The Rogue Prince (9 page)

Though the workout tired him, it did nothing for the sexual frustration knotted in the pit of his stomach. He hung his head. Jasmine wasn’t attracted to him.

Chapter Five

Jasmine watched Reid stretch his arms as he stepped out of the decontaminator. He was completely naked. Her whole body shook, but she forced herself to remain seated on the bed. Her heartbeat had been a little too elevated since their meeting in the dining hall, so she’d taken another pill. Two pills in one day wasn’t really a good idea, but she’d been desperate.

Seeing his naked form, she quickly turned her eyes away to stare at her feet. Reid was a brilliant specimen of male beauty, like a statue carved from Earth marble. She loved looking at holographs of ancient Earth art. To imagine those people had carved the stone with only a chisel and hammer was amazing. Or that they painted a beautiful masterpiece, believing in their work so much they spent months perfecting it--sometimes years.

Jasmine took a deep breath. This was a mistake. On the verge of standing, she found her legs shook too badly to support her. She stayed on the bed, gripping the mattress at her sides.

“You act as though I’m going to attack you,” Reid said, his voice dull. “I already told you I’m not going to force myself on you.”

Jasmine bit her lip. She couldn’t look at him. “It’s pleasant enough when you kiss me.”

A soft sound of surprise escaped him at her admission. Jasmine had no idea what made her say the words aloud. She wanted to explain to him that it wasn’t him, it was her. If a man like Reid touched her and she couldn’t feel, then she’d know she was truly frigid.

“You could’ve fooled me,” Reid said. She felt more than heard him moving. The heat from his body seemed to wash over her. Or was it that she was so focused on him she imagined it? He pushed back her hair, brushing his fingers lightly over her cheek. No. It was him. He was close. Softly, he asked, “Would you like me to kiss you,
fea
?”

Jasmine slowly nodded. She finally looked at him--first his bare feet, his strong thighs, his chiseled hips and waist. His shaft was erect, standing tall in a soft bed of hair. Not a measure of fat marred his frame. She force her gaze upward, over his muscled chest, so defined and smooth, to where his eyes bore down on her. “Yes.”

Reid gave her a slow smile and sank to his knees before her. The hand on her cheek slid over her neck, pulling her lightly forward. At first his kiss was gentle, as he brushed his lips lightly along her mouth. Watching his face, his closed eyes, she wanted to touch him, but held back. For some strange reason she couldn’t explain, she trusted him.

He traced her mouth with his tongue before delving inside. Jasmine couldn’t help but move her lips slightly as she tasted him. A weak sound left her and she realized it came from the back of her throat. Slowly, she reached behind her and lifted a small container. When he pulled back from his kiss, a kiss she barely returned, she held it up and said, “You’ll need this.”

A confused frowned crossed over his face as he looked at the label. “Lubricant?”

Jasmine nodded, pretty sure she’d never been so mortified in her life. Her body tensed and she wished the ship would just break apart so she could drift away into deep space. Dying a horrible death would surely be less painful than this moment.

Reid didn’t take the container, but instead looked into her eyes. This time when he kissed her he deepened it, moving as if to conquer her. A hand brushed over her thigh, gliding lightly up to the side of her breast. Pleasant warmth stung her nipple as he drew his thumb over it. Her hips jerked. She was dizzy, lightheaded, but she couldn’t make him stop. When she was breathless, he pulled back and smiled against her lips. “We don’t need that stuff.”

“Yes, you do,” she whispered. “I’m….”

He licked playfully at her mouth, running the tip of his tongue along the seam. “What?”

“I’m colder than the polar ice caps of Sintaz.” Jasmine tried to pull back. Oh, gawd! Had she really admitted it out loud? Like that? “Sorry, bad expression.”

“What are you talking about? Who told you that?” Reid refused to let her go. His hands kneaded along her sides. He made a soft, seductive noise as he brushed his temple along her jaw, nuzzling her.

“Well, my husband,” Jasmine said.

Reid stiffened. His hands gripped her arms slightly, not hurting but no longer caressing.

“I overheard him one night when he had a mistress over.” Jasmine pulled away. He let her go. She’d lived with her condition for so long that it no longer made her cry to think about it. Actually, nothing really made her cry anymore. Perhaps she had turned into an emotionless vacuum.

