Chapter Thirty-Four
Dione accompanied us to pick out what we needed and wanted for the trip. The thing that amazed me most were the waterskins. They were magic—they continually refilled and kept the water cold.
“These make it so that you won’t need to worry about finding oases,” she said.
Another thing I would have to bring back with me to Thrace. What a difference these could make in long marches and extended battles!
When we returned to our room, we found that Dione had sent over a stack of books that Zain had requested, along with trays of food. He and I went over the map. I couldn’t read the words, but I came up with some symbols that I would remember for various reference points.
Including a dragon where the cave was supposed to be.
“What if it’s not there?” I asked.
“Then we’ll figure something out.”
“You know that you don’t have to come with me.” Actos had given this task to me, not to Zain. “I could tell the king that you ran off once we get clear of Epirius.”
“I know. But I want to. You need to steal something and I’m excellent at stealing. And I thought maybe if I did this for you, then you might help me with—”
“I already told you, no. I’m not helping you steal for your own personal gain. It’s bad enough I’m doing it to actually help people. My grandmother is probably in the underworld cursing at me for all of this.”
Especially the lies. So many lies.
He nodded and picked up one of the books and began to read. It was an abrupt end to our conversation that I had been enjoying. He and I chatting felt the same way it had when we were in Sagaris.
I ignored the small burst of hurt in my chest and went back to packing my things in the bags Dione had provided.
Hours passed, more supplies arrived along with more food, and Zain continued to read.
It was nearly time to go to bed when he finally shut the latest book he’d been reading.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” I asked.
“I did. I had Dione bring me books about diviner stones because I wanted to make sure how they worked.” He noticed my frown at his mention of the stone and hurried to continue.
“When it said your name, I wasn’t sure what that meant.
But everything I’ve read tells me that the only thing the stones do is give answers, nothing else.
So it wasn’t claiming you as the rightful owner, but that you are the answer to my problem. ”
I shrugged.
“You’re not going to ask me about it?”
“I already know what you want.”
A bird cawed in the distance and I was grateful for the distraction. It was too bad that our window didn’t open. “What kind of bird do you think that is?” I asked.
“A crow? A raven?”
“I know someone who is a raven.”
“You . . . know someone who is a raven.”
“Only some of the time. He’s a shape-shifter. Although I don’t know if I’m supposed to tell you that.” Was Rokh’s situation still a secret? I couldn’t remember. “He and his wife just announced that they’re having their first two children.”
“Like . . . eggs in a nest?”
“No, not like eggs in a . . . Actually, I don’t know.”
“You know some very interesting people,” he said with a laugh.
“I do. Including the king of thieves.”
He stood suddenly, almost knocking his chair over. He rushed to me and whispered, “The other spy.”
It felt wrong that I was almost giddy this was happening.
Oh no, you have to kiss the ridiculously handsome man. Whatever shall you do?
I again told imaginary Lia to be quiet.
“Right. So should we . . .” I pointed at the bed.
“Not yet.” He spun me around and moved my hair to over my right shoulder.
He leaned in and started to press soft kisses along the back of my neck, and I’d never realized what a sensitive spot that was for me.
I shuddered and knew that he felt it because of the sound he made in the back of his throat.
“So responsive.” He murmured the words on my skin, sending new tremors. My breathing became uneven and I was finding it difficult to remain standing. He kissed the spot where my shoulder and neck met, and then his hands moved around me to untie my belt.
I reached up so that I could run my fingers along the back of his scalp. Now it was his turn to shudder.
The belt came off, landing on the floor, and then he moved my arms so that my tunic could follow.
I heard his choked groan the moment he realized I wasn’t wearing a breast band. His fingers trailed down my naked spine, exploring each bump.
“Did you do this deliberately?” he asked.
“No. It was bothering me earlier so I took it off.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t just to make me wild?”
“That’s . . . an added bonus.” I couldn’t say whether I’d done it deliberately. I hadn’t intended to, but it was possible I’d done it without even realizing.
Because I had known the second spy was coming tonight.
“Do you like that he’s watching us? Are you putting on a show for him?”
I couldn’t have been because again Zain blocked the spy’s view so that he couldn’t see me.
“No, not for him. I like that you’re watching me. I’m doing this for you.”
When I began to turn, his hands went to my hips. “Not yet. Anticipation is one of the best parts.”
He ran his hands down my legs, on the outside, kneeling behind me. “Ever since you put these on, I have thought of nothing but taking them off you. They outline your perfect legs so well . . .”
