His Highness the Duke

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Was this man completely daft? Or did he just have marriage on the brain? “The Federation monitors my communications and it was doubtful, should I even find a secure line to tell you, that you would listen to a complete stranger on the wavelengths. I had to come.”

  “Did you try to contact us over the wavelengths?”

  “Well, no, but—”

  “You were compelled to come here. The gods willed it.”

  “No, you’re not listening. I was compelled, yes, but not to be a wife. You don’t understand. I have my reasons for having to warn you and they have nothing to do with marriage.”

  “Then tell me. What other reasons have you?”

  “It’s…” Aeron thought of her dead family, of her destroyed home world. She didn’t like talking about it. Her reasons had no bearing on the outcome of her information. “It’s personal.”

  “Why are you fighting this?” Frustration seeped out of him.

  “Why are you refusing to listen? What I’m telling you is a real danger to your people and your planet, but all you want to talk about is marriage and…” Aeron frowned. “Perhaps I was mistaken. You are not the person I need to discuss this with. I need to speak to the king, or whoever is in charge of the mines. Who is in charge of the mines?”

  “My brother, Mirek.”

  “Take me to Mirek,” she said. “If you don’t, I will find him myself.”

  “I assure you I heard everything you said and will do what must be done to ensure the safety of my people. That duty does not negate the fact that we need to get this marriage settled. In fact, settling this marriage is the first step in my doing anything about this attack. I am under direct orders from the king to make this marriage right before I leave this cabin. The sooner we do that, the sooner I can look into this Tyoe matter.”

  “That is blackmail.”

  “This is reality.”

  “So either I agree to stay married to you and you let me leave this cabin to warn your people of possible annihilation, or I deny the marriage and watch a planet die?”

  “Possibly die,” he corrected.

  “Possibly die,” she repeated. “Blackmail.”

  “Reality.”

  “It is blackmail.” She shook her head. “Do you really want a marriage based on blackmail? You don’t know me. You don’t know anything about me, or my people.”

  You don’t know that I’m dying because of what we did. You don’t know how hard it was for me to come here. You don’t know what you’re asking of me.

  “I know enough. The gods decreed it. You are my wife and I your husband. We are meant to be.”

  Aeron closed her eyes, unable to keep looking at him. He seemed so earnest, so sure, but he said nothing of feelings, of his desire for her, or of love growing in time—not that she had that much time left. This was about duty, about some perceived supernatural force that commanded they be together. Yes, she felt a connection to him. She felt the physical pull to be next to him, to touch him and kiss him. She felt him like she had never felt any man. But was that fate? Or was it lust for the one man she had sex with?

  “Know that I only say yes because you give me no choice.” She remembered every second of her planet being destroyed, every piece of spinning rock, every flaming arc, every silent moment. She imagined there were screams on the surface, but in the spaceship, looking on from the window, feeling the pleasure of homecoming drain into disbelief and despair, it had been quiet. With her own death suddenly very near, she knew this might be her last chance to do something meaningful with it. She had nowhere else to go. The Federation would be furious with her. Perhaps this was her fate. It didn’t stop her from resenting the way her marriage came about, or his high-handed blackmail disguised as decrees. “I request we leave as soon as possible.”

  Bron couldn’t move. Aeron refused to look at him, but he couldn’t stop staring at her. A tear slid from her eye, down her cheek. The lonely trail hurt him worse than anything she could have said at that moment. Her voice stayed steady, but that one tear gave so much away.

  She did not want to be with him. He should let her go. How could he demand she stay with him as a wife? How could he keep her when she was miserable at the very idea? How could he let her go? She was his one chance at happiness. Surely she would come to love him, at least care for him. He would be a good husband. He would do everything required of him and more.

  He couldn’t let her go. No matter if it would be the right thing to do, he just couldn’t bring himself to release her from her vows. He’d bonded to her. For him, there would never be another woman. It was the way of his kind.

  He lifted his hand, intent on going after her as she moved toward the back sleeping chamber, but he saw the dirt on his fingers. How could he have forgotten his ordeal? Hunger suddenly bit at his stomach and he eyed the untouched trencher of food. He had the Var to worry about, and apparently the Tyoe. Despite her misgivings, he was glad Aeron had seen reason and agreed to their marriage. He would inform Alek and then he would leave in the morning to see the king. Tonight he would eat, bathe, and… Bron looked to where his wife had disappeared down the hall. And gods willing he would find a way to comfort his wife.

  9

  Bron hesitated outside the sleeping chamber door, listening to the sounds coming from within. He wasn’t afraid to face his wife, just his wife’s tears. What did he know about comforting women, especially when he was the cause of her pain? He’d rather face a thousand swords than a woman’s tears.

  He didn’t hear the sound of crying and decided it was safe to enter. She lay on the bed, her back to him. A wave of sadness washed over him. Already they were connecting, at least they were on his end. Soon he would be able to feel her emotions as if they were his. It was all part of the process. In fact, she might even start hearing his call inside her mind, if she opened herself up to what they could be to each other.

  Bron stood, helplessly not knowing what to say to comfort her. He’d always thought if he stayed honest and did his duty then everything would work out. Well, he was doing his duty, the best he could, and she was still upset.

