Secrets of New Pompeii Page 9

  Sineth ignored his son’s outraged shrieks and frantic flailing as he was dragged from the villa. The others left with more dignity, leaving him alone with Lady Xyell. The room seemed cold and artificial without its costumed occupants. Even Laetif looked silly in her period garb.

  “Rise.” He helped her to her feet and led her out onto the balcony overlooking New Pompeii. The city really was amazing, an architectural wonder, if nothing else. “Do you think they’ll hurt her? Are they wise enough to realize I will not rest until they are dead if they harm her in any way?”

  “Do you want the truth, or would you rather I put your mind at ease?”

  A reluctant smile parted his lips. Laetif had spirit. He had to give her that. “The truth would serve me better, I believe.”

  “I know Max quite well. He would never harm a woman for any reason. The other man, Dario, I am not well acquainted with him, but he has reason to lash out at your family.”

  “What happened?”

  “His sister was one of the women captured in preparation for the festival last night. We were able to free her and several others, but I don’t think Dario was aware she’d been rescued.”

  The pounding of boot heels drew Sineth’s attention into the interior of the villa. Firdose ran toward him, his expression almost—elated?

  “She’s on the com, Your Majesty,” Firdose announced. “Come quickly. We have Naloni!”

  Sineth’s heart lurched, the combination of hope and joy nearly as painful as the fierce rush of fear that had accompanied his first viewing of her abduction. He followed his chancellor through Tarhee’s bedroom and into the small, concealed room that contained the villa’s only technology.

  “Father,” Naloni greeted with a cautious smile.

  “Where the fuck are you!” He hadn’t meant to sound so gruff, but his emotions were raw and turbulent. “Are you all right? Were you harmed? Where are those bloody bastards? They will both—”

  “Father, Max rescued me from Dario. Dario was entirely to blame.”

  “Max was an accomplice, not a victim. I saw how it began.” He’d seen this before. Halfway through a crime, a criminal found it more beneficial to turn on his mates, hoping to escape prosecution. He would not allow any involvement in this incident to go unpunished.

  “It’s complicated and we have many things we need to discuss. I just wanted you to know I’m fine and you need to check with your military commanders. I believe one of them is currently in possession of Dario.”

  “When did my military become involved?”

  “When they tunneled under the barrier surrounding New Pompeii.” Naloni sighed and pushed back from the screen. “As I said, we have a lot to talk about. But I’m exhausted and cranky. I want a good night’s sleep before we even attempt to sort through all the elements of this mess. I love you and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Don’t you dare—” The link blinked off and he spun on Firdose with all his pent-up frustration. “Where is she? Please tell me you traced the link!”

  “We tried to, Sire. It was encrypted and scrambled. It’s virtually impossible to tell where it originated.”

  “I don’t believe this!” Left without an outlet for his ire, he threw his hands in the air.

  “She’s unharmed, Sire,” Laetif pointed out. She stood on the other side of the open doorway and she’d obviously heard every word. “Isn’t that what’s important?”

  “You know Max!” He stalked toward her. “You have both ‘rescued’ people before. Where do you take them? Where the hell is she! Don’t bother pretending you don’t know.”

  “Give her some time to recover from the upheaval. I’ll tell you tomorrow morning.”

  He gasped, mouth gaping at her audacity. “I am your emperor! You will tell me now!”

  A secretive smile parted her lips and the cheeky wench blew him a kiss. “She’s safe and needs a little space. It’s a reasonable request. I’ll tell you in the morning, Sire.”

  * * * * *

  “Are you sure that was wise?” Max had remained back from the desk while Naloni spoke with her father, carefully remaining out of sight. Much to his delight, she’d defended him every step of the way. “We need him calm and reasonable tomorrow, not defensive and stubborn.”

  Pushing back her chair, Naloni laughed. “Stubbornness defines my father. Unfortunately for him, of his three children, I’m the most like him.” She stood and walked toward Max, ridiculously appealing in her borrowed uniform. “We both gave up too easily before. I knew we were meant to be together, I just didn’t see a way to make it happen. So I allowed your retreat.”

