Disclaimer and Notes: Panzer/Davis owns 'em and so forth. I know the drill by now, but I'm still marching to a different cadence. :-) Xan, Alex, and Flynn are Rhiannon Shaw's characters and are used with her permission; Nina and all other original characters are mine. All original characters have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever for to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by anyone known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
Sequel to Never Swear on a Lady's Honor, but I've tried to write it so it stands alone. This story is rated NC-17 for both explicit and implicit sex of all kinds. Notes for this story, along with the numerous words of gratitude, are available. Please be aware: this is the final version of this story, and previously posted parts have been altered.
This is dedicated with love and friendship to Leila, Rhi, Dragon, and Marissa, for being there when I needed a friend the most.
By Raine Wynd
(With special thanks and acknowledgement to Rhiannon Shaw)
Part One
Boston, 1905
Damn it, this is the last thing I need. All I wanted was to steal a necklace and find a place to hide in plain sight. Apparently deeply engrossed in the newspaper as she sat in the grand parlor of the hotel, Nina Williams cursed as she scented another immortal. She couldn't afford the distraction right now; the police would be looking for a thief soon, and she wanted to be where someone would account for her whereabouts. Almost as soon as the impact to her initial plan registered, her mind spun out a contingency plan. She looked across the room to find that the stranger was already on his way to meet her. Deliberately, she returned her focus to the newspaper. She wasn't interested in playing the Game today.
He was handsome in an unmistakably rakish way, but his scent held traces of funereal roses. It wasn't a pleasant scent, and Nina had already learned that if the smells she sensed were unappealing that she'd best pay attention. Already on guard, she nonetheless waited for him to make the opening move.
“Hello,” he greeted cordially. “My name is Axel Whittaker, and I couldn't help noticing a beautiful woman like you all alone.”
“Perhaps there is a reason for it,” she returned coolly.
Uninvited, he took the seat beside her. “Did you have an accident recently? One where you miraculously healed?”
Inwardly, Nina rolled her eyes. Who does he think I am? Just because I'm alone doesn't mean I'm not prepared to deal with him if need be. “Six years ago, my father tried to beat me to death.” Though her words were a truth, Nina didn't seeing the point in revealing that she'd actually been killed when a circus magician used her as his stand-in while practicing a new death-defying trick. Something told her Axel was more interested in acquiring her – for what she didn't know and wasn't sure she wanted to find out – than in how she died the first time. Though she'd only been in the Game for five years, Nina had been fortunate to have two immortals as co-teachers, and she'd been a quick study. That combined education was helping her see through Axel's attempts to recruit her. Curious, she asked, “Is this where I'm supposed to ask how you know I died?”
Anticipation made his eyes gleam. “Then you know about us, about the Game.” Quickly, he added, “I can help you with that. I can protect you from others of our kind. You need never raise a sword against anyone.”
“What makes you think I need protecting?”
“You don't have a sword,” he pointed out. His gaze raked her attire, taking in the low-cut, scandalously ankle-revealing dress she was wearing, and the way she'd worn her long, wavy brunette hair up in a proper style. What he couldn't see was the sword-as-a-parasol tucked beside her chair. “Even accounting for the length of your skirt, the way you're sitting tells me you don't have it hidden in a short harness. Besides, you didn't stand up or move away when I came in the room. If I was after your head, I could have taken it by now.”
“In public?” she countered. Unconsciously, she sat up straighter. “In front of witnesses? I thought we weren't supposed to show ourselves.” Before Axel could reply, she watched his eyes abruptly glaze over as the scent of something old, something vaguely seacoast-born, olive-tinged and sunny, with more than a hint of musk, assaulted her senses. From the layers to the smell, Nina knew she wasn't just sensing one immortal. Apparently, Axel felt them as well, for his body stiffened in the unmistakable bracing induced by sensing immortal presence.
“Come on, there are others approaching,” he urged as he stood. “Let me put you somewhere safe.”
“Whatever for?”