  “I did not wish to upset you, my lady,” he said quietly. Apologizing wasn’t exactly a Draig trait. He had no practice at it.

  “You have not upset me.” The sound was muffled by the bedding. She didn’t move to look at him.

  “I think we both know that is not necessarily accurate.”

  “It was not you that upset me,” she said. “You have your beliefs. I am on your planet. I must respect that your culture is different than mine and that I am in your territory and the mercy of your generosity.”

  “I do not wish for you to fear me.” He didn’t move. He wanted to go to her, to touch her. Actually, he wanted to stop talking altogether and just make love to her. Physical, he could handle. He was a man, a warrior. He was more comfortable with action over speaking of feelings. “You should not feel as if you are at my mercy.”

  She turned to look at him, her eyes dry and her expression steady. He let loose a small breath of relief. He’d felt her sadness and thought she might be overcome with tears, her face wet from sobbing. He moved slowly, not wanting to ruin the delicate moment.

  “I do not fear you,” she said. The sound was soft, almost a whisper. “I fear what will happen to your planet if you do not prepare for the Tyoe. I fear that my coming here will be a failure. I cannot watch another,” she paused, correcting herself, “I cannot watch your people be annihilated. And, on this subject, I fear there is something else I’m bound to mention. When I spoke to Kendall earlier, she seemed unsure of her staying married. There was something secretive in her tone. I cannot place it. I’m not one to begrudge a woman her secrets, I have enough of my own, but I am not convinced you should tell your brother of the Tyoe until you are sure of her reasons for being here. The odds that more than a couple women on the ship came here on the Galaxy Brides’ ship for reasons other than marriage seems highly unlikely. If I am wrong about her, then I am s
orry for it, but I would rather err on the side of caution.”

  “Our fate is in the hands of our gods. They sent Kendall to my brother just as they sent you here to warn us. When I speak of this to my brother, I will mention your concern, but I assure you we will not be overtaken so easily.” He lifted his chin, prideful. The rest of the galaxy might not see their technology, but it did not mean they were a backward people who could not defend themselves against an enemy. They merely chose to live simply, hiding their technology away. In fact, hidden near the palace, disguised as a mountain peak, the Draig kept a highly advanced communications and watch tower. They monitored the stars at all times.

  “Right. Gods.” She shook her head and turned her face away from him once more, settling into her original position on the bed. “Of course you would believe in their protection. You let them dictate everything else.”

  “You do not believe there is something greater than ourselves?”

  “No. I do not believe,” she whispered. He wondered if he was meant to actually hear the words since they were so soft. Louder, she added, “If you are so sure about this fate of yours, I would prefer you not mention my concern to your brother. There is no reason to insult the woman without proof.”

  Bron wasn’t sure how to answer such an admission. Her lack of belief worried him. Instead, he changed the course of the conversation. “We leave in the morning for the palace. I will report what you have told me to my uncle. The king will ensure necessary precautions are made at the palace. Then we will speak to my brother, Mirek, about the mines.”

  “How can you do that?” Suddenly she sat up and looked at him. He frowned, confused by her meaning. “You were just kidnapped, buried alive, restrained by the looks of those marks on your wrist, and now you’re here bathing and talking and planning trips like nothing happened. I had to face an empty mountain path on an alien planet with the ugliest creature alive and I’m still shaking from it.” As if to prove her point, she lifted her hands toward him. They did tremble a little. “I don’t think my heart has stopped racing. Your ordeal is presumably much worse than my part of it, and yet you act as if you are buried beneath the ground several times a year. What exactly goes on here? Should I expect to be abducted next?”

  With each sentence her tone became more frantic. He rushed to the bed, crawling onto the mattress to take her hands and press them to his chest. “I will not allow anything to happen to you.”

  “But what about what happened to you? How can you act as if it was nothing? And don’t lecture me on worrying again. I’ll worry about whatever I wish and it has nothing to do with honor or duty but a chemical reaction inside a person’s body. And I don’t understand why you won’t just tell me what happened to you. I woke up and you were gone. I was terrified. I know nothing about alien terrain and survival. I don’t even frequent the virtual reality deck.”

  “I was not buried alive. I was held prisoner underground.”

  “You say that as if it is better.” She tried to pull her hands away from him, but he held tighter. She seemed so small and delicate. He wanted nothing more than to protect her.

  “I am well. It is done,” he said, soothingly. Bron inched closer to her on the bed. He tried to feel inside her, past the sadness. Instantly, her breathing deepened and her eyes closed. It was as if she was trying to feel inside him as he felt her. Such a connection could not be undone. If they bonded completely, they would be able to read each other’s feelings.

  A sudden fear filled him and he drew himself back, closing his feelings off from her. If they bonded, she would be able to sense what he was feeling. She would find the shame of his insecurity, his desperation to please her, his fear of failing her and of losing her. He couldn’t let her know. If she found out all that was inside him, she might leave him. He would be forced to feel the loss of her even more potently once the connection was formed.