  “You ‘allowed my retreat’?” His pride took exception to the description, but in essence she was right. “If I’d known you really wanted me, there would have been no stopping me.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, keeping her from burying her face against his chest. He needed to see her eyes, gauge her reactions to this long-delayed conversation. “I would have battled any foe to protect you, risked any danger to keep you by my side. But the one thing I wouldn’t do was to force you away from the life you deserve.”

  “I have no idea what I ‘deserve’.” Her gaze was open, her emotions accessible. “But I know what I want, what I always wanted.”

  “Then why did you lie to me, pretend to be an entirely different person?”

  “How would you have reacted if ‘Princess Naloni’ had summoned you to her chamber and ordered you to take her virginity?”

  He searched his memory, tried to honestly examine the question. He’d been so bitter in those early days. The founders hadn’t misrepresented the situation when they’d recruited him, but he hadn’t been prepared for the utter isolation of existing on an alien world. He was powerless and trapped, and he channeled all his anger into resentment for all things Fedoran.

  “I would have hated you.”

  “I didn’t set out to make you fall in love with me, but I needed a connection, an emotional balm for my wounded spirit. It was selfish, I know. But I thought we could help each other, heal each other. Maybe find a few weeks of happiness.”

  “And then what?” He surrounded himself with the warmth of her gaze, refusing to let the past hurt him. “How was it supposed to end?”

  “I wasn’t sure, but I knew I couldn’t give you up. The connection was stronger than I ever imagined, and I fell for you way too hard. I took you to the resort so you could understand the world I came from then I’d meant to reveal my true identity.”

  He wrapped his arm around her waist and brushed his lips over hers before expressing the final frustration. “When I saw the vid and realized you had been lying all along, I was convinced I was a game to you, that you’d used me like all the other Fedorans.”

  “So you hurt me before I could hurt you.”

  “I wasn’t merely hurt, I was…decimated. You were the last straw, the final insult. I was honestly afraid I would lose control. Convincing you that Fedoros overwhelmed me wasn’t hard after that. I was so angry and so sad. You showed me freedom, a life without masters, together with a woman who loved me, and then the door was slammed in my face.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Tears swam behind her long lashes and she pressed her lips together in an attempt to mask their trembling. “I didn’t know how to react when you rejected my world and me along with it. I didn’t know… I couldn’t…”

  He pulled her close and stroked her hair. “My rejection was just as dishonest as your introduction. We’re both to blame and we can’t change what we did.”

  “But we can learn from it and move on?” Her warm breath teased his throat, awakening his senses.

  “Absolutely.” He eased her back again and looked deep into her eyes. “I love you, Your Highness. I always have and I always will.”

  “And I love you, Max. Nothing will ever separate us again. Not while breath remains in my body.”

  Their mouths locked in a long, explorative kiss. Despite the desire rushing to the surface, he reined in hi
s need and took his time. Her mouth was soft, her tongue responsive, and he savored the moment to its fullest.

  “So, what’s our strategy for tomorrow?” he whispered against her lips.

  “We remain calm and respectful, no matter how outraged Father becomes. And we do not back down. Never again will we compromise our happiness.”

  He loved her feistiness, but she was ignoring the obvious flaw in the approach. “What if he comes as emperor rather than father? He is the ultimate authority on Fedoros.”

  “He won’t.” Her smile was confident and her expression calm. “It might be a bumpy road getting there, but in the end Father wants my happiness. He’ll do the right thing. I know he will.”

  Not sharing her blind faith in the emperor, Max decided he would work out an alternate ending with Caleb. If negotiations broke down, and it became apparent that the emperor would not relent, they needed an exit strategy. And quick escapes were Caleb’s specialty.

  Naloni tugged Max’s shirt out from inside his pants and pushed her hands up under the loosened material. “Can we find something better to do with our mouths? I’m tired of talking.”

