She hastily snatched up her belongings and then called to him. “I’m through being an anchor around your neck. Consider your debt paid in full, Van Laven.” With that, she turned and headed into the thicket.
“What are you doing? We stay here for the evening.”
“No, you’ll stay here for the evening. From this point on, I’ll take care of myself.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” he said following her a few steps.
“So now I’m ridiculous and an anchor around your neck. It’s all the more reason you should be pleased to be rid of me,” she said before she dashed off into the foliage.
“Senseless, mule-headed woman. To hell with you!”
Comron groaned aloud in his mounting frustration. He paced anxiously as he considered what to do next.
Why did I have to lie and hurt her that way? Would spending one more night next to her have been worse than this?
A piercing shriek cut through the air.
“Vaush!”
He couldn’t clearly discern if the sound had come from a bird or a human. He waited but heard nothing until a flock of birds rose from the treetops.
He groaned again, raking his hands through his hair. All she wanted was to help me, to care for me the way I want to care for her. He stared out into the growing darkness. The thought of her out there alone, angry, and frightened tore at his soul. Before he realized it, he found himself gathering his things and making off in the direction she had gone.
Vaush stumbled through the darkness, hoping to find another clearing where she could rest for the night. She didn’t imagine she’d roam far from Comron, just far enough to make her point. Let him call after her all he wanted. She could survive one night without him. She didn’t need him. She didn’t need anyone so out of touch with his feelings. How could he be so deep in denial that he couldn’t admit that they shared something akin to friendship or more? Or was she the one in denial, refusing to believe him? Maybe his outburst contained the truth and all his acts were motivated strictly by a code of honor.
The thought stopped her dead in her tracks. What if she’d run off in vain? What was it that compelled her to read more into his actions? Was it the memory of what it felt like to be held in his arms, feeling the warmth of his body against hers, the way his piercing green eyes captivated her, the way her heart almost stopped whenever he flashed that cavalier grin of his?
She clasped her hands over her mouth and looked up into the darkening sky.
This can’t be happening!
She’d fallen hard for him and he thought of her as nothing more than an aggravating burden that had cost him a board seat. The pain and humiliation of his rejection ate at her till she grew angry. Even if he didn’t care for her, he didn’t have to be so obnoxious and cruel about it. All she had tried to do was help him. How she could have fallen for someone so diametrically opposed to everything she stood for was beyond her.
It did nothing to mitigate the bitter pain growing inside.
CHAPTER 20
Darkness was setting in fast as Comron hurried through the forest on the path Vaush had taken. “Vaush,” he yelled, as fear propelled him forward. “Where are you?”
But when he was greeted only with silence and growing darkness, hope began to fade. Despite the moonlight, it was nearly impossible to see in the dense wood. Navigating with any speed was proving to be more treacherous. It occurred to him that he might never find her, that he might never see her again. Unspeakable pain welled deep inside.
He entered a small clearing and his eyes darted around. “Vaush!” he called out with an ounce of hope. He waited but there was no reply. With final despair he yelled, “Damn you, Vaush! Where the hell are you?” But still his only reply was the stirrings of the night. Now anxiety was usurped by anger. Was she just toying with him? Tormenting him? His fists clenched into balls. He desperately needed to find her, but whether it was to hold her or throttle her was debatable.
At that moment, she emerged into the clearing. “Why are you following me?” she asked, devoid of emotion.
Seeing her unharmed, a sense of relief filled him and then abated, giving full reign to his anger. “You can’t stay out here on your own. We have to stay together.”
She looked incredulously at him, “We? We don’t have to do anything.”
Apologize to her and end this!
“If you had any sense in that head of yours you’d stop arguing with me and accept my help.”
“Look, I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but I thought I made it clear that I am no longer your burden.” She turned to walk away, but spoke over her shoulder, “Even if I were in the very clutches of death, I’d refuse to call for your help.”
“Stop!” The command in his voice paralyzed her. “You are my responsibility until we reach the shore. You’re not going anywhere unless I say so!”
Indignant, she clenched her fists and fixed him with a blistering glare. “Since when does House Bastionli take orders from Van Laven!” she screamed and took off into the night.
She didn’t get far before she heard the sounds of Comron crashing through the woods after her. She sped up, frantically wiping angry tears from her face.
“Vaush!” Comron grabbed her arm, spinning her to him.
She fought wildly. “Leave me alone. Take your hands off me!”
“Damn it, stop this.” He pulled her forcefully into his arms, leaving her little room to struggle. “Do you really want me to leave you alone?” he asked in a harsh tone, gripping her even tighter to end her struggle altogether.
Caught completely off guard by the maneuver, a gasp was the only response she could manage. Anger and desire battled for control as she felt the length of his body pressed firmly against hers.
“Do you really want to leave me, Vaush?” His tone softened, he moved closer and breathed into her ear. “Or do you want to know what I feel for you?”
The huskiness of his voice made the area between her thighs quiver; she would have collapsed had he not held her so tightly. All of her anger and resentment fell away in the gravity of the moment. As she looked up into his smoldering eyes, his mouth hovered temptingly within a breath of hers.
