by Myra Star
“Lily,” he looked at her curiously, “are you alright?”
The room had started to spin. The thought of the man that hounded her dreams returning and taking Epsilon was making her stomach lurch. Dots danced in front of her vision.
“Lily!”
She felt a pair of strong arms hold her, encasing her in his embrace and pressing her against his solid chest. She inhaled the scent of musk and sunshine, and fought her way back from the oblivion she felt invading her senses.
When his lips found hers, she didn’t protest. They offered solace, and his body the only way that Lily knew to chase away the vision of those milky eyes and the endless darkness that a hooded figure promised.
Chapter Twelve
His kisses grew in urgency. Lily responded in kind, wanting to drown in the warmth of his mouth, to be consumed by his ardor and need.
He pulled her upward, and Lily hardly felt the fluid movement so entrapped by his embrace. She pushed her body closer toward his, feeling his manhood pressing into her lower stomach.
It elicited a shiver that spread throughout her body; the thrill of the illicit, the strangeness of surrendering to something her head screamed against in rage, but her body welcomed as if his touch was pure oxygen.
He ran his hands up her back, their roughness pulling against the fine fabric of her robes. He broke away from her suddenly, his gaze unreadable.
“We don’t have to…”
His voice was hoarse; the end of his sentence remained unfinished. Lily couldn’t answer him - she didn’t trust herself to speak. She needed to have his lips back against hers, his tongue exploring her mouth in soft undulations.
She raised herself on the balls of her bare feet, reaching her face up to his.
“Please - ”
Her plea didn’t go unanswered. Her mouth was taken by his again, and she moaned softly into his lips.
With firm, practiced fingers he untied the sash at her waist. Her ropes slid of her back, and his hands rested gently on her bare shoulders.
For all her dancing in nothing but scraps of material, and having uncountable alien creatures stare at her figure, she had never felt more exposed than she did now. He stepped backward, his eyes roving over her body as his breath became short.
He reached his hand to the apex of her thighs, and she exhaled a shuddering mew. His fingers pressed into her, deliberate and roving. She felt her body respond in kind, heating and palpitating, her insides wet and waiting.
“Oh, Lily, God.” He groaned against her hair.
Lily arched her back, unable to restrain the wanton impulses of her body, urging him on, willing his fingers deeper inside her as she felt the build up of a sweet oblivion.
Too soon his hand was removed, and she gave a regretful sigh of disappointment. Looking up at him, his mouth was fixed in a wry smile of amusement.
Under any other circumstances, letting him know that she needed and wanted his touch would have devastated her pride, but she was too excited, too eager to feel ashamed.
“I want you - on the bed,” he murmured, smoothing back her hair from her forehead, “so eager little earthling.”
In a singular swift movement, he picked her up, wrapping her legs around his waist. She could feel his hardness straining against her, the effect she was having on him was intoxicating. Knowing that he wanted her as badly as she wanted him made her body sing in victory.
Holding her, he took her over to the bed and dropped her gently down on the cool sheets. She closed her eyes for a moment, luxuriating in the fabric against her too-hot skin.
“Open your eyes, Lily.”
She complied with his gentle command. He removed his shirt swiftly, discarding the item on the floor, without taking his eyes off her. Lily looked down at his chest. Her throat ran dry; the beautiful broadness and defined muscles of his chest were marred by countless scars, white against the golden darkness of his skin.
He quirked an eyebrow upward, unsurprised at her response.
“Battle scars. Mere scratches.” He shrugged.
Lily didn’t think they looked like scratches - some of the grooves were deep and wide, as if someone or something had come close to ending his existence. Tentatively, she reached upward with her hand, and gently caressed one of the deepest scars with her fingertips.
His skin was hot to touch, and his stomach muscles leapt at her touch. She felt overcome with lust and sorrow; to have such beauty marred was like seeing a masterpiece destroyed, to touch and feel that masterpiece felt overwhelmingly indulgent and erotic.
“You look as if you care, Lily,” he whispered, “that can’t be true.”
Once again, the expression in his eyes was unreadable. She chose to ignore his words - she didn’t understand the meaning behind them. Her captor was one of the most puzzling creatures she’d ever encountered and Lily was reminded of how little she knew of him.
As if sensing her change of mood, he leant forward and pushed her playfully back on the bed. He came and kneeled down, trapping her legs between his.
He leant forward and caressed her breasts, arching her nipples into tight peeks. Lily felt the wetness return at the top of her thighs, and she moaned softly with wanting. She lost sense of time and place as one of his hands returned to the opening between her legs.
His sharp intake of breath reawakened her senses, and she opened her eyes to find him, fully naked, kneeling back in front of her. His tip hovered at her entrance and without thinking; she opened her legs wider in welcome.
He pushed slowly inside her. Her muscles throbbed, at once both delighting and aching at the sensation. He groaned, pushing more deeply within her as Lily arched her back.
Delicious shivers once again flooded her, traveling like lightning through her spine and outward through all her nerves.
Their eyes met. His brown and gold irises had been overtaken by widening black pupils, his expression hooded with lust. There was an intensity to his gaze that bordered beyond lust, as if he could truly see her - through her layers of desire, fear, need, to the very essence of Lily.
