Tierra awoke to the scent of Renn and s.e.x and forest breezes, and the cinnamon nutmeg smell of the tree. He cradled her in the curve of his arm as he gently caressed her body, trailing his fingers to her waist, then over her hip to her thigh and back to her waist again. A slow, sensuous caress that made her quim tingle and her nipples tighten.

She felt a pleasant ache between her thighs, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were sore from his sucking and her mouth raw from his stubble chafing her skin.

His c.o.c.k was erect against her belly, and she knew that all she had to do was climb onto that rigid shaft and he would f.u.c.k her 'til she screamed.

Again.

But what of his possessive words, his insistence that she belonged to him?

Surely part of the s.e.xual game they had played. Her willing wench to his lord and master.

A game. Only a game.

Renn's hand paused in mid-stroke and Tierra opened her eyes. The dark warrior's gaze was fixed on her, a strange look upon his handsome face. Like he was studying her, trying to see what might lie within her soul.

Realizing she was no longer bound, she moved her hand up his chest to his face. He didn't move, didn't speak as she touched his jaw line with her fingers, exploring the sharp ridges and contours of his masculine features. His stubble was rough against the pads of her fingers.

"This scar." Tierra slid her fingertips over the jagged strip running down his cheek. "Where did you get it?"

"You are so sweet, so beautiful, denai." Renn captured her hand in his, in a movement so quick it caught her by surprise. He brushed his lips over her knuckles. "Let us break our fast.. .and then I shall have you for dessert."

Tierra shivered, and when Renn sat up she almost begged him to hold her close again. What was the matter with her? The man was just like any other man, and most certainly a good f.u.c.k.

An incredibly good f.u.c.k at that.

"While you slept I retrieved nourishment from Feymir's saddlebags." Renn set out seedcakes, dried figs and a small flask between them on the strange blue moss.

She scooted up to sit beside him, enjoying the pleasant ache in her body. "What is this tree?" she asked as she selected one of the cakes and then took a bite.

"A bluewood." Renn grabbed the flask, uncorked it and took a swig. A trickle of water ran down his chin. Tierra stopped in mid-chew as she watched it roll down his neck, onto his broad chest, to the flat of his belly down toward the nest of curls around his very large, very erect c.o.c.k.

"See something you would like to add to your breakfast?" Renn's deep voice caused her to snap her gaze up to meet his.

Heat flushed through Tierra when she saw his sensual smile. She felt strangely fl.u.s.tered and off balance. Instead of answering, she bit into the seed cake and looked at the fluttering blue leaves of the tree around her as she enjoyed the honeyed taste of her food.

"The bluewood is a tree common only to the northernmost reaches of the D'euan Forest and to Wilding Wood," Renn said, drawing her attention back to him. "It is quite rare."

Tierra wiped the last of the seedcake crumbs from her hands, using a strip of her torn tunic. "Where are we?"

"In the northernmost reaches of the D'euan Forest." Renn picked up a dried fig and offered it to her. When she took it, he popped another one into his mouth. "We're on the edge of Wilding Wood."

"That's right." Tierra chewed the fig thoughtfully and swallowed it. With the Sorcerer interrupting them earlier in the morning, and then her wild chase and capture at Renn's hands, she had forgotten. To'en, the fair-headed G.o.d, had sent her in this direction. Had he meant for her to meet up with Renna"did this man truly know where her halias were?

Before she had the opportunity to ask, Renn took one of her hands in his and raised it to his mouth. "Denai," he murmured, then pressed his lips to the center of her palm. "What do you desire?"

Every other thought vanished at his sensual touch. Tierra shivered at the feel of his mouth, and then moaned when he flicked his tongue against her flesh.

"I want you." She climbed into his lap, enjoying the flare in his silver eyes and the feel of his c.o.c.k against her belly. "f.u.c.k me, Renn."

"Are you not sore?" He released her hand and then reached for her mound. Tierra gasped as he slid two fingers into her channel. "Does that not hurt?"

A smile touched the corner of her mouth at the concern in her powerful warrior's eyes, the gentleness in his tone. "I feel only pleasure." She trailed her fingers down his chest, straight to his c.o.c.k and wrapped her hand around his thickness. "I want you. Inside me."

Renn clasped her hips with his hands and rolled onto his back, bringing her with him. Tierra laughed, a wild joy filling her to know that she would have this man again. And even a third or fourth time, if she chose to.

