“What?” Reid taunted. Neither of them had moved from their place on the ground. “Afraid she’d fail? Afraid I’d be able to woo her to my bed easily enough?”
Quinn gulped and couldn’t speak. Standing, he turned to glance at Tori. Her attention was turned to Vitto and they were whispering. They did indeed look cozy, sitting together on the fallen log. “I’ll be back. I’m going for a walk.”
“A walk?” Reid repeated. “But, we just stopped walking.”
Quinn ignored him, storming off into the forest. He didn’t want to hear Reid’s damned logic. He just wanted his life to go back to the way it was before Tori Elliot stumbled into it. He wanted to laugh and feel carefree again. Growling, he began to jog. He needed to get away from her. That New Earth scientist was likely to drive him mad.
32
Tori sighed, enjoying the cold trickling waterfall spilling over her shoulders. The small pool was carved into the smooth, red tinted rock, which kept it from getting contaminated by the surrounding swampland. Just to be sure, they’d tested it before she got in.
The day was so warm and, after hiking for several hours, her clothes had stuck uncomfortably to her skin. Turning, she let the water hit over her breasts. She was about as clean as she was going to get, but she couldn’t bring herself to get out. Her head tipped back, as she thought of what she was doing on the strange planet.
To her surprise, she found her relationship with Quinn stressed her out more than her duty as a scientist. Just thinking about him made her heart ache, and there was nothing she could do to make it stop. She couldn’t run tests, make charts, develop theories. For, in the end, one thing remained constant, she didn’t know what Quinn was thinking.
Tori hated uncertainty. It was one of the reasons she liked being a scientist. She liked having a plan of action. She liked finding a solution to a problem. But, in all her life, she’d never faced a problem like she did now. Part of her said that it didn’t matter at all what she did or felt and that she would soon be leaving Qurilixen and Quinn behind for good.
Hearing a splash near the rocky shore, she turned in surprise. Quinn came at her, walking through the shallow water to where she stood. He still wore his clothes. They stuck seductively to his skin where the water splashed up on him.
Tori tried to cover her breasts, as she said, “Quinn, what are you doing here? Someone might see us.”
“We need to talk,” he answered. His face was hard, not giving anything away as he came to stand before her. The breeze blew his untamed hair over his shoulders. His bright blue eyes blazed with a hint of liquid gold-green. He looked fierce, wild. Her heart fluttered in her chest, and her knees nearly buckled beneath her.
“About what?” Tori asked, breathless. A buzz sounded in her ears, making her feel faint. Her body remembered their last joining in the hall of the palace. She’d never done anything as dangerous as being with him in public. It thrilled her. She wanted to do it again. Her eyes dipped down over his solid frame. The breeze hugged his shirt to his back, whipping it back and forth over his firm stomach.
“Us.”
She shivered. The admission didn’t seem to bring him much pleasure. It could only mean one thing. He was going to break it off completely. Tori didn’t move. Whispering, she asked weakly, “What about us?”
“How do you do it?” he demanded, his expression becoming almost desperate.
“What do I do?” Tori leaned back, unsure about what was wrong with him. His eyes filled with green and the pupils elongated slightly. She panted—excited, fearful, aroused.
“I’m trying to understand,” he admitted, his voice low and soft. His eyes narrowed and moved down her neck to her covered breasts as if seeing them for the first time. For a moment, he stared at them like a man starved.
“What did I do?” Tori asked again, heated by his possessive gaze on her body. She felt very exposed standing naked before him.
“You don’t trust me at all, do you, Tori?” he answered at length. His hand reached as if he would touch her but then fell back.
“What are you talking about?” Tori trembled. “I don’t understand what is happening here.”
“I’m talking about testing my DNA for Doctor Martens’ murder. You could’ve asked me for a hair sample. You didn’t have to resort to deceit. I would’ve given it to you freely. But what hurts more is, after all we’ve been through together, that you could possibly believe I was a murderer.” Quinn’s chest rose and fell with hurried, frustrated breaths. “I want to know...when you and I...was it just to get a DNA sample from me? Is that why you let me take you in the hall like that? Were you just doing your job?”
