The Rogue Prince (13 page)

Did Reid leave her behind? In a moment of panic, she sat up, scrambling to the end of the bed toward the ray of light. Her heart beat fast in her chest. Pushing aside long velvet curtains, she looked out into the room. She definitely wasn’t on
The Conqueror
anymore.

The room was huge, bigger than any hotel she’d ever stayed in with Chad and twice as luxurious. The curtains hung all the way around the bed to block out light. The deep purple color was brilliant in its jewel tone. By the soft, natural light, she could construe that it was daytime.

On the wall opposite the bed, a long blue banner hung with a stylized wild cat on it. Was it possible she was at Reid’s home? He was a prince and this room was very palace-like. How long had she slept? Why had he brought her here?

Jasmine felt her head, waiting for a wave of nausea. Wouldn’t she be sick after drinking so much? Then, eyeing her wrist, she frowned. She vaguely remembered spraining it when trying to get away from Reid. Though, to look at it now, you wouldn’t know it. It was completely healed.

Jasmine closed her eyes, remembering. She’d said some really nasty things to Reid and had been scared of what he might do if he caught up to her. If she ever talked to Chad like that he would have
beaten her within an inch of her life. Truthfully, she’d only said what she did about Reid’s manhood because she was hurt that he would pawn her off on someone else. It was like she was a burden to him. He’d made it clear from the beginning that he didn’t want her on his ship.

Jasmine pulled her gaze away from her wrist and looked around the room once more, trying to figure out where she was. More velvet drapes hung over a raised platform. She couldn’t see what they hid behind them. There were long windows behind the curtained enclosure, showing off a blue-green sky. So, she was on a planet, not a starship.

Werten? Had Reid left her behind like she’d asked? She’d never been to the planet so had no idea what it looked like.

A barren, circular fireplace and couches made up the rest of the room. Swallowing nervously, she came off the bed and stood on the tile floor. She wore a loose fitting gown of dark gray. Its shapeless form draped over her body and bulged oddly in the middle. Her feet were bare.

Gasping, she looked up toward the ceiling. A large chandelier hung beneath a dome of tinted glass. The crystal shards hung down like raindrops, lighting the large oval room. Staring at it as she walked, she slowly made her way across the room. It would take five men, arms spread wide, just to make a ring around the stunning light fixture.

Jasmine found no joy in the luxury around her. Seeing a door, she automatically went to it. Wherever she was, it felt like a prison. The room reminded her of the gilded bars of her marriage. Pretty, sparkly things did not buy happiness. She’d rather live alone in a hovel than belong to a man in luxury--even if that man was Reid.

The door to the room was unlocked and she didn’t stop to think as she poked her head out. There was no guard and the hall was empty. She didn’t care where she was going, so long as she could go.

Running, Jasmine made her way through the maze like halls. She ignored the intricate carvings over the arched doorways. The floors were checkered with gray and white tiles, constructed from a stone much like Earth marble. There was also a definite medieval castle influence at play within the basic structure. The walls were decorated with symmetrical tiles inlaid into the walls. They were a brilliant display of colors--blue, red, orange, gold, green. Circular designs seemed to be a central theme in many of the halls. Jasmine didn’t stop to admire them.

Rounding a corner, she almost ran over someone. She jumped back, her eyes rounding in horror. A large Var man was before her. He was half-shifted, his features not all cat and not quite human, and he wore the Medieval-like tunic. A light tiger striped fur covered his face and neck with orange and black, mimicked by the fur on his hands. His voice was a gravelly pitch, as if garbled by the beginnings of a roar, as he asked, “My lady?”

Jasmine found she couldn’t speak. Tears sprung into her eyes. She’d seen Reid shift, but somehow when he did it she hadn’t felt threatened. Now the fear was almost overwhelming. She stared at the tiger-man’s teeth, slowly backing away from him.

“My lady?” he insisted, moving as if to touch her.

Jasmine squeaked in fear and ran from him, going full force down the hall. She heard footsteps behind her, or thought she did. But when she braved a glance back, the man wasn’t following her. The hall was empty. She stopped, shivering violently.

“Jasmine?” Jasmine jolted in alarm, hearing Reid’s voice. “Jasmine?”

