Prince of Spies Read online

  “She’s special to you, isn’t she?” Drake’s eyes softened as he looked at the sleeping woman.

  “She’s the one, Drake.”

  “Does she know that yet?” Drake looked speculative, and more than a little shocked, but Drake had grown up in a Lair. Drake was well aware of how quickly knights and dragons knew when they’d met the one woman meant for them. Dragons and knights both had very strong bonds with their chosen mates, and Nico was a little of both.

  Nico shook his head, his gaze focused on Riki, sleeping soundly, nearly swallowed up by the big bed. “With what she’s been through, I’m surprised she’s even still sane. Lucan’s not quite human anymore, Drake.”

  “I’d heard rumors.”

  “I’ve seen it firsthand.” Nico eyed his old friend, driving home the urgency of his words. “According to Riki, Lucan made a deal with Salomar. He traded diamond blades and an alliance against us, in return for use of Salomar’s pet witch, Loralie.” Nico resumed eating as he related the details Riki had given him about how the North Witch had blended Lucan with the skiths, mingling their blood with his in painful treatments Riki had witnessed. It had been her duty to heal the tyrant after the treatments, weakening herself in the process.

  “Lucan kept her starved and weak and when she didn’t comply with his demands, he beat her bloody. There are scars all over her body and you can see how thin she is. She looked even worse two days ago.” Anger rose as Nico spoke, but he was careful to keep control of the seething dragon within.

  “The poor mite.” Drake’s expression was filled with pity as he watched Riki sleep. Nico felt possessive of her, but there was also a sense of thankfulness that his friend would feel protective of her too. Drake was fiercely loyal and had a soft heart he tried hard to hide, but Nico had known him since they were both boys. Their bond ran deep.

  “She’s got fire, Drake, and spirit. Lucan wasn’t able to crush it out of her, but she’s unsure of herself. She has little sense of her own self-worth. We must tread lightly with her feelings.”

  “Which is why, I take it, you’re giving her time.”

  “She’s the most precious thing in my world, Drake. She can have all the time she needs.”

  “Things will be easier once we get you out of Skithdron. I’m going to the market to get your supplies and talk to a few friends. Unless there’s trouble, I’ll return just before sundown. The common room of the tavern doesn’t start filling up until dinnertime, which starts one mark after sundown in these parts. You can ‘arrive’ during the dinner bustle with none the wiser.” Drake stood from the table and readied himself to leave.

  “A good plan.” Nico rose and held his hand out to Drake in the warrior’s way. They clasped, giving each other a brief clap on the back, another indication of their closeness. “You’re a good friend, Drake. I’m putting not just my safety, but that of my mate in your hands.”

  Drake sent one last look over at the sleeping woman, his expression softer than Nico had ever seen it. “I won’t let you down.”

  “I know, Drake. That’s why I came to you. There are precious few men besides my brothers that I would trust in this world. You’ve always been top on the list.”

  Drake bowed his head briefly. “I’m honored.”

  Nico secured the bolt after Drake left without making a sound. He surveyed the room. The leftover food on the big tray would make a good meal for Riki, whenever she woke. Nico’s own hunger was satisfied for the time being.

  Well, at least his hunger for food was satisfied. His hunger for Riki was a constant. It didn’t matter where they were or in what kind of situation. He always hungered for her. It was fast becoming part of his nature, and he knew it would only grow worse the more time he spent with her.

  Personally, he didn’t care. Nico wanted the closeness. He wanted the bond. He wanted her. Period.

  If he had to wait to consummate that bond, so be it. Riki was worth every effort, every sacrifice, every moment of his time. She was his love. It was just that simple.

  And that devastating.

  Shucking his shirt and boots, Nico lay down next to her on the large bed. He decided to keep his leggings on. First, because they were in a strange city in a strange bed and he might need to jump into action quickly should something go wrong. Second, he didn’t quite trust himself not to take Riki’s soft body with his, even in sleep, if there were no barrier between them. It was safer to have at least one or two layers of cloth between him and his ultimate goal. At least until they settled things and Riki became his lover, mate and wife.

