Dark Prince (9 page)

"Agro," Yusef mused so Olena could understand. "Meet my wife."

"Hello, wife of Yusef," Agro said. He audaciously winked, showing that he too remembered her. "Have you a name of your own?"

"She’s not saying," Yusef said, with a carefree shrug. "Maybe you can get it out of her."

"I wouldn’t dare," Agro said gallantly, grinning at her like a fool. "A little mystery never hurt a woman none. Don’t you dare tell him, lass, at least not for the first fifty years or so."

"I wouldn’t dream of it," she grinned, liking this beast of a man’s easygoing nature.

Yusef groaned. It was quite possible she wouldn’t.

"In fact, I don’t want to know it either," Agro declared amiably. "I’ll lie awake at night thinking about it. It will be good for me."

"Don’t let your wife hear you say that," Yusef said, unconcerned. Everyone in the village knew that Agro was more than taken with his bride. He was a doting fool and didn’t care who saw it. But, try to tease him about the obviousness of his undying affections for her and he’d knock your skull in.

"I didn’t say I’d be lying awake alone," he grinned with a meaningful raise of his brow.

"Why were you looking for me?" Yusef asked, turning slightly serious. "Has anything happened?"

"No, nothing like that." Agro’s natural grin widened. He latched his hands to his waist and rolled back on his feet. Eyes narrowing, he stated seriously, "Word is you just got back from a hunting trip to the north last week."

Yusef laughed, already knowing where this was going. Agro had a terrible fondness for roasted baudrons. They could only be found in the north hunting grounds.

"That I did," Yusef said, nodding.

"Catch anything?" the big man asked, throwing out an overconfident smirk.

"Maybe," Yusef said, drawing out the suspense. He had already planned on asking the man over, as he did after each hunting trip.

"Could be you want some company over at that house of yours to help you cook it?" Agro asked.

Olena watched the friendly ritual in vast amusement.

Yusef scratched his chin. "I don’t know. I might have to clear it with the wife first."

Agro turned his wide green eyes to Olena. Gazing through his bruises, he said, "My most gracious lady, would you do me the honor of telling your husband to take his--"

"Hey." Yusef growled in mock battle.

"What?" Agro asked with an innocent shrug.

"I already have several times," Olena said. "The stubborn man won’t listen to me."

Yusef threw his hands in the air, not able to fight an attack on both fronts. Agro’s hearty laugh bellowed over the village, drawing smiles from around them.

"You don’t need an invitation from him, Agro," Olena said. "You just come on over and we’ll help ourselves to whatever is in the fridge."

"Now, you’ve done it," said Yusef with a mock frown of horror. "This giant will eat us out of house and home."

"Ach, off with you," he said to Yusef, before bowing over Olena’s hand. "Tonight I’m a guest of the lady."

"You’d better bring the wife," Yusef said. He casually draped his arm over Olena’s shoulders and steered her away. "I might need help keeping you at bay."

"She’d love it," Agro announced, grinning like a fool. "She’s pregnant again, by the way."

"Congratulations, friend," Yusef called, beginning to walk away. "Why don’t you bring the boys with you?"

"Will do," Agro called, saluting gallantly as he trotted off to the practice field.

"I like him," Olena said. She liked the feel of Yusef’s hand on her shoulders, but artfully got out of his embrace with the pretence of picking a yellow flower from the ground. When she stood, she moved out of his reach.

"I could tell," Yusef mused, disappointed by her withdrawal. He had felt her stiffen under his arm. When he looked at her, the easy companionship of the morning was gone from her guarded features.

"How many sons does he have anyway?"

"I think, with Cordele pregnant again, this will be twelve," he answered, turning his steps back home. "Do you need anything else while we’re here?"

"No, I’m fine," she answered in distraction, before continuing, "Is that normal? I mean having so many children in one family?"

Yusef grinned, seeing where she was going with this. "Agro has been, ah, blessed with good fortune. Although, anywhere from two to six sons is more normal a size for our families."

Olena was quiet.

Yusef bumped her playfully in the shoulder and asked, "Why? Do you want to try and beat him?"

Olena paled at the thought of one. Vehemently, she shook her head. "No. I don’t want any."

His spirits were dampened a bit by her heated denial and they made the journey home.

