River looked up at Torak, tears filling her eyes. “Star was hit. I don’t know if she is alive. I promised to kill him.”
Torak’s look softened at the pain in River’s eyes. Brushing her hair away from her face, he kissed her gently. He wanted to pull her into his arms but he did not want his blood on her. It would be too much as if it were hers.
“Come but you must listen to me.” Torak said. “Do you have any knives left?”
“Two.” River replied softly.
Torak nodded. “Do not you endanger yourself or our son, do you understand? If I tell you to leave, you must.”
River nodded silently. Torak looked down at River for a moment more before moving down the cave towards the rock ledge. Reaching the entrance they gazed down watching as Tai Tek looked back briefly before climbing aboard a Tearnat shuttle. Torak let out a curse. He spoke quickly into a com-link requesting the shuttle be intercepted and warning of a Tearnat star ship in orbit. River watched as the shuttle turned skimming the tall trees before disappearing over the mountains.
“Where do you think he is going?” River asked never taking her eyes off the retreating shuttle.
“They probably have a base camp hidden in the Forbidden Region. It will be difficult to follow as the area is heavily covered in a mist that never dissipates.” Torak said quietly pulling River closer to his side. “Let us return to the others.”
River looked up helplessly at Torak. “Torak, if Star…”
Torak shook his head, his fingers lying gently on River’s lips, “She has been taken to medical. Jazin is with her.”
River’s lips trembled as the stress of what had happened that evening caught up with her. She buried her face in Torak’s shoulder as a small sob escaped. She had never thought her life would turn out to be this way. She was fighting beside a man she loved on an alien planet. As River turned to look out over the river below, the twin moons casting diamonds on the water, she couldn’t help the protective hand that covered her stomach.
She looked up startled when Torak covered her hand with his, “I love you, River. I do not think my heart can handle any more threats to you.”
River gave Torak a watery smile, “Me either. Come, let’s get you to medical. I want you healed so you can love me.”
Chapter 23
River laid back on the bed watching as Torak dried his hair with a towel. The room was dark even though the sun had risen hours ago thanks to a simple command. They had returned to the South House to seek medical attention for Torak and to find out how Star was doing. Ajaska and Gril Tal Mod had finished off Tai Tek’s men who had not surrendered. Many of the men who had surrendered had sworn allegiance to the House of Kassis stating they had only done what they had because Tai Tek held members of their families, many who were women and children, in a prison under his House threatening to kill them if they did not fight for him. Kev Mul Kar and his brother, Adron, Tai Tek’s Captain of the Guard who had been working undercover for the Allegiance, had left to search and release the prisoners.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jazin so out of control.” River said as she traced her finger over the thin sheet covering her.
“If Gril Tal Mod’s mate had not gotten to Star when she did and taken her to medical it would have been much worse.” Torak said quietly throwing the towel down on the end of the bed.
River let out a deep sigh as she stared at Torak’s hard body. His chest was healed and he did not even bothered to wrap a towel around his waist when he came in from his shower. River had taken one an hour earlier while she waited for Torak to finish up with his father and brothers. Tai Tek had escaped for now. Gril Tal Mod was furious to know that some of his people planned to kill not only him, but his mate. They were now working together to find the rebels who supported his late son’s desire to continue the war. This confrontation created a stronger bond between the House of Kassis and the Clan of Tal Mol. Star would remain in medical for a few more days as she had lost a lot of blood and the healer thought it better to give Jazin more time to calm down. The last River heard from Jazin was ‘he was going to chain Star to his bed and never let her up again’. She had chuckled as Star rolled her eyes weakly before falling asleep on him.
River reached for Torak as he climbed into the bed next to her. She smiled as he pulled her tight against his body, “You know I have to punish you for disobeying me, don’t you?” He murmured as he began kissing her neck.
“Punish me?” River moaned. “I hope it includes ropes and clamps and…Oh yes, baby.” River breathed out as Torak moved over River clamping down on her nipple and pushing her thighs apart.
“You are lucky you are with child. Otherwise, I think a flogging would have been in order or at least a spanking you would never forget.” Torak murmured huskily.
River moaned again as the picture of Torak spanking her flashed through her mind. “You can do it if you are gentle.” She murmured against his mouth.
Torak moved between River’s thighs pushing his swollen cock against her slick entrance. “Not yet. Right now I want to love you slowly.” He whispered against her lips as he filled her. “I need to see your beautiful face as I make love to you knowing you are safe in my arms.”
River moaned as he pushed his thick length into her. She ran her fingers through his hair loving the feel of the silky texture. “I love you so much, Torak.”
Torak crushed River’s lips to his drinking her as he began moving slowly at first then more aggressively as his need to claim her took over him. Never again did he want to experience the fear of losing River. As he kissed her shoulder, her neck, her face and her lips he felt his climax building to a level he had never experienced before as if all his love for her was about to explode from him. He cried out as River clamped down on him, her own climax breaking over her in power waves of ecstasy. His body jerked as he released the last of his seed deep into her womb. At the thought of how close he had come to once again losing River and their unborn son, his shoulders began to shake.
River ran her hands over Torak’s shoulders and down his back feeling a hot dampness on her neck. “Torak, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?” River asked anxiously stroking him.
Torak leaned back before rolling over and pulling River on top of him. “I can never lose you, River.” His hand moved down to her stomach and lay there gently. “You are my mate and the mother of my son. I cannot stand the thought of the danger you were in this past night. It could easily have been you who had been hurt, killed.” He whispered.
“But, it wasn’t. You saved me.” River said giving Torak a kiss. “You are my protector, my mate, and the father of my son. Together we will protect him. As long as we are together we are stronger.”
“Together, forever.” Torak said with a smile before rolling over and kissing River.
“Now, I think I am ready to give you your punishment.” Torak said with a sexy grin.
River’s giggle turned to a moan as she moved beneath Torak’s growing length. “I’m looking forward to it. Now, about those ropes…” she murmured.
The End.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
S. E. Smith has always been a romantic and a dreamer. An avid writer, she has spent years writing, although it has usually been technical papers for college. Now, she spends her evenings and weekends writing and her nights dreaming up new stories. An affirmed ‘geek’, she spends her days working on computers and other peripherals. She enjoys camping and traveling when she is not out on a date with her favorite romantic guy. Fans can reach her at
[email protected].
Additional Books:
Abducting Abby (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 1)
Capturing Cara (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 2)
Tracking Trisha (Dragon Lords of Valdier: Book 3) Coming in June 2012
River’s Run (Lords of Kassis: Book 1)
Tink’s Neverland (Cosmos’ Gateway)
Lily’s Cowboys (Heaven Sent)
; S. E. Smith, River's Run
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