His hands moved up and began at the top of my pants, tugging them down.
“If I take this off, will I discover that you’re not wearing your undergarment, either?”
“I suppose you’ll have to find out.”
He made a strangled noise that made me think he’d do it quickly to get his answer, but he very slowly pulled the fabric down my legs and I liked the soft, sliding sensation. When he was down at my ankles, I lifted up one foot and then the other and he tossed the pants away.
He kissed the back of my calf, the right leg and then the left.
Then the hollow behind my knee on one side and the other.
He did this all the way up my legs, stopping when he reached the undergarment I was wearing.
He moved to the base of my back, kissing his way up my spinal column until I felt like I was going to pass out.
I couldn’t stop trembling. All I felt was heat and desire and I needed him now.
Zain’s hands went to my hips, as if he intended to turn me around, but he hesitated. We stood there in silence, my breathing harsh and ragged. Then he took a step back and I cried out in protest.
“The spy is gone. We can stop,” he said.
“No.” I turned around and threw myself at him. I pressed my lips to his and I felt the shock in his body, but it only lasted for a second and then he was pulling me to him, kissing me, touching me.
Fanning the flames higher and higher. I told him, “I don’t want to stop.”
“Neither do I.” He kissed me until I thought I would collapse from it. He ruined my mouth. “On the bed?” he asked, his voice rough and hoarse.
“I don’t care where,” I said as I tugged on his tunic. I wanted it off. I didn’t want there to be anything between us.
He somehow managed to undo his belt and get his tunic up to his neck, all while still kissing me. He only broke the kiss long enough to get it over his head, and then he pulled me into his arms. My chest brushed against his and I moaned. Yes. This. This was what I had wanted.
His kisses turned frantic, desperate, completely wild. All the heat swirling inside me circled, liquefied, and went low until all I could do was make incoherent moans as he kissed and moved his body against mine.
I was only slightly aware of him pushing me back until we hit the bed and he helped me to lie down. He stood above me, taking in every detail.
“You are so beautiful it should be a crime,” he said, and I found myself wanting to giggle, which was very unlike me. “I want to steal you and keep you with me forever.”
My heart somehow managed to pound even harder at his words. Was he saying—
Did he want this to be more?
I reached for him and he extended his hand toward me—
And there was a knock.
He rattled off an impressive litany of curse words. “Does that door have a lock?”
“Maybe if we just stay quiet, they’ll go away,” I said.
The knock came again, more insistent this time. More swearing from Zain as he grabbed his tunic and then tossed mine to me. I slid it over my head, and so did he. When he opened the door, I half expected him to yell at whoever was standing there.
I heard the steward’s voice. “We received word that you were, ahem, enjoying yourselves and might appreciate additional company. The king wants you to have an excellent send-off, so he has arranged for his concubines to entertain you.”
Zain’s body blocked the entire doorway and I couldn’t see anything. What if Actos had sent different concubines? How would we work around that?
I nearly sighed with relief when Nesdahlia and Cotys walked in.
The steward wished us a good night and Zain slammed the door shut. I could feel the frustration coming off him in waves. He walked into the washroom and slammed that door, too.
My body felt too heavy, the thwarted desire making my stomach and core ache. I had to put all that aside and greet the Thracian girls as if they hadn’t just interrupted us.
I promised myself they would stay a couple of hours and then Zain and I would be alone again. “How long should we keep you here this time?”
“We need to stay the night,” Nesdahlia told me. “The king says he expects it.”
It was like she’d dropped a weight in the center of my stomach, crushing me with disappointment.
Zain emerged from the washroom and I said, “The girls have to be here all night.”
He didn’t look anywhere near as disappointed as I felt, and I wondered whether he was covering it up or if it didn’t bother him the way it did me.
Men usually just needed a place and a partner. I had offered him both. Just because he was attracted to me didn’t mean that he saw a future for us.
And I tasted that sour and bitter disappointment until the moment when he stepped up behind me and said, “Soon.”
A wildfire burst to life inside me. “How soon? After they’re asleep? The washroom?”
His laugh was sultry and sensual. “Let’s not traumatize the children. I have a feeling you won’t be quiet.”
It was a good guess, as I hadn’t been so far.
“We’re about to spend nearly a week together, all alone,” he reminded me. “We have that to look forward to.”
Then he kissed a pulse point in my jaw and walked away to greet the girls.
While I tried to make my body stop shaking with anticipation.
Almost an entire week.
Just us.
I couldn’t wait.