“Because they're out for both of our heads,” he growled.
“Oh, and you're going to be brave and strong and defend me? I'd rather not go with you if you don't mind.”
Axel grabbed her arm and pulled her upright as newspaper scattered to the floor. “Come on, you little fool.”
Nina didn't hesitate. Using her free hand, she struck him, only to find her wrist locked in a vise grip, the blow never falling on its intended target. “Let me go.” She enunciated every word and projected her voice with all the skill of someone who'd made a living on circus stages. “You're not my husband or my father and you have no right to restrain me.”
“Is this gentleman bothering you, miss?” a baritone voice asked as its owner stepped up behind Whittaker. Nina's eyes widened; the new immortal looked like some dark Greek god of perfection while his companion was only a lighter version. She felt Whittaker's surprise and quickly capitalized on it, twisting her arms to try to dislodge his grip.
“Yes, damn it,” she said when her struggles failed to produce results.
One tanned hand reached up and easily disengaged Axel's grip in a way that Nina knew could rapidly become agonizing. “I believe the lady said she wasn't interested.” The bass voice was pleasant, but held steel even as the blond immortal smiled from Axel's other side. “Now, shall we behave like gentlemen or would you prefer something less…appropriate?”
It didn't escape Axel's notice that the newcomers now flanked him, one on either side. Aware that he was at a disadvantage, Axel's expression changed to a snake's hissing warning. Releasing Nina, he hissed, “You'll regret not taking my offer. I'll make sure of it.”
She smiled and inclined her head. Her golden brown eyes never left his. “As you wish, sir,” she agreed readily, her tone faintly mocking. “But as you can see, I've found better company.” It was a gamble, she knew; for all that the strangers appeared to be friendly, they might deceive her, but she'd always trusted her instincts.
For a moment, Nina held her breath. Axel appeared as though he wanted to make more of an issue of her words, but the glaring looks and intimidating body language the two other immortals radiated left him no choice but to leave without further comment. Settling for one last hateful glance, Axel strode away, his steps conveying his frustration.
“Are you okay?” the darker of the two strangers asked her.
She rubbed at her forearms, aware that the bruising had already healed, but unable to stop the automatic reaction. “I'm fine,” she assured him. “I'm Nina Williams,” she introduced herself. “You would be?”
“I'm Alex Daniels and this is Xan Morgan,” he introduced himself and his companion. “Would you like to join us for dinner? We were just headed to the restaurant.”
Nina smiled. Dinner with two handsome men? This might work out better than what I had planned, but I might have to catch a later train. Amanda and Flynn are going to be worried when I get to Baltimore. Oh, well, I can always explain myself later. This looks like it should be a better alibi than just sitting here reading. Aloud, she said, “I'd love to join you, if I'm not imposing on you too much.”
“No imposition at all,” Xan chimed in. “Besides, this way, we can make sure that idiot doesn't try to bother you again.”
“I'd appreciate that,” she told them.
To Nina's surprise, conversation flowed well over dinner as she became better acquainted with the two men. It was clear that they were well traveled and educated, and neither struck her as being a fool. Though she felt incredibly na ve in comparison, she enjoyed the learning experience, and felt completely at ease with them. It seemed only natural that she took turns dancing with them. By the time they started up the stairs to their rooms, she didn't want the night to end. Going on impulse, she smiled and said, “It doesn't have to be good night just yet.”
She was rewarded with interested looks from both men. Alex asked, “Are you sure?”
Though a small voice in her head was wondering what in the world she was doing, Nina ignored it. She had an opportunity here to find out for herself about something Amanda had said could be fun under the right circumstances, and Nina wanted nothing more than to enjoy life. For a moment, her mind flashed on the things that her father had claimed were sinful – and then she heard Amanda's amused voice telling her that someone usually considered everything fun to be a sin. Besides, she did need an alibi….
Taking a deep breath, Nina gathered her bravado around her like a cloak. “It may be unfashionable for a lady to be so forward,” she stated, “but I'm just a simple ranch girl from Arizona, and where I'm from, fashion is for fools.”
