Vaaden Warriors 1: Rheul (5 page)

"Jealous?" I looked down at Darcy in confusion. "Is she right?"

When Darcy didn't respond, I forced her to look at me. The tears gathered in her eyes surprised me. Why was she crying? I watched as a tear slipped silently down her cheek.

Gently, I pulled her against me and wrapped my arms around her. Over her head, I looked at Moira in confusion, not really understanding what was going on.

Moira just gave me a small smile and nodded her head toward the bedroom. I took that to mean I should carry Darcy in there, but I didn't know why. I didn't know anything anymore.

Lifting Darcy into my arms, I carried her into the bedroom and sat on the bed with her cradled in my arms. "Darcy, please tell me what's wrong. I know something's been 54

bothering you. I could tell something was wrong our last night together, but you won't talk to me."

"I was so scared when you left," she said. "When you didn't come back the next day, or the next, I knew that you had gone to the harems instead of coming to me. I haven't seen you in a week other than a brief visit or two."

"You didn't seem to want me around. I was trying to give you the space you seemed to want. I told you that I would never force myself on you, Darcy. That includes my presence."

She buried her face in my shoulder. "Can you ever forgive me?"

"For what?"

"For acting the way I did? I ruined our night together. I didn't mean to."

"Why didn't you just talk to me that night? If you just would have talked to me, everything would have been fine."

"I was scared. I've been so scared since I arrived on Vaaden. My fate literally rests in your hands. If I say or do anything you don't like, you can get rid of me. If you killed me, no one would say or do anything about it."

"Darcy, you have to know that wouldn't happen. that I would never do that."

She sniffled. "I know. I know that, I really do. But I just can't stop worrying all the time."

"What can I do?"

"Please don't go back to Moira. I... I missed you."

I grinned. "If you want me in your bed, then I won't go back to Moira."

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She nodded.

"I do, however, have to walk her back to her rooms at the harem," I told her. "I can't leave her on her own. It isn't safe."

"Do you care for her?"

Her question was so quiet I almost missed it. "Yes, I do."

I wasn't going to lie to her. I really did care for Moira, just not on the same level that I cared for Darcy. However, I wasn't about to tell Darcy that. Not right then, anyway. Not after everything she'd put me through. I knew it wasn't her fault, her mind had been poisoned by the slaves in the cells, but it didn't change the way things were. But if she was ready for me to come back, then maybe things would work out, maybe our week apart had given her the time she'd needed to think.

"I have to go. After I get Moira back to the harem, I'll come back."

"Promise?"

I smiled at her. "I promise."

She let go and stood, letting me stand. I felt her gaze on me as I walked out of the bedroom and ushered Moira out of the apartment. I only hoped that the Darcy I'd just left behind would be the same Darcy that I'd come back to. I just never knew with her.

"Moira, I'm really sorry," I told her as we walked into her rooms at the harem.

"It's okay, Rheul. I knew our time would come to an end, and I'm glad that things are going to work out with Darcy."

"Actually, I meant the way she acted with you."

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"Oh." She smiled. "That's actually a good thing. It means she cares."

"She does?"

Moira nodded. "She wouldn't have been jealous if she didn't care. So whatever is going on with her, at least you know she cares about you. Maybe you can work through whatever problems she's having."

I kissed her cheek. "I can never thank you enough, Moira.

And I will keep my promise to you. In the meantime, you have a nice week-long break."

She smiled. "I'll enjoy it while I can. But if things don't go well with Darcy, you know you're always welcome here."

She blushed and I hugged her. She really was the sweetest thing. I was going to miss her.

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57

When I returned to the apartment, I found Darcy curled up in the bed. She lifted her head when I walked in, and I smiled at her.

"Moira is back at the harem, and you have me to yourself.

Now, do you want to tell me what's been going on?"

"I don't really know."

"Darcy, don't start this again."

My jaw clenched. I couldn't take this again. I'd thought things were going to be better, but now she was clamming up once more.

"No, I mean I really don't know. I just... That night, it was amazing, but then as I was lying there with you, I don't know what happened. I was content one minute, and the next I started to worry."

"About what?"

"That you would get tired of me, get rid of me. That I would displease you, and you would punish me. I think on some level I know you won't do those things, but there's always this fear inside of me that things could change."

"Darcy, what do I have to do for you to realize that none of those things is going to happen? I nearly died because you weren't ready yet and I refused to force myself on you!"

I knew I was practically yelling at her, but I was beyond irritated. She was being irrational. I didn't know what else to do to get through to her. Obviously, I couldn't show her, and telling her that she had nothing to worry about hadn't done 58

any good. What else could I do? I couldn't live the rest of my life with her like this, never knowing from one day to the next what to expect from her. Would she be the sweet, loving woman I'd made love to that night, or the worried, anxious woman she'd changed into right after? It was like being with two different women, and it would drive me crazy.

She flinched. "I know. I'm sorry."

"I tried to do everything right that night, tried to show you how it could be between us. Why would you start thinking those things?"

