Premonitions

by Le aha Vaughn

  * * * *

  Eriq knew he felt her presence the moment she stood outside the quarters. He needed some time to think. Her closeness was pushing him on the verge of insanity. He had felt her presence so strong that it overwhelmed him, calling him out of the shower, but he lingered a little longer, wanting to calm his raging nerves. What was she doing to him? When he emerged from the lavatory, he knew that she was lying in the bed. He stood in front of her pretending not to notice that she was even in the room. He was getting harder and harder by the minute.

  She was watching him. He felt her eyes on his body and knew she was watching him. Her eyes were squeezed shut, but he was not fooled by the act for a moment. Eriq sensed her erratic pulse, hearing her rambling thoughts as if she were speaking aloud. That only fueled his raging libido.

  He took the towel that covered his lower half off, wanting her to look to her fill. He heard her small gasp; inside he chuckled, knowing full well what it was doing to her. It was only a matter of time.

  Eriq stared down at her as she lay on the bed. Her hands were practically wringing the sheets. He suppressed a hardy chuckle. This was going to be easier than he thought. He walked closer to the bed without a stitch of clothing.

  Look to your fill, Nahni.

  Finding the pair of shorts, he pulled them up slowly giving her a good last view of everything before climbing into bed. He could feel her shiver as it practically shook the bed. He pulled the sheet to cover his legs. His leg brushed her softer one. The heat he felt was spreading through him.

  Eriq rolled onto his back placing one arm under his head for support with the other on his stomach. A smile of pure mischief spread across his lips as he decided to add a little fuel to the fire.

  "And by the way, I usually sleep in the nude.” That did it. He could feel her start to crumble. He could feel the terror radiate through her laced with anticipation. This was going to be a long interesting night.

  Nah'Dara could not take it anymore. Pompous jerk! This was ridiculous. He was not going to hurt her, though that thought never occurred to her ... not until now. Now she was more worried about him not knowing she was awake. She kind of guessed, after he made that big show getting into bed. She could not take her eyes off him. Her mind was practically reeling. The thought of him lying next to her sent her senses into overload. She could feel the warmth of his long leg next to her. She smelled his clean scent, hinted with sandalwood as it tickled her nose.

  Her eyes were growing heavy with each passing moment. How could she sleep with a handsome man making her stomach turn summersaults? Her pulse was racing despite her dismay.

  Oh, Spirit, I'm in so much trouble.

  Nah'Dara rolled over onto her other side, facing him. Her eye opened slowly to find him staring directly at her. She could see the dark fire behind them seeming to pull her closer.

  Spirit, this man is dangerous, she thought. She never been close to a man before, but she could feel the pull of him. The shiver continued to roll over her as his arm encircled her waist pulling her against him.

  "What are you doing?” Shock paralyzed her as his other hand traced a finger along her face going lower to trace the hollow of her neck and collarbone.

  "I couldn't very well keep watch over my beautiful captive while I'm asleep, can I?” Did he mean to sleep like this all night?

  Wait a minute. He thinks I'm beautiful?

  "I'm not going anywhere.” He gave her a skeptical look.

  "How do I know that? For all I know, you will just ... I don't know, drug me leaving me on the nearest planet?” There was not a hint of anger in his calm voice, but his eyes had the touch of fire.

  Her breath was constricted in her chest. Her lips tingled as she felt his dangerously close. Her shirt felt tight, her breast heavy. She closed her eyes as she waited for that first feel of his lips on her. To wait for the taste of his mouth was driving her mad. Any moment now...

  His breathing became even. Was he sleeping? He could not possibly be sleeping now. Not when she was so turned on.

  "No,” he replied simply. “Just go to sleep."

  Thoughts of him kissing her died, completely bursting her bubble with a pitiful pop. She was looking forward to it more than she realized. Just having his arms around her, gently holding her was enough to be her undoing. The warmth at her back was soothing. She was comfortable she had to admit. Comfortable, warm, and surprisingly safe. Before giving into the sleep that desperately called to her, she could not help the feeling that this was where she belonged.

