Spartan Heart, Part One

by Kristine Cheney

  In a flash, he reached the fireplace. Thick logs of timber were tossed, thudding against the back of the hearth. He needed to hurry; a fire would help ward off her chill.

  Evangeline stirred. Dorien’s attention flew back towards the bed. Her head rolled back and forth. He sensed confusion and fear in her thoughts. Her fingers reached for him blind. The helpless sound of Evangeline’s cries penetrated his soul. She was well aware she wasn’t alone.

  “D-d-don’t leave me, p-p-please! H-h-help me!”

  Dorien rushed to her side and fell to his knees. He rubbed his hands up and down the length of her velvety arms. “Quiet, Evan. I am here and will not leave you. Let me start a fire, love. I promise not to leave you. I shall come right back.”

  Evangeline’s eyes were large and vacant; she was bewildered. She stared into his face. Reading her thoughts, she was fighting to place him.

  “W-w-who are you?” The fear in her voice was evident. Its tremble wasn’t from chill.

  “My name is Dorien. I am here to help you and will not harm you. Will you trust me?”

  She nodded profusely, pulling tight fists over her chest. It was a weak attempt to find warmth. Dorien rose to his feet. He was slammed by the impact of her panic the moment he tried to leave her side. Evangeline clawed at him in desperation. Her gasps came in forced ragged breaths.

  “No! P-p-lease help me. I’m s-so c-c-cold.”

  Lost in her shivers, she struggled to remain conscious. He winced at the sight of saturated clothes. They clung against every curve of her beautiful body. He hadn’t broken a sweat through the passage, but the cold, damp air soaked her clothes, chilling her to her bones. Life as a soldier had taught him well. If he didn’t light a fire or remove the garments, she could fall sick or worse. Disappointment in his negligence ran deep.

  How had he been so careless?

  Dorien tried again to get up, but Evangeline refused to let him leave her side. There was only one other thing he could do. Gritting his teeth, he untied the flimsy shoulder straps of her drenched white sundress. It was torture freeing fragile pearl buttons snuggled between her breasts.

  Fire was igniting all right, but it was in all the wrong places. His fingers brushed her pale tender skin with every shivered breath. He leaned her body against his chest. Pulling the dress over her head, he threw it across the room like a venomous creature. Dorien laid her back against the mattress. He didn’t deny himself the opportunity to gaze upon her. His stomach tightened. The curves of her body beckoned for his touch. He couldn’t tear his gaze from the delicious sight of violet lace panties.

  Women of Sparta never wore anything like that!

  Dorien felt the need for air. His immortal hands actually shook. The ache of desire increased a hundred-fold. Ignoring the pain was useless. His fingers looped the sides of wet panties. Pulling them off one tortuous leg at a time, he forced himself to look away.

  Stripping himself of his cape and coverlet, Dorien slipped naked into her bed. The weight of his body rested against her skin. His cold immortal flesh would never be enough to warm her. Pulling the covers around his shoulders, he held her close. Shivered breaths pressed her breasts flush against him, drilling into the muscles of his chest. Dorien gazed above him, searching for imperfections on the ceiling. He fought to keep his mind and body distracted.

  Evangeline looped her arms around his neck. Her legs encircled his middle. Dorien’s body went rigid with warning. The closeness of their bodies was way too dangerous. With a groan of distress, he tried to resist the beckon of her curves. He even tried not to think about it. But ripe instinct made him shudder in hunger. The woman didn’t have a clue. Dorien remained still. He must resist this temptation! He reminded himself over and over of the many reasons why he had to protect her. She was traumatized. She was intoxicated. She was oblivious to their delicate predicament. She was oh, so soft.

  What were his reasons again?

  He prayed she would stop moving. The torment of being a statue for centuries paled to being frozen in this position.

  “D-d-dorien?”

  He tried not to choke. “Yes, my love.”

  “H-h-hold me, please.”

  He was holding her. That was the problem. If he were any closer, she would be in big trouble.

