Twice Upon a Time Read online

  “I don't drink coffee.”

  “I wish I would have known that then.” He winked at her. “I'd have asked you to join me for a hot cocoa.”

  She smiled. “That would have been tempting.”

  “I told you it wasn’t romantic. Not like this.”

  “This is very nice,” she admitted.

  “Are you ready to finish your bath?”

  “Depends,” she said.

  “On?”

  “Are you going to get me all hot and bothered again?”

  “I hope so,” he said, lowering his head to nibble on her jaw.

  “Then I'm ready.”

  “Princess Farima?” a feminine voice cal ed from near the doorway.

  Lara pulled away from Reece. “I’m in the bath!” she called back.

  She expected that to deter the tall, African woman she’d seen earlier in the dining room, but instead the woman removed what little clothing she wore and entered the bath as well. When she noticed Reece, or Nasir as he appeared to everyone in this time, she hesitated.

  “Have you not finished the duties I assigned?” the woman asked.

  “She’s been completely shaven as you instructed. I thought I might wash the rest of her now.”

  “That is my job.” She scowled at Reece and then took the soap from his hand.

  “I’m already clean, thanks,” Lara said when the woman began to rub soap over her back.

  “You are so tense, princess,” the woman said. She spoke Turkish in halting syllables. Lara decided she was a native of Africa and like Nasir, Turkish was not her first language.

  “I am having a hard time relaxing,” Lara admitted. She grinned at Reece, who was watching the woman’s hands move over Lara’s shoulders.

  “Allow me to assist you.” The woman moved to stand behind her. “I will make you feel nice.” Lara and Reece exchanged nervous glances as the woman’s soapy hands moved from Lara’s back to her collarbones and then her breasts. When Lara started to move away, Reece shook his head sharply. Lara had never been touched by a woman and for someone whose job it was to wash her, the servant was certainly spending a lot of time rubbing Lara’s nipples. Rolling them between her thumb and forefinger. Plucking at them. Soaping them again. Surely they were the cleanest—and hardest—nipples on the whole damned planet.

  “I will help you,” the woman said in a low purr in Lara’s ear. “Relax, princess.”

  “Maisha, I’m fine. Really,” Lara protested, but her host’s body, Farima’s body was eager to accept the woman’s touch. It wasn’t shocking or awkward, but rather routine.

  Pleasant. Arousing.

  Reece was watching the woman’s dark hands move over Lara’s creamy skin with a glazed look in his eye. Was this turning him on? To see her touched by another woman?

  Maisha pressed her small breasts into Lara’s back and Lara jerked. “Shh, my princess,” she crooned, stil rubbing Lara’s breasts. Lara didn’t think there was soap involved at this point. Reece’s hands moved to cover Maisha’s and their combined hands massaged Lara’s suddenly aching breasts. She wasn’t sure when this experience had gone from awkward to arousing, but she stared into Reece’s eyes and leaned back against Maisha as they stroked her skin. Lara’s breathing quickened as the pair plucked at her nipples and then their hands moved lower, over her belly, her hips.

  Someone’s fingers brushed her clit and her knees buckled.

  “Almost, princess,” Maisha said. “Relax. Al ow us to ease your tension.” Reece lowered his head to suck Lara’s nipple, while several sets of fingers stroked her clit, her labia, the opening between them. Lara clung to Reece’s hair as she Maisha’s hand brought her to quickly orgasm. Lara shuddered in bliss.

  Her entire body went limp and the pair sandwiched her between them.

  “Feeling better, my princess?” Maisha whispered into her ear.

  Lara couldn’t form a coherent thought, much less a word.

  “I think she needs another one,” Reece said.

  “She has had a stressful day,” Maisha said, a hint of humor in her husky voice.

  “Do you ever pleasure your princess with your mouth?” Reece asked.

  Lara stiffened and her eyes widened. She couldn’t believe he would ask the woman that.

  “Almost daily,” Maisha said.

  “But not today?” Reece pressed.

  “Wait,” Lara said.

  “You are here today, Nasir. Otherwise—”

  “Don’t allow my presence to interrupt your routine,” Reece said.

