Obsessed Read online

  She sighed and looked down at the water, and trailed her finger along its surface. “I do not understand, but I thank you for the kind words.”

  “Liana.” He caught her chin in his hand and tilted her head up. “I speak the truth.” And with that he gave her a gentle kiss and then released her.

  Aware of her gaze following him, he moved to the edge of the pool, reached for his saddlebags and retrieved the flask of cleansing gel. When he returned to Liana, he took her in his arms and carefully leaned her back so that her flaxen hair became saturated again. He stood her up and poured some of the gel onto his hand. Leaving the flask to float on top of the water, he began massaging the soap into her tresses.

  He could almost swear that he felt a sigh reverberating through her wet hair as he cleansed it. The gel smelled of almonds, its scent mingling with her sweet perfume. When he finished, he leaned her back again, rinsing the soap from her hair.

  Once he had again retrieved the flask and squeezed more gel into his palm, Aric began soaping Liana’s body, taking care not to rub too hard in the places where she had been scraped during their escape. He frowned at the sight of the red marks against the pale skin of her wrists. Almost without thought he lifted both wrists to his lips and kissed them, one at a time.

  She moaned and tilted her head back, her breasts jutting forward. He became lost in the sensations of washing her, moving his hands to the soft white globes, enjoying the sight of his tanned skin against her pale flesh. He reveled in the feel of her soap-slick breasts against his palms. He rinsed the soap away, dripping handfuls of the crystal water over her front, noting that her nipples were so hard they all but cried out for his mouth to taste them.

  He knew he was not allowed to find his release within her body, but he could pleasure her again. He moved to the edge of the pool, where the water came to his knees. Her eyes widened as he placed her on the steps so that she was a good two feet higher, almost as tall as he.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, then gasped when he lowered his head and lapped at her nipple. With a groan, he captured the nub between his lips and began sucking and fondling her, moving from one breast to the other. She cried out and slid her hands into his hair, pulling his head tighter to her breasts.

  “Pleasuring you, my sweet one.” He eased one hand between her thighs and thrust his finger inside her folds, then rubbed her swollen clit.

  “Please,” Liana cried as his motions intensified and his mouth suckled her nipples harder. “Aric!” The sound of his name on her lips was like the most potent of wines. “I need you inside me.”

  Yes—he could picture himself spreading her thighs and thrusting his cock into her hot quim. Over and over again he would fuck her, spilling his seed in her core.

  “Oh, my gods,” she screamed as her orgasm took hold, her body shuddering with one aftershock after another until she collapsed against him.

  His cock throbbed painfully, and he gritted his teeth as he held Liana in his arms. He would not take her. Would not betray his people. He closed his eyes, willing the sensation to lessen, but if anything, it only grew in intensity and he trembled with lust for this fair maid.

  She moved out of his embrace, and then warmth slid over his cock.

  His eyes flew open and he saw her on her knees before him, her mouth enveloping his thick shaft. She gazed up at him as she moved her hand along his balls and sucked his hard length.

  The sight and the feel of his cock in her mouth was almost too much to bear, and he had to struggle not to come at once.

  She pulled away. “Does that not please you?”

  “Gods, yes,” he groaned. How could such an innocent creature know exactly how to touch him?

  She smiled and took him into her velvet warmth again. Her mouth, so hot, so wet. Her hands fondling his balls and then stroking his cock in rhythm with her movements.

  He was lost. He grasped her head as she eased up and down his shaft, his hands buried in her wet hair. He thrust into her mouth as he wanted to thrust into her virginity, but could not.

  She took him, measure for measure, licking and sucking his cock until he came in a rush. Like a mighty bull, a bellow tore from his throat as the seed burst from his cock and into Liana’s mouth. Still she sucked him until he was dry and she had swallowed every drop.

  Liana made hungry purring sounds, as though she couldn’t get enough of his cock or his seed. She didn’t let up, even after the last of his semen was spent. Her fingers continued to move, caressing him, taunting him. Heat filled Aric as she continued her sensual assault.

