by Olivia March
For now, his little captive didn’t want to be his lover but she’d agreed to “ease his tension” just the one time. He was still too bemused by the idea to feel his value damaged. Women in Arloren came to his bed for many reasons. Some for social ambition, some for the cachet of being on his arm and many just because they lusted for him. Never once had a female offered to service him to relieve his tension and expect no pleasure for herself. Or, indeed, to refuse pleasure when it was offered. He’d grasped that offer like a lifeline, but now…
He couldn’t have known how much her touch would affect him. He’d had women perform this service for him before and he’d enjoyed it. But this, what Gwen had done… Instead of easing his lust, her act had lit a fire under his skin nothing would extinguish until he was finally deep inside her body. How was he supposed to give her time to adjust to him, to come to him freely, if just looking at her provoked such a wild craving inside him it took all his considerable willpower not to simply take her and make her his own?
Even now with the lights off and her across the room with her daughter, he was hypersensitive to everything Gwen. He could hear her breathing and wanted those breaths to fall on his skin instead of the open air. The sweet scent of her hair and her skin enticed him, while the unique womanly smell of her tormented him. Every time she shifted in bed he thought about sliding in behind her and cupping her sweet breasts as his lips explored her neck and those sensitive ears. Then he’d turn her and sample those rose-tinted nipples on his tongue before moving south and finally tasting her as she’d tasted him. Once he’d felt her shatter on his tongue, then and only then would he join their bodies.
Helion knew he couldn’t take much more of this torture. The woman wanted time, which was exactly what he couldn’t give her, not if he spent his evenings listening to her beautiful voice, watched her lovingly caring for her daughter, and driving him insane with the need to possess every inch of her luscious body. But he didn’t want to break her trust and he had promised her some time before taking things to the next level between them.
In reality, there was only one solution. Before Gwen arrived, Helion had debated going farther afield in their scouting forays. They’d cleared most of the city proper and it was time to hit the more remote areas. Packing up the camp every day would be a waste of time so his plan had been to take most of his soldiers on an extended raid, for several days at least. It was time to put that plan in action. And when he returned…
Just then Gwen shifted and her breathing changed, alerting Helion to her wakefulness. He would leave early in the morning and now was the perfect time to apprise her of his plans and say farewell. That settled, he crept silently from his own bed and crossed the room without making a sound. He was in her bed and spooned to her back before she even knew he’d left his bed.
Helion ignored how her body tensed, enjoying too much the feel of her luscious bottom cradling his manhood and her soft, sweet body pressed against him. He couldn’t resist lowering his head and running his lips down her neck, letting her fragrant scent saturate his senses. How he longed to reach around and cup those magnificent breasts…
“I’ve made a decision, little lady,” he whispered in her ear, grinning as a shudder racked her body at the feel of his breath. “You want time and I promised it to you. So tomorrow I will leave camp with most of my men. I will leave only a few to look after the camp and Verdun as well to see to your needs. We’ll be gone a few days, attacking Scourge on the outer reaches of this little state. I give you this time to accept what we both know is inevitable. When I return, I will make you mine.”
Gwen’s tense body quivered in front of his but Helion sensed no fear. Tension, yes, and a touch of resistance. But no fear. It was progress.
“And what if I don’t want that, Commander?” came her whisper, falling softly to not wake the child.
Helion nuzzled her ear, absorbing her shiver of delight. Then, ever so slowly, he moved his hand to rest directly under her breast. The half-terrified girl seemed to stop breathing but Helion had another destination in mind. His hand traveled lightly down her body until he reached the waistband of her sleeping pants, to dip his fingers beneath.
His prey stilled, barely breathing as anticipation tortured her. Helion continued to breathe in her ear, sensing what an erogenous zone it was for her. Then his hand caressed her bare stomach and it seemed Gwen’s heartbeat was like to explode, it was pumping so fast. Gwen’s body soaked in his heat like a sponge, eager for more, and he gave her more. He let his long fingers slip under her pajamas, gently stroking as they went, only stopping once they reached the new barrier of her panties.
