Chapter Two
Ariella took a deep breath, stopping on her way down the stairs to look around the quiet house. An array of items from other dimensional planes decorated Walter’s home, her prison. A loud cranking sound echoed as the lights grew dim. Something slid over the windows, blocking out the light. This had never happened before. Slowly she continued down, cautiously watching the darkening stone floor below. False firelight replaced sunlight. The romantic implications were not lost. Her breathing became shaky. She was always trapped, but seeing the outside light fade as the home became encased made the tomblike feelings all the more real.
“I can’t,” she whispered, stopping on the bottom step. “I can’t do this. Don’t make me.”
“Ariella. Join us.” Supreme Walter appeared around the corner. He smiled, but that was nothing new. He always smiled at her, like a great benefactor bestowing his grace upon those beneath him.
Beneath him.
She grimaced, pushing the thought from her brain. “I’m a little tired. Perhaps I should rest? I need to rest. I’ll just go—”
Supreme Walter reached into his pocket, the action cutting off her hasty words. He took out a remote. Pressing a button once, he turned on the room’s medical interface screen. Instantly, Ariella’s statistics appeared, giving him every intimate detail of her body’s inner workings. She refused to read the details. There was something all the more violating about being physically read. “Your lidic levels are elevated.” He pushed another button, ordering medication. “I’ll have the maids bring you a correcting shot. Though, you have no reason to be stressed, my dear. You should be happy. This is a great day.”
Ariella gave a pained laugh. A great day? Happy? No reason to be stressed? Her entire life had become a reason to be stressed.
Supreme Walter frowned and his eyes narrowed in obvious displeasure. “I should not have to explain myself, but I will. You owe your life to me. Without me you would be on the streets, homeless, dimensionless, starved and dying if not dead already. I cured your diseased bones. I took you in. I gave you social status and grace. I did not have to do any of this, but I did out of mere generosity of spirit.”
Ariella knew better than to comment.
Walter took in her silence. “Now, you owe me for that generosity. You will walk into that room and do what I tell you. You will not speak of our arrangement to anyone, under any circumstances. Tonight you will do exactly what I require.” He grabbed her arm, hauling her across the front hall toward his office. There was a frenzied rush to his steps as if he were beginning to lose his patience. She’d never seen him out of sorts. He paused by his office door. “If my son suspects anything, I will not be pleased. You know what happens when I am not pleased. Now put a smile on that pretty face of yours. Good. There it is.”
Ariella held her expression. She had no idea what she was walking into. Her feet dragged as she forced herself to follow him. The doors to his office slid open without him touching them. Inside, the room was cast in shadows. One of Supreme Walter’s friends, Dr. Grace, waited in front of his desk holding an electronic reader. Next to him was a man she didn’t recognize. The stranger’s back was to her, but he was dressed in loose black pants and a long gray shirt to match hers.
“What is this?” Ariella whispered. At her words, the man in gray turned. She squinted, unable to see his face in the shadows. She studied his silhouette, seeing the stiff way he carried himself. Broad shoulders led to a trim waist. Firelight danced on black hair cut a little long for Asclepius’ style. It curled slightly at his ears. She narrowed her eyes, stepping closer, trying to see his face.
“Sans Ariella,” Dr. Grace said. He was a short man whose body was withered with age and yet he moved with ease.
“Doctor?” Ariella continued forward, remembering the Supreme’s order to smile. If the expression looked strained, none of the men let on or perhaps they didn’t care.
“Please offer your hand to Dr. Walter as a sign of your intent to join with him,” Grace said.
Ariella inhaled sharply. She looked at the Medical Supreme. The man eyed her coolly, expectantly.
Grace continued, “Dr. Sebastjan Walter. Take Sans Ariella’s hand as a sign of your acceptance of her intention before the witness of myself and your father.”
Sebastjan? Supreme Walter motioned Ariella to obey. She turned to the stranger, to Sebastjan, to her keeper’s son. Her hand shook as she lifted it, confused. Intention? The man hesitated briefly before lifting his hand to clasp hers. He held her firmly in his large, warm palm and seemed so steady against her uncertainty.