  With a hearty sigh, Nico put his arm around Riki’s waist and pulled her unresisting body back against his own. She settled into the curve of him as if she belonged there and he felt a great sense of satisfaction.

  Finally, he slept, cradling the woman he loved in his arms.

  Riki woke feeling warm and comforted, and incredibly aroused. She was lying on a cloud—which she came to realize was really Drake’s borrowed bed, as her senses began to clear. Nico had her wrapped in his arms, and his hands were against her skin, under her clothing. The layers of skirt had been pulled up around her waist under cover of the warm blankets. His chest heated her back, his strong arms encasing her in warmth, his hand plying one nipple and the other resting at the juncture of her thighs.

  No other man had ever touched her so tenderly, so hotly, so enticingly. Only Nico.

  She tried to turn in his arms, but he stilled her.

  “Ssh, sweetheart. Just lie back and enjoy.” His strong fingers lifted her thigh, moving her leg over his as he tangled them together. She felt the soft leather of his leggings rubbing between her thighs with a sense of wonder. It felt so good!

  But what he did next felt even better. Nico’s hand moved, his fingers searching among her folds and finding a little nubbin of flesh that seemed connected directly with her womb. As he stroked it, she felt her insides quiver and the dampness of excitement flow from her core. Nico rubbed his bristly chin against the back of her neck and nipped lightly, sending shivers down her spine.

  She felt him smile against her neck as his fingers slid in the wetness between her legs. She tried to pull back, embarrassed, but he would have none of it. His strong arms held her steady, his legs pinioning hers.

  “You’re so wet for me, my dove, so eager for my touch. Do you know how much that means to me? Do you know how much you excite me?”

  Nico pushed his hips against hers and she felt the hard rod of his erection against her backside, through the soft leather of his leggings. He was well endowed and very ready.

  But she wasn’t. She feared she would never be ready to give up her virginity—not while the threat of Lucan loomed over her head.

  Riki pulled back and this time Nico let her move away just slightly, though his hands still roamed over her body. His hand at her breast tugged and teased the nipple, sending lightning bolts down to her core. The hand between her thighs played with the little bud, moving lower to slide in her juices, then dipping within her tight channel. One long finger slid into her, stretching her, filling her. It felt so wonderful, so strange, so full. She wanted more, but she knew she couldn’t indulge. Even this was dangerous.

  She whimpered as he began to move in and out, that single finger teasing her virgin channel, the rest of his hand grinding against the little button that brought such pleasure. She squirmed to get closer, to get away, to just get something. She didn’t know what. But she needed something that only Nico could provide.

  “Please!” she whispered, arching back against him.

  “Come for me, sweetheart, let it all go. Trust in me, trust in this. Come for me now.” His whispered words slid into her ear, followed by his tongue a moment later, driving the fire higher and hotter still.

  Nico moved lower and bit down on her neck, the savage action spurring her to the greatest heights yet as his hands continued their skillful seduction of her senses. With a little cry, she crept up and over some unknown precipice, but Nico wa
s there to catch her as the orgasm broke over her trembling, yearning body.

  She felt like she was floating, freefalling down from a very high mountain peak. Nico continued to stroke her and guide her throughout. He was such a good, strong, dear man. And now he’d shown her the most incredible feelings. How could she continue to deny herself—deny them—this pleasure, this passion?

  “Nico?”

  “Ssh, my sweet, just relax. Sleep a bit more if you can. Drake will be back soon with some new clothes for you.”

  “But what about you?”

  “Don’t worry about me, Riki. You come first. Always. Sleep now.” He stroked back her hair and she could feel the tension in his body.

  Riki tried to close her eyes and go to sleep but couldn’t, knowing he was suffering because of her. She knew enough about men’s bodies— from having been subjected to watching Lucan and his victims—to know Nico needed relief. Gathering her courage, she turned in his arms, sitting up slightly so she could look into his lovely hazel eyes.

