Otherworld Protector

by Jane Godman

  “Let me guess. Nevan has a lisp.”

  Her voice was a sleepy murmur against the flesh of his neck, and Cal tried not to dwell on how much he liked the sensation. “Got it in one.”

  “It’s not all moonlight and lollipops, this necromancing business, is it?”

  He laughed. “There’s often moonlight involved, but lollipops? Not so much.”

  “I necromanced the hell out of that poor boy.” She lifted her head and he felt her eyes on his face. “The first time with the fire. If he had been in human form then, I’d have killed him.”

  “If you hadn’t done that, he’d have killed you. He was sent to get your heart, Stella.” Just saying the words made his blood run cold. Nevan the Wolf had better lie low for several centuries after this stunt. “There was nothing human about him in that instant. It was him or you.”

  “Does it get easier to tell yourself that?”

  He thought about it for a minute or two. “No. Try to get some sleep now, Stella.”

  “Will you stay here with me?”

  This was very dangerous territory. Ever since he had brought Stella to this cave, he had been fighting the feelings she provoked within his mortal self. He had succumbed to those feelings once before. Had allowed himself to believe he could love as humans did. Doing so had almost destroyed him...and the rest of the world. It had led him to Darnantes and the deal he had been forced to strike with the Dominion. But this was different. Centuries had passed. He had changed. And Stella was not Niniane.

  “Of course I will.” Reminding himself that he was only part mortal, and that he had strength and power beyond mere flesh and blood, he lay down next to Stella, holding the sweet, precious weight of her close as she succumbed to slumber. And he almost succeeded in convincing his treacherous body that he didn’t want anything more than this. Almost, but not quite.

  * * *

  “What do you think the prophecy means, Cal? Will the power to rule Otherworld be conferred upon the one who rips my still-beating heart from my body? Or will it be the one I fall in love with? Oh, and let’s not forget Moncoya, the one who thinks the way to get what he wants is through my pants.” They were sitting at the pool’s edge, and Stella trailed her bare feet in the depths, exulting in the cool water playing over her skin. The midday heat was stifling and she had abandoned all her clothing except shorts and a tank top. Even those were starting to cling annoyingly to her skin. Nevertheless, a feeling of well-being pervaded. She put that down to the fact that she had slept so well that the events of the previous night might almost have been a distant dream. That may, or may not, have had something—or everything—to do with the strong arms that had been wrapped around her.

  “I hope it means none of those. I prefer to think it means that the triumphant dynasty will be the one upon which you choose to bestow your allegiance.” Cal sprawled beside her, half-turned on his side and leaning on one elbow so that he could watch her face.

  “Ah. That sounds so much better. But how will I know who to choose? It sounds like they are all as bad as each other. So far you’ve told me about the faeries, the vampires and the wolves, and I can’t see me developing an affinity with any of them.”

  “Thank God for that. But I’ve been remiss if I’ve led you to believe that the only citizens of Otherworld are the ones who want to control it for evil purposes. I’ve made the comparison with the mortal world many times and I’m going to do it again. There are bad rulers of countries here on earth, politicians and princes who allow their lust for money or power to come before the welfare of their people. We see the consequences of their actions every day in news reports. But the good still outweighs the bad, and it is exactly the same in Otherworld.”

  Stella turned on her side, mirroring his body position. It felt like an intimate, yet entirely natural, action. This is how we would lie in bed after we had made love. The thought sent a flash of heat, one that had nothing to do with the warmth of the day, shimmering through her body. “How will I know who to trust?”

  “The same way that you do with mortals. You trust your instincts.”

  “My instincts were wrong about Moncoya,” she pointed out.

  “I misjudged that.” A slight frown marred his beautiful features and she wanted to reach out a fingertip to smooth it away. “You weren’t forewarned. And Moncoya fights dirty.”

  “When you talk about the others, you do it dispassionately. But you really hate Moncoya, don’t you?”

