Stardust (16 page)

“
Yes, yes,
”
she cried, pressing backwards.

“
Then so shall it be.
”
Knowing he had prepared her body with his ministrations, he
surged forward impaling himself in one single thrust. 
“
By all that is holy,
”
he gasped as he felt her tightness surround him. Never had he felt such pleasure. Unable to control his passion, he gripped her hips with both his hands, pistoning in and out of her warm, wet sheath. Within minutes he heard the change in her breathing, signaling her own release was near. Again he reached to the front of her body, finding the place to bring her the greatest pleasure. Within seconds, they lay spent against the ledge.

Gently he pulled himself from her body and straightened their clothing. He turned purposefully away before he hauled her into the warm waters and forgot
all that was important. Instead
he gathered their belongings.
“
We must make haste if we wish to be away before the Sybortron arises.
”
Thankfully the mechanical beast h
ad to recharge as well,
much as his prey had to sleep.

Hastily Aurora bent
to help pack their belongings.
Aurora divided the remaining fruit between Talena and Siara. They could leave no clues for the Sybortron to find.

Hearing the tension in her voice, Darton finished loading his pack then rose to face her.
“
Do not be afraid. He will have at least another hour before he can begin his search.
”
Leaning toward her, he raised his brows, wiggling then devilishly.
“
Besides, sweetheart, I
’
m going to show you paradise.
”

“
I think you already did,
”
Aurora laughed.
“
But what voice was that? It did not sound as your own.
”

Darton laughed too.
“
That was my very best Cagney impression.
”
Seeing her look of confusion, he laughed again, shaking his head.
“
Don
’
t worry, it is not important.
”

Aurora glanced at his smiling face,
hating that he had knowledge of which she was not aware.
And that he was unwilling to share. Lifting her head, she sniffed haughtily.
“
It must be an Earth mannerism.
”
She picked up her pack, striding past him. She called curtly for Talena, who jumped into her arms, and strode down the mountain, unmindful of its great height in the morning light.

“
Who does he think he is anyway?
”
She stroked the furry back as the turin lay contentedly in her arms.
“
And who is this Cagney person he imitates?
”
She stroked faster.
“
I
’
ll bet he never spent very much time with
the egotistical, overbearing-
”

“
Ouch! Stop that at once.
”
Talena
’
s high-pitched shriek stopped Aurora in the midst of her tirade.

“
What is it? Are you ill?
”
Aurora placed her hands under the creature
’
s front paws, holding her out so she could look for any noticeable damage.

“
No, I am not ill. But I will soon be bald if you keep up that excruciating rubbing.
”
Her solid black paws clawed the air, looking for a firm foundation.
“
And for heaven
’
s sake, stop dangling me in the air like some old piece of cleansing cloth. You
’
re going to drop me.
”

“
I am sorry, my friend.
I do not know what I was thinking
.
”
Carefully Aurora folded the animal back into the cradle of her arms.

“
Not what my dear; whom.
”
Talena
’
s voice held a note of censure.

“
What? I do not understand your words.
”
Aurora chose to ignore her friend
’
s pretended hurt.

“
It
’
s not
what
you were thinking of, but of
whom.
”
Talena moved restlessly, seeking a more comfortable position.
“
It is clear
you were thinking only of that wretched male, Darton. Although for the life of me, I cannot figure out your fascination with the vile creature.
”

“
Oh, Talena, if only you would let yourself, you could learn to care for Darton as I do. He is warm and kind. He is strong enough to crush the living breath from my body, yet when we are together, he holds me as though I were the most fragile of flowers.
”
Even though she was still upset with him,
Aurora could not keep the note of wonder from her voice. Their coupling of earlier had been swift and powerful. He could easily have taken her with only his own pleasure in mind, but he had made sure she felt the same deep satisfaction.

“
Humph. If you are enamored with this male, then why are you angry with him? Why do you walk so far ahead when you could be walking with him?
”
Talena
’
s tone was smugly superior.

As for Aurora, she could not answer the creature
’
s observations immediately.
“
You have given me questions for thought, my friend. Why am I angry, indeed?
”
For several minutes, she walked in silence. What had created such an angry spirit within her at Darton
’
s words? He had meant to make light, to uplift her spirits. And she had repaid him by snarling like a mad she-cat and storming off to sulk.

Suddenly the answer came to her. She was jealous. Jealous of all the things Darton had experienced before their life paths had crossed. She did not want to
think of him with other people –
other females. She knew he had great knowledge of the oneness and it bothered her how he had acquired such. And she did not want there to be any places in his memory in which she had no part. He had traveled great distances, experienced many wonderful and exciting ways. She was afraid she was too tame, too simple in her tastes, too empty in her store of knowledge to hold his interest for long. His lighthearted reference to his time on Earth had reminded her forcibly they had traveled two distinct life paths.