“I can smell you, my lady. What will I find if I push my hand a little lower, hmm? Proof you don’t want me, or proof you do?”
Helion knew what he’d find. His woman soaked and eager. Her body wanted his even if her brain had enough doubts. He used his hand to taunt her, stroking and tempting her to let go and let him touch her, skimming but never touching where they both wanted him to feel. But once she opened that door, there really would be no going back. He’d possess her body and soul.
“You know I’m wet, Helion…you know I desire you. But I am saying no. This isn’t a good idea, for us to, well, get involved.”
Helion wasn’t surprised, Gwen was strong and stubborn, much like him. His hand was gently, repetitively, stroking her stomach, something he could feel made her both uncomfortable and unbearably aroused. She wanted to push into that hand and seek deeper contact, as much as he wanted her to. He was behind her, surrounding her, nearly suffocating her with lust and his heat. And he was caught in her spell as well, smelling the musk of her body and feeling the softness of her skin.
“You tempt me mightily to change your mind, my lady. But I will respect your wishes. For now. When I return we will revisit this discussion. For my patience, I request a boon from you, sweet Gwen.”
“What kind of boon?” Gwen asked warily.
“I feel the need to be close to you tonight. You won’t allow me as close as I’d like to be but I’d like to stay here in bed with you. On my honor I won’t touch you sexually. I just want to hold you in my arms.”
Helion expected a protest but surprisingly Gwen just nodded and settled in against him. His hand stayed on her stomach but didn’t encroach lower. His other arm he slipped under her head and wrapped over her torso. He then pressed a thigh between the two of hers, slipping between to claim a place for himself there as well. As Gwen drifted off to sleep, warm and safe, Helion lay awake, relishing the feel of her body and the knowledge of her trust. Soon she’d trust him with all of her and he couldn’t wait.
Chapter Nine
Three days had passed since Helion left with most of his men, leaving only Verdun and a small company of Keepers to watch over the camp. He’d slipped away before she’d woken in the morning, not giving her a chance to say goodbye. Part of her wished he hadn’t but the smarter part of her brain knew this was a good thing. He wasn’t a lover or a husband she was sending off to war. Helion was their protector and a threat to her independence. The more she let him insinuate himself into her thoughts and emotions, the harder it would be to escape.
Escape… Not for the first Gwen wondered if she was considering the right course of action. Verdun took admirable care of them, Gwen couldn’t deny that. He was always calm and respectful and saw to Gwen’s meals several times a day as well as providing a bath every evening. She was free to walk around the camp with Evelyn and explore the woods, often with Verdun as escort. He would tell her about their lands, the planet the Keepers came from, much about their culture. It was fascinating. Their planet, Arthaneas, sounded so beautiful.
Sometimes Gwen looked at Verdun and wondered why, if she had to be attracted to an alien, why not this one instead? He was tall, muscled and beautiful. His long black hair fell to his waist and looked as if it was dusted with stars. His beautiful teal-colored eyes were always kind, his expressions warm. Helion’s face was always impass
ive, cold even, and usually his green eyes were diamond hard or full of mockery. Except when he teased her about lust. Then his eyes flamed with green fire.
Gwen had been on pins and needles for these three long days, waiting for Helion’s return, his sexual threat never far from her mind. It spurred her to look for possible avenues of escape during her walks around the camp but everywhere she went she felt eyes on her, watching her every move. The Keepers Helion left behind never approached her but they were always watching. She was very careful not to give away her intentions but the idea of being punished woke her in a cold sweat every night.
There was also that pesky voice inside her that urged her not to attempt an escape. She hadn’t eaten so well in months as she had these last three days, nor slept so good as she had these last three nights. Evie was warm and cozy every night and had a doting Verdun supplying her with everything she needed, from diapers to pretty clothes to toys. Once Gwen asked him where he obtained all these things but he just smiled and deflected the question.
Verdun also seemed as fascinated with Evie as Evie was with him. He would hold her for hours so Gwen could nap or have some quiet time. And Evie soaked up the attention like a flower did the sun, smiling at him and cooing. Why, just why, couldn’t Gwen be attracted to him? He was so solicitous of their needs and so good with Evie. Why did she have to be one of those stupid women attracted to the dangerous choice instead of the smart one?
