Healing Hands Read online

  Keegan licked his lips, willing his cock to stand down. He didn’t want Tiana to see his arousal, sensing the knowledge would only anger the woman further. Instead, he concentrated on Mira. Watching as her fingers swept along the man’s skin, leaving pale, pink swirls where the burns had once scarred the surface. She worked slowly, tediously, never stopping to rest, as the minutes drifted into an hour. It wasn’t until every mark had been erased that she leant back, exhaustion hunching her shoulders. She was still watching the last wisps of blue fade from the servants skin when the man bolted awake, turning on her with a savage snarl. She tried to move, but the servant howled and struck her, scrabbling to his feet as she fell backwards.

  Keegan moved before the man gained his balance, throwing him back against the wall, trapping his throat beneath one chiselled forearm.

  “The lady just saved your life, knave. I suggest you show her the respect she deserves.”

  The servant spat on Keegan’s chest, fighting to free himself. “I’d rather die than have that vile witch touch me.”

  Keegan pressed harder, watching the man’s eyes bulge wide. “That can be arranged, friend.”

  The servant whimpered just as a harsh hiss echoed behind Keegan’s back. He didn’t need to turn around to know Tiana was behind him, another ball of flames dancing in her hand.

  “Release him, Garinthian, or I won’t leave anything alive for Mira to heal this time.”

  Keegan looked back at her over his shoulder. He snarled and pushed harder when Mira’s voice broke the tension.

  “Touch him, Tiana, and you’ll be my next target.”

  She was standing beside the bed, her body trembling. Dark circles rimmed her pretty eyes, and beads of sweat creased her forehead. She looked ready to collapse, but held her ground, her blue aura shimmering back to life when the fire in Tiana’s hand swelled.

  Tiana cursed and stepped forward, launching the ball at her sister. Keegan tensed as the fire flew towards Mira’s head, only to burst into thousands of splintered sparks, as Mira countered her sister’s attack, sending a single blue stream of light out from her hands. Tiana gasped when the light sliced across her arm, leaving a small, red welt in its wake. She turned back to Mira, sizing her sister up, before stepping back as the flames flickered and died, a small hiss whispering across the room.

  Tiana laughed as she crossed her arms on her breasts. “Have it your way. But he’s hardly worth saving…again. Especially since he won’t be able to return the favour.” She laughed again. “Guess I’m going to have to find someone else to heal my pets.”

  Keegan released the man, shoving him towards the waiting warriors. The women grabbed him and pushed him out, mumbling something about a punishment. Keegan glanced over at Mira. She looked ready to faint. He took a step towards her, but stopped when she held up her hand.

  “Don’t,” she snapped. “I don’t want your help…or your pity.” She extinguished the blue light and fell on the bed, crawling over to the far side.

  “I wasn’t going to give you my pity,” he replied, stalking to the bed. “I merely wanted to get you a cloth. Your face is bleeding.”

  Mira just shrugged and closed her eyes. “Doesn’t matter.”

  “Does the red in your crystal matter?” he challenged.

  “It means I’m still a virgin,” she rasped, not opening her eyes. “I can’t leave the palace or take my place as a warrior until it’s blue. That’s what the Rite of Passage and Ritual are all about.”

  “And if it’s still red when the Ritual begins?”

  “Then instead of a celebration the Queen will have one of her servants fuck me in a public display to prove my allegiance to the Kingdom…and give me my freedom.”

  Keegan stepped back, remembering the instructions Vestna’s soldiers had beaten into him. “But they said taking you without preparing you first will kill you.”

  Mira opened one eye long enough to meet his gaze. “That’s what they’re counting on,” she said, and then she was out.

  Keegan shook his head and watched her sleep, her tears joining the blood on her cheek. It was then he realised how wrong he’d been. How harshly he’d judged her. He’d never stopped to wonder why his wounds had healed so fast. But now he understood the truth. She’d healed him. That’s why she’d been huddled on the floor. She hadn’t gone to sleep beside him, hoping to fuck him the moment he woke. She’d fainted after saving his life.

