Chapter 8 #3
His mouth twisted, and his brown eyes bore an expression she hadn’t seen before, one she couldn’t decipher.
Triumph. Pain. Embarrassment. His features bore all of those fleeting emotions.
He blinked and his expression shifted into one of determination.
“You will be part of the prize package for the winner of the Dowry Derby.”
Horror swept her, her skin prickling and a sweat broke out on her arms and legs. Her father hated her so much he wanted to give her away to whichever man won a hell-horse race. A stranger.
“Gweneth. Gweneth!” Ellard’s voice pierced her memories, ripping her from a moment that had been one of the worst of her life.
She swallowed, the movement painful because of the lump that had lodged in her throat.
Ellard moved, lifting her off his chest and wrapping his arms around her trembling body. “Phrull, I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “Can you tell me what happened next?”
“My father dismissed me. I can’t remember walking up to my chamber. I think the shock…it paralyzed me.” She shivered, frozen to her core.
“Understandable.” Ellard drew her closer and pressed a kiss to her temple. The gentle caress melted away the chill in her body.
“I wanted to refuse because I knew the type of man who would enter the race. There aren’t many females on Ornum. It’s the perfect place to incarcerate prisoners because it is isolated. My father knew the race and the prize would bring a lot of interest.”
“How did you come to meet the crew of the Indy?”
“Ry entered a bet with his brother. He was an outlaw at the time, falsely accused of murder, with a reward for his capture.”
“Ry?”
“The rest of the crew were wanted too, for acts of piracy. Ry’s determination to win the bet drove him. His brother promised to help him clear his name if Ry beat him. Ry wasn’t guilty. His brother used magic to execute the crime and implicated Ry.”
Ellard stroked her back, diverting her thoughts. “Go on.”
Gweneth swallowed again, her angst fading because, although she hadn’t thought so then, the race had changed her life for the better.
“As I said, Ry resolved to win, so he and his crew hatched a plan. They decided to kidnap a horse trainer from Earth, but they made a mistake and ended up snatching Camryn instead of her twin brother.”
Ellard barked out a laugh. “That must have caused consternation.”
“From what I hear, it did, but Camryn talked them into keeping her instead of returning for her brother. She helped them catch a hell-horse and train the creature.”
“What is a hell-horse? I don’t believe I’ve heard of one before.”
“It’s native to Ornum. Not the nicest creature. They are furry with sloping backs. They’re usually black or brown and very aggressive. They eat meat and like to scavenge. It’s challenging to capture one and an even bigger challenge to race them successfully since handling them is dangerous.”
“Camryn trained one of these?”
“She did. She not only trained Gabby, but she changed the hell-horse racing history by riding Gabby to victory. That might not sound impressive, but generally, in a hell-horse race, they attack each other, and the last one standing is the winner. Gabby had a foal, and they used her maternal instincts and rewards to get her over the winning line first.”
“What happened next?” Interest shimmered in him, and despite the circumstances, she enjoyed his focus on her.
“Camryn managed to get Gabby to the finals. By then, they had all become attached to her and her foal. None of them wanted her injured, and Camryn decided she would ride Gabby during the race. You should have heard the fuss. The biggest upset in hell-horse racing history, but the rules never specified how the race should run. I believe the attendance numbers were the highest ever recorded.”
“Did you see the race?”
“No, women don’t generally attend. Not that I wanted to watch.
Hell-horses are gruesome creatures. The races are a blood sport.
Camryn won, and at the celebration ball, my father presented me to Ry.
Ry had fallen for Camryn by this time and didn’t want me.
He’d wanted to beat his brother, which he did, and the winner’s purse came as a bonus. He’d never wanted a wife.”
“So, how did you end up with the Indy crew?”
“My father took a liking to Camryn and had her kidnapped and placed in his harem. He also neglected to pay Ry his winnings because Ry didn’t want me.”
“Ry and the crew rescued Camryn, then came to confront my father. He refused to hand over the currency unless they took me. Ry agreed—finally—and Amme said she wouldn’t let me go without her, so we both went with the Indy crew.
Once we were on the ship and on our way to Ibrox, Ry ordered me to remove my mask and never wear it again.
My tattoo shocked him. It stunned the crew, but it worked out for the best. I found new friends. A family.”
“Phrull, Gweneth.” Ellard sought her mouth, and passion exploded between them at the first touch.
She poured all her feelings into the exchange.
Her need for him, her desire and passion.
His hand roamed her back and came to rest on her butt.
The press of his hand ignited a storm in her, the thrust of his cock against her belly a welcome sensation.
Ellard parted their lips, and she thought he’d retreat since he usually did.
“I didn’t realize,” he whispered.
“Why would you? I never talk about my past. I enjoy my present and dream of the future. I’ve learned it from Ry and Camryn, although they both say the past shapes us. We learn lessons and take that knowledge into the future.”
“You are wise beyond your years.” He kissed along her jaw and moved lower to nibble on the vulnerable skin of her neck.
“I’ve tried not to want you, Gweneth. I’ve tried so fiercely but I’m so hard I hurt.
