Page 61 of Princess of Draga

Sirus knelt before her and he reached for her hands, but then hesitated. “May I?” he finally asked. She nodded and he gently took her hands in his. “If you don’t wish for me to go then I won’t. My life isyours.”

At those sacred words she met his gaze with a sharp look. Sirus was submitting to her despite their equal rank and dominance. Joslynn was barely a notch above him as both their families were counts, but he was the third-born son and she the first-born. Why would he say such a foolish thing? “Your life is your own,” she snapped, not liking how vulnerable his words made herfeel.

“Joslynn, my mother may have ordered me to escort you, but I make my own choices. I choose to submit to your will.” The ice blue of his good eye stared into her soul and she had to catch herbreath.

Who would have thought the hardened warrior assigned as her escort could be someone she felt so comfortable with, someone she actually cared a great deal for? They were complete opposites but somehow it worked. Joslynn enjoyed his hard edges. The scar on his face didn’t frighten her as she had seen it frighten others around the palace. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I couldn’t do this without you.” All she wanted was to go home, but Joslynn had obligations and she would see to it they weredone.

She stood and he moved with her. They looked at each other, close enough she could smell his wild scent. “What other options arethere?”

“My brother on Scyria can manage the army for now. I can send out a coded cast with deployment orders. My mother still rules officially so the people will be cared for. You can send your steward new instructions until we get a better feel for the battlefield. Leaving before the ball and the coronation may seem suspicious.” The way he looked at her had her knees going weak despite the matter-of-factwords.

Joslynn ran her gaze over his scar. She reached up and traced the jagged skin with her fingertips and Sirus jerked in surprise. “Would you do something for me?” she asked softly. He looked wary at her request, but she smiled and leaned into him slightly, enjoying the strength he possessed. “I want to thank you for everything; I want to make sure you have your best chance.” The pad of her thumb brushed under his ruined eye. “Let me contact a doctor to repair your eye, or replace it if necessary. You will needit.”

Sirus was already shaking his head but she placed both her hands on his cheeks and simply said, “Please, I want to do this for you, not for me. I could care less about the scar, you can even ask them to leave it if you like.” She grinned at him and let her hands slide to the back of his neck where she brushed her fingers through the soft curls. “It does make you rather fearsome androguish.”

Before she could second-guess herself Joslynn wrapped her arms around his neck and felt the strength in his body. Sirus was the only male she had ever met that wanted nothing from her and it made her want to give him everything, including herself. Sirus hesitated for a moment when her lips touched his. Then his hands fell to her waist and held her gently. Joslynn tightened her grip as she kissed him. He was warm and strong and the time in space together had only convinced her how good a man he trulywas.

Tentatively she slipped her tongue into his mouth. He caressed hers in response and she groaned as heat poured to the tender spot between her legs. Joslynn felt something harden and grow against her. She held on to him tightly and just barely held herselfback.

“Sirus,” she whispered. She wasn’t sure what to say, what this may mean, or even if this was something he wanted. “Do you want me to stop?” she asked. Joslynn drew back slightly to look athim.

Sirus’s good eye was half-lidded and he paused as he looked down ather.

The silence made Joslynn uncomfortable and she disengaged her arms fromhim.

“No,” he growled. Suddenly Sirus’s hands slid down and cupped her ass. He lifted her and whirled around. She gasped in surprise at the sudden movement. He placed her on the table and bent his head to take hermouth.

He was everywhere and his scent filled her. Sirus pressed against her and she felt the hard length of him against her as his tongue plundered her mouth. She held on to him for dear life while he held her upright and close. One hand was on her ribcage and Joslynn took it, placing it directly on her breast and thensqueezed.

He growled and the fire inside her burned. The ache between her legs became unbearable. She rubbed against him and moaned when Sirus dipped his head and kissed his way down her jaw, her neck and to the plump flesh above her dress. He squeezed her breast again and licked the top of it. Joslynn reached for his pants and her fingers fumbled with the clasps. Before she could figure it out, Sirus pulled away, his chestheaving.

He stared at her as if she were some kind of sorceress. “I don’t know if this is a good idea,” he said warily. “I’m not even positive I plan to accept your generous offer to repair my eye.” Joslynn reached up to him and he grabbed her wrists before she could touch his face. “Please Lady; I need a moment tothink.”

“What is there to think about?” she asked, feeling the sharp sting of his rejection. How could he want her one moment and then simply change his mind the next? Joslynn slid down from the table and took a step away from him to clear her head. “Did I make amistake?”

Sirus rubbed a hand over his face and shook his head. “No, this is simply moving very fast. I wanted to speak with you, not defileyou.”

She smiled at his choice of words, as if she were somehow the innocent and naïve one. “I believe I was the one doing thedefiling.”

He gave her an exasperated look. “Joslynn please, I don’t want to take advantage of you, or have you think I am trying to take anything from you. As you said, many try to steal the riches of your family and planet. I do not want to be one ofthem.”

“Is it stealing if I offer? You need a second eye to better protect both our people.” Sirus was a difficult man to have feelings for. He was so closed off and mysterious. “My offer has nothing to do with how I feel about you personally.” She still ached even if the fire had dampened somewhat at his abrupt retreat. “The offer to repair your eye is based on a longstanding alliance and the knowledge you would do better if you could use all your sensescompletely.”

Sirus growled at her in annoyance. “You are stubborn, Countess,” he said, knowing the title would irritate her. “I will consider theoffer.”

Joslynn arched a brow at him and crossed her arms over herchest.

He threw up his hands. “Fine, I willaccept.”

She smiled. “Because of our alliance, or because you are afraid of the feelings you have forme?”

Sirus took two long strides and grabbed her. His mouth was on hers before she could say anything else. It was rough and demanding. The need roared back to life inside her and she would have dug her nails into his back if he didn’t have her arms trapped against her chest. Sirus bit her bottom lip and drew back only far enough to look into her eyes. “I like you woman, and I’m not sure how to handle it. So be patient with me and know I care for you.” Sirus breathed hard as he spoke calmly and Joslynn respected his control more thanever.

“I don’t want you to leave me here alone,” she said. Despite the ache, she pulled back her desires and wrapped her arms around his waist in a simplehug.

Sirus closed his eyes and rested his cheek on the top of her head. “Then I won’t leave you, it is as easy asthat.”

Closing her eyes she prayed it would be so simple. Joslynn was not ready to give up her warrior when she was just learning how much she actually cared for him. Sirus was a passionate man behind his cold exterior and she wanted the time for him to warm up. Joslynn realized she hoped dearly he would accept her marriage offer, but she didn’t want to pushit.

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