Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12) (20 page)

“It’s okay. It’s my first time too.”

I stared at her blankly. It was like she could read my mind but that couldn’t be. I’m the one that can do that and by doing it, I knew that she wanted her first to be with me and not that older man she was set to marry. I could understand but it only saddened me to think we couldn’t always be together.

“Okay but how are these things supposed to start?”

“I guess we start by getting out of our clothes.” I was a little glad she was just as unsure but she reached for her dress and started to undo the laces. “Come on. Don’t make me be the only one.”

I shook my head and reached for my shirt, getting it off while I watched her dress slide to the floor. She was so little and sweet. She kind of reminded me of Lana structurally. It just made it better that I got to see it. I wanted her and I could feel the pressure of it harden me.

I reached for my pants next and really hesitated this part.

“It’s okay.” She said. “I’m not going to judge.”

She was reassuring but I was still nervous. “I know.”

She still had her eyes on me and moved them down as I lowered my pants to my ankles, stepping out of them while trying not to fall.

Her eyes were opened a little wider but it was obvious what she was looking at but it wasn’t in a bad way. More like in a pleased way and I’m glad she thought that of me. I wouldn’t have wanted her to think I was small. I never thought I was small though I never really compared before. It just made me feel a bit better standing like this to think she was impressed.

She stepped closer to me and gently grasped my forearms, pulling me closer to her. “I want this.”

“So do I.”

“I know.” She giggle and moved her hand to my hardened member, grasping around it as much as she could at least with her dainty hand.

The pleasure of someone else touching me was a feeling I can honestly say I never thought about and explaining the reasons to myself would have only gotten me out of the mood. I didn’t want that. I wanted what was right in front of me.

I touched my hand around her bare back and we kissed just ever so lightly that it made the moment perfect. I was still nervous but instinctually laid over her on the bed with my feet still touching the floor. I just barely pressed against her moist skin and the tip slid right inside. It felt amazing and my breaths were instantly becoming inconstant to this sensational feeling.

“It’s okay.” Vera put a hand at the back of my neck and kept me looking at her so I wouldn’t look down towards the feeling. “I want you to.”

She put her other hand on my right buttocks and slowly pulled me towards her which caused me to slide into her deeper. The feeling from there just heightened tenfold and I thought I would never get enough of this. I guided my body in and out of hers for a measly three minutes until I ended it rather abruptly when I couldn’t hold back this erupting feeling pulsing through my entire body. I felt like such an idiot when it was over.

“I am so sorry.”

“Rory—”

“I couldn’t help it.”

“Rory—”

“Please excuse me. I’m sorry.”

I got up all the way and just felt like I completely failed at my first time. It should have been longer than that, right? There’s no possible way she even had time to enjoy it.

“Rory.” She was right at my side to comfort me. “I don’t want you to feel bad. It was beautiful.”

“Was it?”

“Of course. I never expected it to go on forever, especially our first time. Five minutes would have been pushing it. I wouldn’t have thought you enjoyed it if it took that long.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You did amazing.”

“I wasn’t the only one. You were pretty amazing too.”

“Thank you.”

I felt better knowing she didn’t hate me for it. I would have loved for her to stay with me tonight but she had to get back to her room in case her father checked up on her at some point. I wouldn’t want her to get in trouble.

So much for meeting at midnight but I’d say my stay here just got a bit more enjoyable.

Chapter 38

Seth

Something was seriously wrong. Their meet made it seem like they had already met before this. I didn’t like to think about why and tried forgetting about it while we spent another week training Rory but I kept seeing those signs when he was around Vera that no one else seemed to see. I had to know.

I caught him sneaking out on this one particular night but didn’t confront him. Instead, I followed. I hid in the shadows while doing so and watched Rory slip out the palace gate into the city.

Where was he going? I feared the answer but followed anyway.

Rory was headed to the little park here by the palace where I first was introduced to Cadence and there waiting for him was Vera. I knew it but I didn’t expect to see her greet him with a kiss. I couldn’t believe it and stayed back to watch what would happen.

“I’ve been waiting all day to do that.” Vera said as they parted.

“Oh, believe me, I’ve been waiting all day to get it.” Rory replied. They sat down and leaned up against a rock. Vera smiled again as she sat in front of him and leaned back on him. He put his arms around her and she held onto them as she sighed. “What is it?”

“Nothing. Time is just going by too fast, that’s all.”

“I know. It’s something I try not to think about.”

“You know we’ll have too, right? I mean, we only have a week of this.”

“If it could only be longer.”

“Forever would be nice but I know my father would never allow it. He’d kill me if he saw me now.”

“Yeah, he would.” I was done with this and made my presence known to them.

