Dark Heat: The Dark Kings Stories (39 page)

He was magnificent, and she still couldn’t believe he wanted her. A Dragon King, an immortal who could have anyone had chosen Plain Jane.

But she didn’t feel plain in his arms. She came alive, her body awakening. With Banan she was wanton.

Uninhibited.

And utterly shameless.

She became the sensual, lustful woman that she had always known waited for the right man to find her.

Jane sighed as she slowly slid down the hard length of his rod, her body expanding to take all of him in. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him as she began to rock her hips.

His large hands spread over her back as they kissed, their bodies riding the waves of desire. Already Jane was close to peaking.

As if Banan knew, he cupped her butt and urged her to quicken her pace. The familiar tightening low in her belly began twisting, turning, and sending her closer and closer to orgasm.

Banan nipped at her earlobe, his warm breath fanning over her already heated body. He kissed her behind her ear, a tender spot that always made her come apart.

With just one lick of his tongue on her skin, Jane screamed his name as the first waves of the climax slammed into her. She sank her nails in Banan’s shoulders as he continued to move her hips, sending her higher. And then he whispered her name as he too succumbed to his orgasm.

Still entwined, they fell sideways. Jane ran a hand through his short, dark hair. The worries from earlier were far behind her, as if they had never been. A warm glow infused the entire sailboat to cocoon them in their own world.

*   *   *

Banan propped himself up on his elbow and rested his head against his hand as he stared down at Jane. They had talked for hours and made love often through the night until Jane had finally fallen into an exhausted sleep an hour before.

He had intentionally kept their conversation away from any talk of binding, but they had spoken of the future. And, in Jane’s eyes, he was still a part of her future.

Banan held up the wide, white gold band. It had taken him months to design the ring with a jeweler in London, but in the end, it had turned out stunning.

He gave Jane a kiss on her forehead as he opened up the curtains. She turned onto her side and snuggled her back against him.

“Wake up, sleeping beauty,” he whispered in her ear. “The sun is just about to crest the mountains.”

“Tell it to wait,” she mumbled.

Banan grinned. If there was one thing Jane liked, it was her sleep. She had the brightest disposition of anyone he had ever known, but if she didn’t get enough sleep it took at least two cups of coffee before she was herself again.

The coffee was already made and waiting. Now, he just had to get her to wake up.

“The sun waits for no one. Trust me, you’ll be glad I woke you once you see it.”

With a dramatic sigh, Jane cracked open one eye, then the second one. “I feel like I slept for only five minutes.”

“It was a little over an hour.”

The grumpiness seemed to vanish as she suddenly smiled. “Ah, but what a night it was, right?”

It was one he would never forget, that was for sure. “Aye, lass, it was.”

He reached over his head where her cup of coffee waited and handed it to her. She rose up on her elbow and took a big whiff of the coffee before taking several sips.

“Ah. Just what I needed.”

Banan rested his chin on her shoulder as they both stared out the window, watching the sky turn from a pale gray to being streaked with vivid pinks, rich oranges, and deep reds.

The higher the sun rose, the more vibrant the colors became until the first glimpse of the yellow ball broke above the mountains.

He heard Jane’s indrawn breath, and knew she was seeing the beauty that he had glimpsed so many times. Every sunrise was as different as every sunset, and he never tired of watching either of them.

The cry of a golden eagle broke the quiet of the dawn, and it was like a signal to nature. With the sun now chasing away the shadows of night, nature came awake.

For long minutes they continued to stare at the rising sun until it became too bright. Jane lifted a hand to shield her eyes, squinting them closed in the process, and that’s when Banan moved his hand that held the ring into her line of sight.

“That is blinding,” she said and sightlessly searched for the curtains. She managed to grab one side and yank it closed. It shut out some of the light, but not all of it.

Banan’s heart pounded in his chest as he waited for Jane to see the ring. He’d never experienced nervousness before, and he had to admit he quite hated the emotion. He didn’t know if he was coming or going, if he was up or down. He was a wreck, an absolute mess.

All because he had to know if one woman with a propensity to trip on a flat surface would be bound to him.

