Dero's Bride (Norlanian Brides Book Five) Read online

  She reached for the covers to clench them but he met her fingers, sliding his up to mesh with hers. She gripped his hands, tugging on him as he began to move his tongue faster on her, heat swelling through her abdomen. Her breathing became choppy as heat filled her, her pussy clenching. She closed her eyes as she spiraled toward pleasure. He sucked her clit, flicking his tongue rapidly over the tip. Her body locked up as her climax poured over her, her back arching and a cry of pleasure on her lips.

  He released one of her hands and slipped it between her legs. One and then a second finger entered her as he continued to lick and suck her clit, and she saw stars. Nothing had ever felt as good as Dero’s mouth and fingers, and she was very positive that if she hadn’t already planned to go with him, that she was definitely going now.

  A third finger pushed inside slowly, stretching her with a slight burning sensation. He eased out of her and pushed them in again, until they moved easily in her depths.

  “Dero,” she pleaded, pulling on his hand as she writhed with pleasure under him.

  He lifted from her and sucked his fingers into his mouth, groaning as if he were tasting something exquisite. She wanted to taste him. She wanted to do everything with him, and to him, and to never, ever leave the bed. For a hundred years.

  “I love how you’re looking at me, ilora,” he said as he prowled up her body.

  Before he settled between her legs, he undid his trousers and pushed them down until his cock was free. She spread her legs wide for him, anxious to feel him. He settled between her legs, his cock touching her entrance, and then he pushed inside. She arched under him, wrapping her legs around his waist and gripping his shoulders. She knew her fingernails were digging into his skin, but she couldn’t stop thinking about how good he felt as he slid into her until their bodies were tightly wed.

  “Stars, you feel so good,” Dero said with a growly voice.

  She slipped her hands into his hair and angled his head so she could kiss him. “You, too,” she whispered against his lips before she kissed him.

  He groaned into her mouth as he flexed his hips to pull from her pussy and then pushed forward. Their bodies rocked together until she felt herself tumbling toward pleasure again. She wrenched away from his mouth and pressed her head to his shoulder, panting for breath. He began to pump harder into her, his cock hitting a place that made her vision blur. As she climaxed for the second time, she screamed his name, relaxing into his hold as he pumped into her several times before he growled her name and she felt his cock thicken, the heat of his climax making her body shiver in pleasure again.

  She hugged her arms around his neck, overcome with an emotion she couldn’t quite name. It was more than the blissful trembles that moved through her, and the happy tears that slipped over her cheeks. It was more than the fear of the unknown on the other side of the mountains, or of leaving her life behind. It was everything and nothing at the same time, a strange limbo she couldn’t imagine herself ever being in.

  But here was this beautiful male, who had taken her captive and then stolen her heart entirely in a short amount of time. He’d given her more pleasure than she’d ever known, and in that raw moment, when her body felt like it fragmented into a million tiny shards, she knew she’d never be the same again. Because she was Dero’s now. And he was hers, too.

  For a female who hadn’t had any prospects a day earlier, suddenly she felt like she could do anything with Dero by her side.

  He brushed the tears from her cheeks and kissed her tenderly. “Are these happy tears, ilora?”

  “They are.”

  He smiled in relief, kissed her, and then moved slowly to her side, separating their bodies in a languid way that made them both groan. He snuggled next to her, covering her with his warmth.

  She turned her head to look at him. “It’s never been like that for me before. I’ve never felt such pleasure.”

  Her cheeks heated in blush, but she wasn’t ashamed that she’d not had a lot of experience. She thought she’d enjoyed sex before, but she knew now that she hadn’t really ever had sex. Or maybe it was love now. The difference between what she’d known before and what she had shared with Dero was like night and day.

  “It’s not been like this for me before, either. It feels like my first time, and in a way I think it was. The first time, our first time together, should have been special.”

  “It was. I feel like we’ve been together for a long time.”

  “I do also.”

  “When do we need to leave for your home?”

  “Our home,” he corrected with a smile. “My brother promised to give me three dins before he would come looking for me, so we have time to get to know each other.”

  She rolled to face him, snuggling into his embrace and kissing his chest. She wanted to spend this precious time while they were alone in the wooing chamber learning about each other, but instead, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, thankful that Dero had found her.

  Chapter 4

  The time in the wooing chamber slipped by swiftly. Dero’s soul mate was a beautiful, sensual creature who bloomed under his attentions. He felt like a king when they were mating, when he could make her lose control with his hands and mouth. He was thoroughly addicted to the sweet taste of her. And knowing that the males who had come before him had never made her feel so good was the only reason he wasn’t heading into Kyvern City to slaughter them for even looking at her.

  He slid his palm down her bare back as she rested on the bed. She made a soft sound, almost like a questioning purr, and her lids parted as she gazed at him.

  “You have the softest skin, ilora.”

  “You make me feel beautiful.”

  “You are.”

  “I never felt much like that before, though. My aunt always told me I was pretty, but it’s not quite the same when it’s your family.”