“Do they have your blessing, Medical Supreme?” Grace leaned to look around the hand-holding couple.
“They do,” Supreme Walter said.
“Congratulations, Dr. and Sans Sebastjan Walter.” Grace held up his reader and pressed a button. Light flashed as he took the new couple’s picture. Sebastjan’s face lit for the briefest second. It was enough for her to see the fullness of his lips and the hard set of his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Ariella said. “Did he call me…?”
“Wife,” Sebastjan said. His voice was low and dispassionate. His hand tightened on hers. That one word caused chills to work over her body.
“Wife?” she repeated.
“Congratulations,” Supreme Walter said. “Go on upstairs. Sebastjan, your room is ready. I expect you both down tomorrow morning to confirm the union and to receive your guests.” To Dr. Grace, he added, “Once you have finished your report to the statistical office, why don’t you join me for a drink?”
“I’m sending them the photographic evidence and confirmation now,” Grace answered, tapping on his reader as he followed behind the Medical Supreme. “All I need is your signature and it’s done.”
The candle lights flickered as the scraping sounded once more. Light was slowly let in from outside as the thick shutters lifted. It had gotten darker out during her wedding. Wedding. The word reverberated in her head as if whispered from far away. Ariella didn’t move as she watched the light shine on her husband’s face. Husband. Out of all the ways she expected this day to end, married to the Supreme’s son wasn’t one of them.
“What does this mean now?” she wondered, only realizing afterwards that the words were said out loud.
Blue eyes met hers, their depths stormy and discontented. He searched her face, not smiling as he did so. Was he displeased with her? With the marriage? Then why did he agree? Is that why Supreme Walter turned down the lights so his son wouldn’t see? Or so his son wouldn’t try to jump out of the window? He didn’t let go of her, even when she lightly tugged her hand.
He was handsome, even by a medical plane’s standards where everyone had surgical help if they so needed. Full lips and a proud nose and those tormented eyes. He blinked and his expression blanked. “Come on then.”
He finally let go of her and she flexed her aching hand, realizing how tightly he’d been holding on to her. Sebastjan didn’t look at her as he walked from the room. A moment’s relief flooded her as she realized she’d been wrong. She wasn’t going to have to give herself to Supreme Walter. The relief was short-lived. She might not have to give herself to her keeper, but it appeared as if she would be expected to give herself to his son.
* * *
Sebastjan flexed his hand, not bothering to turn and look at the woman behind him. He knew she would follow. She had agreed to marry him, hadn’t she? Him, a stranger to her. Undoubtedly the lure of his position in Chiron society was enough for her. She, the rich doctor’s wife.
It didn’t matter now. He had his agreement. One wife in exchange for freedom in all other matters. It was a small price to pay. She was pretty and her body would satisfy his lusts as well as any other. And if it didn’t, he’d keep a mistress as a lover and this woman in some home as a wife. Perhaps he’d get his father to buy the mansion next door. Let Ariella and Walter enjoy each other’s society while he continued on as he pleased without their interference.
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br /> Despite himself, he felt his body stir as he took the stairs to his room. How long had it been? Weeks? No, more than a month since he’d been with a woman—Dr. Candra Sunn when he visited her arctic facility to arrange an ice mineral transport six weeks ago. She’d been more than eager to have an out-of-facility man in her bed. Merely hours after meeting her, she’d been on her knees with his cock in her mouth. By her skill, it was a service she provided men often. No wonder so many of the male underlings at the arctic facility walked around with smiles on their face.
Sebastjan coughed lightly at the erotic notion as he pictured this woman doing the same. Well, not to the whole male population of an arctic facility, but definitely to him. Actually, he found the idea of her serving him drinks more probable than her serving his carnal appetites. It didn’t matter. Even if the sex was bad, it would happen.