“No, Quinn, I, yes, I did take a sample, but not in the hallway, not when you think.” A blush stained her cheeks as she thought of her back pressed up against the wall. “It was before when you kissed me outside King Kirill’s office. That’s when I took the sample.”
Quinn looked at Tori, his heart beating a thunderous rhythm in his chest. When he’d heard Grant and Vitto laughing about it, he’d just assumed it’d been the last time they were together. To know she took the sample before she’d even known for sure that it was a Var who committed the act, hurt worse. Everything else that he’d been about ready to confess to her slipped away and he couldn’t speak.
“Quinn, you tested fine. It’s not you,” she said as if that made it all better. Her rounded eyes looked up at him.
Quinn frowned. “I know it wasn’t me. I told you that, but obviously my word wasn’t good enough for you, was it Tori?”
“No, science... We have to deduce logically …” Tori tried to explain.
“This has nothing to do with science, Tori.” Quinn didn’t want to hear it. She was always about the work. Forgetting about him for work. Running out on him for work. Ignoring him for work. He was tired of being second to her job. “Not everything in the universe has to fit into a nice scientific package.”
“But—”
“This has everything to do with us, you and me.” Quinn’s fingers lifted to her cheek but did not caress. “It has to do with you not trusting me when I told you I didn’t hurt Doctor Martens. You didn’t believe that I just found him. After what we’d been through together—”
“What, I should trust you because we have sex? Because you...” Tori’s face turned red with anger. She dropped her hands from her breasts to scream at him.
Quinn shot forward, grabbing her roughly in his arms. His hand slipped over her cheek, tangling back into her dark wet locks. He pressed her back into the rock and growled viciously, “Is that all this is to you? Huh, Tori? Is this just sex? Am I just another conquest to fill your time on some planet? Fine, if that’s what you want from me, that’s exactly what you’ll get.”
Quinn wanted to scream with the pain rolling inside him. His lips pushed forward, taking her mouth in a bruising kiss that was meant to punish her for making him feel. He poured all his frustration onto her, prying her lips apart with his tongue, grinding so hard his teeth bumped into hers.
Tori’s arms wound up to his shoulders. She pushed lightly to get him to back off. She tried to kiss him back, but he didn’t allow it.
Mindless with rage, he freed himself from his clothes with one hand, still holding on to her head with the other. Letting his hard arousal free, he drew his lips back. Even now, he wanted her, needed her desperately. He felt a void when she wasn’t around. It was getting worse as the days passed. He was under a spell, her spell, and he wanted to be free of it.
“Quinn,” she whispered. When he looked at her, she didn’t appear to be upset. She looked aroused. It was too much. Her words whimpered from her throat, begging him to continue. He couldn’t stop if he wanted to. “Ah, Quinn, please. Now.”
Lifting her up against the rock near the falling water, he brought himself right next to her, supporting her with his hands. Her legs wrapped around his back. Her fingers clutched his shoulder, gripping tightly as she opened herself up for him. She pulled at his j
aw, lifting his mouth up to hers so she could kiss him. Her kiss was tender compared to his. When he entered the warmth of her body, it was with an urgency they both felt.
“Quinn,” she whispered, over and over. “Ah, Quinn, Quinn...”
Heat curled within them as they joined. He thrust, strong and sure within her, touching her deeply. Tori moaned into his mouth, and he returned the sentiment twice as loud. His hips pumped wildly into hers, pressing her back. She couldn’t escape, didn’t even try. The tension built, washing over him from between her thighs. His eyes possessed her as he stared deeply into her. When his body finally exploded inside her, she whimpered, holding onto him as she reached her own violent release.
33
A slow clap sounded over the bathing pool. “Wonderful show, my prince!”
Tori yelped in surprise, leaning to look over Quinn’s shoulder. Her body had felt so wonderful pressed into his and now that pleasure drained as calm green eyes met hers from the shoreline. The man stood alone. He was shorter in stature for a Var male with long graying black hair that flowed freely over his shoulders. Even without the gray, she’d have been able instantly to tell his age. There was a strange carriage to him as if he had power, respect, plans.
