Dark Prince (21 page)

"You wouldn’t mind?" He affected a small groan of pain. It wasn’t too much of a stretch. His back did hurt.

"No," she rushed, "of course not."

It was the least she could do, seeing how she was going to run out on him and steal one of his sisters-by-marriage.

Yusef’s brow rose at her ready answer.

Olena hid her flush, as she said, "Well, you did bathe me when I was sick. It’s the least I can do for you. And the doctors did leave you to my care. Though, I have to tell you, I am no nursemaid."

"I’m sure you’ll do fine." Yusef’s eyes lit as he thought of how she’d brought him out of his coma. A little more of that medicine and he would be doing back flips like the best of them.

"Maybe you should shift." She bit her lip thoughtfully. Although, she meant it as a way to help him, she had to admit she was curious to see what he looked like--completely shifted. She wondered if everything turned hard with armor, like if his ... well…. Olena turned her back to him before he could see the look on her face.

Yusef felt the rush of her desire hitting him and was relieved. It would seem their little encounter in the medical ward hadn’t turned her off to him completely. He would just have to show her that a soft, gentler approach to her body could melt her to him. The greater, straining, rougher passions would come later. He wondered how hard it would be to convince her to let him soothe the ache he delved into her. She had softened to his will so easily in the past.

A long, awkward silence passed for Olena. Her body heated with familiar longing for him.

Finally, Yusef said, "I can’t. It would stress the wounds."

"Oh," she mumbled.

Yusef grinned. Was that disappointment he heard? Damned, but if his wife wasn’t an intoxicating vixen! If she was that eager to play with his Draig form, he would gladly let her. Not that he could feel her so well behind the hard armor of his skin. Smiling, he knew there were other games they could play that would include the Draig form before he shifted to take her. Captive and Captor came instantly to mind, as did Hunter and the Hunted.

His eyes flashed with golden hues of passion, which he quickly subdued before she could see the full force of his desire.

"Well, come on." She glanced at him. "I think you should probably use the hot spring so you can sit down."

The hot spring was all right with Yusef. Thinking of her administering hands on his body, he groaned. When she glanced back at the sound, he turned his lustful gaze to an instant grimace of pain.

"Maybe they let you go too early," she said, more to herself.

"No, I made them let me out." Before he could stop himself, he teased, "I was promised a love slave if I left. I believe the exact words were, I’ll do any sordid thing you want, in any position, in any place."

Olena balked. "I only said that to get you to wake up."

"It worked."

Olena hid her red face from him. Just thinking of it was waking him up, though not in the manner she meant.

"Oh, stop!" She glared at him, her hands on her hips. "Let’s just get it all out now. So I was technically a virgin. It doesn’t make you some kind of conquering hero or anything. You just happened to be the first man opportunity arose with. I mean everyone else I had been with up until you I was trying to steal from and they got stuck with the firefly pin before anything could come of it. And there was my crew, but they are even more alien and stranger than you are. So, get your back pats over with and let’s drop it. Okay? Great."

Yusef merely grinned, unfazed.

"Oh, you’re impossible." She grimaced, rolling her eyes. "Come on."

Yusef followed her into the bathroom. When he didn’t undress, she looked at him expectantly. He let a sheepish frown come to his features, as he said, "Would you mind? I can’t bend over yet."

Olena gulped slightly, automatically looking down to his groin. Shaking herself, she cleared her throat. "No, of course you can’t."

Olena kept her eyes averted as she stripped off his pants, refusing to look at him. It’s not like she hadn’t seen many men before him. But now, remembering how overpowering he had been inside her, it made her nervous. Yusef tried not to laugh as she bit her lips and tried to take his pants down by pinching the sides with the tips of her fingers. It took her awhile to realize his pants were caught on his erection. Whatever happened to his bold little wood sprite?

"Would you mind getting my sling?" Yusef’s voice dipped. Her eyes darted to him, vivid in their green loveliness. He saw her composure waver. "Is something wrong?"

"Ah. No, no, nothing."