Xan shook his head, smiling at her. “Fashion is one thing; this is pleasure, which is frequently something entirely different.” He held a hand out to her, palm up, and waited for her response. “Shall we?”
Taking the offered hand, she smiled. Impulsively, she leaned forward and brushed a kiss across his lips. “Whenever you're ready,” she answered.
No more words were spoken as they quickly ascended the stairs to the room Xan and Alex had booked, but Nina could feel their combined desire weaving an invisible tension between them. The moment Xan let go of her hand to shut the door behind them, Nina's nerves returned. Suddenly feeling awkward, she halted just inside the room.
Alex smiled at her. “Second thoughts?” he asked gently, his face reflecting his understanding.
Unable to trust her voice, she started to shake her head no, then swallowed hard. “Yes,” she admitted candidly, laughing softly at herself as she set her parasol/sword down on a chair. “But only about how much you want from me.”
“Anything you want to give,” he answered her as he took her hands in his and used his thumbs to rub gently across the backs of her hands.
Giggling, she pointed out, “But that could be nothing…or everything.” In that second, Nina shoved her hesitation aside and threw herself into giving herself what she wanted. “I think you already know I'm not going to leave you with nothing.”
Behind her, Xan purred into her ear, “I hope you don't.”
Nina shuddered at the whisper of heated breath on her ear even as she dared, “Then why don't you help me get this dress off?”
“That we can do,” Xan agreed readily. He opened the tall collar of her dress, nibbling and kissing every inch of her skin as he exposed it. The top of her dress slid off her arms and pooled around her hips, where the bulk of her petticoats prevented it from falling to the floor. In the meantime, Alex had worked his way under her skirts and was unbuttoning her shoes where she stood, running his hands up to unclasp the garters that held the delicate silk stockings in place (and not so incidentally, the small, sheathed dagger she'd strapped to her right thigh). Nina shivered in delight, though whether it was from Alex's hands or from Xan's kisses on her breasts as he did away with her corset cover, she couldn't tell and didn't want to figure out.
She felt, more than heard, Alex's curse against her back as he discovered the scars that marred the skin there. As Nina instinctively stiffened, Alex murmured something in a language she didn't understand, to which Xan replied in what sounded like the same language. Xan stepped away to put her corset cover on a nearby chair, leaving her feeling bereft and exposed. Subconsciously, she crossed her arms.
“Shh, it's all right,” Alex said in English to Nina. “Who whipped you?” he asked gently. “You don't have to tell us, but we're curious why anyone would hurt you.” His fingers lightly brushed her forearms in a reassuring gesture that made her heart ache with the tenderness conveyed in it, and she dropped her arms to her sides.
For a moment, she stared at the dark Greek, hesitating. The genuine concern and curiosity in his black eyes undid her, as did Xan's stroking of her shoulders. “My father,” she admitted. “If the preacher's wife hadn't stopped him, I would've died. I ran away as soon as I could.” The urgent desire was fading in light of the admission, and Nina desperately wanted it back. If she could get it back, she wouldn't have to think, wouldn't have to feel left on the outside of something special. “But I'd rather not talk about that now; he's not here, and he's spoiled enough of my fun for a lifetime.”
“Then,” Xan declared, “we won't let him.”
To Nina's surprise, he began kissing and stroking her back, soothing tense muscles. Slowly, it dawned on Nina that he was tracing the patterns of freckles and scars there, and she blinked away tears. Lifting her chin, she looked at Alex, who smiled and kissed her until she forgot the tears and felt only desire.
Through his own rising passion, Alex knew he had to take it slow. Despite her scandalously skimpy attire, Nina wasn't a whore, and wouldn't be as eager to do whatever he and Xan pleased. Moreover, Alex didn't think that Nina was very experienced; her responses were too eager to be practiced. Beyond that, it was a point of personal pride with him that he treated his lovers well. A glance at Xan confirmed that his lover was thinking along the same lines.