  Like lava within Mount Taka, Aric’s lust rose and rose. He filled her mouth again, wanting naught more than to plumb her tightness. His orgasm erupted through him like the fiery volcano and he spewed his seed into Liana’s enchanting mouth.

  And then, by gods, he hardened again.

  * * * * *

  The morning sun had eased high overhead, and Liana snuggled against Aric as they lay sated beside the Bewitching Pool. It had been hours since breakfast, and her stomach growled its demand for food. She could hardly believe that only last night this man had kidnapped her from the village, and now she was lying in his arms.

  Aric snored softly while her head rested upon his chest, her leg straddling his waist, his cock hard against her thigh. A keen sense of pleasure flowed through her, knowing that he still wanted her even after she had brought him to orgasm and swallowed his salty-sweet seed three times. One right after the other.

  She had heard that a man could come once and then it would be hours before he could climax again. Yet this man was different.

  Liana did not understand why he refused to enter her, but for now she would not let that dim her enjoyment of this man.

  The feelings stirring within her were overwhelming, yet intoxicating.

  She had known him for such a short time, but it felt as though he had been in her heart forever. His presence drew at her woman’s core and she wanted him in a primal way. But she reveled in the times he had smiled, in the moments he had shown such caring and concern for her.

  Her tresses had dried, and they caressed Aric’s chest and her own nipples. She sighed at the feel of him, amplified by the heightened senses of her hair.

  Now that it was clean, her hair absorbed Elvin magic from the Bewitching Pool. With her increased awareness, Liana fully understood what she must do next, even though Aric had not spoken of it.

  She lightly stroked his hair from his brow, and discovered that a raven’s black feather had landed in the soft strands. After setting the feather aside, Liana eased away from Aric, careful not to disturb his sleep. Somehow the magic of the place had allowed his warrior’s senses to relax—he was resting as peaceful as a babe.

  A breeze caressed Liana’s naked skin as she walked down the ancient and crumbling steps, into the pool. Her hair danced and sang on the light wind, absorbing energy from all of nature. Energy that was needed for the constant renewal of Liana’s lifeforce.

  All was silent in the forest, as though waiting. The only sound was the gentle sloshing against her thighs as she walked deeper and deeper into the pool, until the water teased her breasts.

  Crisp air filled her lungs, and the rich perfume of the jensai. Liana allowed her essence to seep into the Bewitching Pool, opening herself to whatever message the waters had to offer. An eerie emerald green began to glow from the normally crystal blue pool, as though light shone up from its depths. Liana closed her eyes, releasing her essence to merge with Elvin magic.

  Complete blackness filled her senses, and then a vision began to form.

  An image that nearly shocked Liana out of her trance.

  In a room filled with gold velvet cushions, Tierra reclined on a chair—completely naked. Her head was thrown back, her red tresses almost reaching the floor. Her breasts jutted forward, her nipples large and hard with arousal. Tierra’s long legs were splayed wide, her hands buried in the dark hair of the person between her thighs.

  And th
en Liana realized that it was a woman who pleasured Tierra.

  A woman?

  Despite her surprise, Liana felt a tingle between her own thighs while she watched Tierra, who moaned as the woman pleasured her. And then it was as though Liana could feel the sensations building within her, as though she was being licked and sucked, just as Aric had tasted her after they had first arrived in the clearing.

  As she would like for him to taste her again.

  She watched Tierra move her hands from the woman’s hair to cup her own breasts, pulling and twisting at her nipples. Moments later, Tierra cried out, her body shuddering with the power of her orgasm.

  And to her incredible surprise, Liana came in sync with Tierra.

  Liana barely had time to recover from the orgasm, or to accustom herself to the idea of her friend enjoying sex with a woman, when Tierra’s image faded.

  A new vision replaced the erotic one of Tierra and the dark haired woman.

  Liana was on the rainbow sands beside the Mairi Sea. The familiar scent of the ocean filled her senses as she saw a man crouched on the shore, looking as though he was searching for signs of something—or someone.

