by Shae Mills
She caught her breath and continued with her clothes until she could hear him enter the water. Then she looked back and watched. He stood waist deep in the frigid liquid and cleaned himself meticulously. She shivered just looking at him. Obviously, he could handle the water’s temperature far better than she had.
Chelan finally turned her attention to herself. She had had many small spit baths over the days, but she really did require something more.
She glanced back at Jason and shook her head. She would freeze in there. That she already knew. Then she peered at the dwindling fire. Quickly, she stoked it and grabbed a large pot.
She approached the lake timidly, but he did not turn around. She filled the pot and hustled back to the fire. As the water heated, she heard him come to shore. After a moment of silence, she dared to look back at him. He walked toward her, towel tight about his waist, clothes in his arm. He dropped them in a pile and then nodded to the warming water. “What’s up?”
“My bath.”
Jason grinned. “Coward.”
Chelan picked up a stick and threw it at him, but he deftly avoided it. Then he looked into her pretty eyes. “Can I watch?”
Chelan lunged at him, pushing him backward forcefully.
“All right!” he laughed. “I’ll keep my back turned.”
Chelan shook her head at him. “You’ll be asleep.”
Jason moaned with disappointment. “Are you sure? I could help.”
“No! Now go to bed.”
Jason chuckled and then raised his brows. “Yes. Good idea. I’m bushed.” He leaned forward and kissed her head. “Good night, Chelan.”
Chelan smiled warmly. “Good night, Jason.” She watched as he disappeared. Then she waited until the water began to steam. Lifting it carefully from the coals, she walked to the beach with it. Then she returned for a fresh shirt and panties, and a large bowl. At the lake, she filled the bowl partway with cold lake water and warmed it with some of the water that she had heated. Then she disrobed and began with her long hair. After what seemed like a fortnight, she finished rinsing away the soap. Next, she attended to her body, finally pouring the cooling liquid over her. Instantly, the bite of the evening air assaulted her. She dried herself quickly and dressed in her long shirt and panties. Then she returned to the dying embers.
She sat down and stared into them, pondering all that had occurred. Two days had passed since the deadline and still there had been no sign of Fremma or any of the warriors. She began to rock herself gently as the last of the sun’s rays waned. She no longer cared if he arrived; all she cared about was his life. He simply had to be alive.
Unbidden, the same eerie shiver ran through her as had in the morning, and she cringed. It was as if his spirit was washing over her, calling to her. She squeezed her eyes tight against her morbid thoughts. But they persisted, infusing her with dread. Suddenly, she was on her feet. She ran her trembling hands down her shirtfront as she stepped silently over to Jason’s tent. The last thing she wanted to be was to be alone this night, and she held her breath. She squatted down near the entrance. “Jason,” she whispered.
She waited but heard nothing. Her heart sank and she began to stand.
“Yes?” came the deep voice.
Chelan’s heart leapt into her throat. “May I stay with you tonight?”
“Of course,” he replied.
Chelan ducked down and entered slowly, the darkness of the tent stealing her vision. She stopped. “I can’t see you.”
Instantly she felt his powerful hands hook under her arms and pull her forward. “I’m here,” he whispered softly, his breath warm on her face.
Chelan felt for his chest, his flesh hot to her touch. Jason threw back the top of the sleeping bag and laid her down next to him. Chelan strained to see him, but still her eyes would not adjust. Then she felt him slip down beside her. His hand smoothed over her waist and he paused.
Chelan tried to calm her breathing. “I’m sorry I disturbed your sleep.”
“I wasn’t asleep,” he replied, his voice a low rumble.
Chelan felt his hand brush softly over her abdomen. She closed her eyes. Then he reached for the bottom of her shirt. She held very still as his fingers moved up her skin. Her breathing took off, but then his hand stopped just shy of her breast, and he in turn became still.
Chelan looked toward his featureless face. She knew he was waiting for her permission to go farther, and she would not deny him. She rose slightly and met his warm lips.