  “My body may be virgin, Nico, and I need to keep it that way for now, but I know you need me. I can’t give you my virginity, but I can give you relief.”

  “No, sweetheart,” Nico tried to push her gently away as she lowered the blanket and set to work on the ties that held his leggings in place, but she would not be deterred.

  She looked up at him with a self-conscious smile. “You know, I’ve never done this before.”

  “Lucan never made you—”

  “No. He made me watch, but Loralie told him to leave me alone sexually in every way. I have that to thank her for, I suppose, though she’s the one who brought my healing gift to his attention in the first place.” She paused as he breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ve been curious about some of the things I saw.”

  “Lucan is a monster, Riki. Some of the things you saw—”

  “Oh, I know some of that was the result of a sick mind, but other things…back in the beginning, when he was still mostly human…those things I’ve been curious about.”

  “Such as?” Nico raised one eyebrow in her direction and she knew he would let her try whatever she liked. She smiled at him.

  “I want to taste you, Nico. I want to know what you feel like in my mouth. Will you let me do that?”

  “Sweet Mother.” Nico’s head dropped back as she unlaced his leggings. “I don’t know if I’ll survive this, but do what you want, angel. Whatever you want.”

  She gasped as his hard cock sprang out of the confining leather and into her hand. He was warm and solid, and so big. None of the men she’d seen in Lucan’s chambers could compare to the length and width of Nico. She was almost afraid he wouldn’t fit in her mouth, but she’d do her best.

  “Tell me if I do anything wrong. I don’t want to hurt you, Nico.”

  She stroked her hands around him, lowering the leggings a little farther so she could cup his balls in one questing hand. He was so perfectly formed, so incredibly beautiful.

  “Sweetheart, you couldn’t hurt me if you tried. Anything you do pleases me. Anything.” She squeezed him experimentally with her hand. “Oh yeah.” He groaned as his head dropped back once more.

  Encouraged by his response, Riki bent her head and licked at the head of his cock, learning his taste little by little. He tasted good and smelled even bettermusky, warm and faintly of exotic cinnamon. She licked him like a stick of candy, running her tongue up his shaft more boldly now as he clutched the blankets on either side.

  Daring greatly, she sank down onto him, opening her mouth wide, trying to take as much of him as she could, all the way to the back of her throat. She just wanted to see if she could and was pleasantly surprised by both the tensing of his muscles and the low growls coming from deep in his chest. The sleeping dragon had been awakened, she thought with an inward smile.

  Sucking her cheeks hollow, she lifted up, not letting him go completely, but moving on him with hesitant motions. Riki grew bolder as Nico’s excitement increased, loving the way he responded to the lightest touch of her tongue.

  “Come up here, sweetheart.”

  Nico surprised her when his strong hand found her knee, coaxing her to move around on the bed until she was kneeling, parallel to his body. She nearly fainted when he flipped her skirts up over her hips, his warm hand settling over her pussy with knowing, sure moves. Riki would have objected, but her mouth was full of Nico. And then objections were forgotten as Nico stroked her passion higher with those wicked fingers of his. She moaned around his cock.

  “Oh, baby. Just like that.” He put one hand in her hair, almost guiding her head in its up and down motions as his other hand toyed with her pussy. Riki felt her own excitement growing with every stroke of his hand, every pulsing lick of her tongue on his hard shaft.

  The pressure rose, higher and higher, while he stroked one long finger in and out of her virgin hole. His hand rubbed all over, bringing her back to that peak of excitement she had just learned at his hands. Riki sucked him harder, loving the salty, sweet taste of him on her tongue. She wanted to please him. She wanted to give him the greatest pleasure he’d ever known. She wanted all of him. If only for this moment.

  “Baby, I’m going to come,” he warned her, trying to pull her up and off him, but she wasn’t going anywhere. She wanted it all.

  Nico came with a muffled shout that spurred her own excitement higher as she swallowed everything he gave her. This was so special, so magical, so good. This just felt right as nothing in her life ever had before.

