by Jaide Fox
“I had the displeasure of feeling her wrath,” he said with a chuckle. He held her tighter.
“Mmmhmm.”
“Perhaps she poses too much of a challenge for the others.”
“That’s their problem if they can’t handle a woman,” she said.
“Many of these officers have never held a woman in their arms. I suspect they thought seduction would be easier.” His hand slipped lower, teasing the top of her buttocks.
Jasmine stiffened her spine and pulled his hand back up, giving him a glare. “Don’t get fresh with me. Just cause we’re dancing doesn’t mean you get to touch the goodies.”
“An unmatched and beautiful woman is hard to resist. You forgive a brief transgression?” He grinned, but it didn’t quite meet his eyes. She felt he wasn’t truly interested in her. Above them, the roof opened to the moons. The ballroom darkened briefly, and then the moonlight caught on mirrors lining the circular opening and shafted down on the dance floor. On the perimeter, recessed lights added a softened yellow glow to the room. She couldn’t appreciate the beauty, however. Her mind was troubled in spite of attempts to make a setting for an evening of romance.
“Who said she was unmatched?” Dar questioned, halting their dance. Jerik released her at once.
She felt guilty with no good reason why. “Dar,” she whispered, her stomach and chest clenching, making her feel breathless and antsy.
Jerik raised his hands in surrender with a humorless laugh. “She’s all yours—I was keeping her warm for you. We have no quarrel.”
“Good,” Dar said tightly, taking Jasmine into his arms. He promptly stepped on her foot. “My apologies. You look lovely in this dress. I thought it would suit you.” His voice dropped and he whispered in her ear, “I’m looking forward to removing it.”
She chuckled. “You would. What is it? I’ve never seen fabric like this before. I couldn’t believe it when I opened the box and saw this inside. It took my breath away.” When she’d opened the box, all she’d seen was a dark orange fabric, but as it caught the light it seemed to shimmer with red fibers making it sparkle with a fire, like diamonds. She’d been so dumbfounded she’d been afraid to try it on. He touched the single strap that held it up on one shoulder. The loose bodice clung to her torso and breasts like a glove, and the full skirt swirled around her hips. She felt like an Egyptian goddess.
“It is made from the silk of the fire wyrm, from the desert of fire—many days from here and collected at great peril. It is a rare material for an even rarer woman. Some believe the scarlet sands the wyrm dwells in are responsible for its beauty.”
“Sounds expensive.”
“Hmmm,” he said, breathing in her scent. “I love that you’ve worn your hair loose. It makes you look wanton and wild.”
“Ouch. You’d do better at this dancing if you’d concentrate on your feet more than me,” she said, trying without much success to dance with him.
“I confess to know nothing of dancing. I only try to mimic Jerik. My intentions are to get you to a private table as soon as possible.”
She laughed again. “Let’s go. My feet will thank you. This isn’t really my speed anyway.”
He led her to the perimeter of the room, weaving through the crowd. Small rounded alcoves were carved into the walls, closed off with thick velvet curtains and decked with a wide bench that formed a half circle inside. A small table set with two wine glasses and a crystal decanter of purple fluid, and rolled fabric napkins and tableware, was centered near the bench. Dar pulled her into the alcove and dropped the curtain as she sat on the bench. He remained standing, pouring them both wine, and watched as she sipped her glass before joining her on the bench. He set his glass down and pulled her onto his lap.
She planted her hands on his chest. “What are you doing?”
He grasped the nape of her neck, dragging her close for a kiss. The touch of his mouth on hers awakened a hunger deep inside. Try as she might, she couldn’t assuage the gnawing desire for him. She clung to his shoulders, pushing her tongue into his mouth. The wine tasted like raspberries, tart and sweet, mingling with the lush taste of him that was like no other. He groaned and suckled her tongue, warring with her and rubbing his hands down her bare back. The rough scrape of his hands on her skin elicited tiny shivers to skate down her spine.