  He sighed and palmed his head in his hands. He’d have to find a way to make it up to her. One that would save them both.

  * * * *

  A cool cloth dabbed Mira’s face, trailing along her cheek. She sighed and leaned into the gentle caress, revelling in the sensual touch until a sudden heat covered her forehead. She opened her eyes to find her warrior hovering over her, his lips brushing her skin.

  She gasped and jerked away, moaning at the firm contraction in her sex. Her body was humming again, and just the slightest touch of his skin was enough to set off a reaction.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded, though her voice sounded husky and raw, like a woman on the verge of release. Her tutor smiled and relaxed back, watching her through lowered lids. He centred his gaze on her chest, and her nipples tightened in response. She glanced down, a red flush lacing her skin when she realised she was still wearing the sheer shift, and nothing else.

  “Just tending to your wound,” he mused, nodding towards her cheek. “I suppose this means you can’t heal yourself…or, I suspect, your sisters.”

  Mira grabbed at the sheet, pulling it across her body as she rose from the bed. She knew he’d already witnessed her arousal, but she’d be damned if she’d flaunt it. Ritual or not, she refused to beg him to fuck her.

  A trickle of liquid eased from her channel as she clung to the image of Keegan above her, his hips pumping as he held her legs wide. Somehow she knew he’d want to see every reaction she made. The way her breasts bounced as he rode her, her nipples pointing straight up. Or the quick pulsing of her clit as she climaxed, spilling more of her precious juice along her sex.

  She groaned, and stepped forward. “You saw what happened. My power heals anyone else in the Kingdom, but if I touch the Queen or one of her soldiers, I burn them. What good is a warrior that can’t fight or heal her sisters?” she snipped, heading for the bathing chamber. He followed.

  “So why won’t you let me help you then?”

  She whirled around, not caring when the blanket slipped from her fingers and pooled at her feet. “I told you before. I don’t want anything from you…whatever your name is! Now if you don’t mind?” She motioned towards the sleeping chamber, but he didn’t leave. Instead, he took a step closer, grazing his fingers along her thigh. She tensed, but when she tried to step back, he pushed her against the wall.

  “Keegan.”

  She blinked, unable to look away from the curve of his mouth. His lips were so close she could see the soft play of skin across them. “What?” she managed to murmur as his hand moved across her hip.

  “My name. It’s Keegan.”

  “Oh,” she began, but felt the rest of her breath rush out as he grazed the tip of his finger across her mound, as if testing its softness. Another clench punched through her womb and it took every ounce of strength not to arch into his caress. She could feel her juices spilling out along her inner thighs, and longed to have him slide his finger through them, swirling them around her nub. “Keegan, I…”

  His finger slipped lower and her voice faded into a sharp hiss as he gently probed her slit. “I like the way you say my name,” he whispered, his breath caressing her neck. “I only wish I’d told you sooner.” She tried to turn away, but he blocked her, holding her firmly against the wall. “Easy, sweetness. I won’t hurt you. I only want to help.”

  He dropped his hand and she nearly screamed at the loss of heat. She closed her eyes, wondering why she’d been so foolish as to believe he’d wanted to touch her, when his finger returned…beneath her shift.
r />   Mira snapped her eyes open, her breath coming in hard pants. He was only inches away, his eyes gleaming in the pale light. He lowered his face, kissing the top of her shoulder. Shivers raced down her spine, making her tremble as the heat from his touch tore straight to her sheath, rippling it with pleasure. A small whimper escaped her lips before she had the good sense to crush it.

  Keegan smiled against her skin, raising his finger until it brushed the edge of her sex. He groaned as he raked it through her spilled juices, licking at her shoulder as if desperate for a taste. “So wet and warm. Do you have any idea how delicious you smell?”

  She could only shake her head, every other thought locked on the slow progression of his hand along her inner thighs. He was tracing the path of her juice, easing it back towards her sex. She held her breath, not sure she could stand the wait when he slipped it through her slit and gently rubbed her clit.

  “Keegan.”