  “Evangeline, please. You must listen, sweet. You must stay still. Can you hear me? Evan, don’t move! I don’t want to hurt you. I must not compromise you.”

  “I-I-I know, I-I-I’m trying, Dorien. P-p-please come closer.”

  She was oblivious to the danger she was in. By Zeus, this couldn’t be happening. He had to get through to her. Temptation would be his death. How much longer could he hold out before the wages of sin gave in? The carnal desire to take her was too intense. Strict training as a soldier never prepared him for this type of assault. Surely he’d be better off in the hands of an enemy. Dorien grit his teeth in agony. It was a good thing his soldiers would never know. They wouldn’t believe their Prince was begging in desperation, trying not to make love to a woman!

  “Evan! Please, love. Be still. You are in grave danger. You must understand. I don’t know how much longer I can resist you.”

  Desperate for distraction, Dorien kissed Evangeline. Groaning at the sweetness of her mouth, it was so much better than sin. But it backfired completely, only revving his desire. He rode the brink of insanity. The soft, moist sounds of her response took him by surprise. He never expected this beauty to return his kiss.

  Evangeline’s moan drifted into his mouth. In an innocent gesture, she relaxed, and adjusted her hips. Dorien slipped, and all was lost. Her fingernails embedded deep into his back, unable to penetrate the armor of his skin. Her eyes were wide and wounded, staring up into the darkness. They were dilated, large with need. Her labored breaths brushed over his face. Dorien fought to remain still. Intimate knowledge of her body taunted him so cruelly. The reactive arch of her back made him flinch.

  “Evangeline, are you all right?”

  He saw her nod in the darkness. Her heart pounded. She panted. Reading her mind, he knew. She was breathing through the abruptness of their union.

  “Evan, I am so sorry. You must know how hard I tried to avoid this.”

  It felt so good to love her.

  Dorien’s conscience jolted him. He had to do the honorable thing. As a warrior of Sparta, he wouldn’t stay in this predicament. Never against her wishes.

  “Don’t move, Evangeline. I will remedy this situation at once.”

  She now coaxed him closer. Evangeline’s hands locked tight around his neck.

  “No! Please don’t leave…I don’t want to you to go.”

  She wriggled beneath him. Dorien groaned. It had been too long since he last made love a woman. Learning of her innocence only baited him to possess her more. If she wasn’t careful, he would soon forget his manners.

  “Evan, you don’t know what you are asking. If I don’t stop now, I won’t be able to later. It is now or never. There are some things you can never take back.”

  He cupped her buttocks, a botched attempt to hold her writhing body still. But the naughty little sprite kept moving. Her hands unlocked from around his neck. He flinched as her fingernails raked across the skin of his back. She boldly kissed him. Her perfect teeth nibbled at his bottom lip and the warmth of her tongue explored the inside of his mouth.

  Dorien breached the point of no return. It was too late to turn back. Now she was his. The sight of her beneath him was better than he ever imagined. Evangeline’s eyes glazed over, half shut in passion. Her mouth trembled in anticipation of his kisses.

  He loved the way her golden hair splayed like silk across her pillow. His cold lips claimed her slow, wanting to taste every bit of her. He cradled her face in the bounty of his hands. Without a doubt, he would give this little vixen exactly what she wanted. But time would tell if she could handle what she asked for.

  * * * *

  Dorien lay still, gazing down upon her. His elbows rested on e
ither side of her. He watched in awe as her breathing returned to normal. Evangeline’s eyes were closed. Her body glistened from his lovemaking. Searching the plains of her angelic face, he fought for words. He hoped his presence wouldn’t turn awkward.

  Would she be angry he didn’t stop?

  “Are you okay, love?”

  Her answer was whisper soft, “Yes.”

  “Evan, I am sorry. You must believe I tried to avoid this.”

  Reading her thoughts, Dorien exhaled in relief. She believed him. The temptation to take her again was desperate and overwhelming. Could he ever get enough of her sweetness?

  “Do you regret what happened? Would you like me to leave?”