  Something shifted and darkened within the lightness of his eyes and, for a moment, she thought he might not answer her question. Instead he gave a brief nod. “Believe me, I have reason. And it’s mutual.”

  “Redress the balance. Tell me something about the good guys. You said the Ghost Lord wasn’t seeking to take over. Does that make him okay?”

  Cal lay back, tucking his hands behind his head. The movement gave Stella an opportunity to let her gaze linger on the long, lean lines of his body. It was impossible not to let her eyes wander with so much masculine perfection stretched out next to her. She took in every detail, from the sinewy strength of his calf muscles tightening and relaxing as he kicked his legs lazily in the water to the jut of his hip bones just peeking above the waistband of his cutoff jeans. His upper body was all hard ridges and muscles that led her gaze down to the bulge in his jeans. She swallowed hard to clear the sudden dryness that was affecting her throat. Something tightened correspondingly in her stomach, and she fought down a quite overwhelming urge to press her lips to the precise spot where the hair on his chest softened and became a line dipping lower... Concentrate, Stella, for heaven’s sake! Cal was speaking and she had barely registered what he was saying.

  “He is determined to remain neutral at all costs. The ghosts just want to be left alone. They don’t want to get involved in Otherworld politics and won’t be drawn into any fighting.”

  “If you had a choice about who to put in charge, who would it be?”

  He smiled. “If I was given the role of kingmaker, you mean? Probably the elves. They are the most democratic group I’ve come across—on Earth or in Otherworld—and, unlike many of the other dynasties within Otherworld, they apply reason to a situation rather than tackling it with aggression. They have a well-defined social structure based on individual freedom, and their laws are fair and well enforced.”

  “Yet I detect a note of caution.”

  “You know me too well.” The way he said the words made Stella’s heart lurch. Could he have guessed how much better she would like to get to know him? “The elves are not fighters. If they were placed in charge, I’d give it a week before one of the others—Moncoya, the Vampire Prince, Nevan the Wolf...you could pick a name out of a hat, but those three would always be contenders—made a bloodthirsty takeover bid. They would probably be successful. Not wanting to be outdone, the others would join the fray and we would descend into mayhem again.”

  “What is the solution?”

  “I have no idea and it tires my brain just thinking about it in this heat.”

  “Come for a swim instead.” Still in her shorts and tank top, Stella slid off the rocks and into the water. The notion of swimming in such a confined space might involve a stretch of the imagination, she conceded. The pool had been formed in a rocky basin, and it was filled from the tumbling flow from a short waterfall. Some ten feet across, it was just deep enough for Cal to stand but Stella was out of her depth in the center.

  Cal quirked an eyebrow at her, but, when she began to scoop up handfuls of water and splash him, he followed her into the pool—with a very purposeful look on his face. Laughing, Stella started to back away.

  Cal caught up with her as she reached the waterfall. “Not quite so brave close up, are you, Stella?”

  “I was trying to be helpful and cool you down,” she protested. “You said you were too hot.”

&nb
sp; “And now I’m returning the favor.” Scooping her up into his arms, he walked with her under the fast-pouring water and held her there.

  Stella’s instinct was to shriek as the freezing water hit her full-on, but opening her mouth proved to be a mistake and she ended up spluttering wildly. Laughing at her shocked expression, Cal released her and she backed away from him.

  “That wasn’t very nice.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” His eyes gleamed as he closed the distance between them. Stella was standing shoulder deep in the water and he stopped in front of her. His eyes still gleamed, but she sensed a shift in his mood. Her breath caught in her throat. “I can be very nice, Stella. If nice is what you want.” He ran his hand along her cheek to bury his fingers in her hair. It was a wonderful, feather-light contact that held a world of new promise. The slight tug he gave her scalp sent her heart rate galloping up to a hundred miles a minute. A flutter started in her belly, spreading lower until her whole body felt on fire from that single touch.

