Page 19 of The Wand of Lore

Shit, he thought. I don’t do crying. But she didn’t ask for anything from him, and he just kept holding her as she sobbed and shook until her tears finally ceased. They sat in silence, listening to the fire guzzling the logs, frogs croaking in the distance, and crickets chirping around them.

“So?” she finally asked, interrupting the symphony.

“So what?”

“So, who was it? You said you knew.”

“It was—well, King Egar sent him, as we already guessed. It was my fault. I’ve been keeping something from you, Gwen. The king dislikes me but keeps me alive because I have something he wants.”

“What could you possibly have that he wants, and why wouldn’t he just take it? He has no qualms taking everything else he sees.”

“It’s not that simple. The king resents me, and will probably kill me one day. But for now, he doesn’t want to be responsible for my blood, so he sends me on petty, distasteful errands to keep me out of his way.” Even Vaylor could hear the venom coating his words.

“You’re telling me that the king himself wants you dead? And you’re accompanying me to the castle . . . why, again?”

“When a witch tells you you’re dying slowly from a powerful curse, and that she can help you only if she finds a specific item, you do what you can to help find the item.”

Gwenneth nodded. “So it was King Eger who had you cursed, wasn’t it?”

Vaylor sucked in air at these words, feeling the pain like a punch in the gut. “Yeah, I guess it probably was.” He tried to relax the muscles in his face, but Gwenneth had already heard the pain in his voice.

“I’m sorry,” Gwenneth said, moving closer to him. She touched his shoulder, and he sat up straight, wincing at her soft touch. “I just can’t understand why King Egar cares if you live or die. Even someone as disagreeable as you would have to do something really awful to draw his attention.”

“Thanks,” he said dryly. “I did something to him long ago. I killed someone he loved, and he has wanted me dead ever since.”

“I have so many questions. How did you manage to get close enough to the castle to kill anyone? Where was his guard? If the king wants you dead, how have you managed to stay alive? And why would you kill anyone?”

Vaylor shook his head. “I’m not answering any of those questions. But suffice to say someone thought that tying you up would get to me and send me a message.”

“Did it?” she asked, so softly he almost didn’t hear her. He looked down at her, catching his reflection in her giant purple eyes. Her slender wrist was still touching his shoulder, and out of the corner of his eye he saw her cleavage glowing in the light of the fire. Her lips looked so full they reminded him of a ripe peach, bursting with juice. He looked away, feeling guilty for his attraction to her after she had just been abducted, but shegrabbed his head and drew it toward her. She leaned into him so their cheeks were brushing. He glanced at her lips, wondering if they tasted as sweet as they looked.

“Yes, I guess they did get to me, but don’t worry, I won’t let it happen again,” he whispered in her ear.

Chapter Thirteen: Gwenneth

Marvin’s breath was hot against her ear, and his eyes were fixated on her lips. Gwenneth could just feel his shoulder through his shirt as she brushed it with the tips of her fingers, wondering what he might say if she unbuttoned his top and glimpsed his chest by the glow of the fire.

“Say something else,” Gwenneth murmured, hungry to feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.

“What is there to say?” he whispered as he dragged his fingertip down her neck, and she practically crumpled against him.

Through his thin shirt, she could feel his entire chest now, strong and sturdy like a tree. Only moments ago shehadbeen tied to a tree, and she shuddered. Without breaking eye contact, she removed her wand from her waist and gave it the tiniest wave. His shirt unbuttoned, and there was his full chest in all its muscular glory. He looked down at his bare chest, then took the shirt and held it shut.

“Oh,” said Gwenneth. “I’m sorry. I thought you wanted it.” She shifted her weight backward.

“Of course I want it. I’ve never met anyone like you before, but not like this, after what just happened. I don’t wantto hurt you, or take advantage of you.” His dark eyes glistened in the moonlight.

“Oh, please.” Gwenneth could not suppress an eye roll. “You must think me a backwoods village maiden just waiting for some gentleman to woo me with his chivalry. I am a grown woman who can protect herself, and right now, I want to ride you hard and fast and forget everything that happened. I want to use you mindlessly for sex, and I want you to hold me all night long and keep me warm and help me pretend that I am safe and that you care about me.”

Marvin stared at her, speechless for once. “Well, okay then.” He closed the distance between them and put one hand on the small of her back and one hand around her shoulder. “I don’t know why, but I do care about you,” he whispered, holding her gaze with his deep eyes.

“Better!” She laughed. This was what she wanted.

He cupped her face with one hand and held her body against his. He kissed her and she let his lips swallow hers, hard and greedy. He flicked an eager tongue in her mouth and she let out a muffled gasp, the rest of her body aching with jealousy. When she grabbed his hand and placed it on her bosom, Marvin opened his eyes and smiled, almost shyly, at her. Then his eyes traveled down to his hand resting on a breast waiting inside her bodice, tight and perfect. He stole one last juicy kiss from her lips, then cupped her breasts through her dress. A soft sigh escaped her. He touched the fleshy tops peeking out, then reached down and kissed her breasts, one at a time. This kiss was softer than the hungry kisses he had drawn from her mouth.

He pulled the ribbon holding her dress and watched as it loosened. He untied the stays underneath her dress, and she gasped as her breasts spilled out.

“Gods, you are stunning,” he said as he ran a finger down the right side of her breast.

---