Olena went to him. The sling was tied at his shoulder and she had to press close to his side to untie it. Yusef let his naked thigh brush against her pants. He felt her tense and shiver. Her hands fumbled longer than they should of, but when she pulled back he was freed.

Yusef smiled at her, stepping into the hot bath. He slowly sank down onto the seat. The hot water did wonders for him.

"Why don’t you take your clothes off and come in?" Yusef’s eyes lit with challenge, seeming to say, you’re not embarrassed, are you? "You’ll be better able to help me."

Olena eyed him, but in the end thought he was too injured to do her much damage. Feeling very aware of her body for the first time in her life, she pulled off her shirt. When his eyes lit with satisfaction, she had a new sense of gratification in his interest. She wasn’t so quick to take off her pants and reveal the opening of her womanhood to him. That significant part lit with its own memory of him. To Olena’s surprise, it wasn’t at all angry with him for what had happened to it. In fact, it was treacherously eager to have him try it again. She felt its pull, growing slightly hot at the mere look of him in the bubbling water. It took her longer to step into the bath than it should have.

Yusef was gentleman enough not to comment. His gaze dipped down over her throat and chest as she lowered herself into the warm water. Her breasts floated on the surface, the water lapping against her nipples to make them hard. His hands twitched as if they would disobey him and touch her.

Olena took some soap and handed it over to him. Again, he said, "Would you mind terribly?"

Olena’s mouth went dry, but she pushed forward. She parted her lips slightly as her finger found the flesh of his hard chest. She lathered him in circles, running all over his upper body. She touched his back lightly, mindful of his wounds.

Olena pulled back. She looked at the water. "Can you lift your foot?"

Yusef flinched, but managed. As her breast brushed against him, he didn’t care about his injuries. She cleaned one foot and hair roughened calf, then the other. When he was again seated, she eyed him.

"Maybe you should stand." Olena licked her lips. The texture of his skin was doing something very alluring to her senses.

Yusef, thinking of his risen member beneath the water, only hesitated for a moment. Was it just him or was her words a little too husky?

As he stood proudly before her, cradling his arm slightly to his chest, Olena gasped. He was at full arousal.

Yusef shrugged. "I can’t help it. Can you work around it?"

Olena nodded. She moved her hands from where the water hit his lower thighs, working up over his legs to his hips. She rose as she cleaned him. His member came temptingly close to her mouth. She’d never taken one between her lips, but she had heard some of the men speaking of such things and how it brought them endless pleasure. Would it bring Yusef pleasure?

Yusef saw her mouth part as she passed by his shaft. It took all his control not to thrust forward between her sweet lips. Olena’s fingers skimmed over to his buttocks. She lathered him, standing so close to his chest she could feel the heat of his body next to hers.

Yusef’s eyes darkened when her fingers stayed too long on his backside, her fingers turning from washing to caressing, to all out fondling as she gravitated naturally closer to him. Touching her face, he asked, "Do you still hurt?"

Olena’s shy gaze turned down at the bold question. When she didn’t answer, Yusef slid his hand down her side.

"Turn around," he urged.

Olena pulled her hands away.

"Trust me. I want to show you something."

Olena couldn’t refuse the soft entreaty of his eyes or the firmly moving lines of his lips. Yusef grabbed her about the flat of her stomach and drew her back against him. Their bodies angled so that his erection pressed into the softness of her backside, parting her slightly against his length. Not moving to penetrate, he began gliding his good hand over her flesh.

Yusef drew his fingers over her nipples, circling and pinching them with agonizing attention, before moving them down over her flat stomach to rest briefly above her opening. Olena tensed, her head falling back on Yusef’s shoulder. She shook in ragged anticipation.

His lips were at her ear, nipping and soothing. "I’m going to give you the pleasure you should have felt the first time."

Olena shivered, awakening enough from her haze at his words to try and pull away. Yusef’s strong arm tensed around her. He pulled her once more into his hardness. He delved his fingers forth to part her body ever so slightly.

Olena couldn’t stop her hips from responding as he rubbed at her sensitive center. Her back arched into him and a whimper of pleasure escaped her lips. His kisses pressed her neck as his hand pressed her mound. Her hips jerked, naturally seeking to ease their tension as they thrust up and down in light movements. Olena’s body was fevered from washing his flesh and now, to feel him touching her, she moaned.