Reid stared at the woman in disbelief. She was married? Mated to another man? His body was so hard for her, she was finally willing--or so it appeared--and now he discovered he couldn’t touch her. For a long moment he couldn’t move. The idea of not being able to make love to her hurt too badly.

“Reid?” she asked, her voice soft, passionless.

Recoiling from her, he stood. His body had been stretched from his exercise, but the tension was slowly easing its way back into his muscles. When he looked at her, he didn’t see remorse for what was happening. It was like she didn’t care. She looked at him, her eyes shaded from all emotion. That wasn’t anything new. Her face was always expressionless when she looked at him. “You’re married?”

“Well, yeah, but….” Jasmine was slower coming to her feet.

“But?” Reid demanded, not believing her audacity. What kind of man did she think he was? Sure, he might joke about married women, but in truth he’d never taken another man’s wife to his bed. For the Var, lifemating was sacred and lasted for all eternity. Even half mating, though not as binding, was a strong connection that was not lightly breeched. If he was to knowingly take a married woman, the blow to his honor would be devastating, not to mention he’d never forgive himself.

“I’m not really, technically anymore,” she tried to explain.

“How can you not be? You have said vows? You have pledged yourself? You’ve said the words? You’ve been bound?” Reid couldn’t believe it. An ache was in his chest. She was taken, claimed. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anyone and she couldn’t be any further away from him. “Is your husband dead?”

Jasmine shook her head in denial. “Marriage is prison. I divorced him. I quit like a bad job.”

“This … divorce? Is it binding? Legal? Recognized by your people?” A hope tried to awaken where his heart had gone dead. He wished Quinn was with them. Quinn, being the true Var Ambassador knew the most about other cultures. Reid tried to remind himself that other humanoid cultures were different. Mating didn’t mean as much to humans as it did to the Var and could be undone. He was tense as he waited for the answer. He hoped she would say something he could work with.

“No, I just left.”

“You just gave up?” Why was he torturing himself? He should just tell her to go. In fact, he should throw her from his room and demand she go.

“I stayed for four years trying,” Jasmine said. She walked to the door and ran her hand over the scanner. “I don’t call that giving up, Reid. I call that overkill.”

Jasmine left without a backward glance. He was glad for it, for he wouldn’t have been able to force her to leave him. How could she be married?

Reid looked at his arousal. It still ached, but he ignored it. Breathing hard, he sat on the bed.

Jasmine was taken. There was nothing he could do about it. He couldn’t touch her. To do so would be to dishonor not only himself, but his family, his people. There was nothing to be done about it. He could never have her.

The knowledge only seemed to make him want her more. She was a mystery. Regrettably, she wasn’t his mystery to solve.

* * * *

Jasmine took a deep breath, as she made her way down the corridor away from Reid’s room. The look of repulsion on his face had been clear. He no longer wanted her. Shouldn’t she be happy? Wasn’t that what she wanted? Then why did it feel like she’d just been kicked in the gut? Why was her body suddenly all achy and hot?

“I need another pill,” she whispered, pressing a hand to her chest. “Something’s definitely wrong with me.”

Looking back toward Reid’s room, she tensed. She couldn’t go in there--not right now. Reid was still in there. Unfortunately, so was her medicine.

Her whole body shaking, she decided to suffer through the little heart episode. It would be too dangerous to take another pill so soon anyway. Slowly, she continued down the corridor. The ship was big. There had to be somewhere she could hide until the peculiar feeling in her chest subsided.

“Jasmine.”

Jasmine froze. Reid’s soft voice was so hard, angry. Turning slowly, she looked back. There was so much passion in him, so much feeling. When he smiled, he really smiled. When he laughed, it was a real laugh--not fake, not forced. And, like now, when he was angry, the rage poured out of him until it was unmistakable. She wished she could feel things half as much as he did. He was so honest with himself.

Frowning, he leaned out of his quarter’s door. Jasmine swallowed, not making a move to go to him. If his naked shoulder was any indication, he hadn’t put on clothes. “What?”

“Come back here. Everyone will be going to bed soon and I already said I’d share my room with you. I keep my word. There is nowhere else for you to go on the ship.” Reid studied her a moment longer before disappearing into his room.