Gwen knew this peaceful idyll couldn’t last. Eventually Helion would return and when he tired of them he’d drop them off in a camp somewhere. Or maybe he’d allow them to stay, as he’d promised, until the city was secure. But they had no home anymore, it’d been destroyed. Where would they end up once the city was clean of Scourge? There were still the bands of lawless humans wreaking havoc all over town, raping, destroying, even killing. It wouldn’t be wise for her to lose her instincts for survival by getting lazy and content in the Keeper camp. It would be a greater shock to her and Evelyn if they got too used to these comforts and then had them stripped away.
No, they had to escape, and survive on their own. She spent a long time by the little lake connected to the camp, thinking about escape. Verdun had warned her not to come here once the men returned as it was where most of the Keepers bathed. But while they were gone it was safe enough and a very peaceful spot to do some thinking. Helion and his men could be back any time so if she was going to have a real chance at escape, it had to be before he returned.
Keeping it simple, that was the plan. When Verdun returned to his own tent for the night, she’d take Evie and walk right into the woods as quick as she could under the cover of darkness. A lot of luck and no less stealth would be required for any of the few Keepers in the camp not to see them. Plus, they’d need to cover a lot of ground to escape Verdun or, heaven forbid, Helion. But her strength had recovered over the last few days and she’d rested much of the afternoon in anticipation of walking all night. It was now or never. If Helion returned and made good on his sexual threat, it would be even harder for her to attempt an escape. Her mind shied away from him but her body definitely did not. He’d smell her lust and seduce her.
As Gwen walked back to the tent with Evie, she tried not to let her anxiety show. Hiding emotions was not her strong suit but it was crucial for Verdun not to get suspicious. Guilt warred in her mind over what she was about to do. Verdun had been so amazing to them and she was about to betray his trust. Hopefully he would understand why they had to leave, that they didn’t belong there with the Keepers. With any luck, by the time the sun rose again they would be far from there and out of Helion’s reach.
Time passed swiftly, and before she knew it, Verdun was wishing her a good sleep and leaving the tent. Gwen wasted no time in executing her plan, grabbing Evie and their things and slipping as quietly as possible out of the camp, which ended up being easier than she imagined it would be. She held the sleeping Evie close as she jogged quickly through the forest, hoping the city was in this direction, but she couldn’t be sure. There was a strange tingling feeling on the back of her neck, as if someone was watching her escape, but she looked all around her and saw nothing. Considering what she was doing, a little paranoia wasn’t out of order.
“Where are you going, human?” came a voice.
Gwen heart stuttered and she choked on a gasp, coming to an abrupt halt as she searched for the owner of that voice. At first she saw nothing but then right in front of her, shadows began shifting and dancing, collapsing in on themselves until a Keeper was revealed. Gwen’s eyes were wide with shock, her mind trying to absorb what she’d just seen. The shadows had given birth to this creature, then collapsed into his body.
“Don’t make me repeat myself, woman. Where are you going?” The Keeper’s voice was deep and harsh, his face pale, his eyes and hair black. His armor was not golden like the other Keepers Gwen had seen but a pure, midnight black. There was a feral quality to that face that scared Gwen. He looked cold and ruthless, his beauty not similar to an angel’s like Helion’s. He looked more like Lucifer’s kin.
“I-I…” Gwen tried, so terrified her brain shut down except for one dominating urge…to flee.
“Let’s cut to the chase shall we, little human? You’re attempting to leave the Commander’s protection. You think to escape.”
“I…yes. Yes, I want to take my daughter and leave.” Gwen swallowed and lifted her chin even as she felt it quiver in fear. “I have my reasons.”
“I don’t care about your reasons, woman. The Commander bade me watch you. He didn’t think you’d be foolish enough to make this attempt but in the event that you did, I may do what it takes to stop you and return you to him.”
