Dark Prince (14 page)

It was like that every day.

More often than not, she’d stare at him, wanting him to touch her, aching for one of his tender smiles or gentle caresses. As time went on, she remembered him bathing her with tender hands and taking care of her. She recalled telling him about her past, but couldn’t be sure if she had done so. It was all so muddled it could have been a dream. He never once mentioned that he knew she was a pirate. Olena couldn’t really ask him if he knew, without giving herself away.

Pride and pride alone made her obey his terms of chastisement. She refused to let him get the better of her. It became a mission to see who would break first and Olena swore on Jack’s memory that it wouldn’t be her.

The only time she almost wavered was when Yusef had sat out on the patio, practicing his gittern. He’d left the patio door open. The sad music drifted softly to her on the breeze. Even though he played for himself, she pretended that it was for her. The melody made her ache in a way only music could. She didn’t go to him, instead testing out the rocking chair as she watched the door for movements of him. The curtain drifted slightly on the breeze and she would catch glimpses of the back of his head.

At night, he slept on the couch, leaving her to the bed. It was a sweet gesture--one Olena did not allow herself to read too much into. Nighttime was the hardest, when her body would fall into the warm comfort of the bed and sleep eluded her.

She imagined all the times Yusef had ever touched her in passion. His kisses, the feel of his body, it was all so very real. When she closed her eyes it was like he was right there, smiling at her in his devilishly handsome way, his eyes glistening like liquid gold. She’d wake up the next morning, drenched in sweat and aching from head to toe. The sweetness of those dreams was worse than the nightmares.

* * * *

Yusef watched his wife from the corner of his eye, poking a spoon into some soup she was preparing. She really wasn’t a great cook, but he never complained. She sighed, her head tilting to the side in boredom.

With a hidden smile he thought that her restless nature might actually cave in before her stubborn determination did. He almost felt bad for her as she lifted a handful of diced vegetables and tossed them apathetically into the boiling contents of the pot.

Before he could stop himself, Yusef stood and walked to the kitchen. He sat on a stool to watch her, almost laughing to hear her singing to herself. She sighed in between notes, tossing another vegetable piece into her creation. Her voice wasn’t bad, but her song was a brazen ballad praising the high skies, drunkenness, and debauchery. Undoubtedly, the tune was something she had learned from her pirate father. What was his name? Jack?

"…And we sail the high skies…" plunk "…looking for gold…" plunk, plunk "...looking for treasures that never…" plunk "…grow old. The wind in our sails, lads, the stars at our feet…" plunk "…as we plunder for women, thick brown, and good mead." ker-plunk, plunk, plunk.

Olena dusted her hands on her apron, as she watched the churning water. How she longed for her crew! For a wide-open sea of stars with not a planet in sight! For a good starship chase through and past the horizon! For the feeling of freedom and trails of stardust! Her eyes welled with tears. She was homesick.

"What’s thick brown?" Yusef asked quietly, when she just stared at the food, frozen. A wave of her sadness washed over him.

Olena forced the moisture from her eyes. She was amazed to hear his voice--any voice but her own--and it took her a moment to realize what he asked. With great effort, she managed to put the mischief back into her eyes.

"You shouldn’t eavesdrop," she said into the boiling water, keeping her tone even so as not to give anything away. "It isn’t polite."

Yusef felt her pain as if it was his own. She didn’t have to say it. If she would only open up to him completely, she would be able to feel him the same way and the loneliness would leave her. Oh, but she was just too stubborn!

"I know. So what’s thick brown?"

Olena smiled, laughing softly to herself. "Beer."

"Ah." He’d heard her use some interesting terms in passing since he first met her. "Did Jack teach you that song?"

Olena stiffened. Her eyes narrowed and she forced a confused look to her face, trying to pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about, as she turned to him. "Who?"

Yusef had hoped that if he gave her an opening to talk about her past she would. He could see that wasn’t going to be the case. Quietly, he said, "My mistake. I thought you had said your father’s name was Jack."

"Oh, Jack." She carelessly shrugged her shoulder. With a straight face, she lied, "He was more like an uncle. We weren’t very close. I barely knew him."

