by Karen Kelley
The craft was small, with a large window. He imagined Rianna would be terrified to travel anywhere in it.
“Have you completed your mission?” A soft feminine voice came through the speakers.
“No.”
“Are you ready to leave Earth?”
“No.”
“You seem tense. Is there a problem?”
Yes, she was starting to get on his nerves. His brother had made sure he would have all he needed for the journey, including having his craft programmed with a female monitor so he would not get lonely on his mission. Right now, he was tired of all females.
That was a lie. He wasn’t tired of Rianna. Even now, she filled his thoughts. He wasn’t sure what to do about her. This mission was nothing like any battle he’d ever fought, and he didn’t know how to win. She used everything in her powers to conquer him. Rianna fought with sad eyes, angry eyes, and a smile that made him want to lay his sword at her feet and vow his undying love. When her eyes filled with tears, she could take him to his knees. How did someone fight against that?
“Prince Kristor?”
He ran a weary hand over his eyes. “I’m fine. I only need to think.”
“Of course. I will leave you to your thinking.”
Good.
Annoying, that’s what the monitor was. He had a feeling Rogar had the female voice installed for just that purpose. Kristor had made a wrong turn around Mars and the monitor had acted as if it was the end of the world.
He shook his head. The voice was computer programmed. A mere chip, not as big as his smallest fingernail, yet here he was, acting as if she had form and substance.
Earth had made him crazy. Correction: Rianna had made him crazy. Even now he could close his eyes and imagine her naked body pressed against his. Did she feel the same way? Did she need him as much as he needed her?
He suddenly sat straight up in his chair. That was it. She did need him. He knew it with every fiber of his being. She would miss him after he left. He would give her a taste of what it would be like without him around.
I don’t think that’s a good idea, Labrinon said. If you’re not around, she will forget about you.
I don’t think so, Kristor said.
Are you willing to take that chance?
Yes, I am. I have no other choice.
And if it doesn’t work?
I’ll throw her over my shoulder and force her to leave with me.
She won’t like that. What will you do then?
I will seduce her all over again. He grinned, liking his plan. It definitely had merit.
If you would have listened to me, you could have already done that and be home. I suspect if you go along with that plan it will hurt more than help. She is your lifemate.
He sobered. Yes, I know. For that very reason, I can’t leave without her.
But could he win her back if he used force? His bed might be cold for many passings of the moon before he could convince her that he hadn’t had a choice.
Chapter 23
Where was he? Ria’s mother said Kristor hadn’t been staying in her old room. They hadn’t seen him at all. Ria walked to her shop’s large plate-glass window that looked out onto the street.
The usual traffic drove down the two-lane road. There were the same people that she saw every day strolling down the sidewalk, as they went about their daily routine. Some just walked for the exercise, mostly older people. The park wasn’t far.
Then there were the ones who didn’t care as much about exercising anymore and sat on one of the benches. They watched the day slowly pass, or met up with others to talk about days gone by.
But as Ria scanned the area, she didn’t even catch a glimpse of Kristor. Two days had passed, and nothing. Had he decided she was a lost cause, and gone back to New Symtaria?
A shiver of fear ran down her spine. What if the rogue Symtarians found her? What if they came after her? She had no way of protecting herself.
The bell above her door jangled and Carly came inside.
“I waved, but it was as if you didn’t even see me. You must have been really lost in thought.”
“Unfamiliar territory?” She smiled at her attempt at humor, but knew it was weak at best.
“What’s the matter?” Worry creased Carly’s brow.
Ria glanced toward Jeanie, who was filing papers at her desk, and gave an imperceptible shake of her head. Carly glanced at her watch.
“It’s lunchtime. I dropped by to see if you wanted to get something to eat. Do you have any appointments?”
She shook her head. “And Katie is coming in to take care of the afternoon ones.”
“Then get your purse.”
“I don’t want to leave Katie alone again.”
“Is she any good?”
“She’s great.”
“Are you the boss?”
“Okay, okay. Let’s go.” She grabbed her purse out of her office and they walked to the Dairy Queen. Ria couldn’t deal with Donald today, so they passed by his restaurant.
After placing their order, they found a booth in the back, away from the crowded front.
“Now, tell me what’s going on? You look as if you’ve gotten some really bad news. Whatever it is, we can work through it.”
“It’s Kristor.”
“Did you two have a fight? Whatever it was about, you can work it out.”
Ria’s eyes widened. “I didn’t think you liked him. I would’ve thought it would make you happy if he left and never came back.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want you leaving with him, and I’m still not sure I trust him completely, but the other night when we went out, I saw how much you both care about each other.” She shrugged. “And he certainly didn’t act like a criminal.”
The waitress brought their drinks and burgers and set the tray down between them. They waited until she’d left before resuming their conversation.
“And there’s something else, too,” Carly said.
“What?”
“Well, Neil likes him, and he’s a good judge of character. I trust his opinion.”
“Really?”