Yusef bent lower, pushing his fingers along her slick heat. He felt the beginnings of a tremor beneath his hand and he hadn’t even entered his fingers into her moist body. To his surprise, her hips bucked and she shook with a sudden force. Hot moisture pooled on his hand as she racked against it in pleasure. Her body must have been on the brink for her to react so suddenly and with little probing.

Yusef growled, her cry echoing around him. She fell limp, leaning into his arm for support. Her ragged breath fell onto his arm as her lips turned naturally to nudge him.

"Yusef," she said, awed by what she felt. Yusef’s arm slipped around to hold her up. She turned, her head lying against his chest as she tried to slow her heart.

His body still ached to be fulfilled. His back hurt from leaning over in such a way. But it was worth it as he felt the openness of her pleasure flowing through him as if they were connected as one and he did not protest his own discomfort.

Chapter Fifteen

"You shouldn’t be left in such a state." Olena looked down at his arousal, still tense and pulsing with need.

Yusef body lurched. He couldn’t believe his ears.

Olena’s body became moist once more with the potent smell of his clean flesh and the look of his rock hard body. Still quaking in the wake of her pleasure, she forgot who she was. Being with him was all she wanted. She leaned into the support of his chest.

"Tell me how to ease you." Her eyes didn’t meet his, as her hand fluttered forward to touch his arousal. She curled her fingers around him. She’d never taken things this far and was in new territory. But, what better partner to teach her than her husband who already showed generous desire for her?

Something in the back of her brain warned against such things, telling her it would be harder to go if she let him continue. Another, stronger voice, told her it would be harder for her if she didn’t. She couldn’t keep resisting him and still manage to think straight at the same time. To deny him was to deny herself. If she just let him complete what they’d started, maybe he’d be out of her system and she could again get focused on returning to her old life.

When Yusef didn’t move, Olena glanced shyly up at him. His lids were lowered in pleasure at her willing touch. Why did her old life of adventure suddenly seem so dull and uninteresting? Why was this ugly, white house suddenly holding more appeal than the luxurious comforts of her Captain’s quarters? Why was being bound to this dragon-man more tempting than precious freedom?

Her lips parted. The ache inside her became unbearable, making her want to run. The pain had nothing to do with the desires festering inside her stomach. Tears made her eyes moisten into big sparkling emeralds. She would never allow them to fall even as they radiated her agony to him.

"Yusef?" She thought of Doc Aleksander and what she had to do for him. It’s not like the man had given her a choice. And when the Medical Mafia wanted something from you, you didn’t naysay them. To do so would mean certain pain, death if you were lucky, and, most assuredly the destruction of everything and one you held dear before both.

"What is it?"

Olena’s hand left his arousal to skim up his chest.

I need to tell you something, her mind whispered.

"It’s nothing," she said, breathless. "Could you just kiss me?"

Yusef gave her a quizzical smile, but couldn’t resist the sweet, almost innocent request of her soft lips. He lowered his head, onslaughting her senses with a tender force of passion that left her mind numb and her limbs liquid. As he pulled back, her body shook and Olena was sure she was going to just disappear into nothingness.

Yusef looked at her face. She was leaning into him, holding his heart beneath her gentle palm. Her eyes were still closed, her lips still pursed as if he were even now against them. He smiled a devilishly handsome grin that she missed. Her lashes fluttered. He dipped down once more to keep her bewitched in the spell he wove so naturally over her senses.

Olena panted softly, a moan coming from deep within her. Giving herself over to him, she was too far gone to think or calculate. She wound her hand up his broad neck, shaking somewhat as she ran her fingers through the soft silken texture of his dark hair.

When he pulled back to let her breathe, she whispered without thinking, "I was so afraid that you were going to die."

Yusef felt a dam break within him at her admission. It was not a sentiment of love, but it was the closest she’d ever come to admitting she cared for him. Her hands moved and he felt her lightly touching the scars on his back.