  “Nasir,” Lara warned.

  “Come, princess,” Maisha said, wrapped one graceful arm around Lara’s waist and pulled her towards the steps of the bath.

  “Yes, princess,” Reece said, with a grin, “come.” Maisha spread a cloth on the top step and then moved Lara from the water to lie on it. Her feet still in the water, resting on the second step, Lara opened her legs and the lovely black woman moved between them, gazing at Lara’s pussy as if it were a delicious feast. It felt so normal, which Lara could only attribute to Farima’s ease. She wasn’t sure why she wasn’t completely freaking out. Apparently the princess must be pleasured by this exotic and lovely servant woman on a regular basis, because Lara felt no nervousness, no disgust, no reservations when the woman’s soft hands began to stroke the insides of her thighs until she couldn’t have closed her legs if she wanted to.

  And she didn’t. Reece seemed more than eager to watch another woman pleasure her.

  It was probably one of his grandest male fantasies—watching two women make love.

  Maisha massaged Lara’s swollen labia with her thumbs, working the flesh with a touch that made Lara’s pussy seep with excitement. Maisha flicked her tongue over Lara’s clit, in a technique much different from Reece’s. Lara’s back arched as orgasm approached quickly. Damn, the woman knew exactly how to make her come. Maisha’s massaging thumbs dipped into Lara’s pussy and Lara let go. Lara was still shuddering when Maisha began to clean up her flowing juices, first with the flat of her tongue and then a gentle sponging that squirted cool water inside her stil clenching pussy.

  “Are you relaxed now, my princess?” Maisha asked.

  “Yes,” Lara murmured hoping that would deter the pair of them from deciding she needed another orgasm to relax her. Not that she was complaining, she just wasn’t sure if she could handle another one at the moment.

  “I think a nap will do her good,” Reece said. “The desert heat was taxing on her.” No, the three orgasms within an hour were taxing on her.

  Reece climbed from the water and wrapped Lara in the drying cloth she was sprawled across. He lifted her into his arms.

  “Let me know if you need any help with her, Nasir,” Maisha said with a calm smile.

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Reece said.

  Chapter Three

  Lara had been kissed, towel dried, kissed some more and was now lying face down across her soft, silken bed. The smooth fabric rubbed against her skin, making her acutely aware of her shaved mound. She’d never completely shaved it before. It felt so exposed. So open. So needy. Reece straddled her thighs and worked scented oil into the skin of her back. This was a thousand times better than a day spa. Being bathed, given multiple orgasm and now a sensual massage from the sexiest man who’d ever lived. What more could a girl ask for? Reece had the perfect touch for this, firm but not harsh. Her muscles felt like well-worked clay.

  “I think I could handle living like this every day for the rest of my life,” she murmured. “Best leap ever. Let’s stay here forever.”

  “You’re not upset about Nasir’s lack of weebles anymore?”

  “Apparently you don’t need them to give me pleasure.”

  “But what about my pleasure?”

  Lara lifted her head to look at him. “Oh baby, I’m sorry. You must be suffering.”

  “Oddly, I’m not. I’ve been hard for quite a while now, but my nuts don’t ache at al .” Lara cringed. “That make
s me feel even worse for you. Is there something I can do for you? You’ve been pampering me for hours.”

  “You could agree to marry me.”

  “I thought I already said yes in the future,” she said.

  He was quiet for several minutes, his hands unmoving on her lower back. “But you don't remember it,” he said quietly.

  “Then tell me about it.”

  He sighed and dumped more oil on her lower back. “I've been thinking. Maybe it's best to make new memories. Ones we both remember.” He leaned over and kissed her shoulder. “What do you think?”

  She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I think that's a good idea.” He smiled so brightly her heart faltered. “So, you'll marry me?”

  “Hmm,” she said. “Keep doing what you're doing while I think it over.”

  “Tease,” he accused, shifting back and kneading her lower back again.

  She sighed contentedly. His hand moved lower, caressing her buttocks now, thumbs rubbing erotic circles along the cleft between the gently rounded cheeks. Lower still, until his thumb brushed over a circle of puckered flesh and she tensed.

