by Zara Zenia
"Oh, this is lovely." Her eyes were wide as she took everything in. "I've seen some of your ship, but not this."
I led her to a bench under a skylight and we sat. "How long have you been here?"
"Four days, well five now." She smiled. "I didn't do much except pace in your living room for most of that." Her cheeks turned rosy. "A few times Kelly or Ariana got me to go for a walk on the beach, but mostly I just wanted to be close by to see what news we had of you."
"I am so sorry I wasn't here for you," I murmured.
"Don't apologize! I feel like I should be the one saying I'm sorry! I should have gone away with you when you asked all those times, but—"
"No, this isn't your fault, none of this is, it's all on Nora Morse. The woman has some sort of vendetta against us Trilyn."
"I know. Your brothers have told me most of what she's been up to this whole time. I wish I knew more how to help but she kept me in the Tower for the most part of the last four years or so. I had no idea about any of it." She cast her eyes down at the ground and a tear fell from her eye that she wiped away with the back of her hand.
"She kidnapped you and wiped your memories, you have nothing to explain. We will find her and settle this once and for all. And we will get your memories back for you."
She nodded and looked back up at me, a half smile on her lips. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
"You've done enough, just getting yourself away from her. The day I went to the Tower, I wanted to share everything we'd discovered, but now I'm thinking you may know all of it already. Did Kelly tell you everything she and Mei discovered about your past?"
Her cheeks turned bright pink again. "Yes, as well as… well… Kelly said that we were, um… genetically compatible." Her last two words came out in a whisper.
I grinned. "Did she also share that I said I didn't care if we were or not and I was marrying you either way?"
She bit her lip and the pink tint spread down her neck as her cheeks turned even more red. She nodded. "Yes," she squeaked. She took a breath and looked at me. "Are you going to ask me?"
"Are you going to say yes?" I said, grinning wider.
"Maybe you should ask and find out," she answered, but her lips were curved up in a grin.
I gripped her hands in mine and looked at her. "Laurie Forrester, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, my mate, my one and only, my Princess, and help me rule over the Solarin Islands on Trilyn, because if you say no, my heart will break, and I will never love another?"
She pulled her hands from mine and threw her arms around my neck. "Yes!" she agreed. "I love you, Rawklix. You have been my Prince from the first moment you wrote to me in my tower. I will follow you to the ends of the Earth and beyond." She pressed her lips to mine.
I swept her closer to me, pulling her into my lap. Our kiss deepened and I lifted her up into my arms. I wanted to take her somewhere and make love to her, but there were a dozen people in my quarters. Sighing I set her down on her feet, feeling as if I was still being kept from her.
"What's the matter?" she asked softly.
"My quarters are currently occupied by my entire family and the UEG. There is no place for us to have some privacy." I frowned.
Her face lit up and her cheeks turned red once more. "Come with me," she said, taking my hand. She hurried me back to the elevator and pressed the button for my floor.
"Where are we going? Everyone's in my rooms, we aren't going to be private there, you know."
She laughed as the elevator came to a halt. As the doors opened, she peered out then put her finger to her lips. She kept hold of my hand as we crept down the hallway past my quarters to the rooms next door to mine. The Princess Suite. She placed her palm on the door scanner and the door opened.
"How did you—" I started and then grinned. "Fellnix."
She nodded.
As soon as we were over the threshold and the door closed she was back in my arms. I lifted her again, picking her up and heading to the bedroom. I kicked the door shut behind us and then set her down on the bed, coming down over top of her as my lips captured hers in a passionate kiss. I slid my hands under her shirt, and up to the curve of her breasts. Her lips parted and my tongue danced against hers. Her hands moved from my neck and down to the bottom of her top. She pulled it up, breaking our kiss for half a second, and then she tossed the shirt away.
I broke the kiss again and looked at her, breathing huskily. "If you want me to stop, say so now, because I don't think I'll be able to if we go further."