It was that look, and the steadily controlled thrusts designed to give her most pleasure, that sent Lily over the edge and diving straight into the Technicolor landscape of bright oblivion that she had been searching for. The world, and all worlds and universes, melted away till it was just Lily and her captor free-falling through existence.
“Caleb!” She screamed out, pleasure tearing his name from her lips for the first time. She felt his muscles tense momentarily in response, and then he emitted a low cry as his whole body shuddered in release.
Chapter Thirteen
The sheets were tangled in the bed. Lily lay still, turned away from the bright beam of the two brilliant suns that bathed the room in a sobering morning light.
What have I done?
She had betrayed herself utterly; not just the once, but time and time again in her dreams later that night when they’d both drifted off, drowsy in a sweet sweat of their making, limbs entwined as if they were two magnets drawn to one another even in sleep.
Even now her body betrayed her, she stretched and her body practically gave a languid purr as her soreness brought a small smile to her face.
Lily rolled her eyes in disgust - it was like she was back in the collar; her mind of small consequence to her traitorous actions.
Fed up, and in desperate need of coffee, which she wasn’t even sure existed here, she rose from the bed. Stepping through to the adjoining room, she entered the bathroom in order to wash and claw back some of her dignity.
The bathroom was magnificent. On her first evening here, the servants had washed and manipulated her hair and face back into a presentable condition for her marriage, and even then, when reeling from the shock and madness of her forthcoming nuptials, she had marveled at its great, sweeping beauty.
Lily ran the shower by turning a huge, steering wheel sized cog on the wall, which allowed a thick cascade of water to fall to the marble stone
floor, and drain away beneath a huge circular metal disk built into the floor. Standing beneath the water, Lily felt like she was washing under a fresh river waterfall, the cascade was so relentless.
She closed her eyes. Wherever the water touched her, Lily thought of Caleb’s touch having been there only hours before. She could perfectly recall the sounds of his sighs and groans, the feel of his muscled body, his soft skin, and his rough hands that stroked down her spine and sent her body haywire.
Damn him.
The truth was, her captor was utterly captivating. Whatever reservations she had toward him, and there were a lot, she was human - and he was captivatingly handsome, excluding a raw masculinity which Lily didn’t know if she was attracted to, or if it terrified her.
Lily had dated a few men; one serious relationship and a few ridiculous experiences in High School, but her feelings had never come close to what she felt for Caleb.
Those relationships had always been so straightforward - she’d liked those men, enjoyed their company and liked kissing them and being intimate. Caleb was completely different; she wasn’t entirely sure she did like him, but the response he elicited from her body was a thousand times more powerful. Those sweet, kind men all paled in comparison - mere shadows of what she felt for her captor.
Lily dried herself with one of the freshly laundered towels, and found a new set of robes waiting neatly for her in the changing room that adjoined the shower room.
Every morning, she’d had a fresh robe waiting - all her needs being met by silent, scuttling servants that wouldn’t look her in the eye, much less speak to her.
She wrapped the robe around herself, and leaving her hair damp around her shoulders, she went back into the bedroom wondering what the hell she was going to do all day.
She longed for the company of Juliette, the only person other than Caleb who had deigned to talk to her.
“You’re up.”
Lily allowed herself a small smile of private pleasure, before turning around to face her captor.
“You’re observant.”
He smiled a wry smile, “you’re grumpy.”
“I’m cooped up,” Lily frowned, “at least let me explore the garden a little?”
“I know,” he sighed, “but it’s for your own safety - I promise you when this is over, you’ll have complete freedom.”
“How will you stop the villagers from hating me?” Lily asked, gnawing at her bottom lip.
“Stop doing that,” he snapped at her.
“What?”
“Don’t chew your lip.”
“Why?” Lily was flabbergasted by the turn of conversation.
“It’s distracting.” It was Caleb’s turn to frown, but Lily had no idea what he was taking such offence to.
“Well?” she asked again, “the villagers - they hate me, I thought you were worried about them attacking me too?”
“I don’t think they will after the stunt at the execution and then in the market,” he mused, “and they don’t hate you - they just find you strange.”
“Makes two of us,” Lily replied sarcastically, “gross lizard men isn’t something I’m used to.”
“They’re Cartlians, refugees from another planet when theirs was destroyed.”
“Oh,” replied Lily, embarrassed at her dismissal of them, “that must have been hard.”
“Yes.”
She stood awkwardly, irritated that he’d made her feel guilty about her repugnance toward them. Clearly, she had more in common with that species than anyone else on this planet.
“I didn’t come here to argue with you,” Caleb spoke gently, “I actually wanted to make a deal with you - stay here today, and this evening, as the suns set, I will show you around myself.”
Lily deliberated. She shouldn’t spend too much time around Caleb. Though she was inexperienced in intense physical attractions, it was likely that if her body was so drawn to him, her heart would surely soon follow.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Lily replied quietly.
He smirked at her.
“Trust me - it’s a good idea,” he headed for the doorway, “I’ll pick you up, from this room Lily, don’t wander off - that’s an order.”
