It didn't help much. When he turned back toward the bed Jollya was lying there on her back, completely naked. Her hair spread out across the quilts like a dark glossy fan, her legs were slightly apart, and her eyes were half-closed. At that moment they reminded Blade very much of the hunting cat's eyes. Suddenly he was on fire all over again. He had to force himself not to simply hurl himself onto Jollya and lose himself in the welcome her body promised. Instead he lay down and started to caress her, starting with her breasts but planning to go on to the rest of her.
Suddenly Jollya rolled toward him, gripped him by both shoulders, and pushed him hard down into the quilts. Blade didn't have time to resist, even if he'd wanted to. He could only grip Jollya's arms to pull her down on to him. The moment he was inside her he knew that she was no virgin and that she was incredibly ready. Blade heaved upward with his hips, going all the way into her. At the same time he pulled her down until he could stroke her breasts.
Silently Jollya exploded, heaving up and down on Blade until he was feeling pain as well as pleasure. Her breath rasped and hissed, but she bit her lip so hard that blood came and the screams and cries stayed inside. Then she fell forward onto Blade, so limp that she didn't even try to resist when he slid out from under her. Her eyes were shut, and stayed shut until she felt Blade entering her from above. Then they opened wider than ever, as she clamped her arms around Blade's shoulders and her legs around his hips. She was eager to take him any way she could get him.
Blade didn't try to hold back this time, and before long he couldn't have held back if he'd tried. Jollya's nails clawed at his back, her tongue was a tiny flame dancing along his throat and over his face, the musk of her body was an exquisite perfume. When she cried out he was so close to his own release that he barely heard her. Then he was pouring himself into her, so furiously and for so long that it seemed life itself might go out of him into her. He felt dangerously helpless as he rolled off her, but a quick look told him that there was no danger from Jollya. She lay as if she'd been stunned. Blade didn't quite fall asleep, but it was a while before he moved or heard anything.
When he was clear-headed again, he saw Jollya resting her head on his thigh, her rather sharp chin digging into his flesh. He cupped her chin with one hand, stroked her hair with the other, and smiled.
«All right, Jollya. Did you come here just for this, or for something more?»
Jollya sat up so abruptly she nearly fell out of bed. «I'm not a prostitute, selling my body for favors from men,» she snapped. She tossed her head angrily, so that her hair flew in a dark cloud.
«I didn't say you were a prostitute. I wanted to ask what comes next, because we may not have too much time. That cat of yours may have been seen and followed, even if you weren't. We'll have even less time if you don't keep your voice down.»
Jollya stiffened, took a deep breath, which did interesting things to her breasts, and clenched her fists in her lap. She sighed, and seemed to be trying to control her giddiness, but she was unsuccessful and gave a soft laugh which turned into something suspiciously like a giggle.
«You're right, Blade,» she said, finally becoming serious. «I should shut up. And I should have caged my cat.» She hesitated. «You are going to spy on Tressana for my father, aren't you?»
«It isn't your affair.» Blade suspected she had her reasons for wanting to know, and they might even be good ones. He also knew that the fewer people who knew a secret, the better-particularly when the secret's getting out might kill them.
«Are you no better than a man of Jaghd after all?» she said angrily. «One who thinks women are only a little better than slaves or rolghas and can't be told anything of importance? You didn't seem to be like that a few minutes ago.»
«I'm not,» said Blade, as sharply as he could without raising his voice. «England itself is ruled by a woman. I merely object to talking about matters which could get me killed to people who don't have to know about them.»
He sat up and gripped her by both shoulders until she had to turn and stare at him. Before she could resist, he went on more gently, «I'd also ask you not to be so thin-skinned and quick-tempered if you're going to jump into some sort of plot. If anyone can get you angry this easily, they may be able to get your secrets out of you as well. I suspect that could get you killed too, and I don't want that.» He kissed her, and felt her relax slightly. He kissed her throat, and felt her not only relax but reach up to embrace him. He stopped himself there, remembering his own warning about their not having too much time.
Jollya slid out of his embrace and lay back on the bed. «True enough, Blade. I'll try, but…. Well, you can have my life story some other time. For now, I must tell you that my father and I are not the best of friends. He has never approved of me being one of Tressana's guards, and I have always suspected him of being cowardly, greedy and deceitful. Some of his fellow Keepers don't think much better of him than I do. I want to help them, and at the same time show my father what I'm made of.»
«Would you explain?»
Jollya explained herself clearly and intelligently. Blade could almost see the woman in need drop away and the warrior take her place. It was mildly disconcerting, and he suspected it would be thoroughly unnerving for most Jaghdi men. Maybe that explained why Jollya had found so few satisfactory lovers that she was both inexperienced and desperately hungry.
Sikkurad was the leader of the Keepers in opposing Tressana if she wanted to destroy the Masters of the EIstani. His fellow Keepers were willing to trust him up to a point, particularly since he now had Richard Blade, the English warrior, working with him to find out Tressana's real intentions. They weren't willing to trust him completely, though. They were afraid his courage might fail him in a crisis, and also that he might use his information against his fellow Keepers.
«The Keepers want to share the new empire with Tressana. They're afraid my father wants most of the Keeper's share for himself.»
Blade nodded. A man who sometimes seemed to be frightened of his own shadow was an unlikely candidate for that kind of lust for power, but not an impossible one. Mouselike little men sometimes made formidable tyrants.
«So they want to be sure of learning everything your father learns, and just as quickly?»
«Yes.»
That meant learning it from Blade. If Jollya was able to convince Blade that he should tell her everything he learned, she would probably be richly rewarded. Sikkurad would also be furious, which would make Jollya happy and wouldn't bother the other Keepers.
«I'll be happy to work with you,» he said. «No, wait!» he said, as she started bending over to kiss him. «I will, as long as Tressana does intend to slaughter the Masters of Elstan and enslave their people. I won't risk my life or help the Keepers overthrow the queen otherwise. And I certainly won't do anything against the queen just to help you in your quarrel with your father.»
In the darkness Blade could see Jollya wince. Then she said quietly, «Blade, I wouldn't ask you to do anything else. I would die to defend the queen, or even kill you. But-she must not be allowed to make slaves of the Elstani. So much good will come of making them friends; She must not!»
«I agree, I agree,» said Blade, laughing softly. «You don't have to convince me.» He sat up and took Jollya in his arms, and her lips came up to meet him. This time they both let things take their natural course, not caring any more about how much time they might have. So it was quite a while before they got back to discussing how Blade should send his messages to Jollya.