Her libido roared to life, making her belly clench as desire speared her core. Dragging his mouth from hers, he nibbled to her ear. “Straddle me. I know there is nothing beneath this gown.” As he spoke, he worked a hand down and unleashed his erection, pushing his fly open enough to keep from making a mess on his pants.
Already she was breathing heavily. She glanced at the curtain, gently moving in the air but still closed. The thought of being caught set her nerves on edge, heightening her arousal. “Let’s be fast,” she whispered, swinging a leg on each side of him and hitching her dress up to protect it.
He gripped her hips, lifting her above his cock. “I’ll take as much time as I wish,” he growled and hauled her down onto him.
Jasmine bit her lip, fighting back a scream as her wet pussy ate every hard inch. He bit the column of her throat, wrapping one hand beneath her dress to grab her ass while the other wedged down to rough her clit.
“Ride me,” he mumbled against her throat, digging his fingers against her firm backside.
Gripping his shoulders, she flexed her belly, grinding herself against him. He fought to rub her clit, but soon gave up and caught her ass in both hands, forcing her down hard on top of him over and over again. A quickening flutter made her insides melt and spasm. She didn’t have to struggle long to reach orgasm—it hit her hard and hot, lighting her nerve endings in an explosion of pleasure. Jasmine bit his shoulder, stifling her moans so no one could hear her blissful cries.
Dar shuddered beneath her, coming deep inside. She knew she’d just repeated the same mistake again, and yet she couldn’t deny that it had felt right. She sat holding him inside, as if that would prolong the pleasure just a little longer.
He rubbed her back, easing her off of him with sweet kisses. He grabbed a napkin and used the soft fabric to clean her and then himself. She watched him as he did it, marveling at the careful, tender gesture. He kissed her again, but soft and gentle. A thrilling warmth spread inside.
“We probably shouldn’t have done that,” she murmured against his mouth.
He drew back, looking down at her with crinkles at the corners of his eyes. “Why not? If a child should come, would it be so bad? It is nothing to fear.” He caressed her cheek then touched the loose curls around her shoulders. “I would want a girl to have your skin and this hair that sometimes grows towards the sun like a wildflower.”
Jasmine laughed. “It’s sometimes the bane of my existence.”
“You are a gem of unequaled beauty. If a babe did not share this beauty, I would be deeply angered.”
She swatted him. “Now you’re being silly.”
He grinned, showing her that dimple in one cheek that charmed the hell out of her. “I’ll go get us something to eat. You can wash up in the restroom if you wish. Just wait a moment. I don’t want anyone getting ideas about what we were doing in here,” he said. “This was a moment for us alone.”
She nodded and watched him go. The curtain dropped behind him, and she counted to twenty before standing and straightening her dress. As she moved to lift the curtain and leave, she heard voices on the other side.
“Have any luck, Jerik?” a man said, speaking loudly over the background noise.
“No. I’ve no idea why they think ordering us to seduce these women will have any bearing on whether they stay or go. I don’t wish to speak ill of those in charge, but at times, they leave me with a bad taste. Tagnon may do better. I haven’t the patience for this mission.”
“You’d rather be out riding, eh?”
“Better a zhala than these wild women eating me alive.”
The voices diminished as they men left the area an
d took her hopes and dreams with them. She collapsed on the bench, feeling cold and dead inside. Ordered to seduce?
The pieces fit together—his strange turnaround in behavior; taking a zhala that would abandon them…he’d been ordered to seduce her. He had never wanted her for her. She knew the goal of these people was to prolong their race, to create life where there was only death before. Somehow she’d bought into the fantasy he’d falsely created. That silver tongue, the charm and guile had blinded her to her own instincts. She felt like the ugly little girl with tangled wild hair and too dark skin in a sea of mocking faces all over again. Her confidence stripped bare by strangers laughing outside the room.
