Death Waltz Read online

  “You’re gonna give me a hard time about that now?” she groaned.

  She moved to stand but he stopped her. “Lie still for a minute so I can get rid of your headache.”

  “Good idea.” She closed her eyes and felt the warmth of his powers seep into her. It wasn’t long before her body began to tingle. She looked up and saw his eyes were swirling with silver.

  “God, I love your eyes.” She crawled onto his lap and kissed him. Her hands plowed into his hair as she pressed herself against him. She wanted to feel his warm skin on hers, without the barrier of their clothing. When the thought formed in her mind, their clothing disappeared, leaving them both naked in each other’s arms.

  “Hmm, you don’t waste any time, do you, love?” he asked.

  “Not where you’re concerned. I want to feel you against me. I need you, Alaric. I always need you.”

  He lifted her up, and slipped his fingers into her. “So wet. Always so perfect for me.” Then he slid his length into her and she moaned as he wrapped her legs around him. “Now show me how strong you are, love. I want to see you control this.”

  Her jaw dropped but then the corners of her mouth turned up. She began moving herself up and down on him, slowly at first, using her arms on his shoulders as leverage to rock against him.

  “Ah, Liasare,” he groaned, “Your body was made for mine.”

  “Yes. So perfect,” she sighed. She thought it was better than perfect, for in this position, the friction was hitting her in all the right spots, everywhere.

  “Give me that sweet mouth of yours.”

  She did and he leisurely kissed her. “Every time I kiss you is like dying and being reborn. Take me to that place, Liasare, the place where everything but us disappears and let me lose myself in you.”

  “Alaric.” When his name left her lips, Liasare felt Jurek’s energy enter her body and wash throughout her, centering in her heart, mind and spirit. Her eyes widened and she felt his love deepen within her. It bound with his sexual powers and their colors merged to brighten the space around them. Liasare’s body was on fire with this heightened sense of pleasure.

  Jurek sensed how overwhelmed she was so he touched her cheek and said, “Let it go, love. Relax, and allow yourself to feel it.” His hands moved to her breasts, where he brushed and teased her rock-hard nipples. That was all Liasare needed to push her into a mind-bending orgasm. With her head thrown back, she called out Alaric’s name and felt her body respond in a multitude of spasms that stunned her and sent Jurek into his own climax.

  “What the hell was that?” she asked when she could breathe again.

  “Don’t know, but it was damned epic.” Pushing her back so he could cover her body with his, he bit and sucked her neck and shoulder until she started squirming.

  “Alaric,” she said, her voice husky with passion, “What are you doing?”

  “What does it feel like?”

  “But…”

  “But what? You didn’t think I was done with you, did you?”

  Jurek slid his mouth across her chest until it landed on her nipple and he clamped his teeth around it.

  “Ahh!”

  He flicked his tongue across her as his teeth remained in place. His hand moved between her legs and he began rubbing her sex as she groaned. When he finally released her nipple, she screamed, as the sensations rushed into her.

  “Alaric, what are you doing to me?”

  He didn’t answer, but his eyes drilled into hers for a moment. Eyes still on hers, he lowered his head between her legs and licked her, making one long swipe with his tongue. Air jammed in her throat, but when his tongue centered on that spot, the single place that made her lose her mind, every last bit of air left her lungs in a whoosh. Then she started panting, as their gazes were locked onto each other’s … his lavender irises swirling with silver and her hazel ones firing flecks of gold. His tongue was relentless as he bathed her sex, licking her and tunneling into her.

  Liasare wove her fingers in Jurek’s hair, pulling him into her. All of her senses were infused with him. His scent was all over her and within her and oh, how she relished in it.

  “Ah, ah, ahhhh,” she moaned.

  Jurek could feel her hands clenching his hair as her body tensed. Then he felt her spasms as her orgasm was upon her. He licked his way up her body, but surprised her as he picked her up and spun her around until she was on all fours. Then he thrust into her, and pulled her against him.

  “You were made for this, Liasare. And you’re mine. Only mine. Don’t ever forget that.”

