He reached out and pulled her back onto his lap.
Rachel refused to look at him.
He turned her chin, until she faced him. “There is a big difference between having sex and taking a mate with my people.”
“Like I said, you don’t have to explain.”
“Sexual pleasure is shared with another unmated Atlantean to fulfill a basic need or to alleviate tension. Once the Seer decrees that your mate has arrived, all joining must stop.” He dropped his hand onto her leg and began gently massaging the area. “I have not slid my cock into any woman since donning the claiming symbols.” He reached up and flicked the gold hoops at his nipples.
“So that’s what the hoops are for.” Rachel shook her head. “I have a hard time believing that you haven’t fucked anyone since we met.” In her experience, men didn’t remain celibate for long. Stan sure hadn’t and she’d been more than willing to sleep with him anytime he liked.
“I am not Stan. I have not joined with another. Would not, now that you’re here.” Eros paused as if trying to search for the right words. “In Atlantean society, you can only have children with your true mate.”
The thought of Eros and the children came flooding back. In her place, stood another woman. Pain blossomed throughout her chest. “What about unplanned pregnancies?”
He threw his head back. Blond hair cascaded over his muscled chest and down his shoulders. “There are none.”
Rachel frowned. “That’s impossible. No matter how careful you are accidents do happen.”
“You don’t understand,” he said patiently. “The males of my species are not fertile until their mates are found. Our bodies know when ’tis right.”
Rachel thought about all the people she’d been introduced to today. She couldn’t recall seeing a single child. “You can’t have babies.”
Eros nodded. “Once a mate has been found, no other will ever do. If anything happens to your mate, then so ends your family’s bloodline.” His eyes lasered in on Rachel’s face and he lowered his voice to a whisper. “Atlantean males mate for life.”
Rachel couldn’t believe her ears. There must be some misunderstanding. Surely there had to be some kind of loophole for the King. “You mean you can’t get married if I leave, or have children?”
“No, it means I won’t.” Eros looked into the fire.
“Even if Ariel had another vision?” she asked.
“Not even then,” he said.
“But why?” Her mind raced frantically, flitting from thought to thought as the ramifications of his declaration slowly sunk in. He was betting his whole life, his future on her. The responsibility weighed heavily upon her conscience.
Eros stood up, a lazy smile playing on his sensual mouth. He set her upon her feet, then reached out and cupped the side of her face with his palm, stroking the soft outline of her lips with his thumb. “Don’t you understand, Rachel? You are all that I want in this lifetime.” He paused, his body trembling with emotion. “You are my life, my love, my destiny. Without you, I have no kingdom to rule. I have nothing.”
Rachel was stunned silent. So that was why he’d fought the urge to fuck her when she’d inhaled the bama plant. It all made sense now. She’d never been anyone’s love, much less destiny. Despite her many misgivings, her heart sang out in joy. Happiness filled her, threatening to overflow.
“I’ll escort you to the hut.” Eros walked her from the table to the transport.
When they reached the hut, he undressed her, letting the skirt slip to the floor, then tucked her naked body into bed. He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering warm against her skin.
“I must go now. Sleep well, my Queen.” Eros turned and strode to the door. He glanced over his shoulder at her one last time, his love clear for all to see, then left.
Rachel lay in the bed of furs, unable to move or even think straight. The soft tufts caressed her body, fevering her skin. She squirmed deeper under the covers and drifted restlessly off to sleep. Dreams of Eros and their children, of planets beyond the stars, and of Jac and Brigit swirled in her mind. She tossed and turned, fighting the furs.
A bird squawked nearby, bringing her out of her fitful sleep. Something scraped across the floor. Her eyes flew open. Had Eros returned? Rachel sat up, her breath coming in heavy pants. She listened. Silence.
Maybe it was just the bird. It could’ve easily gotten into the hut. She slid off the furs and threw on her skirt. Her eyes tried desperately to adjust to the shadows in the room. Suddenly she saw movement. A subtle flash, far bigger than any bird, told her someone was in the hut with her. Rachel backed up until her shoulders hit the wall. From the size of the shadow, she could tell it wasn’t Eros. He was too small. Before she could get a sound out, the man lunged across the room. His hand closed over her mouth and around her neck. He flexed his fingers, cutting off her air supply. It was a none too gentle warning. Rachel nodded in understanding. His skin smelled of burnt flesh, causing her to gag.