Instantly, their passion ignited. Jason’s hands smoothed over her full breasts, his gentle strokes over her nipples sending her headlong into ecstasy. He released her mouth and drew her shirt up. Chelan raised her arms and he slipped it over her head. Then he moved over her, and Chelan grabbed his thick hair as he descended upon her breasts, his tongue teasing her nipples.
Chelan thought she was about to burst as her hands kneaded his broad shoulders. She wanted to touch him, all of him, but his hot mouth on her hard nipples had her pinned so deliciously. What she hungered for even more was his touch, his deepest and most intimate touch. And as if he read her mind, she felt him reach for her panties. His hand raked over her hip and she felt him twist the strong material. It broke as if it were paper. Chelan gasped as he removed the cloth from her flesh in one simple motion. His fingers played over the skin of her inner thighs and, ever so gently, he spread her legs. Then he lay softly upon her, still caressing her swollen breast.
Chelan moaned. “Oh god. Why’d I wait so long for this?”
Jason released her briefly. “My question exactly.” And his tongue began down her tummy.
Chelan let go of his long hair and shut her eyes. She felt him ease his upper body between her legs, and then he hesitated.
Chelan trembled with anticipation. Then she felt his fingers as he tenderly parted her creamy folds. He split her wide and ran his tongue along her warm length, stopping to gently suck her engorged nodule.
Chelan moaned and arched toward him. “I want you inside,” she pleaded in a strained whisper.
“Not yet,” he breathed.
Chelan reached for his head but he avoided her grasp. He withdrew momentarily, and then, still holding her wide, he inserted a single finger, penetrating her deeply. He resumed tantalizing her with his tongue as he slowly began adding fingers, until finally he had filled her milky tightness.
Chelan arched again. “Oh, please, Jason. I want you inside me so bad.” She felt him begin to move his fingers within her, his gentle internal massage causing tears of happiness to form. “Please,” she whimpered.
Then he moaned deeply, his tongue exploring every luscious fold, every peak, every valley. “You come first,” he demanded softly.
Chelan gave in to him. His fingers became still as his tongue flickered over her, his masterful touch bringing her instantly to her climax. She cried out and reached for him, but he withdrew from her, once again ably avoiding her touch.
Chelan sank back down and watched as he rose from her, tenderly removing his fingers from her aching well. Then his hands surrounded her slender thighs, opening her legs wider still. She looked at the massive silhouette as he positioned himself between her thighs, and she held her breath. He moved over her, supporting his powerful body with his arms.
She closed her eyes as she felt the head of his steel-hard member touch her overflowing femininity. With the smallest of motions, his tip teased her opening until she could not stand it. She reached for him, but his hand deflected hers. She was breathless. “Let me touch you,” she begged.
“No, not yet,” came his deep denial.
But Chelan would not be refused. She sat up in front of him, forcing him back. She kissed his lips hard. Her tongue explored his mouth and then moved down his throat. Her fingers played over his steel chest and hard abdominals as his hands caressed her shoulders. His scent… What was it about his scent? His intoxicating male scent infused her pores and fueled her hunger. She craved him, all of him. “
I want to come down on you,” she breathed. “I want you in my mouth.”
But Jason ignored her request, his hands once again intercepting hers. He held them tightly. “Later,” he breathed. He pushed her back down and drew her arms above her head, pinning them there. Then he held very still, as if catching his breath. Finally, he released her hands, his fingers brushing through her hot folds once just as he began his powerful entry.
Chelan’s eyes shot wide, the size of his organ taking her breath away. She felt her soft flesh stretch and her hands flew to his shoulders. He continued to penetrate her until his entire shaft was swallowed by her slippery opening. Then he began his gentle internal undulations.
Chelan arched back, drifting in a sea of euphoria. His manipulations of her full breast combined with his entries caused her to swoon. Through him, the universe had just realigned. She was swimming in a sea of pleasure, and she never wanted any of it to stop.
