undeniable and irresistible.
Need coiled between her legs, hot and wet, before spiraling through her stomach, her nipples.
Look away. Look away!
“What was that about?” she repeated.
“I’m breaking my own rules.” He bent to nuzzle her cheek with his own, an action seemingly as natural to him as breathing. “The fact isn’t...appreciated. What Joachim failed to understand is that you are not a rule, you are an exception.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’ll explain. Later.” Without another word, he spun her and hefted her onto his shoulder as if she weighed nothing more than a bag of feathers.
“Put me down!” She fought and kicked with all her might, and her knee slammed into his stomach. “Valerian!”
“I love the sound of my name on your rose-petal lips,” he said, striding out of the tent, past the line of waiting—eager—women. “Would you like to hear your name on mine?”
“Never!”
He sighed, heading for the ocean he’d risen from. At least her mom wouldn’t be forced to endure...whatever these men were going to make her and the others endure.
The warriors fell into place behind him, and the young, single women happily, blithely followed suit. Those singles were a mix of every race, size and age, though no one looked to be under twenty or over fifty; the prettiest of the bunch even had a prosthetic leg. To the warriors’ credit, they peered at each woman as if she were the ultimate prize, despite the flaws modern-day trolls would have most likely issued.
Wait. Was she praising douche bags just because they found everyone equally attractive?
I need more therapy. Shaye didn’t need praise from someone—anyone—else. She liked herself just the way she was.
Feminine sobs echoed from within the tent.
“Take me with you,” someone called. “Please. I’m begging.”
At the shoreline, Valerian stopped to whisper, “Beautiful. So very beautiful. A sky without a dome.” He spoke in English—for her benefit?
“The heavens seem to go on forever,” another said, clearly awed. He, too, spoke in English.
“I’d dreamed of this land, but never imagined such majesty.”
“Are you sure we can’t stay here?” one of the warriors asked. “We could bring the rest of the army through the portal and—”
Valerian shook his head, silky tendrils of his hair brushing her bare back.
Portal?
“I’m sure,” he said. “Layel was very clear. To remain on the surface is to die on the surface. Let us tarry no longer.” He walked into the water.
He was going for a nighttime swim? Or did he plan something more nefarious? Like a mass drowning?
Fear sprouted. “Valerian.” She slapped his butt with all her might. “This is illegal. You’re going to get caught. Criminals always get caught. At your trial I’ll request the death penalty.” If I’m still alive.
“As long as you’re in my arms, I can die a happy man.”
She beat her fists into his back, watching water splash at his feet. The echo of churning waves filled her ears. “Don’t do this. Please, don’t do this.”
“I told you I would never hurt you. This is the only way to my home. Once there, I’ll beg for your forgiveness for any hardships you endure. I’ll gift you with more jewels and gold than you can imagine. I’ll—”
“I don’t want jewels and gold, you brute! I want my freedom.”
Waves lapped at his knees...his thighs...his midsection. Cool, salty droplets sprayed over her face and burned her eyes. Though he slowed his pace, he continued on, sinking deeper and deeper into the water.
She swallowed a mouthful of the stuff—and choked. He stopped, patting her butt in a vain effort to help her catch her breath. Then he resumed his slow, torturous journey. The other women still followed merrily, each wearing a giddy smile, as if frolicking to their deaths was perfectly acceptable. Even fun.
Wait. No, not every woman followed merrily. The one with dark curls, a petite beauty, looked ready to vomit.
Shaye’s heart pounded in her chest, an erratic drumbeat. A war beat. “Don’t do this. You’re going to kill us all, you—umph.”
Butt smack. “Hold your breath, moonbeam.”
The next thing she knew, she was completely submerged. The salt stung her eyes. Her throat constricted. Hair floated around her face like strands of ivory ribbon.
The idiot man kept his strong arms locked around her, one at the bend of her knees, one at the small of her back. His palms were hot, so hot, a startling contrast against the chilly liquid.
Colorful fish swam past her. She wanted to scream, but every time she opened her mouth, she swallowed more water.
He tilted forward and began using his powerful legs to swim even deeper....deeper still. Her lungs shrieked for air. She desperately needed to breathe. Now. Now!
Can’t...
Terror devoured her.
I’m going to die, she realized. My life will be over before I ever truly lived.
A thousand regrets surfaced, along with all the lies she’d told herself. She didn’t like herself. She wasn’t happy. She should have forgiven those who’d wronged her. Clinging to hurt instead of embracing love seemed so silly now. Like wasted time. Every moment counted, and hurt only ever, well, hurt. Love healed, always. She should have written a book instead of simply talking about it. Her characters could have had the happy ending she’d secretly craved for herself.
She should have gotten a second tattoo. A rose in full bloom, or a cross, or a butterfly. Basically the opposite of the skull and crossbones she had on her lower back—an image she’d gotten to make her parents notice her.
Her mom had definitely noticed and still mailed her articles about new methods of tattoo-removal every few weeks.
Her mind suddenly blanked, becoming as dark as the water, wiping her thoughts clean.
Have to breathe, she mentally shouted.
Between one heartbeat and the next, the murky water cleared, so glassy she could see as perfectly as if she were on land. Even the salt dissipated, soothing her irritated eyes.
Valerian tugged her forward so that they were eye to eye. She tried to push away from him—her tormentor—but he held tight.
Breathe, she mouthed. Please.
With a hand on her nape, he drew her close and pressed his mouth to hers; he used his tongue to open her lips...and then he exhaled, gifting