  He caught her to him, his hands firmly grasping her waist. Stella allowed the movement of the water to hold her tight against his body, her breath hitching harder at the burning look in his eyes. If she’d had any lingering doubts about how much he wanted her, they were swept away under the intensity of that gaze. Her own hands rose, seemingly of their own volition, to grip his shoulders and she shivered as her fingers connected with his skin. Cal leaned closer, his head bending toward hers, and she licked her lips in anticipation. The gesture drew his attention to her mouth, and the way he stared at her lips brought a new quiver to life in her chest. It wasn’t nervousness. It was a glorious, exulting acceptance of something that had been inevitable since the first moment she had really looked into those silver eyes. She brushed her fingers up and along the side of his neck. Despite the chill of the water, his flesh was warm and smooth under her fingers. She stroked higher until his hair tickled the back of her hand. Every tiny contact between them imprinted itself into her consciousness.

  She closed her eyes in expectation, and Cal’s breath was a warm sigh of air against her lips, his mouth a soft caress that made her gasp. His hand twisted farther into her hair, urging her head back. His mouth was slow and steady on hers. He kissed her with a determination and thoroughness that told her clearly he knew exactly what he was doing. He was showing her that his indecision was over. That this was a deliberate choice. The knowledge only made her want him more.

  How could he stand to take this so slowly? Not endowed with similar patience or self-control, Stella parted her mouth beneath his with a soft, pleading moan. Instantly, Cal’s lips became urgent and relentless in response, as if he wanted to taste and absorb her. One of his hands moved lower to rest on her hip, pulling her to fit into his body. The muscles of his chest were like granite against the softness of her breasts. The brush of his tongue on hers was a wildly welcome invasion, sweeping the inside of her mouth, exploring her with the power of ownership. Even as she decided she had never wanted anything as much as this evidence of his body inside hers, she ached with the need for even more intimacy.

  Returning both hands to grip her waist, Cal sank down into the water, bringing his mouth level with her breasts. Hurriedly, Stella tugged her tank over her head. Without hesitation, he drew her nipple deep into his mouth and sucked it, his tongue flicking back and forth over the hardened nub. The warmth of his mouth in contrast to the cool water made Stella cry out, the sounds of her pleasure echoing against the silent rocks. Sparks of pure bliss shimmered from her breast directly to the sensitive spot at her core.

  “Off.” Cal raised his head long enough to utter the single syllable while tugging at the button on her shorts. With a bit of fumbling, Stella managed to get them undone and kicked them aside. She was about to point out that she was at a definite disadvantage with only her flimsy underwear compared to his jeans, but those magical lips returned to her breast and she lost the power of coherent speech.

  When his mouth moved upward to her neck and then back to her lips, she returned the kiss with a need that was close to desperation. Her tongue teased its way past his lips to tangle with his. There was nothing shy or hesitant remaining in her kiss, just her blatant desire for him and an eagerness that sent an answering quiver running through him.

  “Cal, if you know everything there is to know about me, you don’t need me to tell you it’s been a while. Or that I’m careful and I use birth control.”

  His voice was shaky against her ear. “So your generation really does have these conversations? You say it’s been a while. It hasn’t been centuries, Stella. That’s how long it’s been for me.”

  She rested her head on his shoulder, a slight laugh trembling through her. “Does that mean you’ve forgotten how?”

  He lifted her with his hands on her buttocks, holding her so that she could wrap her legs around his waist and feel the iron-hard length of his erection pressing against her. “I think it’s starting to come back to me. Give me a second and I’ll have remembered it all.”

  “Here? In the water?”

  His hands slid inside her underwear, cupping the flesh of her buttocks before his fingers moved lower to probe between them. “I don’t think I can last a minute longer, Stella. But I warn you now...this time is going to be fast and frenzied.”

