A Star is Born: The Coming Dawn: Book I (30 page)

Cobaaron froze, but waited for so long she didn’t think he was going to face her. When he finally did, he stared at her as if asking what she wanted. She glimpsed his stunning, sapphire blue eyes, which she had been avoiding. She had to apologize before she didn’t have the guts. “I’m sorry I said all those hurtful, horrid things. You’re right I’m young, headstrong, and foolish for not listening to your advice in this world. I’m sorry, I hurt you.” It sounded forced, but it was because she was terrified of his response. She didn’t want him rejecting her as she had cruelly done to him. She didn’t want him to easily let her go once again, as if she meant nothing.

“I’m fine,” he replied. It was the worst answer he could have given her.

“Right,” she said and sulked while staring at her palm. She wanted to say something about their union, but his tone sounded detached. He seemed cold and calm. He didn’t love her, and it served her right. Their relationship was over. “Well...thanks.”

He didn’t move. He stood in his spot for several heartbeats before he recanted. “Actually, I’m not fine.”

“I’m sorry,” she said. Her eyes swept over him, reading his body language, hoping he still wanted her. “I’m so sorry. I tried to tell you that I didn’t mean it, but I couldn’t read your thoughts and I wasn’t sure you could read mine. I tried telling you, though.”

“I stopped reading your mind when we fought and I didn’t want you reading mine either.”

“Why?”

“Because of what you said. It was clear to me it was over, and you didn’t love me. I didn’t want you in my head, or knowing my feelings.”

“Oh,” Ky said and looked down at the pillow. She couldn’t bear to look at him, once she inquired if his feelings were past tense. “Are you saying you still feel for me?”

“Just tell me what you want, Ky. Why did you stop me from leaving? What did you want to say? Are you seeking forgiveness after your apology? Tell me what you want so I know how to act.”

“I want...I wanted you to stay,” she said. “I’m sorry, and I love you, Cobaaron. I do. It’s not the union if we’ve been apart for over a week and I still love you.”

Cobaaron repressed a hint of a smile. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, he came to her. His lips quickly found hers. He kissed her possessively, wanting to keep her. It felt wonderful to be wanted by him. He cradled her nape as he kissed her. Everything he did felt divine. Cobaaron stopped, and said, “Before I met you, I was misled and unhappy without knowing it. I thought that life was about being a disciplined warrior, but now I know it’s about this.” He placed his hand over her heart. “Loving you is my real purpose in life. I’ve never done anything greater.”

She smiled, close to tears that he was opening up to her. “Make love to me Cobaaron.”

“Not unless you’re my wife, Ky. I want to keep you for myself. Bond with me.”

“I will bond with you as many times as you want.”

He kissed her, and spoke with relief, “This is the last time. I won’t let you get away after tonight.” He pushed off the pillows to fetch the plate. He dumped the food, and then broke the serving dish in half. He pressed the serrated edge into her palm, but stopped. “The union will try to take control again. It helps not to fight it. I want to make love, not be taken over by lust. Give in, and let it remove the strong hold it has on you.”

“I agree. I like kissing; it grounds me.”

He slit her palm. She started to bleed scalding hot blood. He clenched his fingers around her hand. She felt the hot blood. She bit her lip to keep from screaming. He squeezed her palm tighter. They should have been used to the excruciating pain after five previous cuts, but it wasn’t the case. They both yelled out in pain.

The bleeding lasted much longer than usual. The heat wasn’t going away. The blood was burning their hands with bubbling blisters. His hand caught on fire, and glowed a silvery orange-red. Ky was concerned that something was wrong. Cobaaron’s expression was tense as well; the bleeding simply wasn’t stopping.

With pure panic, she screamed out to Cobaaron. “Make it stop.” She knew he would die if he took too much of her blood.

He squeezed harder, and then used his other hand for added pressure. With great strength he squeezed her hand until it felt he would soon crush her. Ky felt overwhelmed with pain. The torture drained her body of any energy she recouped. In return, it made the bleeding worse. Her skin smoldered from the igneous heat. Cobaaron bellowed out in pain.