  His name was a hushed plea and he groaned at the sound of it. But he kept his touch light, just teasing the soft skin. “Believe me, sweetness. There’s nothing I want more than to spread you wide and fuck you against this wall.” His tongue speared her earlobe and her cry echoed in her head. He nipped at her skin, pressing slightly harder. “But we need to go slowly. You’re not ready for me to claim you…yet. Just my touch for now, but I promise. Before the sun sets again, I’ll be deep inside you, touching you where no other has dared try.”

  Mira whispered her agreement, all the while trying to gather her control. He’d mocked her, insulted her, and she’d sworn she’d kill him if he tried to touch her. Yet as his finger circled her clit, swirling her moisture around the tight nub, she was powerless to resist. She wanted him, and while she knew a large part was her body’s need, there was more. A connection she’d felt since she’d first laid eyes on him. Maybe it was the way he looked at her, with heat in his eyes so strong she felt her skin warm beneath his hooded stare. He wasn’t faking his attraction. She could feel the hard press of his cock against her stomach. He wanted her, too. She bit down on her lip, trying to kill the scream building in her chest.

  “You can try and fight me, but I know you’re close.”

  She forced herself to meet his gaze, but there wasn’t the smugness in it she’d expected to find. “You don’t have to…”

  He silenced her with a raise of his eyebrow. “Do you think I’m touching you because I’ve been ordered to?” he rasped, biting the hollow of her shoulder. “Tell me, do you think your mighty Queen ordered this as well?”

  Mira gasped as he pushed his hips against hers, his shaft lodging between her lips. He was harder, longer, and just the thought of taking him inside her made the room spin. She clutched at his shoulders, anchoring herself, as he moved against her, rubbing his length up and down along her slit. Her head fell back against the wall, fanning her hair across her shoulders. Somehow he’d managed to lift her shift, leaving her exposed to him. There was nothing between her lips and his cock but the tight bind of leather. She looked down, wondering what he’d do if she ripped the damn thing off him, when he rolled his hips back and cupped her mound with his hand.

  “Mine to pleasure,” he said, squeezing her mound. “This sheath belongs to me, and once I’ve prepared you, I’ll take it.”

  Mira could only nod as he returned his finger to her clit, rubbing it in small circles as another finger probed the hole of her sex. She cried out at the slight penetration, so tight, but so delicious, she wanted to wrap her legs around his waist and thrust him inside. But he was right. She wasn’t ready to take him. She needed to be brought to orgasm a few times before her shield of virginity thinned enough he could penetrate her without fear of her bleeding to death. And it appeared he was planning on doing just that.

  “Hells, you’re tight,” he said, probing her sex again. “I can’t wait to feel your sheath surround me.” He moved his lips up her neck tasting the curve of her jaw. “Do you want me inside you?”

  “Yes,” she rasped, feeling his breath wash over her skin. It was hot and spicy and she wanted to drown in the scent of it. “Please.”

  His chuckle was warm and sincere, igniting a hotter fire inside her. He wasn’t teasing her. He was playing with her. “Don’t worry, sweetness, you’ll have all of me. But first, I want to watch you come.” He drew back, his eyes boring into hers. “Come for me.”

  Mira cried out as the finger circling her nub moved faster, building the pressure growing in her womb. It flamed outwards, igniting each nerve as it raced along her skin, finally exploding in her stomach. Flashes of coloured light mixed with the grey of the room, making her feel lightheaded. She called his name as the orgasm sparked through her, tingling a place deep inside her channel. It was as if she could feel the shield thinning, preparing her for his shaft.

  “You’re so pretty when you come, sweetness. And the way you scream my name,” he rubbed his lips along her neck. “It makes me want to do it all over again.”

  She nodded, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder. Her legs felt weak as the butterflies in her stomach finally started to settle. She smiled, giving in to the urge that pulled her towards a comforting darkness.

  “Keegan.” His name was a whisper on her lips and he kissed her on the forehead as he scooped her up in his arms. She knew he was carrying her somewhere, but she was too tired to care.