Unaware that the two men had silently agreed to ensure her pleasure before their own, Nina tried to focus on the sensations they were arousing in her as first her petticoat, then her dress fell to the floor. Her balance assured by Alex's grip on her arms, Xan helped her simultaneously step out of the puddle her dress made as well as out of her shoes. Every action was accompanied by touches that only served to increase her desire, and instinctively, Nina knew she was dealing with two very experienced men.
This wasn't anything like the awkward fumbling around she'd done with the preacher's son when he'd taken her virginity on her fifteenth birthday. It was closer to the tenderness Amanda had shown her as she'd taught her that sex wasn't something to be ashamed of, but something to be enjoyed. It certainly wasn't the efficient, educational, but ultimately unsatisfying encounter she'd had with a male prostitute Amanda had hired for her in San Francisco as a birthday present. Even so, Nina knew this was a completely different experience, and she wanted to keep every moment of it in her memory. Yet the fire heating her blood was making her head spin with the effort of concentration.
As if through a haze, she reached for Alex, wanting to undo his vest. It wasn't fair that the only thing he'd shed was a jacket. She'd caught the gleam of a sword hilt as he'd laid the jacket down. Her hands met Xan's, and she heard him chuckle softly before letting her attend to the buttons on Alex's vest. The moment the vest came off, though, her advantage was lost.
She looked down to see that Alex had taken advantage of her nudity to suckle on her left breast as Xan deserted her back to help the other man undress. Nina's breath caught as she watched Xan's hands deftly remove Alex's clothing, love and experience turning the simple task into an extended play. With a small start, she realized that Alex and Xan were lovers. For a moment, all she could do was feel the backwash of the love they shared, and she sighed in envy. Needing to be a part of that, she reached for Xan's hand as it stroked Alex's cock between them.
Both men went still. Nina frowned, not understanding why they'd stopped, and shook her head slightly. Not trusting her voice, she began to rub Xan's hand and Alex's cock simultaneously. Her action was rewarded with a shudder from Alex and a strangled groan from Xan. Satisfied that they'd understood her, she continued to stroke as Alex turned his attention to her other breast. His right hand slid over her thigh and pressed on her mound before his fingers spread over her nether lips to perform a counterpoint to her stroking.
Moaning, she arched up against that hand as waves of pleasure crested through her. Wrapped up in the joy he was giving her with his deft fingers, she let go of Alex's cock and grasped his shoulders as her knees started to give way. His free arm caught her before she lost her balance, and then Xan was there as well to ease her onto the bed.
Now it was Xan's turn to take possession of her mouth. His lips felt different from Alex's, but as enjoyable as they were, she was no longer satisfied with just kissing. He'd undressed himself before falling into bed, and she took advantage of that to explore his body. He, like his lover, was hard and muscular, and the cock that jutted out proudly from his groin was the biggest Nina had ever seen. Even as she stared at it, Alex's hand snaked around her body to stroke it.
“Ever had something like that?” Alex asked her as he knelt beside her.
Nina was too far into the realm of passion to lie, though a small voice in her head wanted her to appear worldlier than she was. Shaking her head slowly, she answered, “Not like that, but I want to taste it.” She breathed deeply, her body shaking faintly with the desire coursing through her. Drawing on the internal courage that had brought her to this point, Nina stated boldly, “Show me how.” She turned her head, staring into Alex's eyes. “Please.”
The flash of emotion that crossed his face was one that Nina didn't recognize. He nodded once, and then moved so that he was on the other side of his lover's body. Gently, he tugged on Nina's arm so that she moved in between Xan's spread legs. He then bent his head and put his mouth on Xan's cock just around the head, then slowly slid down the shaft and back up, cheeks hollowing as he sucked hard on the upstroke. He repeated it once, twice, then released him, apparently reluctantly, and made room for Nina to try if she liked. Getting the idea, Nina tentatively copied Alex's action. Quickly discovering that she liked how Xan's cock felt in her mouth, she lost her hesitation. Figuring he would like the feel of her tongue if she used it, she proceeded to do so. Xan groaned; he hadn't expected such a reaction.