She felt weak, very weak. Then her skin cooled. Her wound took much longer to heal. The process was slow, as the blood gathered back into her body, and Cobaaron’s. Their blisters and burns began to disappear. What felt like several minutes, but was probably no more than one, her skin finally healed completely, and then there was no heat.

“Why did that take so long?” she asked, while relieved she felt a full recovery.

“The weed only covers up the sickness. You must have been very ill. How did Noxis not know how bad you were feeling?”

“I was below deck.”

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. You’ll be with me from now on.” He took her hand. His touch, triggered by that small gesture, seized her body by the supernatural power of their union. The force was stronger than before, but she welcomed the spellbound control over her; she had no desire to resist the orgasmic pleasure from succumbing to its presence.

Ky moved gracefully without thought or control, while she breathed through her climax. She stood, and grasped the shoulder strap of her dress, and slid it off. The fabric brushed her nipple, and her orgasm heightened. Cobaaron was transfixed. She could see a glazed look in his eyes as if the union was forcing him still and silent to watch. His eyes followed her movement as she slipped the second strap of her dress off, and then let it fall. In a moment, she was fully exposed. She let him gaze at her body from her breasts to the soft curves of her exaggerated hips. Her body seemed to float to him. She straddled him, and pressed her lips to his. A yearning, an intense craving to make love to him ripped through her body as wild as the enchanted lust that consumed her—still making her peak. Her toes curled, and her hands tightened to fists. Her climax became more powerful with the sensation of kissing him. She sharply inhaled with her lips touching his mouth.

“Take me, Cobaaron. Make love to me like a warrior, controlling my movements. Keep my lips to yours as you wish.” Ky’s voice was her own, but the words were not. The union was speaking to him, most likely telling him exactly what he wanted to hear.

They had no choice but to comply. There was no fighting it. Clearly, the magic refused to be fooled again.

Without a word, he unlatched his belt, and his scale skirt fell. He guided her to stay up on her knees so he could massage his tip against her opening. It was madness how her body needed his, and the climax was relentless. She quivered over him.

Cobaaron moved her hips, rocking her against his shaft. She felt him press his head flush to the outside of her, and her body trembled. The union somehow knew it was nearly complete, and increased their desire with climactic control. Ky moaned loudly before he had even entered her. She was sure the penetration would cause her to cry out with a rush of satisfaction. “Please, Cobaaron, I’m begging you,” she whimpered.

He increased the pressure, holding her hips with strong hands as he pumped underneath her, letting their bodies naturally ease into making love. Ky held her breath, anxiously. His throbbing sex slid into her with delicious bliss. Because he was pressing with such force and she was moist with desire, it quickly entered and glided several inches inside. She gasped in surprise from the abrupt penetration, but it didn’t hurt. She arched back, closing her eyes, as he rocked her hips back. She was wildly teetering on the brink of a consuming orgasm, but she didn’t want to feel disconnected from him.

“Ky?” Cobaaron called her name, getting her attention. She opened her eyes, and saw he was watching. He tenderly drew her to him and kissed both sides of her mouth, and then the center. He rolled her over onto her back, staying between her thighs, and then put his hands under her shoulders to cradle her neck. While keeping his eyes on her they began to make love. Thankfully the union released its grip, and any hint of lust was overtaken with their love.

Cobaaron slowly pumped his hips. He was careful not to sink in too deeply, as he took his time increasing the depth as he gently thrust toward her cervix. His body was heavy over hers; he allowed little space between them. He longed for the closeness, and their lovemaking was wonderfully intimate because of it. She panted in pleasure as she felt his shaft smoothly and continuously move in and out of her. He deeply kneaded, gently tapping her cervix, satisfying her craving. He expressed how intensely he loved with attentive, rhythmic sways. She could feel, see, and even hear his devotion. The act was like no other pleasure she ever experienced. His touch filled her with such worship for him, she thought of little else beyond loving him. “I love you so much,” she whispered as the overwhelming desperation for him swept over her.

She became loud as he undoubtedly sensed she enjoyed his quickening strokes. She could feel every inch of his girth inside her tight walls. Soon she was exhaling high-pitched moans each time he carefully burrowed into her, and tapped her back wall with exhilarating pleasure. Each deep pump sent thrilling bursts of hot pleasure that filled her entire body, resonating down to her toes.

