Knightqueen

Chapter 9

“Sten!”

Carys’ heart pounded. She ignored the car dropping away; instead, she watched Sten dangling from the broken rail line.

“I’m okay,” he said.

But he wasn’t. It was too far for him to jump to the platform.

“Can you climb along the rail and come across?” she asked.

“There’s some of that blue fluid on the line. If I touch the main rail…”

It would eat into his skin.

Her belly clenched tight. They needed a plan.

She wasn’t losing him.

Carys searched around the platform, but it was empty.

“The fluid will break through the main rail line soon.” His voice was calm.

Panic fluttered through her.

They had no idea how long they had.

“Hold on,” she said.

“No.” His voice was deep, with that infuriating unruffled tone. “Carys, you need to go. Get help. Get away from here, and find a way to contact Oron.”

Her head snapped up. “And leave you?”

“You’re the knightqueen. Your life is more important.”

She stepped forward, her throat tight. “Yours is important, too.”

“Carys—”

“It’s important to me.” She glared at him across the gap. “Now, hold on.”

She swiveled and raced out into the tunnel. She would save the irritating man, if it was the last thing she did.

She hurried along, her pulse racing. She knew that any second, he could fall.

Before long, she came to a doorway. When she reached it, she paused. There was a tall skeleton lying on the ground, empty eye sockets staring straight ahead. She stepped carefully over it.

Inside the room, she yanked open warped and weathered cupboard doors, searching through the shelves. A cloud of dust made her cough.

Come on.There had to be something she could use to save Sten. Her heart squeezed. She couldn’t lose him.

He may not want her the way she wanted him, but he’d been hers a long time.

Her hands touched a coil of rope and her heart leaped. Yes.

She grabbed it and ran.

When she got back to the chasm, he was still hanging there.

“Carys, go.” His voice was a growl. “Get yourself safe. That’s what’s most important to me.”

“Save your breath, Thorsten.” She hefted the rope. “Get ready to grab this.”

His gaze bored into hers. “I’m too heavy. I’ll pull you over the edge.”

“Then I have another order for you. I order you to catch this rope. I will get you over here. Do you understand, Knightguard?”

He glared. “Yes,” he said through gritted teeth.

Carys threw the rope.

He caught the end with one hand, still dangling from the rail line with his other one.

She nodded, gripping her end of the rope firmly. “Good now—”

The rail line broke.

He plummeted.

His full weight hit the rope and yanked her forward.

No.

She gripped the rope with all her strength and formed her sword in her other hand. She rammed the end of the blade into the platform. She needed an anchor. The ground sizzled when pure energy met rock.

Her shoulder wrenched as she took Sten’s full weight, pain sizzling through her. She gritted her teeth.

“Sten?” she said, strained.

“I’m all right.” His voice filtered up from the chasm.

She heard the sound of rocks falling, then a tug on the rope. A second later, he climbed over the edge of the platform.

Relief and elation hit her. With the strain gone, she let go of the rope and collapsed. Her sword dissolved in an instant.

He dropped down beside her, panting.

“You are so stubborn,” he bit out.

“So are you.” She rolled into his body. His warmth hit her, and she shivered. He was alive. Thank the knights.

He reached up and rubbed her sore shoulder. “You should’ve left me.”

She lifted her chin. “You’re mine, Thorsten. I will never leave you.” She leaned over him and cupped his chin. “Because I love you.”

Shock made his green eyes go wide.

Her insides trembled. Oh, had she just blurted that out loud?

Blurted out her deepest, most secret feelings for a man who’d only kissed her because she’d ordered him to?

She fought back the hot mix of emotions, embarrassment leading the way.

You’re the Knightqueen of Oronis. Act like it.

She pushed to her feet, setting her shoulders back, and dusted herself off. She did her best to lock down her rioting emotions.

“I know you don’t feel the same, that you don’t want me the way I want you. But it doesn’t change my feelings. Don’t worry, I won’t demand anything from you.” She nodded, pretending like her insides weren’t twisted into a hundred painful knots. “Now, we need to get out of this mine. Are you ready?”

