Authors: Dena Garson
She didn’t disappoint. “Now you’re trying to embarrass me.”
“Absolutely.” He grinned shamelessly.
“I can move to one of the other rooms so you can rest.” She
threw the sheet aside to get out of the bed.
Once more he put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. “You
will rest here with me.”
She shook her head. “I can’t do that. It wouldn’t be
proper.”
“I don’t care what’s proper and what’s not.” He pushed her
back against the pillows as she tried to rise. “I will not relax if I don’t
know you’re safe and sleeping comfortably.”
“What will Gehiji think?” She tried to sit up once again.
“He’ll know that we’re resting, as we both should be, and
he’ll think nothing more than that.”
“I am an unmated woman and you are an unmated man. We cannot
share a room, much less a bed.”
“People do it all the time and think nothing of it.”
“I’m not most people.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“I like that about you.”
“And neither are you.” Danet caught him by surprise by
sitting up then poking him in the chest. “You’re the prince.”
“A fact I am well aware of,” he mumbled as he rubbed the
spot on his chest where she had poked him.
“You can’t just go around sleeping with anyone you want to.”
Instead of replying, he lifted one brow.
“Yes, well,” she became flustered and waved her hand back
and forth as if to brush away what she had just said. “You know what I mean.
Propriety must be maintained.”
“Propriety be dammed,” he growled. “I’m not letting you out
of my sight unless I know you are safe. So, lie down so we can both get some
rest.”
Her mouth fell open in shock but she recovered quickly. She
took a deep breath as if to argue but he narrowed his gaze in warning.
Even though he could tell it was a struggle for her, she
simply flopped back against the pillows and crossed her arms over her chest
again.
Ceros got up and walked around to the other side of the bed.
It wasn’t as large as his, but it would do. Besides, it forced them to lie
closer to each other.
He lay down then rolled onto his side so he was facing her.
She squeaked in alarm when he reached across her waist and pulled her snug
against him. The faint smell of berries wafted up from her hair. He closed his
eyes and took a deep breath.
Unfortunately one part of him was attuned to the fact that
Danet was in his arms. And that part was now pressing against her hip. Given
the way she stiffened and held still, she was aware of his discomfort.
“Relax, Danet,” he mumbled. “We both need to rest.”
It was a gradual process, but eventually she softened and
fell asleep again. In her sleep she burrowed closer. A telling sign of her
trust and level of comfort with him.
Why then was she so anxious to go to another room? After
making love to her in their minds, he was ready to do it with their bodies.
Meanwhile, he was loath to let her get very far away until he was able to claim
her.
She indicated she was concerned about propriety, but there
was no one around except Gehiji and Runihura. She may not realize it but they
would never call anyone out by claiming a lack of decorum. There had to be more
that worried her.
Sleep crept over him as he held Danet. His reality faded
into dream.
The second sun was high in the sky but their oasis was lush
and green without a hint of the desert heat.
Danet turned her head to the side when the shadow of a
swaleena bird flying over the water caught her attention. She let her fingers
trail across the carpet of lush grass she was lying on and wondered if Ceros
would appear as himself or as her beast.
As if thinking of him summoned him, his shadow fell across
her body.
She allowed herself the luxury of drinking in his beauty.
Sunlight glistened on the hard lines of his body. The linen he wore draped
around his waist hid little from her view. Not that she was complaining. In
this dream world Ceros was a man, not a prince or patient.
She marveled at how godlike he appeared. Gold sparkled in
his hair. His skin glistened with freshly applied oil. Perhaps he had been
touched by the Gods when they gifted him with the beast.
“It’s strange how I was never able to see your face until now,”
Ceros said.
Danet shrugged. “The Gods must have had their reasons for
hiding it.”
Ceros dropped to his knees next to her. “Perhaps.”
She sat up then mirrored his kneeling position. Her eyes
roamed across his shoulders and chest. Before she could stop herself, she
reached out to touch him. It was mesmerizing to see muscle ripple beneath her
fingertips.
She didn’t make it as far as his shoulder before he grabbed
her wandering hand and brought it to his lips. He held her gaze as he turned
her wrist and pressed a kiss to her palm. She shivered as his tongue skimmed
across the surface up to the tip of her middle finger.
Ceros didn’t give her a chance to catch her breath before he
reached for her and pulled her against him. His desire burned hot in his gaze.
He gave her no time to think before laying siege to her lips.
Her insides turned to putty as he deepened their kiss. With
the tip of his tongue he teased and tantalized. She was helpless to resist his
urging.