  The pause of her silence was cutting and painful. Dorien allowed her privacy. Refusing to read her thoughts, he waited to hear her say she wanted him. Or confirm she didn’t.

  “No. Please, don’t ever leave me.”

  How long he had held his breath? His chest tightened to know she wanted him to stay. Searching her thoughts for any hint of doubt or regret, he was happy there was none. She had answered him in truth. With a gentle stroke he swiped errant strands of hair from her face.

  “Did I hurt you? Tell me you are not angry about what has happened.”

  She sighed from beneath him. Her head rested against his shoulder. Her delicate fingers wrapped around his muscled biceps. Like an open book, she relished the security of his embrace.

  “I love you, Dorien.”

  He froze.

  Loved him?

  Searching her mind, he felt it, knew it. Dorien grinned in victory. But would she feel the same in the morning? Her deep, even breaths came quick. He watched helpless as she slipped away. In slumber, she left him here all alone. Body and mind ached, responding to the silence of her absence.

  Already he missed her.

  The view of her body was Heaven. She was flushed from his mating. He was relieved he hadn’t hurt her. Goose bumps covered her tender flesh. Rolling off her body, he wrapped her tight in the warmth of the comforter. Tonight his little sprite wouldn’t escape his arms. With his stamina, he could hold her all night…and perhaps a few other things, he grinned in mischief. But for now, he would let her sleep. After all, she was only mortal. However, there was still one more plaguing question.

  How would he find a way to capture this woman’s heart?

  Chapter Six

  Dorien tried to sleep. But sleep wouldn’t take him. Nowhere close to tired, his strength and stamina remained intense, fired, and ready to pounce. Trying to close his eyes again, all that transpired was relaxation. Like his sight, it would seem the inability to slumber wouldn’t change. Holding Evangeline close, he smiled. Her body didn’t seem to mind the coolness of his skin.

  Watching her stole the air from his chest. Admiring her beauty, he memorized every detail. Wretched hours had passed. He wanted to wake her and make love to her again. With a grin, he corrected himself. He would love her repeatedly.

  Her ale would soon wear off. What if she didn’t remember him? Despite the ale, she had still suffered trauma from his reckless neglect. His lip curled in disgust. What if something horrible had happened to her? He would have never forgiven himself.

  Fierce, primal feelings overwhelmed him. His chest constricted. Protecting and caring for her was all he wanted. Shaking his head in decision, realization hit him like lightning. In a single glance, he had fallen in love.

  Scattered rays of sunlight danced through violet velvet draped windows. Soon, Evangeline would wake. How would she react to his presence?

  Dorien wrestled with himself. For now, he would leave her. His stomach tightened. It would be absolute madness to stay away from her. Would she recognize him? Would she allow him the chance to explain what happened between them? He flinched at the thought of her rejection. Even worse, he wasn’t sure if she already had another man in her life.

  Dorien cringed at the thought. Pushing fear aside, his smile was full of confidence. She had no clue who she was dealing with. He was Spartan. If there was another man in her life, the pup would learn the meaning of war. For her, he would fight any who came against him. He would bring Hades with him. Losing was not an option. If she dared try to escape him, he would hunt her down and win her.

  Gazing around the room in search, he wanted to find something…anything that would remind her of their night of passion. Smelling the air, he smiled in victory, finding the perfect solution. Without a doubt, he would make sure this beautiful woman remembered.

  Dorien’s gentle kisses brushed across the breadth of Evangeline’s forehead. She smiled and stirred, rolling onto her belly. Collecting his armor and weapons, he left the room without a sound. He ran down the hall and then slipped into an unused bedroom, hiding his armor and weapons in a closet. Finding an open box filled with men’s attire, he tried on various articles of clothing. Glad to find something that fit his massive frame, the plain black tank top and green and black-checkered swim shorts would have to do. Slipping on pair of flip-flops, he could feel the fibers of the tank stretching thin to accommodate the large muscles of his chest and shoulders.