She watched him turn the corner, coming for her. Jasmine backed away, her whole body shaking as she looked him over. She felt shaky, weak, strange. She couldn’t explain it, but she was frightened and nervous, but also elated to hear Reid’s voice, to know he hadn’t abandoned her on a strange planet.

“Jasmine, wait,” Reid ordered, catching up to her. He pulled her arm. A strange shock went over her system at the touch. She screamed, jerking away. His face fell as he looked at her and he didn’t try to touch her again. “Jasmine?”

“Where are we?”

“Qurilixen,” he said. “At the Var palace, my home. You were sleeping so we brought you here. If I’d known you were
up, I’d have come for you.”

Jasmine was confused, overwhelmed with feelings and weak at the same time. She was at his home? The palace? She couldn’t concentrate. Her heart was beating too fast. She was sick, getting worse by the second. Just how long had she slept? Days could’ve passed without taking her pill.

She didn’t speak. As she stared at him it was like seeing his muscular form for the first time. Jasmine had always appreciated his looks, but now it was like she was mesmerized by not only the look of him, but the texture of him, the subtle nuances of his body as he moved. Why didn’t she see it before? There was something slow, primitive, seductive in the way he carried himself--like a hunter stalking his prey. It was like the marble statue came to life for her and she wanted to touch the art instead of merely seeing its beauty.

Did he always look like this?

Dark stubble shadowed his chiseled jaw, giving him an animalistic appeal. Long, dark hair spilled down over his broad shoulders in waves. He always wore his hair down, but why hadn’t she noticed the soft texture of it before, the inviting silkiness. She found herself staring at it, really staring at it.

Reid was perfectly built, not too broad and not too thin. He wore an outfit much like the first one she’d seen him in on Nozando. Only this time black leather bands with threads of gold gripped tight to his biceps and wrists, wrapping around both of his arms. Why didn’t she look at it longer that first time? Surely his muscles had been just as exposed. Why hadn’t she noticed?

Jasmine’s eyes dipped over him. Her mouth was suddenly dry. His black tank shirt was held together by black and gold cross lacing beneath his arms, leaving his sides and waist exposed. Her heartbeat picked up, becoming even wilder in her chest as she looked over his lower half. A belt matched the armband, clinging around his narrow waist. His pants were of the same material as the shirt, soft, yet molding to his firm body. More cross lacing was over the outside length of his thighs, revealing hard, tanned flesh all the way up his hip. No indention of firm muscle was left to the imagination.

Jasmine could barely breathe. There was something else that didn’t require her imagination--the giant length of his arousal. It was full, large and pressing against the tight pants.

“Ah,” she said, unable to tear her eyes away. Why hadn’t she noticed the particular girth of that part of him before? What was happening? “Ah-ah.”

A low growl sounded in the back of Reid’s throat. Her eyes whipped up to his. Too late, she realized she’d been staring senselessly at him. His pupils shifted as he took an aggressive step forward. She saw the beast he could become in his eyes--the untamed man with wild passions. The fire of his gaze burned brightly. Unlike before, she was terrified by it. Why had his shifting not bothered her before, only to terrify her now?

Jasmine’s stomach hurt and suddenly her whole body throbbed and ached. Something was definitely wrong. Her heart was beating so fast she was sure it would explode.

The low growl sounded in his throat, cutting off her words before she could even think to protest. He took an aggressive step forward. His nostrils flared as he sniffed her. “I don’t know how you were hiding it from me, but I smell you now.”

Smell what? What was wrong with him? Why was he looking at her like that? Like he was possessed by the devil?

Jasmine gasped, whimpering as he cornered her against the wall. The hall was empty and she didn’t have anyone she could call for help. He was breathing hard. He didn’t touch her and she was too frightened to push him away. For a long moment, he just stood close. His head tilted and he took deep breaths, obviously smelling her.

“Reid?” she whispered. He lifted his hands and placed them on either side of her on the wall, trapping her further. “Prince?”

“I smell you,” he repeated, his tone low. His cat eyes stared at her as he leaned forward. The muscles on his arms bulged with the movement, showing just how much of a warrior he really was. His strength, his nearness, even his smell frightened her.

Then he kissed her. His tongue instantly parted her lips. There was no testing this time, no light probe. Reid just went for it, kissing her hard and deep and long. His tongue thrust into her gasping mouth. His body leaned closer until his chest brushed over her nipples with its heat.