She bit her lip. "One of the women returned said that her owner started out nice, being sweet to her, saying all the right things. But then he changed. He started yelling at her all the time, hit her, and eventually he returned her. I guess I started worrying that the same thing could happen to me."

I groaned and looked up at the ceiling.

"I don't know what else to do, Darcy. Nothing I ever do or say is going to be enough for you. I bought you tunics so you wouldn't have to wear the slave dresses. I had this entire apartment redone just for you. There are books and games in the living room because I didn't want you to be bored. Do you think all slaves get to have those things? Because they don't!"

"I didn't know," she said softly.

"I was patient with you when you said you were nervous about your first time. And then, when things turned out the way they did because of me being sick, I tried to make it up to you. But nothing I do for you is ever enough. What
will
be enough?"

I watched as she wiped away a tear.

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"Please don't give up on me," she pleaded.

"Darcy, I have responsibilities to attend to, a job, a home.

Before long, I'll have to take a wife. I can't spend every waking minute of every day here with you."

She sniffled. I'd watched as she flinched when I said the word wife. Perhaps she really did care for me, as Moira had claimed. If that were the case, then maybe the future wasn't as bleak as I had first thought. But if things didn't change, then it didn't matter if she cared or not because I couldn't, wouldn't, live like this.

"Will you stay with me tonight?" she asked.

"Is that really what you want?"

She got up, walked over to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Snuggling into me, she nodded her head. I wrapped my arms around her and held her.

Later that night, we were lying in bed with neither of us saying a word. She'd shyly taken off her tunic and climbed between the sheets, curling up beside me. I wanted to take her, but I held back. I'd been with Moira the night before and could easily wait another day. I didn't want to push my luck with Darcy.

"I'm sorry for everything," she said softly. "I promise I'll try to do better."

"Just talk to me, Darcy. If you don't let me in, how am I supposed to reassure you that everything is fine? If I don't know what's going on, what you're thinking, then I'm going to assume the worst."

She nodded and snuggled even closer. Her head rested on my shoulder, and she'd draped her arm across my waist. For 60

the moment, she seemed to be okay, but I wasn't sure how long it would last, and I was hesitant to let down my guard.

"Rheul, will you... will you make love to me?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I wasn't lying when I said I missed you. I didn't like the thought of you being with someone else, especially after knowing what it was like to be with you."

I rolled her body beneath mine and kissed her, my mouth claiming hers gently, not wanting to scare her. When her lips parted, my tongue slipped between them. She tasted just as sweet as I remembered, and I wasn't sure I could get enough of her. While my mouth devoured hers, my hand slipped between her legs. I was surprised to discover she was already wet. She hadn't been lying when she said she wanted me.

I eased two fingers inside her and she gasped, lifting her hips, wanting more. While I stroked her, making her squirm beneath me, I trailed kisses down her neck and across her collarbone. I nipped her gently before taking her nipple in my mouth. She whimpered and arched against me.

My tongue caressed the erect nub, and my thumb rubbed her clit. I released her nipple and kissed her again, muffling her cries as she came. My fingers continued to stroke her, thrusting in and out of her, faster and harder until she was straining against me. Before her body could relax, another orgasm claimed her, leaving her shaking beneath me.

"Rheul, I want you," she whimpered, obviously not satisfied yet.

I grinned and rolled onto my back, taking her with me.

Lifting her, I eased her down on my cock until I filled her 61

completely. She groaned and threw her head back, thrusting her hips forward. As she began riding me, I cupped her breasts in my hands, stroking her nipples with my thumbs. I'd never felt anything so wonderful as her wet heat surrounding me.

As Darcy climaxed, I fought hard to control myself. I wasn't ready for our time together to end just yet. She felt too good to let her go. I flipped her over and thrust into her hard, lifting her hips so I could sink all the way into her. She moaned and tilted her hips, wanting me deeper still.

I used hard, slow strokes, wanting to draw it out as long as possible. Darcy clawed at my arms, trying to get even closer to me.

"What do you want?" I asked her.

"Faster. I want you to take me faster."

I thrust into her faster. "Like this?"

She moaned. "Yes. Just like that."

Our bodies were coated in a sheen of sweat as I plunged into her over and over, my cock soaked in her juices. As she arched toward me, I felt her pussy clench down on me as her orgasm tore through her, leaving her breathless, and I came hard and fast, thrusting into her one last time.

I rolled onto my side and gathered her close, my cock still buried inside of her.

"Will it always be like that?" she asked, still trying to catch her breath.

I chuckled. "I don't know about always, but I can hope so."

She kissed my chest and wrapped her arms around me.

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I kept waiting for another episode, or something to change like it had last time, but instead she closed her eyes and fell asleep in my arms with a smile on her face. Smoothing her hair back from her face, I held her close and wondered if perhaps we had a chance at happiness after all.

I woke the next morning to find Darcy curled against my side. I eased from the bed, trying not to wake her. Getting clean clothes out of the closet, I slipped into the bathroom to take a shower. There was no need to wake her. After the night we'd had, it was best to let her sleep. After all, I planned to have her again tonight.