  “Easy, Mira. With all your healing, your body must be exhausted.” He placed her on the bed, a soft blanket easing across her body. “Rest. I promise you, you’ll need your strength.”

  Chapter Three

  Mira shifted on the bed, trying to find the strength to open her eyes, when a low moan drifted through the air. She forced one eye open, squinting to see through the shadows when her breath left her lungs in one long rush.

  Keegan.

  He was beside her on the bed, his body taking up half the width. His bare chest gleamed in the pale light of the fire, accentuating the dips and curves of his muscles. She’d never seen a body comparable to his. Most of the servants were strong, but lean, lacking the density and bulk of Keegan’s muscles. The way they rippled as he moved intrigued her.

  She leant towards him, inhaling the spicy male musk she’d come to recognise as his scent. It wrapped around her, drawing her into the familiar red haze she’d felt since he’d first been dragged into her chambers. But it was different now. He’d touched her. Brought her to orgasm with his hand as he licked her skin, humming his approval. It was as if he’d enjoyed the act as much as she had.

  Mira chewed at her bottom lip, confused at the turn of events. While her heart still warned her to be wary, her head was too busy conjuring up ways to please him. It was a new concept. Women in her Kingdom rarely considered the pleasures of others, especially men. But she wasn’t like them. Every instinct encouraged her to return his gift, and as his cock tented against the sheet covering his waist, she knew exactly how to achieve it.

  She inched closer, feeling his skin brush against hers. A tendril of heat raced through her, culminating in her groin. Her juices pooled, tingling the lips of her sex. She smiled at the thought of Keegan licking the moisture away, his tongue exploring every fold of skin. She raised the sheet off his body, smiling when she realised he was naked beneath the thin cloth. She glanced up at his face, afraid he might catch her staring, but his eyes were closed, his chest rising rhythmically in his sleep. A playful smile touched her lips. She’d never gotten a good look at a man’s shaft, always shunned from the public displays that ran rampant in the palace. But now was her chance.

  She pushed up, needing to be higher to get a better look. He mumbled and twitched, making her heart race, as she waited for him to jerk away. But his body settled with nothing more than a soft sigh. She smiled and leant in, cupping one hand on his thigh. A small flicker of blue eased from her fingers as she allowed just a hint of power to flow between them. The healing had a calming effect, and she prayed to the Gods it’d help keep him asleep while she explored his body.<
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  First she examined his thighs, noting how the taut muscles clenched whenever his cock twitched. The movement continued along the ripples of his stomach, and she felt the urge to lick each tiny flicker. She traced her lip with her tongue, holding back her desire long enough to sweep her gaze down to his shaft. It was long and hard, stretching proudly towards his navel. His skin was darker here, shading into a deep purple as it stretched taut across the head. She tilted her head over, searching the underside. A long, thick vein pulsed just below the surface, pumping more blood to his swollen shaft. She chanced another glance at his face, sighing at the sight of his contented smile. She upped the power just a bit as she reached out and stroked his flesh. It was silky soft and warm, like a river stone bathing in the sun. She ran her fingers down the length, watching how his skin moved with her, further exposing the large, plum shaped head.

  She smiled, breathing in the heady aroma as she wrapped her fingers around his shaft. It pulsed in her hand, coiling heat through her. She wondered how it would feel to hold his cock as it purged his seed from the tip, covering her hands with his thick fluid.

  Images flashed in her head and she couldn’t resist pumping the thick rod, loving the way it flared beneath her fingers. A low groan whispered across the bed. Mira looked up. Keegan’s mouth was pulled tight, but his eyes remained closed, trapped in the haze by her magic. She smiled and pumped again, watching in awe as a small bead of fluid eased from the thin slit on the head, glistening in the play of firelight. It moved across his skin, stopping at the edge of his hood.

  Mira snagged her bottom lip as she stared at the precious drop. She’d seen other servants pleasure each other with their mouths, but never had she witnessed any of her sisters take a man’s cock into their mouth. They’d made it out to be an arduous task that was far beneath them. But Mira had spent a lifetime being different from her family. She didn’t see why she should start trying to fit in now.