Consort (Beyond Ontariese 6) (16 page)

He stroked the hair back from her face
and kissed her temple. “Go on. The memories will continue to
torment you until you let them out.”

“
But I’ve let them out
before and they keep coming back.”

“
Then let them out again.
Keep letting them out until they realize you’re not going to be
controlled by them.”

She raised her head and looked into
his eyes, his beautiful compassionate eyes. “I don’t want you to
know all the ugliness, all the—”

He halted her words with a gentle
kiss. “Sweetheart, all those things were done to you, not by you.
The ugliness was Dr. Hydran’s, not yours.”

Once she started talking, she couldn’t
seem to stop. She told him how it began, that she’d been sent
through a portal to protect her from the war ravaging Ontariese.
She described years of isolation and cruelty, endless degradation
and pain. “It was all so hopeless and so depraved. He only had
three of us to begin with, the couple who were my guardians and
me.”

His expression turned thoughtful, but
his voice remained soft and low. “So he used your male guardian to
impregnate you?”

“
It was done in a lab not a
breeding pen, thank the gods, but the result was the same. I
refused to carry the children at first, so he used sophisticated
incubators.”

“
I didn’t realize Earth
technology was that advanced.”

“
It isn’t,
yet
. My mother was very
powerful, especially for an Ontarian. Both Charlotte and I were
sent to Earth. Charlotte was sent along this timeline, while I was
sent into the future.”

“
Drakkin can create
temporal shifts. It’s a very rare ability.” Indric gazed into the
distance for a moment, apparently lost in thought. “Then you didn’t
give birth to Krysta and Belle?”

“
No, I did. Hydran’s
favorite strategy was threatening those we loved so we would do
things we found deplorable. He used the technique on all of us at
one time or another. When I had no choice but to carry one of his
experiments to term, I decided to complicate his life for a
change.” His arm settled into a lighter embrace, but she stayed
snuggled against his side.

“
What did you
do?”

“
I separated the energy
into two equal beings, each half as powerful as they would have
been if they’d been born whole.”

“
You created twins?” He
turned so he could see her face, clearly shocked by what she’d just
told him. “I had no idea that was possible.”

“
Neither did I.” She tried
to smile and failed. “I had to do something.”

“
And they both survived.
That’s incredible.”

“
No. It was unnatural and
wrong and I made amends right after Betaul was born.”

“
When Belle
died?”

“
Belle didn’t die. Her
energy rejoined with Krysta’s as it was always meant to be. Belle
isn’t gone. My daughter is simply whole again.”

He stared at her silently, the rings
in his eyes shimmering like polished gold. “I knew you were
extraordinary, but you’ve managed to impress me, and I was mentored
by Drakkin.”

She finally found her smile. She felt
light and yet empty. Had she really lived with the pain for so long
that she felt odd without it?

“
What are your primary
abilities? I knew you’d decided not to use them while in hiding, so
I never asked about them. Obviously, you can heal.”

“
Healing is my strongest
gift, but I am also a Seer.”

“
You’re
clairvoyant?”

She smiled. “So many different names
for the same thing. Yes, I’m aware of things that others are not.
Sometimes I literally see things, I have prophetic visions and
dreams, other times it’s just a feeling. I use this inner sight
while I heal to diagnose what’s wrong and guide the energy to where
it’s needed most.”

“
Have you ever worked with
a mentor, had any formal training?”

“
We trained each other in
the Center, but none of the humans had supernatural abilities. And
I’ve downplayed my gifts since I’ve been on Bilarri.”

“
I knew you were gifted,
but I never really thought about how hard it must have been for you
not to use those gifts for all these cycles.”

“
I love Betaul. I would
never do anything to endanger him.”

He scooted down across the bed,
dragging her with him. “Try and get some sleep. I’m sure you’re
exhausted.”

“
I am, but what about you?”
She slid her hand along his hip, but he stopped the descent long
before her fingers reached their target. “Won’t you sleep better if
I help you with that?”

“
Probably, but I’m holding
out for the real thing.” He kissed her then, a slow, gentle kiss
meant to soothe not arouse. “We’ll make love when you’re ready and
not before. Remember, I’m a patient man.”

She was relieved yet disappointed,
mostly in herself. She’d teased him with touches then sent him
away. He brought her incredible pleasure with his mouth and she’d
had an emotional meltdown. Why did he continue to bother with
her?

He must have deep feelings
for you or he wouldn’t have set this in motion.
Charlotte’s words echoed through Cinarra’s mind and a twinge
of happiness lodged in her heart. Was it possible Indric loved her?
She was broken and abused, crippled by nightmares and memories. She
was literally haunting someone else’s body. How could he be drawn
to someone like that?

But his was. His devotion was obvious.
If this was just about sex, he would have given up back in round
one. So what could he possibly see that kept him trying, despite
her failure to respond?

With a heavy sigh, she let the
speculation slip away. If she thought about it much longer, she’d
start crying again and she’d shed more than enough tears for one
day. She wrapped her arm around his waist and settled against his
side. Surrounded by his warmth and comforted by the steady rhythm
of his breathing, she finally closed her eyes.

* * * * *

Warm fingers trailed across Indric’s
chest, drawing him back to reality. He’d slept fitfully all night,
far too aware of the woman in his arms. Each time he thought about
what she’d been through, he vacillated between blinding fury and
determination to make the rest of her life perfect.

Lips touched his collarbone, the kiss
soft and gentle. He opened his eyes, peeking through his thick
lashes. The curtains filtered the morning light, creating a soft
violet haze. Cinarra knelt beside him on the bed, naked and lovely.
She must have pulled down the covers while he slept because his
entire body was available for her exploration. She moved lower and
nibbled on one of his flat brown nipples. The pressure of her teeth
sent pleasure ricocheting through his chest.

