The Playful Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Quinn heard the sound of Tori’s cry through the forest. He ran faster, his body sleek as it stretched out on all four paws. Thankfully, his brother had not listened to him and sent Treven back with Falke. He could’ve kissed Kirill as he’d unlocked the cell door. Instead, he’d run past, instantly following the trail of Lord Myrddin and Tori.

  Quinn knew it was wrong, but he chose Tori. He chose her life over everything else he held dear. Together they would find a way to fight whatever madness Myrddin had started. But, he chose to save her. How could he do anything less? He’d just have to pray to all their gods that after she was safe, she could reverse whatever Lord Myrddin had done.

  His heart pounded. The screaming didn’t stop. Coming to the cave entrance, he saw Tori falling, her arms flailing in the air. His heart stopped beating. He surged forth, shifting in mid-jump as he reached for her. Her body jolted, knocking forcefully into him, cracking his rib as they collided. Tori landed on his stomach as they hit the ground.

  Quinn touched her face and then looked up at the cave. He saw Lord Myrddin’s man looking down at them.

  “Myrddin?” he growled, assessing that she was all right.

  “Dead,” she whispered, her lips trembling, her eyes glazed.

  “Don’t move,” Quinn ordered. “The others are behind me.”

  Tori nodded, shaken, scared, confused. Quinn shifted, climbing easily up the rocky incline. The guard dropped a rock, barely missing him. She watched Quinn’s body go over the side, into the cave. Shouts sounded overhead, but she could barely make them out through her numbed brain.

  Tori trembled, unable to move. Her legs were like jelly. Quinn had saved her. But it wasn’t almost dying that frightened her. When she looked at her hands, she saw blood, Myrddin’s blood. It was dotted over her. Tears filled her eyes.

  “Doctor Elliot?”

  She blinked, looking up. Reid stared at her from swollen eyes filled with concern. Kirill was behind him. Her hands shaking, she pointed up, barely able to make the gesture from her place on the ground. Kirill and Reid shifted, dropping their clothes as they climbed up to join their brother.

  The guard’s body was thrown out of the cave before the cats reached the top. Tori heard him thud behind her. She felt dizzy, faint. Blackness swam in her head, and she welcomed it, falling over onto her side.

  41

  Quinn watched Tori as she slept. His body lounged next to her on the bed. They were in her suite, and he refused to leave her side once the castle physicians had finished examining her. He would’ve stayed for the examination, but they’d kicked him out for hovering as they’d worked.

  He ran a light hand over the bandage on her cheek. The cut was clean and would heal. It had been sealed with a medical laser. Aside from a few bruises and the trauma of what she’d been through, she was fine. Tori hadn’t stirred since he’d carried her home. It had been quite a sight, the naked prince carrying the fallen doctor through the front gates of the palace. He chuckled lightly, remembering the stunned faces and hurried whispers.

  Falke was in bed. He’d been cut up pretty badly, but would mend with time. Reid was up and around, though the last time Quinn had seen him, he was being attended by two harem girls, whining like a baby for attention. He smiled at that. Reid would never change. Doctor Vitto and Doctor Grant were given medical attention as well. They were a little sore, but would mend.

  As he stared at Tori, Quinn knew what he felt for her was real. He’d been willing to risk his people to save her. They might still be at risk. Closing his eyes, he whispered, “Please, Tori. Wake up, baby, wake up.”

  A soft knock sounded on the door. Quinn sat up on the bed and looked across the suite. Vitto came in with his arm in a sling. The prince nodded at him in silent greeting.

  “How is she?” Vitto asked, his voice gentle with concern. “Has she moved?”

  Quinn shook his head in denial. He watched the worry and stress pass over the man’s face. It was clear he cared for her. Standing, he said, “I’ll leave you two alone.”

  Vitto nodded. He went to the bed, sitting by Tori’s side. His hand reached out to stroke the bandage over her cheek.

  Walking out of the room was difficult, but Quinn forced himself to go. As he shut the door, he heard Vitto whisper, “I love you, Tor, but so help me if you ever pull a stunt like that again, I’m going to make you rue the day you were born.”

