An Unwanted Hunger Read online

  “Pregnant?” He rolled her onto her back and looked down at her, a deep scowl on his face. “You carry a child?”

  “Your child,” she said softly. “Your daughter.”

  The change that came over his face had tears springing from her eyes. She’d never seen such love, such depth of emotion. He searched her eyes and her mind and saw the truth, and at last a smile came to his face. He drew back the bed covers, his eyes leaving hers to travel down her body.

  He placed his hand gently on her belly. “My child,” he whispered, then finally looked at her. “You carry my child.”

  She smiled and placed her hand on top of his. “The child is well. No harm came to her during the battle. And she is host to a Vox Narr. According to Pandora, the Vox Narr within me reproduced and has already taken residence in the baby.”

  “The Sha’Dahn?”

  That question jolted her out of her lovely rosy glow and forced her back to reality. Her smile faded. “That we won’t know until the child is born. There’s no guarantee that the Vox Narr will survive. But Constantine, there’s something else.”

  “What?”

  “Your brother, RaJahn.”

  “My brother?” Again the dark scowl appeared on his face. “What do you know of my brother?”

  “Only what I’m told.”

  “And that is?”

  “The simplified version is this. RaJahn has been plotting against you and has gained much popularity and support. Not only on your home world but here. He has insinuated himself with the major intelligence networks on Earth and is responsible for the formation of a top-secret group called Sirocco, which stands for Synaptic Integration of Real-time Robotic Orientation on Corporeal Organisms.”

  “I wasn’t aware we’d perfected that as yet.”

  “You know about this…abomination?”

  “Only in theory. I was not in favor of its implementation.”

  “Well thank god for that. But apparently your brother is. And considering his bold moves and his network, now is not the time for you to try to stand against him. The opposition is too strong and there is no guarantee that he won’t try to form an alliance with the Valians or the Nurians to usurp your power, or possibly even kill you.”

  Constantine sat up, his eyes flashing in anger. “I will destroy him.”

  “Yes, I agree.” She sat up and reached out to put her hand on his shoulder. “In time. But that time isn’t now.”

  “Do not let yourself be fooled by that witch’s words. Consider if you will this one fact. Intergalactic travel is controlled by the Sisterhood. More specifically, by SyFeth, or Pandora if you are more comfortable with that name. My brother could not have established any foothold at all on this world without her help.”

  “I know.” Resa saw the look of surprise on his face at her words. “I’m not stupid, Constantine. She plays all sides against one another and her agenda is certainly her own. And she claims to allow RaJahn maneuverability so that he can be the architect of his own demise. She claims to support you as successor to the throne. Whether or not she speaks true is anyone’s guess, but the point is, we can’t stand against her. So, it’s better that we allow her to think that we stand united with her against a common foe.”

  “And do what?”

  “Hide.”

  “Hide?” He bounded off the bed, staring at her as if she’d lost her mind. Resa couldn’t help but admire him, his beauty and his rage. He was like a dark god, all raw power and electrifying sexuality. “I will not hide from anyone!”

  “Would you risk the life of our unborn child?”

  Her quietly spoken words had far more effect that any shouted argument. His rage faded almost immediately. But the look that replaced it was not of defeat but one of calculation.

  “Perhaps there is a way to turn this to our advantage.”

  Resa laughed and held out her hand to him. “Spoken like the man I love. Come back to bed and tell me your strategy.”

  “Strategy can wait,” he said as he slid into bed and gathered her to him. “For now there are matters of far greater importance that require my immediate and undivided attention.”

  “Oh yeah,” she breathed in excitement as his lips began a slow descent down her neck. “Undivided and extended attention.”

  His hands moved over her flat belly and then up toward her breasts. Trails of longing followed in the wake of his lips on her skin, moving over her shoulder then down her chest.

  Her nipples tightened beneath the touch of his hands then more as he took her breast into his mouth, flicking her nipple with his tongue. Resa pressed against him, eager for more.

  Constantine raised his head long enough to give her a smile sexy enough to make even the soles of her feet burn then started a journey down her body with his mouth.

  Her skin tingled under his ministrations. When his mouth covered her mound and his tongue raked over her clit, she moaned and spread her legs wider.

  He lapped at the wetness that spilled from her, biting lightly on the delicate lips of her labia. Resa squirmed against him, wanting more. He stopped and looked up at her. “This time you’re not in control,” he said, his eyes glittering in the dim light with a passion that spoke of surrender. Resa shivered in anticipation. There was a time that she would have balked at the idea. Now she welcomed the coming domination.

  “Whatever you say,” she replied in a husky voice that was the sound of pure sex. The sound of a seductress, confident of her ability to control by submitting.

  He moved between her legs and sat back on his heels, feasting his eyes on her, his gaze moving slowly over every inch of her. Even though he knew her body intimately, the sight of her lying naked before him was as erotic now as the first time.

  Slowly he bent forward and gently licked her sex, taking his time and working his way along one side of her sex between those pink lips then up to caress her clit before starting the journey down the other side.

