“Perhaps we should speak outside?” Chaldor asked with a pointed look in her direction.
Gaedrian waved a hand. “It matters not.”
“There are continuing problems with Merrill and his men,” he finally said to Gaedrian.
“Again?” Gaedrian sat on the bed, his brooding gaze still on Whimsy. “Talks did not go well?”
“They will accept nothing but the land or war.”
Gaedrian sighed as though very tired. “Dark,” he said at last.
The boy stepped out of the shadows when his name was called. Whimsy gasped and nearly fell off her bench. She had wondered how he had gotten into the chamber before without her noticing him. There was only one entrance. She had surreptitiously searched the room for possible exits and found none. Now she knew: The boy was magic.
Dark spared her a quick glance before turning to Gaedrian. “You requested my presence?”
Chaldor’s eyes widened. “You cannot be serious.”
“Why can I not? We have tried talks, bargaining, and punishment. Merrill will not be happy until there is war and I will not have it. Too many would die.”
“Gaedrian, do you not fear that this would cause more trouble with his relatives, friends, and sympathizers?”
Gaedrian arched a brow. “Are there any of those after all he has done?” he asked with a note of doubt. “I think not. Dark, handle it.”
Dark gave a brisk nod, took one step backwards and disappeared.
“What is he?” Whimsy gasped.
“He is a prince of Dark Sphere,” Gaedrian answered casually.
“D-Dark Sphere,” she stuttered. “But that planet and all its inhabitants were destroyed.”
“Not destroyed,” Gaedrian said absently. “It disappeared.”
If Dark was a prince of Dark Sphere, then surely she was very far from home. “W-what colony is this?”
“C21,” Gaedrian answered. “Unlike many colonies, we are fortunate enough that we are an actual planet. We have natural soil with which to grow our crops and an actual star to light our days.”
C21. She’d expected to find she was far from home, yet it was still disconcerting to have her suspicions confirmed. Myrna, her people rarely ventured this deep into space. Earth was now a barren planet, struggling to overcome centuries of human abuse. The colonies, most manmade satellites like her own, were created to sustain life. Everyone knew the farther you were from Earth, or the colony of origin, the more barbaric the peoples. She asked the first question that popped into her mind. “Y-you’re not cannibals, are you?” Gaedrian and Chaldor roared with laughter. She glared at them. “Well, that’s the rumor.”
Gaedrian finally simmered down to a sexy grin. “Oh, I want to eat you, as you well know. You seemed to enjoy it. As did I.”
Her face flushed.
“Well, at least there has been some progress between the two of you.”
Gaedrian gave him an annoyed look. “We would progress much fairer without so many interruptions.”
Blond brows rose. “Point taken.” He gave Whimsy a nod before exiting.
Gaedrian started for her. She backed away and put her hands up. “Wait. I have some questions. I’ve been in the dark too long. I’d like to know what’s going on around here. Why was I brought here? I mean, surely there are enough women here to satisfy your, um, appetites.”
“Dessert, you know that I disapprove of the way you came to me. I was not consulted.” He mouth twisted in displeasure. “It is my understanding that there were no more volunteers.”
She made a frustrated sound. “I know that much. What I want to know is why are women offering up their bodies to you? Is this the custom of your people?”
“Forgive me. It is easy to forget that you are not familiar with our ways.” He seated himself on the bed. “Our land has long known unrest. To mitigate this, we have needed strong rulers with a united family. In the past, rulers in unhappy unions soon saw their kingdoms crumble around them. And then fate was discovered.”
“You’ve mentioned fate before. What does it have to do with this?”
“Fate is a root. It was originally called by another name but then it was discovered that the use of its essence in an injection had miraculous effects. It causes the pheromones of males to become potent so that any woman in his presence is incapable of resisting him.” His eyes flickered over her face. “Usually.”
Her mouth fell open. Finally she understood why she had been so unnaturally wanton in his presence. She recalled his words, saying that he had been drugged. But the drug had affected her also. “You mean I’m not really attracted to you.”
His lips curved into a sinful smile. “No. Fate can only enhance my pheromones. It cannot create desire where there is none. You want me, my Dessert, as much as I want you.”
She longed to ask him more but before she could there was a knock at the door. Servants brought in breakfast after Gaedrian gave them permission to enter. Editha followed. She smiled at Gaedrian. “I decided to share the morning meal with you today, my son.”
“Son,” Whimsy gasped. “You’re his mother!”
Editha gave her a disapproving glare. Her lips flattened to a hard line, making her mouth a mere slash of red in an otherwise pale face. “You are still here.” There was no surprise in her voice. Her words were a threat, a reminder to Whimsy of punishment to come.
Her eyes flew Gaedrian but he did not detect the malice in his mother’s phrasing. He greeted his mother with a kiss to the cheek. “To what do we owe this honor?”
“I have missed you.”
“You are checking up on me,” he stated. “Let us be seated so that the servers might take their leave of us.”
Whimsy looked at the girls. They were beginning to suffer. Their brows were dotted with perspiration. They were fidgeting and tugging at their uniforms. For once, she understood. And since Editha was his mother, she was immune to his scent.
