Garden of Serenity (25 page)

“You’re my only love, Bren. My body wants you. Desires you. Needs you. Don’t ever stop loving me.” Then more loudly, “It would please me to mate with you, Brenimyn.” Her heated breath feathered across his ear, shooting hungry need along his nerves.

Gently laying her on the bed, he stood and admired her before stretching out beside her on the downy comforter. This exquisite beauty had been gifted to him by the Creator. The fact that she chose to stay with him—despite all he asked of her—was a miracle he’d never take for granted.

She lay with her eyes open, watching them in the mirror above the bed.

Good show?
He asked telepathically.

“Not so bad.” Jahara laughed out the words.

Brenimyn rolled to cover her body with his, but Jahara used the momentum to roll them both until she lay over him, her body stretched out the length of his.

“I’m in control. Don’t forget that, breeder. And today I wish to take top.” With her back to the camera, she stared down at Brenimyn.
Watch and learn.
She mouthed the words.

“Honorable woman, you are in total control.” He lifted his hands up as if in surrender. “I’m here only to pleasure.”

She came up on her knees and straddled him, sheathing him in the wet heat of her body. “I love you, Brenimyn,” Jahara’s trembling voice cut through the haze of his own pleasure. She shouldn’t have said it out loud, but he no longer cared about the camera. Though she’d said the words before in the heat of passion, his heart swelled, knowing they meant so much more now.

My heart belongs to only you, Jahara. Until the end of time there will be no other love for me.

She arched her back and canted her hips, the friction bringing them both pleasure. In all his experience, no woman’s body fit so perfectly with his. He watched their bodies in the mirror, enjoying the vision of their lovemaking. Her eyes captured his in the mirror, their mouths curved in trembling smiles as she continued to rock.

No longer able to stop the tidal surge of ecstasy, not at all sure he would ever be able to withhold himself again, he filled her with his seed. Her climax followed his, leaving them both breathless from the intensity of the release. He called out her name over and over as the euphoria quaked through him.

Exhausted from their efforts, Jahara slumped onto his chest, her heart hammered in time with his. Never had he felt this complete and sure of his future.

With this woman by his side, they would accomplish great things.

* * * *

“So here’s the thing.” Xylice sat with Brenimyn and Jahara at the dining room table. The sun shafting through the windows made long shadows of the furniture. “When you tell the computer to dim the lights, it will automatically start the loop.”

This was the third time Xylice had explained the system. Her technical jargon was confusing. Now she looked at Brenimyn and Jahara across the table as if they were school children unable to comprehend even the most simple of lessons.

“You both need to be in the bedroom and at the foot of the bed the way you were this morning. No one else can be in the house. The other cameras were filming empty rooms.” She lifted her hand. “Got it so far?”

They both nodded. Jahara felt foolish, but she was beginning to understand what Xylice had done for them. If anyone found out, she would also be considered a traitor to the Governmental Body of the Garden.

“Once the digital feed loops,” Xylice continued. “It will cut out everything else to the cameras and the audio amplifiers. You’ll be able to speak freely at that time and move about without detection. Nothing new will be picked up on the cameras.”

“You’re sure they’ll see only the two of us in the bedroom?” Jahara asked.

Xylice covered her hand. “Jahara, editing a digital image is easy.” Her cheeks turned crimson as her gaze dropped. “I know your lovemaking is private, but I had to watch it several times to edit some of the more touching aspects. There was a little too much emotion. It wouldn’t be a good idea for them to hear you speak of love.” Shyly, she lifted her gaze, clearing her throat. “Anyway, with the sex and the sleep tape, you’ll have about two hours from the time the program begins until it ends. But you must be in the bed when the loop is finished.”

Jahara rolled her eyes. “I don’t see how this can work.”

“Jahara, you need to trust. At the foot of the bed to begin.
In
the bed before the loop finishes. It’s only a small thing, but it may give you some much-needed privacy.” Xylice squeezed Jahara’s hand. “Obviously your relationship is making them nervous. They’re growing increasingly skeptical.” She looked at her sibling. “I fear for your safety, but I don’t know how else I can help.”

