Anzil (Gladiators of Krix #2) - Miranda Martin Page 0,23

but my cock stands stiff and proud, pointing at her like a sword of manhood, proclaiming desire above all.

“No,” I say, glancing down then back to her. “I don’t intend that, I wish only to give you comfort.”

“Well, that kind of comfort isn’t what I need,” she snaps.

Turning away from her, I grab one of the blankets off the floor and wrap it around my waist. She’s moved to the far side of the bed, watching me warily.

“I did not intend—”

“It’s fine,” she interrupts me.

“You must know, I won’t fuck you until you want it,” I say. “And even then, I won’t until you’re singing sounds of pleasure and desire for my cock. I will never force you.”

Her eyes bore into me, but then the corners of her lips quirk and twist into a small smile. She shakes her head.

“We’re both crazy,” she says. “You know that?”

“I know this,” I say, a massive hand clamping down on my chest. My throat constricts, and I can barely force the rest of the words out. “I am crazy for you. For you, I will do anything.”

My words are raw, too honest, cutting their way free to fall heavily between us. Slowly her hand reaches towards me, hanging in the air between us, an invitation. I take it.

Her hand is small, tiny, and warm. I slide onto the bed across from her. We stare into each other’s eyes. My heart thumps wildly like galloping baladi. She scoots across the bed until our hips touch, then she leans her head against my shoulder. I wrap an arm around and hold her close.

“We’re fools,” she says. “But at least we can be fools together.”

The light coming through the shuttered window is brightening. We sit in silence as the sun rises in the sky, awaiting the time of leaving. No more words are necessary, and I think she might have dozed off. I hope so. I want to give her that comfort.

“How far is this?” Kiara asks.

“We’ll arrive at Venta by midday. Finding where the market is will be another matter,” I tell her.

The guards are surly, glaring at the two of us. It’s clear they don’t think they need us, or maybe they’re pissed about her beating three of their mates senseless. It doesn’t matter. I tighten the saddle straps and check them before turning to Kiara.

“Have you ridden a baladi before?” I ask.

“Uh, no,” she says shaking her head. “From a ship, remember? We didn’t have animals to ride on.”

“Okay, well, you put your foot here,” I say pointing to the stirrup.

“Also not an idiot, I got this,” she says, pushing past me.

She swings up into the saddle as if it’s something she’s done every day of her life. As she shifts in the saddle the baladi rears up, ripping its reins free of my hands. Kiara flies off the back of it and lands hard. The guards laugh among themselves, offering no assistance.

I grab the loose hanging reins, jerking the creature down. The baladi huffs as if laughing as Kiara leaps to her feet.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Fine,” she growls, dusting herself off. She slams her foot back into the stirrup, grabs the pommel of the saddle, and pauses to glare at the baladi. “Don’t think about a repeat performance.”

She swings up into the saddle. The baladi rolls its eyes as if trying to look behind its head at her. It moves as if it’s going to try it again, but Kiara grabs the reins in a flash and pulls them tight. The baladi huffs and drops back onto all fours.

“Good,” I say. “You’re okay?”

“I’m fine, we’re working out who’s the boss,” she says.

Somehow the grin she gives me makes it clear that it’s not only her and the baladi who are working that out. Shaking my head, I go to my own baladi and climb on.

“Let’s go,” I say.

“Remember who’s who,” Jyark barks.

He’s the leader of the guards coming with us. A lesser Krixian, but like all his kind, full of his own self-importance. He snaps his reins and we head out. This is going to be a long journey with all the guards this surly. Kiara and I exchange a knowing glance and then we head off.

The journey along the empty roads is uneventful. Apparently we’re a big enough party that no bandits want to bother, which is fine. We’re heading into enough trouble as it is. The city is on the horizon when Kiara speaks up.

“Hold up,” she says, pulling