Keeping his head held high and his shoulders back, he turned as he reached the top of the stairs, going down the long hallway that would lead him to his old rooms. Medical screens switched on as he passed, automatically monitoring the beat of his heart. He felt lasers trying to scan him, but he kept walking.
“What now?” Ariella asked. Her soft voice sounded so uncertain. He supposed he could speak to her, placate her somehow, but out of the two of them she was the willing spouse.
“I think you know. We finish what was started.” He opened his bedroom door and stepped aside, letting her enter first. She moved inside, standing close to the wall. Sebastjan closed the door and automatically punched the keys on the panel next to it. The lights dimmed and the fireplace lit. Shades slid into place to block the evening light. He reached for the button on his shoulder, unfastening it.
Sebastjan pulled his long shirt over his head. Her breathing became labored and he glanced at her. She hadn’t moved. He stopped short of unbuttoning his pants. “There is no reason to be nervous.”
“Are we really…?” She glanced around the room, swayed but didn’t move.
Sebastjan again reached for his waistband, but something in her expression made him hesitate. Instead he sat down on the bed. At first the mattress was stiff but soon it began to mold around his ass, conforming to his body. Unbuttoning his boots, he kicked them aside. “We both understand what this match is. You know what reasons you have and I get what I need.”
* * *
Ariella tried not to stare at Sebastjan’s chest. She knew what he expected but suddenly all the knowledge she had of carnal activities left her and she couldn’t think. Warmth curled inside her, creeping over her belly and throughout her limbs. She found herself breathing deeply. Her hands shook. As he rolled onto his back, she took a step forward. It would be so easy to reach out and touch him, glide her fingers over the ridges of muscles.
You know what reasons you have and I get what I need.
This is what Supreme Walter had been grooming her for. She glanced at the ceiling, thinking of her cure floating in the air. There was nowhere to run. Should she beg Sebastjan to let her go? Was he different than his father? Would he give her freedom? Would he give her a cure? Or would he keep her like some living doll, trapped in his home to smile for his guests and pass out drinks at parties?
The goddesses taught her people that, once married, what happened between a man and woman was all right. She found herself walking toward him. “Your father hasn’t said much regarding you.”
“I’m surprised,” Sebastjan answered, giving her a slight frown. He rolled up on the bed. The action brought him to sit before her. She stiffened as he reached to touch a strand of her blonde hair. “Since I am the reason he’s brought you here. Didn’t you care who you were going to marry?”
“I…” Ariella closed her mouth and glanced around the room. She couldn’t speak ill of the Medical Supreme. “I was sick. I was sent here to the Medical Supreme so that I could be cured.”
“Ah.” His hand dropped. “So that is how he found you.”
“I’m healthy now,” Ariella quickly asserted, wondering why she felt disappointment at his withdraw.
Healthy for the most part.
“So I see.” He motioned to the monitor on the wall. Ariella didn’t realize it had come on, showing both of their vitals. “Shall we begin? Had I known a wedding was required of me, I wouldn’t have stayed up working all of last night.”
Ariella wasn’t sure how to begin, so merely stood before him. He lifted his hand, again, picking up the strand of hair. He rubbed it between his fingers, as if the task was the most important in the world.
An animalistic vitality radiated off him, so much so that she had to wonder at his restraint. There was no hesitation in him, not like inside her. He didn’t fear her, or this, wasn’t uncertain about what to do. He dropped the lock of hair and he let his fingers brush over the top of her breast. An instant heat stung her flesh at the light touch. Her nipple tightened and her breathing deepened.
The orange fake firelight cast his features in hard contrast. He watched his fingers, taking his time as he brushed the back of his hand over her breasts. Even through the clothing, she could feel the small caress. Heat seemed to radiate from him, surrounding her, drawing her closer.
His blue eyes rose to meet hers and she held her breath. He lifted his hand to her shoulder, unbuttoning her tunic. Following the stripe, he deftly unfastened the hidden buttons until he made just enough room to reach inside. Fingers swept beneath the material, meeting flesh. This time, when he rubbed over her chest she felt the full press of his touch.
