There was one thing he was happy about—he had stopped back by the silk seller’s stall and had picked out a new dress for Lan’ara. It was made of gold and green silk and he was certain it would bring out the gold flecks in her eyes and make her creamy brown skin look even more beautiful. He wanted it to be a surprise, however, so he hid it behind his back as he entered his rooms.
A quick glance around the main living area showed that Lan’ara wasn’t there, however. He had just finished hiding the new dress in the clothing storage area when he heard a splashing sound and a soft moaning coming from the fresher.
Need walked swiftly across the room and tapped on the door.
“Lan’ara?” he called. “Are you well, girl?”
“My Lord?” she called back. “Will you come in to me?”
Need let himself in and sucked in a breath at the erotic sight that greeted his eyes. Lan’ara was lying in the tub, half filled with water, with her legs spread and the wash blossoms sucking at her nipples and pussy.
“My Lord,” she whispered rather breathlessly. “I’m so very glad you’re home. I…I need you.”
Need’s heart started to pound and his shaft stiffened in his trousers as he knelt beside the tub.
“What do you need, girl?” he asked softly.
Lan’ara made a pretty little pout with her lush mouth.
“My Lord,” she said softly. “Will you not call me ‘sweetheart’ as you did after you rescued me? Or maybe just my name?”
Need hesitated for a moment. He’d been trying like hell to keep from personalizing their relationship—trying to keep his heart out of the bargain they seemed to have struck, which involved him touching and tasting her and doing just about everything but bonding her to him. Should he let himself call her by her name? Should he let her take his heart in his hands, even knowing that it might be broken?
Then she held out her arms to him and he felt something break loose inside him.
“Lan’ara,” he heard himself say hoarsely as he pulled her to him.
She was still damp from the water, but Need didn’t give a damn. He untangled her from the blossoms—which had apparently had their fill of her sweet nectar and honey—and carried her to the sleeping chamber.
He laid her on the bed and buried his face between her legs, lapping hungrily. Lan’ara cried out softly and spread herself open for him—as trusting and eager for the pleasure he was giving her as Need was to give it.
“My Lord!” she moaned, bucking under him. And sometimes, “Need! Oh Gods and Goddesses, Need!”
The sound of his name on her lips and the sweet taste of her honey made his shaft even harder, until Need felt like he would die if he didn’t bond her to him.
Can’t do that, though, a cold, practical voice whispered in his head. It’s going too far—breaking the rules. If you bond her to you, you’ll never be able to part. If something happens to her, you’ll be shattered inside, just as you were with Cleah.
But somehow the logical little voice couldn’t make him stop, though it made several excellent points. He would try to pull back and then Lan’ara would moan his name again and tug at his hair, begging him to lap her soft, sweet, open pussy some more. Then Need would lose all self control and redouble his efforts, licking and sucking the swollen little bud of her clit until she came for him again, came all over his face…
At last there came a point when she was no longer pulling him between her legs but instead twitching her hips and shying away. Need knew from experience this meant that her little pussy had become overly sensitive from coming so much. She would need a little time to recover before he could taste her again.
He started to get up and go change his clothes—he was still wearing the dusty trousers and boots he’d had on in the marketplace—but Lan’ara called for him and held out her arms.
“Need,” she murmured. “Won’t you come hold me, my Lord? Today was so frightening—so awful. I need your arms around me now.”
Need couldn’t resist her soft plea. Shucking off his clothing, he joined her naked in the bed and drew her against him.
Lan’ara sighed contentedly and lay her head on his chest in a trusting way that made his heart squeeze with emotion.
“Are you feeling better now, sweetheart?” he asked tenderly as he stroked from her back, down to the rounded curves of her buttocks. Gods, but he loved her hips and ass—so full and juicy!
“Some,” Lan’ara murmured. She looked up at him from under her long eyelashes. “It feels so good when you do that…when you taste me,” she told him. “But I need…need something more, my Lord.”