  42

  Tori yawned, blinking as thick velvet drapes came into focus. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up. A moment’s confusion passed through her until she remembered the caves. She glanced down at her hands, surprised to find them clean.

  Shaking, she looked around and threw the covers off her legs. She was alone, and she was naked. Weakly, she crawled to the end of the bed, grabbing a pile of clothes that had been left for her. The cross-laced shirt of blue with gold embroidery fit snugly to her skin, but she didn’t care.

  She slipped into the pants as she stood at the edge of the bed, lacing them as she stumbled barefoot across the suite. Her mind focused, concentrating on the work she must do, so she didn’t have to stop and think of other things.

  “Siren,” she called, her voice hoarse. “I need you to page Doctor Vitto and Doctor Grant. Tell them I require their immediate assistance.”

  “Yes, Doctor Elliot,” the sultry mainframe answered. “Locating Doctor Vitto and Doctor Grant. Page complete.”

  “Thanks,” Tori answered in growing distraction. “And, Siren, one more thing?”

  “Yes, Doctor Elliot?”

  “Prince Quinn, is he...hurt?”

  “I’m sorry, Doctor Elliot, that information is restricted to level one security clearance.”

  “Damn it, Siren, just tell me,” Tori yelled. “Are his life functions normal?”

  There was no answer.

  “Fine, I’ll go and find out for myself.” Tori stormed across the suite and tried to pull open the door. It wouldn’t budge. She flicked the lock, locking and then unlocking it. She pulled the handle. It still didn’t move.

  “I’m sorry, Doctor Elliot,” Siren purred. “But, you’re not very polite. I believe you owe me an apology. And, just between us girls, why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you. I’m programmed with advanced psychiatric functions. I can help.”

  Tori would’ve laughed if she wasn’t trapped in a room, held hostage by a sensitive computer who wanted to psychoanalyze her. Could this assignment get any more bizarre? Suddenly, she did laugh. “Okay, Siren, fine. You want to talk, let’s talk. But first, I want DNA access.”

  “Granted, Doctor Elliot,” Siren answered.

  Tori smiled in grim satisfaction. She walked over to her bags and pulled out a sheet of paper. It was Quinn’s DNA sequencing. She’d taken it from Grant’s room and kept it. She knew this was a little strange, but to a scientist it was almost as good as a picture of him.

  “Siren, please tell me where I can find the matching carrier to this DNA.” Tori held the paper up.

  “Match sequence found in the harem, Doctor Elliot,” Siren purred. “Identifying subject as...I’m sorry Doctor Elliot. That information is restricted to level one security.”

  “That’s perfectly all right,” Tori answered. She felt like her heart had been ripped out of her chest. Quinn was in the harem? She felt faint, dizzy. The suite spun around.

  “Doctor Elliot, would you like to have that talk now?” Siren inquired.

  Tori nodded, turned around, and fell into a crumpled heap on the floor.

  43

  Quinn pushed the harem girl off his arm as he studied Reid. His brother, lying naked on this stomach, was enjoying the administering hands of three very pretty, very naked women. Quinn glanced over the women. They didn’t do anything for him. All he could think about was Tori.

  “Mm, Quinn, you should really try this,” Reid groaned. His lips curled into a sheepish grin. “Mm, a little lower... Ah, that’s it. Right there.”

  Two women massaged Reid’s backside. Quinn turn
ed away. It wasn’t a memory he particularly wanted to keep.

  “Doctor Elliot wake up?” Reid asked, before groaning. “Ah, easy, ea-sy. I’m delicate merchandise, you know.”

  “Sorry, my lord,” a harem girl pouted. “Is this better?”

  “Ah! Why you naughty little...” Reid stopped talking amidst the women’s giggling.

  “You’re busy. I’ll go.” Quinn stepped away from him, not daring to turn back around and see. Truth be told, he’d only come to the harem to see Reid because he had no other place to go. Falke was unconscious. Kirill was sleeping with his wife. Doctor Vitto was with Tori and Linzi was attending Doctor Grant. Thinking of Vitto’s words, he paused. He’d heard it for himself. Vitto loved Tori.