Gaedrian seated first his mother and then her. The servers presented them with their meals and were quickly dismissed. “So how are you, my son?”
“As well as can be expected.”
At this Editha shot her another tight-lipped glare. Did they all expect her to sacrifice her life for a few moments of his carnal pleasure? “Well, if you would have done with this one, we could continue on our quest.” Apparently so, Whimsy thought wearily, toying with her food. At the sight of Editha, her appetite had taken a nosedive. The other woman continued, “We have quite a few promising prospects in the waiting.”
Gaedrian arched an eyebrow. “Really?”
Was he interested in the other women? She felt the sudden violent urge to kick him. She gave the sausage on her plate an unnecessarily vicious stab. Gaedrian coughed. “Excuse me,” he said, covering his mouth with his napkin, coughing again.
“Gaedrian, are you coming down with a cold?”
“No.” He averted his face as the spasm continued.
Growing concerned, Whimsy stood and crossed to him. “Are you okay? Do you need water?” She placed her hand on his back.
“No,” he said again and she caught sight of his face behind the linen cloth. He was laughing.
She placed her hands on her hips. “And what is so funny?”
“You are. You were jealous.”
She shoved at one of his ridiculously wide shoulders. “I was not.” Myrna, she had been so jealous. The thought of him with other women made her angrier than she had ever been. And the hurt. It felt like a vice was closing over her chest.
“You should have seen your face.”
“And why should I be jealous? You can’t meet any of them until you ‘dispense’ of me, remember?”
At that, he sobered. “Then I should be happy to never meet any of them.”
“Oh, Gaedrian,” she whispered, sliding her fingers into the thick waves of his hair. She would have kissed him if Editha hadn’t interrupted.
“Gaedrian! What is the meaning of this? I do not understand why you have n
ot done your duty. This is disgraceful. You are a good ruler, but in this matter, you have been nothing but remiss.”
At his mother’s rebuke, he pulled her fingers from his hair and kissed each of her hands before setting her aside. “Mother, need I remind you who is responsible for my present condition? Or for Whimsy’s presence here?”
Editha sat straighter. “My only concern, as always, is for you.”
“I hear that so often these days as I am told what to do.”
His mother sniffed and stood. “I see you are in no mood for civilized company today. I shall take my leave.” At the door she hesitated. Her hand on the knob, she turned to them. “It would be best for both of you to end this swiftly so that we might all go on with our lives.”
Whimsy took her seat again. This was becoming too much to absorb. Editha was Gaedrian’s mother. His mother spoke of his duty and called him a ruler. He’d mentioned the ruling family when explaining fate to her. The opulence around her indicated that he was an important person, and she’d thought perhaps he was member of a royal family. “Gaedrian, who exactly are you? What is your title?”
“I am King Gaedrian IV, ruler of this planet. We call it Spectra, but others know it as C21.”
“If you’re the king, then you can let me go.”
“Even I cannot defy tradition. There would be hell, and worse still, Mother, to pay.”
Chapter Ten
Gaedrian sat and pulled his fingers roughly through his hair. Sweat covered his body and that of Whimsy. She lay on her back, tears forming in her lovely eyes. She panted, making her beautiful breasts bounce. Her nipples were hard and wet from his mouth. Her cleft was awash with desire, so much so that her thighs were wet with her dew. Yet once again, she had denied him.
He feared they were at an impasse. It had been a week and he had made no progress with her. He had never seen a stronger will than hers. He took her to the brink of orgasm again and again without letting her tip over. Her hunger had to be as great as his, but she would not let him sate her with his body.
“Please,” she whispered. “Let me go. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
He growled. “I cannot.”
“Is it possible to die of want?”
“If it were so, I would have died long ago.”
“I’d like a bath.”
“You bathed after dinner.”
“I-I’d like another.”
He shrugged. “Shall I call the servants?”
“I can do it myself.”
For a long while, she did not move. When she did, she whimpered. And then she began to cry, deep sobs that shook her entire frame. Gaedrian felt his heart seize. He pulled her into his arms and she cried harder. “What is it, Dessert?”
She buried her face in the column of his throat. Her whisper was barely audible. “I ache so much for you.”
He closed his eyes. Sympathy for her welled within him. She was so strong and proud. He knew the confession had cost her greatly. He laid her on her side facing away from him and wrapped himself around her.
She stiffened. “Please, no more.”
“No more, I promise. I seek only to ease you.” He cupped her breast in one hand and slid the other between her thighs. He did not waste time on preliminaries. He knew they would not be appreciated. He thrust two fingers deeply into her pussy. The heel of his palm placed pressure upon her swollen clit. She cried out and arched her back. He pushed his hips forward so that she could feel his erection against the plump curves of her bottom. He squeezed and tugged her nipple with his other hand.
Her sheath was incredibly tight. He could not help but wish it was his cock buried in her hot little pussy. He circled his hips, thrusting his body even closer to hers and forcing her to ride his fingers. She threw her head back, giving him access to her neck. He kissed and sucked her skin there as the clenching spasms of her orgasm began. She moaned his name over and over. He could feel her walls closing over his pumping digits, attempting to draw him deeper. He pressed upwards and stilled his fingers within her until it was over.