Suddenly, he released her breast, withdrawing himself from her depths as he sat back on his heels. He reached for her and drew her hips up to his, supporting them with his thighs. Then he reentered her and tilted himself, his large organ pressing up deep inside her. Slowly he began his pelvic motions once again.
But this time Chelan did not relax. Instead, she tensed. She opened her eyes wide, studying the being that moved so expertly in and out of her. Only the Warlords had done that to her. Only the Warlords knew how to please her so well, and she froze.
She clenched her fists. “Jason,” she called in a hoarse whisper. But he did not respond.
Her hands went to her face, her fingers trembling. She wanted to enjoy him, his motions filling her with such beautiful sensations, but her mind balked. She went to speak, but then his fingers reached for her, parting her soft folds even wider. He continued his deep entries, his fingers massaging ever so gently over her hard, slippery engorgement. The combined rapture was nearly more than she could endure. Finally, she closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. “Jason, please stop,” she uttered breathlessly. And instantly, his motions ceased.
Chelan slowly pushed back from him, slipping away from him and removing his swollen penis from her depths. She watched as his head fell forward, his hair cascading over his face. But still he did not speak. He did not move.
Chelan shuffled to her knees and crept up before him. Her heart pounded and her eyes watered. “Jason, look at me,” she demanded softly. She watched as his ironhard chest expanded with a badly needed breath. He threw his head back, his hands on his thighs.
Chelan edged forward a little more. Her fingers traced down his strong neck and chest. Then they continued downward. She felt the tip of his pulsating penis where it pressed firmly against his abdomen. She hesitated. Then her hands slithered down his hardness, his soft skin rendered lubricious by her honey. She heard him moan and her heart slammed against her chest. She held her breath. Her fingers caressed over his male softness, her hands suddenly still as she held his heavy sac. Her touch told her everything, and she felt dizzy. “Jason, look at me,” she requested as she squeezed him hard, her voice shaking badly.
He remained inert. “Look at me!” she demanded. She watched as his head tipped forward. Slowly, he opened his eyes to her, their pale blue glow impaling her.
“DAR!” she screeched.
She sprang backward, landing hard on her back. She scrambled to her knees and pressed herself against the far wall of the tent, raising her trembling fingers to her lips.
He took several deep breaths and then was still. “Yes, my Lady,” came his deep, commanding voice. “It is I.”
Chelan lunged at him, his arms catching her and clutching her to him. She sobbed. “It was you all along!”
He pressed his face into her slender neck. “Yes, my Lady,” he whispered.
Chelan pulled back. “I need some light.”
Dar reached to the corner of the tent and turned on a large flashlight. He pointed it upward and then laid a shirt over it to diffuse the beam. Chelan looked at him as though she had never seen him before. Her hands ran over his handsome face and then through his thick, shoulder-length hair. Her breathing came in erratic spasms. “Before, when you shaved off the beard, I thought… But then it couldn’t be… I—” she stammered. “How?”
Dar touched her pretty cheek. “From the minute the Empire fell, I knew that I wanted you for my own.”
Chelan was in shock. “You planned all this?”
Dar nodded. “It started the moment I watched Korba force Ticees to draw his last breath. I knew that you could handle neither my presence nor a challenge to the Let. So I left, and devised a plan.”
Chelan sat back and clutched a blanket to her, suddenly aware of the cool night air. “How did you know I would come to Earth?”
“I didn’t know for sure. It was a calculated risk. But I knew that at some point Korba would leave Iceanea. And I knew he would not take you into battle. When that occurred, I hoped you would come here.”
“But I didn’t come here because Korba left. I came because of a threat.”
“Yes, from a faction on Lethos II.”
“You knew?”
“I heard from Korba himself, as did Toran.”
“So… But… I’m so confused. I was to go with Zane to Keros!”
“I know. The threat was unforeseen, but somehow, someday, I knew you would come here. I was willing to wait a lifetime. The fact that you ended up coming here for sanctuary so soon fulfilled my dream just that much earlier.”