They jumped right up to their feet to see me.

“Seth! I can explain.” Rory said.

“Oh, really? Well, start explaining. Start by telling me why I’m finding you here with the Princess after specific instruction to stay away from her.”

“Seth, please.” Vera said as she stepped in front of Rory. “It wasn’t his fault.”

I knew better. “It’s all right, Vera. You don’t have to cover for him.”

“But I’m not. It’s really my fault. I’m the one that spoke first.”

“At this point, it doesn’t really matter whose fault it was. Do either of you know how serious this is?” I let them think about it for a moment but neither of them were replying. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to tell your fathers about this.” I started to turn.

“No!” They shouted at the same time.

I turned back and Vera started to beg. “Please, don’t tell my father, Seth. He’d take it out on Rory and I don’t want that.”

“Then you know what is to be done. This has to end.” Vera and Rory put their heads down and sighed. “This has to end or I have no choice but to tell them.”

“Fine.” Rory said in anger.

“Good but that means you two are not to be around each other, talk to each other or even look at each other. If I see the slightest glance between you two this whole thing is coming down and your fathers will be notified. Have I made myself clear?”

“Yes.” They said under their breath.

“Louder.”

“Yes!”

“Now, separate and get back to the palace.”

Vera and Rory sighed and I walked in between them all the way back in silence.

When we walked in, I pointed to the stairs. “Get up to your room and Princess, I suggest you do the same.” They both had a sad look on their faces and Vera couldn’t help but look over to Rory but I quickly blocked her view. “No. To your room.”

She was getting tears in her eyes as she stood there looking at me then turned away as they started to fall. She ran off through the main hall toward her room which was located downstairs.

“What is the matter with you?” Rory asked.

He was ready to pass me to go after her but I stopped him. “No. Let her go. She’s no longer your concern.”

“We’ll see about that.” Rory muttered as he turned from me.

“Rory!” He stopped in his tracks and turned back to listen. “Your father put you under my watch and as long as you are as such, you will obey my orders. You are not to go anywhere near her!”

“Like that will be easy! You say that like you know what I’m going through but how could you? You get to be with the one you love whereas I’m forced to stay away!” He turned from me and ran up the stairs.

I was surprised by his choice of words. Was it true?

I went up to my room and Cadence was laying in bed still awake. “There you are. Where have you been?” I walked closer and she noticed I was thinking about something. “What’s the matter?”

I sighed. “I just found Vera and Rory together.”

“No way! Together, together?”

“Yeah.”

“What did you do?”

“What I had to. I forbidden their union.”

“But what?”

“What do you mean, but what?”

“I know you’re thinking about something, Seth. What is it?”

I sighed again and sat down on the edge of the bed. “It’s something he just said to me.”

“What did he say?”

“I think he’s in love with her.”

“With Vera?”

“Who else?”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“I don’t know. I guess I feel bad about what I did because I know I felt the same way when someone told me I wasn’t allowed to see you.”

“Then take it back.”

“I can’t. I did what I did because I knew Vera’s father would have wanted it. She’s been claimed since her birth.”

Cadence looked outraged. “You mean an arranged marriage? Well, that’s just not fair. How could someone do that?”

“Why are you getting so mad? It happened to us.”

“But we met early and actually happen to be in love. How could she allow it with a stranger?”

“She doesn’t have a choice. She knows that. It’s what’s best for the future.”

“But what about what’s best for her? Does she return this love for Rory?”

“I don’t know but it’s too late to matter.”

“Seth! You can’t look passed this!”

“There’s nothing I can do! I’m not the one to decide her future! Her father is!”

“But there must be something! You know what it’s like to be in love.”

I sighed and put my head down. “I know but the King doesn’t care about that.”

“But he cares about Vera.”

I lifted my head to see her smile. “Cadence, no.”

“What?”

“I don’t want you to get involved with this. It’s not our place to interfere in their lives. Oren knows what’s best for his daughter.”

Cadence completely disagreed of course. “No he doesn’t and I wouldn’t be getting too involved. I just want to get Vera to stand up to her father and tell him what she wants to make her happy.”

“Cadence, please.” I begged with my hands together. “The King is going to know that this wasn’t all her idea. She doesn’t tell him what to do to make her happy every day, you know?”

“But I can’t do nothing, Seth. You know how I am.”

“Yes, I know all too well.”

“Then just let me. It couldn’t hurt to try.”

I paused for a moment and sighed. “All right. Do what you have to do but what am I going to do with Rory in the meantime?”

“Just do what you were going to do. Keep him under wraps in case it doesn’t work.”

“That’s not going to be easy. He’s going to hate me.”

