Fiery Pursuit (Passionate Pursuits, Book One) Read online

  A hopeful smile flashed across her face. “But that’s the problem. My virginity has brought me nothing but trouble. A man seems to prize that, although I can’t see why. A woman’s herself no matter the label you give her. But if I’m no longer a virgin I’ll feel more protected. There will be no prize to claim. And I’d like you to be the one to take care of that for me.”

  Lars had seldom felt so wordless. He’d lived his years in pleasure and with pain. More pleasure than pain certainly, as his elfin abilities gave him immeasurable advantage in most situations. But always with honor. And now, to be offered the one thing he wanted the most, masked in a reasoning he could not quite dismiss.

  As he hesitated he looked at her. He noticed the distress in Sophie’s eyes as tears filled them, but she didn’t waver. She looked lost as a child in a dark forest, and well she might. Her life as she knew it had been ripped away. She’d suffered for weeks at the hands of uncaring brutes.

  She needed the cherishing he’d longed to give her. And the lifelong protection he’d commit to at the same time. He’d not tell her yet of his sudden and complete certainty they were each other’s destiny. But he realized it to the depths of his soul, and he’d go to her with that conviction.

  He moved quickly, wrapping her in his arms. He’d give her what she wanted, and gladly, and he’d not tell her yet that in doing so he was committing himself for whatever length of life remained to him. He’d pleasure her—oh how he’d pleasure her—even though she wouldn’t know he was giving her his total love and his soul.

  Elves loved only once, and deeply. He’d almost decided he’d never find the one girl for him.

  Swinging her up in his arms, he carried her back to the bed and gently set her on the edge.

  “May I take my shirt back, my love? I want you naked.”

  Her eyes questioned him, but she held up her arms and let him lift the shirt from her body.

  Although he’d seen her dressed as an almost-naked slave and houri, still the loveliness of her complete nudity astonished him. She was perfection. Every curve exactly fashioned to incite a male beyond his endurance. The slave trader had shaved her pubic curls, but they were starting to grow back. A honey-colored fuzz covered her mound. Somehow the small tuft of hair made her even more irresistible. He couldn’t wait to nuzzle her on that little bush and smell the essence of Sophie.

  Sophie trembled as she looked at him, awed by his male beauty. He’d taken off his boots and his outer coat before he’d slept and she could see his strong arms outlined under the thin shirt. The occasional lighter strands in his brown hair added to its healthy shine. One intriguing pointed ear peeked through the locks hanging to his shoulders. His loose cravat hung around his neck. She could glimpse the dark curly hairs on his chest through his opened shirt.

  He was gorgeous. She had no idea a man could be this beautiful. And virile. No man could project more male power than Lars. Looking at the huge bulge between his legs, she doubted any male possessed more potency.

  Assailed with the knowledge she was doing what she was meant to do, she stood and kissed him on his neck, glorying in the way her touch seemed to pleasure him.

  “Lars, I don’t know quite how this works, but I do know you have to get some clothes off. All of them, I’d guess.”

  He shuddered, and although she wondered why, she became engrossed in watching him disrobe. He was a glorious man. Lean and fit, muscles flexing with every move. He stripped off his shirt and trousers. He wore no undershirt, and his bronzed chest showed he exercised in the sun. When he put his hands to the bands of his inner underwear he stopped.

  “I don’t want to frighten you. I’m a perfectly normal man, but tonight you inspire me.”

  His words made no sense to her, and then he peeled off his last remaining garment and stood before her, cock erect and throbbing. Of a size Sophia had suspected, but still feared. Long and thick and looking as stiff as a stone. He kept his eyes on her, and when she took a small step back he came to her swiftly, folding her in his arms. Still she could feel that huge thing pulsing against her stomach, and she raised her eyes to his.

  “Lars, are you sure we’ll fit?”

  He smoothed her hair. “Sophie, you must have seen men react to your beauty before. But when the male is nude and aroused his organ rises and becomes more prominent. Nature planned us to fit. I’m longing to join with you, but if you’ve changed your mind, tell me and I’ll stop.”

