AMNESIA

by Canada Jackson

  Amber’s teeth set on edge and she was about to launch into a tirade about his comment when he added, “Or are you scared of my brother?”

  Amber looked down at her shorts. They were minute and the shirt just brushed the top of her waistband. She ran her palms down her chest; she was also braless, ready for bed, her feet encased in sandals.

  “Outfit is perfect.” He grinned and she caught the glint of violet when he saw the outline of her breasts. Amber pulled the shirt forward and hunched her shoulders but Staede was holding out his hand, promising her maximum rebellion. Amber Jacobs had never done anything this rebellious. She made sure she was decent, reliable, responsible… everything that would make her father and Travis look at her with respect instead of disdain or concern for her mental condition.

  “One hour.” She tried to tamper down the excited beat to her heart.

  Staede’s warm chuckle skittered down her spine as she stepped into the elevator at his side. Just before they arrived, he clasped her jaw. “Stay at my side all the time,” he warned. “Don’t get into conversations with the males. They are there for one thing only… and lastly… let’s see if your hips sway like they do in my mind.”

  The doors opened. The music and smoky room made her cough and clasp Staede’s hand tightly as she momentarily lost her nerve, but he scooped an arm about her waist and propelled her into the center of the room, which was crowded with bodies. He swung her around to face him and waved at a server to bring over a tray of drinks. Amber didn’t have to dance. The crowd buffeted her from every side, and more than once she was propelled directly into Staede’s bare chest. She held her hands up to stop her breasts from pressing against him and then groaned when she noticed his delighted reaction at having her hands on him. The drinks tray finally managed to make its way to their side. Staede took two off and held one out to her. His eyes widened when Amber took both from him and drank them quickly, placing them back on the tray with a gasp when the drink burnt down her throat.

  “Two more,” Staede told the server with a laugh and then he grasped her hand and turned her in a circle, urging her to dance as she was moved by the crowd. Amber’s head swam slightly when the liquid finally hit her stomach and she closed her eyes, letting the monotonous beat roll over her. She tried for once not to worry about everybody around her. The Sanbara, her mother, Travis, her father, and Wrexel were all set aside. In the darkened room, there was nothing but the sound of the music, Staede’s wicked smile, and hopefully another tray of drinks before she lost her nerve again. Nobody seemed to notice or care who she was, so she began to sway, turn, and lose herself in the moment.

  Faced with Staede’s chest a little too often for comfort, she turned her back on him and decided the hand he placed on her hip was perfectly acceptable as she watched the crowd around her and swayed to the beat. She enjoyed the feeling of relaxation that the drink was slowly imbuing into her veins. When his hand moved from her hip to her stomach, wrenching her back against him, she placed her hand on his and tried to slide it back to her waist. He pulled her closer, and the hand slid up higher until his thumb brushed the under curve of her breast.

  “Staede, no.” She turned to berate him and jerked with shock when she saw his laughing green eyes replaced with two gleaming yellow ones.

  * * *

  “Oh,” she gasped, freezing on the spot. She lost the ability to move, no longer able to sway her hips to the music nor take her eyes away from the angry ones that stared down at her, but then suddenly they glowed with a tinge of violet. The hand that rested beneath her breast moved upward, fully cupping her as he held her to him. Amber’s head fell back and a moan escaped her lips. The crowd hemmed them in and darkness covered them so when his thumb roamed over her nipple, her cry was lost in the noise.

  He ushered her slowly through the throng, his hand still lingering beneath her t-shirt as he moved her to the rear wall and then pressed her against it with his frame. Her body quivered in expectation, not sure what he planned to do next. Her eyes remained locked on his when one of his hands curved around the back of her neck, tilting her face up to his while the other returned to her encircle her breast. Amber gasped against his mouth when his thumb teased her while his lips brushed over hers. She clasped his arms as her legs went limp and desire raged through her body. Nothing mattered at that moment but the feel of his hands on her. When he ran his tongue over her lips, she was lost and when he finally took her mouth with an urgent kiss, his warm tongue sliding along hers, her hands flew from his shoulders to grasp his hair and drag him closer.

