“I can’t. You’re the only mate I’ll have and despite what I’ve done to you, I don’t want to lose you.” His dark eyes searched hers, imploring her to believe him.
Part of her weakened at the sincerity in his tone, but the bigger part reminded her of how sincere he’d seemed to be when they made love, when he’d looked her in the eyes and pretended to be someone he wasn’t.
“All I ever wanted was you, Khafil. When we were kids, in high school, after we moved, I compared every guy I met to you, and they all fell short.”
She watched as the meaning of what she had said registered on his face.
“When we met again, I honestly believed it was fate and somehow we were meant to be together.” She gave him a sad smile. “But knowing what I know about you and how you deceived me, I can’t agree to be your true mate now.”
“Ever?” he asked.
“Not until I know I come first. I deserve better than being second behind your brotherhood.” She searched his face, trying to see if he understood where she was coming from. She saw nothing in his cold expression.
“You even said in your world I’m supposed to come first, but so far I haven’t and you won’t give me any guarantees that I will.” She paused for a second, hoping he might interrupt her and say she was wrong. After several seconds, it was obvious he wasn’t. No affirmation she was doing the right thing. Acceptance would come after the pain went away. If he knew about her possible pregnancy, would it change anything? She didn’t think so. She couldn’t believe this cold, unfeeling person in her hotel room was the same one who had made such passionate love to her a few days ago.
He stood. “I’m obviously not going to change your mind now, and I have to eat.”
“What?” she responded, hurt by his easy acceptance of her decision. “If you actually really cared, you would try to convince me I’m making a mistake and I have it all wrong. But only the Imvuras get effort like that from you. I’m just your mate.”
“You don’t understand, and I’m out of time. Regardless of your decision, you are still going to have to leave with me.”
“What?” she sputtered. “Like hell I will!”
He smiled in that cold manner she had grown to hate. “Yes, you will. Unless you want your loving father to take you and make you follow his plans.”
“He wouldn’t.”
“He would, and he would have Taalib Duma law on his side.”
“What do you mean Taalib Duma law on his side?” she asked, confused.
“If he finds you living by yourself without a male or your mate around to protect you, in our world, you are single. All single females are under the protection of their father, their mate, or their husband.”
“So you see, it’s either him or me. And you’re too important to my plans for me to leave you even if it’s your fondest wish.”
Heat infused her cheeks at the implication. It didn’t matter to him if she wanted him or not for her true mate. His brotherhood needed her to use against her father. She straightened. She wasn’t a bit sorry for not telling him she could be pregnant. A baby would fall right in line in his plans. Right now she wouldn’t give the bastard the satisfaction. It would be her secret for as long as she could hide it.
“You’re a real bastard,” she whispered.
“It’s what I do best.”
She had to agree. His track record spoke for itself.
Chapter 26
Victoria sat in Khafil’s car, pissed. After his announcement that she had to go with him, Khafil had calmly told her she had five minutes to get her stuff together and they were leaving, even if he had to drag her out kicking and screaming. He also informed her that he’d already brought her things, including the new clothes. Even though going with Khafil was not in her plans, given the option of going with him or staying alone and taking her chances with her father, she decided to go with the devil she knew. She quickly grabbed her belongings and left with Khafil. She wasn’t ready to admit, even to herself, that a part of her had screamed at the thought of not leaving with Khafil. She blamed it on the mate situation.
They had been driving for over an hour. The entire time she sat in stony silence, refusing to say one word. She had turned in her seat and stared out her window. Unseeing, her mind wavered between anger at Khafil, fear of where they were going, sadness, and disbelief. She got tired of fighting to keep her eyelids open and let them drift shut. She heard the car driving over what sounded like rocks when she opened her eyes. She turned in her seat and sat up noticing her surroundings. Gone were the endless miles of highway. They were now driving down a dirt road in the middle of corn fields. She looked around and saw nothing but farmland in all directions. She was about to ask where they were, but bit back the questions. She didn’t want him to think she was interested in any part of this kidnapping.
“The entrance is up ahead.”
She continued to watch their approach, irritated he had read her emotions and answered her question anyway. The car slowed down and came to a complete stop in the middle of the dirt road. She turned as Khafil pressed two buttons underneath the CD player on his console. She felt the car lower.
“What in the world?” Before she could continue to ask him what in the hell was going on, she peered out her window to see that the road had opened and they were indeed being lowered into the ground underneath. Seconds passed before they entered into total blackness.
Chapter 27
Lying in the bed located in Khafil’s quarters, Victoria was miserable. It had been a week since she was more or less forced into moving to Imvura headquarters with Khafil. The quarters were luxurious and she found no fault with them, except that they were underground. All quarters were built at least six feet below ground level because Taalib Dumas had to rest below ground. It was one of their many, “had to haves”. She was sure there was a scientifically justifiable reason for it but she was a little squeamish knowing she was sleeping six feet under. Now that she thought of it, she realized Khafil’s apartment must have been just for show-for her benefit. He couldn’t have slept there since it was impossible for him to sleep aboveground.