  “Easy,” he whispered, lowering his head and drawing his tongue over the same area.

  She groaned. Was that supposed to feel that good? No one had ever done that to her before. She lifted her hips off the bed and he suckled her sensitized flesh until she cried out. He kissed his way up the center of her back and she felt him hard and ready against her thigh.

  “Are you ready for me?” he whispered. “I don’t know if I can come, but I do know that I have plenty of sensation in my cock.”

  She strained against him, wanting all of him. Now. He bent one of her legs to give himself better access and then slowly entered her from behind. There was an explosion of pleasure between her legs and she cried out.

  “Ah, Lara,” he whispered and withdrew before thrusting into her again.

  His arm wrapped around her waist, his fingers moving between her thighs finding the bit of flesh that gave her the most pleasure. He stroked her as he thrust into her, and she was crying out his name within seconds, quaking and quivering, sobbing with ecstasy as she rubbed her face against the covers beneath her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, giving her no reprieve even when the aftershocks of her climax settled. He was still stroking her, stil thrusting into her with perfect rhythm. The pleasure was building again already. “Do you want me to stop?”

  “God, no,” she breathed.

  He didn't listen. He withdrew completely and crawled to the head of the bed.

  Confused, she lifted her head to watch him. He took a mass of pil ows and propped them against the wall before sitting comfortably among them. “Come here,” he beckoned. “We'l find your spot.”

  “My spot?”

  He nodded. “You'll like this.”

  There was more? she thought. Impossible. She crawled towards him, her damp hair caressing her shoulders as she approached.

  “God, you look hot, sweetheart,” he growled.

  He took her by the waist when she was within reach and moved her to straddle his lap. He guided himself into her again and she sat down, taking him deep. He planted his feet on the bed and she felt his thighs against her lower back.

  “Lean back,” he whispered.

  “What?”

  “I've got you. Lean back.”

  She leaned back against his thighs, and he steadied her with one hand. “Now, work your magic.”

  She began to move. Her head fel back, her hair tickling her back and brushing against his thighs as she buried him within her time and again.

  “Not quite,” he murmured, shifting his hips slightly.

  He rubbed something inside her just right and she cried out.

  “There it is,” he said, “your spot. Take it as far as you can.”

  “Oh, Reece,” she cried. “Right there. Yes. Oh, yes.” She was riding him hard and he watched her, letting her get as close as she could on her own.

  “Faster,” she panted, moving faster against him. Something was building.

  Something different than on the other occasions. And then it stopped building and stayed just beyond her reach.

  “Let go, sweetheart,” he said. “Just let go.”

  “I can't,” she whispered, frustrated with her body for withholding her pleasure.

  “Lara, don't hold on. Let go.”

  She concentrated on the aching sensation deep inside. Wanting the pleasure it hinted at. Needing it. Everything but that sensation drifted away and she rubbed the head of his cock against that spot inside until she finally let go. A spasm gripped her so hard that her legs buckled and she col apsed. Pleasure unlike anything she could have even imagined coursed through her body and she shuddered against Reece, her mind going numb to everything but the bliss. Reece’s fingers gently stroked her bel y as she slowly drifted back to reality. Oh my… She was nearly unconscious when Reece rolled her onto her back.

  “That's my lady’s favorite spot,” he whispered before he took over to find his own pleasure. She watched him through half closed eyes as he thrust into her repetitively.

  Sweat beaded on his forehead as he concentrated on finding his release, his jaw-length hair sticking to the side of his face. He bit his lip, fingers digging into her hips as he rocked against her, grinding into her deeply before withdrawing. He groaned a protest against his own motion before thrusting into her again. He paused, grinding against her and holding himself deep. He urged her thighs further apart and pushed deeper stil . Her back arched and he gasped as he slid deeper still. He held that position for a moment, gently rocking his hips, savoring the joining of their bodies as if reluctant to separate from her deepest recesses for even a second. He withdrew slowly and pressed deep again, and then found a steady rhythm of penetration and withdraw. She watched his face, fascinated with expressions of ecstasy. His mouth fell open as his thrusting intensified—faster, deeper, harder. A muscle at the corner of his eye twitched and then when she was starting to wonder if he’d ever be able to let go, he shuddered, his breath coming in sputtering, jerky gasps. He opened his eyes to find her watching him and a moment of intense connection—both physical and emotional—passed between them before he collapsed on top of her.

