DarykRogue (9 page)

Surprised that he didn’t mock her, she asked, “Have you had
sex with many women?”

“A few.”

“And were they… Do they act the same as I?”

“Act?”

“That feeling? That strange and beautiful explosion that
caused me to…” She simply couldn’t say it. She was out of her depth and didn’t
know how to explain what she meant.

“That’s sexual satisfaction.” His voice was low but he
didn’t mock her. “Your body responded to my touch and your own arousal. Some
call it an orgasm.”

Clearing her throat, she tried not to sound as ignorant as
she felt. “I read that a man puts his erection into a woman’s…” Her throat
dried up. “Her womanhood.”

“And other places.”

Her eyes snapped open and she stared into the dimly lit
room. “Other places?”

He blew out the lamp on the bedstand and plunged the room
into darkness except for the blue flash of lightning. “Yes.”

“Oh.” What could she say to that? “It hurts a woman the
first time, doesn’t it?”

He shifted in the bed. “Wait. Why are you asking me these
questions? You were married.”

Mortification filled her. She wanted to kick herself. She
swallowed hard. Nothing could help it now—she couldn’t avoid telling him the
truth. “Yes, but Taris was…he tried, but his manhood wouldn’t stay hard.”

Rayder laughed, and the sound was loud and mocking. “By
Draconus. Are you saying he couldn’t fuck you? That his cock couldn’t enter
you?”

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she was glad the
light was off. “If you must put it so crudely, yes.”

“You are a virgin.”

She licked her dry lips. “Yes.”

Rayder groaned. “Draconus help me.”

Irritated, she turned on her side away from him and stayed
silent.

“On Magonia these things aren’t explained to women,” she
finally said.

“Your mother didn’t tell you?”

“She told me some things, but she was too embarrassed to
explain the rest.”

When another boom of thunder cracked near and she jerked, he
turned on his side and slipped his left arm across her belly. “Easy. I’m not
going to hurt you. Rest easy.”

Any other time or situation, she would have demanded he stop
touching her, pulling her close. She would have ignored the strength of his arm
as he gathered her against his nakedness. But as the storm continued, she
allowed tears to flow and she relaxed.

Her mind ran around in circles, overflowing with questions
about sex and what had just happened between them. She lay awake in his arms
the rest of the night, imagining what he meant about a man putting his cock
into other places. Part of her feared it while the other half died of curiosity.
Anger quickly replaced amazement at what had happened between them.

If her body could do this…orgasm and completely lose
control, what chance did she have of claiming her freedom?

Chapter Six

Rayder stood outside his cabin and stared down the men who’d
come to see the spectacle.
My wedding.
What a load full of shite. He
heaved a breath and gave the half dozen gawkers a dirty look. Some grunted,
some smiled, but all of them turned away.

Two continued to glare at him. Farcam and Oscan. Rayder had
seen to it that Oscan had spent a day and night chained up without food or
water, and so had Farcam. Rayder stalked toward them, his muscles tightening as
he readied for a fight. He hadn’t busted anyone’s face in a while and today he
felt ready to burn off hostility. He had plenty of it.

He knew why.

Xandra Shorenus was driving him to drink. A tankard of ale
sounded delicious right then, but he’d have to wait until the wedding was over.
Perhaps after he’d consummated the wedding. He shoved his hand into his right
trouser pocket. His fingers tightened around the box inside the pocket. He’d
kept the ring, passed down to him from his family. He’d never planned to use
his mother’s wedding ring to marry any time soon. The right woman to give it
to, for convenience sake, appeared to be Xandra Shorenus.

Who are you kidding? She is your mate, the one you are
supposed to marry.

But by the god, he didn’t want that. Not right now. Not when
it wasn’t convenient.

He might not look forward to this ceremony, but he did want
more of what he’d experienced last night.
Draconus
. He’d wanted to lay
her on his bed and initiate her, show her there was even more pleasure to be
had if she’d open her legs to him and let him slide his cock into her sweet,
tight body. Her innocence had shocked him. When he’d learned her bumpkin of a
husband hadn’t taken her virginity, it had made him want her even more. The
power of his need exploded inside him.

He would be the only one to fuck her. Take her. Make her
scream as he plunged deep into her body and planted his seed in her womb.

The force of his thoughts shook him and he took a deep
breath.