  “My lord, are you injured as well?”

  Quinn blinked. It took a moment for him to realize two women were at his side. One boldly grabbed his shaft, as the other pressed her body firmly along his back. Reid chuckled knowingly behind him.

  Quinn let them touch him for a moment, wondering if he should try to sleep with them. However, as they continued to fondle him, his body didn’t stir. He felt nothing for them, not even the slightest hint of arousal. He frowned, swinging around to his brother.

  “Sacred cats,” Quinn growled, his eyes flashing with fire.

  Reid jerked up in surprise. “Quinn? What is it? What’s wrong?”

  Quinn roared and stomped out of the harem, not bothering to answer.

  44

  Tori tried to concentrate. Her backside was sore, and she swore Siren must have jolted her with a laser beam when she passed out. When she pulled herself off the floor, Siren was claiming innocence, but her door was unlocked. Her heart broke, thinking of Quinn in the harem, but she had more important matters to take care of first.

  Turning to Vitto, she smiled weakly and handed him the metal ring. “From what I remember, if we melt this and inject it into the ground near the caves it should work in killing off the moss. It should at least buy us enough time to analyze the properties and make sure it’s all gone. The moss is supposed to be completely connected. I’m guessing the moss under the rock is where it’s been seeping up from the ground.”

  “Tori,” Vitto began. “We—”

  Tori shook her head. “No, I don’t want to discuss it. I just want to get this taken care of. I’m just ready for this assignment to be over.”

  45

  “Tori? May I come in?”

  Tori turned around in her chair, pushing back from the table. She wore a robe. It was held shut by a belt but fell open to reveal her legs. Her heart skipped when she heard Quinn’s voice, and she didn’t bother covering herself. Pushing her wet hair back from her face, she looked up at him. He stood in the door to her suite.

  “I knocked, you didn’t answer,” he said, stepping in. He hesitated by the door, staring at her, letting his eyes roam down over her body.

  Tori wanted to memorize every detail of him. She never wanted to forget a single moment of their time together. They’d finished the antidote and were leaving in the morning to try it out. The preliminary tests in the lab were remarkable. Within an hour, the contaminated soil samples were restored to prime topsoil. If everything worked out, the three scientists could be going home by the end of the week.

  The HIA work was finished, all except the final report. Tori could write that from her notes on the ship that would come to pick them up. Qurilixen, hopefully, would survive the black moss. And, if the moss ever came back, King Kirill could hire a new team to monitor the situation. She would be leaving him complete documentation for just such a case.

  “Kirill wanted me to tell you that he’s keeping everyone away from the caves until they’ve been treated.” Quinn took a step forward and again hesitated. He turned, shutting the door softly behind him. “He’d also like to extend his gratitude to you and your colleagues for all that you’ve done for us.”

  Tori pushed to her feet, taking a step toward him and then another. Her robe closed around her legs. “What about you? What are you thinking?”

  “I wish to thank you as well,” he whispered. He looked like he wanted to say more, but didn’t.

  Tori nodded. She was suddenly drawn forward into his arms, as she rushed over the distance to be near him. Tears entered her eyes as threw her arms around his neck. She wasn’t sure why she was crying, she just was.

  “I killed him,” she whispered, forlorn and so very lost. A dam broke within her and only in Quinn’s arms did she feel safe. “I killed him. I only meant to stop him and I killed him instead.”

  “He deserved it. I would have done the same,” Quinn whispered, stroking the wet hair down her back. Her shoulders trembled violently.

  “It’s not my decision to make,” Tori sniffed. “I can’t play like I’m a god. I can’t! I-I killed him.”

  “Shh,” Quinn hushed. “You did what you had to do. You saved a lot of people.”

  “No, you don’t understand, Quinn,” she tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let her. His arms held her tighter, and she allowed him to hold her, needing his comfort more than anything. “I’m a scientist. I’m supposed to save lives, make them better. I...I need you to kiss me. Just kiss me, Quinn, please.”

  The fight drained out of her limbs. She pressed her mouth to his, searing him with her passionate kiss. Everything she’d been through since coming to Qurilixen rushed over her, overwhelming her. The only thing good she could find in the whole mess of emotions was Quinn.