  Then he paused and grinned. “At least I’ll try to stop.”

  She looked at his throbbing cock, raised almost against his flat stomach, then at his hopeful expression and laughed. She had to trust someone and this powerful male had shown her nothing but consideration. It would probably hurt, but she’d endured pain before. And this time the pain would be to her benefit.

  Almost without her volition, the tip of her tongue traced a wet path on her full lower lip, and she watched his eyes smolder. His closeness made her shiver again, and she watched in awe as his eyes grew ever darker. She gave in to her sudden desire and raked his hair with worshipping fingers.

  “Touch my body, Sophie. Feel your power over me. Know how I crave your touch.”

  She looked at his earnest face and ran her hands over his chest. He grabbed them and put one at each nipple.

  “You can pleasure me the same way I pleasure you. I am yours to explore as much as you want.”

  She stared at him, and then fingered his dark brown nubbins. Groaning, he reached for her and kissed her nipples, sucking each one while she quivered in half-pleasure and half-fright.

  “You are so beautiful, Sophie. So unbelievably beautiful.”

  She gulped, assailed by new sensations that both alarmed and frightened her. The hungry gleam in his eyes and the clenching of his jaw fascinated her. Surely these meant he desired her as much as she did him. And she knew her request was based mostly on sheer desire for this beautiful man. Six feet of awesome strength that would soon teach her all she wanted to know. She ran her fingers over his nipples again, watching as they contracted to small pebbles, and he groaned. Moving her hands down his body, she began to explore his powerful physique. Sculpted muscles defined a masculine power that fascinated her.

  Down, down, over his corded chest and lower still. She couldn’t resist exploring his huge cock, now standing straight out from his body. At her first touch his whole body heaved as if his cock was trying to get closer to her fingers. Grasping him, she obliged. She explored the rock-hard shaft in wonder. Dark veins were pulsing and a clear drop of liquid seeped from its tip.

  Suddenly Lars took both her hands in his and held them, whooshing out a sound that was part groan and part pleasure.

  “You tempt me too much, love. Leave off or this will be over for both of us far too quickly.”

  Sophie tried to take her hands back.

  “But, Lars, I’m feeling so good. In a scary sort of way. And I’m hot and feeling wet between my legs. I’ve never felt like this before. I don’t understand but please, Lars, take me now. Before I lose my nerve. I want to do this now.”

  Her words rattled Lars for a moment, and he stared at her in indecision. He really had no choice. If he didn’t plunge into her he’d shoot his sperm over her. There was no way in hell he could stop. Her anxious look reinforced his resolution to make this memorable for her, but he knew it would be difficult to pace himself as he would like. And she was probably correct—her virginity added an extra fillip to her beauty. Then the thought of how experience might enhance her loveliness made him pause. She might give off an even more enticing glow.

  Oh damn his restless mind.

  Trying to slow himself, he grabbed her hand and placed a warm, openmouthed kiss on her palm. Licking her hand, he begged the gods to give him patience.

  She clasped her hands around his neck, and for a moment all he could hear were the gusts of their deep breaths. Lars closed his eyes, willing every ounce of his body into some sort of control. He couldn’t thrust into an untri
ed virgin as he would a courtesan. Still his cock reached out to her in pounding appeal, and her eyes glowed with a begging light.

  She tugged at him with impatient hands, pulling him tight and wriggling against him. “Please, Lars. Now.”

  He was lost and they both knew it. He also knew he had to slow himself down. Grabbing her to him, he held her lower body against his, letting her feel his eager cock throbbing against her mound. Keeping one hand on her body, he shifted the other to the back of her head, kissing her with all the expertise he possessed. His tongue laved her lips, licking her and begging entrance, and she opened for him. Delighting in the taste of her, the sweet and spicy flavor of Sophie, he devoured her mouth. She tasted of orange honey and some secret herb, and he licked her lips before invading them again. She seemed to hesitate, and then her tongue gingerly met his. A deep rumble he didn’t even hear reverberated in his chest as he indulged in a dance of their tongues that made his ready cock harden even more.

