Forget Me Not (8 page)

That same determination was flowing from him now. In every heavy thrust, in every achingly sweet kiss, she felt a force driving him forward. Driving her higher.

Heat from his skin built until she wondered how it didn’t burn her. In the back of her mind she knew that getting burned was inevitable. She’d grown too close to him and he couldn’t stay. All she could do was enjoy the ride while it lasted.

Chapter Six

Toren could not possess this woman enough. He was melded to her as close as a man could be, and yet he still wanted more.

The sweet, liquid clench of her body around him drove him wild. Like a beast, he moved within her, unable to slow down. Power radiated around him. He could feel it shimmering in the air, gliding out of him despite his need to conserve what little magic he had left.

It was as though the magic controlled him—something he’d been taught from childhood he should not allow. And yet entwined with his Adreeahbenwah, he could not hold it in.

She gripped his arms and pulled her legs high against his sides, giving him room to move as he chose. Each of his hard thrusts was absorbed by her soft flesh. He marveled at that miracle for only a moment before the next clinging glide of skin on skin removed all thoughts from his mind.

He needed to claim her—to mark her in some way for all to see. It was selfish for him to desire such a thing, but the urge was driving him on, loud and unyielding in its demands.

More power gathered below his skin, heating it further.

Her voice rang out in a note of surprise and surrender as he sent her spiraling through yet another climax. The rippling flow of her delicate muscles tipped him over the edge. He tried to hold back to give her more pleasure, but his own could not be stopped. It burst down his spine and out of his body.

Power roared through his limbs and gathered against his will. It spilled from him, filling her clenching body in time with his release.

She gasped and arched beneath him, holding him as tight as her slender arms would allow.

Slowly the storm eased, leaving them both limp and spent.

Toren braced his weight on his arms, but could not bring himself to slide from her warmth. He wanted to feel every last flutter of her pleasure.

His skin cooled. All his heat was now pooled in her belly, along with whatever magic he had spent. If he had his way, he would have stayed inside her all day, but he could sense her growing discomfort in the way her legs kept shifting slightly.

He eased from her and curled against her side. His thigh settled over her legs, and his hand splayed over her stomach. He could feel no lingering power within her. Whatever he’d done, it was gone now—a mystery he would likely never solve.

She wiped her hair away from her damp face and turned to him. “You have a hell of a way of distracting a woman.”

“Distracting? I meant only to bring us pleasure.”

“You definitely succeeded there.”

He trailed his fingers over her skin, enjoying the flush of satisfaction he’d given her. “Once I eat, I will please you again.”

“Oh, no you don’t. You have work to do.”

“Work?”

She sat up, looking at him with anxiety tightening her expression. “Please tell me you remember.”

Toren searched his mind for the work she seemed so concerned about, but his efforts revealed nothing. “Remember what?”

Fear bloomed in her eyes, so plain he looked behind himself to see if some creature was there to attack.

“Tell me what you remember.”

His mind was hazy, which he didn’t think was right. “I remember you and me. The feel of your skin on mine. The scent of your hair. The sound of your voice as I please you. I remember watching you sleep.”

She swallowed nervously. “Is that all?”

“What more is there?”

Based on the way her shoulders slumped in defeat, he was certain he’d somehow just failed her.

* * *

Adria could not let this happen. She could not let Toren forget everything that was important to him—especially not when she’d selfishly wasted precious time by having sex with him.

“Toren,” she said, giving him a little shake. “You need to concentrate. Remember you want to go home?”

“Home? I am home when I look at you.”

Tears stung her eyes. What she wouldn’t have given to hear any other man say such sweet things to her. As much as she cared for Toren, as much as she would have jumped at the chance to be with him, he didn’t belong here. Nothing she could do would ever change that. If he stayed here, he’d lose everything. She couldn’t let that happen to him.

Adria blinked back her tears and shook him harder. “Stop it. You need to finish that thing on the back porch. I brought you more supplies.”