Jane blinked open her eyes and then stilled. Banan’s heart sank. He had moved too soon, asked too much.

“Oh, my God,” she whispered, awe lowering her voice. When she lifted her eyes to him, they were awash in tears.

Banan frowned, unsure of what to make of her reaction. “Jane?”

“I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”

“What?” He was so shocked that he couldn’t believe her words. “Why would you think that?”

“You’ve been acting weird.”

“Because I’ve been planning this for weeks. I wanted everything to be perfect, but I also wasna sure you were ready.”

She looked back at the ring he still held. “I’m more than ready.”

Relief poured through Banan, quickly mixing with elation. He had seriously doubted whether Jane was ready to give him the commitment that would essentially make her immortal.

Banan sat up with Jane and took her hand. He looked deep into her amber eyes and asked, “Jane, will you be mine? Will you bind yourself to me?”

“A thousand times yes,” she said with a bright smile.

With a satisfied grin of his own, Banan slid the band onto her left ring finger.

CHAPTER
THREE

Jane couldn’t stop gazing at the band upon her finger. The design, diamonds in a knotwork pattern set in white gold, was exactly her style. The fact Banan had designed the ring told her that he really knew her, something she’d never thought to claim with another.

She finished dressing by pulling on the cream-colored wool sweater and ran her fingers through her hair. Then she ran up on the deck to find Banan had already cast off from the dock.

“Um … do you know how to sail?” she asked, once more looking at the dock growing smaller.

Banan let out chuckle. “Aye. Of course.”

“Oh, of course,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “I forget you know how to do everything.”

“No’ everything, lass. I’m still working on perfecting my time with you.”

“As if you even need to work on that,” she said as she came up behind him. When he made room for her, she slid between him and the wheel. “I can’t believe I’m sailing!”

“Do you like the boat?”

“I think she’s gorgeous.”

“Hm.”

Jane looked at him over her shoulder. Banan was staring ahead as if he hadn’t just made the most peculiar sound after her answer.

“Hm?” she repeated.

“Hm,” he said again. “Can you get me a mug of coffee?”

She nodded, wondering at his acting so odd once again. Though Jane no longer thought he wanted to end their relationship. What she’d learned was that when Banan had a surprise, he grew evasive and quiet.

After giving her the ring, and his commitment to the binding ceremony, she wasn’t sure what else there was to give her.

She hurried down the narrow steps below and opened the cabinet for a mug. In the process of pouring the coffee she saw a life preserver hanging on the wall. The ring was white with four blue stripes going at angles. The top of the preserver said Lady, and the bottom portion said Jane.

Jane carefully set down the coffee and felt her heart pounding in her chest. With Banan there were no coincidences. His odd behavior once more and the boat named after her meant …

She forgot this coffee as she rushed up the stairs, tripping twice and slamming her shin against a step before she reached the deck.

Banan was at her side in an instant, concern marring his face. “Are you hurt?”

She waved away his words. “The boat’s name is Lady Jane?”

His worry eased into a lopsided smile. “Aye. My gift to you.”

Jane threw her arms around him and buried her face in his neck. “You are enough,” she said. “You’re all I ever wanted.”

“And you, lass, are all I ever wanted,” he said as he held her tightly.

She leaned back and asked as innocently as she could, “You want to give the biggest klutz who ever walked the earth a sailboat? I might run over someone.”

“Just make sure they deserve it,” he answered without missing a beat.

Jane threw back her head and laughed. Life with Banan was going to be anything but dull.

The day was spent with Jane learning how to sail. It was just after three o’clock when Banan docked them once more. After tying them off, Jane sat back and found him watching her.

“Did I do it wrong?”

He shook his head.

“Then what is it?”

He came to sit beside her at the front. “You have a choice to make.”

“You mean I get to decide how we’re going to cook the fish?” she teased.

Banan tugged a strand of hair free that was caught against her cheek. “Nay. You get to decide if we remain on your sailboat another night or no’.”

She knew what he was asking. They could return to Dreagan and do the binding ceremony that night, but he wasn’t rushing her. He was giving her—and would give her—as much time as she wanted.