  Moments of frantic kissing later, they shuddered against one another and he lifted his head, realizing where they were. He took her hand and led her through the crowd at an urgent pace toward the elevator. Amber could not find the will to protest or moan when the doors swung open. Her whole body still thrummed from the kiss and she was eager for more. He yanked her inside and slammed his hand on the button before he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her with the urgency that had overtaken them both within the club. When the doors swished closed, she was left with nothing but the echo of their panting. Eyes wide with excitement and a little overwhelmed by the look of Wrexel in a full state of arousal, she found her back against the elevator wall again. He grasped the hem of her shirt, pulled it up over her head, and lifted her, covering her nipple with his mouth. He clasped her buttocks and wrenched her against his own hardness, running his tongue over her until she whimpered.

  God, the things he was able to do with his mouth. One hand held her firmly against him while the other encircled the breast he wasn’t lathering with insistent flicks of his tongue.

  She came apart, desperate for him to continue, and cried out as pleasure wracked her body.

  * * *

  He broke away from her for just an instant to slam his hand on the panel again, bringing the elevator to a shuddering halt.

  He knelt, sliding her shorts and panties from her in one motion before standing up again to tear off his own jacket. He yanked her to his chest to devour her mouth, murmuring words against her lips that fired her even more. Amber clung to him; her heart was beating furiously and need raged through her like fire as he lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist. He tilted her backward until her head touched the wall, and he held her steady as he took her breast into his mouth again, teasing her until she thought she would lose her mind. The other hand slid up her thigh, and he moaned against her, finding her hot and wet against his fingers. Wrexel’s mouth tugged at her nipple as he knowingly taunted her, gently sliding across her in a rhythm that promised release and made her wriggle toward the maddening fingers that always denied her. Her legs failed her and she could no longer keep them locked behind his back, but he was exceedingly strong. Holding her against the wall, he cupped her buttocks in one hand and returned to teasing her slick folds until she shuddered against him. He slowed only when she began to thrash in his arms, close to screaming his name, pressing against the fingers that would not breach her. He let her slide down his body to her feet as he grasped his own belt and divested of his pants, but then he lifted his head from the task and winced in regret when she stared up at him in longing, her body trembling with need.

  “How much have you had to drink?”

  Amber tried to slow her breathing and heaving chest. “Three,” she gasped as her mind grappled for honesty.

  “Only three?” he asked desperately and when she nodded he clasped her against his chest, lifting her up to resume his teasing until Amber threw back her head and sobbed with pleasure as he enticed her into wanting him more. When he slid her into position, she tensed, sure that he would thrust into her. But he slowed and gently tested her, moving against her but not breaching her as she clung to him, arms wrapped around his neck. Amber began to sob when he used his own body to tease her. She arched her back and lifted her hips, desperate for more than the shallow feel of his body lingering at the entrance of her own.

  “This is not what I had planne
d,” he moaned against her mouth. “There is so much I wanted to do.”

  Amber dug her heels into his buttocks and slid down his length. His cry of shock skittered across her body and incited her but his hands gripped her buttocks firmly. “Slowly…” he choked out against her neck, his chest heaving against hers.

  Amber shook in his arms when he controlled her movements. The feel of him sliding slowly within her wasn’t enough for her fevered state. She dug her fingernails into his shoulders and rocked her hips, ignoring the way he clasped her waist with another cry and moan for her to slow down. Desire overrode all reason and all that mattered was him filling and consuming her with madness. Her sheath coiled around him and somewhere in the background, she heard him desperately calling her name, warning her that he was losing control. Her own needs took over and she rocked forward and cried, “More.”

  Wrexel’s eyes glazed over in purple as he obeyed her command. Thrusting into her, he gave her exactly what she needed as she convulsed around him, screaming with pleasure.