  Nico groaned as he came in Riki’s hot mouth. For a novice, she was a natural at sucking cock and it didn’t take much for him to lose all semblance of control. She was downright dangerous.

  Riki swallowed every last drop of his come, then licked him clean with her clever tongue, very nearly making him hard all over again. But he couldn’t afford that. With smooth motions, he sat up and lifted her by the waist, plunking her down on the bed beneath him. She was breathing fast, her pussy swollen and weeping with excitement as he spread her legs, the juncture of her thighs open to his hungry gaze.

  “Nico, I can’t.” Her shocked whisper brought his eyes up to hers.

  “I won’t take your virginity until you beg me to, Riki. That’s a promise. But I will eat your pussy, like you just sucked my cock. Stars, baby! You nearly blinded me with pleasure.” He dropped down over her, fitting his bare cock against the sweet wet spot between her thighs and rubbing as he kissed her lips and delved into her mouth. She was hot and sultry, and she tasted faintly of him, which was incredibly arousing.

  Kissing her deeply, as if he wanted to devour her, he rubbed all over her beautiful body. The new dress and her old shift were up around her waist and Nico took a moment to push them higher still, so he could feel her soft breasts against his chest. He blanketed her, wishing he could take this to its ultimate conclusion, but knowing, for her sake, he couldn’t…yet.

  “Nico!” Her breathy whisper near his ear told him she was nearing a peak, but he didn’t want her coming until he’d had a chance to taste her cream.

  “Hold on, baby. Just a little bit longer. I want to lick you the way you just licked me.”

  Her little body shuddered under him as he rolled down the bed, kissing, licking and nibbling her skin as he went. He paused at her breasts, sucking the hard nipples into his mouth, laving them with his tongue, one by one. She squirmed under him in a most satisfying way as he continued down her body, teasing her belly button and nibbling the bones of her hips. She was still much too thin, but he would do something about that, given time. He would feed her the finest foods in the land, shower her with delicacies from every corner of the world, if it would make her as healthy as she should be.

  Moving lower, he spread her pussy open with his fingers and just looked for a long moment. The puffy pink paradise called to him, but he took a moment to savor his first clear sight of her most private place. He knew he was the first man to show her the pleasure of her body, and he relished
the thought, but he was dying to be inside her and knew that would come only when—and if—she wanted it.

  Until then, he would have to satisfy himself with this. But this was a heaven of a different sort, and no less sweet. Nico bent to his task with relish, licking his way around her pussy, learning her taste and her responses. Delicately he nipped at her nether lips, teasing and tasting until he found her sensitive clit. She cried out softly when he sucked her there, losing it completely when he slid his middle finger into her responsive core and stroked carefully.

  She came apart for him, biting back her cries in an effort to keep the noise level down. Oh, what he wouldn’t give to hear her scream in pleasure and cry out his name.

  Nico heard the door open, but one quick look up told him it was only Drake. The other man looked shocked for a moment, and then a grin spread across his face.

  “I could come back later, if you like.”

  Riki gasped and tried to push away, but Nico only smiled.

  “Get in and close the door, Drake. I was just showing my woman how much I appreciate her.”

  Drake smiled with wicked enjoyment, winking at Riki to help ease her embarrassment at being caught. “If she were mine, I’d do the same, Nick. Night and day. You’re a lucky, lucky man.”

  Riki pulled down the thin layers of her shift and dress, at least over her breasts, but Nico still sat firmly between her thighs, keeping them spread. Riki wasn’t reacting as violently as he thought she would. Could it be she liked being watched? Did she have that little bit of the exhibitionist in her?

  Most dragons did, Nico well knew. Mating flights tended to be flagrantly public affairs and the dragon in him thrilled to the idea of having everyone witness his joining with his mate. He remembered how Roland and Lana had reveled in their lovemaking in dragon form and in private. It stood to reason that as Riki’s dragon side awoke, so too would her own daring and desire for a little sexual exhibitionism.