Gwen backed up quickly as the creature approached her, knowing deep inside she didn’t want him to get too close. He was strange and unknown and lacked all the compassion and kindness she’d come to expect from other Keepers, even Helion. She didn’t want him anywhere near her daughter.
“Don’t come any closer. I’m leaving here with my daughter before the Commander comes back. I’m sure he’ll be annoyed but he’ll get over it. Having a woman and a baby in his camp is hardly an ideal situation. If you think about it, you’ll realize having us gone would benefit you more than taking us back.”
Gwen held out a hand as she said this, knowing it was ridiculous. If he wanted, he could have her subdued and returned to camp before she could blink. But for some reason, her words did stop his advance. And then his head tilted, as if he were confronting a strange creature instead of the other way around. And then he smiled—a terrifying, beautiful smile, full of teeth. He looked…amused?
“If escape is your goal, you are headed the wrong way. Your ruined little town is west. Right now you’re headed toward deeper woods, not smart if you want to outrun a Keeper of the Dark Forest.” The Keeper lifted an arm and pointed west but Gwen didn’t move toward it. She was too confused.
“Are you saying you’ll let us go? Why would you do that?” Gwen swallowed when the Keeper’s smile just deepened. She was pretty sure a smile from this Keeper was nothing but trouble. Trusting him was impossible. He was too feral, too mysterious.
“What is it you said? Oh yes…I have my reasons. Scurry away, little mouse. The Commander will return to camp soon. You won’t want to be close by when he arrives, I promise you.”
With those words, the Keeper simply…disappeared. One moment Gwen saw him before her and the next it seemed as if those shadows swallowed him whole and she was once again looking at nothing but dark forest.
Gwen wasted no time after he disappeared. She didn’t think she could trust him, but what choice did she have? She turned in the direction he’d indicated and took off at a sprint to make up for lost time. If the creature was right, Helion would be arriving back in camp tonight and there was much to get done. They needed a place to hole up for the night and sooner rather than later they would need more supplies. Gwen had stashed away as much as she could in her bag but it wouldn’
t hold out for too long. Not too many diapers and wipes and clothes would fit in one duffel bag. But she couldn’t worry about that now. The first priority was getting far away from the camp and the next would be finding a place to lay low and replenish their supplies.
Truth be told, though, Gwen had more than a few misgivings about what she was doing. It was cold and her sweater didn’t provide much protection against the bite of the wind. The dark forest was quite scary as well. She’d never been much of a nature enthusiast. The outdoors was pretty and inspiring but she didn’t want to walk around it in the dark. The city at night was full of dangers but being attacked by a wild animal wasn’t one of them. Every rustle in the bushes pushed her anxiety higher, even more so after her encounter with the bogeyman.
Her anxiety was high enough in any case. Just thinking about how angry Helion would be when he discovered them gone sent chills up Gwen’s spine. What form her punishment would take if they were caught was the principal fear in her mind. He’d promised not to harm them but there were a lot of possibilities that didn’t constitute real harm. On the other hand, maybe in his mind her defiance in trying to escape nullified his promise not to harm her.
There was also his other threat to consider. Whether he’d been serious or had just been trying to intimidate her, she didn’t want to find out. For some reason, she couldn’t control the rampant lust she felt just looking at the guy. He was just too sexy. One look at those eyes, that hair, those muscles made her brain fly right out of her head and turned her into a mass of quivering hormones. Her brain still had a healthy dose of fear of him, which compelled her to keep him at arm’s length. But apparently that didn’t stop her body from writing a check her brain didn’t want to cash. It was much better for her to leave than risk him seeing her body’s response as an invitation.
Just when Gwen had begun to think she was indeed headed in the wrong direction, she broke through the trees and saw the first sign of the city—a small gas station a little way off. It was dark of course; no lights, no customers, abandoned vehicles littering the parking lot. But it was a start. She’d make a pit stop to see if anything could be salvaged before continuing her trek to town. A lot more ground needed to be covered before she could find a place to rest for the coming day. It was possible Helion would shrug off her escape as no big loss but Gwen also needed to worry about human and Scourge enemies.