It had been years since she had been with a man, but her
body instinctively knew what it wanted. The thin layer of silk covering her
breasts was no barrier to the heat rolling off Ceros. Her fingers trailed
across the ridges of hard muscle in his arms as they moved up his shoulders to
his neck.
The urge to lose herself in his kiss was great but she held
out, wanting to memorize every inch of him while she had the chance. Her palm
scraped against Ceros’ cheek and chin. The rough patch tickled, making her
fingers curl into a light caress.
She hooked one hand around the back of his neck and pulled
herself even closer against him. Their breaths mingled into one. Each fed on
the other. Their lips stroked, nipped, pulled and soothed.
Shifting her weight backward, she showed him what she
wanted. What she craved. He followed readily, but caught their joined weight
before he fell upon her. Slowly he lowered himself onto her body.
Danet reveled in the feel of his hard, masculine form above
her. It shielded her from the suns and the grasses blowing nearby in the breeze.
Everything except him.
The silk wrap she wore felt heavy against her skin. She
wanted no barriers between them. Nothing except the combined sweat from their
bodies. She squirmed and tried to get closer.
She freed her leg from the fabric and wrapped her foot
around Ceros’ calf.
His hand cupped her breast. He squeezed gently then flicked
his thumb across her nipple.
She arched her back, silently begging for more.
Ceros shifted his body and kissed his way down her neck to
her breast. He suckled her through the silk.
Danet moaned and sank her fingers into his hair, trying to
hold him in place.
He moved to the other breast, pulling the silk aside as he
did. His warm breath sent shivers down her spine. When his lips clamped around
the nipple, quivers rippled through her lower belly.
He lifted his head. “You know this isn’t real, don’t you?
That we’re dreaming again.”
“It is real. We just aren’t using our physical bodies.” She
squirmed beneath him, urging him to continue.
“I want more, Danet. I want you. All of you.”
He captured her gaze. His need for her was clearly written
on his face and in his eyes. She sensed there was more to what he was feeling
than physical desire. It mirrored her own needs.
Danet knew it was pointless to resist. She was destined to
make love with Ceros. She would deal with any consequences later. For now, she
would gather these precious memories and hold them close to her heart.
Reaching up, she touched her hand to his cheek. When she
lifted to press her lips against his she whispered, “Then wake, my prince, and
take what you want of me.”
Darkness fell around her like a curtain.
When she woke, it was to the feel of Ceros’ hand cupping her
breast as he nuzzled her neck. She arched her back, forcing her breast farther
into his palm and her rear into his crotch. His erection pressed against her.
She smiled knowing he was awake too.
His hand slipped beneath her tunic then found her breast
again. Anxious to feel his skin against hers, she wiggled and pulled the
bunched fabric over her head.
Ceros rolled her to her back. Leaning up on his forearm, he
admired her bared breasts. She blushed under his scrutiny. Almost reverently he
caressed first one and then the other.
“So beautiful,” he murmured.
When his lips closed around her nipple, her breath caught in
her throat. The flicks of his tongue alternating with suction drove her wild
with need. She pulled helplessly at his shoulder, trying to draw him closer.
His hand slipped beneath the waist of her pants and found
the delicate folds between her legs. The dual sensations fractured her thoughts
and sent her desire spiraling higher.
Her hips jerked when his finger found her sensitive bud.
With slow, deliberate strokes he drew small circles on and around the peak.
Danet’s breath came in short gasps.
She moaned his name.
He kissed his way down her ribs to her belly then lifted his
head and adjusted his position. Danet opened her eyes a fraction and saw he was
kneeling next to her. He reached for her pants and pulled them down to her
thighs. She raised her knees to help him slip the garment the rest of the way
off.
As soon as he dropped the pants to the floor, he grabbed her
leg that was closest to him and drew her ankle up to his shoulder. Turning his
head slightly, he licked and kissed a trail down her calf and thighs. Before
she could catch her breath, he buried his face in her curls and found her clit.
His talented tongue danced over the sensitive nub, making
her writhe on the bed. Her fingers dug into the sheets beneath her as she
struggled to hold on to reality.
Ceros pulled her legs over his shoulders then he raised her
hips off the mattress. Blood rushed to her head when he lifted her even higher
and increased the laps against her clit. When he sucked the swollen nub into
his mouth, Danet stiffened and a hundred stars burst inside her head.
The last of her mental shields dropped and her pleasure
flooded Ceros’ mind.
He groaned then grabbed her behind the knees and pulled her
legs around his waist. He aimed his cock at her entrance and slid into her silky
depths.
