Valan's Bondmate (19 page)

She was too busy trying to break his hold on her wrists to listen to his quietly spoken words. "Get away from me, you slimy son of a versnake," she said as she slid one leg between his and tried to shove her knee into his groin.

He wedged his hips between her thighs, pinning her to the mattress. "Don't ever try that again!" Enraged, he wanted to push the gown to her waist and ram himself into her. Only the knowledge he'd hurt her if he took her right now stopped him. Releasing her wrists, he rose and moved away from the bed. She sat up. "Don't even try to leave that bed. You’ve pushed me as far as I'll go."

"What will you do, then? Use the bands again. Kill me?"

He didn't dare tell her he'd decided to never again use the bands. He saw the blush of anger on her cheeks fade as she waited for his answer. She slid to the edge of the bed.

"How did you like the spanking I gave you on the Invincible? Would you like another?"

"N-No." She couldn't bear to look at him, so she stared at the door to her chamber instead.

"I know you're hurt and angry. I'm willing to make some allowances for that outside of this chamber. But, I'm asking you to try to forget your anger when we're here, together." His voice was rough with desire, his body burning. "We need each other."

"I don't need you."

His control was slipping away. "Don’t force me to take you, Lia. I don’t want to hurt you but I need you."

The softly spoken words drew her eyes to him. His face was thinner, his cheekbones sharply outlined with the strain he was under. His eyes were so dark with desire, she couldn't see the pupils. She wanted to refuse him, would have even, if she hadn't seen the spasms of need rushing through him, shaking him. She couldn't bear his suffering.

When she stood up, Valan took a step towards her, then forced himself to stop. "I have to get out of here before I hurt you." He moved toward the door.

"Valan."

He groaned.

"Look at me, Valan."

"Lia, I…"

"I agree to your request." Her voice came from behind him. Before he could move, she slid her arms around his waist and pressed her bare breasts against him.  Another groan was torn from him when he realized she'd removed her gown. Her hands slid down his belly until they reached the waistband of his pants. Her fingers teased over his cock as she opened his pants. He watched as her hands slid into the opening, widening it. The sight of her fingers closing around his cock stole the last of his control.

He grabbed a hand and pulled her around in front of him. Sliding his arm around her waist, he lifted her, stepped forward and pinned her against the door. "Wrap your legs around my waist." As soon as she did, he thrust into her then moved his hands to her hips and held her tightly as he withdrew, then thrust into her again. "Tell me if I hurt you."

Lia rocked her hips against him and a savage growl rumbled from his chest.  She slid her fingers into his hair and pulled his mouth to hers. Her tongue teased his, drawing another growl from him. Suddenly, she froze in his arms and her breath panted into his mouth just as a spasm of pleasure tightened her slick channel around his cock, followed by another, then another. Without warning, his own pleasure rushed through him, stealing the strength from his legs. He fell against her then braced his hands against the door, and dropped his cheek to the top of her head.

After a few moments, he pushed away from the door and carried her to the bed. As he dropped onto the black fur, he gave her a wicked grin as he grew hard again inside her. 

"Valan?"

"Ride me." His hands slid to her hips and started rocking her. She returned his grin and for the first time since he’d captured her she willingly obeyed him.

***

The next sun rising, she woke before Valan. She slipped from the bed and went to her chamber. He'd made love to her again and again, until finally, she'd warned him if he touched her again she'd scream. He laughed and cuddled her into his arms telling her to go to sleep. She'd intended to return to her chamber as soon as he fell asleep but the warmth of the bed and the sound of his heartbeat lulled her to sleep.

Frowning, she ran the tub full of hot, scented water. Sliding in, she rested her head against the curved rim and closed her eyes. It was too bad she couldn't take this tub with her when she left. She lifted her foot and pressed the button on the side of the tub and watched as more heated water flowed into the tub.