  Resa groaned and clawed at the sheets covering the bed when his tongue slid inside her. A quiver that was perceptible ran through her when he plunged his tongue deep inside her. With both hands he spread her sex, fully exposing her to his eyes and mouth.

  Stroking and licking, he moved aside the fragile hood that covered her clit and slowly traced it with his tongue, breathing in her exotic scent. It was a smell that transformed desire into primitive hunger.

  Capturing her clit between his lips, he circled it with his tongue. She arched up, grabbing her inner thighs to spread her legs wider. Breathing fast, her breasts thrust up and her body trembling with excitement, she abandoned all sexual inhibition. Her abandon incited him to take her to the edge of release then withdraw, earning him a protest when he paused.

  “Don’t stop!”

  “Would you like more?”

  “Oh yes. Definitely. Please.”

  Constantine could not imagine anything sexier than the sound of her husky voice and the sight of her, hands playing over her sex. She moaned when he bent and sank his tongue deep in her pussy, then stroked up in a long lick that ended at her clit. Her hands abandoned her thighs to move to her breasts and squeeze her nipples.

  “Oh don’t…” she gasped, pressing against his tongue. “Don’t. Stop.”

  Doing just the opposite, Constantine paused and slid up her body to focus on her breast, circling the hard nipple then flicking it with his tongue. Resa moved against him, raising her hips to pump against his hard cock.

  The temptation to sink inside her silky wet sex was strong, but the urge to drive her to the height of longing was stronger. Only when she was nearly mad with wanting would he take her. He continued to lick her nipple while running one hand between them to part her lips and sink two fingers into her pussy.

  Resa bucked as his finger found her secret inner spot. With slow, deliberate strokes, he worked his finger over it, in and out of her hot core.

  “Constantine!” She wiggled and bucked against his questing finger. “More, more, more!” />
  Constantine’s body was all too ready to take advantage of her need, but he suppressed his own hunger and worked his way back down her body, the sweet taste of her sweat on his tongue and the tremble of her body like an aphrodisiac to his senses.

  When his tongue slid over her clit and his finger dipped inside her pussy, he felt her start to contract around his finger.

  “Not yet.” He stopped and stretched out on top of her, capturing her lips for a long kiss and wondering how he’d be able to wait much longer to slake his own thirst at the passion she returned in the kiss.

  Her legs wound around his waist, pulling them tighter so that his cock slid along the length of her wet pussy. The sensation sent sparks rocketing through him and even caught up in the delight, he could feel the need clawing at her.

  “In me,” she breathed against his mouth. “Get in me.”

  “I will,” he replied and slid back down to imprison her clit in his mouth, his tongue darting over the sensitive nub. “In time.” She groaned in protest then in pleasure as his finger probed into her wet sex. He withdrew, rubbing the lubrication from her pussy to her ass, and then easing his finger inside her ass.

  Her breath hitched and he felt the vibration run through her body a moment before her pussy started to contract. Before the climax could crest he moved into position and slid inside her, feeling the contractions squeeze him.

  Resa gasped then moved against him, the inner muscles of her pussy squeezing him at the end of each push inside her, then releasing so her hips could take over, tilting and pumping. Constantine had bedded many women in his long life, but never had he coupled with a woman so totally uninhibited and sensual. A woman capable of evoking a level of passion in him more intense than anything he’d known or imagined.

  Resa wound her legs around him and rolled, taking them onto their sides then pushing him over so that she occupied the top position. Rising by the flex of her legs, she slid along his length until only the head of his cock was inside her. Then she sank down until he was fully hilted. Over and over her body rose and fell, each stroke carrying him closer to climax.

  Despite her willingness to be dominated, she’d managed to take control. He could not help but marvel at how expertly she’d switched their roles, or how seductive and erotic she was. The expression on her face spoke of her passion and her love.

  Constantine couldn’t help but marvel at the power of her sexuality. She’d stripped away his reality and transported him into a realm of erotic sensations that erased millions of years of civility and left him reduced to that of a primal male.

  A primal male that had reached the limits of his control. Before she had a chance to react, he flipped her over, pulled her legs up over his shoulders and plunged deep inside her.

  He heard her short cry but knew it was not simply a sound of pain. Already her body was stretching to accommodate him. He felt the resistance and knew he should take it slow to give her body time to adjust, but he had no control left. His thrusts were hard and fast, the fingers of his hands digging into the flesh of her hips to pull her against him.

  He felt her body loosen a moment before she moaned. “Yes. More. Harder. More.”

  Her lusty plea worked as effectively as throwing gasoline on a fire. His balls tightened almost painfully, his skin tingled and his muscles quivered. He took her hard. Each cry and gasp that came from her drove him deeper into the madness that gripped him.

  “Yes,” she gasped again and moved against him. He struggled to prolong it but was already past the point of no return.

  “Now,” she moaned, carrying him over the edge as her pussy started to clench around him. He groaned, his cock pulsing as he came. Resa screamed his name and clung to him, her body caught in the grip of climax.

  When the sensations finally abated, they both went limp. Constantine rolled over onto his back, feeling a whisper of air against his wet skin. Resa turned toward him.