* * * *

Later, Olena found herself covered in a dusting of flour and elbow deep in Qurilixen blue bread dough. She scowled at Yusef as she kneaded and formed the blue dough into loaves.

"I didn’t realize I would have to do all this," she grumbled, hating it. "Can’t we get a servant or something?"

Yusef, who was helping her prepare for her guests, laughed. "You’re the one who invited him."

"Yeah, one man," she said. "And he offered to help cook. You had to go and invite the entire brood."

"It’s improper for a woman to extend an invitation to a man and not his wife and sons. I was saving you an embarrassment."

"Who says I would have been embarrassed? Anyway, how was I to know?" she mumbled. She finished forming the last loaf. They weren’t perfect, but they would do. Yusef grabbed them and put them in the brick oven over the low fire.

Olena jumped up to sit onto the countertop. Brushing a sweaty strand of hair off her forehead with the back of her arm, she sighed. "I’m about ready to go get bit by another snake so I can lay down and let you do this. In fact, I think I’m coming down with something."

Yusef chuckled. "Come on, you’re almost done."

"You need a better job," she continued to complain, though she smiled shyly at him. She pushed gracefully back on the counter, making her legs go straight. Her feet stretched over the edge, dancing absently in the air. She leaned forward towards her toes, folding over in half, to stretch out her back. Laying her head on her knee, she finished, "Then you could afford to pay someone to do this stuff."

"That’s why I got married." Yusef eyed her flexibility with interest. Instantly, he though of different ways he could bend her body to accommodate him.

Olena gasped, scowling at his comment as she sat up, until she saw him wink playfully at her.

"Oh," she screeched, taking a handful of flour and flinging it at him. Yusef ducked, laughing.

Olena grabbed another handful, launching it at his dark head before he could stand. It hit him and showered over his shoulder to the floor. Flinging his hair up as he stood, he lurched for her. To Olena’s surprise, his eyes flashed with gold and he hopped from the floor to the countertop in one swift motion, landing effortlessly on his feet. Bending at the knees, he crouched over her.

Olena’s breast heaved in excitement of his power. A timid laugh left her lips to see his flour dusted tunic.

"You think you’re smooth, don’t you?" he chuckled wickedly.

Olena’s heart skipped. Yusef leaned forward. Before she could react, he kissed her swiftly. Her chuckling died down against his lips. His eyes bore into hers with a fevered heat. He grabbed her forward and lightly kissed her, pulling back as her mouth opened, trying to follow his.

"I know I am," she murmured. Her voice came out husky and inviting, unintentionally changing the meaning of her words.

Yusef’s gaze dipped down over her neck. Her flesh did indeed look as smooth as cream. Finding a little freckle all by itself on her collarbone, he grinned. Unable to resist, he dipped his head to flick his tongue over the dot. Olena shivered at the soft, wet caress.

"May I judge for myself?" Yusef’s hand lifted to touch her flesh, teasing her neck. "Mmm, soft."

He leaned over and sniffed where his hand had been. Olena’s breath caught. She was mesmerized.

"So sweet," he murmured in a tone that vibrated along the indent of her neck. He tasted her again, licking her racing pulse. "Delicious."

"Ah-haa."

"Will you let me taste more, I wonder," Yusef said, as if to himself. "Will you let me dine on your flesh?"

Olena felt the back of his hand brush along her inner thigh, lightly moving towards her heated center. It was clear what he wanted a taste of.

Yusef’s eyes trailed down, devouring her with their liquid gold. Olena nearly swooned. Seeing his shifting eyes, she shivered. Part of her trembled, scared of what he sought of her. Her eyes dipped to his mouth, wanting him to continue with his wicked words and knowing she should make him stop. Her desire flooded out of every pore, calling to him. It was the one thing she allowed to flow freely between them.

Yusef suspected it was because it was the one thing she didn’t know how to mask. He growled, giving her what her aching lips craved. His head dipped forward to sip from her parted offering, stealing her breath inside him, tasting of her passion. He held her head in his hands, dipping his fingers into the red silk locks to force the kiss deep.

Olena whimpered a soft sound that he captured within him. Her body was on fire and every thought left her but one--the thought of being possessed by him. Impatiently, her hands pulled at his tunic, trying to strip it from his shoulders.