His body awakened with a vengeance,
hardening so fast it made him groan.

She looked at him and smiled. “Good
morning.”

He pulled her up until their lips met
and the night fell away. In an instant he was burning again, so
desperate for her that he could scarcely breathe. She returned the
kiss with equal fervor, her hands moving boldly over his naked
body.

She crawled on top of him, straddling
her hips as she rubbed herself against him. Her nipples teased his
chest and the heat of her sex surrounded his aching cock. Their
mouths clung, slid, then clung again, their tongues wildly
mating.

Words would have been intrusive. They
both understood that it was past time to take this next step, to
share more of themselves with each other.

He slipped his hand between them,
touching her breasts and belly as she continued to kiss him. He
wanted her beneath him, mindless with passion as he drove into her
willing body. But she needed this more, needed to feel secure and
safe, able to offer as much or as little as she was ready to give.
She had to learn that she could trust him once and for
all.

As if echoing his thoughts, she
reached down and grasped his shaft. Their lips separated as she
lifted her hips, making room for her to maneuver between their
bodies. She looked at him, her eyes appearing more silver than
blue. Her fingers stroked up and down while she slid his tip
against her folds.

He held perfectly still, savoring her
touch and letting anticipation build. Her folds parted, surrounding
him with liquid heat. The desire to arch and drive himself into her
made him clench his teeth. She slid him forward and back, lingering
against her clit for a moment then circling her
entrance.

“
You’re killing me,
luthree
. Put me
in.”

She centered him at her opening then
moved her hands to his chest. He grasped her hips, ensuring she
didn’t move away, but waiting for her to lower herself onto him.
Their gazes locked. She smiled then slowly took him
deeper.

Her heat engulfed him, her passage
narrow yet slick. It felt so incredibly good that he moved his
hands, no longer trusting himself not to rush her. Deeper. Halfway
home. She paused, her knees clutching his hips.

“
Am I hurting you?” His
chest heaved and his ass clenched as he battled the urge to take
over.

“
Almost.”

He ran one hand up her leg then across
her quivering abdomen. She started to lower her hips again, but he
shook his head. “Stay still. Let me touch you.”

She stared into his eyes as he stroked
her breasts, her sides and her silky ass. One of his hands
continued the transitory caresses as the other settled over her
mound. Heat and cream met his fingertips. A fresh rush of desire
washed over him and he shivered.

Bracing her hands on his thighs, she
shifted her legs outward without sliding lower on his shaft. The
position arched her back and made her sex more accessible. He took
full advantage of her offering. Her body stretched tight around him
and he gently teased the sensitive folds. He caressed her outer
lips and her inner thighs before focusing on her clit. By the time
he circled the swollen nub with his thumb she was
shaking.

“
Now. Try it again. See if
you can move without pain.”

He continued the circular motion as
she slid lower and lower. He watched his shaft disappear inside her
body as heat and affection expanded within him. Finally her pelvis
pressed against his and his balls nestled snugly against her warm
ass.

“
Better?” His mouth was so
dry the one word was all he could manage.

“
Definitely.” She moved her
hands back to his chest and reversed the motion, dragging herself
nearly off him.

His shaft immerged shiny with her
cream and Indric had to look away. He drew his gaze upward, but
each sight he encountered was every bit as stimulating as where
their bodies joined.

It took her a moment to find the
perfect angle, but soon she rode him smoothly, the firm motion
jostling her breasts. He covered the soft mounds with his hands,
struggling to stay still while everything within him screamed for
action.

“
Now you,” she whispered.
“I want you on top.”

His gaze flew back to her face as
hunger clawed at his gut. He wrapped his arms around her and swept
her beneath him then knelt between her thighs. Desperately
grappling for control, he paused to kiss her, reassure her, and
thank her. Then he pulled back and thrust hard. They gasped, their
breath mingling as their lips separated.

He extended his arms and centered his
weight on his knees, allowing him more control over his movements.
She drew her legs up along his sides, arching into each stroke. It
was physical perfection and yet something was missing. Their
joining was not complete.

Shoving back the realization, he
focused on the snug grip of her core and the sweet gasps escaping
from her lips. He moved faster, deepening their physical
connection. Her gaze shimmered with unshed tears and she framed his
face with her palms. Then she pushed her pleasure into his
mind.

Unprepared for the intensity of her
emotions, he nearly lost control. The connection was unique, nearly
backward from what he was used to, which made it even more amazing.
Her energy melded with his, tentative at first then ravenous. She
craved affection and longed for sensations she didn’t understand.
He sensed her joy and the courage it had taken for her to form this
link.

He slowed his thrusts, wanting it to
last as long as possible. She licked her lips and he lowered his
mouth to take advantage of the moisture. Soft and supple, her lips
parted beneath his. Then her tongue pushed into his mouth, followed
by a fresh surge of desire.

Her eagerness snapped what was left of
his control, hurling him toward completion. He pumped with frantic
demand his mouth hovering over hers. She grabbed the backs of her
knees and spread her thighs even wider.

His balls tightened and pleasure shot
up his spine. She cried out, arching off the bed as her inner
muscles rippled. He grabbed her hips and buried his entire length
inside her. His pleasure echoed hers, pulsing through his body as
her orgasm burned into his mind. He shuddered and groaned, his seed
releasing in rhythmic spurts. Balancing his weight on his knees and
forearms he kissed her, savoring each aftershock until the last
tingle passed.