  “Just what I need.” The words came out as a hoarse whisper. She moved her own hands down and the button on his jeans popped open. Her fingers found and traced his erection through the wet denim. Cal groaned his appreciation and she switched her attention to his zipper. The metal teeth resisted her first effort to drag them open over the hard bulge. He groaned again as the zipper came down on the second attempt. Stella’s own senses were heightened by the sound of his arousal and the raw, masculine scent of him. She freed his cock from the restraining material. Eagerly she wrapped her fingers around him, exulting in his length and girth. Her own body was stretched taut with need. “I need to feel all of this inside me, Cal. Right now.”

  Removing her underwear and lifting her higher in the same movement, Cal kept his gaze locked on hers. “Show me.”

  She gripped him harder. Beneath the water, their skin slicked together. His cock pressed hard against her and then slid inside, in a tight, hot pulse of sensation. “You feel so good around me, Stella. Like silk gripping me.”

  Stella had never known emotion like this. It was an arousal that spiraled higher and wilder each time he pulled back and then drove back into her. “More.” Words she hardly recognized spilled from her lips as she locked her legs tighter around him and rocked her hips to meet each thrust. “Harder.”

  Release came fast, starting somewhere deep inside her, an urgent, frantic clamoring for something just out of reach. Her gasps became moans and then whimpers as she writhed and rocked against him. Cal’s fingers dug into the tender flesh of her buttocks harder, and the pain intensified her pleasure. His next hard thrust gave her what she needed and she sank her head onto his shoulder with a soft cry. Hot, heavy waves burst through her, spreading out and growing stronger as Cal slammed into her. Stella cried out again, her voice ragged as her body tightened around him, spasming wildly with the force of her climax.

  Cal’s own cry was strained, as his powerful hip thrusts drove him into her once more. Then he shuddered, his cock swelling and jerking out his own release deep inside her. He held her close against him until they both stopped trembling.

  When she could finally speak, Stella’s voice was husky with the intensity of her feelings. “I’m so glad you remembered what to do.”

  His own voice was equally shaky. “Some things are worth waiting centuries for.”

  Chapter 12

  “Cal?” He murmured a response. “This can’t last, can it?”

  They hadn’t bothered to use the lamps so the cave was faintly lit by Stella’s power. As she lay in his arms, Stella sensed, rather than sa
w or felt, the tiny shake of Cal’s head. “No.”

  “It’s about who you are and the centuries between us. But it’s more than that. It’s because I have to go to Otherworld and fulfill the prophecy.” It was a statement. A final acceptance of who she was.

  This time the movement of his head was even smaller. But it was downward. A single, reluctant nod. When he spoke, his voice was bleak. “I wish it didn’t have to be this way.”

  “But it does. So we’d better make the most of the time we do have together.” She reached up to seek his lips with hers in the darkness.

  It felt wrong to be happy with the world falling apart around her, but, as she slid her hands into Cal’s hair and kissed him hard, she refused to feel anything else. She traced her tongue along his lips and pushed inside, moaning softly as she urged him to reciprocate, begging him to show her that it was enough. That, for the here and now, they could be enough for each other.

  Cal groaned, a sound that began somewhere deep in his chest, and he curled his tongue around hers to return her caress. His hand, firm and warm, drifted down her body, coming to rest on her hips. Otherwise, he did nothing but touch his mouth to hers, exploring her with excruciating slowness. Arousal unfurled inside Stella again, slow and patient this time as the heat between them built.

  She made a new noise as his tongue circled hers, something that sounded more like a whimper than a moan. Moving his mouth down her body, he captured her nipple between his lips and teased it with his tongue. Edging her legs apart with his knee, he reached his hand down to brush the inside of her thigh. Stella arched up to meet his questing fingers, rocking her hips as he commenced a slow stroking movement.

  His fingers brushed a gentle, teasing touch over her clitoris, and she gasped. “Cal!”

  One of his fingers slipped inside her. “Yes, Stella?”

  Another new sound, this one more of a gurgle, was all she could manage in response. She was developing a whole new repertoire.