She laughed and pulled my face back to hers, kissing me again. "Don't you dare stop," she said between kisses. "Not ever."
I pressed a kiss to her neck and pulled back for a moment. She pouted but then, as I took off my shirt, she moaned softly. Her fingers went to her bra and she unclipped it, tossing it off to the side. As I undid the button on my pants, she did the same on her capris as she kicked off her shoes. It was a slow motion strip tease, each piece of clothing flying in different directions until we came together at last.
I came over her again, kissing her lips, her neck, down to her breasts, taking her nipple in my mouth as I worshiped her body. "Have you ever?" I asked huskily.
She shook her head. "No… I've read a lot, but I've never been with anyone." Her words were soft and almost embarrassed.
"I'm glad," I said, trailing kisses down her stomach. I glanced up at her. "I'm glad I get to be your first, your only." I pressed a kiss against her thigh, teasing her.
"Me too," she panted, her stomach quivering as my fingers danced over her skin.
I kissed the soft curls between her thighs and dipped my tongue into her heat. She gasped as I licked her, her body arching up off the bed. I held her hips steady as I pleasured her.
"Oh God, oh God…" she cried out, her fingers scrunching up in the bedding, fisting it as if she were trying to hold herself back from flying away.
"Come for me," I whispered against her core, licking her more.
Finally she screamed my name with pleasure, her body shaking intensely as I made my way back up to her lips. She was still riding the orgasm as I pushed my length into her, and she cried out again. I held myself steady as I waited for her to acclimate to me.
"Are you ready for me to move?" I asked softly against her lips.
She nodded, her eyes meeting mine. "Please, Rawklix, please love me," she whispered.
"I do love you, so very much," I replied, pulling out slowly and then pushing back in as she made little whimpers and mewling sounds that drove me crazy. "God I love you," I murmured as I drove my hips into hers, repeatedly.
She arched her back, exposing her neck and I kissed her there, my hand gripping her breast and squeezing as I continued to make her gasp and cry out in pleasure. She came again, covering my cock in her slick heat. I would forever love the sound of her cries as she came. They were music to my ears. The most wonderful sounds I had ever heard in my life. I would never get enough of her.
"Rawklix!" she cried a few minutes later as we both came.
Our bodies were united, one being in their unity. Linked forever in passion and harmony. She owned my heart, my body, and my soul. I would forever be marked as hers. I held her close to me, not wanting to let her go as I rolled us over, so she rested upon my chest. I kissed her forehead, as we both tried to regain our breath.
"Oh my God," she panted. "That was even more amazing than I could have ever imagined." Her lips curved into a smile against my chest.
"I agree, my Princess." Feeling spent, I closed my eyes.
"Rawklix," she murmured.
I blinked my eyes open and gazed at her. "Yes, my Princess?"
"I love you. Please tell me we're going to do that again."
I chuckled. "Definitely, maybe just not right this second."
"Good. I would hate to think it was a one time thing." She grinned and rested her chin on her hand, which was on my chest. "Do you think there's any food in the kitchen?"
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"Are you hungry?" I questioned.
"Famished, but I don't want to go back to your quarters right now. I was hoping we could hide out here for a bit longer." Her cheeks turned pink as she bit her lip and gazed at me, her eyes wide and sparkling.
"Fellnix should have prepared the kitchen if you've been staying here—"
"Then no, it's probably not. I've only been sleeping in here. I've eaten all my meals in your quarters while we waited for word on you."
I sighed. "Then we are probably out of luck." I slid my hand over the small of her back, drawing her closer to me. I kissed her soft lips and smiled. "How about a shower, and then we can go find some food and maybe sneak away again."
Her stomach rumbled softly, and she giggled. "I guess we better. I haven't eaten anything today."
I sat up, pulling her up with me and we both got up from the bed. I took her hand and pulled her along with me to the luxurious bathroom. It had seen little use up until her arrival. Still it was as neat and tidy as if she'd barely made use of it. Only her hairbrush sat out upon the counter. She let go of my hand and moved to the counter, lifting her hair. She wound the plait into a bun on top of her head and pulled open a drawer, removing a pack of bobby pins and a hair tie.