A movement at the door caught her eye, and she watched as Valan walked in and sat down on the edge of the tub. He grimaced as his buttocks came in contact with the cool marble. Reaching over, he shut off the water, then grinned when she slid down until it lapped at her chin. He swung his legs over the side and shoved her over as he slid into the water facing her.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Taking a bath."

"But, I'm taking a bath now."

"Yes, you are. And, I'm joining you."

His feet slid along her hips and his hands disappeared into the water. She jumped when she felt him take hold of her ankles and place her feet on his thighs. His thumbs began rubbing the soles in a soothing, circular motion and she sighed.

"This isn't your chamber. We agreed I would obey you in your chamber only."

"Don't be a grouch."

She sputtered and sat up, jerking her feet away from his hands. He recaptured them and held them still.

"The agreement was for your chamber. Only!"

"But, my chamber leads into your chamber. So, it makes sense the agreement should extend into this one as well."

She knew there was something wrong with his reasoning, but at the moment she couldn't be bothered to figure it out. Closing her eyes, she pretended he wasn't there and thought about ways to get away from Zarronia. He tugged on her feet. Exasperated, she opened her eyes.

Valan grasped her waist, turned her in the water and pulled her back against his chest. Gently, he stroked her breasts. "Are your breasts sore?"

"Go away." Her face burned with embarrassment. He laughed, and slid his hand over her belly, giving it a gentle pat and her stomach growled with hunger. He scooped her into his arms and stepped from the tub. Using a drying cloth, he patted her dry before he dried himself.  

Lia escaped while he was busy drying himself. Once in her chamber she opened her closet and saw that it was empty so she rushed into Valan’s room and found her gowns in his closet. Someone hung several colorful gowns and she ran her hands over them before she chose one of the brown gowns and wiggled into it. 

"Put one of the other gowns on, Lia."  

"Why?"

"I don't like that one."

"I think I look rather nice this way."

"Change it."

She stomped her foot. "No." 

"We're in my chamber."

"So?"

"You said you would obey me when we were in my chamber."

"I did not. I only agreed to, uh, you know."

"What?"

Refusing to say what he wanted to hear, she pulled the gown off, threw it in his smug face, and put on a different one. When he began dressing, she went into his bathing chamber and combed the tangles from her hair.

Valan walked up behind her, and braided her hair. She held the leather thong out to him. Instead of taking it, he reached into his vest and pulled out a blue ribbon with gold tassels at each end. Quickly, he tied it in place around the end of her braid.

As she stomped away from him, he grinned and watched the tassels swing across her lush bottom with each step.

He caught up to her in the kitchen. The door of the food processor opened and a food tray slid out. Lia set it on the counter. Seeing him, she told him she'd bring his food to the dining room, then turned back and selected a juice for him.

"Fix yourself a tray, Lia."

"I'll eat later, after you leave."

"No. I want you to join me in the dining room."

"We're not in your chamber now, Valan."

"You're still going to obey me."

"Then, what's the difference?"

Picking up his tray and glass of juice, he strode into the dining room, telling her over his shoulder, "In my chamber you don't get to argue with me."

Determined to stay away from him, she sat on a stool and listed the food she'd take with her when she left. A second later he roared her name and she jumped and spilled her juice. 

"Get in here. Now!"

Cursing him, she fixed a tray of brocco-beans and bread, then selected a glass of juice, and carried them into the dining room.

Valan glanced at her tray then pointed to a chair at the other end of the table. She marched to it, her feet slapping against the marble floor and slammed the tray onto the table. Jerking the chair away from the table, she sat down and began to eat.

"After we eat we're going to spend the cycle in the garden."

***

Valan carried a fur out into the garden, settled Lia on it and described the arbor he was building. It would be circular like the house, and made of the same white marble. The roof would be held up by white pillars. Each pillar would be deeply etched with a vining flower design. He didn't tell her about the flowers he intended to plant around it. That would be a surprise for later. When several workers began tending to the flower beds nearby, Valan sent one of them to get his tools. While he waited, he dropped onto the fur beside her. Picking up her hand, he put one slender finger into his mouth and gently bit it. She frowned at him.

