped in several places, but her smile was brighter than the sun could ever hope to be. There was such innocent joy beaming from her face. The fact that she could even consider smiling after all they’d been through was a testament to her resilient spirit.
Marko went down on one knee beside her and used his thumb to wipe the dirt from her face. She laughed. “I guess I’m a mess.”
He sensed she was suddenly self-conscious. It was in the way she ducked her head down and tugged on the sleeves of her shirt. “Beautiful,” he assured her.
She raised her head just as he lowered his. Their mouths touched, and when she swiped her tongue along the seam of his mouth, he parted his lips and invited her in. The kiss deepened, growing more heated, more desperate with each passing second. He wasn’t touching her anywhere else but his body was on fire for her.
One of her hands came to rest on his shoulder. He groaned, wanting to feel her hands everywhere on him. They were small but strong.
He pulled back, knowing if he didn’t stop this soon, he’d strip her naked and take her right here in the dirt. “Get cleaned up and I’ll take you to a cave.”
“Promise?”
He heard the underlying question. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Even though he knew he should be on his guard, he needed Kellsie worse. “Yes.”
She studied him for a brief moment, searching his face for something. Whatever it was, she seemed to find it and nodded. Slowly, she peeled her top over her head, exposing her creamy white skin. She was wearing a bra but she might as well have been naked. The thin barrier didn’t cover much. Her nipples were hard pebbles against the fabric.
Marko licked his lips, unable to turn away.
Kellsie dipped the sleeve of the shirt into the water and used it to wash her face, neck and torso. The motions were sensual as she stroked the cloth over her skin. Marko growled, shifted closer and plucked the garment from her hands. “Let me do your back.”
She turned and presented her back to him. Her spine was so delicate, yet he knew she was strong in ways he couldn’t even begin to understand. Her tattoo drew his attention and he traced the brown bear with one finger. He liked the fact that she was marked for him. She was human but had put her life on the line for him, an immortal warrior.
What would prompt her to do such a thing? She’d had the opportunity to be free from this nightmare. Instead, she’d stayed. With him.
Marko tried not to read too much into the situation. Kellsie obviously had a high moral fiber and was doing what she thought was right. It didn’t mean she had deep feelings for him. Still, he couldn’t smother that small kernel of hope that burned within him.
She shivered and he frowned as goose bumps covered her skin. The water was cool and so was the air. The sun was out but it didn’t penetrate the dense forest well. He didn’t feel the cold and therefore didn’t even think of it. He dropped her shirt and manifested the fur-lined cloak once again, spreading it around her shoulders.
She swiveled her head, peering up at him. He could see the question in her eyes.
“You finish up. I’m going to get washed up.” He stalked along the bank of the river and rounded a thicket of trees to give her some privacy.
“Marko?” The panic in her voice had him racing back toward her.
His sword was in his hand but he couldn’t remember even manifesting it. He moved in a circle, searching for the threat. “What’s wrong?”
She was standing there wrapped in the long cloak looking lost and alone. She pushed a damp lock of her blonde hair behind one ear. “I was afraid you’d left.” Her confession was little more than a whisper, but it floored him.
“Never.” It was both a vow and a promise. It was obscene for her to even think such a thing.
He stalked to her side and pulled her into his arms. “I’m only going around the corner to give you some privacy. I’m only a call away. Okay?”
He felt her nod before she answered. “Okay. But could I have my sword back?”
He’d forgotten he’d sent it away when she’d fallen off his back earlier. He manifested it and handed it to her. “Keep it close.”
“I will.”
Reluctantly, he released her and walked back up the side of the river. When he finally turned he couldn’t see her. He could hear her and smell her and that was enough. He stripped off his pants and boots and lay down in the river. The water flowed over and around him, barely enough to cover him. As cold as the water was, it couldn’t cool his ardor for Kellsie. His cock was hard and throbbing, aching to be clutched inside her moist warmth. Soon, he promised himself. Soon.