Right now though, he had to get through the ceremony without
punching someone’s face. Among friends, Rayder wouldn’t have minded Xandra’s
wedding dress. With miscreants like these, he damn well did mind. He didn’t
want them getting any more ideas about her. He’d take care of the lecherous
bags around him, one way or other.

“Mornin’, Sir.” Oscan nodded, face impassive and carefree.

Rayder wasn’t worried about the older man. His frame was far
shorter and frailer than Rayder’s. Oscan wouldn’t be much in a fight—for a man.
A woman? Rayder didn’t like the odds if this lowlife got his hands on Xandra.

“Mornin’, Sir.” Farcam’s grin showed rotten teeth, and
Rayder knew the bastard had an even nastier disposition. “Fine day for a
weddin’, eh?”

Rayder didn’t have patience for the niceties, especially not
with these two assholes. “Stay away from the ceremony.” Rayder gripped his
sword. “You can clean belowdecks or perform other duties.”

Farcam’s smile held evil down to his soul. “Beggin’ your
pardon, Sir, but I’d pay to see it.”

Rayder stepped forward, but a voice behind him stopped
Rayder in his tracks. “There you are, Rayder. Good to see you on such a fine
morning.”

Karman Aramus, the bastard. Hatred seethed like an open
wound inside Rayder, but as usual, he held it back and put on the good face.
The face everyone believed in and trusted even when they damn well shouldn’t.

Today the older man wore a brilliant red tunic and breastplate
adorned with spears and skulls. His matching red trousers looked ridiculous,
but the man never did care much what others thought of his clothing sense.
Behind him at several paces walked Phili and Yoanda. Both women also wore fancy
dresses—Yoanda in a brilliant green dress that looked similar to the one she’d
given to Xandra, minus the holes for nipples. Phili, though, had chosen to wear
a screaming-red dress that matched colors with the admiral’s tunic, and her
nipples were almost bared by the filmy material on the bodice. Rayder knew why
she wore the dress. She wanted him. Phili had thrown herself at Rayder more
than once in the passageways and byways of the dim underworld belowdecks. She’d
wanted a good fuck, he knew, and thought he could provide it.

Perhaps he could, but no way in the hells would he.

First, she belonged to the admiral, and a crew member didn’t
mess with the admiral’s women. Two, he wasn’t the least interested. Too bad
Phili hadn’t taken the hint yet.

“Good morning, Admiral.” Rayder kept his voice modulated and
calm. He threw a glance at the men gathering nearby.

“Where is the bride?” Aramus asked.

“Still getting ready,” Rayder said with a smirk. “You know
how women are.”

The admiral threw his head back and laughed. “Too right. Well,
hurry her along. And don’t become so distracted fucking her that you can’t make
it to the ceremony.”

Rayder’s patience broke. “Is that why it took you so long to
get here? You were with Yoanda and Phili at the same time?”

The admiral blinked, his eyes shocked. His gaze flipped to
irritated a second later. “You’re in a fine temper today. I advise you save
your tongue for tonight when you most need it.”

Only partially curtailed by the fact Phili and Yoanda both
stood there and could hear the conversation, Rayder smiled through the anger.
“At least I
know
what to do with my tongue.”

Phili smiled, and Yoanda also managed a grin for a half
moment before she hid it by looking away.

Admiral Aramus threw him a look filled with contempt and
disconcerted embarrassment. “You’re a fine bastard, Tyrus. It’s a good thing I
like you so much or I’d have you flogged for that.”

The man could order him killed, but he wouldn’t. The bastard
understood it was Rayder’s knowledge of ships that kept their craft afloat. It
wouldn’t be long now before Rayder could accomplish what had taken three long
years to obtain, and the admiral would smile no more.

Rayder nodded. “I’ll see what’s taking my betrothed so
long.”

“Wait.” Yoanda’s voice came sweet and clear. “I can help.
Perhaps she needs a woman’s advice. I know how nervous I was on my wedding
day.”

“Very well.” Aramus waved his hand dismissively. “Do it.”

As soon as Yoanda knocked on the door, Xandra’s voice asked,
“Who is it?”

“Yoanda. May I come in?”

The door unlocked and opened, and Rayder caught a quick
glance at Xandra still dressed in her rough-weave clothing. She hadn’t changed
when he’d left after promising to provide privacy. He wanted to growl. What was
she waiting for? For him to become completely incensed? Xandra allowed Yoanda
in and quickly closed the door.