Jasmine pressed a fist against her mouth, biting down on the knuckle to keep from screaming in rage. Tears stung her eyes. She tried to blink them back and failed.
The glasses on the table clinked and tipped over as an earthquake rocked the palace walls. Beyond the curtain, screams filled the air.
Chapter Fourteen
The palace shook again, with what could only be a secondary explosion. Jasmine gripped the bench, struggling to her feet. She ripped the curtain open.
“Seal the palace doors and roof! No one in or out,” a soldier yelled. Decked with stripes, he could only be some kind of officer in charge.
The ballroom was a chaotic maze of women running wildly inside, seeking shelter and protection. Jasmine scanned the room, searching for Cyndy and Samara. There were too many people inside, too much commotion to do anything but run and duck for cover.
She had no idea who was attacking them or why—only that in spite of her anger, she wanted Dar. She shook the feeling of helplessness off, running into the crowd to search for her family.
“Jasmine!” Samara screamed, meeting her in the middle like a magnet drawn to steel. They hugged tightly, watching as the officers and soldiers emptied the room to defend the palace.
“Where’s Cyndy?” Jasmine asked.
“She’s down in our room. Drank too much wine. I just came back to find you.”
Jasmine nodded. “Let’s get everyone down there. It’s got to be better protected than in here.”
Getting the attention of a bunch of panicked women was easier said than done. It felt like she was trying to bail flood waters out of her house with a teacup.
“Let’s get a few at a time,” Samara said in exasperation.
“Good thinking.”
They each went to the perimeter of the room and grabbed the attention of a few women, leading them back through the double doors, down the wide hallway to the women’s quarters. The journey seemed to take forever, but after several trips, more and more of the hysterical women came along until they had a full retreat on their hands and the ballroom had emptied of all its guests.
The harem quarters were deep in the palace interior, with many walls between them and the outside. They could hear nothing of a battle outside. Jasmine had never been so grateful to be in a small room in all her life. She changed from her gown back to practical clothing, wondering if she was going to have to fight an invading army of aliens. They were disconnected from stimulus, left to wonder what their fate would be.
For some, the stress was too much. Many sat in their rooms, wailing and crying. She couldn’t blame them, but the sound got on her nerves and made her want to stuff cotton in her ears. Cyndy laid on her bed, groaning about wine and a pounding headache as Samara and Jasmine sat on a bed together.
Her cousin’s arms around her shoulders was comforting. She wanted to talk about what Dar had done, but a broken heart seemed silly considering a battle was being fought above them. Was this the end of everything? A renewed sense of homesickness gripped her. She wanted to sob, but she was too numb to do anything but stare blankly ahead. Time slowed to an agonizing crawl. She had no idea how long they’d been down there waiting for news of what happened above.
“Someone’s coming,” a voice yelled. Others joined in a panicked cry.
“It’s okay. I’ve been sent down to bring you all up,” Grail Arkane spoke to the women as they tentatively came out of their rooms and surrounded him.
“What happened?” Samara asked above the din.
Grail reddened. “A brief insurrection. A faction of civilian rebels decided to attack the palace. They’ve all been detained and taken away.”
“So we’re safe?” Jasmine asked, feeling dubious.
“Yes. Prince Zeta wants everyone outside for an announcement. He’s summoned the entire city to hear the news,” Grail said. “Your presence is requested as well. They are waiting upon you all.”
Reluctantly, the women followed the guard from the safety of their rooms to outside the palace. Remarkably, they could see only scorch marks from homemade bombs on the outer walls of the palace, and only part of the courtyard had sustained any real damage. A partial wall of rubble was cordoned off by guards standing at the ready with spears tipped with glowing orange lights. Above them, off a balcony, stood the prince of the city and his wife.
Jasmine stood on her tiptoes, looking over the heads of the crowd to see past the guards of the palace. With the darkness she couldn’t see far, but the sense that hundreds—maybe thousands—had gathered for this announcement was strong.