  Eventually, Wrexel dropped to his knees and brought her with him as he collapsed onto his back with her sprawled across his body. They both gasped for air as she lay with her head on his chest and listened to the way his heart thundered beneath her ear. He ran his hands gently over her back and she pinched her eyes closed as she heated to his touch again.

  They lay that way for minutes, dazed by the union that had taken over both their minds.

  He slowly rolled her to the side and, seeing her tortured expression, asked, “Did I hurt you?”

  “No.” She couldn’t tell him how overwhelmed she was, how the sensations he brought about had defied anything she imagined. She knew at that moment that nobody would ever make her feel the way he did.

  She couldn’t tell him how she wanted him again.

  “God, Amber.” He stroked a tear from her cheek as she struggled with her failure. “I wanted to ease you into this slowly, I didn’t want a repeat of the wedding day,” he said with regret. “You sever my control.”

  He appeared not to understand the madness between them either.

  Amber looked around them, uncomfortable with his penetrating gaze. He lifted his head, suddenly comprehending they were on the elevator floor. He cursed and barked into his wrist monitor. “Leyahanna, there are ten dignitaries in my lounging area waiting for a debrief... get rid of them.”

  He returned his hand to her face and lowered his mouth to hers for a slow kiss that soon became an urgent one until it was interrupted by Leyahanna’s response. “They’ve left, my lord; have a good night.”

  Wrexel lifted Amber to her feet, and they both dressed in silence after he reset the elevator.

  * * *

  They walked into the quiet, dark lounging area, Amber following his lead, her hand firmly clasped in his until Banjo came running forward to greet them.

  “Cease,” Wrexel said firmly and her dog skidded to a halt. “Bed… now!” he said and Amber watched as Banjo ignored her outstretched hands, ignored that she was sinking to one knee, and backed away, following Wrexel’s exact command.

  The dog that had never been trained until he met Wrexel.

  “He obeys you without thought,” she said as her body began to cool. “He’s never listened to one thing I’ve ever said.”

  “That’s because you’re too liberal with your affection; you don’t command his respect with authority,” Wrexel said absently as she remained kneeling, staring at the departing Banjo.

  “He needs to accept you’re the master; if you withhold affection from him, he will do whatever you want.”

  Amber’s heart ached in her chest at his words. “Much like you did with me,” she whispered in horror.

  Wrexel did not respond, but she saw by the flicker in his gaze that she was right. He had toyed with her for weeks, innocent and frequent touches because he knew she desired him, knew the time would come when she would accede to his will. He had played her like a finely tuned instrument.

  She stood up slowly, desperate to hurt him the way he hurt her. “You got what you wanted; your seduction plan was perfect. You know that I desire you. But you will never have my love.”

  Wrexel looked down at her without flinching. “I don’t want, nor do I need, your love.”

  28

  Full Moon

  Amber sat in silence at the breakfast table, unable to look at Wrexel. She was shamed by her actions the evening before in the elevator and mortified that while he went to bed, she spent the night crying on the couch. She didn’t need Wrexel’s love; she understood what she had signed up for, but the self-loathing for succumbing knocked her, reminding her that she was weak, that everybody around her always controlled her in some way or another.

  “Why you are analyzing basic needs is beyond me,” he said when she first sat down. “You desire me like I desire you. We’re good together, end of story.”

  “I want to be with Travis,” she said angrily, though it sounded stupid and childish even to her. “And I don’t care.” He shrugged. “If you want to spend your days lamenting Travis, then go ahead, but at least have the guts to admit it’s because you can’t remember him when I’m inside of you.”

  Amber began to retort but Leyahanna announced they had a guest. Her mouth dropped open when Staede entered, looking a little worse for wear and violently angry. Wrexel watched his entry with cool interest. His only show of emotion was when Staede kissed her on the mouth instead of the cheek before he sat down at the table with them.

