by Tina Gayle
“Two . . .”
Her muscles strained. She struggled against the granite wall of his chest. He didn’t budge. Her back was pressed firmly to the mat. Marohka hoped to heave him to one side or the other to gain a tactical advantage.
“Four . . .”
Each thrust she rammed at him, he countered with his overpowering strength. Unable to heave his weight off her chest, panic bubbled through her mind, boiling rapidly as each technique she used to unseat him failed.
“Six . . .”
Energy failing . . . muscles jerking . . . defeat—imminent.
Unwilling to face the shame of surrendering, she continued to fight. She wanted to scream, to yell until her voice vibrated off the walls. Her sense of honor rejected the idea of capitulation. Battle requires clear thinking and not allowing your enemy any edge.
A low groan sounded in her throat. Her muscles stiffened, and her mind registered her lost. The fear she’d held at bay throughout the fight exploded through her system.
“Eight . . .”
Defeated, with no strength left, she closed her eyes and quit struggling.
Her hands, without direction from her mind, lost their desire to push him away. Instead, she tuned into his racing pulse. The steady beat directly under her hand, mirrored hers.
Her traitorous body, covered by the heavy pressure of him, dissolved into each hard contour of his. The clothes between them seemed as thin as air. Her mind struggled with the soft melting sensation in her stomach. A tingle of awareness raced through her breasts. A different kind of picture formed in her head.
“Ten.”
Marohka opened her eyes to stare directly into Stihl’s brown ones. In a split iton, his thoughts raced through her head. He wanted to take possession of her soul. “You’re mine.”
Her gaze grew harder with conviction, yet his iron will held.
She voiced her resistance. “No.”
He smiled at her denial.
“No, you can’t have me.” She shoved him away, but already moving to stand, he rose to his feet and reached out a hand. She avoided the contact. Rising, she stepped back. The voice over the speakers rang with her defeat.
“Marohka Taunton, you’ve lost the first challenge. You now owe Prince Fermesium a kiss.”
The match ended when she kissed him. The doors to the arena remained locked until she did. He, on the other hand, had to wait until she initiated the kiss before he could touch her. Not trusting him, she retreat another step.
Again she became aware of the strange aroma. The smell growing steadily stronger during the battle blew from the air vents and cascaded the sweet scent around the room. Now, the unpleasant odor rocked her senses and made her a little sick and light-headed. Or maybe losing had caused the problem. Whatever the reason, she needed to buy some time.
Having seen enough fights to know how to stall the proceedings, she circled her opponent and looked for flaws. His feet, she noted, created a solid base on which to stand. His muscular calves and thick thighs led her to his tight butt, round and firm—encased in black skin-hugging shorts. His body robbed her of her next breath.
The more she studied his body, the more she understood why she lost. Few men achieved such defined muscle tone. None of the unmated girls in the Royal living area could’ve beaten him. Fewer would’ve wanted to try.
Then why choose her? Not young and naïve like most of the other girls, Marahka couldn’t understand his reasoning. The simple desire to claim her as his mate didn’t fit the profile she’d read. What other reasons could he have for picking her?
The information listed him as a successful investment dealer. That alone meant he ranked at the top of the list of eligible men in the country. He could choose any woman without being bound by royal tradition. And if he required someone with royal blood, why her? Why now?
* * * *
“Marohka?”
She remained silent.
Tired of her standing behind him, Stihl turned around. Her face reflected the questions only he could answer.
Her cheeks still flushed from their battle. Wild wisps of strawberry, gold, and light brown hair danced around her face. The long, multicolor braid, unraveled and in disarray, hung over her right shoulder. Her breathing steady, she stood stiff in the middle of the arena, her green gaze staring off into space.
“Marohka?”
Suspicious eyes met his. Reflected in their depths was the wrong conclusion for him selecting her as his mate. His victory in the dueling arena gained him her distrust. Smiling, he noticed, produced no result. She didn’t budge or alter her stare. To smooth her ruffled feathers, he urged her closer. He held out his hands and whispered in a soft tone. “Come here, starlight.”
She held her ground.
“It’ll be all right,” he coaxed.
With a piercing glare, she shook her head as if casting off her worries. She shrugged and brushed her hair back. With grim determination, she stepped forward to perform her duty.
Her low growl warned. “Don’t touch me.”
He dropped his hands to his side.
Her lips barely moved with her hushed spoken words. “I’ll give you the required kiss, and then I’m out of here.”
He didn’t answer. Stiff with unwanted defeat, she drew closer until she stood toe-to-toe with him. The message in her eyes revealed the declaration of war. Battle lines drawn, this marked the beginning of more skirmishes in the future.