With a grin, I started the water and stepped under the spray. I wanted to wash and get out as soon as possible.

Even if she was still asleep, I could still make her breakfast.

As I was washing my body, I heard the bathroom door open and looked over to see Darcy walking in.

"You took a shower without me?" she asked with a pout.

I grinned at her. "There's still time for you to come in here."

She stepped in the shower and pressed herself close to me. "You already washed. I could have done that for you."

"Then I guess I'll just have to wash you instead." I leaned down and nipped her ear. "Turn around."

When she presented me with her back, I soaped her neck and shoulders, my hands gliding over her smooth skin. I pressed my thumbs into her tight muscles, trying to massage the tension from her body. I worked my way down her back to her hips. I palmed her ass, caressing the cheeks and 63

groaned. There was no way I could wait to take her; I wanted her too badly.

Pressing her against the wall, I spread her legs.

"Rheul, what are you..."

I nipped her on the neck. "Hush."

Her mouth snapped shut, and she looked over her shoulder at me in curiosity. The moment my fingers touched her clit her eyes closed and she bit her lip. I lightly pinched and pulled the nub until she was panting, my thumb caressing her until she wanted more. When she started to squirm, I growled at her.

"Don't move."

She whimpered, but did as I bade.

Gripping her hips, I lifted her onto her toes and entered her pussy with one long stroke. She gasped and pushed back against me. I wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her still.

"I thought I told you not to move," I said softly in her ear.

"I can't help it. It feels so good."

I chuckled and began thrusting into her, each stroke harder and faster than the previous one. But right before she came, I stopped and held still. I could feel her trying to move, trying to keep the sensation going, but she wasn't going to have an orgasm that easily. Not this time.

After she settled down, I plunged my cock into her again.

Using long, slow strokes, I could tell that I was driving her crazy. Probably not as crazy as I was making myself. I wanted to fuck her hard until we both came, but I was 64

holding back. Unfortunately, I was teasing myself as well as her.

"Touch yourself," I whispered in her ear.

She reached between her legs and rubbed her clit. I could feel her growing hotter and wetter with each stroke and thought I might lose my mind. I thrust into her harder and deeper, wanting to feel all of her.

She started making mewling noises, and I knew she was about to come, but I couldn't let her. Not yet.

"Stop."

"But..."

"Stop," I growled at her.

She removed her hand, and my cock slid from her body.

She whimpered and squirmed again.

"Rheul, I want..."

"Hush. I know what you want. And you'll have it, but only when I say you can."

I entered her again, going even deeper and harder than before.

"Touch yourself again."

As she pleasured herself, I thrust into her faster, wanting to push her over the edge. It didn't take long before her pussy clenched down on my cock, and I knew she was having her first orgasm, but I planned on her having more than one.

She started to remove her hand, but I stopped her.

"Keep rubbing."

"But..."

"Do it."

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She did as I said and before one orgasm had stopped, another had started. She rode wave after wave of pleasure.

And with her pussy convulsing around my cock, I finally spilled myself inside her, allowing myself to find my release.

When I let go of her, she wobbled for a moment. She turned and looked up at me with wide eyes.

"What was that?" she asked, looking a little stunned.

I caressed her cheek. "Did you like it? I know I haven't...

that it was different from how we usually do it."

"Very much."

Leaning down to kiss her, I caressed her breasts and wished I could take her again, but I didn't want to make her sore. If she were more experienced, I would have asked her to suck my cock, but I wasn't sure she was ready for that yet.

I didn't want to scare her when I was just starting to earn her trust. I'd never wanted anyone the way I wanted Darcy and it frightened me. What the hell was happening to me?

"I want you again," she murmured against my lips.

I looked down at her in surprise. "You aren't too sore? I won't hurt you?"

"I might be a little tender later, but I don't care."

"How do you want me to take you?" I asked her.

She bit her lip. "Can we do it the same way? But maybe not draw it out so much?"

I chuckled. "And what kind of timeframe were you thinking about?"

She caressed my chest. "I want you hard and fast."

"I think I can manage that."

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Turning her around, I spread her legs and entered her again. She was still slick, and I easily slid into her. I plunged into her hard like she'd asked, and she gasped, pushing back against me. I thrust into her again even harder, and she whimpered.

"Deeper," she begged.

She'd surprised me, but in a good way. I wrapped my arm around her and lifted her up, angling her hips so I could slide into her farther. As I slid deeper into her, she moaned, and her fingers curled against the shower wall.

"Do you still want me fast and hard?" I asked, giving her a chance to change her mind.

"Yes."

With a grin, I gave her exactly what she'd asked for. I plunged into her hard and fast, sliding into her as far as I could go. With each thrust I went deeper and harder, each stroke faster and faster. She cried out as she came, but I wasn't done with her yet. I was enjoying this side of Darcy and wanted to prolong it just a little bit more, even if it was just for another minute or two.