The feel of him buried inside her made her want to weep with
joy. The friction from his cock sliding in and out reset her orgasm and sent
her spiraling upward again.
Ceros came down on top of her, changing the angle of his
penetration. He dropped his own shields, allowing her to feel how close to the
edge he was.
Their blended passion was more than she could process. Danet
clung to Ceros as the stars fell from the heavens once more. This time she
didn’t fall alone. Ceros groaned then collapsed against her.
Afterward, they both struggled to catch their breath as they
tiptoed around the oddness of having another person in their heads at such a
vulnerable moment.
As soon as he was able, Ceros rolled to the side to take his
weight off her. He collapsed on the mattress then reached over and pulled her
into his arms.
She snuggled against his chest and listened to his heart
beating against his ribs.
Her exhaustion weighed heavily upon her and she struggled to
keep her eyes open.
With the last of her waning strength she touched the edges
of his mind, curious to know if he enjoyed their coupling half as much as she.
She felt a deep sense of satisfaction and calm. Beyond that feeling she thought
she detected a low rumble.
A sound much like a purr.
She smiled to herself. Apparently her beast enjoyed it as
well.
Ceros used the rest of the water in the basin to clean both
of them. After he was dressed he held a hand out to Danet. “Have you recovered
sufficiently or do you need to rest longer?”
She took a deep breath then slipped her hand into his. “I
suppose I can get up if you can.”
He smirked as he helped her sit up. “Why does that sound
somewhat insulting to me?” He brought her hand to his lips and placed a gentle
kiss on the back.
The faint blush that stained her cheeks was charming.
“I only meant that you’ve been ill for the last three days.”
She tugged the sheet tighter around her ribs. “Even I’m surprised you’ve
recovered so well.”
He moved in closer, forcing her knees apart as he stepped
between them. “It’s all thanks to you, you know,” he said softly as he leaned
in for a kiss.
“Oh, I didn’t do—” He stopped what she started to say by
pressing his lips to hers. “I just…” She bit her lip.
What was it about her that made him feel like grinning from
ear to ear? “Just say you’re welcome.”
“I didn’t hear you say thank you,” she pointed out.
His smile broadened. He leaned closer but maintained eye
contact with her. When he was only a breath away, he whispered, “Thank you,
Danet.” He gently touched his lips to hers. “Thank you for saving me.”
“You’re welcome.”
Ceros caressed her cheek. “Come. Let’s find out what Gehiji
and Runihura are planning.”
She nodded. “Okay. Give me a minute to get dressed.”
He picked her discarded tunic and pants up off the floor and
set them on the bed beside her. “I’ll wait for you.”
She ducked her head and shifted nervously on the edge of the
mattress. “You realize I’m not used to anyone watching me as I dress, don’t
you?”
He placed one hand on the mattress on either side of her
thighs and leaned in until they were eye to eye. “You realize I plan on seeing
a lot more of you as you dress and undress, don’t you?”
Danet’s eyes widened and she swallowed loudly enough for him
to hear. “You do?”
“Yes. I do.” He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth. “Now.
What can I help you with?”
“I, uh.” She picked up her tunic and held it against her
chest. “A brush would nice. Would you mind digging around in my bag for one?”
She pointed to the corner. “It’s the brown one with multicolored birds.”
He took his time locating the bag and the brush to allow her
a chance to dress in relative privacy. He wasn’t so callous that he didn’t
recognize her discomfort, but he had no intention of letting her out of his
sight any more than necessary. Some instinct declared she was his to protect
and demanded he keep her nearby.
When the rustling of fabric stopped he held up the brush.
“Is this what you wanted?”
“Yes, that’s it.” She took it from him with a smile.
It was soothing to watch her take down her hair then run the
brush through the strands. When this was over he was going to spend several
nights running his fingers, and maybe a brush too, through her silken tresses.
He was even fascinated to watch her weave the long mass into
a single braid.
“Okay. That will have to do,” Danet said as she put her
things back in her bag.
“You’re beautiful,” he said as he caressed her cheek then
reached for her braid.
She blushed. “Thank you for thinking so.”
“You don’t believe me?”
She shrugged. “I’m just me.”
“And you are beautiful.” He put one finger on her lips. “We
can argue about it later. Let’s get out there and see what’s going on.”
From behind his finger, Danet nodded her agreement.
He took her hand and led her to the kitchen. Ceros stopped
at the edge of the room when he found yet another of his friends, Mdjai,
slouched over a cup of tea, reading a book. His oversized form looked out of
place at the table.