Carly picked the pickles off her burger, eating them one by one as she’d done for as long as Ria had known her.
“We’re going out again.” She sighed, a dreamy expression on her face. “He’s exactly what I’ve needed. He makes me feel so alive.” She blushed. “He thinks I’m beautiful.”
“You’ve always been beautiful.”
Carly shook her head. “Not before you took me shopping.” Her eyes narrowed. “Do you know my brothers thought it was just terrible that I’d changed the way I look?”
Ria didn’t doubt that for a second. “So what did you tell them?”
“That they were full of bull, and that when I see them dating frumpy women, I might go back to dressing like I used to. That shut them up quick enough.”
Ria chuckled. “Then the waxing was worth it?”
“Yeah, it was.”
They ate in silence for a while. Ria could tell there was something else on her friend’s mind. She clearly wanted to ask something, but it didn’t look like she would without a little prodding.
“Okay, what else do you want to know?”
Carly took a deep breath, setting her burger on the paper wrap. She opened her mouth, but then snapped it closed. “It’s nothing, really. Stupid, in fact.”
“What? Now you have to tell me.”
“Okay, but don’t get upset.”
“I promise. Now what?”
“Are you pregnant? Is that why Kristor left? It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me, but I want you to know that if you are, I’m here for you. Anything you need, just name it.”
Silence.
Then Ria burst out laughing. She tried to smother it when people turned to stare. “Where in the world did you hear that?”
“My mother heard it from Wanda, who heard it from Becky. She heard it from Sandy, and I think she got it from Till
y, who said you admitted it in the ladies’ room at the mall when you were having morning sickness.”
“I’m not pregnant.”
Carly released a deep breath. “Good. Especially since Kristor skipped out—” Her face took on a rosy hue. “I mean, since he, uh. I’m sorry, Ria. I hoped to make you feel better, but I think I did the opposite.”
“You did make me feel better. You always do.” But she couldn’t help wondering about Kristor and where he was. What if his animal guide had been shot while soaring through the sky? No, she would not even go there. But where was he?
It doesn’t appear as if she’s too distraught that you’re not around, Labrinon said as he perched high on a building and watched Rianna and her friend, Carly, leave the eating establishment. Rianna smiles and laughs as if you were never in her life.
Kristor had to admit that Labrinon was right. He’d only thought Rianna cared about him. She would not suffer emotionally if he left. She would easily move on with her life.
He watched through the eyes of the hawk as she hugged her friend good-bye, then got in her car and drove toward her house without a care, without a worry.
Leave. Now. I don’t wish to watch her any longer, Kristor said.
What will you do?
Just go back to the craft.
Kristor closed his eyes as Labrinon caught the air currents that would take them back. But closing his eyes didn’t stop the anger from building inside him. How could Rianna not care about what they had shared? It was as though she had tossed their whole relationship away.
Did she not realize he would probably go crazy without his lifemate? Did she not care that she would destroy him?
Labrinon glided into the craft, landing on one of the chairs. The change began. Kristor welcomed the burning sensation, the pain that accompanied shifting. And when he was back to himself, he dressed, his movements stiff as he tried to contain his anger. Then he climbed on his motorcycle and went to Rianna’s house. He would confront her.
Her car was parked in the driveway. He pulled in beside it and turned the key off. She didn’t even come to the door in greeting. Had she already dismissed him? How could she so easily wipe him from her mind when all he could do was think about her? Every waking moment he’d been consumed with thoughts of her. And when he’d slept, his dreams had been filled with visions of Rianna.
As Kristor climbed the steps and walked across her porch, he understood why some men were driven crazy without their lifemate. He thought he might already be halfway there.
He opened the door and went inside. Rianna still didn’t rush to greet him. His frown darkened as he strode to the kitchen. Empty. He listened. Heard water running. It stopped.
He turned on his heel and marched to the bedroom. He was halfway across the room when the bathroom door opened. Rianna looked up, slapping her hand to her chest. It was all Kristor could do to take a breath. She stood there with a towel on her head and one wrapped around her body.
“Kristor?” Tears filled her eyes.
Oh, no, he hadn’t meant to make her cry. He’d expected anything except tears.
She launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck. “Where have you been? I’ve been so afraid something happened to you. That you were hurt or dead. That you might have left without saying good-bye. I’ve missed you so much.”
His anger evaporated. All that mattered was that she did care. He had a feeling she’d only let him win a few skirmishes. Rianna had won the battle. But if he took her back by force, would he lose everything?
“Kiss me,” she said against his neck, the warmth of her breath igniting the flames inside him.
He lowered his lips to hers, tasted her once more. By the gods, he’d missed holding her close, loving her. He caressed her tongue with his, gently stroking, when all he wanted to do was throw her onto the bed and plunge inside her heat. He held back, though it took a supreme effort on his part.
He ended the kiss, buried his head in her neck, and breathed in the fruity aroma of her hair. His hands slid down her back, tugging at the towel until it came loose. He stepped back and gazed upon her beauty.