Brenimyn covered their joined hands. “We’ve known for a long time this change would not come about easily. But the time’s right. Everything’s falling into place.”

Xylice’s communicator buzzed at her hip. “They’re becoming impatient. I’ve held them off as long as possible. I need to program the frequencies. Just remember—don’t rely on the looping too often or they’ll become suspicious.” Her personal communicator toned again. “I have to take this.” She inhaled. “There are many who will protect you, but just as many who will betray you at the first opportunity. Take care.”

Standing up, Xylice walked away from them. “Xylice LeMoine here. Everything’s set.”

Chapter Eighteen

Jahara let the hot water of the shower massage her knotted shoulders.

It had been a long, difficult week.

Bresilee had called Jahara into her office and officially reprimanded her for saving Lukiam. She’d been consigned to two months at the well-check—as if that were some horrible punishment Jahara had to suffer through. Just as well. At this point, she’d rather be with the male breeders than have to endure the reproachful looks of the caretakers in the clinic who’d felt she’d infected their sacred healing space.
Whatever
.

Nazaret had suffered no repercussions. Lukiam had been snuck out of the clinic in the dead of night, before the security detail could arrest him and now was well cared for by apprentice male healers somewhere in the ramblings of the agricultural section. Bren brought news daily on his recovery. It seemed the only positive thing coming out of the chaos.

Merenith had cancelled her scheduled visit, but continued to call for updates on the movement. Their conversations on the vid-com had been coded and awkward and Jahara worried every time they spoke that she’d slip and give away information to those watching.

Though Xylice had done what she could to allow her and Bren privacy, neither of them felt comfortable testing the limits of the video loop. Without the safety of the bathrooms, there was no way for them to talk of plans for the movement—or their love. Her growing concern over the impending revolution and her part in bringing about the new world order made their conversations strained and unnatural.

At night, she sought Bren’s comforting embrace, drifting into a dream world high atop a mountain or lounging in the serenity of a summer meadow. Even in their protected world, apart from everything else, Brenimyn seemed purposefully vague about her role in the vision. Jahara had spent precious few hours in restless sleep, exhaustion and worry mixing to create an endless string of meaningless dreams.

During the day, Brenimyn slipped away from the constant surveillance and spent his time in secrecy, meeting with breeders for the cause. If Bresilee granted his request to stand before the Governmental Body, there was much preparation work still to be done on the presentation.

And Bresilee’s demands on her kept Jahara from accompanying him. Obviously, the medical director was doing anything she could to keep them apart. It was just as well, a foreboding sense of danger hung over her like a storm cloud ready to release a deluge of evil and Jahara needed to maintain some semblance of routine in a life suddenly out of her control.

Bren had left their bed hours ago, encouraging her to rest, but sleep had been elusive. In the pre-dawn hours she’d finally given up and now stood under the steamy water, trying desperately to rein in the nervousness skittering over her trembling muscles. Jahara willed herself not to stare into the camera hidden in the tiles of the shower. There was another in the handle of the bathroom cabinet. Xylice had walked them through the whole apartment, meticulously showing them every hidden camera and audio amplifier. There wasn’t a shadowed corner anywhere in her residence to hide.

Bresilee could be watching her right now. That thought soured in her stomach, causing her to dry-heave. The stress was making her increasingly ill.
Enough
. She was a grown woman. Her Dame had not reared her to back down from a fight.

Humming a Chinigan lullaby, Jahara focused on her knotted muscles and willed the tension to slip away with the water swirling down the drain. She was strong enough to accept whatever came about. She lathered soap in her hands, briskly washing her body. The electrical jolt that ran up her arms, took her by surprise and she yelped at the unexpected sensation. Not wanting to alert anyone watching, she turned her back to the camera. With trembling fingers, she made slow, methodical circles on her belly just below her navel.

There was no mistaking the thrum of life pulsing beneath her palm.

Barely discernable among the normal gastric rhythms, the new life just beginning within her announced its presence. She felt the embryo dividing and growing and knew, with absolute certainty, it had been their lovemaking in the pool that had created this precious life.