"I am glad you have made yourself at home on my ship," I said with a smile.
Her eyes met mine in the mirror. She turned and looked at me. "Fellnix told me to, and I like to keep things tidy…" she sounded unsure.
"I like that about you," I said, pulling her back into my arms. "Though I think all of these things are going to have to be moved now."
"What? Why?" she frowned.
"Because I don't like the idea of you being over here all alone when you could be with me in my quarters."
"Oh," she murmured, her cheeks turning that wonderful pink again. "I thought… I thought maybe the Trilyn kept separate quarters like they used to do in the old days here on Earth. When the Kings and Queens and nobles used to have their own chambers." The blush spread down her neck again as she explained.
"I suppose some do, but I don't want that. I want you with me." I cupped her cheek and brought her face toward mine, kissing her lips. "Do you mind?"
"No, I'd rather be with you too," she replied.
"Good." I chuckled. "Come, let's shower and go see what Fellnix has cooking."
Chapter 23
Laurie
"There you two are! We've been looking everywhere," Lortnam said.
My cheeks felt hot and I glanced up at Rawklix.
"Obviously they needed some privacy, dear," Kelly commented, sounding amused. "But now that you've returned we can get to planning."
"Can it wait? I promised Laurie we'd eat," Rawklix replied.
"I have your lunch already prepared, my Prince, Princess." Fellnix gestured to the dining room.
"We'll wait for you in the living room, don't dawdle," Akrawn said with a grin.
Darbnix shook his head at Akrawn. "Don't mind him. Take your time. We'll just catch you up when you join us."
I blew out a breath of anxiety and turned my face into Rawklix's shoulder. "They all know what we've been up to."
Rawklix chuckled. "Probably. Come, let's eat before we join them."
I nodded and went into the dining room with him. Fellnix stood to the side, ready to serve us. "Thank you, Fellnix, it smells delicious."
"It does, thank you, Fellnix."
"My pleasure." Fellnix smiled. He poured us each a glass of wine and then said, "Is there anything else I might get you?"
"This will be fine, Fellnix, thank you."
He nodded and left us to our meal. He'd made us a stew with homemade rolls that smelled heavenly. They were even still warm as I slathered on some fresh butter that melted into the bread nicely. My first bite was so good, I moaned.
"If you make sounds like that when you eat, we're going to end up back in bed sooner rather than later." Rawklix's eyes twinkled at me.
I laughed. "It's just so good."
"Fellnix is the best cook on two planets, I keep telling him and he keeps out doing himself." Rawklix smiled.
We finished our food and then went to join the others. It was tight quarters in the living room, but Rawklix sat and then pulled me into his lap. It was only the adults in the room, I could hear the kids playing in Rawklix's bedroom. A quick look around told me most of the wives were in there as well, only Kelly, Cat, and Ariana remained with us.
"All right, let's catch you two up, shall we?" Agent Yadav said looking around the room. "Colonel Weiss has been able to give us valuable information on Ms. Morse and her varying companies around the world. So far a few of them have been destroyed, thanks to some of you." He smiled. "As to her motives, they are still unclear. Miss Forrester, do you have any more insight? Has she mentioned the Trilyn at all to you?"
"Please, call me Laurie, or Laura if you prefer. And only what I told you before. That she wants to save the Earth from the Trilyn. I don't know why she thinks the Earth is in any danger from the Trilyn, it seems to me they only want to help us."
"Exactly. So perhaps she is just a delusional sociopath," Rawklix replied.
"She is definitely psychotic," Jinurak added.
"She believes in what she's doing though," Ariana put in.
"She thinks what she's doing is for the greater good," Kelly commented.
"As I said. Delusional," Rawklix retorted.
"How does this help us?" the King asked.
