Part 8 (1/2)
”I didn't know you could dance,” said Sorak with surprise.
”I can't,” she replied, batting her eyelashes.
”Tajik,” Sorak said, ”we're leaving now.”
”Well, I must say, it's certainly been an interesting night,” said the ferry captain as he led them toward the door. Behind them, Edric continued to stare at Sorak. Then he turned to Turin. ”I will return for Cricket's things,” he said.
”Aah, do as you like, and good riddance to you both,” said Turin, sourly. But Edric was already heading for the door.
CHAPTER FIVE.
”That girl was very beautiful, wasn't she?” Ryana asked.
Sorak ran his fingers lightly down her bare thigh. ”Yes, she was.”
They lay together wrapped in a blanket on a rug in front of the fireplace. After they had returned to Tajik's home, the captain had diplomatically withdrawn, saying he would see them in the morning. The servants had prepared a spare room for them, lit a fire, and brewed a pot of tea, then retired to their own quarters, wis.h.i.+ng them goodnight. And Sorak and Ryana had made love.
Though they had known each other almost all their lives, they were still only recent lovers, still discovering things about themselves in their new physical relations.h.i.+p. The first time they made love, in Sanctuary, it had been a gentle, tentative, profoundly emotional experience. This time, it had been pa.s.sionate and energetic. Ryana had showed a side of herself Sorak had never seer before. And he thought he knew why.
”Did you find her desirable?” Ryana asked, her face inches from his own as they lay with legs intertwined.
”I was affected by her beauty,” Sorak replied.
”And her dancing?” asked Ryana.
”She was very good,” said Sorak.
”You found her exciting.”
”Yes. She was beautiful, and I thought her dancing very sensual and seductive.”
Ryana sighed. ”At least you're honest. I wish I could dance for you like that.”
”You don't have to,” Sorak said, kissing her.
”But I'd like to,” she replied. ”I saw the way you were watching her.”
”I've seen women dance before,” said Sorak, ”but never like that. She's very skilled. She has a gift.”
”Do you recall her name?”
”Cricket.”
”I was going to call you a liar if you claimed not to remember,” said Ryana wryly.
”I would never lie to you.” He kissed her lips and squeezed her leg between his own. ”Besides, it's an unusual name.”
”And I suppose that is the only reason you remembered it.”
”Are you jealous?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.
”No,” she replied. Then grimaced and said, ”Yes.”
”You have no reason to be,” Sorak said. ”Besides, she left with Kieran.”
”Mmmm. He's very handsome, isn't he?”
”Yes, I suppose he is.”
”And a great body.”
”I agree.”
”And he's very das.h.i.+ng.”
”I can see that, yes.”
”A girl could do far worse.”
”Undoubtedly.”
”d.a.m.n you,” she said, poking him.
Sorak chuckled. ”I have no reason to feel jealous. I do not doubt your love. Do you doubt mine?”
”No,” she said, snuggling against him and kissing his neck. ”But I still wish I could dance for you the way she did.”
”I would enjoy seeing you dance.”
Ryana made a face and shook her head. ”My body would not move like hers. I am too muscular and lack the flexibility. Besides, I do not have her skill. If I tried, I would look foolish and clumsy. You would only laugh at me.”
”Never.”
She sighed. ”In a way, it was easier before, when your female aspects prevented you from lying with a woman. I knew you could never lie with me, but neither would you lie with others. Now, I cannot help but wonder if I will be enough for you.”
”You are more than enough woman for me,” said Sorak.
”But I'm the only woman you have ever been with.”
”And I'm the only man that you have ever been with,” he replied. ”Unless there's something you have kept from me.”
She poked him again. ”You know better. But it's different with a man. A woman loves. A man has appet.i.tes.”
Sorak frowned. ”Who told you that?”
”It's what the sisters always said.”