She wanted to yelp for joy, to run out in the street and announce to everyone she met that the love she shared with Bren had gifted her with a child. But knowing Bresilee and her cronies would likely use the baby as a way of controlling her, Jahara forced herself to remain calm.

Rinsing off, she quickly toweled dry, her feet barely skimming the floor. She felt as if she’d sprouted wings as she rushed into the bedroom, hastily pulling on her blue tunic and skirt.

They were going to be a family, in the way of the ancients—man, woman and child.

* * * *

“It’s all right, tell me.” Jahara could only see the thick lashes flutter, but the young man she spoke to would not look into her eyes.

“Honorable healer, there is nothing wrong.” She watched his gaze flick to the red door.

She stepped to the side, blocking his view of the end of the room. “And this doesn’t hurt?” She pushed gently on the protruding collarbone, feeling a twinge of guilt.

He hissed through his teeth, dropping his shoulder from her touch. “It’s nothing.”

“Then I don’t need to repair the damage.” Briskly clapping her hands together, Jahara made to move to the next man.

“But …” His uninjured hand shot out, stopping her. He flushed, pulling it quickly back. “Forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive.” She bent to look at his face. He was no more than a boy. “Have you heard other breeders speak of me?”

He nodded.

“Then you should trust in what they say. I’ll heal only if you tell me you’re hurt.” She didn’t know why, but Jahara felt it was imperative these men believe in her.

“I fell on the rocks while swimming at the lake.”

She put her hands on him as he talked, her palms glowing with the power she’d been gifted.

“The rocks were slippery and I came down hard on my shoulder.”

“How many days ago?” Jahara kept the boy talking. She already knew the answers to her questions, but she wanted to put him at ease as the broken bone mended beneath her hands.

“A week, maybe more.”

“Next time, don’t wait so long to come to me. There’s no need to be in pain.” Her hands heated and his skin glowed with the light of her power. The break mended and the awkward lump at the base of his neck disappeared. It hardly took any energy.

She pulled her hands from his skin and his face split into a handsome smile that reached all the way to his dark eyes staring into hers. “Thank you.” He rotated his shoulder. “You’re all they say you are, most honorable Jahara.” He continued rolling his shoulder, laughing and shaking his head as he walked out of the well-check.

There’d been nothing unusual about the morning, but she was bone-weary nonetheless. Before coming to the well-check, Jahara had contacted Nazaret on the vid-com, speaking in cloaked sentences about her horses, but actually inquiring about Lukiam. He limped weakly just within the camera’s range, but just as quickly ducked from sight. In that brief look, Jahara had seen the smile brightening the face that only days earlier had portended death.

His body needed nothing more now than rest, good food and Nazaret’s love. Nazaret had promised to keep him in bed for another week until his body completely healed. Jahara laughed, knowing the woman didn’t intend to let Lukiam get much rest, despite his healer’s orders. If all went well, she and Nazaret would deliver their babies around the same time. She hadn’t said those words out loud. No one else would know until Brenimyn heard the news.

Her hand absently rested on her belly as she moved to the next curtain and found the cubicle empty. She moved down the row, finding no one behind the curtains.

“Collin, where are the men?” she asked, walking into the waiting area. Collin had made many changes in the last month. He’d found portable holograms and hung them about the walls. Decorative tables had been brought in, their surfaces covered with colorful plants and artful light fixtures that brightened the formerly dreary space. Even the walls and carpets had been cleaned and the putrid stench had dissipated with the gloomy atmosphere.

“It’s the noon hour already. You have some time. I hope you don’t mind, but I had some food sent up from the dining common.” Collin walked over to her, his breeches flapping with his quick, little steps. She was grateful the men were now covering themselves. The nudity had been another way to degrade the breeders and in her well-check, it was unnecessary. Unless they required healing, she had no desire to see any man naked except Brenimyn.

Collin took her by the elbow, guiding her to the new wooden reception desk that had replaced the battered metal furniture. “If I may say so myself, you’re not looking at all well. I think some food will do you good.” For all his feminine qualities, the hands on her shoulders pushing her into the plush chair at his desk were strong and firm. “I insist you eat. You need to keep your strength up.” He set a plate of fresh fruit and vegetables in front of her.