Jasmine couldn’t breathe. Her heart was beating too fast. She felt faint, sick and her body was beginning to leak. Terrified by the onslaught of emotions--more emotions than she could ever remember feeling at once--she forced her lips from his, panting and wheezing for breath.

“Stop,” Jasmine demanded, breathless. With each rise of her chest, her nipples skimmed his hard muscles. He didn’t pull back and the ache she felt where he touched her only made her body all the more sensitive. “My heart is beating too fast.”

“Good,” Reid said, giving her a cockeyed grin. “It’s about time you--”

“I need my pills,” she interrupted. His smile only made her heartbeat worse.

“I don’t think you should,” Reid said.

“I need them,” Jasmine said. She grabbed her chest, gasping. Reid’s smile faded into one of concern. He pulled back, reaching to touch her arm. She jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me. It’s not helping. I need my pills.”

“Jas--”

“Damn it, Reid!” Jasmine cried. Tears streamed down her face. “Don’t you see? I think I’m dying. My heart’s going to explode. I have to take them.”

Reid paled. He stiffly nodded. Without waiting to ask permission, he swept her up into his arms and ran down the hall. Jasmine closed her eyes. His touch wasn’t helping at the moment. She concentrated on not feeling. It was no use. Her body felt like it was on fire. This was it. This was the end. She just knew it.

* * * *

“You say you were married to a rich, successful doctor and yet you’re still on a one a day pill regime?” Princess Tori looked Jasmine over in disbelief, as she rubbed her very pregnant stomach.

Princess Vittoria ‘Tori’ of the Var was married to Prince Quinn, the royal ambassador. Their home was simple in design, colored with rich blues and creams. The wide tiled floor stretched before the front door, elegant and immaculately clean. Reid had deposited Jasmine on a low, wide couch that was on a slightly raised platform and before a large fireplace. Long pillows were laid out on the floor at her feet, perfect for lounging. He would’ve still been with her, but for Tori shooing him out of the home. Jasmine was glad. Something about Reid’s smell was making it harder to breathe.

Aside from the front, there were no doors in the home. Tall decorative arches in the wall led to a bedroom, a kitchen, and a large office that was being used as a laboratory for Tori. A wall of glass, so thick you couldn’t see through it, guarded the bathroom. An inlet next to the fireplace, near the kitchen, led to a large dining room. There were enough chairs in it to seat more than a dozen guests.

When Jasmine didn’t answer, Tori merely hummed in thought. She sat down on the couch, studying her. The princess looked good pregnant. Her rounded stomach only added to her curves. She wore all black. The slacks were loose around her legs and the tighter shirt clung to her belly. She had long dark hair and dark eyes.

“I’m not sure why Reid brought me here,” Jasmine said, clutching her hand to her chest. Tori had given her some medicinal tea to drink along with one of her pills. It did help some, but she still would feel better when they let her have her bottle of medicine back in her hands. Tori informed her that she only had the one pill, as Reid had given it to her to analyze. Jasmine couldn’t fathom why Reid would want her pills broken down, unless he was worried she was a drug addict. “I just needed my heart medication. I should be fine in a moment.”

Tori opened her mouth to speak, but her front door opened, stopping her words. Jasmine turned to the door, hoping it was Reid with her bag.

“Tori!” A woman with red-blonde hair that practically gleamed came into the home. Her stomach was also rounded in pregnancy and her wide blue eyes were gorgeous. She was taller than Tori, statelier in appearance, until she grinned like a naughty child and announced, “It’s here! It came--
finally!
”

“Ulyssa!” Tori scolded with a grin. “You scared me. I swear you’ve forgotten how to knock.”

“What? Oh, sorry. No time for that. We’re in a hurry.” The dress Ulyssa wore was loose around her waist, but was still very revealing for maternity wear. The style was like Reid’s only in dress form. Cross laces worked along the sides of the bodice, baring a subtle hint of her swollen belly.

Spinning to the door, Ulyssa turned and pulled a large cart into the entryway. A second woman pushed on the other side. This one was petite with short, choppy blonde hair. She wore pants and a tank shirt with cross laces. A blue tattoo wound around her upper arm. A streak of purple slashed through the bangs. The lock fell forward over her face, partially hiding her round violet eyes. Jasmine had never seen eyes that color before. She too was pregnant, though she looked to be a few months behind the other two. Jasmine shivered, wondering if pregnancy was in the water.