  He chuckled. “My mama used to tell me that I was so handsome that females would fall at my feet when I was older. She wasn’t right about that.”

  “Handsome isn’t the right word. You’re the sexiest male I’ve ever met.”

  “You’re most definitely the most beautiful female I’ve ever known.”

  She rolled to her back and picked up his hand, kissing his fingertips. “We have to go now?”

  “It’s been nice here, hasn’t it? I don’t want to leave either, but the last thing I want to happen is for my family to believe something is wrong and come looking for us.”

  He sat up and rolled his neck, aware that the sun was setting and it would be the optimal time for them to leave. They needed to be over the top of the mountain as quickly as possible. It was tempting to go down the mountain instead and use the hidden entrance at the base, but he knew that was foolish; they’d run the risk of coming across soldiers from Kyvern City on patrol in the woods that separated the mountains from the city. After the bombs went off in the two buildings, the military would have certainly increased security around the city.

  “Get dressed, ilora, and I’ll prepare a pack for us. We’ll have to move fast until we get over the mountaintop, but then we can take our time.”

  “I don’t suppose you have a hover-machen handy?” she asked.

  He leaned over and kissed her temple. “Sorry. Technology is absent from our day-to-day lives.”

  “I think I might miss some things that technology gives us, like the vid shows I enjoy watching in the evenings. But I feel like I’m getting ready to start a life with you that will be better than anything I can dream of.”

  “I feel the same.”

  He stood and stretched, his mind turning with the journey ahead. There was a narrow trail that traversed the side of the mountain to the top. There were few animals that would climb the mountain, but some would to hunt for food. His papa told him that when the Norlanian males used the chambers more frequently in years past, animals used the trail as part of their hunting grounds. Now the animals looked elsewhere.

  He dressed in hi
s trousers and tunic, then went into the main room where he left his moccasins and belt. The belt held his hunting knife, which was a gift from his grandfather, who had taught him how to use it. He opened the pack on the couch, realizing he was out of food bars and his water pouch was empty. In the eating area, he found a supply of food bars and dried fruit, then filled the pouch from the pump in the bathing room.

  “Are you ready?” he asked Tarihn.

  “I’m a little worried about the hike up the mountain. I’ve never done anything like this before.” She chewed her bottom lip.

  He used his thumb to gently pull her lip from between her teeth, and then he kissed her. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll keep you safe.”

  She smiled, but he could tell it was just for his benefit. Although the hike up the mountain wasn’t going to be too difficult, he could guess that she was worried about falling or getting injured.

  He removed the pack from his back and set it on the ground. After taking out several of the heavier objects and placing them in the pockets of his trousers, he closed the pack and tested the weight, finding it much lighter.

  “If you wear the pack, you can walk closer to me on the trail. Otherwise, it will be on my back between us. Test it and see if it’s too heavy for you.”

  She put the pack on and wiggled the straps on her shoulders. “It’s good.”

  “Tell me if it gets too heavy.”

  He kissed her again, took a final look around the main room of the wooing chamber, and then headed for the door. He left Tarihn inside after he opened the security door so he could ensure the path was clear and the sun had set entirely. When he determined all was clear, he led Tarihn out of the chamber and closed the security door. Because he had broken the lock, he used his knife to pare down a branch, which he jammed into the doorframe by the hinge to keep the door from opening.

  He took Tarihn’s hand as they stepped out onto the path. “Stay close and keep quiet. If I move too fast for you, tug on my hand and I’ll slow down. Once we’re over the mountain, we can stop to rest.”

  She looked down and squeezed his hand tightly. Cupping her face with his free hand, he whispered, “I won’t let you fall.”

  “Okay. I’ll stop being scared when we’re on the ground again.”

  He turned and kept hold of her hand, running his free one along the mountain as he moved slowly forward. Using the mountain as a guide, he was able to feel as it sloped upward. He made sure to test the ground with each step before giving Tarihn room to move behind him.

  He wanted to move quicker, but with her safety on the line, he knew that her inexperience with climbing could lead to an injury. The last thing he wanted was for her to be harmed because he was in a rush.

  “Are we supposed to be quiet?” she whispered.

  He chuckled lightly. “We shouldn’t talk a lot, but you can talk if you need to. Our voices probably won’t carry all the way down to the city, but it’s best to be safe.”

  “Okay. It’s really dark out here.”

  “I’m right in front of you.”

  “If I weren’t holding your hand, I wouldn’t believe you.”

  “The moons will rise soon and we’ll have some more light.”

  “I hope they rise early.”

  He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and continued on. The trail grew steep for a little while as the moons crested the mountains. It was the time in the cycle where the moons weren’t at their brightest, so while they illuminated the area enough for them to see better, they didn’t run the risk of being visible from the ground.

  “Oh,” Tarihn said, squeezing his hand tightly.

  “Are you looking down, ilora?” he murmured.

  “We’re high.”

  He looked up to see how much farther they had to go. “We’re closer to the top than we were. Do you want to stop for a moment?”