Ariella’s lips parted and she inhaled a shaky breath. His opposite hand lifted to her hip, rubbing it as he worked her tunic up. He massaged her breast and hip at the same time. Fingers slid around to her back, drawing her closer.
Sebastjan unfastened a few more buttons. The front panel of the shirt fell open, exposing her breast to his eyes. He pressed his thumb to the hard nipple.
“You’re trembling,” he whispered. “I won’t hurt you. There is no reason to be nervous.”
Both hands found the flesh at the small of her back. They slid beneath her loose pants, curving along her ass cheeks. He pulled her to him and opened his mouth. A light moan escaped him as he kissed her ripe nipple.
Ariella couldn’t move. She stared at his lips on her, his bronzed skin close to her paler body. His lips parted, surrounding the sensitive bud. His moan deepened as did his kiss. Soon he was sucking on her breast, pulling it deep into his mouth. Teeth bit lightly, forcing a hard jerk of surprise from her body. She swayed on her feet, feeling lightheaded.
“Mm, your breast is so soft.” His tongue boldly flicked the wet nipple. “I wonder what else is soft.” He grinned, a predatory look if she’d ever seen one. “And wet.”
He edged closer still, bracing his feet on the floor as he parted his legs. She glanced down, seeing the hard protrusion straining between his thighs. The dim light cast shadows so it was impossible to see the size, only the strain.
Instantly all her focus went from her breast to her thighs. A deep ache radiated from her pussy and she did feel damp there. His hands massaged her ass, rubbing deeply, pulling her cheeks apart little by little as they moved lower and around. He groaned, jerking her forward so her thighs hit the side of the bed. This time, she pressed her breast into him and he sucked it deep. His hips rocked forward, bumping lightly against her. The teasing brush of his hidden cock caught her by surprise and she jerked back. Her breast left the suction of his mouth with a loud swack!
“I didn’t think I’d be so eager,” he admitted. “It’s been awhile for me.”
She merely nodded, not knowing how to respond.
“I’m being greedy and doing all the exploring,” he continued. “It’s your turn. Go ahead. Touch me.”
Despite his words, he didn’t let go of her ass. Ariella looked down at her breast and wondered if she should cover up first.
Before she could decide, he insisted, “Go ahead. Touch me.”
She did. Ariella placed her hand on his strong shoulder
s. Heat radiated from beneath her fingers, curling through her like a liquid fire to drug her senses. She breathed deeply, detecting his masculine scent. Smooth, hard muscles formed delectable chest and arms.
“Let’s get this off you.” Sebastjan let go of her ass and reached for her shirtfront. He pulled at the front panels, forcing it open. Buttons fell on the floor as he pushed the material off her shoulders. “Much better.” He urged the sleeves off her arms and then tossed the shirt aside.
As his mouth began exploring the newly exposed breast, she ran her fingers into his silky hair. The dark strands pulled between her fingers. Groaning, he jerked her pants down her hips. They slithered to her feet.
“I said, touch me,” he commanded, more forceful now as his breath came in heavy pants. He grabbed her by the wrist and brought her hand down to his stomach. Not letting go, he pulled the waistband forward, away from his cock, and shoved her hand down onto him. Swearing, he uttered, “Ah, apolloa!”
Ariella kept her hand against him. The firm, smooth shaft was like nothing she’d ever felt before.
“I didn’t think I’d be so…” His eyes roamed freely over her naked body. “You’re very beautiful.” He pushed up from the bed and slid his pants from his hips. Kicking lightly, he worked them off his legs.
He wrapped his hand around hers, urging it to move. His fingers tightened, forcing hers to as well. When she learned the rhythm he liked, he let go. Sebastjan groaned, a low, completely sexual sound. He palmed her breasts, appearing fascinated with them as she leaned over.
Fingers skimmed up the side of her neck and dipped into her hair. He pulled lightly at the back of her head. Ariella’s eyes widened as he tried to guide her head down.
Ariella's Keeper (Divinity Healers) Page 2