  “Yes. Ah,” she groaned as he plunged into her over and over until she thought she could take no more. He sent her to that place where pleasure borders pain, where thoughts cease to exist and where her body didn’t belong to her any longer.

  She was barely conscious when he pulled her back against his chest, pushing himself even deeper into her and wrapping his arm around her breasts. Her head fell back upon him right as another climax ripped through her body, shattering her. Jurek felt her inner muscles squeezing him tightly and he gained his own release. He fell back on the floor, with Liasare on top of him.

  Not being one to enjoy the hard surface of the floor, Jurek flashed them to the sanctuary, where they could be surrounded by the plush softness of the large bed. A bubble of laughter vibrated Liasare’s lips.

  “What’s so funny?” Jurek asked.

  “You. I guess you didn’t like me using you for my bed, did you?”

  “Oh, I quite liked it. It was the floor I didn’t like so much. Especially when we have several comfortable beds at our disposal.”

  Liasare disengaged herself from him, and rolled over to face him. When his eyes widened, she knew something was up.

  “What?”

  Jurek knew he’d have to tell her, but he wasn’t sure if she’d like it or not.

  “What is it?”

  “Your eyes.”

  “What about them?”

  “You know how you always tell me how beautiful mine are?”

  She nodded.

  “Yours are almost like them, except they’re swirling with gold instead of silver.”

  “Seriously?”

  “And they are quite extraordinary, love.”

  She flew off the bed and ran to the closest mirror, which was in the bathroom. When she looked at her eyes, she was shocked at their hypnotic beauty. “Oh my.” Her fingers lightly touched all around them, trying to see if the swirling gold in her irises would disappear.

  Jurek stood behind her and grinned. His hands held her shoulders and he said, “I need to have you painted. Just as you look right now. Your hair a tangled mess, your lips swollen from my kisses and your skin flushed from our lovemaking.” He lifted her hair off her neck and kissed her.

  She turned to face him and asked, “Why now? My eyes I mean?”

  “Your powers are increasing. My guess is that eventually you’ll be the strongest of all Praestani.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “It’s the only explanation, Liasare. What the prophecy predicts and how you’ll save the universe.”

  “But I don’t want to be that powerful.”

  He ran his thumb across her cheek. “I’m sorry sweetheart. But there’s no going back now. I can’t take away what’s been given to you. Once you learn how to harness your power and use it to it's greatest advantage, you won’t fear it anymore.”

  “It’s the responsibility I fear the most. What if I fuck it all up?”

  “Liasare, I won’t let that happen. You won’t let that happen. You have too much goodness in your heart to do anything like that.”

  “Goodness has nothing to do with it. I’m human, remember? I err. That’s what I’m worried about.”

  Jurek smiled. “Not any more. You’re Praestani now. You must remember that. Everything about you is more acute ...your judgment, your ability to think and act. Yes, you’ll make mistakes, but you won’t be alone. I’ll be with you, and so will Marik,
Ludo, and Naroo. Tell me something. Do you feel anything different in your powers of reasoning?”

  Liasare was thoughtful for a moment. “I can’t answer that. I haven’t given it any thought.”

  “Start paying attention. Then tell me what you think.”

  “I guess there’s no reason to be frightened anymore since there’s nothing to be done about it. Moving forward is my only option. The burden is so great, though.”

  “It is. But I wouldn’t trust it to anyone else.”

  “So, what are you going to do about Tak?”

  “I don’t want to think about him right now. I want to get in the water with you. Take us there, Liasare.”

  “Are you testing me?”

  “Yes. Now let’s go.”

  She turned in his arms and flashed them to the waterfall pool and this time it was perfectly executed.

  Jurek laughed. “Well done!”

  Liasare joined in and said, “Oh my gosh!” Then in her excitement, she decided to flash them back home, and did so, but when they materialized in their den, Brinna was there. Liasare turned beet-red because she and Jurek were naked. Jurek wasted no time in getting them back to the pool.