Quinn dropped her to her feet and quickly laced up his wet pants. For a moment, his bright blue eyes met hers. She saw the firm expression on his face, the tense working of his clenched jaw. She read a silent warning in his gaze and nodded. He turned his back on her to face the intruder.
Tori watched his muscles flex, as he took off his shirt and thrust it back at her. Grateful, she pulled it over her head. It was wet in spots and stuck to her thighs, but she didn’t care, as she pulled the laces together to hide her nakedness. Pushing her wet hair back from her face, she tried to move to his side. Without even looking, his arm shot out and stopped her progress. He pushed her once more behind his back.
“Lord Myrddin,” Quinn said, his voice flat as he nodded his head.
Lord Myrddin!
Tori tried to lean over to get another look at the man. This time when Quinn pushed her back it wasn’t as gentle. She gasped as she stumbled into the trickling water, wetting the shirt even more.
“My prince,” Lord Myrddin answered.
Tori could hear the smirk in his words, the disrespect. Her body stiffened. Eyeing Quinn’s naked back, she couldn’t help feeling protected. She quietly leaned over to peek between his arm and side, angling her head so Quinn wouldn’t hear her doing it. The man on the shore hadn’t moved.
“I’m curious, my prince. Aside from the most obvious,” Lord Myrddin grinned at them with meaning, but the look was not pleasant, “what brings you to my shadowed marshes?”
Tori shivered. This man made her very nervous.
“We were on our way to see you,” Quinn answered. His hand lifted to rest on his hip, unintentionally making it easier for her to see.
“Oh?” Lord Myrddin’s eyes met hers and he nodded briefly. Quinn stiffened. “Why don’t you let your lady out of hiding, my prince, and introduce us?”
“Quinn?” Tori whispered.
“My lady is not prepared for company. If my lord would be so kind as to come back later, I’d be happy to make the introduction at that time.” Quinn’s arm lowered, and she frowned. His voice rang with authority, as he stepped forward. Tori followed behind him.
“Ah, if we are doing away with formality, then let’s not pretend ignorance. I assume you are the Doctor Elliot, come to save us from ourselves?” Lord Myrddin asked, raising a brow.
“My brother, the king, requests you join him at the palace.” Quinn didn’t move, and Tori thought it better not to speak.
“Three noble princes sent to request my presence?” The man laughed. “It sounds a little suspicious, don’t you think? Why not send a missive to my home?”
“We tried that,” Quinn said. “There was no response.”
“Ah, so it wasn’t a request, but an order,” Lord Myrddin answered, waving his hand in the air. “How interesting. The new king thinks he can order me, an elder. I’ve been in power longer than he’s drawn breath.”
“He is your king,” Quinn stated in warning.
“Things have a way of changing, my prince,” Lord Myrddin answered.
“Quinn?” Tori’s voice shook as she touched his arm.
“Your father was a king. Now there was a man who knew how to rule. He was bold, courageous. He knew what had to be done, and he did it, without second thoughts and without remorse. The Var people have waited for him to act, and yet Kirill has not.” A large Var stepped onto the shore behind Myrddin.
“Quinn,” Tori whispered again, edging closer. Again, he didn’t answer, didn’t turn to look at her.
“Instead,” Lord Myrddin continued, ignoring her as well, “he takes a queen, weakening the Var throne and the Var future. Does he avenge his father by taking arms against the Draig? No, he makes friends with our ancient enemies, invites them into his home, makes them welcome, talks peace in King Attor’s hall. He leads them onto my land, shows them our secrets.”
“The king has his reasons for what he does.” Quinn took another step toward shore and Tori stayed right behind him, touching his side lightly. “As for your land, this is the king’s land by birthright and he can go where he pleases with whom he pleases. It was necessary, for the safety of our people as well as the Draig, to—”
“Take our weapon? Ruin our plans?” Lord Myrddin asked, smirking. “We can get another weapon and will. All you did was delay the inevitable. Mark my words, with or without your brother, the Draig race will be annihilated.”
