"I want all of you." I panted, lifting up and thrusting down with more force. Still, it was not enough.
His hands suddenly gripped my hips, holding me down, as he speared up into me, making me cry out. He withdrew and plunged again, and light shimmered beyond my closed lids and I knew we were glowing. I felt the wave of power grow and grow with each stroke that I met and matched with my own rhythm and force. He tilted me abruptly forward so that his shaft rubbed against my wet, swollen clitoris and thrust into me with a strength that made me gasp, burying himself to the hilt. And I thought desperately, Heal. . Heal… as the wave broke and my climax burst within me.
Amber withdrew and drove within me two more times. Then he cried out and grew rigid, spurting deep within me, filling me with his warm essence.
"Your hands are hot," growled a deep voice.
It took me a moment to realize that it was Amber who had spoken and register the significance of it. I opened my eyes and found my hands resting on his chest and saw with shock and wonder that his flesh was whole. Amazingly whole. Free of boils and sores. All that lingered from his ordeal was darkened skin like Gryphon's, faintly reddened. His lips were no longer swollen and his blue eyes had changed to startling amber flames, like his name. They blazed up at me with golden crystal clarity.
The world suddenly reversed and I found myself on my back, Amber looming above me, his brawny arms braced on either side of my head. I gasped as he moved, as I felt him lengthen and harden within me in the space of one slow heartbeat. He moved again, the slightest caress, growing even bigger and moan slid out of me and my lids fluttered shut. But some other sound, some movement made me open them again.
Beldar stood framed in the doorway, his avid gaze fixed upon us, his arms piled high with sheets, a large bowl balancing on top, a jar dangling forgotten from one hand.
I stiffened with a cry of distress and pushed against Amber's chest, scarlet with mortification and embarrassment.
The look Amber shot Beldar had the slighter man turning abruptly away and averting his gaze.
I clamped my lips tightly shut, suppressing another moan as Amber slid out of me and rolled to his side, shielding me from view with his larger body.
The touch of his large hand against my face stilled my mad scrambling.
"Thank you." Simple words, but his eyes… Amber's blank shield of control was down, revealing emotions that were almost overwhelming in their intensity.
"You're welcome," I whispered, distressed by what I had glimpsed.
This had been a one-time deal as far as I was concerned. I had to let him know that, but the words blocked in my throat, unable to come out with him looking at me like that.
Gryphon brought the gown to me and I gratefully pulled it over me. Amber stood up with a total disregard for his nakedness, with a casualness that I envied. I kept my eyes carefully averted from that part of him still wet with our mixed essence, that part that bobbed and swayed with his movements, and made my way determinedly to the door.
Beldar backed away at my approach as if I were dangerous. It brought a twisted smile to my lips that seemed to make him even more nervous. Good.
"I need to shower," I announced. "We all do."
Some other males ended up escorting Gryphon and Amber to their rooms, their shocked gazes swinging from Amber back to me, while Beldar remained at my side, careful to keep at least five feet of distance between us, which was fine by me. All I cared about was getting my shower. That, and feeding my men. It seemed I had two of them now.
"Amber and Gryphon need to eat," I pronounced when I was done showering. The room I had used was simply furnished, in sharp contrast to the opulence of the main floor, the pink towels that I dried myself with the only feminine touches of beauty in the stark room.
"The kitchen is down the hall to the left." Beldar indicated that I proceed ahead of him.
"What, don't trust me at your back?" I sneered, walking toward him, feeling perverse, cruel satisfaction as he backed away. "Afraid I'll jump you… or that you'll jump me?"
Beldar grinned, his hands spread placatingly wide. "Exquisite though you may be…"
I snorted.
"… I have no desire to fry in the sun or die in some other painful manner."
And I had no real desire to get into any more trouble. Things were going our way. I didn't want to screw things up. Really, I didn't. I stopped crowding him and walked to the kitchen, where Sonia and two other women were washing dishes and doing what women all over the world do in kitchens. To my relief, there was no irritating abrasiveness or attractive rush in their presence, just a comforting recognition of like to like.
"Mona Lisa." The warmth in Sonia's eyes made my heart tighten painfully.
"Amber and Gryphon didn't eat," I said more bluntly than I would have liked because I felt awkward in her presence.
"Amber is well enough to eat?" Sonia asked, surprise and relief evident in her eyes.
I nodded.
"I had some food set aside for them, just in case. Where are they?" Sonia asked.
"In their rooms," Beldar replied. "Cleaning up and packing for the trip."
"Lily, Roselyn," Sonia said to the other women. "Could you please fetch the two of them down to the dining table?"
The women left silently. Sonia took out two plates of food that had been warming in the oven and brought them into the next room. I followed her with Beldar a silent shadow behind me. There were no marks or bruises evident upon Sonia. Either they were hidden beneath her clothes or they had already healed.
"You don't resent Amber?" I asked, confused. Amber had raped her, hadn't he? I knew him intimately now, knew how much damage he could inflict with his incredible size.
"How can I?" Sadness laced her words as she placed the plates of food down upon the table. "He was victim as much as I. And he was as gentle as he could be."
There was so much I needed to ask her, to say to her. But Beldar's presence burned like a restraining brand. He was Mona Sera's eyes and ears, and I could only look at Sonia in uncomfortable silence.
She felt no such constraint. She took my hands into her smaller ones and squeezed feelingly. "Oh, Mona Lisa. I am so glad you are well."
"I…" Sliding my hands from hers, I lay my hand over my hidden cross. "Thank you."
Sonia smiled. "You are most welcome," she said softly with understanding.
The male escorts delivered Gryphon and Amber into the dining room, then left, casting me wary, speculative glances that had me gritting my teeth.
"Oh, my," Sonia said, looking at the healed Amber with amazement. Her gaze dropped down to his hands, then flew back up again. His eyes met hers briefly, awkwardly, acknowledging her politely then looking away, busying himself with the task of eating. Gryphon likewise started in on his dinner, his appetite good though he looked a little tired. We were all probably tired, for that matter.
"You are a healer and quite powerful for one so young," Sonia said with quiet awe.
"I don't know that I healed Amber, per se," I admitted. "He may have just acquired my tolerance of the sun. Do you have a healer here I can speak to?"
"No, which is why we all thought Amber would surely perish."
"Is that why everyone looks so surprised?" I asked.
"That and the extent of his recovery." Sonia paused and I had a feeling that she had left something unsaid. "There are few healers who could do what you did. There are some at High Court where we are going. I am sure they will be as eager to converse with you as you with them."