  Jalen. The man’s name was a whisper in her mind. Somehow this man was connected to Aric, and his future was intertwined with hers…and another person whom Liana could not yet see. But it was someone close to her. Ranelle, or perhaps Tierra?

  Jalen was a sapphire-eyed, muscle-bound god of a man, and when he stood, Liana realized that he was as tall as Aric. As he wiped sand from his palm onto his breeches, the man’s biceps bulged from a sleeveless tunic, and hair the color of sunbeams flowed past his shoulders. He had a glittering symbol on his forehead, and as he brushed an errant strand of hair behind his ear, she saw that the ear was pointed. He was not fair enough to be Tanzinite, and he had no wings—could he be Elvin?

  Liana watched as Jalen began to jog along the beach, a warrior’s bow strapped to his back, his movements as fluid and effortless as a massive cat. His powerful thighs flexed beneath his tight breeches, his sapphire gaze searching the horizon. What—or whom—did he seek?

  Liana caught a flash of white, and then saw a wolf loping behind Jalen—the one Aric had called Toen.

  Jalen’s image dissolved, and in the next moment Liana’s vision took her to the edge of a precipice.

  At first she saw naught but miles of green forest below, and in the distance the peak of Mount Taka, a wisp of smoke spiraling from its cavernous mouth. Her heart pounded as she caught sight of a great winged creature. Could it be one of the irani, searching for her?

  It came closer, and closer yet, until she realized it was a giant nordai.

  Before her very eyes, the raven transformed, shifting into the form of a man and landing at the top of the cliff with masculine grace. He was an enormous man with a feral look in his silvery eyes and a scar across one cheek.

  Chills overtook Liana and her stomach clenched as she feared the man might be Zanden. Her visions of the Sorcerer had always been from a distance, thus she had never seen him close enough to clearly discern his features. She only knew that he was powerfully built with long black hair.

  And an even blacker soul.

  She had to know who this man in her vision was. With all her strength she concentrated, searching for his identity…

  Renn. His name was Renn. Relief flowed through Liana, but then she realized this predator of a man could still be one of Zanden’s minions.

  Renn scowled in Liana’s vision, as though he had heard her thoughts. Something flashed at his side, a glitter, somehow familiar, but she couldn’t quite place what it was. The knowledge came to her that Renn, like Jalen, was somehow linked to Aric.

  Before she had opportunity to explore this realization, the man turned to the sky and she saw ominous winged beasts approaching.

  Ice sliced through her veins. It was the irani. Searching for her.

  The cliff disappeared, and a new vision took place.

  This time it was Ranelle that she saw. Fear gripped Liana’s heart as she realized her halia was chained to a wall, her clothing in shreds. Ranelle’s arms were bound overhead, her large breasts partially exposed through the tattered garment, her feet bare.

  Tears came to Liana as she saw her friend’s tired, dirt-streaked face. Her halia’s eyes were closed, as though she slept, but then Liana heard hinges squeaking.

  Ranelle’s eyelids flew open.

  A massive figure approached Ranelle from the shadows.

  And then Liana heard a scream.

  * * * * *

  A piercing shriek woke Aric. He bolted to his feet and saw Liana screaming in the midst of the Bewitching Pool. In one fluid movement he snatched his dagger from where it lay beside his breeches, and then he plunged into the pool, reaching Liana within seconds.

  He caught her around the waist and grasped her naked body to his, holding his dagger at the ready in his free hand. Aric attempted to locate what had frightened his woman, his gaze searching the pool that now glowed with an uncanny green light.

  “What is it?” he demanded, seeing nothing in the waters, but refusing to lower his guard.

  Liana stiffened, her scream dying in her throat. He glanced down at her beautiful face and saw that her sea green eyes were glazed, unfocused.

  She had been in a trance. The knot in his gut lessened a bit, his fear for her subsiding with the knowledge she had not been attacked. Yet concern still gripped him as he wondered what had caused her to scream.