  “Lars, you are so beautiful. I could look at your handsome body for hours. I love all those muscles and ripples. Why are you so much more enticing than I ever dreamed a naked man could be? I want to touch you every place at once.”

  For answer he turned his hot eyes to her rounded breasts again, sucking on her nipples as his hands wandered over her flat stomach and then below, centering at last on the pussy he’d been aching to explore. She started and heaved her hips when he thumbed her raised bud but made no move to stop him.

  He wanted to prolong this delightful foreplay, but knew he was on the verge of shooting his cum all over her.

  He took a deep breath and found strength to speak. “Love, you will unman me if we continue this delightful play much longer. I don’t want to rush you but I can’t wait any more.”

  He laid her back and stood gazing at her for a few seconds, drinking in her beauty of both body and mind. Then he came down and covered her. There was such a mingling of trust and fear in her eyes that he elected to get his penetration over with. For both their sakes, and even though he suspected she might not be as ready as he’d like her. He didn’t want to spurt all over her body, and he was perilously close. He, who’d always been in complete command of any sexual encounter, was as little in control as a horny teenager. Feeling between her legs, he found her wonderfully wet and breathed a small sigh of relief. Raising his body a little, he propped himself up with one arm and guided his cock to stroke her pussy.

  Her response was to grab at him to bring his body down to hers but he held her off. He caressed her with hands, hot wet mouth and rigid cock as she moved her hips frantically against his expert fingers. Guiding his cock with one hand, he used it to stroke against her wet clit and stimulate her even more.

  She was panting and thrusting her body against him, her pulsing labia begging for any relief he could give her.

  Damn, she was hot and wet and willing. Why didn’t he just pound into her and give them both what they wanted? But she really didn’t understand what she was asking for, and he wanted her to savor the spectacular sex he knew they’d enjoy. He had to slow down.

  He tried, he really tried. Ignoring his own urgency as much as possible, he again used his hot and steely cock to circle her cunt while she gasped and grabbed at him. Soon he groaned, knowing he couldn’t hold back, despite using every bit of mental discipline he had. He knew he verged on climaxing too soon and allowed himself to push a little into her virgin entrance.

  Looking down at her tense face, he saw she’d turned the color of parchment. He started to draw away, and she threw her arms around him and dragged him down to her again, rubbing her body against every part of him she could touch.

  Beyond his endurance, Lars situated himself again at the mouth of her cunt and drove himself with one sure stroke past the barrier he’d expected to find. It wasn’t as dense as he’d feared, and he took a deep breath, forcing himself to still his movements to give her time to adjust to his size and his entrance.

  Sophie clutched him with surprising strength, but she made no sound. Lars didn’t move, even though sweat ran off his face and chest at the effort this took. As soon as her muscles relaxed he began to penetrate, inching his way in as slowly as he could force himself to go and kissing her deeply. To his surprise, Sophie seemed not to mind his invasion. He thrust himself to the hilt, feeling her take in every inch and close around him like a vise. He glanced at her face and found her color returned, and she writhed against him in unconscious invitation.

  He stroked deep inside her, slowly at first and gradually increasing his tempo as she tried to follow his increasingly rapid thrusts. To his dismay, he realized he had little reserve left, and with a groan he pounded into her with all the love and lust he felt. He soon climaxed, far too soon. He knew she’d not found release. My god, he’d acted like a schoolboy again. For the first time in his life he had been powerless to slow himself. Dismayed at his lack of control, he collapsed on her beloved body for a few minutes, and then rolled off, one arm over his eyes and his sweaty face. Damn himself for the lusty reprobate that he was.

  When he regained enough strength he propped himself on one elbow and looked down at her. Her face showed nothing but puzzlement, and perhaps a little disappointment.

  She sighed and then smiled at him.