Mdjai turned and looked over his shoulder at them. The beads
in his dark braids glinted in the light as they fell across his shoulder.
“About time you crawled your sorry ass out of bed.”
Ceros cleared his throat and gestured to Danet with his
head.
Mdjai rose from his chair and took a step in their
direction. He gave a short bow and clarified, “I meant his sorry ass, not
yours, my lady.”
Ceros closed his eyes and briefly shook his head. “Mdjai. As
always, it’s a pleasure to see you.” They clasped hands and slapped each other
on the shoulder. Ceros gestured to Danet. “This is Danet.”
Mdjai took her hand and bowed over it as he mumbled a
greeting in his native language.
Ceros gave a silent prayer of thanks Danet didn’t understand
Mdjai had just given her what amounted to a royal greeting. “Danet, this is
Mdjai, yet another of our brothers in arms.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Mdjai. It’s very good of all of
you to come so far to assist Prince Ceros.”
“Assist?” Mdjai grunted. “I came because I heard a little
wisp of a lady had set Runihura back on his heels.” He leaned down until he was
eye level with Danet. “That wouldn’t have been you, now would it?”
Danet’s cheeks turned pink again. “I, uh…” She looked from
one of them to the other. “I don’t
think
I did.”
Ceros nodded.
Mdjai burst into a full belly laugh, making the cups on the
counter rattle.
“Speaking of Runihura, where is he?” Ceros asked as he
gestured for Danet to take a seat at the table.
Once Mdjai got his laughter under control, he waved to the
door at the far end of the room. “He said he would be the lookout on the roof.
Something about getting familiar with his surroundings.”
“Hmm.” He probably wanted to get away from Mdjai. Obviously
Gehiji had shared the story of Runihura meeting Danet. And Ceros was certain
Gehiji didn’t paint Runihura in a flattering light. “What about Gehiji?”
“That weakling said something about needing sleep. Said to
wake him if anything interesting happened.”
“We were up most of the night last night getting Ceros out
of the palace. He has to be tired,” Danet said, trying to stick up for Gehiji.
Mdjai raised an eyebrow then glanced at Ceros.
Ceros shook his head to cut off any unflattering remark
Mdjai might have. Danet wouldn’t know they were trained to go for days without
sleep.
“Danet, would you like another cup of your tea?” Ceros asked
to distract her. He looked at the empty cup on the table in front of Mdjai.
“That is, if Mdjai hasn’t consumed it all.”
“That weak batch of herbs?” Mdjai jerked his chin to
indicate the pot on the counter. “I thought it might be some of that foul brew
you like so well, Ceros. At least
it
has some kick to it.”
“We’ll hunt up some java just for you when we go for
supplies,” Ceros promised. To Danet, he asked, “Would you like some?”
“Yes, please.” She smiled as she took the seat he offered.
She must have been tired to sit without arguing about who
should be fetching tea for whom. Ceros found a clean cup then checked the pot
to make sure it was still warm.
“There’s fruit.” Mdjai pointed to the end of the counter.
“And Gehiji said there was a loaf of bread and a bit of cheese too.”
Ceros looked to Danet in question.
“Perhaps a little bread,” she said then her expression
turned to surprise when she realized whom she was speaking to. “I can get it.”
Ceros waved her back to her seat. “I’ll get it.” He placed
her tea on the table in front of her. “I want a little as well.”
“You need to take it easy with what you eat. You haven’t had
much of anything for the last couple of days,” she reminded him.
Mdjai watched them with open interest. “How long have you
two known each other?”
“Not long. A couple sets of the suns,” they answered at the
same time.
Mdjai grunted. “Then why do you two sound like a bonded
couple?”
Danet choked on the tea she had just sipped. Ceros patted
her back until she waved she was fine.
Gehiji came around the corner. “Oh good. You’re up.” He sat
down in one of the empty chairs.
Ceros put a plate of sliced bread in front of Danet.
“Thanks,” Gehiji said as he grabbed the largest piece.
Ceros frowned at him then returned to the counter for a
couple more pieces. While he was at it, he sliced some cheese. He added them to
the plate in front of Danet.
“Eat,” he ordered as he took the last chair.
When Gehiji reached for a piece of cheese, Ceros stabbed it
with the knife he was still holding. “That’s not for you,” he growled.
Danet’s eyes were wide as she looked back and forth between
them.
Gehiji smiled and winked at Danet. “Gotta keep him on his
toes.”
Mdjai swiped an unstabbed piece before Ceros could protest.
“And humble.”