Her hands on his shoulders, she lifted her lips to his. Her troubled green gaze showed him her plan of giving him only a token kiss. But once her lips touched his, he changed the rules and captured her mouth. His hands found her waistline and drew her closer to his heat.
With his first taste, he realized this woman was different.
Her sweet, moist mouth offered a unique flavor which ate at his senses. He dove deeper past the barrier of her lips. She moaned, and a knife of desire speared through his loins. He marveled at the benefits of marriage.
* * * *
Unable to think, fight, or move, Marohka’s nose rebelled against the stifling scent circling the room. Each breath robbed her of her strength.
Afraid of falling, she tightened her hands around Stihl’s shoulders like a lifeline and tried to focus. Her mind darted out of control, spinning dizzily. Lost to everything but the numbing sensation ricocheting through her veins, the “ahs” from crowd and the door clicking open barely register.
Her world narrowed to staying erect. Weakness invaded her limbs, and darkness clouded her mind. Peace seduced her, and she sank into oblivion.
* * * *
“What happened?” the girl standing in the middle of room asked.
Unwilling to deal with their probing question, Marohka glanced at the girls crowding around her bed. Her bloodthirsty friends stared at her with hungry glee, ready to stab her with their eager tongues.
Her soon-to-be ex-roommate Crystal allowed them into their room after Stihl left. Now, they stood over her pecking at her flesh, rehashing each gory detail of the match. Couldn’t they forget the whole mess? Her head was pounding, and her body was drained. She closed her eyes.
Maybe, if they think I’m tired, they’ll go away.
Crystal, ever helpful, answered instead. “She fainted. You know, passed out. It happens all the time, at least once or twice a year in a challenge. Of course, if I’d just won Prince Stihl Fermesium as my mate, I would’ve fainted too. The man has the most divine muscles.”
“Really? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen him.”
She opened her eyes to argue about him not being her mate yet.
“Marohka didn’t stand a chance. He pinned her in like two itons. The way his muscles rippled along his back and shoulders, every girl in the crowd perspired with desire.” Crystal waved her hand in front of her face like remembering his body made her hot. “No wonder she fainted. He must be deadly up close.”
Marohka fought not to scream. Take him. I don’t want the added hassle in my l
ife. She bit her tongue, unwilling to embarrass herself more.
“When the match was over, she gave him the required kiss. Then she just melted in his arms. So gallant,” Crystal purred.
Right, like the man had a choice? I collapsed in his arm.
“He swept her off her feet. Then he asked if he could carry her to her room. With the blue-haired giant behind them, no one dared tried to stop him. It was all so incredibly romantic.” Crystal sighed.
Give me a break, Marohka begged silently from her bed.
“No, that wasn’t anything,” Susie, a girl from two doors down, added. “You should’ve seen the way he handled our floor monitor. He marched right past Mrs. Whipkey, didn’t even listen when she complained about him being on our floor. He simply said, ‘I’m Marohka’s mate,’ and asked her to open the door. Speechless, Mrs. Whipkey gawked at him and followed his demands.” Susie grinned.
“Really?” one of the younger girls replied, thrilled by the image.
Marohka wondered if she could die from humiliation.
Susie continued. “Yes. And then, when he told her the blue-haired giant would stand guard outside Marohka’s door, she didn’t even protest. Just nodded and went back to her room.”
“You girls can leave, too,” Marohka suggested.
“That part was the best.” Crystal nodded her head. “But I still haven’t figured out why he posted the man outside our door. What does he expect to happen?”
An insistent beep sounded before anyone answered. An ear communication device located on the bedside shelf rang several times. Marohka recognized the tone on her ECD, sat up, and slipped the unit over her ear. Once in place, she hit the button on the small ear component. “Yes?”
Everyone in the room became quiet.
“Marohka, are you all right?” the voice asked with concern.
“Yes, Mother, I’m fine.”
A few girls sighed, then started moving toward the door. Glad to see them leave, she concentrated on the call.
“Your father said you fainted, so I wanted to call and make sure you were all right,” her mother said softly in her ear.
Before Marohka could comment, her mother added, “He also brought home Prince Fermesium. They’re talking in your father’s office right now, discussing your future.”
“Oh no, can Father turn him down?” Marohka lacked the time to deal with an eager mate. She had to travel to the Trisar Mine.
“Well, you know your father won’t rush into anything.” A short pause, then her mother continued. “But, it appears the man’s finances are in order. So, although your father doesn’t want to approve him, he can’t turn him down either, which, when you think about it, is for the best.”
She cut off her mother’s tirade. “Mom!”
“No, Marhoka, you need to settle down. Both of your sisters have mates. Your father has kept you tied up long enough. With your help, the company was been successful. But with Vin playing in his lab, he’s allowed you too much freedom. You require a mate.”