There was a massive king-size bed with a firm mattress and the softest satiny sheets and bed linen she had ever slept in, besides the ones in Khafil’s make-believe apartment. They also had a massive living area with a huge flat-screen television and beautiful enormous sofa and recliner. Every room had carpet except the kitchen area, which was stocked with food and beverages. When she asked Khafil why he had a kitchen when he didn’t eat food that required cooking, he reluctantly admitted the kitchen had been installed for her use. Her heart sank at his reply. Her takeover had been planned meticulously. Had she even stood a chance of not falling for him hook, line, and sinker?
Despite being surrounded in luxury, her attitude toward him had not thawed. She was still a combination of royally pissed and utterly hurt. She and Khafil only spoke to each other when absolutely necessary and it was done in a cool, abrupt manner. Since he had accomplished his goal of obtaining her, she had served her purpose.
Has he asked you to bond with him? She ignored the little voice inside her head. Until she was sure he really cared for her and she would be respected as his true mate and not cast aside for the betterment of the Imvuras, she would continue to resist the lure of being his true-bonded mate. She didn’t know how long she could continue to deny him. She was lonely and miserable when he was gone, and her heart gave a little jolt when he came home late afternoon or early evening. They slept in the same bed, but on opposite sides.
Her weaker, side missed being with him, talking to him, and having sex. She didn’t let her mind think about sex. Her panties became drenched if she even thought about how good it would feel to have him inside of her, kissing her, and caressing her. Damn, she missed it. They hadn’t had sex in over a week and she was craving him like a drug. But she wouldn’t give in first. She had to stand her ground, especially since she was showing signs of pregnancy. Every morning when she woke up, al
one, she had to lay in bed feeling nauseated for what felt like hours. Afterward, when the feeling subsided, she was ravenous. Her breakfast and lunch always included meat, cooked rare or medium rare. She couldn’t get enough of it. Her breasts were also heavier, fuller, and they hurt. She had to be extra gentle when putting on her bra.
She needed to get a pregnancy test, but how when she was six feet under and there were guards stationed at the door who escorted her everywhere she went? Would a regular human pregnancy test even work on her? It should; she was part human.
The loneliness was getting to her. She’d seen other females when she walked through the halls. They all gave her indifferent, cool looks. No one tried to start a conversation with her or even looked at her. Why? She was here against her will, as some plan against her father’s brotherhood. She also had the dubious honor of being the heir-apparent mate. Could that be the reason why she was shunned or at least felt like it? The males were respectful toward her. They either gave her a nod or few gallant ones gave her bows. But they were also distant as well. She would have to speak to Khafil about it. He was the only person she knew and their relationship was tense.
Khafil sat in the meeting, aware of his father watching him. Instead of returning his gaze and assuring him everything was okay, he ignored him. If he had disregarded his father’s advice, he wouldn’t be in this situation. He was irritable because he hadn’t been sleeping well. Since his mate wasn’t in a state of rest, he couldn’t fully submerge in his resting state. He was also extremely horny. He hadn’t had sex in over a week-ever since the incident with Sarim.
And he didn’t know how to bridge the gap with Victoria. He could solve one of his problems and offer what more than one willing female had been willing to give him, but the mate in him rejected the thought of being intimate with another female. He wanted Victoria, and she hated him, plain and simple, so his chances of getting satisfaction were slim to none.
“Khafil, what do you think of Malik’s plan?”
Khafil rose his head to see all of the council members watching him keenly. Khafil glanced at his father, who frowned at him. Damn, he’d been preoccupied with Victoria again. He was going to have to do something tonight.
Chapter 28
After another monotonous day, Victoria laid in bed alone. It was almost ten o’clock and Khafil was still not in. She wanted to talk to him and tell him she needed to go to the store and find out how to make friends with the females here. She yawned, exhausted. Why? She didn’t know, when she spent her days feeling sick, eating, and watching television. She closed her eyes and gave in to the weariness.
She felt warm, as if the sun were shining directly on her. The heat felt good to her aroused, neglected, cold body. As the warmth spread over her body, so did the full throbbing energy of sexual heat. Her body was tingling all over. Between her legs felt hot and she felt herself open them and run her fingers between the slick moist lips of her sex. Heat became intense as she continued to caress herself intimately. She gently pinched the hard bud. The rush of hot pleasure became too much for her to bear silently and she let out a moan. Embarrassed at her wantonness, she remembered Khafil was probably lying in the bed and hoped he didn’t hear her.
She waited for her body to stop quivering, wanting to prolong her pleasure as long as possible. Just as she was about to take her pleasure to a new level she felt larger, firmer fingers begin to stroke her. They were ruthless in their quest. They became slick as her wetness coated them. They stroked harder and began playing with the hot, tight bud. Then they were gone before she could form a protest. She felt two thick fingers enter her followed by cool lips tormenting her sex.
The lips ruthlessly sucked and nibbled at her as the thick fingers dove in and out of her wet tightness. Unable to handle the myriad of sensations, she begged for release. Just as she was choking back another sob, her sex clenched and waves of pleasure washed through her as explosive heat ran through her body. She screamed in ecstasy.