He rose in a lithe move for such a big man. He was still staring at her. “I’m ready.”

“Good.” She walked off the platform and into the tunnel like a queen.

Not like a woman who’d just bared her vulnerable heart to the man she loved.

She couldn’t mean it.

Because I love you.

Sten felt like someone had hit him in the head as he followed Carys through the tunnel. He couldn’t quite get his brain working properly.

Knightqueen Carys couldn’t be in love with him. Him? A battle-scarred guard? He wasn’t worthy of her. There was no way he could sit beside her. He wasn’t king material.

She couldn’t mean it.

“Sten, look there’s light.”

He saw the glow ahead, and followed her. She’d risked herself to save him. She was so selfless, beautiful, and kind.

She looked so slim and lithe in her black armor. It slicked over her body, and at least now she had some shoes on her feet.

They reached the crumbled entrance and stepped out into sunlight.

The ocean was closer; the air held a tang of salt. The landscape was different, as well. Less rugged. The giant mountains had softened into rolling hills. There were fewer rocks, and more vegetation. Ahead lay a field of deep-green grass, dotted with multicolored flowers.

“Let’s head that way.” Carys set off at a quick pace.

His gaze dropped to her long legs, and desire stabbed him in the gut.

You’re mine, Thorsten.

I will never leave you.

Because I love you.

As the words echoed in his head, his chest tightened. He hated feeling this strange mix of confusion and need.

Such a fierce need for her.

He’d been fighting to keep all his feelings for her locked away for so long. For years, he’d never, ever let himself put a name to them.

He knew very little about love. His mother had died when he was a boy, and he only had vague memories of gentle hugs and soft laughter. His father had been a simple, gruff man. He’d been a good father, but they’d never talked about their feelings.

Once Sten had joined the academy to train as a knight, his life had been about strength and training to be the best. Weakness had no place in a knightguard’s life. And emotions made you vulnerable.

But his and Carys’ abduction at the hands of the Gek’Dragar and everything they’d been through on this planet had left him with weakened defenses.

His chest heaved. They trekked in silence, following a rough path that led up a hill. He scanned the landscape, but there was thankfully no sign of the Gek’Dragar.

“You don’t love me.” The words were torn out of him.

Carys slowed and whirled. Her hands clenched at her sides. She strode up to him, pink in her cheeks, then poked him in the chest.

“You do not get to tell me what I’m feeling or not feeling, Thorsten.”

“Carys—”

She poked him again. “No.”

“This is a dangerous, emotional situation—”

She growled. “Yes, and it’s made things clear to me. We could’ve died numerous times. Life is short, and you shouldn’t hide things.” Her gold eyes were angry. “I love you. I’ve loved you for years. You’re strong and certain and loyal. You’ve always been there for me.” She bit her lip. “And you’re tall and rugged and…” Her gaze drifted down his body.

He sucked in a breath.

“These are my feelings.” Her chin lifted. “You can ignore them, you can ignore this, but it won’t change how I feel. I know you don’t feel the same. I know you only kissed me because I ordered you to, not because you truly want me.” There was a flash of pain on her face, but she held his gaze. So proud and regal. “I know everything you do is because of your dedication and duty. So don’t worry. I won’t get confused again.” She gave him a brisk nod. “Now, let’s go.”

She turned and continued to walk down the path.

Sten stared after her. His fingers curled into fists and his chest was rising and falling fast.

Carys thought he didn’t desire her? Didn’t have feelings for her beyond his job?

He stomped after her.

“We’ll continue to the ocean. Find a village—”

He grabbed her arm and spun her around.

She gasped.

“Any man who didn’t desire you would have to be dead.”

Her lips pressed together. “I don’t care about other men.”

Sten felt something snap inside him. He dragged in a deep breath, then scooped her into his arms.

“Sten!”