He brought his face next to her ear and she recognized Jaro’s voice as he spoke. “If you scream, we’ll kill everyone in this entire village. We’ve set charges and they’ll go off if I squeeze this detonator.” His words brought a shiver to Rachel’s spine as her gaze latched onto something round and metal in his hand. He shoved the object in his pocket before she got a good look. Was he bluffing? The Professor hadn’t brought those kinds of weapons with him, or so she’d thought. But what if he had? She couldn’t chance it, too many lives were at stake. The Professor was just crazy enough to do it.
Jaro dragged her to the entrance of the hut. One hand clamped on her mouth, while the other glided down to fondle her nipple rings. His touch made her skin crawl. His thick lips brushed against her ear once again. “You and I will have a little fun later on, since you’ve caused me so much trouble. It took me forever to lose that dark-haired bastard who tracks with more stealth than a panther. The false trails I’ve created will keep him busy long enough for me to get you away from here and to give us some privacy. I plan to finish what we started days ago.”
Rachel’s stomach lurched in revulsion. He spoke of Ares, who was out there somewhere, following a false trail. Where was Eros when she needed him? The full moon splashed across Jaro’s face as he dragged her toward the transport. Anger coursed through her veins. She’d go quietly, for now, if only to protect Eros and his people, but once they were away, she wouldn’t allow this man to lay a finger on her without a fight.
Jaro silently lowered them down to the ground in the transport basket. The village was abnormally quiet. Even the animals were holding their collective breath. The man pulled Rachel along, across the clearing to the edge of the jungle, out of sight of the huts. He dropped his hand from her breast, grabbing her arm instead, as they stepped into the thick shrubs.
He dragged her deeper and deeper into the jungle. “Where are you taking me?” she said, her voice muffled by his palm.
“The Professor has paid me well to track you.” Jaro yanked hard on her arm, causing her to stumble into him. “He said if I find the village, that I can keep the fair woman for myself. He just wants the discovery. Little does he know they’ll kill him before he can alert anyone. I’m going to move my hand. If you scream, you die and so does everyone else.” His hand dropped from her mouth.
“Donald is here?” she asked, looking around warily.
Jaro shook his head. “No,” he said. “He will return soon with more men and more equipment. They will dismantle this village and kill anyone who tries to stop them.”
Rachel jerked back. “You can’t do this.”
“But I have, perra.” Jaro reached up and pinched her nipple ring between his fingers. Hard.
Rachel winced in pain.
His dark eyes shimmered in the moonlight. “You will get used to how I touch you soon enough.”
“No, I won’t!” Rachel pulled back with all her strength, knocking Jaro off balance. He released her and she fell onto the ferns. Her elbow stru
ck the ground, sending painful needlelike sensations up her arm. Move now, her brain screamed. Rachel scrambled on her hands and knees, trying to gain her feet. Her heart slammed hard against her ribs, pummeling her from the inside. Twigs and plants scraped her skin, tearing the tender flesh. A rock bit into her palm. A jagged cry ripped from her throat. Her long skirt bunched and twisted around her knees, tripping her just as she was about to make her escape. Jaro pounced on her from behind, knocking the breath out of her lungs, pinning her to the ground. His body reeked of dried sweat and stale clothing.
“Maybe I fuck you here.” His breath came out in labored puffs. The smell of unadulterated hatred permeated the area.
Rachel felt him fumbling with the front of his pants and heard the material of her skirt rip. A second later a piece of the material was shoved into her mouth. She struggled to pull it out. His zipper scraped her bare bottom as he fumbled with his hard dick. Blood roared in Rachel’s ears. This couldn’t be happening. Not the night before her mating ceremony. She thought of Eros. Pictured the disappointment on his face. The man stabbed at her from behind, trying to gain entrance. She struggled to move but couldn’t.