  “Ah,” she gasped, pulling her mouth away, panting for breath. Her hands skimmed over his body, tearing at his shirt as she pushed him across the suite to the bed. “I need you to make me feel. I need to feel anything but sadness. I just want to forget.”

  Quinn didn’t resist. His hand dove into her hair, bringing her lips once more to his. She moaned as his long tongue rolled into her mouth, making her knees weak. Her robe fell aside at his gentle insistence, baring her body to him. His fingers explored everywhere at once, her breasts, her stomach, the small of her back.

  As they finally reached the bed, Tori pulled her lips away and continued tearing at his clothes until she’d stripped him completely. His erection stood tall, exciting her, making her forget everything but him. She walked around him slowly, dodging his hands as he tried to grab for her.

  She loved the look of him—the firm curve of his spine, hidden between gloriously smooth muscles. His hips were slender, showcasing his incredible butt. Tori reached forward, touching him, squeezing his cheek lightly. Her stomach tightened. Moisture pooled between her thighs, readying her body for him. She wanted him, always wanted him.

  Letting the robe glide off her arms, she shivered as it fell to the floor. She explored his back, his legs, his hips, touching him everywhere. By the time she made her way around, he was panting wildly. His eyes shifted to green in his passion.

  Tori placed her finger on his chin and slowly drew it down over his throat. To her surprise, his eyes darkened, and his body lurched, tensing as she continued to slide her hand down the middle of his chest. Tilting her head to the side, she watched her finger circle his navel. Heat radiated off his body, stirring her blood. She felt him as if he was already inside of her, part of her.

  Quinn’s hands lifted as if he wanted to touch her, but he drew them back, letting her take the lead. Tori grinned, moved her hands to his hips, and sank to her knees before him. She flicked her tongue over his hard shaft, playing with the tip until he groaned and begged mindlessly for more.

  Her lips wrapped around him, her tongue rolled, her mouth sucked, her teeth grazed. He was too big to fit in her mouth, so her hands lifted to help, stroking him, playing with the soft globes she found underneath. Suddenly, he tensed, groaning loud and long, as he held himself back from the edge.

  Quinn grabbed her by the arms and lifted her up. A throaty laugh came from her as he tossed her easily on the bed. She bounced on the soft mattress.

  “You’re too much,” he growled, crawling over her with
a streamlined grace. “You drive me to distraction.”

  Tori shivered, her body worked up with anticipation. Quinn looked every inch the stalking beast as he came over her. His knees brushed her thighs open, and she didn’t resist. His strong arms bent slightly at the elbows. He lowered his mouth to take hers, kissing her with a savage heat that consumed her.

  He thrust, lifting up as he delved inside her. Their shared moans filled the suite. He felt so good, so right. Tori never wanted it to stop. She met his body as he moved within her, confident and sure, gliding in and out of her moistened depths.

  He fell forward, so he was lying on top of her, bracing his weight with his elbows. Tori met his kiss. Fingers glided down her body, moving her leg over his shoulder so he could go deeper still.

  “Tori,” Quinn groaned into her mouth, over and over again.

  The tension built. He pumped faster. Her leg looped behind his back, driving him deeper, harder. Tori’s back arched off the bed, her body so close to finding fulfillment. She tried to fight it, not wanting the pleasure to stop. With a sudden force that stole her breath and numbed her mind, she climaxed. Her whole being trembled so violently that she was sure the entire planet moved with the intensity of it.

  “Quinn,” she cried, over and over. “Quinn, Quinn, yes, Quinn…”

  Quinn couldn’t resist the call, as he joined her with his heavy release. His mouth opened, soundless, stretching wide as he drained completely into her body. He was stunned, surprised, frightened. Stunned by the force of their joining, surprised by the depth of his feelings, and frightened that he was soon going to lose her.

  “Tori,” he groaned, wanting to hold onto her forever.

  “No,” she whispered. “No words. Not tonight. Tonight I can’t think. I don’t want to feel anything but this, but us. All right, Quinn? Please.”