His tone was curt, but Lily could see that his eyes were shining with amusement. She wanted to throw something at him.
Chapter Fourteen
“Your uncle is returning. He’s been sighted entering the galaxy; he should be here tomorrow.”
Caleb thanked Lieutenant Varga with a nod. He returned to the holographic map of the galaxy, and the red markings dotted in various locations - the last known sightings of Lucifer and his followers.
He was glad that his uncle was returning to Epsilon, he was safer here. Now that Caleb was married, he no longer needed to avoid the old man and his constant nagging to produce an heir to the planet. As long as his uncle never knew that his bride was unwilling, the matter of Caleb’s future was shut and sealed.
She was willing last night.
Caleb shoved the thought aside. She had been upset; there was no use pretending that Lily would ever feel anything for him other than lukewarm acceptance, with time. Which was fine. They could have a perfectly amicable relationship - which in many ways would be preferable for him.
The sooner that they both settled into an easy routine and got used to one another, the sooner she would stop taking up every thought he had from waking to sleep. Even then, his dreams were full of her.
Caleb grunted in irritation as he recalled his mother. She had always told him that one day a female would come and melt his pride, his cold countenance, and drive him to maddening distraction. Once he fell for a female, he would love her till his dying breath, and to him, she would be the most precious creature in the entire universe.
Caleb scoffed.
His mother had too big a heart, and was an incurable romantic. His parents may have had a loving relationship, but that kind of connection was a rare thing - now more than ever in a galaxy more war-torn than the two of them could have ever imagined.
He idly wondered what she would have thought of him marrying with the sole purpose of stopping his uncle from nagging him.
What the hell does it matter? She’s dead.
Caleb turned from his desk. He had waited impatiently all day for the suns to set, and only now were they beginning their final descent. Perhaps it would be a good time to interrupt Lily and tell her to dress warmly.
He rose from his chair.
“Are you alright?” Lieutenant Varga eyed him curiously.
“I’m fine,” Caleb snapped, “I have to attend to my wife.”
“Is that what you’re calling it?” Leered Varga.
Caleb shot his friend a look that could freeze hell over. Lieutenant Varga raised his hands in surrender, trying not to laugh.
Caleb ignored him and stalked swiftly from the room.
“Mind your step,” Caleb reached out his hand and clasped Lily’s upper arm as she stumbled slightly on one of the stone steps descending to the lawn.
“Thank you.”
She shook off his grasp once she regained balance. Caleb bit back a response. She had been chilly with him ever since he’d collected her from the room. He could see that Credor had complied with his order and fetched her books; they lay scattered about the room as if she’d been unable to focus on any single volume.
“Where are we going?” Lily asked.
“You’ll see.”
“Great. Surprises.” She replied tersely.
“You don’t like surprises?” Caleb turned to her with his eyebrows raised; from what little he knew of her, she seemed like the type of woman who would generally enjoy the unexpected.
“Not lately, no.”
He was about to reply, but in that moment the easterly sun took its last dip over the horizon, and it sent ripples of gold cascading throughout Lily’s hair; setting it ablaze so that she appeared as if she’d just descended from the heavens like some pouty
, sarcastic angel.
“What?” She asked, taken back by his look of sudden intensity.
“Nothing,” Caleb shrugged, “hurry up - I want to get going before the suns disappear completely.”
This time, he took her hand firmly in his own, and half dragged her across the gardens. He took her in the opposite direction of the Cypress trees, leading her toward Heli’s roaming area.
Lily’s hand felt warm and small in his. Caleb was suddenly struck by a need to protect her, and a white-hot rage at the repugnant creatures in the bar. He didn’t say anything, just continued their journey across the gardens, but his pace slowed down.
When they reached their destination, Caleb stopped in the middle of a clearing and whistled.
“What are you doing?” Hissed Lily.
“Fetching our ride.”
They didn’t have to wait long. Heli appeared from around a cluster of Aspen trees, delighted to see her master. When the creature laid eyes on Lily, she snorted in derision and backed away.
“Come on Heli - be nice,” Caleb coaxed, then he turned to Lily, “I think she’s jealous. She’s never had to share me with another.”
Lily stood staring dumbstruck at the Kiterfugam.
“You want me to get on that?”
“Trust me. It’s the best way to travel.”
Caleb wanted to laugh at the reluctance of both females; and the irony of his situation - there was no one less equipped to deal with the stubbornness of reluctant women.
“You have got to be joking.” Lily crossed her arms resolutely.
“I am not joking. I am also close to losing my patience, with the both of you.”
He glared at Heli, and she stepped forward reluctantly with a haughty air about her. Lily wouldn’t be so easy. He turned to her; bright eyes ablaze with simmering rage, and feet planted firmly on solid ground.
Oh, hell.
Before she could protest further, Caleb swooped Lily up in his arms and carried her over to Heli.
“Put me down!” She screamed, but Caleb ignored her.
Heli lowered her front legs, allowing the pair to clamber up on her back. Lily continued to shout insults and curses Caleb’s way, but he plonked her down in front of him and wrapped his arms around her waist so she couldn’t fall.