  It was obvious his Spartan garments were outdated. Would he be able to adapt to this new way of life? What he needed was some help with his personal affairs. It was no wonder Demona relied on her minions. They were necessary to adapt to the drastic changes of time. Removing a heavy leather pouch of coins from the pocket of his cloak, Dorien tossed it in the air, catching it in his open palm. Rubbing his chin, he couldn’t help but wonder. Would the coins be worth anything?

  * * * *

  Evangeline woke to the profuse aroma of delicious roses. She couldn’t help but smile, despite the ache of throbbing temples.

  Oh! Why did she have to drink so much?

  Bits and pieces of the previous night flooded in a rush. Jolting upright, something was undoubtedly amiss. She quickly analyzed her surroundings.

  She was in her bed.

  She was alone.

  She was naked.

  Someone was with her last night. Incomplete flashes of memory dashed through her head. Her chest grew heavy with anxiety. Who was it? Her breath caught at the sight. Crimson roses littered everywhere, clustered on her dresser and nightstands. Gazing at her sheets, red petals lied in seduction all over her bed. Plucking the single red rose from her pillow, its bottom had been pulled, not cut. Every stem was stripped of its thorns so she wouldn’t feel its sting. But how could anyone perform such a feat without tearing their skin to shreds?

  Gazing around incredulously, she saw all of them had been plucked the same way. Her cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment. For the first time since she lost her parents, she couldn’t explain the flutters in her belly, or why the tiniest rays of hope made her feel giddy. Her eyes opened wide in a sudden recall.

  Dorien!

  Had he been a dream, or was he real? Her heart galloped in her chest. She clearly remembered a man’s voice. It had brought her so much comfort. His cold hands had stripped off her clothes. The delicious feel of his skin against her had felt so…

  Naked!

  Evangeline shivered. But how did he warm her? Her head fell back. She groaned at the memory of delicious kisses. Her belly contracted in remembrance. Slowly crawling out of bed, she stretched to soothe her sore angry muscles.

  She knew the moment she stood. Pleasure had come at a price. With a groan, Evangeline made a bee-line for the toilet. Her stranger had been careless. He hadn’t used any form of protection. Closing her eyes in regret, a piercing green gaze burned hot in her memory. She shamefully remembered the delight of lying under his solid body. His skin had felt cold. His touch had been so gentle and loving. Even now, her skin reacted in memory. Goose bumps covered her flesh.

  Muddled thoughts wouldn’t clear. Her head ached. Did she meet Dorien at the pub? Had Taryn let him come over? She didn’t think her best friend would allow a stranger to come home with her. She groaned. Did this mystery guy think she was easy? She never
slept with anyone on a first date. Not even on a tenth date. She didn’t even date! In her whole life, she had only given herself to one man…Andrew. Evangeline made another mad dash for the toilet.

  Evangeline cringed. Unprotected sex! She had been such a careless fool. Perhaps a swim would help? Didn’t chlorine kill everything? Rolling her eyes, she slipped on a white bikini. But his delicious kisses kept haunting her. Her belly continued to contract.

  The soreness she felt with every step reminded her of her careless actions. Passing through the lush garden, her steps stopped abrupt. Her jaw dropped. Staring at a rose bush completely void of flowers, she touched the poor mangled shrub. Her mysterious stranger somehow survived plucking every rose by hand.

  He must be sorer than I am today, she mused.

  At least the jerk wasn’t leaking!

  Walking towards the edge of the pool, Evangeline dove in. The coolness of the water felt good. But it only made her think of the man she tried hard to forget. Coming up for air, Taryn sat regal in a cushioned filigree patio chair. Her best friend winked at her from lowered purple sunglasses.

  “Hello, Evan! I brought your jacket. Nice to see you’re feeling well after last night,” she teased.

  Evangeline hid her emotions. Did Taryn know about Dorien?

  She had to play it cool.

  “What are you talking about?” Evangeline shrugged, non-chalant.

  “You drank like a fish! And why are you up so early with a smile on your face? And what on earth happened to your rose bush? I’d be tanning some gardener’s backside about now.” Taryn scouted for the errant gardener.