He continued to stare at her blankly.

“Remember Elina? Remember the man who killed your sister?”

Like flipping a switch, he seemed to come back to his senses. Anger hardened his jawline and flattened his mouth. “Gyrnar. He killed her. I must get home and see him brought to justice. I remember now.”

Relief tumbled through her. “Thank God. You need to stay focused on building your device, okay?”

He gave her a short, jerky nod. “It is nearly complete, though I am missing some crucial components.”

“I found some more things while I was out today. And I got you some clothes.” Maybe they would help her keep her hands to herself. And even if they didn’t help, she was going to be good. No more selfishly letting him seduce her. He’d already given her more pleasure than all the other men she’d known combined. If that wasn’t enough for her, then she didn’t deserve more.

* * *

The fog at the edges of Toren’s mind was creeping over his memories again. He chanted Elina’s name silently as he worked, hoping her memory would act as a talisman against Obliterra’s power.

* * *

Adreeahbenwah brought him food, which he consumed as he worked. The items she had found on her quest were molded into strange shapes, but he used more of his dwindling power to form them to fit the transportal device.

Of course if he used all of his power, his memories would vanish, and no amount of effort was going to be enough to send him home. He had to retain enough strength to activate the device.

Darkness crept over the land, muting the vivid oranges and warm browns of the woods surrounding them. It really was a lovely place—the perfect backdrop for his beautiful Adreeahbenwah.

He was going to miss her once he was gone. She was so generous and gentle. He had sensed her inner turmoil when he had absorbed her language. She had come here to rest and regain her strength. To ponder her future and find a way free of the great loneliness and grief hovering over her. This time was valuable in some way he could not understand. All he knew was that once these few days of respite were over, she would lose the chance to shape her life into one that made her happy.

Here he was, eating up that precious time, and she had not once complained. Instead she had thrown herself into his dilemma, generously giving of her time. And her body.

The thought of what they had shared had the power to drive all other thoughts from Toren’s mind. The sweet sound of her voice, her yielding softness, the rippling cling of her body as she was fulfilled—all of that would haunt him until the end of his days.

He might not remember his home and real life while on Obliterra, but once he was back on Sorsca, every detail of his time here would blaze in his memory, as sharp and clear as it was now. There would be no fading over time, or muting the feelings he had shared with her. His mind would work as designed, holding every tiny detail in pristine condition for the rest of his days.

Part of him wished he could forget her. No one had ever made him feel as she did, and he feared that no one else ever would.

He glanced through the window and saw her preparing food in the kitchen. The warm glow of her skin and her huge, dark eyes never ceased to delight him. She had no idea how rare a beauty she was, which only added to her appeal.

The tight cling of her clothing displayed lush curves, reminding him all too keenly of how soft and pliant she was. His hands ached to slide over her once more and feel the satin warmth of her skin.

Focus. He had to focus on Elina.

But thoughts of Elina were dark and painful. The sight of his Adreeahbenwah eased his pain and washed away his grief. He could stare at her all day, watching her move through the kitchen, doing mystical things with her technology that ended in fragrant plates of food.

Toren’s appetite had been overwhelming today, and without aid of his magic, he was helpless to provide for himself. He had not wanted to request more of her than he already had, but she had known about his hunger without him speaking a word. It was as if part of her was already tied to him even without any bindings or ceremony.

Perhaps none was needed here. Maybe Obliterra was not as empty of magic as his kind thought—they simply did not understand the magic that dwelt here.

Adreeahbenwah was proof that magic existed in a place it should not.

The tool in his hands slipped free and clattered on the boards beneath his feet. She looked up at him, offering him a sweet smile through the window.

The air in Toren’s lungs stilled. His entire body settled into a peaceful quiet as a stark realization set in.

He was beginning to love her. Without any kind of magic to speed the process or drive doubts away. Her goodness drew him in and cradled him close. It filled him with a sense of contentment and peace every time he saw that she was happy.