"It doesn't really." Agent Yadav frowned. "I was hoping it would give us insight into where she might go having lost you and both her lab in Cutler Bay as well as the Castle and Tower."
"By my calculations," Colonel Weiss began, "there is an eight-five percent chance she has gone to the Fortress on Santa Catalina Island. It has the strongest firewalls, is a literal fortress and not so easily breached since it is on an island in the Pacific Ocean. She will have land mines surrounding the Fortress as she did with the Castle. If you pay attention, you can see the changes in coloring from where she's had them planted. Usually every ten feet."
"So Santa Catalina is our best bet?" Rawklix asked.
"It seems so," Manzar agreed. "I can have my men prepped and ready to go by tomorrow."
"You do have better trained and equipped men," Rawklix agreed. "I know the UEG wants in on this raid, but perhaps seeing as this war she's got going on is with us, I think it might be better to let us breach the Fortress and then the UEG come in and do clean up."
Agent Yadav frowned. "We lost some good people when we rescued Ariana with Jinurak, I would like to see that we actually capture her this time, if that means letting the Trilyn go in first, then I'm good with that. But we want her captured, not killed."
"Agreed," Manzar replied. "We'll do everything we can to take her alive."
"Everyone onboard?" Agent Yadav asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Then Prince Manzar, ready your men, we'll go in tomorrow morning, we'll plan for nine a.m. California time. I'll try to get some surveillance on the place to make sure she actually is there," Agent Yadav suggested.
"I'm going," I said quietly to the room.
Rawklix's arm tightened around my waist. "No."
"Yes. I want some answers. I deserve some answers from her."
"Miss Laura, perhaps you may question her after they take her into custody?" Colonel Weiss suggested.
I sighed. "Fine, but I'm going to the island. I'm not sitting back here and waiting, okay?"
Rawklix nodded. "Very well. I will let Manzar and his men handle everything, and I will stay with you a good distance away until they have her captured. Then we both can go, and you can ask your questions."
"Thank you!" I replied.
"Now, if you all don't mind, I'm going to take my soon to be bride out for the rest of the day," Rawklix said as he set me on my feet and stood up.
"Where are we going?"
He grinned. "That is a surprise."
"Have fun you two!" Aria
na and Kelly both called as we headed out of his suite.
We headed for his vehicle and then once we were seated, he put in a series of coordinates and the vehicle lifted up in the air, taking us to wherever he'd set it to go.
"Where are we going?" I asked again, watching out the window as the sights flew by.
"Somewhere I bet you haven't been in a very long time, if ever," he said with a wide grin.
"Well that could be anywhere!" I laughed.
"We're almost there, so you'll see in just a moment." He gripped my hand in his. "Just watch out the window."
The vehicle slowed down and as it settled into a parking space, I looked at the large building. "What is this place?"
"Dolphin Mall."
"The Mall? What are we doing here?" I asked, feeling like a little kid.
"Shopping?"
"For what?"
"For you."
"For me? But I don't need anything." I shook my head.
"Oh really? Do you have a bathing suit?"
"Well, no."
He grinned. "You're going to need one for what I have planned this afternoon."
We headed into the Mall and I was amazed at all of the stores. I mean I'd seen malls on tv and in movies, but I'd never been in one, at least I couldn't remember ever being in one. "Can we go in here?" I asked, pointing at a boutique shop.
"Whatever you want, we've got time."
I looked at everything, found a few things I liked and Rawklix encouraged me to try them on, which I did. He bought them all. Then we headed to another store and I found several wonderful pairs of shoes to go with them. Another store held all different kinds of lingerie and I think he wanted to go in, but I hurried past with a laugh.
"We'll do that kind of shopping later," he commented.
"I'll do that kind of shopping on my own, thank you," I replied, sure my cheeks were a bright pink.
Finally, we found a surf shop that held a wide variety of bathing suits. I tried on several and decided on a blue floral one-piece suit that Rawklix had called stunning on me. After that we headed back to the vehicle with all of my bags.