  Tearing the shirt off over his head, he cupped the back of her head with one hand and pulled her against him with his other arm. His mouth sealed over hers, his lips urging hers apart. This time he controlled the kiss, delving deep to tame her tongue.

  He felt restless and aggressive. If he’d trusted his instincts, loosed his inner warrior, perhaps they could have avoided all the wasted years. They could not rewrite the past, but he could make damn sure nothing came between them ever again. He would fill her so full of himself that there would be no room, no possibility of anyone or anything interfering in their happiness.

  Her hands ran up and down his back, nails digging in as she ground her pelvis against his. He wanted to feel her sweet mouth sliding up and down his cock, yet he ached to thrust deep into her snug pussy. His cock hardened, his balls tightening so fast it made him groan. If he didn’t slow down, this would end before it began.

  But the reality of what they were facing thrilled him, excited him as nothing before. He could hold her, touch her, fuck her whenever desire ignited between them. Waking in the morning with her by his side and falling asleep with her snuggled against him. The possibilities intoxicated him and aroused him.

  He tore his mouth from hers and stripped off her shirt. Her breasts were jostled by the sudden movement and his hands acted of their own accord, cupping the soft mounds as if he would never let go. She smiled and went to work on his pants while he squeezed and stroked her soft breasts.

  She knelt and tugged off his boots then helped him remove his pants. Her gaze took in his naked body with obvious appreciation. She ran her hands up his legs, then reached behind him and squeezed his ass. The motion brought her face close enough to his cock to make him tense. Could he hold off his release if she sucked him into her mouth? Maybe it would be better for her if he didn’t even try. If she took the edge off his raging hunger, he’d be able to concentrate on her, ensuring her satisfaction.

  He brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers then traced her lips with his thumb. “I need your mouth, love.”

  She required no other prompting. Her fingers closed around his shaft and she smiled up at him. “I won’t stop this time, even if you beg me. I want you to lose control.”

  That had been his intention all along, but he didn’t correct her perspective. He widened his stance and she sucked the tip of his cock into the soft heat of her mouth. His fingers tangled in her hair, holding without pulling. Her hand stroked up and down while her lips and tongue adored him. Gods she was good at this, had always been good. She gave selflessly, demonstrating her caring with each pull of her mouth and each slide of her fingers.

  As he feared, his desire barreled toward release. If he’d tried to hold back, he would have failed. Her tongue swirled over the ultrasensitive cap and sent tingles up his shaft to burst within his belly. His balls contracted and his cock twitched against her tongue. He quickly adjusted the angle of her head and thrust to the back of her mouth.

  Sucking and swallowing with unbelievable fervor, she milked every drop from his straining cock. Her nails anchored his hips while she commanded his release. Her gaze gleamed with possessive pleasure as he shuddered and moaned.

  She licked her way to his cock head and released him with a lingering kiss. “Feel better?” The subtle smugness in her tone pleased and challenged him.

  He dragged her to her feet and kissed her deeply. Finding his taste on her tongue only made him more anxious to combine the sharp flavor with her evocative cream. “It’s your turn, Princess. I’m going to eat you until you beg me to stop and then I’m going to eat you some more.”

  Naloni laughed as heat cascaded through her body and gathered between her thighs. “When will you learn that’s not much of a threat? I love having your mouth on my pussy.”

  “We’ll see.” He walked to the bed and lay down, propping his head on his hand as he studied her. “Finish undressing then come here.”

  His commanding tone thrilled her, stirred a dark, primal part of her spirit she seldom acknowledged. He seemed different now, freer perhaps. Knowing she loved him without reservation was allowing him to express himself more honestly.

  She bent and unlaced her boots, tossing each aside as she tugged them off. His crystal blue gaze followed her, caressing her with tangible intensity. Feeling mischievous and daring, she loosened her pants then turned around as she pulled them down. His audible groan rewarded her efforts and made her smile.