Cobaaron groaned, and clutched her shoulders. He lowered his head, having her airy breaths whisper near his ear, obviously loving her cries and wanting them louder. He pressed into her, remained deep inside and in short pumps, kneaded her and burrowed further. He gathered her closer, lifting her shoulders off the pillows. He kissed her passionately and romantically with slow kisses, as their tongues never parted. Making love to him was incredibly emotional. She felt she loved him so much she could die if she didn’t breathe his air. She told him she loved him, whispering it in his ear. “I promise I will always love you.”

“I promise I will never let you go,” he said, smiling.

Ky grinned, and enjoyed his touch as he nibbled on her ear and then down her neck. Her pants became louder. He leaned back, gazing in her eyes; he looked lost. “I’m losing control. The union wants us bound.” In an effort to maintain control, he kissed her feverishly. But once their lips touched, Cobaaron rocked faster and Ky began to peak again. Cobaaron was right, the union had a vital goal, and at once Ky found herself in the throes of an overpowering orgasm. Ky began to glow, the union intensified their response to one another, and magically, they climaxed in unison. They quivered, their breaths stolen, and it was all they could do to hold onto one another and not let the union steal their intimacy. Cobaaron managed to plead, “Stay with me.” They embraced as the euphoria was replaced with heat.

They both saw her radiant blood within Cobaaron. His veins began burning silver like her blood. He yelled in immense pain as he ejaculated. Ky didn’t know what was happening, but the silver within him brightened. Cobaaron stopped, and looked at his chest. They could see his heart pumping with her silver blood. He clutched his hand over his heart, and jumped off of her.

“Cobaaron!” she screamed in panic. Ky’s glowing skin became faint, as Cobaaron’s veins and heart dimmed until no longer visible. He was out of breath. He sat on his feet still looking at his chest, as he rubbed over his heart. “Are you okay?” she asked sounding as frightened as she felt. “Please tell me you’re fine!”

“I hope it’s not like that every time. I felt like my heart was about to give.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said frantically, covering her mouth in horror. “I’m so sorry.”

He leaned toward her. “No, don’t be. I’m fine.” He helped her sit up, so he could draw her into a hug. The union’s intense desire was gone. It no longer compelled their need for sex with touch; all that remained was unconditional love. “I hope that was the union binding us, but I’m not one hundred percent sure. We’ll find out next time.” He yawned.

“Okay,” she mumbled, then yawned as she was hit with sudden fatigue.

“I need to sleep before...” he uttered, and not a second later, he fell onto the pillow, out cold before his head touched the plush padding. Ky didn’t have time to react. Her eyes grew heavy, and then she felt her body go limp.

*****

Ky didn’t know how long she slept, but when she woke up Cobaaron was still fast asleep. His arm was around her, their legs were tangled together, and they were still naked. She carefully rolled away. Then she crawled to the water jug and tipped it back. She drank thirstily. Ky marveled over the power of their union that could force her to sleep and then wake incredibly thirsty. She drank almost all the water before she put it down, feeling quenched.

Cobaaron stirred, and opened his eyes. He looked at her. “Are you craving water? I could get you more, but there is a little left.” She held out the jug. She would find Huntra to get her never-ending water flask once he took it.

“No. I don’t need water.” He sat, took the jug from her, set it down, and then pulled her on top of him. His strong arms embraced her. “I need something else, very badly,” he said, and then they made love with the slow gentle waves of the ocean.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The ships floated along a wide canyon with cliffs over a mile high. They silently drifted the winding gorge. The men were quiet. There were no docks, but that didn’t stop the ships from pulling up alongside the steep rock and dropping anchor. Warriors climbed up the north side of the canyon.

Huntra sensed they were leaving, and made it clear he wasn’t going to be left behind. He meowed excessively, and wasn’t content until Ky picked him up.

Cobaaron tied a rope around himself, making a harness for Ky. Then he told her to hold onto Huntra while he took them up the cliff. With one hand she cradled Huntra, who was uncommonly still, she hugged Cobaaron’s broad shoulder and neck, and squeezed tightly. He leaped and caught the rock wall. His men followed suit, bounding to cling onto the cliff.