Delighted with her newfound knowledge, Nina kept going. Xan's hands tangled in her hair as he tried not to thrust too hard into her mouth, but she didn't seem to notice, too enraptured by the new sensations as passion rippled through her body at the thought of giving him pleasure. Alex's mouth swallowed Xan's cry as he came. The unexpected liquid flooding her mouth almost made her gag, but she swallowed what she could as she felt her own release shoot through her.
Lifting her head, she smiled at Xan and Alex. She knew what she wanted to do next. Before either man could say anything, she moved to straddle Alex. Not stopping her movement, she positioned herself so that his cock entered her as she sat down on him. She shuddered as his hard length filled her. He felt so good inside her, and she rested there a moment. Alex grasped her hips firmly and began to set a slow, steady rhythm. She arched her back as she rocked with his thrusts, and let her head fall back. Steadying her, Xan began kissing her mouth, ears, and neck as his hands caressed her breasts in turn even as he kept her perfectly positioned to receive his lover's cock. Nina moaned loudly, expressing her pleasure until she was reduced to whimpering, shallow breaths that told her lovers that she was nearing another orgasm. Only then did Alex let himself go to enjoy his own release.
Trembling with the aftershocks, Nina could only whimper as Alex gathered her against his chest, soothing her. Xan's arms wrapped around both of them, then turned them so all three lay on their sides, Nina wrapped between them. Exhausted for the moment, the lovers drifted into sleep, only to awaken a short time later to slake their passion again.
Morning brought with it a light drizzle that kept the room darker than usual. Never a long sleeper and accustomed to working in the dark, Nina carefully extricated herself from Xan's arms and began dressing. Shamelessly, she stole one of the Greek's shirts and put it on instead of the dress she'd worn. The shirt hung large on her smaller frame, and she'd had to roll up the sleeves to accommodate her shorter arms. Still, it was faster than messing with the various components of her dress, and she wanted to be gone quickly, fashion and politeness be damned. It wouldn't be the first time she'd sneaked out of a hotel via the back stairs.
She didn't want to overstay her welcome, and she could see that what Xan and Alex shared was special. Images from the night before flashed through her mind, heating her blood as she recalled how, at one point, Xan and Alex had seemed to forget that she was there, kissing each other with such passion and love that she'd gotten aroused just watching them. Then Alex had turned to her as if she'd never been forgotten, and she'd lost herself in the moment.
Someday, she promised herself, I'll have that kind of love, one that can accept anything. Until then, I'll take what I can, and I won't give my heart away. More than that, though, was the fact that she was supposed to be getting on a train later that morning, and she wanted to be out of town before the police started asking questions about missing jewelry.
“Don't go just yet, Nina,” Xan murmured in her ear just as she reached the door, her clothes in a neatly wrapped bundle and her parasol in hand. “Or are you in a hurry to be somewhere else?”
“I'm supposed to meet a friend,” she admitted, barely resisting the urge to lean back against his body.
“At this hour of the morning?” he questioned. Concern colored his tone as he asked, “There isn't any trouble, is there?”
Nina chuckled softly. Something told her Alex wasn't as asleep as his posture on the bed indicated, but she didn't want to make assumptions. “Oh, there's always trouble,” she assured Xan as she turned to face him. “But it's nothing you have to worry about.” She kissed him, drawing out the action until she nearly forgot why she was leaving. It was too easy to be with him like this, knowing she could spend the entire day with him and Alex and not have to worry about anything. She had responsibilities, though, and she would be late if she didn't leave now. Moreover, she didn't want to stick around for any regrets. She was afraid she'd enjoy staying entirely too much, and stay too long.
Stepping back, she told Xan, “I'll see you.”
He started to protest, but she pulled open the door and slipped through before his words could register.
continued in part two