Terrified, she tried to scream around the gag. A thick hand reached around her and shoved it deeper into her mouth, choking off her pleas. Rachel cried as he found her opening, the sound of her sobs muffled as the man pushed her face into the earth. She closed her eyes, trying to shut out what was to come next. She thought of Eros and how his touch had been so kind, gentle and loving. Tears stung her eyes. She whimpered against the muddy ground. Jaro thrust and missed. His fingers stabbed as he pulled back to try again. Rachel braced, but nothing happened.
His movements abruptly stilled, then his full weight collapsed on her back.
Rachel felt something wet trickle down the side of her face. There was no sound. She spit out the gag. Her lungs burned as she tried to drag in breath. Suddenly Jaro’s body moved off her. Rachel lay on the ground naked and trembling, afraid to look. Her body jerked, racked with sobs. She felt herself being lifted into strong arms. Eros?
“Are you okay, my Queen?”
No, not Eros. Somewhere in Rachel’s mind she recognized Ares’s strong voice. He set her upon her feet, his arm resting on her shoulder. Rachel hiccupped and snuggled closer to his warmth. “He…he…I tried to stop him, but I couldn’t.”
“I know,” Ares said.
She turned until she could see out of one eye, her face still resting on Ares’s chest. “Is he dead?”
Ares nodded. “Yes.”
Rachel looked down at the still body lying on a blanket of ferns. She swallowed hard at how close Jaro had come to violating her. The skirt Eros gave her lay nearby in tatters.
Her brows furrowed. “Where is Eros?”
Ares gaze focused on the trail. “He is in the jungle, preparing for the ceremony tomorrow.” The muscles in his face were pulled tight in a harsh mask.
Rachel’s lips formed a silent ”O”, then she stepped back. She wrapped her arms around her waist, hugging herself as tremors racked her body. “Before we leave, check his pockets. He said they’d planted explosives around the village.”
“The man lied. He was alone in his actions.” A tic worked Ares’s strong jaw and tiny lines etched deep around his grim mouth. “Did the man,” he paused, drawing in a ragged breath, his voice harsh against the unnatural silence, “violate you?”
Rachel let out a wail that could’ve woke the dead. Ares grabbed her and held her close, his big hands brushing her back in soothing circles. “Please, my Queen. I must know. If I did not arrive in time, it will be my shame to bear.” His body quaked as he waited for her answer.
Rachel sniffled a couple times. Before tonight, she’d feared Ares, but he’d shown his true self tonight and she liked what she saw. He was fierce and brave as a warrior should be, but caring and tender when the need arose. And she definitely needed comforting. Ares had saved more than her life.
She released him. She could feel Ares’s heart racing beneath her palms, despite his calm exterior. He was frightened, too.
“You kept him from raping me.” Rachel pushed her hair away from her face with trembling fingers. Her eyes sought Ares. “For that alone, I am forever in your debt.” She managed a smile.
Ares let go of the breath he’d been holding. Rachel felt his muscles relax as the tension eased. She reached into Jaro’s pocket and pulled out a round, silver lighter. So that’s what he’d used to fool her into believing he had a detonator. Rachel clutched it, pouring all her anger and fear into the object. Ares scooped her up, cradling her close, as he snaked his way through the jungle, backtracking the route the crafty native had taken. He carried Rachel’s naked body across the compound to the basket, placing her gently inside.
Once they reached the treetops he picked her up again, taking her to Eros’s hut. He pushed aside the fur and walked to the bed. He laid her down, and his trembling hand brushed across her forehead. “Sleep, my Queen. I will stand guard outside. I will not fail again.”
He turned to leave, but Rachel placed her fingers on his arm, stopping him.
“Ares, you didn’t fail me.”
He opened his mouth.
She had no doubt he was about to refute her claim, but she stopped him before he could. “Thank you…for everything.”
He nodded. Ares walked to the fire pot on the table and stuck his hand out. It began to glow. Embers in the pot ignited and burst into flame. “Now you can see everything in the room.”
He lifted the fur covering the door. Rachel called out, “Ares, can we keep this between ourselves? I don’t want to worry Eros.”
“He must know that the outsiders are here,” he stated matter-of-factly, “but ‘tis not necessary for him to know the reasons for the guide’s death, if that is your wish.”
