Alutia Rising, Anniversary Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 1) (65 page)

He grinned like a little boy on Christmas
morning, jumping into the air with a small laugh. Grand Duchess
Sasha was a strong, beautiful woman, and after all this was over,
he would console her, taking Trent's place at her side. The door to
the empty quarters opened and he moved to the bed, preparing for
what was to come.

The sights and sounds of the massive hall
were grey, dull, and empty, the world itself, having begun to fade
away. He knew thousands of people surrounded him, the most
beautiful woman in the galaxy, seated at his side, but he didn’t
care. He had fallen into a pit of despair so deep and cold, he
could not find a way out of its eternal depths.

He glanced at Vickie cutting through the
crowd, who had been scarce over the past few days, since Sasha
banished her for trying to remove his pants. He never received a
full explanation, but the entire time he knew Vickie wasn't
serious. But it appeared Sasha thought otherwise. Having banished
her from their presence, though not before changing, a fire growing
within her gaze that made him flush.

The memory of their first night of intimacy
exploded back into his mind.

Trent had been surprised by Sasha's
unexpected passion, playing with him seductively, kissing and
touching him where she had never before, lighting his fire as a
man. He took the queue, leading as a man should, but when he
attempted to remove her nightgown, she changed, turned cold, then
attacked like a wild beast. She slapped, punched, and bit him with
strength of hundred men, and he, still weak from his recovery,
couldn’t resist her. It wasn't until Tiana barged into their
bedchamber, wrestling Sasha off him, did he realize what had
occurred.

In his passion, he had forgotten about
Sasha's past, her grave wounds, and when he tried to force her out
of her clothing, he had ripped it wide open without a care but his
own lust. It was his fault, hurting his love, and that caused him
more grief then anyone could imagine.

They had barely talked since that night. But
Sasha still refused to leave his side. He originally planned to
stay aboard the ABF Alutia during the ceremony honoring those who
lost their lives, but she insisted he come. His pleas to stay in
their temporary quarters on the TSB Fleet Base, saying the pain was
too great, which wasn't entirely untrue, were ignored and he was
forced to accompany her, to stay constantly at her side. He loved
her so, but he couldn't help that his presence caused her undue
pain. The knowledge scared him, because if it true, he would soon
have to leave her side, and he knew that would destroy him
utterly.

“Sir Trent, please accept this beverage, it
is non-alcoholic of course,” Lady Vickie purred, sliding through
the cordon of ABF Battleguards protecting the nobles from the
crowd, and placing an odd looking beverage, that swirled with many
differing colors, a fine mist tumbling from the edges, on the table
before him.

“I will be the judge of that,” Sasha grasped
the drink, splashing a bit upon the table, chugging down half its
contents with a single gulp. After a moment she slammed the drink
back down before him with a nod. He forced a thankful smile and
drank down the rest.

It tasted slightly fruity, but of fruits he
had never before experienced, followed by a peculiar metallic tinge
that tickled his tongue. A warm numbness followed the refreshing
chill down his throat, pooling comfortably within his belly. As he
gently placed the empty glass back upon the table his heart began
to beat, louder and louder, like it would break through his chest
at any moment. The warmth became a searing heat, spreading through
his veins to every corner of his flesh. He reached for a glass of
water, gulping it down, hoping to extinguish the fire within, but
found it only multiplied, every nerve in his body tingling, calling
forth with a primal craving. His gaze was drawn to Sasha, who
panted, skin flush, grasping desperately onto his trembling hand. A
shock of pleasure exploded at her touch, calling forth all
encompassing lust that began to drown his rational mind.

“Sir Seb'Losh,” Vickie sounded distant, even
though she stood just before him, “I believe Lady Sasha and Sir
Trent need to be escorted back to their private quarters. I will
leave this to your care. I have another matter to attend to,”
Vickie turned, a barely perceptible smirk passing her lips.

“Your Grace, Sir Trent, if you would please
follow me,” Sir Seb’Losh instructed. Trent, trembling, with Sasha
latched to his elbow, forcing himself to his feet. Something had to
have been in that drink...something that made him doubt he would be
able to retain his self-control for much longer.

He stared at Sasha, who looked everywhere but
his eyes, allowing his own gaze to devour the sight of her exposed
cleavage. It took every ounce of willpower not to ravage her on the
spot.

“Her Grace will now retire, thank you all
for...” someone spoke, but Trent didn’t know, or care, who, as they
slowly exited the banquet hall, the trip to the transport tube
station a blur.

The moment the tube door slid shut, Sasha
attacked, locking her lips on his with such unconstrained passion,
he thought she may vanish within. He responded, engulfing her with
his body, allowing his fingers to explore her curves as she forced
him against the tube transport’s wall. Her gown was in the way, so
he started to remove it, Sasha unlatching the top of his pants, her
hand slithering within.

An insistent cough reminded him of their
escort, he dragging his lips free, nibbling at her ears, a gentle
aroma of desire mixing with roses flowing from her skin.

“Room,” he moaned. Sasha tensed, pausing her
exploring as the tube transport slid to a halt. With warning, she
grasped his hand, sprinting towards their temporary quarters like
death itself followed in their wake. The ABF Battleguards on duty
outside their temporary quarters saluted and were almost trampled;
Sasha knocking them away like the men weighed nothing, flinging
open the automatic door in her haste.