The two men laughed when Ceros grunted.
A knock on the front door brought Ceros and Gehiji to their
feet. Mdjai simply looked in the direction of the door with a placid expression
on his face.
Ceros pulled Danet out of her chair and slipped around the
corner into the hallway. He pushed her behind him and listened as Gehiji went
to see who it was.
After closing the door, Gehiji called out, “Just a
messenger.”
As Gehiji broke the seal on the parchment, they each
returned to their places at the table. Except for Mdjai, who never left his
seat.
“It’s from the queen,” Gehiji informed them.
Ceros held his hand out for the message.
Gehiji glanced at Ceros’ hand then promptly dismissed it.
“It’s addressed to me, not you.”
Ceros rolled his eyes.
Runihura came through the back door. “I saw a messenger.
What’s the word?”
Ceros reached for Danet and pulled her onto his lap.
She squeaked in protest. “What are you doing?” she
whispered.
“He needs a chair.” Ceros gestured to Runihura. “You can sit
on my lap and he can use yours.”
“But this isn’t proper at all,” she hissed.
“In case you haven’t figured it out yet, we aren’t a formal
group,” Ceros said.
“Not at all,” Gehiji agreed without lifting his eyes from
the paper.
“Besides, if you don’t let him mark you as his territory,
he’s bound to do something really stupid like peeing on the floor around you,”
Runihura said.
Danet looked at Ceros. “Is that what you’re doing?”
Ceros shrugged and reached for a slice of bread.
“And you don’t want the big baby,” Mdjai jerked his thumb in
Runihura’s direction, “to start telling stories of old battle wounds that make
his leg hurt when he stands too long.”
The others grunted in agreement.
“What did Mother say?” Ceros asked when Gehiji refolded the
note.
“The council meeting will be held before high luncheon
tomorrow. She’s been asked to meet them in the throne room at the palace.”
Gehiji reached for another slice of bread.
“How difficult will it be to get in?” Mdjai asked.
“Is it an interior room?” Runihura asked.
Ceros and Gehiji described where the room was located in the
palace. Ceros described what he remembered of windows and doors as well as
possible access from the roof. Gehiji reviewed what he’d learned of security
and patrols around the palace.
When Ceros turned to Danet to clarify something, she asked,
“Why don’t you just walk through the front doors? No one should stop you from
entering the palace.” She shrugged. “Your mother can verify who you are if
anyone questions if you are really you.”
The three men looked at each other with similar expressions.
Part surprise and part disappointment. Like him, they were probably hoping for
a stealthy, in-depth plan of action. To simply walk in seemed anticlimactic.
“Well, damn. I was hoping to use at least one explosive on
Ceros’ house,” Runihura grumbled.
“And
that
is why we don’t want women in the field with
us,” Mdjai said, shaking his head.
Ceros chuckled. “Maybe next time, Runihura.”
They’re just teasing you,
Ceros reassured Danet
through their connection when she began to chew on her lip.
Should I have just kept my mouth shut?
No. Thank you for being the voice of reason. We might
have gotten there eventually, but not before wasting time on a lot of highly
destructive ideas.
Oh.
She blushed prettily.
You’re welcome then.
“So who do you want to go with you?” Gehiji went to the
sideboard and sorted through the fruit in the basket.
Ceros shrugged. “Why not everyone?”
Danet shook her head. “There is no reason for me to be
there.”
Ceros frowned. “I want you there.”
She leaned back. “But the meeting has nothing to do with me.
All you will do is raise eyebrows by dragging me along.” He started to argue,
but she continued. “Besides, you need to focus on the council and any tricks
they may try to pull. I’d rather not be something they could use against you.”
He frowned harder.
“She has another good point.” Gehiji set the fruit he
selected in the middle of the table.
“If I can’t blow anything up, I don’t mind staying with her
until the meeting is finished.” Mdjai pulled out a wicked-looking knife and cut
one of the wakaloi fruits in half.
“Actually, I was thinking of going home after everyone
leaves for the palace,” Danet said as she eyed Mdjai’s efforts.
“You can’t wander the city alone.” Runihura looked at her as
if she were a simpleton.
“I do it all the time when I go between patients,” Danet
protested.
Runihura joined Ceros’ frowning.
“But now word has probably spread that you were involved in
the prince’s disappearance. It may not be safe,” Gehiji pointed out.
It was Danet’s turn to frown. “Well, what am I supposed to
do, just sit here and wait?”
The three men exchanged glances. “Yes.” “Sounds about
right.” “Afraid so,” they said at the same time.