A Sorcerer's Pleasure Read online

  A Sorcerer’s Pleasure

  By

  Olivia Starke

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  A Sorcerer’s Pleasure

  Copyright© 2010 Olivia Starke

  ISBN: 978-1-60088-551-8

  Cover Artist: Sable Grey

  Editor: Lana Williams

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  Cobblestone Press, LLC

  www.cobblestone-press.com

  Dedication

  To my faithful readers.

  Chapter One

  Savaric slid his spent cock from between Avelina’s soft, spread thighs. She stretched her arms languidly above her head and smiled dreamily at him as her eyelids fluttered open. His gaze feasted on her huge lush breasts which jiggled tantalizingly with her every movement.

  “’Tis time to go, my beauty,” he said as he pushed his body off the wool blanket they’d tumbled upon in the open meadow. He reached for his breeches and pulled them on.

  She rose, turning to face the mid-day sun. “Why spoil the afternoon, Savaric? Let us stay here and enjoy one another more.”

  His eyes roamed down her full physique, the sun casting a shimmer on her creamy soft skin. She was rich and sinfully sweet, and she made his mouth water. Her taste was still on his tongue as his gaze roamed down to the pale curls at the juncture of her thighs.

  “I must go.” Savaric pulled on his boots and mantle as Avelina pouted prettily. At last she donned her own tunic.

  “There is something I must share with you, Savaric.”

  The sudden urgency in her words made him tense. The sun was hot in the sky and all around the little meadow was the vast expanse of the Northern Forest of the King. Shadows in the dappled woods weaved and grew around them.

  “What is it, Avelina?” he asked holding onto an inhalation.

  “’Tis only that I’ve fallen in love with you,” she said to his back.

  His breath left in a loud whoosh. He had sensed her deepening emotions, but had decided to ignore them.

  He stared hard into the forest beyond, unable to turn and face the beautiful young woman with whom he’d experienced so many wicked delights. His hands trembled ever so slightly as they found his hips. The toe of his boot brushed against the flattened meadow grass.

  “Savaric?” Her voice was as tight as the string of a lute. “Do you have no words for me?”

  “I can say nothing, Avelina.”

  That was all he could say. He inhaled deeply the earthy scent of the woods beyond.

  “Are there others then?” Her voice was quavering and small. He could feel her energy enveloping him. “I have left behind all others for you.”

  Savaric’s shoulders slumped and his gaze dropped to the ground.

  “I never made the pronouncement otherwise, Avelina.”

  “I don’t understand you. When I decided to end things not long ago you came to me, proclaiming that you could not live without me in your life. You seduced me back. Does that not speak of some profound emotions on your part?”

  He winced at her words. It was true that he had gone to her, but it had only been because she was willing to explore areas of sexual excitement his other lovers wouldn’t. She had always been an eager and willing partner.

  “This was never meant to be a commitment. That was our agreement from the beginning.” He truly had never meant to hurt her.

  “How could you have spent so much time with someone, yet not love them? How could you expect me to do so? You are a beast.” Her voice broke on her last word.

  “Avelina, I do care for you.” He swallowed hard. “But I cannot say that I love you.”

  He prayed to the gods she wouldn’t start crying. They answered his prayers.

  “You sorry son-of-an-ox,” she said. His back stiffened and he turned to face her. Her eyes were narrowed with tears shining within them. He remained silent as a sudden dread overtook him.

  A sorceress was always more powerful than a sorcerer.

  Raising her arms to her sides, her tunic sleeves falling back from her hands and wrists, she lifted her face to the bright hot sun. The dread turned to fear as he stumbled back from her, muttering a quick spell of protection. He feared it would be of little use.

  “Savaric, from this day forward…” Her gaze dropped to his, her soft red-brown eyes becoming redder as the power built within her. “For evermore you will be unable to find release for your rampant desires.” She paused considering her words as Savaric tried to maintain his composure.

  “Until the day you find a woman with whom you lose all your selfish gratifications, and feel for her as I do you. You will then know what must be done.” With a snap of her fingers a shock coursed through Savaric’s body, dropping him to his knees.

  That’s the day he learned you should never piss off a sorceress.

  * * * * *

  Evelyn Bowers snorted as she read the text message that had just popped up on her phone.

  “Seriously? You’re breaking up with me via text?” Her fingers worked furiously over the keypad of her phone as she walked down the sidewalk. Her stiletto heels clicked as her footsteps quickened. Her feet ached and she wished she’d driven and not walked to work today. The college where she worked as a professor was only a few blocks from her apartment building.

  Her phone buzzed, signaling an incoming text message. Sorry if I hurt you.

  Evelyn swallowed her squeal of frustration and disgust, resisting the urge to throw the cell phone on the sidewalk and stomp on it. She considered calling Nathan and chewing out his butt, but decided he wasn’t worth so much effort.

  “So what if the sex was hot?” she said aloud to no one.

  Why am I such a loser magnet?

  Nathan had been one in a number of lousy relationships she’d had this year.

