“So I take it your people were a bit annoyed that they weren’t more––fruitful?”
“We were livid, Serena; but let us be truthful––we were also deeply envious. Their love made Romeo and Juliette look shallow. If that were not bad enough, Rion bore the brunt of much of this ridicule.”
“So, I guess Rion wasn’t kidding when he said he was the black sheep of the family,” Serena smirked.
“True, in many more ways than one. But that is just the bad news. The other side of the coin is that the Steeles were very caring and cultured people. They raised Rion to be just like they were. That heritage runs very deep; it is millennia old.”
“Rion said his parents were royalty.”
“They were. Rion is all that remains of their bloodline.”
“So I take it there were no other goddesses for Rion to marry?”
“There were.” Francesca paused, looked away and took a sip from her cup. “No longer.”
“I’m sorry.” Serena offered quietly.
“Do not be. It is a painful history, but you need to know it. When Rion was born there were celebrations all over the world. At that time there were several potential brides he could have chosen as soon as he was of age. But then the assassin began to strike us down. One by one the sons and daughters of Ra began to disappear. As powerful as we were, it was like we were defenseless against the Seven. Each year one of us would disappear, sometimes two or more. We would only find traces of where the assassin had been. It was as if we were completely defenseless. As if Nature itself were attacking us.”
“It sounds horrible, being hunted with no way to fight back.”
“It is very humbling, Serena. I assure you. We are ever cautious; ever vigilant. I tell you this because you are now a target. Just like the rest of us. Sorry to toss cold water on the conversation. I know that is not what you really wanted to talk about.”
“No, but it’s better I know.”
Francesca changed the subject.
“You know, this is not actually the first time I have seen you in person.”
“Oh? Have we met before? I would have remembered you!” The elegant woman was unforgettable.
“No, but I have seen you with Rion, in San Antonio. I was shopping when I ran into the two of you strolling along the River Walk.”
“Really? You should have said hello,” Serena smiled.
“Oh, yes, and Rion would have never allowed me to hear the end of it. No thank you. He is a very private person, Serena, with very solitary pursuits. No one knows all that he does.”
“I’ve noticed that. He keeps secrets; even from me,” she admitted, petulance coloring her voice.
“I am sure that will not abate. Rion often has confided in me. But he has secrets he alone knows. He is the quintessential bachelor and has been such for a very long time, Serena. I do not envy your role if you are to become a couple. Rion’s emotions can be—complex; unpredictable.”
“So I’ve gathered.” She frowned.
“Still, others will be envious.”
“Oh?”
“It is not every girl who gets to marry the prince.”
“Has Rion been dating? Others, I mean.”
“Seldom. But there are those who hold out hope that they will be the one he chooses. Other newbloods awakening.”
“So I have competition?”
“You are dating a prince, Serena.” Francesca offered a wry glance while taking an elegant sip of coffee.
“You must think I’m being—”
“—cautious.” Francesca interrupted. “I know what you are feeling, Serena. I would be the same were I in your shoes. The only difference is, I have known Rion for over a century. He has his—quirks. They are not as insurmountable as you might think.”
“Honestly, Francesca, it’s not Rion I’m really worried about. It’s me.”
“I sense your trepidation. You do not wish to be awakened?”
“I don’t know.”
Francesca nodded, setting down her cup. “That is a decision that only you can make, Serena. At least you have the choice. Most of us did not. Fate made that decision for us.”
Serena frowned. “Apparently, fate has already done the same with me with the whole Invicti, Invictus, whatever I’m supposed to be.”
“You are very bright, Serena. No question. I believe Sevrin and Rion are right. You are the sun goddess spoken of within the prophecies.”
“So everyone keeps saying. I haven’t even read these prophecies.”
“It would not matter if you had or had not. You are who and what you are. We are all, in some way, trapped by fate.”
“I just don’t want to make the wrong decision, Francesca. I’m not sure I’m ready to be the princess of a people I know next to nothing about—let along a goddess. I don’t want to become an accident of fate.”
Francesca giggled beautifully.
“What’s so funny?”
“Youth. You still have the illusion of choice where fate is concerned.”
“So you don’t think I have a choice?”
“Serena—you are not an accident. I do not believe it was an accident of fate that the Sentinels have been reduced to almost nothing. Israel wandered in the desert for two generations so that ugly parts of their culture would die and be buried in the desert. There are parts of our culture that needed to die as well. Forgive me for saying, but with Sen and Arica’s passing, you and Rion now at least have a chance to save the legacy of the Sentinels. I have told Rion as much as well.”
“Wow,” Serena frowned. “No pressure.”
“You were expecting a life without challenges? Please.” Francesca’s eyes were smiling over the top of her cup.
28
F rancesca had left hours ago. The big home felt warm now as Serena stoked a huge fire. She had been thinking all afternoon and then into the early evening about Rion and their budding relationship. In some ways Rion could be a little unpredictable in the way his emotions would surface over seemingly small things. But then not be affected at all by monumental things. It wasn’t that he seemed fickle, but perhaps Francesca was right; maybe she just didn’t know him as well as she thought. It was clear that Francesca had a deep respect for Rion and his family.
