“Beautiful Allegra, he murmured.
His unshaven chin scratched her cheek with a days growthand it was far too heavy for Tanner. She struggled awake. She wasnt dreaming, she did actually hold that incredibly beautiful body in her arms, and he was moving steadily, his rhythm quickening, his breath urgent. It wasnt safe, secure Tanner. He had never had this sultry, powerful hunger.
“Markus? she whispered.
He lifted his head in the darkness and gazed at her, his eyes glazed. The entire time, he kept moving, stronger, faster. Bending his head, he kissed her with a passion almost out of control. Then he groaned, giving a huge thrust, and held himself deep inside her, his body rigid, his muscles like steel cables. His hips jerked and he arched back his head, the tendons in his neck standing out.
With a gasp, Markus collapsed on top of her, breathing heavily. She lay under him, stunned. She had let him take her, urged him, but he wasnt the boy she had loved all her life. On some level she must have known, but when she comprehended what had happened, tears welled in her eyes.
Markus sighed, then rolled off her, onto his back. Pulling her into his arms, he laid her head on his shoulder. “So lovely, he murmured.
Allegra lay still, too stunned to respond.
After a while, he brushed her inner thigh tenderly. “Youre bleeding.
“I neverNot before this
“I know. He kissed the top of her head. “Even if they hadnt told me, I would have known. Youre so innocent.
She couldnt answer. He thought she had welcomed him into her arms.
“Allegra? he asked. “Are you all right?
“Yes, she lied. She felt as if she were an instrument played just long enough to warm up, then left without a performance of the concerto. But she couldnt go any further.
Markus turned on his side and gently slid his palm between her thighs. “Did I leave you hungry, night bird? I can help. He rubbed circles with his palm, and pleasure surged through her, but now it felt overwhelming, too much. She pushed him away.
“Are you sore? he asked.
“INo. A little. She didnt know what to say.
“Later, then, he murmured, smiling. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. “I wish we could lie here all day. But it will be dawn in about an hour, and I want to be on the move before the sun rises.
Too much had happened. Allegra had reached saturation. She just stared at the ceiling, her hand resting over the triangle between her thighs as if to protect herself from her own desire.
Markus looked back at her. “Youre quiet this morning.
“You surprised me, she said. “I was dreaming.
His lips curved upward. “Of me?
She thought of lying, but she couldnt dishonor Tanner that way. Miserably she said, “Of my boyfriend in Aronsdale.
A long silence followed her words. Then he spoke in a curt voice. “ Gods. I have never met a woman so capable of humiliating a man with so few words.
“Im sorry. Her voice caught. “I thought I was going to marry him. Then you took away my life.
He spoke tightly. “So you sought refuge from me in dreams about him?
“No. I mean, Ive never had a dream like that.
Markus leaned closer, his eyes intense. “Thats because you dont want this boy the way you want me.
“No. Thats not true.
“Then why havent you dreamed of him before? Why do you crave him only when I touch you? Anger edged his voice, but she needed no mood spell to know it masked hurt.
Allegra had no glib answers, so she spoke the truth. “He has been like a brother to me. A friend. Ive never thought of him as a lover. I thought perhaps if we married, that would change.
“Those were moans of passion, Allegra. You were loving me, not some callow Aronsdale boy.
“It wasnt love, she said, bewildered.
“You cant deny what you felt.
“You think making love is the same as loving someone?
“Of course it is. He leaned over her, his voice sharp with his hurt. “You cant deny it. It was me you wanted.
She wondered if he even saw her as capable of more than a sexual response. “Youve taken away my life, my family, everyone I love. You think youre entitled. You tell me I must be whatever you want. And its true, youve caught me. I cant resist drugs and bonds and starvation forever. With pain, she said, “But even if you have my passion, you cant force me to love you.
Silence followed her outburst, and she regretted revealing so much of herself. The words had torn out of her before shed had time to think.
Then Markus spoke heavily. “Come. We must go. He took a cloth off the carpet, one he must have brought over, since it hadnt been there when she had lain down earlier. He cleaned himself off, then climbed to his feet and fastened his pants. “I want to change. And we must prepare to ride.
She stared at him. He was fully clothed, even in his boots, exactly as he had fallen asleep last night. She wore nothing but a slender chain around her hips. In her dream, he had held her down when she tried to remove his shirt. She sat up, hurting in a way that had nothing to do with physical pain. Tears blurred her eyes as she felt around the carpet for her robe.
He knelt and pressed the robe into her hands. “Dont cry.
“Why do you care? She wiped at the tears. “You got what you wanted.
“I thought you wanted it, too. He brushed her hair back from her face. “What did you mean by starvation?
“Ive hardly eaten in days.
“We ate on the ride yesterday.
“Trail rations. I had nothing but water in the morning. The TAmbera hardly fed me more than once a day, usually only soup.
“Dragons breath, he muttered. “I didnt know. Whenever youre hungry, just tell me. Ill get you food.
Allegra wasnt certain she believed him, but she so much needed it to be true, for him to be the decent man he sometimes seemed. She said only, “Yes, please. Id like to break my fast.
He studied her face. “Will you be able to ride with me today? We dont have a litter to carry you.
“Why would I need a litter?
He touched her inner thigh. “I wondered if you were sore.
“Oh. Her face heated. “Ill be all right. She actually had no idea, but given how ready her dream and the miradella had made her for him, she thought she would be all right.
“Ill see what I can do, he said.
He turned away, and she hoped he would leave. She needed time away from the force of his presence. She also wanted to wash up and put on real clothes if she could find any that would fit. Maybe she could use one of his shirts.
He didnt go outside, though. Instead he rummaged in a trunk across the tent. He came back with a blanket, some filmy scarves and a bundle of fur. Crouching down, he showed her the blanket. It had fleece on its inner side.
She brushed her palm across the fleece. “Its so soft.
“I can put it over the saddle blanket.
His unexpected consideration touched her. “Thank you.
He showed her the scarves. “You can wear these.
Wear what? Perplexed, she took the clothes. The fur turned out to be a pair of knee boots, soft rather than heavy, with crisscrossing thongs to keep them up. They were designed to be sexy rather than useful, and she doubted they would hold up well if she walked in them. At least the fur was light enough that the boots shouldnt be too hot during the heat of the day. The scarves were a skimpy skirt and halter sewn from red silk and inlaid with jewels, garments she had no more desire to put on than she had wanted to wear the jeweled chain-skirt.
She regarded him dubiously. “Do you always carry clothing like this?
He laughed softly. “No. I bought it from the TAmbera along with you.