  “Oh shit! That was awkward.”

  Jurek started laughing so hard, he couldn’t hold on to her and she splashed into the water.

  When she came up sputtering, he was still laughing.

  “Stop it! I’m so embarrassed.”

  Jurek’s rumbling laughter echoed around the pool so Liasare cupped her hand, sending a big spray of water his way.

  Finally, when he could form a coherent sentence, he said, “Between you and Brinna, I’ve never seen so much red at one time. One thing to remember is you must search for thought patterns before you flash to avoid what just happened.”

  “I’ll never remember all of this.”

  Jurek still shook with laughter at her. “You will. Be patient.”

  “It’s too much.”

  “No, it’s not. But when you’re naked, only flash here or to our bedroom. Then you’ll be safe.”

  “Very funny.”

  “Not trying to be funny. Just trying to keep you from embarrassing yourself.”

  Liasare regarded him for a moment and then decided he was being truthful. She grinned and said, “Thank god it was only Brinna in there. Can you imagine?”

  They both laughed at that. Then their faces turned serious.

  “I know. Tak,” Jurek said.

  “So?”

  “I’ll see him.”

  “Good. It’s the right decision. I miss him, Jurek. I miss our banter.”

  Jurek grabbed her arm, putting her within the cage of his embrace. “I miss him as well.”

  Liasare kissed his cheek and said, “It may be the best thing, since the wedding is soon, too. Oh, I forgot! Wait until you see my dress that Naroo has designed.”

  “Liasare, I don’t care what you wear, as long as it pleases the people and they can’t see all of you.”

  “But Jurek, you’re going to love it.”

  “I love everything you wear. And I hate to change the subject, but I think we need to get back. Take us back.”

  Liasare was happy they ended up back in their bedroom.

  Once they were dressed, Jurek gave her a glance and said, “Let’s go.”

  “Where?”

  “Lare-Stell. That’s where I’m going to tell Tak to meet us.”

  “You want me to flash us there?”

  “Yes. And now, Liasare. We haven’t got all day.”

  “Damn, you can be an ass.”

  “So you’ve said.”

  She grasped his arm. But then said, “What if I fuck this up and we end up somewhere that could kill us?”

  He turned her to face him and cupped her cheek. “Do you think I’d let that happen?” After he gave her a tight hug, he said, “Now, Liasare. To our quarters on Lare-Stell. Don’t dwell on it just take us there, now.”

  When they took form in their quarters, it was difficult to tell which one of them wore the larger grin.

  Chapter Nine

  After sharing a meal with Tommy, Liasare and Jurek sat in the dining room, waiting for Tak to arrive. When he did, the silence was so dense; Liasare swore she could feel it. She couldn’t stand it any longer, so she was the icebreaker.

  “Tak, I’ve missed you, even though I probably shouldn’t be telling you this.”

  Tak’s only acknowledgement of her admission was a slight nod. Then he surprised them by saying, “I didn’t do it. It wasn’t me. The Triumvirate summoned me and asked what I’d been hearing. At the time, I said nothing. Then my family began getting threats. So I went back to them and told them. They’re the ones that came up with this idea. I’m not supposed to be telling you this, but I couldn’t keep quiet any longer. My family is sequestered, but I still worry about their safety.”

  Jurek eyed Tak, gauging him to see if his words were the truth or lies. “How can I trust you? And why did it take you this long to come to me? After everything you and I have been through, why not come to me first?”

  Tak rubbed his face and looked between Jurek and Liasare. “I didn’t think you’d believe me.”

  “But why?” Jurek asked.

  “Because of the way things had turned between us. I would never have betrayed you to the Triumvirate, no matter what happened between us. You may choose to believe me or not, but I had to come and explain.”

  Jurek’s head spun with what Tak told him. “I still don’t get it. What does it matter to the Triumvirate if the people insist on us getting married anyway?”

  “I don’t know.” Tak shrugged.