Sighing, she looked up toward the mountain
’
s peak. They sky overhead was startlingly blue with just a few dazzling white clouds floating lazily along. The air upon the mountain would be crisp and clear. Aurora longed to fill her lungs with sweet, fresh air. But she was grateful to be alive and
she owed
in
a large part
to the brave warrior trailing behind her. She shuddered at the fate that would have awaited her at Bartok
’
s hands.

“
Talena, I have been such a fool.
”
Aurora stroked her pet, gently this time.

Talena raised her head and peered questionably at her master.
“
What do you mean?
”

“
Darton has been wonderful to me. Without him I fear we would not have made it this far. And I have repaid his kindness by acting like a fishwife.
”
Tears of self-loathing swelled in her eyes.

“
D
o not weep, you silly female. I can handle anything but that.
”
The turin
’
s eyes started to grow moist.
“
If you feel that strongly about this warrior, then turn around and apologize to the big oaf.
”

“
Do you think he would listen to me?
”
Aurora needed the reassurance.
“
I have behaved badly. Mayhaps he will not accept my words of apology.
”

Talena could feel the indecision of her mistress in the steely flex of her arms. In a gentle voice, she said,
“
If he cares for you, then he will forgive such a small incident.
”

Aurora pondered her friend
’
s words for several seconds.
“
You are right. I must make things right between Darton and myself. I can bear this silence between us no longer.
”

“
Good. Now that your mind has chosen its path, perhaps you will let me get some sleep. That big stupid fur ball kept me awake all night with its incessant snoring.
”

Aurora laughed, holding her pet close for a brief hug.
“
I am sorry. Of course you may sleep now.
”
Up ahead, just around the
next curve she could see a shade tee. The beginnings of the paradise
Darton had promised. It would be a good place to stop and wait for him and Siara.
“
Then I will make amends and set things right between us,
”
Aurora promised herself.

When they had started out, Darton
’
s brow furrowed
as he secured his pack and followed Aurora from the cave. Calling to Siara he made his way forward. What had he done, now? Expelling a long breath he stepped out onto the narrow ledge. He could see Aurora walking well ahead on the mountain path. The rigid set of her shoulder told him more clearly than words that his company would not be welcome. Patting the large golden cat on the head, he murmured,
“
I will never understand the workings of a female
’
s mind. Especially this one.
”

Siara threw back her head and growled, the low rumble seeming to say she agreed with her master. She brushed lightly
against his leg and he stroked her absently. Why had Aurora
’
s
mood darkened? What had he done to cause her such displeasure? Had he been too rough in the coupling, had he made her feel submissive to his power? He had made great effort to ensure her satisfaction was as pleasurable as his own so he did not think that was the reason. Recalling the words spoken afterwards, he groaned aloud.
“
Of course,
”
he muttered to himself.
“
I am such an ass.
”

Remembering the high-handed way in which he dismissed her queries, he could not blame her for being angry with him. It must have seemed to her as though he were gloating about his knowledge of Earth. And by dismissing her so handily, she must have thought that he did not believe her to be intelligent enough to comprehend his words.

That was foolish. He knew of no other female who could have accomplished so much. If he had not appeared at the docking bay, he had no doubt she would have flown the Galentina to safety. His face turned taut at the thought of her at the mercy of the Sybortron. Lifting his face to the wind, he let the rapidly warming breeze play over his skin.
“
I am a fool,
”
he muttered.
“
It would serve me right if she never spoke to me again.
”

The thought of the hurt
he had unwittingly caused Aurora brought a pain to his heart as well. He glanced at the sun and scowled. It had been nearly an hour since Aurora had stormed from their cave. He
had lagged behind, hoping
by giving her some time, she would lose her anger and once again share his
company. However it seemed
the fates were against him this day.

Heaving a wary sigh, he quickened his pace.
Soon he would have to call a rest b
r
eak. Then she would have to share
his company whether she wanted to or not. He had the water pouch. Moments later he broke into a loping run, needing to heal this rift between them. As soon as he caught up to her, he would sit her down and apologize for his thoughtless behavior. His love for her swelled within his chest. Never again he vowed as he watched her slight form disappear around a bend, would he cause her harm by thoughtless word or act. He would talk to her of his time on
Earth, the years he had spent
t
here and why. The time had come to
tell her all of his secrets. She had trusted him with her life. With her body. He would not betray her by giving her anything less than his all.