  Bron leaned closer to her. She looked so pretty with her wide eyes staring up at him and her lips parted just enough to let her breath pass. Desire filled him. He wanted her. She said she would stay. Were the gods pleased? Was his capture punishment enough? It didn’t seem a steep enough price to pay. No price would be equal to her.

  Her lips met his first, as if answering his unasked question. The sweet taste of her mouth erased all thoughts. She moaned softly against him. He couldn’t help himself. He slid his tongue between her lips. A rush of pleasure coursed through them. He felt her intake of breath, her soft moan of approval. Right now, she did not seem to protest their union.

  Bron took the delicate truce, well aware of how a wrong word could break the moment. He could not help the filtering of his emotions as he let her inside him. A fog worked its way over their senses, fading the outside world. The spell of her kiss pulled him closer. How could this woman not know the power she held over him? How could she not feel it? In that moment, in that kiss, Bron knew Aeron had the power to enslave him.

  Aeron inched closer. Her hands ran up the length of his arms to rest on his shoulders. He pressed the small of her back, sliding her against him. They knelt on the bed. His arousal formed into her stomach, causing him to groan.

  She pulled her mouth from his. “The door.”

  Bron tried to pull her back to his mouth.

  She turned her head to the side and pushed at his chest. “You need to close the door. Your brother and Kendall are here.”

  He glanced over his shoulder. Bron thought he had closed it. Reluctant to let her go, he hesitated before finally moving off the bed to do as she bid. This time, he made sure the door latched shut before turning to her. Aeron crawled to the edge of the bed, still on her knees. She smiled at him, the look inviting. Whatever her reluctance to be married to him, it would seem it did not carry over into their bedroom.

  This time when he went to her, he stood by the bed. He caressed her cheek, running the pad of his thumb across her beautiful lips. Aeron tugged at the hem of his tunic, easing it up over his head. He lifted his arms to help her as she undressed him. With his chest bare, she began to explore. He stood before her, letting her touch him however she wished. She traced the outline of his muscles. Bron did not know how he managed to stay calm. The delicate skating of her fingers was tickling torture, but when she leaned forward to kiss one of his nipples it was pure agony.

  Bron’s hands shot forward into her hair, keeping her mouth against his chest. His fingers tangled in the dark length. Her fingers danced along his waist, close to the waistband of his breeches. His stomach tensed as she neared his navel.

  He lifted her by her head to his mouth and kissed her deeply, sliding his tongue against hers. All thoughts left him as he pulled at the gown she wore. The material hugged firmly to her skin and did not strip from her body as quickly as he would have liked. He was about to rip it when she leaned back and helped his efforts. She pulled the gown over her head and tossed it aside. Bron used the moment to push the loose-fitting pants from his hips.

  She came to him, as eagerly as he went to her. Her hands cupped his face, caressing his cheeks as she drew his mouth tenderly to hers. Their naked bodies pressed together. The soft mounds of her breasts molded to his chest. His erection pressed tight to her stomach. The memory of their joining was all too fresh and his cock surged to repeat the act. He wanted her like he’d never wanted anything in his life.

  With his feet planted on the floor next to the bed, he reached for her hips, lifting her by her buttocks. Her legs were forced open as he drew them forward to wrap around his waist. She sat on the edge of the bed, her ankles hooking around the backs of his legs. Her breasts rubbed intimately against him, the nipples hard points he could feel dragging against his flesh.

  Bron growled, unable to contain his excitement. He held her hips tight, keeping her sex against his arousal. The wetness of her body moistened him. He shifted his weight so he could lay claim to her, angling her body back as he leaned forward. He braced his feet on the floor and his hands on the bed.

  The tip of
his erection found entrance into her body. He pushed slowly, enjoying the firm grip of her sex. Her thighs moved against his waist, tightening and releasing as if she tried to decide whether or not to allow him entrance. He pressed on, drawn to lay claim to his wife. The thought occurred to him that this should have been their first time. In many ways it felt like the first. They were both aware, unclouded by the call of the crystal, unhampered by the guilt.

  Her dark hair spilled around her head on the bed. She clung to him, her thighs closing and opening, closing and opening, gripping and releasing his waist. He stroked her face, letting his fingers trail down the center of her chest. Grabbing the delicate mound of flesh, he massaged it as he urged himself deeper.

  She arched her hips against him, finally opening her legs and allowing him full access to her body. He took it, delving forward to seat himself fully inside her. The firm clench of her pussy held his arousal tight. Her insides quivered around him.

  Aeron made sweet, light noises of pleasure. The sounds were as delicate as she was. Bron withdrew only to slowly push forward. He kept the rhythm easy, enjoying the view of her breasts moving with his thrusts. He wanted it to last forever.

  He kissed her, working his mouth against hers. His tongue mimicked the slow pumping of his hips. Staying inside her, Bron placed one knee on the bed and then the other. He moved her with his body so he could lie on top of her. Now that she was fully beneath him he began to thrust anew. The new position allowed him to go deeper, allowed his strokes to be longer. He pumped into her, the speed growing with each pass. Each agonizing glide of flesh was pure ecstasy.

  “More,” she whispered, meeting the movements of his body. “Give me more.”