  The glow faded from the pool until the waters were crystal blue once again. Slowly Liana’s body relaxed, and the light came back into her eyes. She blinked and tears began spilling down her cheeks.

  “Do not cry, sweet one.” Aric drew Liana against him, careful to keep the dagger away from her fair skin as he held her. “Nothing will happen to you as long as I shall live. I promise.”

  Sobs wracked her slender body as she wrapped her arms around his waist and clung to him. A sense of helplessness washed through him and he almost wished that there had been some beast for him to slay, something that he could dispatch of to ease whatever troubled her heart and mind.

  As her breathing calmed, it occurred to him how terrified he had been. Not of any creature. He had been frightened to lose her. He had been ready to slay man or beast, or an army if he need be, just to protect his woman.

  Ah, gods. He sighed as he moved his gaze toward the heavens that were obscured by the thick canopy above. He had thought of her as his woman from the moment he had flown to her rescue—and he had vowed to protect her as long as he lived.

  Just as he had long ago vowed to protect his people.

  Aric knew not what to do with his feelings for the Tanzinite maid. The only thing left for him to do was to seek counsel with Dair’s wisest beings, and make his decision at that time. But he must hurry and hear their advice before moonchange—for at moonchange he would be relegated to his nordai form.

  For now he would do what he could to cherish and protect Liana.

  He moved his mouth close to her delicately pointed ear and murmured, “What did you see, zjenni?”

  She shuddered and tipped her tear-streaked face up to his. “Ranelle. My heart-sister. She…” Choking on another sob, Liana paused and then continued, “She was held captive. I—I think the Sorcerer had her.”

  “The gishla?” Aric asked, a new, unexplained rage boiling up within him.

  “Yes,” Liana whispered. “My visions are usually of future events, but not always.” Her voice rose as her words tumbled from her lips in a rush. “I must find her to keep this from happening. I must help her at once!”

  Although Aric felt an intense desire to rescue the gishla, he shook his head. “No. It is not possible.”

  Liana’s pale cheeks reddened and she tried to push away from Aric, but he refused to release her. “It is my fault the Sorcerer will try to take Ranelle. If I have to, I will trade my life for hers!”

  Aric clenched his jaw and his grip tigh
tened on Liana. “I will die before I see you mated with Zanden.”

  She stilled. “So I am naught but your duty?”

  “No. My—” Aric stopped himself. He had almost said, My love.

  Gritting his teeth, he released his hold on her. He took her by the hand and drew her toward the shore. “Come. We need food, and then we can discuss what you saw while in the Bewitching Pool.”

  Chapter Five

  When Liana felt somewhat calmer, and their bellies were full of journey cakes, cheese, and dried apples, Aric bade her to join him on a log beside the smoldering fire. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the clearing, and squirrels chattered overhead in the pines.

  The grass felt cool beneath Liana’s bare feet as she walked toward Aric. Baethel whickered as he grazed on the opposite side of the meadow, shaking his head at a swarm of pink and purple butterflies floating by. In the distance the river sounded louder than ever before, rushing through the forest just as blood roared through her veins when she neared the man she had once called stranger.

  Aric had dressed in his tunic and breeches, and she had a blanket wrapped around her with a rope cinched about her waist. The blanket was so large on her that she felt as if she were clothed in a tent from a sideshow. He had insisted she cover herself in more than her sheer costume, and she knew it was because he feared he wouldn’t be able to rein in his lust if she remained naked, or even semi-naked, in his presence.

  She seriously considered taking the blanket off, just to torture the man.

  With a sigh she settled beside him on the log, and braced her palms against the rough bark. Aric’s musky male scent filled her senses, making her long for him more than ever. Once she tasted all of him, once he filled her, would she be satisfied? Or would she crave him even more?

  “Before your vision of the gishla, what did you see?” Aric asked, his deep voice jolting Liana from her carnal thoughts. His eyes flicked from her to the fire, as though he dared not gaze upon her too long.

  Heat rose to her cheeks at the memory of her first vision. “I—I saw my friend Tierra.”