“To use that weapon would be to kill the Var as well as the Draig,” Tori shot, moving forward. Quinn grunted in anger. His hand darted forward to stop her.
“Acceptable losses in the battle we face, my dear,” Lord Myrddin answered. His composed green eyes shifted, darkening with rage and hate. Bitterly, he spat, “Tell me, my prince, are you a life mate as well to this creature? It’s hard to believe King Attor’s line would’ve turned out so weak. It’s a blessing he’s not here to see it. Although, if he was here, Kirill would never have married, and the Draig would already be dead.”
Another Var stepped out of the forest, and then another. Soon the shoreline was filled with them. In the back, Tori saw Vitto and Grant. They were bound and gagged. Their limp bodies didn’t move, and they were draped over the sides of a hideous looking creature. The beast had a center horn protruding from its skull, the eyes of a reptile, the face and hooves of a beast of burden, and the body comparable to that of a small elephant.
“Three princes all delivered up to me,” Lord Myrddin laughed, prompting his men to do the same. “What a fortunate day this is...for me.”
Tori stared at her brother and Grant, feeling ill. She wanted to go to them, but her path was blocked by several burly Var soldiers. She glanced at Quinn. His darkened eyes met hers briefly. He was trying to tell her something, but she couldn’t understand. She wasn’t trained for these situations.
“Lord Myrddin,” Tori said, trying to reason with him. “Please, let us go. You don’t want this. We are scientists for the Human Intelligence Agency. If we disappear, they’ll send an army after us to find out what happened. They already know about the cave, and I’ve reported the black moss situation. Do you really want all those foreigners here, invading your planet, finding your secret laboratory within the cave? Please, I can help you. Tell us what happened in the lab, what you were trying to do, and we can try to fix it. If we don’t, this whole planet could be dead within a decade.”
Everyone was quiet for a long time, staring at her. Tori swallowed, hoping they were considering her offer. Suddenly, Lord Myrddin burst out laughing. “My sweet lady, thank you for your offer to help. As it turns out, I planned on you helping me, along with those two there.” He jerked his thumb at Vitto and Grant. “You’re one of the reasons I’m here.”
Tori paled.
“You’re not going to disap
pear, Doctor Elliot, you’re going to work for me.” Lord Myrddin lifted his hand and motioned. Quinn growled, partly shifted as he jumped up from the pool to the shore. His claws brandished like knives, he swung for Lord Myrddin’s throat. Someone anticipated the move and shot Quinn in the side with a dart. He fell over, instantly weakened, barely drawing blood on Lord Myrddin’s cheek. The elder didn’t move from his place.
“You stupid...” Lord Myrddin cursed, touching his cheek. Seeing the blood, he kicked the fallen prince in the gut, viciously.
Quinn grunted. Tori screamed. His eyes darted to her. She took a step back. Var men leaped into the pool, surrounding her. She tried to step away from them and only succeeded in walking straight back into one of them, who caught her.
“Let me go,” Tori demanded, kicking and struggling. “Quinn!”
Quinn grunted, but she couldn’t see him. Tori fought harder. Lord Myrddin sighed and stepped over the shore to the strange mount. He gripped Vitto’s head by the hair and lifted it up. Taking a blade from his belt, he whistled for attention. Tori saw the blade glint with sunlight and instantly went still with panic.
“Cooperate, Doctor Elliot,” Lord Myrddin warned, not even needing to lay voice to the rest of the threat.
Tori shook violently, terrified beyond anything she’d ever felt. But, knowing Quinn was near brought her comfort. She turned to look for him. The shoreline was empty. He was gone.
Lord Myrddin dropped Vitto’s head and stormed to the shore once more. He growled in outrage and, turning to the man closest to where Quinn had been, threw the knife into the man’s heart. The Var soldier gasped and fell to his feet. No one moved to help him as he died almost instantly.
Pointing at the guards in the pool, he ordered, “Go. Find him. He’s drugged so he couldn’t have gone too far.”
The men who held her let go. She was too numb to move as they all ran off into the forest. The remaining guard stood on the shore, not moving to capture her.
The Playful Prince Page 14