  Constantine felt something swell inside him and for a few moments pondered the strange sensation. Then he realized what the feeling was. Contentment. For the first time in his life, he was content.

  * * * * *

  Resa shrugged off the slight feeling of dizziness as the energy field around her faded. Pandora stood waiting, her back to a large picture window that looked out over the vast city stronghold of the Sisterhood and to the sparkling sea beyond.

  “Thank you for agreeing to meet me in this manner,” Resa said.

  “Your terms left no room for negotiation on this point.”

  “True.”

  “Then let us get to it.”

  “Fine.” Resa walked over to the window and looked out over the city. It was breathtaking. Ancient yet technologically more advanced that anything she’d ever imagined. She took a few moments then turned to face Pandora.

  “First, let’s be clear about this. I don’t trust you as far as I can spit you. I’m not saying I don’t like or admire you because I do. You’ve been an important factor in my life and for that I’m grateful. But you have an agenda that supersedes all others and the power to make sure that nothing thwarts your plans. Because of that, and this,” she said, and paused to put her hand over her belly, “I can’t afford to trust you. But trust isn’t really necessary for us to succeed in a common goal.”

  “Am I to infer that you speak for the Crown Prince in this, or are these words yours alone?”

  “The words are mine. But yes, as my message stated, Constantine has empowered me to speak for him in this matter. He will agree to your plan. Provisionally.”

  “Specifically what provisions?”

  “First, we will not allow any V’Karian to accompany us. No one can know where we are. Which means we’ll need money. A lot of it. Cash. And we’ll need a way to communicate with you that cannot be traced back to our source.”

  “Agreed.”

  “That’s not all.”

  Pandora’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly but that was the only indication of her annoyance. “What more?”

  “Today you will leak information to all the V’Kar on Earth, including RaJahn’s network, that Constantine is being recalled to Shadallah, to sit at the Emperor’s side, in preparation for his eventual succession to the throne. Once we’re safely in seclusion, you will not allow RaJahn to communicate with Shadallah, and all V’Karians here on Earth will continue to receive information that makes them believe that Constantine is on his home world and in preparation to take his place as Emperor when the time comes.”

  Pandora’s eyes locked with hers and Resa could feel the tendrils of power trying to breach her barriers. She drew upon the power of the others within her and fought the intrusion. Finally the pressure eased.

  “Very well,” Pandora said.

  “Release the information now, in my presence,” Resa demanded.

  Pandora hissed in irritation and summoned an aide. “Send a message to all the exiled leaders on Earth and to Prince RaJahn. Emperor Atohl has recalled the Crown Prince, Constantine Belenus to Shadallah, to sit by his side in preparation for his eventual succession to the throne of V’Kar.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Immediately.”

  Pandora turned to Resa. “Satisfied?”

  “I will be when we receive intelligence that the V’Karians on Earth have received the information and believe it to be true.”

  “Then we have nothing further to discuss.”

  “No. Except…” Resa hesitated. This was not part of her and Constantine’s plan. “Except to say thank you.”

  Pandora’s eyebrows rose in surprise and Resa smiled. “I won’t ever forget the beautiful woman of my dreams as a child. She was the only thing beautiful in my life.”

  “I have no ill intent for you, Resa.”

  “Nor I you. But now I have Constantine and our child to consider and I can’t afford to let my guard down. With anyone.”

  “I would expect no less. Take care of them, Dhampir.”

  “You can count on it,” Resa said with a smile
. “We’ll be talking to you, Pandora.”

  “Indeed.”

  Pandora pulled the gate control device from her pocket and activated it. Resa kept her eyes on Pandora as the swimming field of energy enveloped her, until the intensity of the light washed out all sight.

  When her sight returned, Constantine was waiting on the balcony of the private estate.

  “Well?” he asked.

  “We have what we wanted. Have you made all the arrangements?”

  “Yes. We will be quite safe and the funds to support us are in place and secured.”

  “Then I guess now we just wait to act on the information Pandora leaked.”

  “And while we wait,” he said and pulled her to him, “let us occupy ourselves with matters of—”

  “Great importance?” she interrupted with a chuckle.

  He grinned and claimed her lips.

  * * * * *

  Three months later

  Resa’s eyes flew open. Moonlight steamed through the open doors to the balcony, the smell of the sea riding in on the wind. Again came the flutter inside her. Excitement filled her. She grabbed Constantine’s hand and moved it to her belly. His head turned toward her and his eyes opened.

  “Just wait,” she said softly.

  When it happened again his eyes widened and a smile lit his face. “The quickening,” he whispered. “Our child awakes.”

  She nodded and put her hand on top of his. He looked into her eyes, his gaze loving. “My beloved,” he whispered.

  “Forever,” she promised.

  Her life had not turned out at all the way she’d imagined. That old feared and unwanted hunger had evolved into something of dreams. She’d found love that was deeper and more profound than anything she’d dreamed of. And she’d do anything to protect it. But for now they were safe. And in a universe where the unexpected could change your life in a heartbeat, she’d learned to rejoice in every moment. Tomorrow would bring what it was meant to deliver, but tonight she was the most fortunate of women because tonight she’d sleep in the arms of love.

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