The thought of not seeing her again stretched out like a desolate wasteland in front of him, bleak and scoured with loneliness. He was not sure he could trek through that for the rest of his life. Or more accurately, he was not sure he wanted to.

But his obligations to his family and his homeland had to come before his own personal desires. Only he knew of Grynar’s treachery and could prove his guilt. Once Toren was back on Sorsca, he would bring that proof before the council and force them to inflict justice upon his sister’s killer. They would send Grynar to Obliterra for his crime, and he would live here, powerless and stripped of memories of his life for the rest of his days.

That thought gave Toren pause. What if Grynar found Adreeahbenwah or some other fragile human? If he was capable of killing his own gentle wife, then what evil would he do to those living here?

Toren was not a stranger to killing. He had fought for his homeland countless times, defending it from invaders and predators. Ridding both Sorsca and Earth of Grynar’s evil seemed the patriotic thing to do. If killing Grynar meant forfeiting Toren’s life, then so be it. Elina’s murder would not go unanswered, nor would he allow Grynar to hurt innocent humans.

Adria pushed through the door with two plates in her hands. One held some kind of smoky meat, and the other flat, breadlike discs. She set them down on a nearby chair. “How goes the gadget?”

There were shadows beneath her eyes that had not been there when they had first met. He wiped his hands on his pants and slid his thumb along one of her bruises. “What caused this shadow? Are you ill?”

“No, just tired. Don’t you guys get dark circles when you’re tired?”

He shook his head. “Our power will falter and our hair becomes still.”

She gripped a lock of hair between her fingers. It twirled its way around her hand and pulled her close. “I’ll never get used to that,” she said.

“You should rest if you are tired.”

“I’m fine. I’m more worried about you getting this thing done in time.”

“It is nearly complete.”

“I feel like I’ve found everything you need. Is that true?”

“Yes. Once the strands of copper you brought me are in place, the construction will be done. All that is left is activation, which will require water and a growing thing. We are surrounded by those. I will pluck one from the soil when the time to leave arrives.”

Her body felt good pressed against his. She fit his frame, molding to his contours so easily he could almost convince himself that she’d been made for that purpose alone.

His device was nearly done. If his work was true, then a doorway home would open and he would walk through it.

Never to see Adreeahbenwah again.

She stared up at him, her dark eyes tugging at him. He tried to remind himself that the depth of the color was natural for her and had nothing to do with desire. Still, there was some instinct within him that rose up in answer to a perceived need, just as it would with a mate he had claimed as his own.

“You should eat while the food is still warm,” she said.

He was more hungry for her than he was for food. Only the knowledge that she had worked to provide for him drove him to accept her offer.

Toren released her and carried the food inside to where the chill would not reach her. He sat on the floor near the fire. She did not join him, but perched on the edge of the couch, her body tense, her expression uncertain.

“When will you leave?” she asked. There was an odd quality to her voice—a false brightness she used to cover something deeper.

“After we eat.”

She descended into silence, toying with her food, but never bringing any to her lips.

“Are you not hungry?” he asked.

“Not really.” Her voice shook, but she cleared her throat before continuing in a stronger tone. “I’ll go get that water you need and meet you outside. The sooner you go home, the better, right?”

She did not wait for his response before she hurried away.

Adreeahbenwah was right. The sooner he returned home, the better it was for his family. There was no reason to postpone the inevitable. Leaving her would only become more painful the longer he stayed.

Toren found her staring out at the dark lake behind the cabin. The sun had set, and beautiful, rich reds and oranges in the sky cast a warm shimmer over the water.

He wanted to touch her, but that act would have been selfish—meant to appease his need to feel her skin under his hand one more time.

Instead, he went into the surrounding land and found a small, newly sprouted plant. Not much was growing as winter approached, but this single green spike seemed determined to make an appearance.