Floating above the crowd were small spinning silver balls. As she watched, each ball projected an image just below it of the prince.
“We have instilled peace in the city once again. A rebel faction has been detained. But that is not why you have been gathered here today. I speak in the name of King Fallon Anadaru. He knows that many of you have been denied your requests for your own brides.”
A brave soul in the crowd, from very far away yelled, “We want what he and the soldiers have! Women!”
“We want our own women!” others joined in, chanting. Their intensity shook Jasmine to her soul. In spite of the heavy presence of weaponry and guards, she still felt fear.
Prince Zeta raised his hands for quiet. The crowd, unbelievably, obeyed. “This we know. Until now, we’ve had no expedience to procure mates for the populace, but that is to change. King Anadaru has ordered the corridor be reopened.”
A collective gasp echoed through the crowd. Jasmine and Samara exchanged a look. As she returned attention to the balcony, she caught sight of Dar pushing through the throng—headed straight for her. She went hot all over, sick in the pit of her stomach as perspiration beaded her brow.
He reached her and pulled her against his body in a tight hug. Rather than fight, she allowed the contact, but remained stiff. “I am glad you are safe,” he said, looking down at her and rubbing her arms.
“Yes,” she said tightly.
“How long?” another voice asked the prince.
“Construction on the gateway has already begun and will be complete in a matter of weeks. Lots will be drawn for the first to travel to the new planet. All who wish to procure a bride will be allowed the opportunity. All my news is not good, however. Our planet has been breached by outsiders and left a warning of incomers. For those that remain, we must prepare for the possibility of foreign invasion. Go now and rest. On the morrow changes will come.”
The hovering balls stopped the projection, lifted in the air, and retreated. The crowd slowly dispersed. Samara looked at them both and finally left them alone.
“What does that all mean?” Jasmine asked Dar.
He swallowed, stone-faced as he looked down at her. “You don’t understand?”
She shook her head.
Dar sighed heavily. “The corridor is a remnant from the old ones. It is a gateway of sorts that connects the planets. They destroyed it themselves, long ago, perhaps to keep us from escaping this planet. We’ll never know. We have never had the technology to repair it—we still don’t. The king has paid the Nexus Lamians to repair the old gateway here and on Earth. There could be other gates, but we wouldn’t know where they are.”
“Wait. So this means I can go home?”
He held her gaze, his emotions careful
ly guarded. “You could. But there are higher implications than that. I’m not so sure you will like them.”
“What?” she asked with a frown.
He grabbed her hand as if intending to lead her away. She jerked her hand free, crossing her arms over her chest. “Just fucking spit it out.”
“We are going to invade Earth, Jasmine. And if the warnings on the temples are true, it’s possible by opening the corridor, the old ones and every civilization they’ve encountered could do the same. The gateway will be open to them all.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Why the hell did you have to drag me back to your place? I felt safer standing in the fucking rubble at the courtyard,” Jasmine said, angrily slamming the door behind her.
They’d walked back to his house, against her better judgment, but she’d wanted to give him a shovel to bury himself with stupid explanations.
“What’s wrong with you? You’ve given me the cold shoulder the entire way.”
She turned and poked a finger in his chest. “I just came here to save myself some embarrassment. There’s no place in the palace where someone won’t hear. I know about your mission. I heard the men talking about it. Try to deny it. It’s true, isn’t it? You were ordered to seduce me!” Angry tears welled in her eyes. She scowled, wiping them away and despising the show of weakness.
Dar opened his mouth and snapped it shut, thinking before he added fuel to her fire. He paced the room, dragging a hand through his hair. Finally, he stopped and faced her. “It’s true. I was ordered to seduce you. Many of us were. The king had plans to make this announcement when the gateway was ready to be unveiled, but events eliminated the luxury of waiting. He couldn’t afford to wait when the people are so close to an uprising—not if he wants to keep his throne.”