Page 23 of Beauty

What did it say about the enormous responsibilities of thelast thirteen years of my life that when I fantasize about a relationship, it’swith men who want to take the lead? Still, I can’t let all of my control go.Not even in a dream.

“I can let you take the lead in this, but know I’m still myown woman.”

He chuckles lightly. “I wouldn’t have you any other way. Youwouldn’t be alive today if you were less of a woman than you are.”

It’s true, and I don’t want to think about any of that rightnow. I don’t want to think about the fact that I must deal with the mayortomorrow. The festival will be crowded enough that I can avoid him until Iabsolutely have to stand beside him and announce our engagement. I’ll play thedemure fiancée and plead the harvest to keep from his company. As soon as themoney is in Gillian’s hands, we’ll disappear.

Micha is a momentary problem. My Dark Ones are moreimportant.

“All right then, you should tell me what you want me to do.You seemed to have enjoyed kissing me before.” I direct my question to Onesince Two is once again preoccupied. His hands smooth over my shoulders anddown my arms as his mouth is again on the nape of my neck. The heat of his bodysurrounds me, and I can feel something hard press against my lower back.

His male part. His cock. I hear the village women giggle asthey talk of their husbands and lovers. They often speak of cocks and how muchpleasure a cock can bring. I watched the animals mate in the fields, but thewomen around me tell me that making love to a man is very different.

This certainly feels different.

I rub back against Two.

“Hey. Don’t you forget me.” One presses in, trapping mebetween their massive, muscular bodies. I’m deliciously crushed in betweenthem. “And I love kissing you. We both do. Now calm down and let us takecontrol. We’re getting closer. Can you feel it?”

Something does feel different. Their voices are strongerthan before. Where they used to whisper, now they speak in strong tones. Wherethe touches and caresses were once light and soft as a spring breeze, they feelsolid and real now.

“I feel it. I want you here with me.” I want to never wakeup. I want to sink so far into the dream that it becomes reality. Then I don’thave to worry about killing Torin or saving my people. I don’t have to find aplace to hide Mags and Ove. I don’t have to plot ways to keep Micha’s hands offme. I can simply be their submissive.

One kisses me, his lips strong against my own. I shiver whenI feel his tongue trace the seam of my lips at the exact moment Two’sfingertips begin to pull down the bodice of my gown. The silky fabric skims myskin, and I open for One’s invasion. One kisses like a ravenously hungry man,his mouth slanting over mine again and again. He rubs his tongue along mine, aslow, silky slide that heats my whole body.

I feel it again, that slight flash of something sharpnipping my flesh, but it’s gone in an instant. Cool air kisses my breasts asTwo works the bodice to my waist.

One’s head comes up, and he stares down at my now-barebreasts.

It’s only the second time I was naked in a dream, and in thefirst I was awakened by the damn rooster. I pray dawn is far away.

“You’re so beautiful,” One says, his voice husky.

“So fucking gorgeous,” Two whispers into my ear. “Thinkabout how lovely these beauties will be when we dress them up.”

Big, strong hands cup my breasts, offering them up to One,who reaches out and begins to play with my nipples. I whimper as he pinchesthem.

“That’s right, love. That’s a sweet sound.” He rolls thenipples between his thumbs and forefingers. He gently tugs and then punctuatesit with a sharp, stinging pinch that sends shivers of arousal to my pussy. Mynipples tighten, and every inch of my skin begins to come alive. “It soundslike the princess likes our games, brother.”

“She’ll like the jewels I’ll pick out for her nipples, too.”Two nips at my ear. “You’ll be a good girl, won’t you? You’ll let your Mastersdress you up. We’ll bind you and hold you down for our pleasure. We’ll piercethese gorgeous nipples and play with the rings.”

“I don’t know about that last bit.” It’s normal in someprovinces, but I’m not sure about it. Still, it’s just a dream. “Maybe. Whoknows what I’ll let you do if you take care of me the way you’ve promised.”

“Still making demands.” One rubs his nose against mine, theaffection in the gesture making my heart skip. “I can’t wait to feel the flatof my hand on your ass.”

Two groans behind me. “And I can’t wait to sink my fangs inyou.”

I stop. “Fangs?”

I would never dream of my Dark Ones with fangs. I neverthought of fangs in anything but a funny way. Dante has fangs. My husband wouldbe sidhe, not a vampire. I stop and try to pull away.

“Hey.” Two’s hands tighten on my hips.

“Let me go.” What the hell is happening? This isn’t mydream. When I think about my Dark Ones, they’re sidhe. They have somepower, perhaps gentry royals. They would be my brothers’ loyalists. They wouldhelp our cause.

They wouldn’t be vampires.

“What’s wrong?” One tightens up, every muscle in his bodytaking on a tension.