“This is killing me, Vaush,” he said in anguish as he brushed his lips against her cheek. “Please tell me you want this as much as I do.”
I must be dreaming! Before she could awaken, she grabbed his face, pressed her lips to his, and felt the exhilarating charge throughout her body. This was no dream!
He parted his lips to hers and they engaged in a slow deliberate kiss. She savored the feel and taste of him, breathing in his masculine scent. She couldn’t kiss him long enough to satisfy her, only an eternity in his arms would do. The slow burn heightened her need and urgency until it kindled a fire. Vaush opened her mouth wide at his urging. She drowned in his unrestrained passion, the stubble of his unshaven face grating wonderfully on her skin.
There was nothing else in the universe for her but the two of them eagerly exploring the wonders of each other. She felt herself melting into him, surrendering all her will to his hungry caresses.
It was a kiss that lasted forever, but ended all too soon.
It took Vaush a few seconds to realize that he’d stopped. Her eyes fluttered open to find him peering down at her. He never looked more enticing than he did at that moment, she was his; there was nothing she would deny him now.
“Do you have any idea of what you’ve done?” Comron whispered, kissing her face and neck. “You will be the end of me.”
“So this is all my fault,” she teased, arching her head back as his warm mouth drew kisses along her neck. “As if you can’t walk away from this.”
He paused a moment and she saw the troubled look in his eyes.
“Comron.” She tried to kiss him again, but he pulled back, withdrawing from her.
“Comron?” she asked, the sense of panic growing.
“I swear; I won’t let him hurt you. I’ll keep you s
afe.” He looked at her with painful longing. “I can’t go back to that life … not without you.” He closed the distance between them, holding nothing back as he pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her hard, slipping his tongue deep into her mouth. This time, she wouldn’t let him go, not for the world.
His breathing grew heavy as his hands roved her body with abandon. She pulled his shirt aside, kissing his chest, running her fingers through its hair. She never remembered feeling so ravenous and unrestrained. She wanted to devour him whole.
Arching her back, she pressed her breasts against him. His hand slipped under her shirt grabbing a breast, his hot mouth moving down to tease it for a bit. He grinned seductively when she moaned for more. She felt his large hands slide down her waist and around her hips, grabbing the fullness of her ass, squeezing handfuls. She thought that she would go mad with desire, and nearly did when he held her tight and tilted his hips forward against her, letting her feel the full hardness of his arousal against her flat belly.
She moaned appreciatively at the impressive feel of it. Looking up at him, she was startled by the predatory look that declared unmistakably, there would be no turning back, not now, not ever.
He spread his cloak upon the ground, then took her by the hand and drew her down to lay next to him. Held spellbound by the fervor in his eyes, she lay there as he gently moved over her, caressing her body, kissing her all over.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured softly. “So damned beautiful.”
Her pulse quickened when he unfastened her shirt and brassiere, moving his hungry mouth down to her breasts, his hands massaging and squeezing them. The tip of his tongue teased her nipples stiff, before he opened his mouth wide taking in her breast, sucking ravenously. She arched her back and moaned in response to the pleasure point pulsing below. His body writhed against hers. She felt his hardened member rubbing up against her thigh, letting her know how eager he was to sink it deep inside her. Her hands reached down, feeling him straining against the fabric of his pants. Her hands had a mind of their own as they quickly liberated him and grasped his shaft.
He moaned softly at her touch. Her eyes widened at its impressive size.
“Well, at least that rumor is true,” Vaush said in a smoky tone as she ran her fingers down the length of it.
Comron flashed her a wicked grin, then wrapped his large hand over hers, encouraging her to stroke him firmly. His eyes were closed, his expression was sublime, and his breathing was shallow. Abruptly, he pulled her hand away, determined not to peak too soon.
His hands moved to the closure of her pants. With a single, well-practiced move, he peeled off her pants and panties. He looked deep into her hazel eyes, holding her gaze, while sliding his hand slowly down between her thighs. His fingers slipped into her moistness, finding the bud already firm with anticipation. His fingers moved rhythmically over it, luring her toward ecstasy. He shifted his body, draping his leg over hers, rubbing his member against her bare thigh in time with the movement of his hand. His mouth eagerly returned to her breasts, tending to them masterfully.
As Vaush crested toward the peak, she was grateful and surprised that a man like Comron would be so skilled in the art of pleasuring a woman. She moaned and ran her hand down the length of his muscular arm, resting it on his hand as he stimulated her. Her fingers touched his family crest ring, reminding her that Comron was Nethicaen royalty, heir to the throne, sworn enemy to her house. Forbidden. That knowledge only served to heighten her arousal, and sent her careening toward ecstasy as he deftly brought her to climax.
Before Vaush could recover, Comron mounted her with a great sense of urgency. Her body tensed as she felt him open her and slide his shaft in deep, filling her to capacity. She braced herself, as he slowly began stroking inside her. Gaining a little confidence, she began to relax, which Comron seemed to take as an invitation to quicken the pace, sending himself even deeper inside her. As his momentum built, she tried to steel herself against his exertions.
He must have seen her squeezing her eyes shut. He panted in a gruff voice, “Am I hurting you, Vaush?”