  * * * *

  Eriq woke abruptly to the sound of feminine moaning, more importantly Nah'Dara practically ringing the sheets. Her dark hair was plaster to her head in sweat as tears rolled out of her closed eyes.

  "No, Spirit no,” she moaned. Then, an agonizing whimper. It tore at him.

  Wrapping an arm around her, Eriq pulled her to him, smoothing the other through her hair.

  "Ajismanan, Nah'Dara.” Hush. He soothed her in Altarian as she continued to whimper. “It's alright. I'm here."

  She clutched his shoulders, her whimpers dying away as she opened her eyes. Untwining her arms from his shoulders, she gently pushed away from him. He did not let her go.

  "You had a bad dream."

  Horrible images of the torture and rape swam through her head. Her head pounded as she desperately tried to push the images away.

  "I'm okay.” But for some reason she did not, could not pull out of his arms. More tears threatened to break free. LoMoq pulled her close gently cradling her against his chest. The warmth of him eased her.

  "What is it?"

  She shook her head. “Nothing. Just a bad dream. That's all."

  Nah'Dara felt his arms tighten around her. She wanted to let the nightmare go. She did not want to dead memories to rise up tearing her to pieces again.

  "Something's wrong, Nah'Dara. Tell me, please?"

  If she was going to be his wife, he needed to know what happened. Her heart thumped wildly against her chest. How could she tell him she had been captured, tortured and raped by the Rebo? What would he do? Reject her like so many other men before him? She put her heart on the line once before only to be shoved away. She could not go through that again.

  Nah'Dara found the courage to let go of him, sliding out of the bed. She shivered as she stood walking to the view portal. Her mind ran over the images of her memories. Each one made her feel more dirt, actually hating herself for what happened. Hadn't she done the right thing to save Kiana? Hadn't she done what any other person would do for the one they loved? She put the thoughts to rest a long time ago; resigned to thinking none of it was her fault. But if it wasn't, why did she feel so ashamed of herself?

  Nah'Dara felt the warmth of his hands surround hers. Gently, he tipped her face up to his. “Please tell me."

  "I can't. I'm scared."

  "Never be scared of me. I'll never hurt you."

  Could he promise that? Would she believe him? “I know.” The lie tasted bitter on her tongue.

  "Well, if you know this, then tell me."

  She pulled her hands away from his suddenly restless. She turned away from him to look out of the portal unable to face him then. She ran her hands over her face, through her hair taking a deep cleansing breath. Finding the courage, she turned around to face him.

  "Eriq, I was raped.” She heard his sharp intake of breath. The anger in his silver eyes said volumes to her.

  "When?” The growl in his voice rumbled through her.

  "A year ago. I was on a rescue mission for my cousin Kiana and her fiancé Lycius. They were captured by the Rebo. Theora and I went after them, but they would not let them go. No money in the world would set them free. The Rebo wanted the Prince of Spora and a lady of the Notalvian Alliance at their mercy. They wanted to kill them. I could not see my cousin dead or the man she loved, so I traded my freedom for hers."

  That's why they were so close. Kiana knew her better than anyone. His heart softened.


  "You loved her that much."

  "Yes. She's as close to a sister I'll ever have. She accepts me as I am, when others wouldn't. She stood by me when there was no one."

  "What happened after they captured you?"

  Nah'Dara took another deep shaky breath forcing back the bile that threatened to come up. “First, they took me by ship to Nisson. I was gagged, bound by magna-cuffs, and stuffed in a small hangar along with several other women for only one purpose. Sex slaves.” Tears streamed down her face as she relived in her mind every detail.

  "They prepped me for the assault, strapping me across a cold hard table. I could not move. The only thing that I could was move my eyes. I wished to Spirit they would of bound, them as well. I saw several Rebo guards come into the room, disgusting cocks hard.” She shivered at the thought of one of them touching her. Cold blue and scaly hands roughly groped her body pinching harshly at her breast. She could still hear her muffled screams as one of them inserted crude instruments inside her.