"Why so serious, big man?" she said as she gained her balance and noticed the solemn expression on his face.

"You are..." His voice trailed away as he moved his hands to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and covered them, touching her almost reverently. "You are the most exquisite creature I have ever known."

"And you are by far the largest." Tierra smiled as she planted her knees on either side of his hipsa"he was so big she had to spread her thighs wide to straddle him. Bracing one hand against his chest, she rose up on her knees, sinking slightly into the blue moss of the tree. She reached for his c.o.c.k with her free hand and brought it to the entrance to her core. "And this part of you is perfect."

A blissful sigh slipped from her as she sank onto his shaft, sliding it into her slick core. "Yes." She began riding him, moving up and down, controlling her level of pleasure, the depth of each stroke. "G.o.ds but you feel good inside me."

"And you fit me like a well-made sheath." Renn slid his hands down her body and gripped her hips tight. His hands were so large that his thumbs reached her c.l.i.t and he began ma.s.saging the swollen flesh. "f.u.c.k me, Tierra. Take all of me."

Leaves from the blue tree feathered across Tierra's face and b.r.e.a.s.t.s as she arched her back and drove herself down on Renn's c.o.c.k 'til he was buried deep inside her. "Yes!" she cried. "My G.o.ds, yes." The coa.r.s.e leaves tickled at her nipples like dozens of tiny fingers as she rode him harder and faster yet.

Tierra reached below her a.s.s and found Renn's b.o.l.l.o.c.ks. "You will make me spill my seed inside you if you are not careful," he murmured as he increased the pressure on her c.l.i.t. "I cannot wait much longer."

Her belly tightened and she gasped as her body began to shakea"as though she might come apart. "Renn." She trembled like the tree's leaves as she continued her ride on his c.o.c.k, the climax building and building. "So close. Please..."

He grasped her waist and stilled her, then pummeled his hips, f.u.c.king her hard and fast.

Tierra shattered, breaking into as many leaves as were upon the tree. Everything spun around her, a whirlwind carrying the pieces of her soul and twisting them, binding them with Renn's. So far, so very far away she heard her own cries and Renn's answering bellow. Felt his c.o.c.k jerk within her quim, spending his seed inside her.

Slowly the world came into focus, but Tierra felt boneless, unable to support herself. She collapsed against Renn's chest, melting into his strength.

"Denai," he murmured. "By the G.o.ds but you are astonishing."

She smiled, her cheek against his chest, listening to the rumble of his words, the harshness of his breathing, the rapid pounding of his heart. His c.o.c.k was still lodged deep within her, still thick enough that she felt full.

Renn stroked Tierra's hair from her face as she lay upon him, well f.u.c.ked and sated. He could imagine waking up every morning with her in his armsa"a thought that he had once mocked, thinking he preferred instead to bed a different wench each night.

Now he could only imagine this one beautiful woman in his bed.

"Who are you?" Tierra's sudden question brought Renn out of his thoughts and he lowered his chin to his chest so that he might better look at her.

"I am the man who just f.u.c.ked you." He smiled and ran the pad of his thumb over her lips. "The man who has made you his."

The man who loves you. Even as the thought entered his mind, he held it back. Something told him this woman was not ready for such declarations.. .yet.

Tierra raised her head and stacked her hands on his chest, then settled her chin on the back of one of her hands. She studied him with her emerald eyes, her gaze all at once serious. "You are Nordain. You are related to the Sorcerer." She frowned, and then continued, "You know where my heart-sisters are. You knew who I was when we first met.. .you were tracking me."

Renn took a deep breath, knowing that now was the time for truth. Where to begin?

She pushed herself to a sitting position, still straddled across his hips. "I shouldn't have f.u.c.ked you without knowing who you are."

For a moment she paused and her eyes seemed to say, But I couldn't help myself.

"Now tell me," she demanded. "Everything."

"All right." He nodded. "I am Renn L'tiercel, Captain of the Nordain Fearless Legions." He caught her waist with one hand, holding her in his lap as he pushed himself so that he sat up, his back to a raised arm of the tree. "I am second ruler of Phoenicia, behind my brother Aric, who is King."

Tierra studied him, her brows narrowing. "Your relationship to Zanden?"

"Brother by birth only." Renn scowled and bit back a curse. "The b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

She nodded, but still he could not read her expression. "Liana and Ranelle," she said. "Where are they? Are my heart-sisters safe?"