  “So you can come,” Lara said, stroking his hair gently.

  “Thank God,” he whispered. “Took long enough. I never thought I’d get there.” She kissed his temple and stroked his hair tenderly. “I didn’t mind.” He chuckled, warm breath tickling her ear. After several moments, he rol ed off her and collected her in his arms. “I told you that you had a spot.” She chuckled, drowsily, her heart warm just because he was near. “I'l never doubt you again.”

  Chapter Four

  Reece moved from the bed, allowing Lara to sleep. It would be a bad situation if they were caught together—a princess and a eunuch guard. Apparently, Farima belonged to another, but Reece felt that she and Nasir had been intimate on more than one occasion. He just wasn’t sure if that intimacy had occurred before or after her marriage to a powerful governor. Reece bent over the bed and kissed her shoulder, before he covered her with a sheet. He was fairly certain that Maisha knew Nasir and Farima were lovers, but wasn’t sure if anyone else did. He had to protect her. Those were his feelings as well as Nasir’s. He definitely saw eye to eye with his host in that regard.

  Lara smiled in her sleep and nuzzled her pillow.

  He watched her, guilt churning in his gut. He’d told her that a religious cult had been responsible for her murder in the future. Not his stupidity. He knew he should tell her the truth, but didn't want to risk losing her. Not when things were going so perfectly between them. If she knew that he was responsible for her death, she’d never trust him again.

  She might stop loving him. He couldn’t abide the thought. Even though it was what he deserved.

  His pants were still damp, but he retrieved them and put them on. He then went to the bathing pavilion and cleaned up the items
they'd used. He found the amulet amongst her discarded clothes and put it on. They didn't want to lose it. They had to stay ahead of Carl. In addition to wanting to return Lara to the present to meet her destined demise, Carl was certain to tell her all the things Reece wanted to hide. And not just how he’d unthinkingly activated the amulet and inadvertently offered her as a sacrifice, but other unforgivable things in his past. Things he wasn’t proud of. Things he wished had never happened. Reece rubbed his face with one hand. If only he didn't feel so damn guilty for lying to her in the first place.

  He heard a thud come from the princess's bedroom and then a scream that was quickly stifled. Reece's heart froze in his chest. He was running before the shock had even registered. The ebony-skinned man straddling Lara's body on the bed had one had wrapped around her throat; the other held a knife poised over her chest. Both of Lara's hands were gripping his wrist to keep the blade from plunging into her heart as she tried to suck air beneath her assailant’s hand. Her arms trembled as her strength waned. The knife inched downward. Reece barely had time to register the man's serene expression before he sprang onto the bed and kicked the assassin in the side of the head. The man fel sideways and tumbled to the floor, but quickly climbed to his feet, shaking his head to clear his senses.

  Reece reached for Lara. “Are you okay?”

  “Look out!” she screamed.

  Reece moved just in time to avoid a heavy fist to the side of the head. He used the momentum to drive a punch into the other man's stomach, catching him off guard, and then took the attacker by the back of the head and drove his face downward onto his knee. The man fell to the floor unconscious. Reece bent down to take the knife from the man's hand. He was sorely tempted to shove it between his ribs, but he no longer solved his problems that way. Not since Lara had come into his life.

  Reece went to check on Lara who was sobbing uncontrol ably. She crashed into his chest as she sought comfort. He drew her near, stroking her soft hair.

  “He tried to kil me,” she gasped. “He was so strong. I couldn't stop him.”

  “You're safe now,” he said, dropping a tender kiss on her forehead. She'd almost been killed right in front of him. He hugged her. He could not al ow anything to happen to her. He wouldn't be able to live through her death more than once.