“Thank you.” Rachel gave him a half smile and lay back on the furs. Her eyes glanced at the glowing pot. He’d made her a nightlight. Her heart melted at the thoughtfulness he kept hidden. He may be big and bad on the outside, but there was softness deep inside. He was going to make some woman a very lucky mate someday.
Ares left the hut. As promised he stayed outside, watching for any other sign of trouble. She heard him climb up onto the roof and begin to pace. His footsteps brought her comfort and eventually the solace of sleep.
* * * * *
Chapter Fifteen
The next morning, Rachel woke with her hair matted to her head. She walked to the bucket of water and gasped when she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the liquid. Dried blood crusted in her hair and down the side of her face. Mud and twigs stuck out from her curls and around her ears. Her mouth remained swollen and one of her eyes was black from Jaro slamming her face into the ground.
She looked like a train wreck, not a bride.
Rachel scooped up water and tried to scrub away any lingering odor of the man that had attacked her. She felt dirty. Her eyes burned from lack of sleep. She didn’t think she could bear to face Eros this morning. Her naked body was bruised, battered. Angry red scratches ran the length of her arms from where she’d fallen. How would she explain this to him without telling him the truth? Tears filled her eyes and she scrubbed harder.
The flap to the hut opened and Ares stepped through, carrying a new outfit in his hands. He stopped when he caught sight of her. “My Queen, what’s wrong?” He placed the clothing on a chair and walked across the floor to where she stood. He dropped to his knees before her.
Rachel backed away and started to cry, wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to conceal her nudity. “Please don’t.” She shook her head, hot tears blurring her eyes and streaming down her cheeks. “I can’t go through with the ceremony. Look at me. We have to call this off.”
Ares raised his eyes, taking in all her cuts and scrapes. “Please allow me to cleanse and heal you.”
“You can’t take care of all this.” She waved her hand in the air before hugging herself once more. “I’m
a wreck.”
“Please, my Queen. At least let me try.” He gently pulled her hands away from her body and kissed each nipple in an Atlantean greeting.
His lips were soft and moist against her skin. Rachel’s nipples beaded in response to his tender touch. She looked from her breasts to Ares’s eyes, the heat rose to her face. “Geez, what’s the matter with me? I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. ’Tis perfectly natural to respond to a gentle touch, especially when there is an underlying attraction.”
“I’m not attracted to you,” she blurted. Heat blossomed until her ears burned.
His dark brow arched.
Rachel rolled her eyes. “Okay, maybe a little. I have a pulse after all.”
Ares smiled, then stood, resting his hands on her shoulders. Warmth shot out of his palms, vibrating through her body, heating every inch of her. Rachel watched as the cuts on her hands magically closed, leaving behind smooth pale skin. He was healing her wounds. How was that possible?
She started to sweat. Ares continued sending healing energy through her. The palms of his hands glowed brighter, radiating like the sun. The bruises began to fade until they too disappeared, leaving her body unblemished. He raised his fingers to her hair and the blood fell away. Her scalp felt as if she’d been shampooed, rinsed, and dried. With trembling fingers, she touched her hair, which fell in soft waves down her back.
She gaped. “How did you?” Rachel held out her arms. “I mean everything is…perfect.”
Ares stepped back and his eyes sought Rachel’s. She looked up into his smiling face. “You are now almost ready to attend the mating ceremony.”
Rachel ran a hand down her body in disbelief. “How can I ever thank you for this?”
“Thank me by accepting my King at the ceremony today.”
Rachel’s gaze locked on Ares’s face. He was serious. Gone was the laughter and smiles. He wanted nothing for himself, only the King’s happiness. She grabbed him and kissed him full on the mouth. Rachel stepped away. Ares’s jade eyes had gone wide in surprise and his face had darkened to a lovely shade of red. The look on his face was priceless. She giggled. Her laughter turned into full on guffaws. Never would Rachel have believed she’d be able to embarrass Ares, the fierce hunter. But the proof stood before her, blushing from head to toe, shuffling his feet.
Atlantean's Quest Volume 1 Page 17