Marohka pushed aside the fact that her special ability is what placed the company in its current trouble. But then, her mother wouldn’t be privy to that information.
“But, Mom, I want a career. I’m doing a valuable service for Lustralia by finding the resources the county demands.” She yanked the band from the end of her braid and ran her fingers through her long hair. “There’s no reason for me to tie myself to a mate. I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
“Now, Marohka, everyone appreciates your skill, but that’s no reason to give up on true happiness.”
“But, I’m so close. Trisar might be the largest qualtrilium ore deposit ever found. We can’t abandon the mine now. Just think about what it could mean to our country’s economic growth, not counting Dad’s company.” Marohka wished for the millionth time that her mother shared her desire to pursue a career instead of settling for just having a family.
“That may be true, but you’re not a young woman. With this being your final year to attend the mating ball, it’s your last chance to find a mate.”
Trapped, Marohka searched for a solution. Not everyone shared her mother’s view of a happy-ever-after.
“I know you liked working with your father.” Her mother’s voice rang with authority. “And your work is important. But I want you to be happy with a wonderful husband.”
Her mother’s sacrifice of losing her own dream of being a jeweler by marrying inflamed Marohka’s passion. She wouldn’t fall into the same trap of having to choose between her career and a man.
“But it’s not what I want.”
“Of course it is. You’ve simply let go of the idea of having a mate, because you’ve been so busy working with your father. I understand the thrill of doing a job well, but there are other pleasures.”
Reluctant to listen to the same speech again, she focused instead on the giant outside her door. If Stihl was already asking for her father’s approval, he’d probably press for a quick courtship too. Or worse, he’d ask her to move in with him right away.
Her father, as usual, cut her choices to nil. If she ran, she’d bring shame on her family’s name. If she didn’t, she’d be stuck dealing with Stihl. She disliked both options.
While her mother spouted the joys of having a mate, a plan formed in her mind.
Her mother’s voice grew softer. “Don’t worry, Marohka. Your father will make sure this man is financially able to support you. He’ll check all his references. Vin wants you to be happy. After you spend a few weeks with Prince Fermesium, you’ll see how wonderful having a mate can be.”
To end the discussion, Marohka agreed with her mother. “You’re right, Mother. I’m sure Dad will research the guy so he’ll work out to be a wonderful mate for me. And I appreciate it. But right now, I really need to get a few things done.” She rushed on. “I’ll call you later. Bye.”
After hitting the button to end the call, she hit the switch again to rush her plan into action.
* * * *
Villainous joy surrounded the poet. Words flowed with the ink.
Bride, bride, break away.
Run from the happy groom.
Escape is hers.
He lost her today.
What a great advantage for me.
The poet lifted the pen, leaned back, and enjoyed the breather Marohka had just provided. Now he had more time to develop a plan to get rid of the happy couple.
* * * *
“What did you say?” Stihl jerked his head up from the Trisar paperwork lying across the large metal table. His work case sat beside him with other projects waiting.
Surely, he’d heard Cyd wrong. Their plan for Cyd to bring Marohka to the train so they could travel to Central City had seemed perfect. The train left in a few itons.
“I lost her.” Cyd stood by the door to Stihl’s cabin.
Other passengers rushed along the gangway on their way to their own seats. Their excited voices, along with the aroma of cooked meat from the dining car, filtered into the room. Stihl’s stomach grumbled, and he hit the table with his hand. The slap, combined with the slamming of the cabin door, rattled through his system.
No, this can’t be happening.
“How? You were supposed to be right outside her dorm room.”
“I was. She left her room for lunch, so I walked with her to the serving room.” Cyd settled onto the cushion across from Stihl. The red bench seat squeaked with Cyd’s weight. “No men are allowed in there, so I sat by the door watching her progress through the lunch line. She strolled behind a wall to receive her food and never came back out.”
Cyd scratched his head, frustration showing on his face. Stihl’s churning stomach shared his friend’s agitated emotion.
“I banged on the door, but they wouldn’t let me in, so I ran to the front entrance hoping to catch her there—but by then, she’d disappeared.” Cyd unbuttoned his coat. “That was over two zitons ago. I checked everywhere I could think of. Even contacted h
er father and yours, but no luck.”
Cyd threw his coat onto the seat. “Your father also said the Morrison brothers are making a trip to the family property. They’re surveying the ranch and Rock Ridge Mine.”
“Great, more pressure.” Stihl’s mind turned to his worries regarding the family mine. “Did he tell them we’re not ready to make a decision yet?”
“Yes, but they insisted on scouting around the area for the best place to start the strip mining.”
Stihl hit the table, again. “Shoot, now we’re forced to travel out to the ranch after we finish our business at the Trisar Mine. We don’t want them getting a little over anxious with their plans.”