  “Well, that was interesting. I liked it more than I expected. And it didn’t hurt much at all. Thank you, Lars.”

  Anger swept through him. Mostly at himself, but partly at her words. “Interesting” indeed. He’d teach her exactly how interesting joining bodies could be.

  She started to sit up and he pushed her back. “Don’t say a word, Sophie. We aren’t done yet. Not by half.”

  “Really? But I thought…”

  “Hush, Sophie.”

  He took her in his arms again, and without any preamble began to massage her clitoris with his expert, loving fingers. He took his time, determined that she could find some of the delight he intended to show her again and again. At first she gasped and tried to bat his hand away, but he would not be dissuaded. He found her swollen and aching, as he’d suspected, and he began a rhythmic circling of the distended flesh of her clit.

  She tried to twitch away, but she panted and raised her hips in an involuntary motion that told him it was surprise at her own emotions, not a true desire for him to stop. He held her hips steady until he felt her relax, and this time when he caressed her clit she bucked against his hand in rhythmic appeal. His cock was again swollen and rigid, but he forced himself to ignore his own needs. He and Sophie would be together for the rest of their lives, and he was determined she’d remember tonight with pleasure. No matter how his cock rose he’d not use it on her again until she had some idea of how thrilling love could be. He’d sheath his rigid rod in her over and over in the future. Determined to keep a grip on his lust, he steeled himself to pleasuring his enticing love.

  Her little gasps and jerks told him she’d been very close to climaxing before. Disgusted with himself for taking his own pleasure so precipitously, he kissed her breasts and then her navel, and all the while his fingers kept up their erotic circling of her heated core of pleasure. Kissing her hair and murmuring love words, he stroked her to her first orgasm. For an elf with a reputation of being a wonderful lover, he’d really botched the whole thing when he’d lost control before.

  She screamed and threw her arms around him as she reached her own peak. Lars bowed his head in gratitude. He’d been a selfish brute, but at least he’d shown her a little of the joy he meant to share with her again and again. Throughout the rest of their lives.

  Her next climaxes would be more intense. His cock could do a much better job than his fingers, but this had been an abnormal circumstance. He wanted to be in complete control of himself while he taught her a little of physical love.

  They’d have all the years of their lives to improve and glory in their desires.

  As she quieted she smiled up at him, a radiant smile. “Maybe I should think of a better wor
d than ‘interesting’.”

  His tone was grave as he answered. “I hope to teach you many new lessons in love, and trust you’ll find many better words.”

  Her startled expression showed her uncertainty of his meaning, but she said nothing more.

  To Lars’ dismay he was as ready to take her as he’d been before their sexual union. She’d be too sore to take again so quickly. Pulling on his trousers wasn’t easy, but he grimaced and managed. Then he went to the cabin door and called for bath water.

  “Take all the time with your bath. You need to relax in warm water. I don’t want you to be too sore from our ‘interesting’ exercise.” He grinned at her blush. “I’d better go up on deck and check on what arrangements have been made for that hell-sent villain. I’ll be back later.”

  * * * * *

  Lars found his ship’s captain in a seldom-seen fury.

  “To think such a miserable rat of a man actually was hired on my watch. I intend to find out how this happened, sir, and I assure you it won’t happen again. In the meantime, I suggest you allow me to flog him. A minimum of twenty lashes, I’m thinking. I’ll wield the flogger myself, sir.”

  Lars went still. The man certainly deserved that and more. His angry mind was screaming at him to let Captain Stevens flay him. But Lars needed to know who’d hired him, and he’d never find out if they flogged him so he holed up like the animal he was. He wanted the villain able to walk off the ship, although of course it was necessary to punish him. Lars intended to question him, knowing it would do little good, and then have him followed when they docked. He’d have to report to his master, the man who’d hired him, and Lars wanted his suspicions confirmed before striking out at the wrong man. The brute’s mind was such a maelstrom and he didn’t trust the impressions he got from entering it. He felt nauseated from the evil thoughts and didn’t care for a repeat performance.