"Lia?"

"What?"

"Tell me you're sorry you bit me."

"No. I'm not sorry."

He bit her finger again. Then, sucked on it, running his tongue around it. She jerked her hand away. He caught it again and placed it over the teeth marks on his chest then stroked her fingers back and forth over them.

Her teeth had broken the skin and left a bruise. He was trying to make her feel guilty for hurting him and succeeded. She couldn't believe she'd bitten him again but he made her so angry sometimes. She'd never done such a thing in her life before she met him. Feeling bad, she leaned closer, mumbled an apology and kissed the mark on his chest.

Valan sucked in his breath when her lips touched his chest. He tumbled her onto her back and kissed her. Then, kissed her again. The sound of a throat being cleared drew him away from her lips. The worker stood nearby holding his tools. Tossing Lia a smile, he jumped up and took them. The smile remained on his face as he began to work.

She knew his good mood wouldn't last. Sooner or later, she'd do something to displease him and he'd turn into the barbarian again. A little frown appeared on her lips as she remembered all the times it happened. Propping her chin on her hands, she watched him and planned the shortest route out of Kadia.

***

Late in the afternoon, Valan received a message from Cam. The engineers removed the old engines on the Invincible and found several damaged power canisters leaking fuel. Concerned about his ship, he'd told Cam to tell them to wait until he arrived before doing anything further. He'd told Lia to eat dinner without him and he would try to return as soon as possible.

She watched him leave and thought things were working out better than she hoped. As soon as it was dark, she'd leave. By morning she'd be far away and he'd never find her. She went to their chamber and changed into a brown gown then grabbed the rest of them and searched for something to carry them in. She didn't find a bag, but she did find several pairs of soft leather shoes. She tried a pair on, cursing him, when they fit her. Realizing she was wasting time, she grabbed one of the long gowns, tied the bottom of it into a bulky knot, and stuffed the other gowns into it. When she picked it up the straps of the gown served as a handle.

In the kitchen, she chose bread, cheese and fruit then wrapped her choices in a drying cloth and added it to the bag. In the reception room, she gathered the wood carvings, wrapped them in another drying cloth and pushed them to the bottom of the bag where they would be safe. With the bag at her feet, she stood at the window and watched the evening shadows creep across the garden. When it was dark, she picked up the bag and left the house.

***

In his quarters on the Invincible, Valan and Cam were enjoying a well-earned tankard of ale. They'd supervised the installation of the new engine. Now, with the work behind them, they were discussing his problems with the warriors and the Council.

"What are you going to do?" 

"Do you remember my sister, Cam?" 

"Well, yes. Of course I remember Magna," Cam said, looking away.

"Do you remember how she used to tag along with us everywhere we went, and how it annoyed us at first?"

"Yes. She was a real little stinkgoat."

"Yes, but after a while we got used to her tagging along, and accepted her as one of us."

"And?"

"That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to take Lia with me everywhere I go. After a while, the warriors will become so used to her they will think of her as one of us."

"That solves your problem with the warriors and the Council, but what about the problem between the two of you?"

"Isolating her in my house was a mistake. Lia needs to start a new life on Zarronia, but she can't do it until she starts making friends and finds things to do with her time other than waiting for me to return."

"I think you're right. Minda and Lia were best friends on Zhang. Minda is always asking me about her."

"How are you and Minda doing? Is she settling in?"

"We're doing alright. It was a battle at first, but we're starting to come to an understanding. It's not anything like I thought it would be with Ma…" Cam glanced away. "I mean…"

"I knew about you and Magda." The words were spoken quietly. "It took me a while to figure out why the two of you were always sneaking away together, but I finally did. I wanted to say something to you when she died. But, I didn't know if you would welcome my knowledge."

"I wanted to die when I lost her. I tried my best to get killed but you kept saving me." After a moment, he asked, "Did your parents know about us?"