  Nah'Dara pushed back angry hot tears. I can do this, she told herself over and over. I'm not a victim. I'm a survivor.

  "They raped me repeatedly for days. I bled on the table. They left me like that during the day. Then at night, more would come in. It would start all over again. Around the end, I prayed for death. I wanted Spirit to have mercy on me to take me away from there, but it didn't happen."

  She could feel the heat of Eriq's anger practically shooting from him. Several times, he opened his mouth but closed it again. She knew there were never enough words to ease what they did to her. He looked away for a second. His silver eyes glistened with unshed tears.

  "How did you escape?"

  "I don't remember much about it. I remember, Kiana's voice telling me everything was all right, that the Rebo had all been taken care of. She told me that Lycius rushed me to Sporia, ordering his surgeon to take away all wounds. The damage though, was too great. The surgeon said I probably could never have children. If I did, it would be a miracle the baby would survive."

  There. Everything was out in the open. Would he run now, push her away like the others? Her stomach nearly rebelled at the anxiety of going through it all over again. She watched him for a second, before turning away. He did not understand and he never would.

  Eriq pulled her into his arms. She welcomed him, needing his strength. He eased the pain just by him being there.

  "I would never hurt you, Ni Teska. Never. I would kill any man who touches you like that ever again."

  His words gave her relief. Finally, someone who would protect her, keep her safe. Too tired to hold her own weight any longer, her knees buckled.

  Effortlessly, Eriq lifted her into his arms, carrying her to bed. Yes, he would protect her. Now, he understood the constant fear he sensed from her. All of her walls. The reason she ran from him. It was not to defy her uncle. It was because she was afraid of being hurt. He would have to change that.

  Eriq gently lowered himself in to bed with her still in his arms. He could not let her go. She became so precious to him, as fragile as Altarian glass. He pulled the covers over them resting his back on the headboard for support. She never cried. He expected the brave little woman to wail, but she never said a word. He held her listening to the steady huff of her breathing. He smoothed his hand across the softness of her lovely dark face pulling her hair out of the way. He would protect her at all cost no matter how much she infuriated him.

  It was not long before sleep came again to claim her. He leaned down planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. His Teska, precious one, deserved more than what she received.

  Chapter 9

  Eriq left Nah'Dara in the quarters to sleep to walk to the mess hall. After he woke to her moaning in her sleep, he could not sleep. A surge of fierce protectiveness he thought was long gone turned inside of him. She would not tell him or spirits above he wanted to know about all the pain she had endured. He wanted to ease all her pain.

  Walking into the mess hall, Eriq headed straight for the replicator for an early morning snack. He tasted warm Nemaha bread with cinnamon butter in his mouth.

  He commanded the computer to make the bread and waited. After a moment, the computer came back with several beeps.

  "Unable to comply. The requested food is not available."

  Outraged, Eriq pounded on the food replicator. “Why the hell not?"

  "The Altarian food menu has been reprogrammed and is no longer available.

  "To include what?"

  "Notalvian Alliance standard dishes."

  Nah'Dara Lehr.

  Eriq roared in outrage as he left the mess hall charging down the hall. He was hell bent on having words with the woman in his quarters. No one touches his menu, including runaway royals.

  "Eriq to Nah'Dara."

  The only thing he received was the sound of the sonic shower. He rounded the corner trying again to reach her over the communication.

  Nothing.

  So she was ignoring him. Fine, but she was not about to disrespect him on his own ship.

  Eriq stood before the door that entered into his quarters. He punched the keypad to gain him entrance, but the door did not move.

  "Access denied,” the computer's metallic voice in formed him. Locked out of his own quarters! He had never been so angry in his life. He wanted to use all his strength to break down the door, but that would not solve anything. Just another broken door. He envisioned himself wringing her lovely dark neck.