Chelan shook her head. “But RIBUS 8—she’s out on a mission… The communiqués…”
Dar smiled. “Solis does his job superbly.”
Chelan looked around in stunned silence. “Your dream…” she repeated in a whisper. Then she looked up at him. “When did you leave for Earth?”
“The day RIBUS 8 was dispatched.”
“And you struck up a relationship with Jim when you got here?”
Dar nodded. Then he smiled slyly. “It’s not hard to gain a reputation as a communications genius in Earth’s technology when you are of the Empire.”
Chelan finally smiled. “Yes, I guess so. Kind of archaic, isn’t it?” She looked down, a multitude of questions vying for supremacy. “You met my brother.”
“I did. I wanted contact with whoever would touch your life upon your arrival.”
Chelan tried to keep her thoughts from scrambling. Finally, she took a deep breath. “Does Korba know of this?”
Dar shook his head. “Only Solis and the elite of my crew. They are sworn to secrecy.”
Chelan went to ask another question but then her heart stopped. Her eyes searched Dar’s frantically. “What’s happened to Fremma?”
Dar reached for her hands. “That I am not sure of, Chelan. Your pickup date was the one glitch in my plan. It was the one unknown that I would have to deal with when it arose. But as it turned out, he did not arrive.”
Chelan shuddered. “Could RIBUS 7 have been destroyed?”
Dar shook his head. “I don’t know. Since I have been here, I have kept track of things through Solis. But as soon as RIBUS 7 came close enough to pick up on our transmissions, they ceased. I have been unable to communicate with him since your arrival.”
“But why? RIBUS 7 left after that.”
Dar hesitated. “You forget. Fremma left a hefty contingent of his best men behind for your protection. They would pick up any messages right away. I have no idea where the Empire stands right now.”
Chelan knew it was hopeless conjecture. If the giant blonde Warlord was in the dark as far as the Empire went, then she could never hope to be illuminated. She looked back into his eyes, their familiar azure intensity returning. Then she smiled. “The beard? The body hair… Where did that all come from?”
Dar smiled. “Drugs,” he informed her lightly. “We have hair follicles. They are simply not active normally.”
“And the eye color?”
“More drugs.”
Chelan chuckled. “An
d let me guess, the pale skin…” And they chanted together, “More drugs,” and they fell together laughing. Chelan looked up into his sparkling eyes. “That is how you got such a deep tan in April. You stopped the drugs.”
“Didn’t you notice that when I shaved the beard, my face was also tanned?”
Chelan shook her head. “No, I was too stunned to notice.”
Dar smiled down at her, her soft features captivating him. “And you, pretty lady, have not changed.”
Chelan’s heart melted at his term of endearment for her, a phrase only he used. Then she reached for his familiar face and touched his shaggy hair. “Is it ruined?”
Dar shook his head. “Only the medications, my Lady. In a couple of weeks you will have me back in my entirety. The drugs will have completely worn off. The hair will be back, and now I can work out once again to bring back my former muscle mass.” He looked down at her lovingly. “And it will all be yours.”
Chelan nearly liquefied. “I should like that, my Lord,” she said, and she kissed his lips.
Dar reached for the blanket. “I have only tasted of you once, my Lady, so many years ago. Now, this time is ours. We are away from the Empire and from Earth. I am yours, and if you permit, I would like to make up for all our lost years.”
He began drawing the blanket away. Chelan hugged herself into his chest as his fingers moved over her flesh. His hand slipped between her legs with ease, his expert touch rendering her spellbound. She felt his fingers probe deep within her, but even more than his penetration, she wanted him. She moved down into his lap, her tongue tasting all of him, his rich male scent filling her with desire. The powerful Warlord instantly submitted to her, lying down and exposing his all to her for the taking. And for a long time, she touched him with her fingers and mouth as only she could.
Their lovemaking was renewed, their passion rekindled, their love expanding and surrounding them both with a bond so tight that it defied the forces of the universe. Dar had her back, and this time, he was never letting her go.