Prince of Spies - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,51

cannot clearly say.”

“When Lucan allied with King Salomar, part of the bargain was that Loralie would come to Lucan and treat him…turn him into what you saw.”

“She tried to merge him with the skiths.” His tone was grim.

Riki trembled in his arms as she nodded.

“And Loralie told Lucan you’d lose your healing gift if not a virgin.” Nico rubbed comforting circles on her back as he held her, thinking through all the information he had on Lucan’s sinister doings. “It might surprise you to know that Loralie also told your sister you’d be found in Skithdron.”

“Why would she do that?” Riki’s spine stiffened as she regained some of her composure.

“I begin to suspect she’s not quite as evil—at least not in some of her actions—as we have always believed. Perhaps she told Lucan to keep you virgin to spare you rape and sexual torture by that evil creature she’d helped create.”

“I don’t understand why she would help me even that much.”

Nico rubbed her shoulders, needing to refocus her mind on much more pleasant matters. “It will all come clear in time, I’m sure. But for now, sweetheart, I believe we have more important matters to tend to.”

“Such as?” She smiled up at him coquettishly, making his heart stutter a bit at her beauty. She never failed to steal his breath.

“Pleasure, my sweet virgin. For us both. But especially for you. This first time, I want you to learn the pleasure I can bring you. I want you to enjoy every moment. If anything I do bothers you, I expect you to tell me right away.”

Riki looked up into his eyes, smiling her trust in him. It was a heady responsibility and one he would cherish for the rest of their lives. Gently, he lowered his head, touching his lips to hers in a brief salute as he drew her closer against his straining erection.

She tasted of honey and roses, sweet and pure. Nico feared she was too good for the likes of him, but he didn’t have the strength to let her go. No, he wanted her all to himself for the rest of their lives. Nico had finally found his mate and he would cherish her and hold her close forevermore.

But first he would claim her.

Nico coaxed her tongue into his mouth, sucking lightly, enjoying her little whimpers of excitement. She was so new to this kind of loveplay she squeaked and Nico relished his role as teacher. He’d never had a virgin before and he knew with certainty, he would never have another woman ever again. Only Riki.

It might take some time to talk her around to believing that, but he’d enjoy every moment of it. Still, Nico decided to go as slow as he could so as not to scare her off. Riki was still a little skittish, with good reason, and he wouldn’t risk losing her because he’d pushed too far, too fast.

“Nico,” she moaned into his mouth and the sound had him straining against her.

As gently as he could manage, he tugged her pretty dress up over her shoulders, parting from her only enough to remove the barrier between them. Her fingers went to the ties of his shirt, inflaming him. She was eager and ready, nearly desperate for what he could give her, and Nico’s chest pounded with satisfaction and desperate hunger.

“Do you know how special you are?” he whispered against her ear as he moved downward, his mouth worshiping her skin. “Can you feel what you do to me?” Nico ground his hips forward into her thighs, relishing her softness against his very hard cock. “You set me on fire, Arikia. Only you.”

He trailed his lips down her soft body, pausing along the way to tease her breasts, but also stopping here and there to kiss the scars left behind by her ordeal as Lucan’s prisoner. Nico knew she needed his tenderness as well as his passion. She’d undoubtedly seen things that would make her afraid of what could occur between a man and woman. In light of that, Riki’s willingness to make love with him astounded and humbled him.

Pausing to lick a small scar that traced down her abdomen to her belly button, he delved inside the little indentation with his tongue. Riki’s girlish giggle as he tickled her was music to Nico’s ears. That was what he wanted. He wanted to release her carefree nature, to reach the woman who should have been sheltered and loved all her life and never