  Amber wasn’t sure what to do but relaxed when Staede said, “Whyle, Inndra, and Shihlo are en route.” Staede reached for some fruit and leaned back in his chair, glaring at Wrexel. “I’m letting last night slide because Shihlo made me vow duty before anger, considering tonight is the full moon, but when the sun rises, I will avenge what you did to me.”

  Wrexel turned his fork around in his hand, “You will avenge taking my wife out of my home to a party of whores and hyped-up Thromian males fresh from a fight?” His jaw set angrily. “You are lucky I didn’t do worse.”

  Amber stared from one to the other. “What happened?”

  Staede pulled his shirt from his neck to show a small bruise. “He injected me with a paralyzing agent and had two of his goon guards leave me on the bathroom floor of my own party.”

  Wrexel’s slow, creeping smile confirmed it was true.

  * * *

  Shihlo entered to save further argument and Amber stood to receive his hug, as well as both Whyle’s and Inndra’s polite kisses upon her cheeks before they all sat down. Rix was the last to enter, and she sat beside Amber, giving her a wink before turning to glare at her cousins.

  “Should I leave?” Amber asked but Shihlo stopped her. “No, Amber, I’m here to discuss the full moon dinner that I’m hosting prior to the ceremony tonight.”

  He looked around the table. “You all received your briefs.”

  They nodded but did not seem pleased.

  Amber had witnessed a few scuffles between the brothers and Whyle during meetings; they were often aggressive and sometimes violent, so she hesitated where she stood. “I’ll let you discuss the dinner.”

  “You’re invited, Amber, so it will be good to hear the outline.” Shihlo indicated she sit back down.

  Wrexel slammed down his fork. “I told you, Amber will not be there, I will not have her in the room with Red dignitaries present.”

  “I agree, Shihlo.” Inndra looked at Amber with apology. “They don’t need a reminder of his choice of a bride; let’s just see how the voting goes and follow up with damage control.”

  “Decisions have been made.” Whyle nodded. “You are not going to convince anybody of anything meaningful on the night.”

  Shihlo remained adamant. “Not meaningful to you perhaps, but I firmly believe that meeting Amber will be good for those considering alternative actions. She has a unique charm and beauty that will see them forgiving Wrexel for his choice of bride. I have made them understan
d it is a temporary affair that he could not avoid, and meeting her will convince them that it’s true.”

  Amber did not feel complimented but Shihlo continued.

  “She will not be at the public ceremony, and neither will Wrexel, but the dinner is key; the level of dignitaries attending could sway a meaningful amount of sign-ups, even at the late hour. I need us to present a cohesive unit. I need them to see everything is business as usual. This is but a temporary phase that Wrexel couldn’t avoid and it changes nothing.”

  Amber wanted to stand up and tell Shihlo what to do with himself but who was she kidding? All the brothers accepted that what she and Wrexel had would not be forever. They had a “deal.” When it ran its course, she would leave and he would take a Thromian bride while Throm cheered, forgetting the “blip” in their history.

  “You better start planning more dinners because when his temporary phase is over, mine will begin.” Staede rubbed his neck while he glared at Wrexel.

  Wrexel’s chair fell over as he stood up and Staede followed suit but Shihlo exploded with anger and halted their actions.

  “Sit down; Amber is not a pawn in your testosterone game. She is here because of an agreement I could not stop, but when her affair with Wrexel is over, she will leave under my protection to wherever she chooses.”

  He pointed at Wrexel with his fork. “Don’t push me. Rheese will be fully built up within two months and their need for your army’s help will dwindle. I will start looking for options to take over their sustainability without you.”

  “You will need several medics and large funding, for I will rip apart what I have set up on Rheese,” Wrexel warned.

  Amber bristled at his persistent threat, once again reminded of his insanity and the lengths he would go to ensure her compliance.

  She jumped when Rix stood up. “You’re all a bunch of fucking assholes. Talking about her like she isn’t even a person or here!” She grasped Amber’s hand. “Come, Amber, let’s go somewhere where you’re not treated like an ornament.”