This is your last chance. Please tell me if you’re playing with my feelings or want to use me to get closer to Jarlath and Lynx.
I can’t take my heart getting ripped out again. ”
Gweneth sucked in a harsh breath. “If you’re doing this because you feel sorry for me, I will—”
“I don’t feel sorry for you.” He kissed the upper swell of one breast, his breath warm and seductive.
A spike of pleasure lashed her nerve endings and sank to her pussy.
Everything in her focused on the warm spot where his lips lingered.
“Speak,” she said hoarsely. Stars, didn’t he understand?
She was as vulnerable as he was in this relationship stuff.
Apart from Ry and Camryn and Jannike and her men, she knew nothing of males.
However, she thought her observations of her friends had helped.
“I admire you even more since you told me of your past. Could we…could we take one cycle at a time? At least until we get back to Viros?”
A howl echoed through the forest, and she puffed out a laugh. “You mean we mightn’t live to return to Viros.”
“Yes.” The stark truth.
“If we do not survive, I want to know you intimately. I want to feel what the sexual act is like with a compatible male.” Her gaze didn’t waver, although heat traveled up her neck and settled in her cheeks.
“I want to experience loving with you, Gweneth.” He gave her the same steady regard but didn’t blush.
“Yes, please.”
“Show me how to remove this clothing,” he said, his tongue tracing along the lace of her bra cup. “I haven’t seen one of these before.”
“It’s an Earth garment. A brassiere. Bra for short. The Virosian women have the little support tops that do the same job, but I favor the lace on my bras. They’re prettier.”
“They are,” he agreed, and the warmth in his green eyes sent her insides swooping. “Show me how it works.”
“They fasten at the back with small hooks. I’ll get it this time. I’ll show you in the morn once it is easier to see.”
The howl echoed again, and a shiver ran down her spine. Her hand trembled at the hook-and-eye closure of her bra, and she had to make two attempts before the garment loosened around her breasts. “What do you think that is?”
“Something high on the food chain. At least it doesn’t appear to be coming any closer.”
Gweneth stripped her bra down her arms and tucked it near her tunic.
Ellard sucked in an audible breath. “Phrull, Gweneth.”
She lifted her gaze and attempted to pierce the blacklight to see his expression. His glowing green eyes were all she could see. “Should I keep going? Take off the rest of my clothes?”
“Please.”
“Will I get to see you?”
“You’ll see my arm.” His hesitation was clear, and she understood the vulnerability.
“I won’t laugh or poke fun at you or make you feel you’re lacking in some way. It takes guts to start again, to take that first step. I know because I’ve been there. I still feel the sting of my father’s rejection. It’s not something that fades easily.”
The howl came again, farther away this time, and some of Gweneth’s trepidation faded. Maybe they’d get to the next stage without an interruption. Another thought occurred. “Is your arm, your stump all right? You didn’t remove it carefully like you do when you shift.”
“It’s strange,” he said. “I woke up inside that plant and ripped myself free. The stump hurt initially, but a ghostly surface appeared when I needed to help you and worked with my thoughts. The cold from it seemed to help heal the injury on my stump. I mean, it’s tender but bearable.”
“Our mystery friends,” Gweneth said. “If it is Sheera and Leeam, do you think us having sex will help them?”
“We’re not doing this for them. If you’re trying to help them and using me, we’re stopping right now.”
“No. Ellard.” She fumbled for his shoulder in the blacklight and squeezed with considerable force. “I have been open about my interest in you since we met. Consider this, Ellard. Think hard. Would I do that to you?”
A tight pressure formed in her chest and spread up her throat. He couldn’t think she’d treat him that way. Not after she’d shared her past with him. She didn’t discuss her time on Ornum with anyone.
The tension in his shoulder released, and she loosened her grip.
“No, I’m sorry. My past…the things that have happened play on my mind. I worry about making more mistakes, ones that might hurt my friends and family.”
“At least you’re talking. That’s a start. If I ever do anything to make you uncomfortable, you have to discuss it with me.”
“Maybe.”
She opened her mouth to castigate him, then changed her mind.
Luck had helped her find a family and a support group.
She’d had longer to regroup than Ellard.
He was still finding his way, and she needed to make allowances.
She pushed off him and stood to shimmy out of her trews and the matching lace panties.
“Gwen,” he whispered.
“What?” She quite liked how he shortened her name, the husky note of awe in his voice.
“You’re beautiful.”
“Thanks.” She hesitated, not wanting to make him uncomfortable.
She puffed out a breath because although this might not be easy for him if she let him hide now, their future would never come from a place of honesty.
“Please take off your clothes too. If you’re worried about my reaction, don’t.
I have a strong stomach. Mogens says I would make a good medic if I chose that path.
I won’t scream or faint or do anything girlish.
If I do, I’ll let you off the bet for the morrow. No kiss demands.”
His groan held a hint of humor, and she knew it would be all right. Secs later, he stood and disrobed.
“I can’t see much detail. Your eyesight is better than mine.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing.”
“Ellard, say that again, and I will box your ears.”