Fully awake now, she opened her eyes and bit back a yelp. This wasn’t another wet dream. Khafil was lying next to her, facing her, his intense eyes burning into hers. Blushing and embarrassed, she was about to say something, but Khafil placed a finger on her lips and shook his head. No words were necessary between them. Hunger and his arousal hung thick in the room. His sexual need matched hers. She felt its urgency and the question he was asking. She nodded, unable to do anything else. Her body betrayed her heart and mind, but tonight she didn’t care.
She allowed him to pull her into his arms and give her another deep, scorching kiss, leaving no room for further thought. Her legs parted and she felt her body stretch as she tried to accommodate his thickness. A low moan escaped from Khafil, and she gasped at the unfamiliar fullness. She felt slight discomfort at her body’s attempt to accommodate him. It had been too long. When the pain eased, she sighed in satisfaction and opened her legs wider, accepting all of him by wrapping her ankles around his muscular back. He drove in and out, her body shaking with the fierceness of his plunges. She felt him deep within and her body welcomed him home.
Chapter 29
Opening her eyes several hours later, Victoria felt a void inside and immediately knew Khafil was gone for the day. She remained completely still, not daring to move and cause herself to pitch into dizziness as a wave of nausea reared its ugly head. She instead thought back to last night. They had made love several times, not whispering a word to each other, just satisfying their bodies’ savage need for one another. He had used her body hard and she had let him, loving every bit of the abuse he had given her.
How sick. She rolled her head slowly to the side and found the alarm clock. 11:00 a.m. She sighed. She still hadn’t had a chance to talk to Kahfil and ask the questions she wanted to. Maybe tonight, she thought as a yawn escaped her. She was still tired. She closed her eyes, too tired to think. She woke up to knocking at her door. “Hold On,” she called as she got out of bed, too groggy to care how she looked. She opened her door to see two intimidating males standing there. Instead of the usual black her security people wore, their uniforms were a deep burgundy and cream. She stared at them in confusion. “Khafil is not here,” she told them.
The taller one spoke. “We are not here for Visdan Khafil. Tralu Zanhoden requests your presence this afternoon.”
“Afternoon?” Victoria asked, the grogginess disappearing as she realized how late it was. Zanhoden, if she remembered correctly, was Khafil’s father.
“I just woke up and need to get dressed.”
“We’ll wait,” was the solemn reply.
Victoria squeaked out an “okay” and closed the door. She leaned against it and tried to pull herself together. What could Khafil’s father possibly want to meet with her about? She didn’t have a good feeling about it.
Khafil had not mentioned his father wanted to meet her. Khafil didn’t mention anything to her, since they rarely talked to each other. She went in the spacious bathroom to brush her teeth and take a shower. The warm water felt relaxing and soothed the tension strumming through her body. She would go meet with his imperialness, and she would not be intimidated.
Chapter 30
She was so intimidated. When she’d left her quarters with the guards, she was feeling under control. When she walked into Khafil’s father’s quarters, she was overwhelmed. The quarters emanated coldness and were huge, decorated in the royal colors, deep burgundy and cream. The furnishings were exquisite. Stunning artwork hung on the walls. She was staring at a portrait of a beautiful woman over the fireplace. She was lovely and looked familiar.
“That was my mate, Millicent, Khafil’s mother.”
Victoria turned around at the sound of the voice.
A tall male with blond hair pulled back into a long ponytail stood several feet behind her. He watched her with cold blue-green eyes and a fair complexion that was almost pale. He could easily pass for Caucasian.
“My name is Zanhoden. I am Khafil’s father.” His voice gave
her the shivers. He looked like a man who wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of anything or anyone who stood in his way. She looked at Zanhoden and thought back to the picture of Millicent, Khafil’s mother. Khafil looked like his mother but the personality, it seemed, was all from Zanhoden.
“Hello, I’m Victoria.”
“I’m well aware of who you are,” he responded cold in the same cold tone as his son.
She swallowed her temper. Even though they weren’t on good terms, she wouldn’t embarrass Khafil by replying without thinking.
“My son, who is usually even tempered, has for the last week been irritable, moody, and distracted. What are you doing to him?”
This time her temper flared. “What makes you think I have anything to do with it?”
Zanhoden shot her a piercing look. “You have everything to do with it. His attitude change only happened when you came here.”
“Came here?” she said incredulously. More like brought here against my will. “I didn’t ask to come here. I’m here because of the plan you and your son concocted. My going around and being happy as his prisoner isn’t part of the deal.”
“Mouthy as well as brave. I’m sure you’ve been giving my son hell.”
“I didn’t ask for this.” Victoria’s temper exploded, her attempts at cool composure forgotten.
“Unfortunately since you two are mates, you and Khafil have no choice but to deal with each other unless the other dies.”
Suddenly cold, her hand trembled at the implication.
He continued with a smile. She bet he was satisfied with her reaction. “And if something happens to my son, I’ll kill you personally.”
She didn’t doubt it for a minute. He was one cold bastard. Is this what Khafil would become? She shuddered at the thought.
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