Fortune's Fool - Mercedes Lackey [55]
He stood quietly, arms crossed over his chest, a grin on his face. “What’s this then, seawench?” he asked.
“You didn’t see much of what you were bargaining for,” she replied, with a sly smile. “I just want you to be sure you haven’t been cheated.” A quick pull of the drawstring of the neck of her shift, and it, too, fell to the floor, leaving her standing there wearing nothing but air. Pulling both the bows from her hair, she shook it loose from its braid, letting it fall about her, hanging to her knees. “Well,” she said, turning on one toe as she lifted her hair in both hands. “What do you think?”
“I think you should have a look at your half of the bargain,” he replied, stripping off shirt, trews, and singlet, and tossing them all aside in a heap. He spread his arms wide. “Going to send me back to the market?”
She ran her gaze over him, slowly. He was not a tall man, but now that he was naked, she could see that there was nothing at all to be asked for in the way of strength. He was also not a particularly hairy man, which pleased her. Sculpted chest muscles and strong arms, a flat stomach—
But her eyes would go no farther as she saw how ready he was for her.
“I hardly think so,” she replied breathlessly.
“Good!” He scooped her up and tossed her into the middle of the bed. “Because I have no intention of letting you.”
He followed her into the bed, knelt between her legs, and looked down at her, greedily. “You are a tasty little morsel. Where shall I begin? Ah, I know—” He bent swiftly and took a nipple in his mouth, his hand cupping the other. The sensations of his tongue and gently nibbling teeth made her shiver and gasp, and the slightly roughened skin of his thumb on the other made her wild with desire. She threw her arms and her legs around him and drew him to her, arching her hips against his.
His free hand cupped her buttocks and pulled her against him, and she stifled a cry of pure pleasure as he entered her.
Then, maddeningly, he paused. “Slowly,” he murmured against her breast, then sucked gently on the nipple, moving against her in time with his mouth. She found herself nibbling his neck and his earlobes, caressing his back and squeezing his buttocks with her hands as the movement of hips and mouth quickened gradually, grew more urgent. He switched his attentions to the other breast, both hands now holding her to him, then, as pleasure began to overcome her and she drove her own hips against his, his hands tightened on her and the amble became a gallop, the pleasure became a screaming need, the need became all, and fire exploded inside them both.
Somehow they didn’t get to that supper after all that night.
It was three days later that the summons came.
Katya went down to the sea as she always did, first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. But this time, there was someone waiting for her.
It was one of the mer-folk, an earnest-looking young triton with a shock of jet-black hair and a worried expression. His eyes went from Katya to Sasha and back again. “Princess,” he said. “I have a message for you. Your father needs you with all speed.”
She bit her lip, and glanced at Sasha herself. He was nodding, though he did not look happy. “We are the servants of our people and our fathers, belochka,” he said, firmly. “Duty comes first.”
“With all speed,” repeated the triton, and dove into the sea.
Sasha seized her by the shoulders and turned her toward himself. “Duty comes first,” he said. “But love follows. If you do not return in a reasonable time, I shall come looking for you, and I will find you.” He bent his head to give her a hard, passionate kiss. “Now go! And remember that I am a Fortunate Fool, and I get what I want!”
Not daring to answer with anything except a whispered “I love you!” she turned and dove into the waves, allowing the magic to melt her Drylander clothing away and give her back her armor.
Ahead of her she could see the tail of the triton flashing as he flexed it in powerful pulses, dolphin-like,