“Then let him hate you. He won’t know otherwise.” I nodded and we kissed. “Good. Now, it’s late. Let’s get some sleep and worry about this tomorrow.”

Worry? Great.

Chapter 39

Cadence

I got up early and started my plan to get Vera and Rory together. They were so sweet together. It just had to work.

I walked down stairs and saw Vera sitting alone in the dining hall picking at her food with a fork. “Good morning, young Princess.”

“Morning, Cadence.”

“What’s the matter?” I sat with her, sensing her downed mood. “Are you all right?”

“Been better.”

“Is this about Rory?”

Vera dropped her fork and quickly looked up. “Who said anything about that?”

“Just a lucky guess. I know about you two.” Vera sighed and sat back in her chair, putting her hand over her face. “Oh, don’t be like that. There’s no shame in being in love.”

“In love! I’m not—I mean, I can’t be in—I’ve only known him for—there’s no way I could really be—”

She paused I smiled to her incomplete response. “Then how do you explain that?”

“Well, I—I—I—”

“It’s all right. You don’t have to. I know.”

Vera was still in awe to even think that she might be in love when it really was a good thing. “You really think I’m—”

“That’s really for you to decide but Rory is probably going through something similar right now.”

“How do you know?”

“Just something he said to Seth last night. He tells me he’s in love with you.”

Vera sat back in her chair and started taking deep breaths. “This can’t be happening.” She leaned forward and rested her head in her hands.

“You should be thankful. Fate has blessed you with your soul mate. Rory will prove to be great in his future.”

Vera sighed. “I know he will. It’s just—”

“Right, your prior commitment.”

“Exactly. My father has had this planned since I was born. He wouldn’t approve of these feelings.”

“But he loves you. You think he would reject your happiness?”

Vera paused. “Well, I guess I never really thought about it. I’ve always just come a custom to accepting my fate.”

“This is not your fate.” I reached across the table and took Vera’s hands. “Your fate is your own and can only be made by you. Life is full of choices and this is one you need to make on your own.”

“But where I’m from, it’s dishonorable to request something that would affect the course of my future.”

“As where I’m from but I’ve also learned that it’s no life to live that way. Women should get the right to decide their lives as much as any man. That’s what I’ve gotten by living out here and you can just the same.”

“But my father—”

“What would he really do? You wouldn’t be giving up your title, you’d just be changing the one you’d share it with. He should see honor in binding with Kalu. It’s one of the top countries in the world.”

“I know you’re right but I wouldn’t know where to begin. I’ve never done this before.”

“Just speak from the heart and tell him what you feel. Unless you want to live the rest of your life without love than you have to do it.”

Vera sighed as she pulled her hands away but knew I was right. “This isn’t going to be easy.”

“No one said it would be but your happiness is on the line here and you have to show him what the true meaning is, sooner rather than later.”

“Well, he did want me to join him today. Maybe I’ll do it then.”

“Whatever you decide.” I stood up. “I’m going to see Seth and make sure he keeps Rory out of the way.”

Vera smiled and nodded as I walked out of the dining hall and headed to the stairs when Zayden, Darius and Troy were just walking down.

“Cadence.” Zayden called.

“Yes, Zayden?”

“Where’s Seth?”

“Still sleeping probably. Why?”

“Get him up and have him bring Dirk and Bryce down to the conference room.”

“Sure, Zayden. Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine.” Darius answered.

“We just need to talk.” Troy added.

“Okay. I’ll get him up now.”

“Thank you.” Zayden replied.

They kept walking and I took the news up to Seth.

“Your father wishes to see you.”

Seth sighed as he rubbed his eyes, trying to wake fully. “Oh, great. Now what?”

“I don’t know. They said nothing was wrong.”

“All right. I guess I better get dressed and get down there.”

He walked into his closet as I rolled to the edge of the bed and laid on my stomach. “He wants you to bring Dirk and Bryce with you.”

“Yeah, I figured. I’m going to need you to keep an eye on Rory while I’m down there. He’s probably still sleeping from being up so late last night but I’d still like you to.”

“Sure. I’ve already talked to Vera this morning.”

Seth sighed as he continued to put his clothes on. “Is that where you went this morning? What did you say to her?”

“Just what we’ve talked about last night. She sees knowledge in what I was saying and plans to talk to her father today.”

“That soon? Couldn’t it have waited a little longer to look less obvious?”

“It will be fine. I think he’ll understand.”

“Let us hope. I’m going to get Dirk and Bryce. Please, remember to keep Rory away from Vera and do not tell him a thing.”

“I won’t. You just go.”

Seth smiled back as he put on his crown and left the room. He was beautiful. I missed him already.