“Come, Rayder,” Aramus said. “We can put off the wedding a
few more minutes. Better yet, let’s go to my cabin and have a drink to stave
off wedding jitters. Every man feels reluctant to marry until it’s forced upon
him by society and the need to be seen as legitimate to the world at large.”

Rayder’s gut roiled at the idea. Marrying Xandra amounted to
inconvenience, and yes, the admiral had commanded it. Society on this ship
demanded he marry for legitimacy, but it was farce, just as everything else on
the
Beast
.

The admiral headed toward his cabin and Rayder followed.
Phili threw Rayder a feral smile that reminded him of a jungle carnivore ready
to make a meal. She took the admiral’s arm and sauntered along. The bitch liked
to play both sides. She smiled, pouted and cajoled the admiral into doing what
she wanted—she wasn’t much of a slave anymore, if she ever had been. Yoanda, on
the other hand, was the exact opposite. It bothered Rayder to see Yoanda being
ordered around and mistreated by a concubine, but he couldn’t change it. He had
too much at stake. Besides, before long, both Phili and the admiral would get
everything they deserved and more.

Rayder would see to it, and if marrying Xandra for a short
time was the price to be paid, he’d pay.

* * * * *

“I can’t wear this dress.” Xandra placed the dress back on
the bed and turned back to Yoanda.

Yoanda’s pale lips opened, her washed-out appearance more
pronounced than yesterday. “You have to. The admiral commands it. Your
betrothed expects it.”

In no mood to play games, Xandra asked, “Did Rayder say he
expects it?”

Yoanda toyed with the blonde hair that barely reached to her
chin. “No.”

Xandra crossed her arms. “Then I’m not wearing it. We all
know this marriage is a ridiculous deception rather than a sacred vow.”

Yoanda snatched the dress off the bed and held it up to
Xandra’s neck. “You remind me so much of my daughter. She would have looked
wonderful in this dress. I didn’t… When I was married to the admiral, I was…”
Indescribable emotions, perhaps anger, perhaps sadness marked her eyes.

Xandra waited, but when the older woman didn’t elaborate,
curiosity demanded she find out. “You were what?”

“He made me walk out on the deck in only shoes.”

Xandra couldn’t have heard her correctly. “Shoes? No
clothing?”

Yoanda nodded, still holding the dress up to Xandra’s neck.
“Naked but for shoes. Actually Phili came into the room and said I was to wear
shoes and nothing else. It was humiliating.”

Amazed, Xandra couldn’t think of anything to say. This poor
woman had been made to attend her wedding completely naked. Wearing a dress
with nipples showing seemed far less intimidating now.

“Phili knew the admiral before you married him?” Xandra
asked.

Yoanda smiled, sadly and with a sarcastic twist. “Yes. Don’t
ask me why he didn’t marry Phili first. She is beautiful and intelligent and
competent. Everything I’m not.”

An ache started in Xandra’s chest. She clutched the dress
and took it out of Yoanda’s hands. “Honestly, I think she is mean and conniving
and horrible to you. As for a beauty, I guess some men will take anything to
slake their hunger.”

Yoanda’s eyes widened then a hint of humor entered her gaze.
“That’s why I don’t mind that the admiral prefers her over me for his
carnal…lusts. Wifely duties with Aramus…” She shuddered. “Phili can have him.
As long as he leaves me alone, I’m happy.” The woman smiled, her eyes now
filled with cheerfulness. “I think you are very lucky to catch Rayder Tyrus.”
She rolled her gaze to the heavens a moment. “He is so handsome and nice.”

Xandra’s eyebrows went up in incredulity. “Is he?”

Yoanda chuckled and sat on the bed. “He’s always been kind
and gentle to me. You are young and beautiful, and he favors you. I think he’s
properly besotted.”

Disbelief made Xandra snort. “Ha. I do not believe it. As I
said, this is all a fraud.” She eyed the other woman warily. “Perhaps I
shouldn’t say anything.”

Yoanda shook her head. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I won’t
tell a soul what you said. Even if my husband asks, I’ll make something up.”

“He won’t be able to tell you were lying?”

“Despite the fact he runs this ship, he’s quite the dunce.
If it wasn’t for your betrothed, I think this entire ship would fall into
chaos.”