  “Unless,” Liasare began, “someone is interested in seeing the true extent of my powers. They would have to know that when you and I are together Jurek, that’s the one time we let things go, so to speak. So the witnesses will get a true sense of how much power I’ve gained.”

  “Fuck,” Jurek yelled as he flew to his feet. Chairs were destroyed as his anger grew out of control.

  “Jurek, rein it in.”

  Jurek’s eyes darted to Liasare and she said, “Now. Control your fucking temper, or I’m walking out of this room.”

  Tak eyed the couple with frank curiosity. He’d never known anyone to tell the King of Praestan to control his temper.

  It was apparent that Jurek fought to curb his emotions, but he did as Liasare asked.

  “Thank you. Well, it seems that someone has a keen interest in me. The real question is who is he and is he Praestani? Tak, did you tell anyone you were meeting us?”

  “No.”

  “Good. Let’s keep up the pretense of animosity between us. That will make it easier for you to pick up any tidbits of information for us.”

  Jurek slanted his head and nodded. “Brilliant idea, love.”

  Liasare said, “From this point on, any meetings between us need to be kept very private. The only ones we need to bring into our circle are Naroo, Marik, and Ludo. No one else should know. And Lare-Stell will be the only place we meet and discuss this. Are we all in agreement here?”

  Tak inclined his head and said, “I agree, Liasare. There is something underhanded going on, so trust no one.”

  “What about during the wedding?” Liasare asked.

  Jurek smirked. “I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that day. If they’re interested in a demonstration of your power, then they shall have the best one yet.”

  “But, won’t that tip them off to how strong I’ve become?”

  “I should hope so. Maybe they’ll be smart enough to stay away from you then.”

  Tak watched the couple with increasing interest. “Exactly how strong have you gotten, Brow ... er, I mean Liasare?”

  Liasare said, “You can call me Brownie. And Jurek thinks I’m pretty strong now.”

  “Elucidate.” Jurek commanded.

  Liasare threw him a look that told him to kiss her ass. Tak howled with laughter.

  “He’s so b
ossy, isn’t he?” Liasare turned to Jurek and asked, “Can you please ask me to tell Tak in a nice way, instead of your single word demands? I’m not a fucking house servant, you know.”

  “Language, Liasare.”

  “‘Language, Liasare,’” she mimicked him. “When are you going to stop treating me like a child?”

  Jurek’s mouth pressed into a thin line and if Liasare hadn’t been so hell bent on her own frustrations, she would have noticed his rising anger. Unfortunately, she was too self-absorbed to pay attention.

  “When you start acting like one, goddammit. The Queen of Praestan doesn’t walk around saying, ‘Fuck this, and fuck that.’ When are you going to realize this?”

  “Well, maybe you should’ve warned me about this queen shit before I became one. Did you ever think about that?”

  Tak was stuck in the middle of a shit storm and it was about to get ugly. He was undecided on what to do, as in leave or try to calm them down. It didn’t matter because before he had a chance, Jurek spoke and that sealed the fury that exploded.

  “Well, maybe if you hadn’t insisted I fuck you, that never would’ve happened.”

  Jurek’s words stung. “What did you say?” She faced him, eyes swirling with gold. Tak, who was standing close to Jurek, sucked in his breath. Now he understood exactly how strong Liasare had become. And he knew without a doubt that Jurek had just royally fucked up.

  Tak rose to his feet and said, “Oh, fuck. Don’t do it, Brownie. You don’t understand your strength and you could really hurt him. I swear you’d regret it. Get control of yourself because I know you don’t comprehend how much power you hold within you. It’s emanating from your eyes right now.”

  Liasare spun around and screamed in frustration. Chairs flew across the room and were completely demolished. The table disintegrated to dust in seconds and Liasare began to shake. Jurek stepped behind her and pulled her against him, her back to his front, murmuring against her cheek. “It’s okay; you’re fine. It’s only furniture. Deep breaths, love. Long, slow breaths.”

  “If I weren’t so scared, I’d punch you right now.”

  “I know. You didn’t deserve that. I’m a fucking prick and I’m sorry.”