Part 32 (2/2)
”Hey.” She pressed her hands against his chest, her eyes narrowed. ”What's that supposed to mean?”
He smiled. His inner dragon was certainly addicted to her pa.s.sionate beast, and the fire they created between them. But there was a large part of him that enjoyed the sparkling fey side of her nature.
”Flighty, charming, and enjoys talking. A lot,” he said. There were times when he wondered if the chatty imp was ever quiet. ”You'll never feel lonely when she's around.”
”I'm not flighty,” she protested, although she couldn't hide the twitch of her lips.
He continued to stroke his hand over her back, savoring the growing sense of intimacy being woven between them.
There was a glorious joy in lying next to his female and discussing their future together.
”Not always,” he admitted. ”When we met for our betrothal ceremony you were very zen.”
She wrinkled her nose. ”My mother's training. She was afraid I hadn't entirely grown out of my...feisty stage.”
”Feisty stage? I'm afraid to ask,” Torque murmured, not entirely teasing.
While his first impression of Rya might have been one of a calm, pa.s.sive creature, he'd swiftly learned that beneath her facade was an impulsive, loving, courageous female who didn't understand the word 'fear.'
”I wasn't that bad,” she retorted. ”Like any child, I enjoyed playing pranks on my father's servants. They were usually forgiving.” She released a rueful chuckle. ”Except for the time when I used my shadow to slip into the war room when my father was planning an attack on another dragon. Things got a bit testy when I was spotted.”
”Good G.o.d,” he muttered. ”You were lucky you weren't thrown in the dungeons.”
She gave a small shrug, revealing her confidence in her father's love. Synge would have destroyed anyone else who had dared to spy on his war council.
”That's when my mother began to train me in controlling my powers,” she said. ”Along with my emotions.”
”When you're with me you don't ever have to control your emotions,” he murmured, his voice husky as he allowed his hand to trace the lush curve of her a.s.s. ”I like when you're feisty.”
She snorted, even as her eyes darkened with a ready pa.s.sion. ”Not always.”
”True.” He traced her lower lip with the tip of his tongue before giving it a small nip. ”Not when you're putting yourself in danger.”
Without warning she stiffened, almost as if his words had touched a nerve.
”Speaking of putting myself in danger, there's something I need to tell you,” she muttered in a strained voice.
Torque lifted his head. Was she teasing him?
On the point of demanding an explanation, Torque was distracted by a voice that echoed sharply through his brain.
He didn't have the gargoyle's telepathic powers, but all of Baine's guards were capable of mental communications. And at the moment, Char was impatiently demanding his attention.
”Hold that thought,” he murmured, pressing a frustrated kiss to her lips before reluctantly crawling out of bed.
Although Char couldn't see him or Rya, it seemed creepy to talk to his fellow warrior while he was sprawled next to his naked female.
Rya hastily wrapped the blanket around her slender body, watching as Torque pulled on his jeans and sweater.
”What is it?” she demanded.
”Char.” He grimaced and reached down to pull on his boots. ”He's arrived from Baine's lair and is demanding to see me.” Once he was finished, he moved back to perch on the edge of the mattress. If he hadn't been the one responsible for Char being ordered to Synge's lair he would have ignored the summons.
”Ah.” She forced a smile to her lips. ”Then you have to go.”
He reached to run his fingers through the tangled silk of her hair.
”I don't want to leave you.” He wasn't ashamed to admit it.
”It won't be for long.”
She was right about that. He intended to tell Char why he'd called for him, listen to him b.i.t.c.h, and then he was out of there.
He gave her a last kiss. ”Don't move,” he commanded softly. ”I intend to finish this as soon as I can get back.”
”Torque,” she breathed as he rose to his feet.
He glanced down at her with a lift of his brow. ”Yes, my love?”
”I...” She gave a shake of her head. ”We'll talk later.”
He felt a brief stab of unease, but before he could determine what was bothering him, Char was once again demanding that he join him.
With a sigh, he turned to leave the harem. He took a minute to speak with the guards, ensuring that no one was allowed to enter Rya's rooms. Then, with long strides he hurried to join Char in Synge's public chamber.
The large room looked the same as when he left. Except it had thankfully been emptied of servants. Well, except for two uniformed guards who stood near the opening to Synge's private quarters.
At his entrance, Char turned with a narrowed gaze to watch him cross the floor.
The half-breed dragon was currently dressed in black slacks and a crisp white s.h.i.+rt, his gray eyes darkened to smoke.
Then, without warning, the older male was striding forward and wrapping his arms around Torque.
”d.a.m.n, dude, I thought we'd lost you,” Char growled in rough tones.
Astonished by his friend's obvious concern, Torque returned the man-hug. ”I tried to reach out to Baine, but the dragon's magic blocked me.”
”Don't scare me like that again.”
There was a shared moment of mutual relief that Torque had survived. Then, belatedly unnerved by his rare display of affection, Torque pushed Char away to send him a faux scowl.
”Enough mushy stuff,” he commanded, his voice husky. ”Let's get this over with.”
”As charming as ever, old friend,” Char drawled, his lips twitching.
Torque folded his arms over his chest, well aware he wasn't fooling his companion.
<script>