Yusef broke his kiss long enough to toss the shirt aside. As he came to her again, her eyes were half closed in pleasure. His arm brushed the counter, sweeping the bowl to the floor. With one powerful movement, he spun her around to lay on the hard countertop, trapping her beneath his weight.

Olena gasped, liking how easily he could control her body. He tossed her around, as if she was a feather. His dark, glorious chest loomed before her, haloed in light from the ceiling dome. Raven locks reached down, tickling her cheek before his kiss could meet her lips once more. His tongue came to her mouth, dipping inside as his hardened body wished to.

Soon she was urging him on top of her, spreading her legs to fit her knees beside his firm waist. He pressed his hard arousal into her, his pelvic bone grinding through their clothes. They shared a groan of passion. Olena’s eyes popped open only to lazily fall. Yusef refused to stop the onslaught to her senses. A torrent of pleasure ran rampant through her limbs, making her weak and strong at the same time.

His hands were on her shirt, pulling it up, revealing the lacy bra cupping around her. Without bothering to remove the lacy undergarment, he pulled it down beneath the soft globes. Yusef devoured a nipple with his mouth, biting and licking her with growling delight.

"Ahhh, yes!" Olena’s back arched as gratification shot through her limbs. She couldn’t stop. Her body melted beneath his strength, folded beneath the determination of his will. His hips were rubbing against hers, making her mad with anticipation. Her legs wrapped around his waist, gripping him tightly. She stretched her fingers into his hair, pulling him closer. Their bodies heated behind the layers of constricting material. Their breath came out in tortured gasps.

Yusef’s hands went to his hips, intent on freeing himself and her. Her movements were as eager as his and he couldn’t slow. Later, he promised himself to enjoy her more fully, but for now he needed to end the torturous aching in his loins. He needed to find his release.

Just as he was about to free his straining manhood, he stopped. Gulping, he lifted up. Leaping off the countertop, he pulled his stunned wife with him.

Olena blinked in surprise as she flew to the floor. Her legs almost fell out from beneath her, protesting their use and she had to grab the counter for support. Her breasts were bared, budded and reaching. She swallowed in confusion to see Yusef straightening his pants.

Yusef grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her in front of him to adjust her shirt. He covered her breasts from view just in time to see the front door open.

Olena gasped, as she heard their company coming in. Before turning, she righted her bra beneath her shirt. Yusef’s naked, panting chest rose and fell before her. His scent was still in her head, stinging her body. A loud laugh sounded behind her. Flushing with embarrassment, she turned to see Agro and his very slender wife.

Agro knowingly looked around at the mess the couple had made of the kitchen. His mouth opened to speak. Olena’s eyes narrowed in warning and she held up her finger to him.

"One word from you and I’ll do more than blacken your eyes," she threatened.

Yusef laughed, not embarrassed about being caught making love to his wife--even if it was on his kitchen counter.

Olena nodded to the amused woman at Agro’s side, "Cordele, I presume?"

Cordele nodded, speechless. She was a slender, pretty woman and didn’t look anything like Olena would have guessed. For someone who was pregnant with her twelfth child, she didn’t look a bit overused.

"Nice to meet you," Olena answered Cordele’s nod with dignity, pushing her tousled hair from her face. "Now, if you would excuse me."

Olena walked to the bedroom and shut the door.

"Handled like a true Princess," Agro murmured in serious approval when she couldn’t hear. Yusef grinned charmingly. He leaned over to pick his shirt up from the floor.

"If you like we could leave," Cordele began.

"Ach, no!" Agro denied, reaching a hand around her to playfully cover his wife’s mouth.

Cordele giggled as she freed herself from Agro’s teasing embrace. Eyeing the countertop, she considered, "Maybe we should eat outside then."

Yusef laughed louder, nodding his head. He didn’t bother to put his shirt on, instead balling it in his fist. "Where are the boys?"

"Ah, we left them at home to fend for themselves," she said with a dismissing wave.

"Good thing, too," Agro said. "I’m not sure I want them bearing witness to this little stunt of yours."

Cordele hit her husband on the arm. Tilting her head to Yusef, she suggested, "Why don’t you go check to make sure she’s all right? We women are not so used to your bold ways when we first arrive. I’ll tend to the bread."