The Shadow Realm (original) (raw)

Got the latest story for Black Jewels and these two parts have GOT to be my favorites:

Rainier took my left hand in his right and lifted it, his eyes never leaving mine. His lips, warm and soft, surrounded one knuckle. The tip of his tongue stroked my skin.

> A sweet, unexpected feeling flowed through me, banishing anger

> He released my hand, and said quietly, "Demonstration."

> Hell's fire, Mother Night, and may the Darkness be merciful. He must have been a dedicated student when he'd been learning those lessons. I had to clear my throat in order to get my voice back. "So." I couldn't think of anything else to say.

> His smile was pure male as he took my arm and started walking again.

> "Understanding what pleases is just as important in a man's personal life as it is if he serves in a court," Rainier said.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What's he doing?" The boy was shepherding females from one side of the street to the other. That was obvious. Why was he doing it wasn't.

> "Who?" Rainier looked around, then grinned. "Oh. He's training. Since there are two boys about the same age at the other corners, their instructor is probably sitting in that coffee shop across the street, keeping an eye on them."

> Things were different in Kaeleer, but... "You train males to be a pain in the ass?"

> "We train them to serve."

> "That's what I said." My comment annoyed him. I didn't care. If he spent one day on the receiving end of that kind of stubborn attention, he'd have a totally different opinion about a male's right to serve.