Read Silk Dreams - Songs of the North 3 for Free Online Page A

beyond bearing.” The Greek slid next to Valdis and put a brotherly arm around her shoulders.
    Erik narrowed his eyes at the eunuch. The intent look of interest on Damian's face was anything but brotherly.
    “That's enough work for one day.” Damian rubbed his palm up and down the smooth skin of her bare arm in a way that made Erik's fingers itch to strangle him.
    “Good,” Erik said, turning away. He needed to escape before he acted on his desires.
    All of them.
    “I didn't say you are excused. I still need your services as a translator, but Valdis will not be forced to speak another syllable of Greek for the rest of the day if she has no wish to do so,” Damian declared, fawning over her like a lovesick swain. He made a circular motion with one hand, a signal for Erik to relay his message.
    Valdis rewarded the eunuch with a smile of promise that would have done credit to the love goddess Freya herself. Irritation boiled in Erik's chest. He wished it didn't bother him so that the smile wasn't directed at him.
    “Come.” Damian raised her to her feet. “We are going to the Hippodrome. The Blues are taking another pass at the Greens, much good it may do them. Chariot races. I think you'll enjoy this.”
    Valdis watched his lips as if the meaning of his words might be divined by close scrutiny, a tiny smile of triumph tugging at the corners of her luscious mouth. Erik realized she understood far more of the Byzantine's tongue than she could speak.
    “You too, Northman,” Damian said without taking his dark gaze off Valdis. “I need you to be my mouth.”
    Next you'll want me to be your cock as well.
Erik bit back the thought sullenly. His member rose merrily at the barest thought of bedding this bewitching Norsewoman.
    The eunuch offered his arm to Valdis and she took it without hesitation. Erik was left to trail after them like an Alsatian guard dog as they wended through the corridors and past colonnaded fountains and statuary. They strolled between rows of cypress lining the walkway like crisp green spears and finally passed through the heavy gilded gates that marked the end of the protected confines of the Imperial grounds.
    On race day, the city gave itself over to every conceivable excess. At one crossroad, Valdis saw a girl doing handsprings on the cobbled pavement. Each time her lovely legs waved in the air, her palla slid down and bared the lower half of her lithe body, offering a glancing peep at the triangle of curly black hairs at the apex of her legs. When a
tagmata
tossed a silver
nomismata
to her, she did a handstand and let her garment drape down to her armpits for several heartbeats. Her little breasts puckered under the soldier's scrutiny like ripe figs.
    Valdis suddenly felt better about being considered Damian's property. Though her freedom of movement was curtailed, Erik was right. Her cosseted existence in the Greek's plush chambers was far better than what awaited an unprotected woman on the streets of Miklagard.
    “Look out!” Erik grabbed her as a heavy, wheeled cage rumbled past. He pinned her against a whitewashed building, placing his own body between her and the crowded street. Over his shoulder, Valdis saw a pair of gigantic striped cats snarling from behind the bars of the cage. One swipe of a set of cruel claws missed Erik's head by finger-widths. A carnivorous stench wafted behind the cats even once the carriage turned the corner.
    Valdis found she was shaking. Truly, danger came in many forms in this vast city. She looked up at Erik, surprised that he troubled himself to shove her from harm when he took such pains to keep his distance as he tutored her. The hard lines of his face softened as he gazed back down at her.
    “Are you all right?” His voice was husky, his pupils dilated to reduce the gray of his irises to slender rings.
    She nodded, not willing to trust her voice. His body was warm and hard and she could feel his heart hammering against her breasts. Her own pulse beat