  Eriq punched several codes trying to find one that would override it. It took an unknown amount of time to find a code that managed to counter hers. He was even madder now than he was when he charged down the hall. The door slid away with him stepping into the room.

  "Nah'Dara—"

  His words died on his tongue when he saw her sitting on his bed in one of his shirts with one tasty dark leg hiked over the other.

  Eriq's eyes roamed over her in pure possession. Her hair was a glob of dark brown mass around one shoulder. She pulled the tangles free with her long delicate fingers. He longed to run his fingers through the mass, feeling its weight in his hands.

  Her skin was practically glowing with the water from the sonic shower. The scent of roses lingered in the room. Her personal scent. It did things to him. His blood ran hot through his veins. His pulse quickened until his heart threatened to beat out of his chest.

  He watched her as she blotted the towel down her long brown leg. Each easy sweep of the towel held his attention. His mouth had gone suddenly dry. She had the smoothest legs that he had ever seen. No blemishes or scratches, just one mole on the outside of her thigh just above the hem of the black shirt.

  Eriq had given her a couple of his shirts thinking that the size of them would cover her tempting curves, but he was sadly mistaken. The shirt managed to make her look more sensual, devilishly tempting but innocent at the same time. How could a shirt make something as harmless as legs seem like endless soft brown appendages that he wanted nothing more than to wrap around him in the worst way.

  Eriq wanted to feel them link at the ankle as he pushed himself inside her. They were as dark as chocolate. It took every ounce of his will power not to bend down to take a bite, savoring the feel of her in his mouth. A sound escaped his mouth bordering on the lines of a growl. He hungered for her. What would she taste like? He hoped she tasted just as sweet as she looked.

  She had no idea what she was doing to him. The strain that his arousal was putting on his pants was painful. Just standing here watching her doing normal woman things was driving him crazy.

  Nah'Dara looked up from one long brown leg eyeing him with those bewitching green eyes. A small smile tugged at one corner of her mouth. Her eyes begged him to come closer, but he did not dare. If he did, he would pull her across the bed to take her without a second thought. Her eyes widened at the obvious frown that spread across his face.

  "Is something wrong?” Her voice was like a siren's song, hypnotizing him. He wanted to do whatever
she asked of him, even if it was to walk out of an airlock. Why did he come here again? It was something important. Spirit, just looking at her fresh from the shower, her scent of roses in the air made his mind shrivel and draw a complete blank.

  She picked up the small bottle of lotion to rubbing her legs in a slow sensual motion that made him grow harder with each stroke. He pictured her hands on him, moving up and down on him in pleasure. He had to restrain himself before he took her right then and there.

  "No.” His voice was nothing short of a growl. Her eyes gleamed mischievously. He needed to leave, cursing his overactive libido.

  Nah'Dara took one long lingering look over him, stopping at the bulge in his pants, then back to his eyes and smiled. She licked her lips. His eyes watched that little pink tongue lick naughtily to moisten her lips. It did not take a scientist's brain to let him know what she was thinking.

  Leave, reason said. Never in his life had he ran away from a woman, but this one was different. This one was having an effect on him that none of the others did.

  Turning, Eriq made a last minute dash for the door. He pushed the open button, the portal gladly moved away for him. When he was out in the corridor, the door slid closed behind him he released a shaky breath of relief. Brain still in a fog, he headed to the bridge to start the day.

  * * * *

  This was going to be the longest six days of his life. Being trapped on a ship with a gorgeous woman was every man's dream. Just think of the possibilities, but being stuck for six days with a woman like Nah'Dara was getting harder and harder to swallow by the minute.

  The next day proved to be nothing but bothersome. She was rude, inconsiderate and moody, though this is within the two hours that he actually sat in her company. She refused to eat dinner with him for the last two days even after giving her free run of the ship; she refused to eat at all.

  The conversation was always the same.

  "Nah'Dara, you have to eat,” he'd tell her while reminding himself that he had locked her in his quarters to keep her out of trouble.