He took two steps and pinned her against a nearby rock. Her hands gripped his shoulders.

“I want you so much that sometimes it hurts,” he growled.

Her lips parted.

“From the moment I met you, I thought you were the most beautiful woman in the galaxy. When you were younger, that was just a fact. As you got older…” He swallowed. “I noticed in different ways. Then, I also learned that you are kind and fair, and dedicated to your people. I’ve watched you grow into a good ruler and a wonderful queen.” He swallowed. “A gorgeous woman who’s funny and smart and thoughtful.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “Who looks mouthwatering in her gowns or her armor. Who takes my breath away. Every day.”

“You’ve never said this much all at once.” Her breathing quickened, her eyes wide.

“Every day I fight to hide what I feel for you. Every night, alone in my bed, I stroke myself thinking of you.”

Her cheeks flushed and her fingers flexed on his shoulders.

“Every time I see some handsome man ask you to dance at a party, or touch your hand, or try to get your attention, I have to stop myself from ripping their arms off.”

“Sten?”

“Yes?”

“Kiss me.”

He shuddered. “As my queen commands.”

Her fingers dug into his muscles. “No. Because you want to.”

“Let me show you how much I want you.” Sten pressed his mouth to hers.

The kiss started gentle. A tantalizing brush of their lips. But it didn’t take long before it turned wild, heated. He thrust his tongue between her lips, and she kissed him back, her body rubbing against his. The taste of her was like an explosion of the finest flavors.

She melted into him, her tongue hot and eager against his. He let his mouth drift lower, over her jaw, down her neck. Her skin was like the finest silk.

“Please, touch me,” she panted.

“You have no idea the things I want to do to you. All the places I want to touch you.”

“Sten.”

He couldn’t deny her anything. “Retract your armor, Carys.”

She did, the black armor withdrawing. He slid his hands under her skirts, his palms cupping her taut ass.

With a gasp, she locked her legs around him.

She reached down and tugged the front of her dress. Her breasts spilled out. “Touch me. Any way you want.”

With a groan, he closed his mouth over one nipple.

“Oh.” Her hips moved against him.

He sucked firmly. “Do you like that?” he asked against her skin.

“Yes.” Her hot gaze met his.

He growled. Need was heavy in his gut. He slid his hand between her legs, and found that she was already wet. He stroked, savoring her warmth and softness.

She arched and let out a small cry.

“Dreamed of touching you here.” He found the small, swollen nub at the top of her sex and rubbed. She made a husky sound and jerked. “Dreamed of kissing you here.”

More heat flooded her cheeks. “It feels so good. I ache so much. For you.”

He groaned, stroking her harder. But while they were partially concealed in the shadow of the hillside, he was still vitally aware that they were in the open, and being hunted.

The knightguard in him warned him to keep moving, to find safety. The man in him saw the desperate desire on her face. It made something twist inside him.

“Please, Sten,” she implored. “Show me…”

He couldn’t leave her hurting and unfulfilled.

He shoved his thigh between her legs, putting pressure where he knew she needed it. She let out a small cry.

“That’s right, Carys.” With his hands on her hips, he urged her to move.

She rubbed against him, her eyes glazed. “That feels so good. Stars, please, Sten.”

“I know, sweetness. Now, I want you to come for me.”

She rocked faster, her breathing thickening. “Sten.”

“Soon, when we’re safe, I’m going to put my mouth between your legs. Lick you until you come.”

She cried out.

“Then I’ll slide my cock inside you. It’ll be tight, you’ll feel it, but I’ll make it so good for you.”

A desperate sob escaped her, and she slid her hand into his hair, tugged. He knew she was close. Knowing he was making her feel good made his chest swell. She was his to protect, and to take care of, in all ways.

“Come, Carys. On me, for me.”

She clamped down on his thick thigh, moving sinuously, searching for more friction. He cupped her ass, and then she stiffened and shattered.

And Sten got to see the most beautiful sight he’d ever known—Carys finding her pleasure.