Full breasts, a tiny waist, gently curving hips, and a flat stomach, but the thatch of dark curls covered what he most wanted. He wanted to feel her legs wrap around him and pull him in deeper before much more time passed.
“I want you,” he said.
“I want you, too.”
He jerked his T-shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor. He shoved the button through his jeans, then jerked the zipper down, before shoving them and his briefs to the floor.
“I don’t know how much longer I can wait,” he warned, then almost lost it when he saw she was looking at his erection, not his face.
“Me either,” she said, then dragged her eyes upward as he kicked his clothes away. “You shouldn’t have stayed away. Why did you?”
“Because I’m a man, and a warrior, and we often do stupid things when we’re around women.”
He picked her up, then laid her on the bed, joining her. She parted her legs, but he would do nothing to hurt her. He slipped two fingers inside her and discovered she was already damp with need. The pressure inside him built. He moved between her legs, slipped inside and, for a moment, didn’t move. He wanted to savor everything about her. The way her body automatically tightened around him, enclosing him in the liquid fire that was her body. He almost lost it when she wrapped her legs around his waist, sucking him deeper inside her heat.
“More,” she whispered.
He growled, rose above her, then plunged deeper.
“Yes, harder.”
He watched her face in the throes of her passion. The way she bit her bottom lip, strained toward that first quiver that would overtake her body.
She rose to meet each thrust, her breath coming out in little pants. Straining, drawing nearer.
“More,” she cried out.
He plunged deeper, faster, harder.
Her body tightened. She gasped. A tear slid from the corner of her eye.
The fire built inside him. He drew almost all the way out of her body, then sank back inside. Fire licked at his erection as her heat stroked down his length, then back up.
And then he came. Explosions of light went off around him as intense pleasure filled his mind and body. He sank into her softness with a moan of deep satisfaction before rolling to his side, taking her with him, pulling her against him.
“Don’t ever leave me again,” she murmured.
He barely heard her words. Didn’t answer. He wasn’t sure it was a promise he could keep. At least, not without causing her pain.
They clung to each other, as though they knew their future was uncertain at best. Would they even have one together?
She sighed, her breathing even. He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes as the familiar burning pain gripped him. He used to welcome the shift after sex so he wouldn’t have to answer a lot of questions. But now he only wanted to feel Ria’s body pressed against his, grasping every moment as if it might be their last.
Chapter 24
Ria woke to the sound of her shower running. She grumbled as she rolled over in the bed. Then it hit her. Kristor was back, and all was right in her world. Butterflies fluttered inside her stomach.
She stretched and yawned. There was a thump under the bed. She leaned over the side and raised the dust ruffle. “Hello,” she told her cat.
“Meow.”
Ria smiled. Ruffles looked pretty satisfied. The cat closed its eyes and visions of chasing a mouse filled Ria’s head.
She stilled.
Why would she imagine that? She looked at the cat again. Ruffles had gone back to snoozing.
Okay, no more concentrating. She didn’t even want to see Ruffles catching the stupid mouse or what she would do with it when she did.
Ria rolled out of bed, grabbing her fluffy white robe, and slipping her arms inside. She was tying the belt when Kristor stepped out of th
e bathroom wearing only a towel knotted at the waist.
Good Lord, did he realize what he did to her? She wanted to pounce. Who wouldn’t? All that tanned exposed skin, sinewy muscles, broad chest, rock-hard abs…
“If you keep looking at me like that, I don’t think we’ll leave the house today.”
And that would be bad because…?
Her stomach rumbled. She had only picked at her lunch today and suddenly she was starved. She glanced at the clock. It was already four. Too early for dinner, but she had plenty of munchies. Cheese, crackers, fruit, and wine…then more sex. Oh, baby, that sounded good to her.
“I’ll shower and then see what I can hunt up for us to eat.”
“Hunt? I am a warrior. I will do the hunting.”
She chuckled. “Well, everything is in the pantry in the kitchen. Go for it.”
She watched as understanding dawned.
His smile was a little sheepish. “I thought you meant you would kill our food.”
“I know. Sorry, I couldn’t resist teasing you.”
“Teasing me?” He nodded. “I have a sister like that.”
It was difficult for her to wrap her mind around the fact he had a family on another planet far away. And that he would be joining them soon.
She cleared her mind of those thoughts. Not today. They would spend the day together and not worry about the future.
“I won’t be long.” She started past him, but he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Her arms entwined around his neck as she pressed her body closer.
They were both panting when he ended the kiss. For a moment, they held each other. She knew if she didn’t take her shower, it might be a while before she got that chance, and besides being hungry, she wanted to know everything about Kristor.
“I’ll join you in a few minutes.” She hurried inside the bathroom, closing the door behind her. He mumbled something about needing a cold shower. She grinned.
When she joined him in the kitchen, he was bending over looking at something on one of the lower shelves in the pantry. She stopped, staring at his nicely formed ass that was only covered by a bit of towel.
