Determinant -Guardians of Vesturon [3] (19 page)

“Did Julian say how long I would remain this way? You know, weak from the smallpox?”

“He thinks you will improve every day, providing you eat well and rest. No more excitement for a while.”

We heard a slight tap on the door and Maddie stuck her head inside. Her eyes lit up when she saw I was awake.

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired and hungry!”

At my words, Rykerian was off the bed so fast, it made my head spin.

“I will return shortly,” he said as he dashed out of the room.

I crinkled my forehead and Maddie shrugged.

“So did he tell you what happened?”

Maddie nodded. “I never knew how it was for you January. I’m so sorry.”

“Forget it. I never talked about it because it was so awkward and embarrassing. Who wants to tell their friends about parents like mine? I mean Carlson would blather on about how her parents bought her this and that, and there I was struggling to find the money to buy a stupid hot dog for dinner. And it wasn’t Carlson’s fault. She didn’t have a mean bone in her body. She was just totally clueless. She’d get these calls and texts from her mom telling her how much she missed and adored her and couldn’t wait to see her. And there I’d sit, thinking about how I got ousted out of my house the night of my high school graduation.” I had gotten on a roll and didn’t realize all I said until I looked at Maddie and saw her stricken face.

“I thought you...you didn’t know all of this, did you?”

She shook her head and I could see her working her throat, trying to hold back her tears.

“Hey, Maddie, I thought Rykerian told you everything. I guess I shouldn’t have run my mouth.”

Before I knew what was happening, I found myself wrapped in her arms.

“January, I am so sorry. I never knew. I wish I had, I really do. I could have been there for you somehow.”

I could feel her trembling with her tears.

“Maddie, it’s water under the bridge now. I didn’t want anyone to know, so that part is all my fault. Don’t be upset about it now. Please?”

“I’m sorry. I just can’t imagine how hard it must have been. And then I just added to it all with my disappearance.” Her voice was edged with emotion.

I leaned away from her and said, “Look, none of this was your fault. You couldn’t help what happened to you, but the thing with my parents was out of anyone’s control. So don’t waste your tears on it. In fact, I’ve decided after the other day that they just aren’t worth my time at all. They have tried everything to destroy me, but I won’t give them that satisfaction anymore. I guess it took me seeing how they had turned my little brother and sister against me to understand that they are evil people.”

The bedroom door burst open to Rykerian carrying a massive tray filled with all sorts of food.

“Anyone hungry?” he asked. Then he noticed our faces and thundered, “What has happened?” He set the tray down and rushed to my side. “Are you okay? Have you become ill again?”

The whole situation hit me as funny and my slight chuckle quickly turned into a roaring laugh. Maddie began laughing as well and Rykerian looked at us like we were both insane.

“Females! Who can figure them out?” he asked, scratching his head.

The bubbles of laughter tapered off and I explained what had occurred, but he couldn’t find the humor in it.

Instead of belaboring the point, I said, “I am starving and would love some food.”

He was only too happy to comply. When I was finished eating, I said, “I have one request.” They both looked at me in question. “I would love a bath!”

Rykerian glanced at Maddie and gruffly said, “Leave us please.”

“I hardly think that...”

“Maddie, I care not what you think. I can remember a time when you...”

“Okay! Okay, I’m outta here!” Maddie said as she darted out of the room.

“What was that all about?”

“Nothing that should excessively concern you January. I will go and run you a bath.”

He left the room leaving me perplexed over his exchange with Maddie. For whatever reason, my apprehension began mounting over this bath thing. Did he think he was going to bathe me? If so, he had a big surprise waiting for him! It was one thing to be in the heat of the moment, hormones raging, and passion burning through our veins. At that point I probably would have run straight through the streets of Atlanta, buck-naked. But this? Now? That was another story. There was no way on God’s green Earth I was going to strip down, naked as a jaybird in front of this Greek god! Uh huh...absolutely no way.

