His hand moved down to stroke, rub, pluck.
A shudder went through her.
His mouth was suddenly on her nipple and he was sucking, hard, fast.
His fingers plunged deep.
She gave a cry and arched upward.
“Yes.” He gave her more, in, out, fast, deep. “Call out. Let me hear you.”
Her fingernails dug into the sheet.
Faster. Harder.
“Come for me.”
Darkness. Deepness. Searing heat.
She cried out as the tension climaxed.
He stopped, his forehead slowly bent to rest on her stomach. His breath was warm on her flesh, his chest laboring.
She was panting. Her heart was beating too fast. She felt as if it would leap from her breast.
He raised his head. His hand was leaving her, pulling the blanket up to cover her body. He stood up and stepped back from the bed. “I’ll leave you now. Good night, Selene.”
She felt a ripple of shock. “But you didn’t-”
“Ah, no, and I’ll suffer for it tonight. It’s not my way to collect until the task is done. I needed to touch you, but I can wait for the rest.”
“But you-what was this all about?”
“It’s about you learning the pleasure is still there, waiting to be tapped. It’s about bringing your body alive again. It’s about preparing the way.” He moved toward the door. “I’ll need to speak to Tarik and Layla alone tomorrow. I’ll come to see you later in the day.”
Selene huddled beneath the blanket after the door closed behind him. She had to stop trembling.
Dear God, her body was too alive. The blood coursed through her veins, and her skin was flushed and tingling. There was a familiar aching emptiness between her thighs.
The tower.
He had pleasured her, and still it was not enough.
She wanted more.
She could have more. It was no surrender, no loss of herself. A bargain had been struck.
It could be like the tower.
____________________
Tarik and Layla were sitting on the bench when Kadar strode onto the terrace the next morning. They both looked at him warily.
“And where is Selene?” Tarik asked.
Kadar smiled. “I thought we could speak more freely without her. I’ll tell her of our discussion later.”
“I wouldn’t think she’d thank you for going behind her back,” Layla said dryly.
“Oh, we’re in complete agreement. I had a long talk with her last night. She knew you were going to refuse her. I didn’t want her to be further distressed.”
“None of us does,” Tarik said.
“But we can’t do what she wishes,” Layla said. “Find another way.”
“I would, but she’s right. The grail is the only bait that will draw Nasim.” He smiled. “So that’s the bait we have to use.”
Tarik shook his head.
“Yes,” Kadar said.
“Are you going to threaten us?” Tarik asked. “I believe you know that won’t accomplish anything.”
“It depends on the threat.” Kadar moved over to the balustrade and looked up at the bright blue sky. “I’ve always loved the night. The stars, the shadows. But the morning is good too. Feel the freshness of the breeze? Since I came so close to death from Balkir’s sword, I’ve learned to appreciate those small pleasures even more.” He paused. “What was the potion that so miraculously cured me, Tarik?”
Tarik was silent.
“At the moment Selene is too numb to focus on anything but ways to use the grail to lure Nasim, but, as you were talking, things began to slide together for me. There was more than the grail in the coffer, wasn’t there? Eshe?”
Tarik nodded.
“And you had Selene give it to me.”
“It saved your life. I wasn’t sure it would. You were almost gone.”
Kadar’s brows lifted. “You claim this Eshe can cure a sword wound?”
“No, I was surprised that it helped you. It only seems to increase the body’s strength and repel disease.” He gave Layla a sardonic smile. “But perhaps you should ask my wife. She has vastly more experience with Eshe than I do.”
“Because you hide your head and won’t deal with it,” Layla said. “But, as far as I know, it does little good with wounds. He should have died.” She shrugged. “It’s difficult to judge. I’ve never given it to anyone in such dire straits. It would have been a waste.”
“And you were too ill for me to give you a choice,” Tarik said. “It was a great struggle for me.”
“To keep me alive?” Kadar gazed directly into his eyes. “Or to extend my life span?”
He smiled. “You told me you don’t believe that’s possible.”
“But you do.”
“Oh, yes, I believe it. Would I have protected the grail all these years if I hadn’t believed it?”
“But you’re tired of protecting it. You wanted to shift the responsibility to someone else. You chose me.”
“It was a very painful choice. Particularly after I got to know you.”
“I thought I recalled signs of uncertainty and remorse.”
“There’s no reason Tarik should be remorseful,” Layla said. “He saved your life and gave you a great gift.”
“I don’t think he regards it as a great gift. Do you, Tarik?”
He shook his head. “It’s a terrible, terrible burden.”
“Because you make it so,” Layla said. “There’s no reason for you to agonize. Just look at Kadar. He’s nothing like Chion. He can withstand it.”
“I hope so.”
“Who is this Chion?” Kadar asked Tarik.
“My brother.”
“And what happened to him?”
“I loved him. I wanted to share Eshe with him.” His lips thinned with pain. “He went mad. He killed himself.”
Kadar went still. “Not a cheerful prospect. I believe I’m beginning to be a trifle upset with you, Tarik. Does this potion often unbalance the recipient?”
“Chion was always delicate and nervous,” Layla said. “It’s never happened before or since.”
“How do you know?” Tarik asked. “You’re so generous with Eshe that I’m sure you don’t keep track of all to whom you give it.”
“I do keep track.” She glared at him. “Yes, I’m generous, but I’m not irresponsible. There was never another Chion.”
“One was enough.” Tarik turned back to Kadar. “But I hoped it would have no adverse effect on you. I might never have given it to you at all, if you hadn’t been hurt. It seemed as if destiny took the decision out of my hands.”
“I’ll take comfort from that, if I see madness approaching,” Kadar said dryly.
“It won’t happen,” Layla said. “And you need not try to make Tarik feel guilt. He feels nothing else. You’re the first person he gave Eshe to since Chion died.”
“I’m honored,” Kadar said. “Then I assume he’s merely acted as protector for the grail?”
“Yes.” Her lips curved in a bitter smile. “Since he would not help me in any other way. I thought it only fair that