  “No, I’m fine.” Her voice trembled slightly and he knew she was not fine, but there wasn’t anything he could do about that until they finished their climb.

  “You can do this. I have faith in you.”

  “At least one of us does.”

  He snorted. “You keep me on my toes.”

  They remained quiet for a little while longer. He focused on the trail in front of them as it wound ever upward to the top and the sound of Tarihn behind him. He was about to offer her some more encouragement when his right foot slid a little on some loose gravel. He leaned against the mountainside to keep himself from drifting too far toward the edge. As he moved his foot ahead carefully, he heard an odd cracking sound. Pausing, he pressed his foot down more firmly and heard the cracking sound grow louder.

  He pulled Tarihn around him swiftly and pushed her against the mountainside as the portion of the trail he was standing on crumbled under his feet. She screamed and called his name as he twisted his hand from her grasp so he didn’t pull her off the mountain.

  He grabbed hold of a protruding rock and swung himself back from the crumbling edge of the trail, but didn’t clear it entirely. His foot lodged in a crevice as he pushed himself backward to the trail, feeling a sharp pain as he heard an entirely different kind of cracking sound. Agony shot up his leg and he knew he’d broken his ankle.

  “Oh stars! Dero!” Tarihn cried, her voice high with fright.

  “Stay back. The trail isn’t stable,” he said, clenching his teeth to keep from shouting at the pain.

  “What’s wrong? I heard a sickening sound.”

  “It’s my ankle. I’ll be fine, ilora, just give me a moment.”

  He tried to make his voice light and full of confidence, but he knew he failed.

  “You’re definitely not fine. Let me help.”

  He snarled at her. “Don’t you dare.”

  “What?” Her face crumpled and he could see the tears glistening in her eyes.

  “It’s not safe. You need to keep climbing and reach the top of the mountain. When the sun rises, my family will be patrolling and they’ll see you.”

  “I’m not leaving you.”

  “You must. I can’t make the climb myself.”

  “Let me help you back to the chamber. I saw a medical pack in one of the cabinets.”

  “I can’t put weight on my ankle, which means I’m stuck, but you’re not. Go ahead without me, and bring my family back here.”

  He hated himself at that moment. He was supposed to protect her, and he was sending her up the mountain alone to meet his family who were strangers to her.

  Her voice was thick with emotion. “I don’t want to leave you.”

  “You’re braver than you know, Tarihn. Keep walking. I believe in you.”

  “Dero,” she whispered.

  “Go, ilora.” Extracting his foot from the crevice, fresh pain shot up his leg. He managed to stop from snarling a few curses, because he didn’t want to make Tarihn worry more than she already was. He moved farther back on the trail to get away from the crumbling edge.

  Dero could see she was struggling with leaving him. His heart swelled at the gesture, but there wasn’t anything she could do for him except go for help. She turned slowly and he felt a little relief as she took a few tentative steps from him. He knew his family would be patrolling the mountain for him at dawn.

  Tarihn would be all right. She had to be.

  The alternative was unthinkable.

  Chapter 5

  Tarihn looked ahead at the trail. The light from the twin moons barely illuminated the path. Behind her, Dero was in pain and vulnerable. He assured her he’d be fine, but she wasn’t so sure. Anything could happen to him while she was gone, and he wouldn’t have her to help. Being together seemed like a better idea than being separated.

  She turned slowly and faced him. The trail had crumbled under his feet and they were separated by a gap. If it weren’t for his quick thinking, one or both of them might have fallen. He’d thought of her first, and it was her turn to put him in that same place.

  “Ilora?” He spoke with affecti
on, but the word was laced with pain.

  She said nothing as she wrapped her hand around a protruding piece of rock and tugged experimentally. The rock, rough against her palm, didn’t budge. She swallowed hard and looked at Dero. He was her soul mate. She honestly believed that they were meant to find each other. Despite the odd start to their relationship, she couldn’t deny that her heart was firmly his. Although part of her wanted to do as he said and climb the rest of the way on her own, she knew she couldn’t. He needed her, and his own male stubbornness wasn’t going to stop her from helping him. She’d worked at the medical center for long enough to have an idea of how to help him, and she wasn’t about to let fear get the better of her.

  Taking a deep breath, she pushed the fear from her mind and stepped across the gap. She used the rock to push herself away from the other side and crouched down in front of Dero. He was on his elbows, giving her a narrow look.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Not leaving you behind.”

  He groaned. “Tarihn.”

  She shook her head. “You can’t stop me from helping you. You set me free from my old life down there in the city. I won’t leave you here just because you feel like it’s the better option.”

  He looked both unhappy and pleased, which would have made her chuckle if the situation weren’t serious. Removing the pack, she carefully lifted his injured leg and put the pack underneath to elevate it. She took off his moccasin and rested her fingertips gently on his foot. The ankle was swelling, and judging by the cracking sound she’d heard a bone had snapped, but it hadn’t pushed through the skin.

  She remembered him adding a blanket to the pack, so she pulled it out and said, “Let me see your knife.”