She poked at the fire with a tool, wondering how her own family was being treated in Michigan now. Rion had told her that they had been relocated to Bethlehem for their own safety. Then a subtle sound from behind her, like a rush of air, pulled Serena from her thoughts. She looked up from the hearth to see Rion leaning against one of the thick log pillars in the great room.
“Hey.” He smiled.
“Hey.” She stood up quickly, putting away the fireplace tool. Immediately she felt his not-so-subtle draw. Her worries seemed to melt away now that he was here. Whatever this genetic attraction thing was, it easily messed with her sensibilities. She moved toward Rion and he to her, both coming together in a slow, warm and soft embrace.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Yes. No. I don’t know.”
He smiled, burying his face into her hair. She loved the feel of his nose and the side of his face moving next to her skin like this.
“We’re kind of a hot mess,” he said quietly.
“Tell me about it.” She pulled him more tightly to herself.
“I missed you.”
“You could have come back.”
“I needed some time to think. I mean, without our attraction getting in the way. I think you did to.”
“Yea. I met Francesca this afternoon.”
Rion pulled back to look at her. “Really?” He rolled his eyes. “That figures.”
“You didn’t want us meeting?”
“No, it’s not that. I bet she told you all kinds of embarrassing things about me, didn’t she?”
“Not really,” Serena smiled. “Okay, maybe a few.”
He groaned softly. “None of it’s true. Whatever she said.”
“None of it? So you’re r
eally an irresponsible party animal are you?”
Rion nodded. “Yea, that’s me.” He grinned. “Don’t forget temperamental.”
“Stop.” She playfully swatted his chest. “I was being a little temperamental myself today.”
“You don’t have to do this, Serena. I was thinking about it all day. I can’t drag you into this.”
“It’s too late, Rion. Francesca is right. Fate seems to be dragging both of us into this. We are who we are.”
“Still. I’m not going to push you into anything, Serena. I’ve already done enough damage pulling you into my world.”
“Rion, you rescued me. I’ve had a lot of time to think about this. If you found me, because of who I am, these Seven could have as well, right?”
He nodded.
“They’ve already tried to kill me. Fate seems to be looking out for me. And you.”
“Yea, well, I’m not exactly happy with the Fates at the moment.”
“Nor am I. But we do have each other.” She got him to smile. She moved closer to his lips. Their kiss was long, softly passionate. She could feel Rion sweetly moving through her feelings again. That was something she missed. Feeling Rion within her like this felt calming, soothing, natural.
The lights within the home faded out until only the bright firelight from the hearth lit the big room with softly flickering shadows. Rion lifted her hand and gently removed her ring, along with his own, tossing them onto a nearby chair.
“You don’t want us wearing protection?” she gave him a wry smile.
He breathed a soft chuckle. “I—really don’t want us to be wearing anything. Actually.”
His words gave Serena’s pulse a jump. “Aren’t you afraid of what will happen?” She began unbuttoning his white Henley that was tucked into the worn jeans he had been wearing all day.
“Terrified.” His hands were untucking her layered shirts from her own jeans.
She lifted his shirt out from under his jeans and opened it, smoothing her hands over his immense pecs, feeling his tightening nipples against her palms. “We’re not going to stop this time, are we?”
“You tell me.” He carefully undid each button of her shirts while teasing her neck with his lips. She felt the fire’s subtle warmth on her skin as he parted her shirts. His hands moved over her lace bra. “You know, you really should stop wearing these things.”
“Goddesses don’t wear bras?” she teased, lifting her chin as Rion’s fingers slid and gently gripped through her hair, his lips caressing her throat.
“I’m sure some do. You won’t need to.”
She felt Rion undo her bra strap and then his hands slipped under her cups and over the skin of her breasts.
“I don’t think you’re going to let me—HUUUH—wear anything.” She suddenly drew a quick rippled breath, feeling her nipples softly grinding between Rion’s fingers.
“No. I’m not.”
“Good. Because you’re not going to be wearing anything either.”
“I’m not?”
“No.”
“Going Kir are we?”
“What’s—”
“Never mind.” He slid her shirts and bra from her shoulders and laid them on a chair, admiring her beautiful form, shirtless.
“Gods, Serena, you’re so beautiful.”
“Hold me.”
He took her into his arms as she wrapped hers around him under his shirt, their bare skin meeting and moving softly over each other.
“What if someone comes home? And they see us like this?”
“Then I guess they’ll see us like this.”
Serena breathed a nervous giggle.
“Don’t worry, Angel; no one is going to stop by.” Rion kissed her. His hands slipped down her back and then over her ass, pulling them warmly together. “Besides, it feels to me like you’d like having people watching you being made love to. A little exhibitionist in the new princess, have we?”
“Maybe. A little.” She kissed him. She couldn’t hide her feelings from Rion at all like this. He read her like a book. It was a fantasy of hers—although, she didn’t know if given the chance that she would ever actually do it.
