Page 30 of What Fury Brings
His eyes widened.
“If a man is patient and slow, he can perform the First Night without blood. But since most men are eager fools too intent on their own pleasure, we’ve found a way not to lose any more of the male population.”
Then she opened the box and presented it to him. Sanos could not say what he expected to be contained within, but it certainly wasn’t a dozen phalluses.
“What are those for?” he asked.
“Before a woman beds her first man, she can purchase such a kit to get the nasty business of widening her opening over with. Then she need not experience any pain nor bleed.”
“Why would— You’re a virgin?”
Her face didn’t change. She said, “Obviously. Have you listened to nothing I’ve said?”
She set down the kit, walked forward until she was level with his waist, then drew off the skirt covering his nakedness with one swift tug.
He felt a twinge go through him at the stirring of cloth over sensitive flesh. Then he could do no more than stare at her staring at him. Shedidn’t seem… surprised by the look of him. Or… impressed, as she’d been when examining his bulge on the road. Not that he wanted her to be impressed. He was large for a Brutish man—or so the women at the brothel had told him frequently. Wait, were they paid to say that?
“Why am I naked?” he asked.
“I need to gauge your size so that I might know the correct phallus to work myself up to.”
Blood thundered in his ears, but he managed, “You said you wouldn’t force me.”
“And I won’t. But it won’t be long before you’re ready. I had best be prepared for that eventuality.”
“Cocksure, are you?”
“I don’t have a cock, but I told you that it is only a matter of time before you want me, before you ache for me. That is a promise I intend to fulfill.”
He hated the way she seemed so sure of the future. Like he was predictable. Sanos promised himself right then that no matter how long he was stuck on Amarran soil, he would not ask her. Even if he couldn’t see to his own needs with his hand.
“I hate to break it to you, Princess, but my cock is much bigger when it’s aroused.”
“I know.”
He wanted to know how she knew how cocks worked if she’d never bedded a man, but that wasn’t foremost on his mind. No, it was herplansfor the evening that most concerned him.
“Obviously,” she said simply, “I need to see you aroused. Then I can select the correct phallus, and we’ll be done for the evening, Prince.”
They both looked down at the cock that was perfectly flaccid, and he laughed. “Good luck with that. I’m hungry, angry, and in painfrom the tortures your men put me through.” His chest still had a light pink tint to it. Then he stilled. “Don’t give me that foul toxin again. I don’t—”
“Shhh,” she said gently.
Then she drew open her robe.
7
Andrastus cleaned up beautifully.
His hair-free chest was gorgeous: smooth and ridged and taut. Olerra wanted to splay her hands across it, but she refrained, knowing that kind of touch would be unwelcome.
She could see now why everyone called him pretty. The beard had hidden his perfectly sharp jaw. His chin jutted out slightly and had the tiniest divot in the center. She wanted to run her tongue over it.
Now clean-shaven, his eyes stood out more, those deep brown depths framed by dark blond lashes and thick brows. Before, he’d looked so stern. Now he appeared softer. Undeniably masculine, but beautiful, too.
She couldn’t wait to kiss him again. This time without the beard.
Olerra stopped her thoughts before they got more out of control and focused on the task at hand. She wore an outfit that Ydra had picked out for her from the Pleasure Market. It hugged her curves and pulled up her breasts. Her legs were completely bare, as were her arms. She felt beautiful in it. She felt powerful as she watched Andrastus’s eyes slide over every inch of her. But his cock did not so much as twitch.