“No,” she lied, determined to let him satisfy his need, thinking it probably would not get much more vigorous.
That was a mistake.
Comron shifted his weight, going deep and hard inside Vaush. She gasped and grabbed his hair roughly, which only served to heighten his arousal. Each of his powerful thrusts was punctuated with a grunt of satisfaction, sending wild sensations through her. Her body tensed around him as she watched his face, a portrait of sheer pleasure, magnificent in its singularity. She clung to his broad shoulders and commanded herself to relax.
And that’s when she really began to enjoy it, as her body gradually adapted to his size and force. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her hips rocking forward, keeping pace with his long, powerful strokes. She marveled at his stamina and control, as pleasure supplanted pain. As if growing desperate to achieve release, Comron drove harder into her, his hips hammering away like well-oiled pistons, as if he couldn’t go deep enough or fast enough. She felt his large hands firmly gripping her hips, driving them down hard, as he rammed into her. They both moaned loudly as their bodies pounded hard into each other, thrusting and rolling about in frenzied fits of passion, driving them both madly over the edge.
She reached it just before he did. A true master! Her whole body convulsed, screaming in sublime ecstasy.
“Ahh!!” he cried out as he came hard into her. She felt his pulsing release as he held her hips tightly, keeping himself buried deep within her. The sheer ecstasy continued to echo through them both, as they remained locked together savoring the pleasure.
So that’s what it’s like to be cocked Van Laven style, she mused, her head still reeling from the wild ride. Feeling the cool wet ground beneath her, she looked about, realizing that in the throes of passion they had moved a considerable distance from where they had begun.
She grinned, knowing that they were light years from where they had begun.
Comron lay there inside Vaush, remembering the strong currents of emotion that flowed through him as he made love to her. He experienced an overpowering need to possess her, to make her his, to penetrate her, both physically and emotionally. He needed this memory to be imprinted on her mind for life. With each powerful stroke, he sought to claim her, to boldly declare that she was his.
His to what purpose? All these thoughts led him to one inescapable conclusion.
In the quiet calm of the afterglow, he spoke the words in his native tongue, “Ji su naseo, Vaush.”
Her expression said she understood but could not believe he’d said it. “What did you just say?”
He lifted his head to look down at her with those piercing green eyes. “I said I love you, Vaush.”
Her mouth opened, but no words followed. She broke from his gaze, as if struggling with some internal conflict.
That’s when it occurred to Comron that while he’d wanted to give himself to her completely, all she’d been interested in was a farewell fling. He tried to hide his profound hurt and embarrassment. “It’s all right,” he said, finally disengaging himself from her. “You don’t have to say anything.”
She sat up, grabbing his arm. “Yes, I do.” She searched for the right words. “I’m … I’m overwhelmed.” She shook her head then smiled beautifully. “Ji su naseo, Comron. I love you too.”
His chest heaved and his eyes sparkled with delight. He took her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly. “Oh, Vaush, sweet angel.”
“Comron,” she said between kisses, “you do realize … our families will literally kill us if they find out.”
He stopped abruptly; his expression was stern and determined. “I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll keep you safe.”
“And who’ll keep you safe from Larrs? He hates you with an intensity that could melt the hull off a battle cruiser.”
“I’m not afraid of Larrs,” he said dismissively.
r /> “What about your father and your people?” she added, “How thrilled will they be to discover their future Duke has been cavorting with Bastionli?”
He gathered her into his arms. “Great discretion will be required on our part, but we will be together … always.”
CHAPTER 21
Convinced that Comron was steadily making his way toward the coast, Crausin decided to relocate the majority of his search party to Paitu Beach, the spot where Comron would likely show up.
Growing anxious to see the search come to a close and to greet Comron in person, he joined the team on the surface of Patheis there at Paitu Beach.
Tall palm trees dotted the shoreline, their branches swaying lazily in the early evening breeze. The twin moons shone brightly even as a patch of heavy clouds moved steadily westward across the darkened sky.
As Duke Crausin stood on the silvery shores reflecting on the past few days, he absently felt for the chain upon which the oath medallion hung. He pulled it out from beneath his shirt. For eleven years, it had remained around his neck and would remain so for all of his days.
Even though his dearest companion would marry in four weeks, it posed no threat to their oath. Lady Spira Eskridge would be nothing more than a lovely face on his arm and the bearer of Comron’s children. She would be a thing tolerated for the sake of a betrothal contract, but Comron would never love her. Crausin had made certain of that by turning Spira into his own ravenous little whore while compelling Comron to look on as he defiled her.
Stupid girl thinks I’m in love with her!
It was a necessary arrangement for, much to Crausin’s dismay, Comron occasionally exhibited a resentful attitude toward the constraints of their oath. As astute as he was, Comron failed to appreciate that the oath served as a protective hedge about him, preventing him from suffering emotionally the way Crausin had. The duke, for his part, had no difficulty honoring their oath for his experience with Meglyn had left him numb and desolate, incapable of feeling a thing in that regard. Only she could have revived such romantic passions in him again, but Meglyn was ruined now, gone. He and Comron had personally seen to that years ago ….