When Rykerian returned, I was finishing up the last of my tea.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

I twisted the coverlet in my hands and licked my suddenly bone-dry lips. I knew his intentions would always be above board but yet I had this gnawing feeling of awkward embarrassment in my belly.

I looked up at him and he recognized it instantly for what it was. I wondered at this uncanny ability of his. He was at my side in a blur of motion, something I speculated if I’d ever get accustomed to.

“What is it? What has distressed you so?”

“I...er, I don’t know.” I lied. I knew exactly what had distressed me.

“January, it is not necessary to hide your feelings from me. I can discern them on my own but I do not want to do that. I want to hear it from your lips.”

I dropped my gaze to my knotted my fingers, unsure of this shyness that had descended on me.

He took my chin in hand and lifted it so he could look into my eyes. “Tell me please,” he softly implored.

“For some reason I feel incredibly self-conscious and awkward right now,” I admitted.

“Is it the bath that has made you so?”

I nodded.

“I do not intend to do anything other than escort you to the bathroom and show you where everything is located. I will remain outside the door and you only have to think my name if you need me.”

“Okay,” I whispered, relief etching my voice.
Phew, my inner brain screamed. I feel like a ton of bricks has just been lifted off my chest.

He leaned in and planted a feathery kiss on my lips and helped me to my feet.

“You did not think my intentions were to join you, did you?” His eyes were filled with mirth.

“Well, yes I was sort of thinking along those lines.” I’m sure my cheeks were flame red. They felt like they were on fire.

Laughing, he said, “Not that it hasn’t crossed my mind, among other things, but have no fear on that account.”

“Okay...honestly, that’s a relief. I was a bit worried about that I guess. I don’t feel lightheaded anymore. It must have been the hunger or something,” I mumbled, taking a stab at changing the subject.

“Maybe so.”

We walked into the sumptuous bathroom and I felt like I was at an elite spa...the kind you read about in magazines. The jetted tub looked large enough for four and the vanity, located in a separate room, had two sinks and went on forever. There was all sorts of storage space, a huge linen closet filled with stacks of white fluffy towels and shelves and drawers everywhere.

What in the world does he have stowed in here?

I heard him chuckle so I turned my eyes to him and crinkled up my brow.

“Many of them are empty, but feel free to look around and inspect their contents,” he snorted. “I know, it seems a bit ostentatious, doesn’t it?”

“It’s quite beautiful Rykerian. I’ve never been in a bathroom like this. Very luxurious.” I ran my fingers along the smooth marble vanity, feeling its coolness against my skin.

“Please make yourself at home. I thought you would prefer a bubble bath, but there is a shower in here as well,” he explained as he indicated the shower with his arm.

My curiosity got the best of me so I went to examine the shower. It was an amazing thing. There were water nozzles everywhere...on three walls and the ceiling. It looked like an upright Jacuzzi tub.

“I can show you how to operate it if you’d like,” he offered.

“Maybe some other time. Right now, I just want to sink into that water over there.” It looked totally tempting.

“As you wish. I shall be right outside in the event you should need something. Just think my name and I shall be right here. And January? Take all the time you want. I want you to enjoy this. If you press this button over here,” he said pointing to a chrome button on the tub, “it will turn on the jets. Enjoy!” Then he was gone, leaving me to savor this chance and to spoil myself.

I emerged from the bathroom feeling like a new person. I felt clean and refreshed and energized. I was wrapped in a humongous fluffy black terry robe that dragged on the floor.

When he heard to the door open, Rykerian turned to look at me and a huge grin spread across his face.

“I can see that we will need to get you your own bath robe. That one is a might too large!” He chuckled.

I joined him in his mirth and added, “Yeah, I didn’t know what I was going to put on until I found this. It’s so soft though! I love the feel of it,” and as I lowered my eyes, I whispered, “and it smells so good. It smells exactly like you.”

