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It went on and on like that for three weeks before Gregory stormed back into the camp one night and flung his shield away in a fit of frustrated rage. It cut through the air powered by brute force to embed itself in a large empty crate set on the outskirts of the encampment. A few human slaves were the only ones out that night due to the light haze of rain pouring down from the cloudy skies. They looked at Gregory and tactfully slipped away into their own tents leaving him alone standing in the mud with only the embers of the campfire for company.
He made for his own tent and stopped when he felt a hand settle upon his shoulder. It was cool, slender and quite firm in its grip. Gregory whirled around almost knocking Valise to the ground in the process. The woman deftly kept her feet and her bright blue eyes shone coldly in the remaining light of the fire.
That took a lot of the anger from his belly and he quickly held up his hand in an apologetic gesture.
“Valise, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you behind me and I’ve had a very bad day.” He brought his hand back and wiped his rain-dampened face.
Her gaze softened and she gave him a polite nod in response.
“That is understandable. Forgive my approach. I sensed you were troubled.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. And I am troubled.” He walked over to where his shield had embedded in the wood and yanked it free. “Every day I go down there and all it just feels like I’m accomplishing about as much as I’d manage by going to hit my head on Torren’s anvil for the afternoon.”
“Knowing you, my Gregory, I think the anvil would break before sunset.” Valise stepped forward and placed her hand upon his bare chest.
“It doesn’t feel like I’m about to break the provings, Valise.” He looked down to her hand and felt the familiar twinge of attraction despite his truly foul mood.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“I didn’t mean that. I simply meant you are quite hard headed.” She smiled up at him and gave his hard head a gentle tap with her knuckles. “An anvil wouldn’t stand a chance.”
“Oh great. Usually when I see you I know I’m in for a few hours of amazing sex. You picked now to start being a wiseass?” He checked the bottom of the shield and saw he hadn’t damaged the freakishly strong materials it was made from.
“I shall mock when I see fit.” She lowered her hand and lightly flicked the tip of his nose with an immaculately manicured fingertip. “And what on earth made you think that you wouldn’t be in for a few hours of amazing sex now?”
“Like I said, I’ve had a very bad day. Believe it or not I’m still not quite used to stunning women coming up and offering themselves to me out of the blue.” He glanced over Valise as he stepped toward her to take her against him.
She was utterly radiant even with the dull sky overhead and the rain smattering down upon her. The water deepened the yellow sunshine from her hair into a rich, golden hue that fell down over one shoulder in a thick braid. Her features gleamed with raindrops cascading over porcelain features carrying her natural grace and ageless wisdom along with an unearthly elfin beauty. The usual white robe in which she glided around the camp had begun to cling to her slender figure and show that she wasn’t wearing a slip of clothing beneath. She did not aim to cover herself as the tips of her breasts pointed up against the thin material, or clung to the cleft between her thighs. Instead she accepted his advance with open arms and slid her hands across the young male’s muscular shoulders to bring his talented lips to her own.
They kissed with the passion of new lovers and the experience of old friends. Algra was a warrior born, and a part of him always loved the challenge of impressing her. Janette had been his long time ideal woman, and he was still slightly dazzled by her. Lydia and Fiona were playmates and companions, sharing each other perhaps more than friends should but lacking the deeper connections that came with true love.
Valise was the only woman he felt completely himself with. He could relax in her embrace for days, and pleasure her for nights on end. Her wisdom and experience were far out of his league, and yet when she shared her body with his he felt she longed for the connection just as much as he did.
When they came together it wasn’t long before she felt her robe being lifted up over her slender legs. It surprised her, for though Gregory was an apparently insatiable male when it came to such acts, he didn’t seem the exhibitionist type.
“Here? Out in the middle of the camp?” she asked him, pulling away from his lips and setting loving little kisses along his cheek between her words.
“Yes. No one’s around and you look so damn gorgeous in the rain. I want you here.” He purred the words like a young lion ready to take its mate.
“What if someone should look upon us?” Valise asked even as she lowered her hands between them to help him tug his trunks down over his hardening member.
“Then they will be jealous,” he said as he slipped his hands onto her flanks and lifted her off her bare feet to settle her back against a large stack of crates.