When she relaxed, he dropped kisses along her neck and shoulder. “So lovely.” Reluctantly, he withdrew his fingers from her heat. “Feel better?” She was silent. Gaedrian turned her so that he could see her face. She was biting her lip and her eyes were troubled.
“Please. I-I need more.”
“Oh, Dessert,” he groaned and rolled onto his back. He pulled her astride him, parting her legs so that his cock slid between her folds. He gripped her hips, guiding her movements so that her clit stroked over his erection. “Ride me,” he ordered. She hesitated, her full lower lip captured by her straight white teeth. “Listen,” he said, brushing her hair away from her cheek so that he could see her face, “I cannot trust myself to do this. I would take you. So you must ride me.”
“I have never––”
“No man has ever let you dominate?” She paused then shook her head. He chuckled. “But you are so naturally commanding.”
“I am not.”
“I will not argue with you.” Of late, she had dictated his days and nights. He pulled her down for a kiss, sliding his tongue in her mouth. She responded, moaning and shifting on his lap. He scooted up the bed so that his back was against the headboard. She kissed him voraciously, her fingers twisting in his hair. He groaned. His cock throbbed with each plunge of her tongue. She was certainly a fast learner. He broke the kiss and repositioned her hips. “Have you ever ridden a horse?”
“N-no. Our colony is a manmade station. We have synthetic grass and our hydroponic crops do very well, but we do not have enough to support much livestock. Do you have horses?”
“A few. I will take you riding one day, but first, it seems you will learn to ride me.” She made a soft noise that let him know she was as eager as he. He took hold of her hips and pulled her down as he thrust up. His Whimsy gasped. He set a quick pace that forced her to clutch at his shoulders for support. He wanted to slow down but his body would not let him. Her beautiful breasts bounced and jiggled in front of him like enticing fruit.
Her honey coated his shaft, making the glide of her pussy on him hot and wet. He could almost pretend that he was buried deep inside her slick chamber. He bent to lick her tight nipples. Cupping her breasts, he feasted on her. Whimsy’s cries grew louder with each tug of his mouth. She was fucking herself against him with tight corkscrew movements. He wrapped his arms around her. “Yes, Dessert, fuck me. The feel of you moving over me is ecstasy. Imagine how much better this would feel were my cock buried to the hilt in your slick little pussy, filling you endlessly. The thought of your heat is with me day and night.” He slid a hand between their bodies to stroke her clit.
She cried his name and collapsed against him. Her breathing was harsh. “Oh, Gaedrian,” she moaned. As her body went limp, he knew she slept. She had been having difficulty finding sleep the last three nights. The arousal gnawed at her as much as it did at him. He caressed her hair and held her close. Even if he could not find rest or completion for himself, he would take comfort in holding his lady.
Chapter Eleven
Whimsy stretched. Last night was the first full night’s sleep she’d had in many days. The hunger she felt for Gaedrian was still there, but it was muted to a manageable level. It made her hot with embarrassment to think of how she’d asked him for more. A different kind of heat suffused her when she thought of the way he had penetrated her with his thick fingers.
Surely, her father and a diplomatic group were on their way by now. They’d probably arrive within a day or two. All she had to do was resist Gaedrian for a few more days.
She stretched and rolled over.
Gaedrian lay in bed next to her. His eyes were closed, but she knew he was awake. His features were tense, his fists clenched. Beneath the sheet, his erection was clearly visible. She recalled the feel of it against her bottom last night. It had been hot and hard and had felt so right.
“Do not.”
&nb
sp; She looked at his face again. His gaze was focused on her. “Do not what?”
“Do not look at me with such longing on your face.”
“I wasn’t––“
“Your breathing has gone shallow and your nipples are peaked. You want me.”
Whimsy didn’t bother to deny it. She rolled out of bed. Her gown was on the floor where he’d tossed it while attempting seduction. She picked it up and pulled it on, fastening it briskly.
“I will arrange for you to have a tour of the castle today.”
She turned to him in surprise. “Really? Why? I thought I wouldn’t be allowed to leave this room until…“
“We both could use some time apart, even if it is for only a few hours. There will be objections to breaking tradition. This is but a small deviation.”
She bit her lip. “I-I’d like the tour.”
He arched one jet black brow. “You sound less than enthusiastic.”
Whimsy shook her head. She was hesitant to say why. He rolled out of bed and strolled over to her. He cupped her shoulders in his big hands. She averted her gaze so as not to see his nudity. She had observed that he knew no shame of his body, rarely covering up when it was only the two of them. But then he had no reason to be coy. . He was beautiful. He chucked her chin so that her gaze met his deep blue one. His soft smile made her stomach clench.
“Dessert, I do not wish to be without you. But you need to be away from me for a while.” He smoothed the hair back from her forehead and kissed her lips lightly. He groaned and then kissed her again before putting distance between their bodies. “And for my peace of mind, I need some separation from you. I want to be able to continue heeding your wishes when you ask me to stop loving you, a task which becomes more difficult each day.”
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