  Heck, all my relationships since Junior High have been this way, she thought ruefully. Her two younger sisters were already married with children, but she had never been even close to marriage. At thirty years old, she felt destined to be an old maid. She glanced up as she approached the intersection, noting that the light for cross traffic had turned yellow. Cars were slowing. She wanted to get home so she could drown her sorrows in a pint of rocky road ice cream and a package of Oreos.

  A man waiting to cross the street gave her a quick glance before his eyes roamed down her figure. A salacious smile crossed his thin lips, which Evelyn ignored as she stepped forward texting furiously to her best friend Shelly.

  You won’t believe what happened today with Nathan!

  She heard the loud blare of a horn, before the breath was knocked from her lungs. She flew several feet through the air.

  * * * * *

  Savaric was lost in thought over his latest investment success. Money wasn’t an issue as he’d collected too much of it over the centuries; it was simply the thrill of the chase for him. He’d wagered a sizable sum that a perishing company would pull itself around and it had.

  A woman in a tantalizing floral dress brushed passed him, staring at her cell phone. The scowl on her pretty features left him curious as he let his gaze pass down to her luscious round backside that swayed side-to-side with her rapid gate. Her dress swirled around her knees, exposing shapely calves. She wore a pair of those stiletto heels that oddly excited him since they’d come into fashion.

  He imagined running his tongue f
rom the heel of those shoes up to her inner thigh until…

  He brushed the thought aside and ground his teeth together. Damn this eternal punishment.

  He watched as the woman stood at the intersection playing on her cell phone, before stepping into the path of an oncoming delivery truck running the red light.

  There was no time to think, only to react, as he was a half-block away. In a snap of his fingers he moved within the space between spaces, without the impedance of time. He ran to her and threw his body against the woman’s as he stepped again into the current reality. His body flew with hers through the air. The truck’s horn blared and its brakes squealed. Savaric twisted his body so that he was the first to land, taking the full impact of their combined weights against the pavement.

  His breath was jarred from his lungs and it took several moments before he could suck in another. The woman lay on top of him wrapped securely in his arms. People talked excitedly around them as he opened his eyes, at last taking the deep breath he needed.

  “Wow…amazing…where did he come from…” were the excited shouts of the group that collected around him.

  “You stupid bitch! Were you trying to kill me?”

  The delivery driver stormed toward them, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Spittle flew from his mouth as he shouted.

  “What the hell’s wrong with you!”

  The woman moved and Savaric rolled to his side, keeping a hold of her in case she was injured.

  “You stupid cu…” The delivery man stopped dead in his tracks as he met the full force of Savaric’s gaze.

  “Speaking to a woman in that manner is highly inappropriate. I think it’s best if you stop right now.” He kept his voice low and controlled.

  The collected crowd fell silent at once as he got to his feet, gently pulling the woman with him. His gaze never left the delivery driver’s, who seemed to shrink several inches. He drew his sore body up, using his full six foot five inches to intimidate the irate man. He hugged the shaking woman tight to his side. She wobbled on her feet and moaned. His eyes darted to the top of her head, her light brown wavy hair hanging in a lop-sided bun.

  “Are you okay?” He gave her a gentle shake as he guided her from the street. Her teeth chattered, and he worried shock was setting in.

  “Miss, are you hurt anywhere?” He walked her to a bench outside of a shop.

  She shook her head weakly and finally met his eyes. Her gaze was an intriguing mix of olive and gold.

  “I’m fine,” she said in a shaky, soft voice. Her perfume wafted to him, a mix of orange blossom and rose petals. He inhaled the scent deeply. She reached up and pulled the remaining pins from her hair allowing its waves to cascade nearly waist length. His fingers itched to run through the silky strands that caught the sunlight in glimmers of gold, copper, and dark fawn.

  She still somehow clutched her cell phone tightly in the other hand.

  “I know you’re not supposed to text and drive, but I guess that extends to walking as well,” she said with a quick chuckle. “For me at least.”

  He shared her smile as she shyly met his gaze once more. There were slight laugh lines around her eyes, and he rather enjoyed seeing them. It meant she was someone who found real pleasure in life.

  Pleasure…his eyes darted to the cleavage shown by the cut of her dress, before falling to the pale skin exposed where the dress had ridden up her thighs. He pulled his eyes back to the trembling hands that lay in her lap and noticed the scrapes along one of them.

  “You are hurt; let me see.” He took the hand that held her hair pins. It was merely a few scrapes but he worried over them.

  “No, honest, I’m fine. Thank you so much by the way,” the woman said, her voice growing stronger. “You’re my hero for the day. I’m Evelyn.”

  “It was my pleasure, Evelyn” he said, grinning. “I’m Savaric.”

  “That’s an interesting name, Savaric,” she said, trying the name out on her tongue. “How unusual.”

  “It’s very old,” he said, still holding her hand. It was small in his, soft and warm. He allowed the pad of his thumb to trace lazy circles on the back. There was a slight catch in her breath and awareness flooded his veins.

