"It will be all right. He won't hurt you again."
Obviously, he'd misunderstood the look on her face. “It's you I don't want him to hurt. You shouldn't have mixed yourself up in this mess. It's mine to clean up."
She saw him smile, but this time it was more feral than pleasant. “Haven't you realized that I've claimed you for my tafai? What hurts you, hurts me as well. I will protect you with my life."
"Your ... tafai?” He couldn't mean what it sounded like he meant.
His expression was steady, his pupils dark blue. “My wife,” he responded, apparently in case she misunderstood him. “I want you for my wife."
"We hardly know each other. You don't know anything about me."
He curled a steely arm around her waist and yanked her against his body. “I know enough. For now. Let's handle this little matter first.” He gave her a hard kiss and then released her.
Benedikt stalked toward the door as the banging commenced again. “Benedikt Venus open this door, damn you. You've got something of mine."
Natasha ground her teeth and that made her cheek throb. Damn Earl Paris anyway. She strode to stand beside her lover as he threw open the door. Earl and two other, big, burly men stood on the porch.
Earl's eyes were bloodshot and he looked every inch his gnarled, dissipated age and then some. The two men behind him were much younger. And much bigger and broader.
"Hello, Earl.” Benedikt curled a possessive arm around Natasha's shoulder and anchored her close to his side. It, in effect, raised the red flag to her old bull of a father-in-law. “Exactly what is it you think I've got that belongs to you?"
Earl's gaze seared over Natasha. “She was my son's wife. She owes me and she doesn't belong with the likes of you. You come home with me, girl. Where you belong."
Natasha straightened away from Benedikt. She couldn't let him fight her battles for her, even if he did seem to want to marry her.
"I don't belong to anyone, Earl Paris. I was married to your son. That's it. I come and go as I please. He's been dead a while now and I make my own choices as to whom I want to be with."
"You owe me. I gave you a job and kept you off the street after Todd died. You owe me, dammit."
She planted her hands on her hips and glared at the mean bastard who'd treated her like a slave more than a daughter-in-law.
"I don't owe you anything, Earl, and I quit. You can just find yourself another willing victim to take care of you. I'm not coming back. Not ever."
Earl's face turned redder than a cherry tart. “You wouldn't even be in this country if it weren't for Todd. You'd be nothing. You hear me?” His voice had risen several octaves and echoed over the quiet fields. Several blackbirds cried out and took to the skies. The two men behind Earl straightened and took menacing steps toward the door. And then halted.
Natasha glanced quickly at Benedikt, who'd remained silent throughout the exchange between herself and Earl. Her gaze widened when she saw he had pulled out the gun and had it aimed at Earl. His pupils had gone to that unearthly red she'd seen before.
"I think you should leave now. And take your friends with you. I'm not coming back to town with you. I've had enough. It's over."
"You'll be sorry, girl,” he said as he slowly stepped back from the door. He turned an angry look at Benedikt. “She'll be more trouble than she's worth. You mark my words. You'll be glad to be rid of her.” He whirled away. “Let's go, boys. Don't want no trouble with the law. She's just a slut anyway."
Natasha let out a long breath. That had actually gone easier than she expected. Benedikt drew her back inside and closed and bolted the door.
He gathered her into his arms. “We're leaving this town."
She looked up at him. “Leaving? Where can we go?"
He smiled. “My sister and her taman live in California. I think it's about time for a visit with them. Her ... husband, Lance, was in the military. I think maybe it's time for us to talk."
"You've never met him?"
He shook his head. “No. There was too much I thought I needed to figure out for myself. I'm not used to depending on someone else. But I think I've waited long enough. And I want you to meet Sidra. Maybe she can explain a little more about the females of our planet. And I don't think she's been able to talk to anyone about her life on Argadia. I think you'll be good for each other."
She still couldn't believe everything that had happened in the last less than twenty-four hours. “You still want me?"
"How could you doubt it?” He leaned forward and kissed her. “You'd have made a good fighter on Argadia."
"A good fighter, huh. Is that all?"
His arms tightened around her. “You will make a good ... wife."
Fear washed through her. Or maybe the better word would be panic. “I-I don't know. This is all happening so quickly. I should be more concerned about the fact that you're an alien, shouldn't I? Why doesn't it bother me as much as I think it should?"
He pulled her against him. “Because you love me? And know you can trust me?"
And then she relaxed against him. A man shouldn't be able to read a woman so easily, because he was right.
She did love him.
And she very much wanted to be his tafai.
[Back to Table of Contents]
CHAPTER 11
He was running again, across the barren land of Serdion, trying to catch the sable-haired woman who was racing ahead of him. The sun was bright overhead, but the land, which had been ravaged at the command of the Argadian Council, was bleak and desolate.
He sensed someone else running next to him. He turned and saw his mirror image keeping pace. The twin turned to look at him, his eyes black as carbon.
"Will you love me, brother?” he asked.
Benedikt pushed for more speed. He had to get to Natasha. He needed her.
"Natasha,” he called out to her, frantic to reach her before his dark twin did so. “Wait.” She stopped running and turned. There was a smile on her face as she held out her arms.