For Jane there was no decision to make. She leaned forward and gave Banan a quick kiss. “It’ll take me just a minute to gather my things.”

The smile he sent her made her legs weak. And that smile is what she could look forward to for the rest of her days. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around it all as they drove back to Dreagan.

Back at the manor, she and Banan walked hand in hand through the door. Con was exiting the kitchen when he spotted them. After a glance at her left hand, Con gave them a nod and a smile.

“When?” he asked.

Banan glanced at her before he said, “Tonight.”

“How about midnight?” Con suggested.

Jane quite liked the idea. She didn’t know anyone who had gotten married at midnight. “Yes.”

Banan followed her up the stairs to their rooms. Jane tossed her bag on the bed and sank into one of the overstuffed chairs near the fireplace.

“Cassie had a traditional wedding as well as the binding,” Banan said.

Jane hid her smile. She knew exactly what Banan was trying to ask without actually coming out and asking. “I know.”

He sat in the chair opposite her and raised a brow. “Well?”

“Well what?” she asked, patiently waiting for him to get it out.

“Do you want a traditional wedding as well? It’ll take more time to prepare, but it can be done.”

Jane rose and walked to Banan so she could climb into his lap. “No, I don’t want a traditional wedding. In my heart I’ve been bound to you from our first kiss, but most certainly since I came to Dreagan with you. A piece of paper is meaningless next to the ceremony that will officially bind us together as nothing else could.”

“Whatever makes you happy.” Banan rubbed a hand up and down her back.

“Being with you makes me happy.”

His gray eyes darkened just before he tugged her down for a kiss. Their lips had just met when there was a pounding on the door.

“Jane?” came Elena’s muffled voice through the door.

Banan smiled and set Jane on her feet as he stood. “That’s my cue to leave. I know there is female stuff to see to. I’ll see you later,” he said and kissed the tip of her nose.

He opened the door and Elena came rushing in. With a wink, Banan shut the door behind him as he left.

“Is it true?” Elena asked.

Jane held up her hand, unable to hold back her smile.

Elena covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes huge. Then she reached for Jane’s hand. “My goodness. Look at that ring. It’s gorgeous.”

“Isn’t it? Banan did such a good job designing it.”

A wistful look overtook Elena for a moment before it vanished. “Yes, Banan did good. When is the binding?”

“At midnight.”

“Tonight?” Elena squawked.

Jane frowned, unsure of why Elena found that alarming. “Yes. Why?”

“What are you going to wear?” Elena asked as she threw open the closet door. “Did you already buy a dress?”

“Well … no.” That’s when it hit her. “What am I going to wear?”

“First, we need to call Cassie and Hal so they can be back. No, I’m sure Con or Banan will take care of that.” Elena paced back and forth in front of the bed, one hand on her hip and the other held in front of her face as her finger tapped her chin. “There might be enough time to drive into Inverness and find something.”

“At almost six in the evening?” Jane shook her head and walked to her closet. “No. I’m going to have to make do with what I have.”

She began to pull out the five or so dresses that she had bought to wear to the parties, balls, and charity events those from Dreagan had to attend throughout the year. Since Banan, Hal, and Guy were the ones with women, it was usually at least one of the three couples going.

That was the only reason Jane had anything even remotely acceptable to wear to her own binding ceremony.

“Do you have a blue one?” Elena asked.

Jane looked up and grinned. “Because Banan is King of the Blues.”

“I think it’s fitting.”

“I agree.”

Jane unzipped one of the protective garment bags and pulled out the blue dress. It was the loveliest shade of sapphire. The chiffon gown had a strapless sweetheart neckline bordered with clear Swarovski crystals that continued to the plunging V-neck. The same Swarovski crystals made up the two-inch-wide belt, adding to the beauty of the gown.

“I remember that gown. Banan couldn’t take his eyes off you,” Elena said as she fingered the chiffon skirt.

Jane held the dress in front of her. “It was our first party we attended together. I felt like a princess. No matter how many times I tripped or spilled my drink, he was always there.”