Rion slipped his hands to the front of her jeans, opening the buttons slowly, until there were no more left to open. She felt the worn denim fall away to her knees. Rion kneelt to help her step out of them, his face eye level with her thin panties. Serena’s feminine scent washed over him like a tsunami. He kissed the front of her lace while her fingers dove into his thick hair. Feeling Rion’s lips moving over her the front of her like this brought back memories of the two of them in his apartment, the first time they’d made love.
It didn’t take long before she felt Rion’s fingers gently slide the thin underwear down, letting them fall softly to the wood floor around her feet. Serena had to spread her legs to give Rion’s teasing lips and tongue sweet access to her folds. He easily brought her clit to raging hard and he could have easily brought her to a badly needed peak, but for some reason, he stopped, and stood. She went to embrace him, but he stopped her and took a step back from her, his eyes tracing her form from head to toe, just looking at her in the firelight.
Serena turned away from him, raising her arms, her hands lifting through her waves of dark hair. Her ass was perfect in its smooth, pear-shaped roundness.
Rion had already grown thick, tall, and commando-hard under his jeans. Seeing Serena’s body like this, in the firelight, it was everything he could do not to just take hold of her and—
Serena turned, walking casually across the room wearing nothing at all. She moved like a goddess to the front of the hearth, feeling the warmth on her bare skin. Rion walked up to her, standing only a few feet away. Her broad shoulders and ample pert breasts reflected the light beautifully.
“Did you want to talk?” she smiled.
Rion shook his head quietly.
She breathed a mirthful giggle. “Take your shirt off.”
Rion just stared at her for a moment.
Serena moved closer to him. “I said, take your shirt off,” she breathed more quietly, her hand ever-so-lightly touching his chest.
Rion had heard her. He wanted to take his shirt off; but had she just ordered him? Did he like being ordered? Somehow, with her this close to him, though, touching him, her scent rising between them, his attraction to her gripped him. Slowly, he slipped off his shirt, letting it fall to the floor. She moved to within inches of him, her hand softly caressing up his chest. He lifted his hands to touch her.
“Don’t.” she ordered.
“But—”
“Shhh.” She silenced him. “Don’t speak.”
Rion just looked at her in the firelight. His pulse had jumped several fold now. He let his hands return to his sides while she mercilessly teased his nipples. She watched him draw several breaths, both deep and rippled while she toyed with him. Whatever she was doing, playing this little game of hers, it sent his cock into throbbing overdrive, like he was going to tear through his jeans.
Serena could see easily the rock-solid bulge in his soft worn denim. She took a few steps away from him.
“Unbutton your jeans.”
Rion couldn’t help himself. He could feel what she was doing—using their attraction against him. Gods she was sexy. He needed to please her. His fingers quietly opened the buttons of his jeans down to the last one; releasing his throbbing cock until he was standing hugely thick protruding out from the open fly, his tall shaft rose to well above his navel.
She watched him for long moments while Rion savored the sensations of her attraction to himself.
“Tease yourself—for me,” she said.
He could feel her looking at him. Her eyes tracing his partially covered male. She watched his hand move inside his jeans as Rion’s fingers moved slowly, softly over his commanding male. Their feelings entwined, Rion made sure she could feel everything he was feeling.
Rion watched Serena draw a rippled breath now. Watching him. This
was seriously turning her on. His open jeans dropped slightly down from his waist while his fingers gently teased his own cock in ways Rion himself really liked. Her mouth fell open slightly while she greedily watched and felt the sensations that his fingers delivered between his thick thighs as they slowly danced over the head and foreskin of his cock while Rion arched his neck, his face pained with the intimate sensations his body felt—and she felt as well.
His jeans fell to around his thighs now. Rion partially obscured his length, sweetly moving his palm down over his towering male until his fingers cradled smooth thick heavy jewels.
His jeans now falling around his feet, he stepped out of them, still tenderly teasing himself for her while she look on. He took a few steps toward her, the two of them now very close together, his fingers still teasing himself as he looked deeply into her eyes.
She took hold of his hand and brought it to her lips. She could smell his male scent on his fingers.
“God, Rion.” Her voice trembled. Every feminine fiber of her body ached for his touch. Her legs grew suddenly feeble as something like a scented spell fell all around her.
Rion felt her. Felt her emotion. Felt her weakness.
Powerful arms moved softly around her, holding her. Pulling her closer to the warmth of his scent. The nipples of her breasts had grown so tight they nearly hurt brushing against his. Her clit throbbed so hard with unanswered desire she felt like she was going to explode. She felt him grip her ass as the two of them moved together. Serena lifted a knee to his waist, dropping her folds onto the tip of his spire.
Rion gripped her thigh, lifting her off the floor as she wrapped both legs around him. They kissed; tenderly, eagerly, as Serena rocked herself, feeling the sensations of her folds slipping over the tip of his uncut cock.
Serena felt herself yielding. Rion touched her now open wet folds with his tip, teasing her. She pulled back from their kiss, looking into his eyes as he gently lowered her over himself, intimately filling her.
Interra (Awakened Series Book 5) Page 27