Embrace the Mystery (The Blood Rose #3)(44)
Author: Caris Roane

Batya turned slightly in Quinlan’s arms to watch as each Guardsman smiled and puffed out his chest a little more, spears in the air. Henry saluted the women, which caused another swift burst of shouting.

“We’re definitely expected,” she said quietly. “Those women are dressed to kill and I don’t think they’re working girls.”

Because she was looking behind her, she met Lorelei’s gaze and her friend smiled, tears in her eyes. Batya had been so caught up in her own experience that she hadn’t realized what coming here would mean for the woman Margetta had been pursuing for decades.

“You’re free,” she called back to her.

Lorelei inclined her head. “Free at last.”

Chapter Nine

Quinlan stood by the window in the room assigned to him. Some smart fae foresight had assigned Batya the adjoining bedchamber. She showered while he towel-dried his long hair.

The queen had already provided a meal, so they’d eaten, but Gizelda had made it clear Rosamunde wouldn’t be receiving anyone until the next evening, which was just as well.

He felt like he’d been battling and marching for a week and a vibration up both arms told him he needed to feed soon. He’d spent a lot of energy flying Batya to Ferrenden Peace, known to the locals as the Kingdom of Peace.

He still couldn’t believe he was here.

Ferrenden Peace

But dawn wasn’t too far off. He could feel that vibration as well, the warning tingle up his spine, telling all vampires to seek shelter. He sometimes wondered how his ancestors survived without modern building materials.

Caves, probably.

He recalled one of his doneuses reading some kind of novel recently, a romance, where the vampires lived in caves and did some crazy stuff with chains.

No caverns in his world, just a variety of realm-folk needing his protection against the enemy.

He heard the revelers. The long window faced the main thoroughfare, and even at that distance he could hear the shouting and laughter. Henry and his men needed this time to let things go. They’d be mourning the loss of their fellow warriors when the next evening broke. Henry already had a brief memorial service planned for the fallen. Later, when the brigade returned to Grochaire, proper remembrance services would be taken care of by the families.

For now, getting drunk and well-laid would go a long way to healing the warriors.

“You’re sure thinking hard. I’ve heard you sigh at least a dozen times.”

He turned to find Batya backlit by the light from her bedroom, which had the happy effect of showing the outline of her womanly figure through the thin fabric of the nightgown she wore. Ferrenden Peace’s weather, now that they’d left the snow behind, was relatively mild and the castle comfortable.

The queen had provided them with clothing. He wore a simple, but very soft, dark blue velvet robe.

He set the towel on the stone window sill, then crossed to Batya. She’d dried her long hair and it smelled sweet like berries as he pulled her into his arms.

She pushed underneath his robe until her arms flowed around his back.

You’re hungry.

Yes, I need sustenance, but right now I need you more.

She hugged him, then lowered her hands to caress and fondle his ass. His c**k loved it and stiffened for her.

She kissed his neck, her lips plucking at his skin, up and up, over his jaw-line to finally land on his mouth.

He crashed down on her, kissing her hard, holding her tightly to him. She slid one hand over his waist then his hip. He gave her just enough room to reach him, her fingers sliding around his stalk, a new kind of caress.

He drew back and looked into her large, hazel eyes. She was so beautiful, especially in the soft glow his vampire vision yielded right now. Emotion swelled in his chest, something unfamiliar, yet powerful. He felt strangely like he needed to say something important to her, maybe even to thank her for being so strong over the past few days.

Instead, he kissed her again and let all that feeling sweep through him. Her body responded, trembling.

After a moment, he picked her up and carried her to the bed. Holding her in one arm, he pulled the covers back then laid her out on the sheets. Her thick, blond hair fanned out on the pillows, just as he’d always imagined it would.

His gaze drifted to her large br**sts and the three simple bows that held the gauzy gown together. He stretched out beside her and through the fabric fondled her br**sts, teasing each tip into a swollen firm bud.

He dipped down and took her right breast in his mouth, sucking at her through the fabric. She moaned as she stroked his head, his cheek, and played with his lips while he worked her nipple.

“It takes so little,” she whispered. “It’s never been like this, Quin, not with any man. You take me to the edge in lightning speed.”

Unwilling to stop savoring her breast, he pathed, I love nursing on you. He lifted his gaze while he suckled, to meet her wide hazel eyes, now dark with passion.

The scent of her sex, rich with her tropical-flower fragrance, hardened him even more. He arched his h*ps into her, pressing his c**k against her thigh.

She pushed away his robe, her fingers kneading his shoulders and arms, then finding his pecs and rubbing over his ni**les. Her moans grew louder.

He released her nipple as well, and helped her out of the gown then resumed savoring her br**sts, fondling the size of her, the wonderful weight of each, enjoying her moans and coos and the way she worked the muscles of his arms.

He flexed his biceps for her over and over which kept her h*ps rising and falling.

Drifting a hand over her abdomen, he loved her soft gasps and the way her body jerked at his touch, as though his fingertips burned her.

Lower he crept. Only this time he massaged above her mound and across her pelvis. She breathed in deep gulps. Taking more of her breast in his mouth, he sucked harder.

Her coos turned to cries as he smoothed a hand over her mound. Spread for me.

Batya responded, easing her legs apart. His lips trembled over her breast as his fingers slid downward and found how wet she was. He groaned heavily as he played with her soft folds, just to feel her and to enjoy her.

She moaned again, her h*ps rising and falling, pushing into his hand. He slid two fingers inside and his c**k jerked, wanting to be exactly where his fingers were. He slid in and out, suckling her nipple with the same rhythm that he used between her legs.

Her back arched, her body rolled.

“I’m in agony.” Her voice sounded hoarse.

He moaned as he moved his fingers faster and faster. He felt her body tense, one hand digging into his neck, and the other into his shoulder.