And it was the truth. As she stroked him, loving the feel of velvet over steel, she said, "What would a brave man turn away from, I wonder."
"I don't know. I can't think right now."
After moistening her lips, she moved above him, scattering kisses over his chest and delving her tongue into his navel. "I like when you can't think." Lower still. Her mouth sank down on his erection, her tongue playing the head.
"Delilah, I - I - we should be figuring this out. This challenge, this - " Her tongue swirled over the plump head. "Oh, gods."
"Has a woman done this to you before?" She'd heard talk of it among her sisters and knew men relished having it done.
"No. Never."
She would be the first, then, and the knowledge filled her with possessive pride. "I've never done this for a man, but it's my honor to do it for you." Without another word, she sucked him. Loving the moans and groans he made, reveling in the gyrations of his hips, the feel of his hands fisted in her hair.
Up and down she worked, taking him so far down her throat she couldn't breathe. But she loved it. Couldn't stop. Rode his erection with her mouth until he collapsed, spent.
Smiling, she curled beside him. Gods, she loved this man. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her, she knew that now. Battle her sisters - yes. Walk through raging fires - of course. Kill Vorik - she had only to name when and where.
"You were saying something about a riddle," she prompted.
He chuckled.
"I'm not sure why the gods would give us a riddle rather than test our battle skills. Didn't they mention they wanted the strongest warrior to win? If so, why not give us another, more straightforward challenge?"
"Strongest warrior, yes, but also the best warrior. They've already tested our might, our endurance, our memory. Perhaps intelligence is the only thing left." He sighed, loud and long. "We'll figure this out. And if necessary, we'll destroy the creature, whatever it is, as well as that blackguard Tagart. Broderick, I would like to save, if only there were a way. As for you, you've managed to distract me again. I believe I owe you a very special kiss. And while I'm tasting you, I want you to remind me of everything you've promised me. If you stop talking, I stop kissing."
And with that naughty threat, he bent and made good on his word.
SHIVAWN HAD ALYSSA behind him on the centaur as they pranced toward the edge of the cliff. The Amazon camp was nearby. Thanks to nymph senses, they could sniff females out anywhere, anytime. Her hands were on his waist, holding tight. He had never felt stronger, more alive.
Valerian rode beside him, the nymph army lined in their wake.
"Brenna will not be happy if we slaughter the female warriors," Joachim said in his deep, gruff voice. He was a strong soldier, one of the best, and he was mated to the human Shivawn had once owned.
They were friends now only because Shivawn had relinquished all claim to the girl. That was a good thing, too. As he was learning, all things happened for a reason. If he'd kept Brenna, he would not have been free to mate with Alyssa, and he would rather die than be without his Alyssa.
"Clearly, they are hiding in wait. But they have not attacked us yet," Valerian pointed out, "so our charms must be working."
The lure of the nymphs, he thought, something he'd always been proud of but cursed today. He didn't want Alyssa upset for any reason.
There was a whoop, a war cry, and then the Amazons were flooding the edge of the cliff above their camp. "Halt," a female voice shouted angrily. "State your business, nymphs."
"Perhaps we aren't as charming as we assumed," Valerian muttered. He raised his arm, and the army obeyed. "We came to speak with the prisoners."
One woman stepped forward. She was fair-haired, tall and muscled, yet as pretty as an angel. "No," she said, and Shivawn recognized the voice that had commanded them to stop. She must be the tribe's queen, Kreja. "You may now turn around, Valerian, and return to your palace. We won't kill you. This time."
Shivawn had heard of her bloodthirsty nature, her un-bending determination and the iron fist with which she ruled her people. What he had not heard was whether she'd ever spent time with Valerian. That familiarity...had they once been lovers? If so, Valerian