"I see." Yusef knew better. If he had to venture a guess, he would say that this Jack person had been her whole world before he died. Yusef felt cold on the inside. He was jealous of a dead pirate named Jack, because the man owned so much of his wife’s heart and loyalty. Yusef doubted he had any of it.

"You’re speaking to me again." Olena turned and grabbed two bowls, carelessly ladling the soup into them. She put one in front of him and leaned on the counter to eat. "Does this mean you give up and I am out of chastisement?"

She always does that, Yusef thought. Whenever the topic gets too serious, she tries to bait me into a fight. Not this time.

Realizing she’d forgotten spoons, she turned around and grabbed a couple from a drawer.

"No," Yusef said at last, taking a hesitant bite. The meal was bland but edible. Hadn’t his wife ever learned of spices? Getting up, he went to the cabinet and grabbed several little containers. Olena watched him with suspicion.

He took the bowls, emptied them back in the pot and began seasoning.

Olena came over, curiously studying what he was doing. "If you don’t like my cooking, don’t eat it, but you don’t have to be rude."

Yusef smiled again and lifted the spoon. "Here, try this."

She furrowed her brows but leaned forward to sip. It did taste better than hers had. "Fine, it’s better your way. But I never said I was a chef."

"Why are you always so defensive? Did I say anything?" He became aware of how close their bodies were. He’d almost gone insane the past several days, watching her bend over as she … ugh. It was agony. He didn’t dare think of it now, not with her so close.

"Why are you so stubborn?" she asked.

"Me?" He laughed, amazed. "You’re the one who won’t admit that you were wrong and that you might actually like me just a little. That you’re attracted to me and can’t keep your hands off me no matter how hard you try."

"That’s because I don’t like you and I’m not attracted to you. I … I think you’re ugly," she lied, blinking her way through it. "And … and you smell like … sweat."

All right, Olena thought. So I am attracted to you, you don’t smell like sweat, you are the most handsome creature I have ever laid eyes on and…ugh, curse you anyway, dragon.

Yusef was smiling at her.

No, Olena thought in horror. He was laughing at her.

"You are absolutely, positively the most unappealing man I have ever had the displeasure of meeting." Olena drew closer to his mouth with each enunciated word. Suddenly, she frowned and pulled back. Was she flirting with him? She stiffened, waiting to see how he would respond.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, that’s so," she confirmed. "And I know you are a dragon, but that doesn’t mean you have to have the breath of one."

"So I have bad breath, too, do I?" Taking a step closer, he leaned into her face.

All right, so his breath smells like mint, she thought, trembling. Think, Olena, think. This tactic’s not working! Whatever you do, don’t let him kiss you.

"Are there any other complaints you would like to voice?" The words were low and sultry, giving her chills.

Olena thought about it, but it was hard to concentrate with him so close, especially when his dark eyes were studying her so intently. He was so close and he smelled so good, she wanted to run her hands through his hair and….

"No," she said weakly, breathless. "That’s it."

"So I take it you are not ready to apologize?"

Lifting her chin with a bravado she did not feel, she said, "No. I have to stand by my convictions. I am not in the least attracted to you and no matter what you do, I’ll never feel anything. When you touch me, it’s like … like, oh, I don’t know, having the dentist pull a perfectly good tooth without the numbing--unpleasant, irritating, and leaves you with a big hollow spot."

"I think it’s time to go to the second stage of your chastisement," he concluded, not buying her denouncement.

Olena wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. "Second? Can’t we just forget about it?"

"I’m sorry." He slowly drew closer and turned the burner on the stove off, never taking his eyes off of her. "The law is the law and no matter how distasteful you may find it…" Yusef shrugged, not finishing his words.

Olena’s eyes widened in apprehension. "What’s the second punishment, knight?"

"Tsk, tsk." His eyes flashed in darkening pleasure, as his steps forced her to back up. "It isn’t punishment, firebird. It’s chastisement."

Chapter Ten

Olena tried to run from him. She took off across the floor, her bare feet pattering as she tried to reach the patio door. She almost made it too, before a strong arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her into the air.