His eyes widened and he pulled me to him and took possession of my lips. At first he was gentle as his lips grazed mine but then I felt a current of electricity rip through me and his kiss became demanding and possessive. He lifted me until our heads were level and continued to pour his passion into me. I wrapped my arms and legs around him and let my fingers slide through his hair. I felt his tongue seek entrance and it danced around mine until we were both breathless. When he pulled away, I could feel his harsh breathing on my neck. His thoughts rained down on me letting me know how I took his breath away. It took me a moment before I could speak as I was having a bit of a problem breathing myself. Gawd I loved how he made me feel!

“You take
my
breath away Rykerian. Does kissing feel this way all the time?”

He smiled and shook his head and admitted, “Never like this before you January. You own me. Do you understand what I am telling you?”

“Yes,” I murmured. “I do, even though it frightens me.”

“Why does it frighten you so?”

“I didn’t think I had to ability to feel this way about anyone. It scares the crap out of me that I even trust you. I’m damaged Rykerian. I was never shown love so I guess I’m not sure how I should feel about it.”

“Hmmm, I can understand that. Not the way you feel because I was lucky to be born to two wonderful parents. Love was abundant in our home, but I can understand why these feelings frighten you.”

I could only nod. That huge lump had returned to my throat.

“January, I promise you I will never hurt you or play you false. I am yours whether you want me or not. If you decide you do not want me, then say the word and I will go. But know this; you will always be mine, no matter what path you choose.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

“Vesturions are a strange lot, we are. As I’ve told you before, we mate, or unite for life. When our souls find each other, there is no going back. So what I am telling you is that if you decide to choose a path away from me, our souls will always be joined.”

“That’s kind of creepy Rykerian. What happens when someone dies?”

“The link is broken and the soul of the deceased enters another plane. It is a difficult thing for the one remaining behind to deal with, but that is the way of things. One other thing—Vesturion males may seem highly possessive of their mates. It is because they hold them in the highest esteem. They have the utmost respect for their mates. I am talking out of turn here, and I should be getting her permission to say this, but you can ask Maddie about this. She had a difficult time adjusting to Rayn’s possessiveness at first. We only want to protect our mates and sometimes it comes across as controlling.”

“Hmmm. I have no experience with boys so I have nothing to compare any of this to, but I don’t think I want someone telling me what to do.”

“It is not that at all. We do not tell our mates what to do. In fact, we encourage them to follow the dreams of their hearts with everything. However, where their safety is concerned, we become quite...brutish,” he explained. He turned a delightful shade of pink at this admission.

“You know, you really should blush more often as it’s such a lovely shade and goes very nicely with your tanned skin!” I joked.

“Are you toying with me Ms. St. Davis?”

“Maybe!”

With that, he threw me over his shoulder and carried me to the bed where he gently tossed me. Then he grabbed me and started tickling me unmercifully.

I was laughing so hard my sides were cramping. I begged him to stop repeatedly and finally he did saying, “That will teach you to poke fun at me!”

These Vesturions were strange people, but I needed to stop comparing them to humans since I was, in part, one of them. That was a sobering thought and Rykerian recognized immediately that my thoughts had turned serious once more.

“No need to worry about your genetics now January. I think you will find that being Vesturion has its advantages. Once you learn how to use your Power of Telepathy to its fullest, you will quickly discover how lucky you are. We will explore whether you have inherited any other Powers as well. For instance, Maddie’s Power of Telekinesis rivals just about anyone’s I know.”

“Seriously?”

“Uhhum.” He was staring at my lips again and I was hit with a sudden flow of thoughts coming from him.

For the love of God! Does he genuinely think that about me?

“I absolutely, one hundred percent think you are the most beautiful creature I have ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes upon.”

My heart was tripping over itself. My breath caught in my throat. I ran my tongue across my lips and he grabbed my chin and started kissing me again. His lips trailed across my cheeks, over my eyes and descended to my neck. I found that there simply wasn’t enough oxygen in the room.

Okay, we need to stop this before I come apart at the seams.

He pulled away again, sighed deeply and said, “How would you like to walk down to the terrace out back and take in the view for a while?”