Jasmine stared at the door for a long moment before going back. Unsure, she glanced inside the room. Reid was on the floor, wrapped in a blanket. He glanced at her, but said nothing. He didn’t have to. His dark eyes spoke volumes.

“You’re sure?” she asked. “I don’t want to put you out.”

He chuckled, though the sound had little humor. “Take the bed, Jasmine. Sleep.”

Reid closed his eyes and she knew that he was dismissing her. She should’ve been grateful that he no longer wanted her, but she wasn’t. It’s not like she wanted to suffer through a man’s carnal attentions, counting the seconds until he was done.

Slowly, she moved to the bed. Lying down, she looked at his strong back. The long waves of his hair spread out behind him, looking like strands of dark silk against the gray pillow. He was turned away from her and she couldn’t see his handsome face.

“Lights,” Reid called. The lights shut off, leaving them in darkness. Jasmine tensed, waiting for him to stalk her and strangely disappointed when he didn’t.

Jasmine tucked her hands under her head. “Reid?”

“What, Jasmine?” He didn’t sound pleased. In fact, he didn’t sound anything. Normally he sounded so full of life. His dead tone actually hurt.

“Thank you for not turning me over to the Federation. You might have actually saved my life.” Jasmine bit her lip. It wasn’t all she wanted to say to him. Part of her was so scared. She’d not felt such a thing in a long time. In fact, it was as if she’d been lifeless inside--for four years to be exact, since her wedding to Chad.

Jasmine waited for him to speak, hoping he’d give her an opening. She wanted to invite him into the bed, not for sex, but for his warmth. She wanted to feel his body next to hers like when he’d been shifted into tiger form. She wanted to feel protected. A tear slipped over her cheek. She wanted to be wanted.

“It’s nothing,” he said, his tone flat. “Anyone would have done the same.”

Jasmine bit her lip. That wasn’t true and she had a feeling he knew it as well. Not many people would take on a stranger, protecting them from the Federation Military.

“Reid--”

“Go to sleep, Jasmine,” he said, cutting off her words with his harsh tone. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

* * * *

“We’re stopping for fuel,” Jarek said as Reid came into the cockpit. They’d been traveling for four days, taking a long route back to Qurilixen. No one complained. It wasn’t as if they were needed at the Var palace anytime soon.

“Where?” Reid asked. He shifted uncomfortably on his feet. He was tired. He’d been sleeping, or attempting to sleep, on his own floor. Jasmine took the bed. After the first night, he merely informed her he’d be sleeping in shifted form. He had to. It was the only way he’d get any rest. Otherwise, his arousal was strained to the point of explosion. Aside from that, they’d hardly spoken.

She was allowed to do as she wanted on the ship. Most of the time she was in the lounge with the others, quietly sitting in a corner watching them as they joked around or played cards. Not once did she join them and when she spoke, it was always short, timid answers. Reid knew because he’d stood outside the door listening.

“There’s an asteroid belt near here. Ziger Complex is right on the edge,” Rick offered. He turned around and grinned. “Ever hear of the red light district?”

Reid shook his head in denial.

Jarek cleared his throat. “No, we’ll stay clear of Ziger. Lady Jasmine is onboard.”

“I don’t see why Reid is the only one who gets a woman,” Rick grumbled. “He’s not even using his.”

“Hey,” Reid began, stiffening. “If you want--”

“Whoa, easy,” Jarek said, his tone bordering on an order. “There is a small refueling station on Werten. Lady Jasmine can find transport from there. It’s the only decent stop before we get back to Qurilixen.”

Reid stiffened. “I don’t know that we should leave her on a strange planet.”

“Any planet is going to be strange to her,” Rick said. “Unless we turn around and take her back.”

“She won’t have any protection there,” Reid insisted.

“What do you care?” Rick frowned. “You just said yesterday that you’d be glad for the day you could be rid of her.”

It was true. He had said that. But, really it had been the constant aching in his loins that caused his ill temper.

Jarek crossed his arms and turned to face them. “Rick, leave us a moment.”

Rick pushed a few buttons and left the cockpit. When they were alone, Reid said, “I’m not enamored.”

“You’re sure?”

Reid nodded. “I gave my word to protect her. That’s what I’m doing. I will not dishonor myself by abandoning her on some refueling planet.”