Night of Fire by Vonna Harper Read Free Book Online

free.
    Sensing that he was approaching the moment of release, she
increased her own efforts. They quivered as one, created their own music, beat
a single drum. As before, he pounded into her, each thrust squirting his fluids
into her. She caught fire, exploded.

Chapter Six
     
    Maia had collapsed on top of Taurus—his softened organ still
partly inside her. Although she’d become aware of her now-cold back, she
couldn’t make herself move until he started to lift her off him. She rolled to
her side next to him and propped herself up on one arm. He was looking at her
with the strangest expression—something akin to the look on her youngest
brother’s face the first time he’d seen an eclipse of the moon.
    “I may have died and gone to heaven,” he muttered.
    “No.” She gasped, alarmed. “You are very much alive.”
    “Figure of speech. Besides, you’re absolutely right. I
couldn’t possibly feel more alive. Lady, I don’t know who the hell you are or
what we’re doing together, but thank you—thank you very much.”
    What we are doing together? The question reverberated
in Maia and reminded her that she hadn’t just been sent here to mate with
Taurus, but to bring him back with her.
    Afraid too much time had passed, she scrambled to her feet
and slipped on her gown. She fastened the dagger around her waist then grabbed
Taurus’ hand and tried to pull him up.
    “Wait a minute,” he protested. He tried to pull her back
down, something she was tempted to let him do. “What are you in a hurry about?
Look…” His amused expression turned to one of concern. “You’re not leaving, are
you?”
    “Yes. I must.”
    She pulled again, this time succeeding in getting him to
stand. He reached for her, but she ducked out of his way, leaned down and
handed him his clothes. He took them and stepped into his briefs.
    “Where are you going?” His tone matched his somber gaze.
    “You—you would not know its name.”
    “No argument there. There’s practically nothing I know about
you. Look, Maia, isn’t there some way I can get you to stay? Ah, how would you
like to go to London tomorrow?”
    London? What was that? “I cannot. Please, hurry. We
must not be late.”
    “ We ? I’m going with you?”
    “Yes, of course.”
    That seemed to reassure him, and although he didn’t take his
eyes off her, he wasted no time getting dressed. He put on his foot-coverings
and then indicated her bare feet.
    “I don’t know how you do that. This is volcanic rock, sharp
as hell in places.”
    She had to admit that the ground was harder than she was
used to, but she had no trouble walking on it. “The fire arch.” She pointed in
the direction the glow was coming from. “We must hurry.” To give her words
emphasis, she grabbed his wrist.
    “I’m coming,” he reassured her. He started to wrap his arm
around her waist then touched the dagger. “That’s no toy, is it? If need be, it
could get deadly?”
    Although she didn’t quite understand what he meant, she
reassured him that one of its functions was for protection. As for the other—it
wasn’t time for him to know that.
    Much as she wanted to run, it was too dark to safely do
that. Besides, the closer they got to the top of the hill where the fire arch had
been lit, the more crowded it became. People, particularly men, stared at her.
Maybe they could look at her and know she’d just mated. She supposed her gown,
so simple compared to what most people wore, was too much of a contrast to be
ignored. When an older woman shook her head in disapproval, it dawned on Maia
that her veil-dress exposed a great deal of her body. Interesting. People from
Taurus’ time covered themselves, she just didn’t understand why.
    As soon as they reached the top of the hill, Taurus ran
interference by shouldering their way through groups of onlookers. She clung to
his side, feeling both protected and on the brink of asking him if he wanted to
mate again. Given how sore she was