  Pausing with her back to him, she stretched and ran her hands slowly down her sides. “I love being naked,” she whispered. “If it were up to me, I’d never wear clothes.”

  “Whenever we’re alone, I encourage you to indulge your preference. I will never tire of looking at you.”

  She looked over her shoulder, her smile soft and sensual. His cock was already starting to harden. Damn, the man had stamina. “Are you sure all you want to do is look?”

  “If all you want is to be naked, then I am content.”

  He had just enjoyed a powerful orgasm. Doubtlessly, her need was greater than his right now. She turned and sauntered toward the bed, watching his eyes drift from her face to her body. It was exhilarating and liberating to inspire this sort of longing in such a powerful man.

  “Are you wet?” His gruff question halted her steps.

  “Why don’t you find out?”

  “Why don’t you show me?” he countered, eyes narrowed and challenging.

  She licked her lips and skimmed her hands down along her body. He thought she wouldn’t do it, hadn’t realized how uninhibited he made her feel. She parted her outer lips and showed him the cream gleaming on her inner folds. Then she pushed her finger into her passage and brought him the shiny proof of her excitement.

  He grasped her wrist and drew her hand to his mouth, licking then sucking her essence from her finger. “Come here, love. Straddle my face and put that creamy cunt right above my mouth.”

  Trembling with excitement, she climbed onto the bed and positioned herself as he’d described. She flattened her hands against the wall, steadying herself as his mouth latched on to her sex. Her head dropped back onto her shoulders and a strangled cry escaped her throat. He wasn’t gentle. His lips sucked and his tongue stabbed, demanding she respond. He found her clit with his tongue and lashed the sensitive nub, flicking and circling until she rocked her hips against his mouth.

  He reached up and rolled her nipples, squeezing and pulling as his mouth continued its tender assault. Pleasure gathered within her, strong and tight like the caresses inciting it. She bit her lip, holding back a scream as she came in powerful spasms.

  His tongue thrust up into her passage, prolonging the pleasure and urging her higher. She ground herself against his mouth, riding his tongue like a miniature cock. She felt wild and demanding, wanting more of the untamed feelings, needing to be as free a
s Max.

  Urging her up just a bit, his fingers replaced his tongue as his mouth focused on her clit. She cried out sharply as his fingers curved, dragging the front wall of her vagina. Over and over, he caressed her, inside and out. Her legs trembled and her abdomen quivered. Then he pulled his fingers out.

  “No!” she whimpered. “I was so close.”

  He chuckled, a deep, sexy sound. His tongue circled her entrance then passed across her clit. “I know you were.” He pushed her up, not off, just making more room between her pussy and his face. “You told me you never get tired of being licked. It’s my obligation to prove you wrong.” His middle finger pushed into her pussy, lightly fucking her as his tongue worked her clit. “Does that feel good?” He stopped licking but keep his finger moving, a teasing hint of penetration.

  “Yes.” She tightened her inner muscles, determined to bring herself off, with or without his cooperation.

  “How about this?” Sopping wet from her pussy, he moved farther back and gently entered her ass.

  Her core tightened and her clit twitched. That drove her crazy, and he knew it! “Please let me come.”

  “I want you to come around my cock. I want you to squeeze me so hard I see stars.” His finger pulled back then pushed inward, ever so slowly. “But you only want my mouth.” He gently licked her clit, keeping her simmering.

  “All right! I want your cock. Please fuck me properly.”

  With one strong surge, he lifted her off his face and sat up as he brought her down across his lap. Her legs opened wider to accommodate his hips and his cock drove into her waiting pussy.

  Naloni whimpered, closing her eyes against the ecstasy. Pleasure rolled through her, tingling and hot, a release of emotions as well as sexual tension. This joining, the physical union of his body inside hers completed a circuit and freed a rush of tenderness so powerful tears filled her eyes.

  She took his face between her hands and kissed him, mixing their tastes as he had melded their bodies. “I love you, Max. Don’t ever doubt how much you mean to me.”