"Oh!" she screamed. Yusef drew her back into his chest and held her tight. She struggled against him, trying to elbow him in the stomach. "Let me go, you stupid dragon!"

Yusef just laughed, as he hauled her kicking and screaming into the bedroom.

"I thought your kind didn’t rape," She was outraged to be overpowered. Her arms flailed wildly to punch him, missing each time at her disadvantaged angle.

Yusef threw her on the bed with a growl. She bounced on the mattress and stared up at him in awe. His strength excited her even as it terrified. Blood rushed through her veins, only to be sped by his dark, piercing eyes as they shot into hers.

"Careful, wife, your words carry you too far."

"What will you do?" She was too week to move as she searched his face, her expression full of passion. She took a deep breath, thrilling in the sense of adventure she felt within him. Her life certainly hadn’t been boring since he crashed into it.

"I’m going to make you face your passion," he proclaimed with a low growl. His gaze bore into her.

"No, I --" she tried, vehemently shaking her head.

"Quiet! I only need to know one thing from you right now. Do you take off your clothes or do I take them off for you?"

"I don --"

"I said quiet!" Yusef roared. Her mouth snapped shut, her green eyes wide in surprise. "The only things you are allowed to say to me are that you are sorry for what you did and that you want me. Do you understand?"

Her lips tightened and she glared.

"Do you understand?" He came to the edge of the bed.

Olena growled in response. There was so much promise in him, as if he knew she would easily succumb to his whims. And why wouldn’t he think that? In the past it had only taken a kiss and she was tearing off his clothes. Well, not this time!

"I’m assuming that’s a yes." He gave her a very dominant grin.

Olena’s chest heaved in excitement, anticipating the challenge he so boldly issued. Yusef crawled forward on the bed, his eyes holding hers. Her lips parted, sucking in her ragged, panting breaths. He crawled over her, holding himself above her on all fours.

Olena’s lips pressed and she tried to knee his groin. His leg twisted to hold her down.

"I will kick back," he warned. Olena let her leg drop.

Slowly, he reached forward. A sharpened talon grew from his finger as he reached for her. Olena’s mouth opened wide as she watched his hand. The dangerous claw touched at the base of her throat, lightly circling around the hollow he found there. Her eyes closed. She held perfectly still, panting.

Yusef inhaled her mounting passion. He knew she liked to be reminded of the force within him. She liked the danger he presented when his eyes flashed and his body shifted. Her heart leapt in her chest, beating erratically as he drew his finger down. Snagging the cotton shirt, he pulled up, ripping the material in a long, slow tear. When he was finished, the material fell completely to the side. Her breasts were bare.

Olena weakly opened her eyes. He was licking his lips as he watched her chest rise and fall rapidly. She tried to reach for her shirt.

"No." Yusef took her wrists and pinned them together above her head. With his free hand, he made quick work of her shirt, tearing strips from it to tie her hands above her head to the bed. When he finished, he eyed his handiwork in satisfaction, saying, "There."

"I hate you."

"Last chance, firebird." He ignored her low words, as he brought his mouth down to her ear. "Tell me you want me."

Her jaw lifted in defiance. Her lips pressed tightly shut.

"I was hoping you’d say that," he chuckled, reaching to nip at her ear.

Olena closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on despising him. It didn’t work. As soon as his lips touched her throat, she quivered.

Yusef kissed his way down her neck. His touch was light and airy against her flesh. He let his breath do most of the caressing. His mouth began a haphazard trek along her collarbone, over her shoulder to nip at her inner arm. She shivered in pleasure at the little surprise. Next, he moved down her sensitive side, taking his time. He journeyed across her flat stomach, touching her in ways she’d never known. Her body tensed and jerked beneath him.

It was agonizing torture and he had barely even begun to touch her. Olena gasped, arching her back to him as he made his way from her navel to the center of her breasts.

Breathing hotly against an erect nipple, he asked, "Do you want me?"

She shook her head, denying him. She didn’t want him to ever stop.

Yusef drew back from her breast, leaving it untouched and wanting. His kisses continued, steaming against her flesh. He leaned back, reaching her hips. His hands were warm as he drew them along her waistband. Meeting in the middle, he untied the laces.