"They are well." He offered her a smile. "Aric and I have only just discovered that Ranelle is our younger sister, stolen away from our family when she was but a child. We had no knowledge of her whereabouts 'til recently."

Tierra eased herself from Renn's lap, his c.o.c.k sliding out of her channel. "Ranelle? Nordain? Sister to the King and the King's second?" She took a deep breath as she digested his information. "You are saying she is a Princess?"

"Yes." Renn shrugged. "But as she has married Elvin royalty, she will one day be Queen of Seraphine."

Tierra's back went rigid, her eyes widening. "Ranelle has married the future Elvin King?"

"Yes. Jalen is his name." Renn gave a quick nod. "Ranelle now bears the mark of enrli here." He touched Tierra's forehead. "And here." He brushed his fingers through the tight, damp curls on her mound, and she shivered beneath his touch. "They are expecting a daughter."

"All this in a mere two weeks time?" Tierra smirked. "And I suppose Liana is engaged to another Prince?"

Renn raked his hand through his thick black hair. "No. Liana is joined to my brother Aric. She is now Queen of Phoenicia and she carries twin sons within her womb."

Biting her lip, Tierra nodded, and then said, "Of course. I should have known. This makes perfect sense." A slightly hysterical laugh tripped over her tongue. She rolled her eyes to the blue canopy before turning her gaze to him. "I just f.u.c.ked a crazy man."

"I speak truth." Renn reached for her but she backed away.

"This is just too fantastical." She shook her head. "I would like to believe you, I really would. But no sane person would."

He wanted to grab her, make her see sense, but he didn't want to scare her. "I was searching for you to take you to them." Forcing himself to remain calm, he rested his back against the bluewood tree's arm. "The eve of Aric and Liana's joining celebration, I gave my vow that I would find and return with you."

"You are beyond madness." Tierra gave him a false smile. "You live in a happy delusion."

Renn scowled. She raised her hands and pointed her fingers at him.

At the same moment he realized what she was about to do, the air glittered as she unleashed her magical ropes.

In an instant the bindings wrapped around him, tying him fast to the tree.

Even his legs were bound.

Again.

"Release me!" he shouted, furious at her, and furious at himself for not taking into consideration that she might not believe his story.

"Stay. Away. From. Me." Her green eyes sparked and anger infused in her voice. "I have no time for dalliances with daft b.a.s.t.a.r.ds."

"Foolish wench." Renn roared as he fought against the magical bindings. "I have told you only the truth."

"Ha." Tierra climbed onto a nearby branch and began easing from the tree. "b.a.s.t.a.r.d," she muttered again.

"G.o.ds d.a.m.n," he shouted. "Listen to me!"

But the little witch gave him one last piercing emerald glance, and then she was gone.

Chapter Six.

Tierra scrambled down the tree, trying to maintain her focus on the spellbindings. She was so angry with Renn and so angry with herself that she was shaking. How could she have allowed herself to f.u.c.k a madman?

When she reached the ground, the invisible ties to her magic snapped, jarring her from her thoughts of strangling the b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Renn roared and branches crashed overhead.

d.a.m.n!

Fear propelled her forward. She rushed past Feymir and took off through the forest, leaves crunching beneath her bare feet and twigs snapping. She couldn't allow him to catch her this time.

Tierra bolted through the wood, her heart pounding, blood rushing in her ears, and her lungs burning. She dodged through thick pine, oak and bluewood trees, and hurtled over fallen logs. Branches scratched her face, poked her naked b.r.e.a.s.t.s and jabbed at her bare thighs, but she ignored the discomfort.

Behind her the crashing came closer and closer as the warrior drew near.

He was surely furious at what she'd done.

She had to escape him!

He would not harm her, despite his dark and arrogant nature. Of that Tierra felt certain. Mostly. And she could still feel the fire of his touch upon her skin.

G.o.ds, but he was an incredible lover. And an incredibly stupid brute.

A madman.

Low branches snagged her ankle, and she stumbled, barely catching herself before she fell. A surge of renewed energy rushed through her body, giving her the strength to goon.

If she could find a place to hide, she could escape the barbarian and whatever punishment he would exact.

She scrambled between a pair of granite boulders and found herself in an enormous clearing filled with an odd blue mist.

d.a.m.n. No place to hide!

Hair on the back of her neck p.r.i.c.kled and she knew the warrior was near. She sprinted toward thick bushes to her left. The second she moved she was certain she had felt fingers sc.r.a.pe her bare back.