He lifted her and twirled around and around with her in his arms. Joy shot through him, pleasure in holding her against him. And then he stilled as his dark twin came up behind her as Benedikt set her back down.
She dipped her head to tug at his nipple, sucking it deep into her mouth. Benedikt arched back, his hands lifting to cup her breasts. His eyelids snapped up when he encountered another pair of hands already there, kneading her flesh.
Natasha looked up at him and offered him a gentle smile. “It's all right, Benedikt. I want you both."
"No.” He shook his head. The dark twin didn't belong here. Not with her. No one could accept that kind of evil in their lives.
She reached up to cup his jaw and he looked down at her face. “Yes, na nivia, my love. I want you both. I can't have one without the other, don't you see that?"
His twin lifted her into his arms and pressed her back against his chest. She looked up at Benedikt. “Now, my love. I want you inside me now."
Benedikt spread her legs. Her shax was wet and gleaming. He had to remember to use the proper term. Her pussy was a deep, glistening pink, her lips open and her clitoris peeking from beneath the hood of her flesh.
He couldn't help grasping his cock and burying himself inside her vagina. His arms came around her and he pulled her out of his twin's arms and into his. Benedikt gazed into the black eyes of his mirror self.
The man was fisting his cock, sliding his hands up and down the thick shaft. His hands were wet and he used one of them to stroke over the crease between Natasha's beautiful rounded globes of flesh.
"Will you give her what she wants, brother? Will you love me enough to share her with me?” He moved in closer and Benedikt saw Natasha's eyes open wide.
"He's inside me, my love. I need you both. Love me, Benedikt. With all of you. Not just the half you think I want. I need all of you."
He pressed into her welcoming pussy and thought he could almost feel his darker twin's cock
at the slender wall of flesh separating them and knew he had buried himself inside her smaller, darker entrance.
Benedikt closed his eyes. Could he accept what they both wanted from him? Could he allow himself to heal?
"Yes, Benedikt. You know what I want and I know what you want. I love you, Benedikt, just the way you are. I love both parts of you, the light and the dark.” They both moved inside her and he heard her soft moans of desire as they pleasured her between them.
Just as he rose toward his climax, his dark twin stopped moving and looked at him. “Will you love me, brother? Will you give her what she wants?"
He buried himself inside her cunt, his vibris extended to stroke her deep opening. “Yes, I will love you, brother. I will love you.” He cried out as his orgasm overtook him spilling his seed into his woman's beautiful, welcoming body.
* * * *
He gasped as he awoke and gazed around the unfamiliar room. His heart pounded in his chest. He gazed down at the female sleeping beside him.
He realized he loved her enough to love himself. All of who he was. She was a warrior who would accept no less than his best. No less than all of himself. And he would not cheat her. Or himself.
Gathering her into his arms, he lay back down and realized her love and acceptance of who he was would be the thing that would heal all his wounds of the past. How could he not heal with her by his side?
[Back to Table of Contents]
Adrianna Dane
Theresa Gallup uses the pen names of Tess Maynard and Adrianna Dane. Theresa has been writing since the age of 10. A legal secretary for 30 years, she is currently working on another erotic romance, as well as a full-length romantic mystery/suspense. She has been married for 30 years and has three grown children (a daughter and twin sons), and is a new grandmother.
Writing as Tess Maynard, her first published short story appeared in the ezine, The Whispering Forest, in January of 2004. Writing as Adrianna Dane, where adding sensual heat to romance is her motto, Esmerelda's Secret was her first foray into the erotic romance genre.
Having traveled and lived from the East Coast to the West Coast, Theresa receives inspiration for her stories from a variety of sources, including music and poetry, and her tastes are eclectic.
For more information about current projects, visit Theresa's web sites at: www.tessmaynard.com or www.adriannadane.com
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Rainna knows there's something different about Treynor Black and if she could just keep her hands off him for five seconds she might find out what it is. But five seconds in his company and she's overwhelmed by the most intensely lustful, searing heat she could imagine, and common sense is not on the menu. So what if he likes his meat rare and his rendezvous at midnight during a full moon? She could handle it. He had secrets, well so did she.
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Geoffrey Kirk has been in love with his best friend, Nash, since almost the moment they met. Convinced that Nash would never return his feelings, he forced himself to move on, and fell for his assistant, Sunny. Despite his strong feelings, he never acted on them, and when he discovered Sunny and Nash together, he thought he lost his chance for happiness forever.
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A brilliant businessman...
Daniel Grogan is at the top of his game as he prepares to marry a wealthy socialite. But something goes wrong on his wedding day and his path takes a crazy turn toward strange visions of mountains and oceans, and a growing obsession about a woman he's never met face to face.
A rebellious rabbi...
Peggy Witwater entered the rabbinate to serve her people. When congregational politics deal her a vicious blow, she fights the tide of change while trying to help Daniel; not realizing her actions could ignite her own deeply buried obsessions.
Passion and vengeance from beyond the grave...
As the two are drawn toward one another, they fall under the shadow of a vengeful spirit who will stop at nothing to claim Daniel. To win the battle for his soul, Daniel must acknowledge past wrongs, or risk falling into an eternal—and fatal—enchantment.
[Back to Table of Contents]
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