  Chapter Two

  “Please, um…” Evelyn took a shaky breath to steady her nerves. Savaric was potent sexuality on two legs. His features reminded her of a classic Roman emperor with a strong nose, full sensual lips, and high cheekbones. His hair was wavy, thick, and dark brown, just brushing the tops of his shoulders, and his eyes were incredibly unusual. They were intense and an odd mix of red and brown. Of course she’d felt the rock hard planes of his large body beneath her on the street and he was tall. “So can I buy you a drink, or coffee, or something?” Evelyn asked to interrupt her train of thought. “I mean, I really owe you one. I could’ve killed that delivery guy in his huge truck, remember.”

  His eyes seemed to have a glow within them, something like hot coals in a dying campfire.

  “A drink would be fine. There’s a pub up the street if you’re available.”

  Delighted he hadn’t rejected her offer—she’d already been rejected once that day—Evelyn got to her feet. Savaric steadied her before he released her hand. It was cold outside of the warm nest of his large grasp. Her knees were weak, but she’d never liked the role of needy female. She forced her legs to work and did her best to hide the slight tremors that remained within her muscles. He took hold of her elbow. The heat of his hand caused a thrill to course through her, adding to her already jittery nerves.

  “So are you from the area? You sound a little British,” she said as they reached the pub. He held the door for a couple who walked out before waving for her to go in.

  “I spent many years living in Wales.” He guided her to a table in a somewhat secluded corner. A football game played on several televisions, reminding her that despite the warm day, summer was indeed over.

  He pulled out her seat, helping her up on the tall chair before he took his own across from her.

  “So what brought you to Crowder, Illinois?” she asked. A waitress set glasses of water on their table. Evelyn smiled a thank you to the young woman, but the server’s eyes were only for Savaric. He nodded to the waitress.

  “Whisky neat, please,” he said, looking to Evelyn.

  “Um, yeah that sounds fine,” she said, inwardly cringing. She’d never tried whisky and wasn’t much of a drinker to start with.

  The waitress gave her a quick nod before smiling sweetly at Savaric. A pair of way too adorable dimples appeared in her cheeks, much to Evelyn’s dismay. He smiled politely in her direction, but kept his attention focused on Evelyn. That gave her a cheap sort of satisfaction.

  “Business brought me to this city. So, my beauty, what has you walking into traffic today?”

  She blushed and her gaze darted down guiltily. “Well honestly, I had a guy dump me via text messaging and I was texting my b/f/f about it.”

  He leaned in closer, resting his arms on the table top. He gave her a curious smile. “I’d have to say with all honesty, ‘tis his loss.”

  His voice dropped to a deep timber that was nearly a purr. A shiver ran down the back of Evelyn’s neck and heat pooled in her belly. She sat up straighter and leaned forward in an unabashed effort to give him a better eyeful of her cleavage. Normally flirting was a lost ability on her, but something about Savaric made her feel…

  Naughty.

  “So what is it you do, Evelyn?” His deep voice slid thickly into Evelyn’s veins. Heat flooded her face. His eyes drifted down and lingered on the bosomed feast she’d presented him. She squirmed in her seat.

  “I’m a professor at a local community college. I teach economics,” she said a little breathlessly.

  Get a grip, Evelyn, she chided herself inwardly. He probably preferred those skinny fake-boobed women, and skinny and fake-boobed she certainly was not. Of course women paid big bucks to get the DD’s she grew naturally, but unfortunately
they came with a healthy set of thighs and a good sized badonkadonk in the back to match. She ate right and worked out regularly, but her curves were there to stay.

  One of his eyebrows darted up, and he seemed pleased by her answer.

  “I appreciate an educated woman.” He placed added emphasis on the word educated and she wondered if he’d left a double meaning in there.

  The waitress set their drinks before them, and Savaric assured the much too pretty girl they were okay for the moment.

  “Please,” he said, waving to her drink. She lifted it, inhaling the pungent scent of the amber liquid and at once regretted the action. Not wanting to seem like a totally uncool loser, she attempted a sip, or more precisely a wetting of her lips of the drink.

  It was absolutely awful and she quickly put it aside and as casually as possible sucked down several gulps from her water glass. Savaric remained quiet, though his eyes crinkled at their corners. That odd inner glow within them brightened as he took a swallow of his own drink.

  They prattled on with small talk though she had a hard time keeping up. His shoulders were broad and she could see his muscles working beneath his tailored red shirt with each movement he made. His hands were strong and his fingers long and sturdy, leading her to wonder if his cock was long and thick as well. You could usually tell by a man’s fingers. Maybe she was on the rebound, but Evelyn toyed with the idea of inviting him back to her place.

  She owed him her life after all.

  And she was reasonably sure he was responding to her signals. He leaned towards her, letting his gaze drift to her ample cleavage. A curious smile played over his lips, lips that hinted to so many erotic delights in her imagination. She wasn’t savvy on one night stand etiquette and wasn’t quite sure how to approach the subject.

  “May I see you home?” he asked after he finished the last of his drink. She gaped, momentarily wondering if he’d read her mind.