He soared across the room, flying atop the
bed before the lights had fully activated. He rolled onto his back,
his eyes catching Sasha's, wild and animalistic, an irresistible
lust drowning the last of her rational mind. Her gown slid free,
pooling on the floor, her undergarments flying free to bear her
naked, both body and soul. Trent struggled to remove his top, being
too slow for Sasha, who leapt across the bed, tearing his cloths
free, to bare him totally to her devouring gaze.

Lust and passion, laced with desire, raged
through his mind, flowing forth to meld with her body’s touch. At
that moment, he knew, the shell on his heart cracked, then
shattered, releasing the full essence of his love for the woman
named Sasha.

The door chimed.

Sasha groaned her displeasure at being
disturbed, wanting to continue bathing in the sensation of euphoria
flowing over her, through her, like a gentle wave. The feeling was
indescribably addictive, so much so that her desire swelled as her
eyes opened to Trent, sleeping peacefully at her side, calling
forth the memories of the previous evening.

She remembered, quite clearly, witnessing
Vickie slip a white powder into the drink she presented Trent. But
still couldn't figure out why she felt the need to drink it,
instead of ordering it thrown away. It didn't take her long,
however, to realize what it was; an aphrodisiac called Noble's
Delight, a common drug used in many noble paramour and romantic
circles. Sasha had never tried it before, but read stories of its
effect, so she was slightly more prepared then Trent when the
craving started taking over. Unfortunately, the stories didn't do
it justice. Sasha had almost ravaged Trent while they were still in
the banquet hall. She did, however, find one major difference from
the tales and stories.

It was said, that no matter how much you
loved someone, once on Noble's Delight, lust and desire would take
control of your mind and you would willing accept anyone into your
bed, no matter your feelings. Sasha did find that it caused
uncontrollable lust and desire, but for only one man, towards
Trent, no other man had existed in the universe.

The experience, both in body and mind, was
nothing like her first. Every sensation, every touch exploded
through her every pour, forming both a physical and emotional
pleasure beyond imagining. An unexplainable bond had come to life
when they became one, and she not only felt her own pleasure at
that moment, but also Trent’s. Her heart beat wildly as the memory
took hold, the feeling of being taken by the man she loved, mixing
with the feeling from Trent of taking the woman he loved, making
her want to ravage him again, even while he slept.

She smiled, cuddling closer, knowing that her
wound may have finally healed. Her fear of being in front of Trent
naked no longer because of her wounded past, but because now she
knew what a beast he could become. She laughed merrily, the door
chimed again.

“Who is it?” she called, voice cracking, sore
from overuse.
When did I
...

“Your ladies, Your Grace.” Sir Seb'Losh
announced, his steadfast voice echoing through the room’s interior
before she could finish her thought.

“Let them enter,” she cleared her throat,
pulling the sheet up to cover her modesty instead of searching for
her wayward clothing. Knowing the sight would be a better
explanation then anything she could tell.

Vickie and Tiana entered, hand-in-hand,
gazing mischievously with wide, playful grins. Tiana gasped as her
gaze fell upon the bed, then away, blushing furiously as Vickie's
grin turned slightly erotic. Sasha, confused, followed their gazes
and noticed that when she pulled up the sheet to cover herself, it
had done the opposite to Trent, fully reveling his manhood. She
blushed furiously, bunching the sheet to cover his exposed
modesty.

“Well, well, well, Sasha, what do we have
here?” Vickie sauntered closer, seating herself at the end of the
bed. “I
hear
you had quite the evening,” Tiana muffled a
snicker, having moved to Tiana’s side, “But I am afraid, I am not
the only one to
hear
of what befell yesterday evening,”
Tiana lost it, grasping her belly as Vickie frowned.

“What’s going on?” she asked, looking
accusingly between her two ladies.

“I could have gone for hours,” Vickie sighed,
squeezing Tiana’s bottom, who squeaked, hopping out of range,
“Well, Sasha, dear. I love that I am the one that has the honor of
telling you this, but apparently, Sir Seb'Losh cleared the entire
guest wing to, let’s say, keep the ears that heard your erotic
symphony to the bare minimum,” Tiana, who had begun to calm,
cracked up again.

“It wasn't that loud.” Sasha responded
defensively.

“Tiana, dear,” Vickie turned, “I believe your
word holds more trust then mine.”

“Well,” Tiana cleared her throat, “Sasha, I
don’t know how to tell you this, but let's just say Gil'Da is
refusing to let Regalia anywhere near your sleeping quarters until
it is either soundproofed or you promise to provide ample warning.
We were all quite shocked when we exited the transport tube and
could hear you...um,” Tiana glanced away, blushing brightly,
“moaning quite clearly,” Sasha stared in shocked at what her best
friend had just told.

“Tiana, this joke...” she started to respond,
but let her words fade when the look in Tiana’s eyes held none of
the teasing she was so accustomed, but an honest delight. Her skin
began to burn, her finger brushing against a trembling lip. Her
dismayed expression giving rise to giggles from her ladies. She
waved them both quiet, catching her breath, trying not to disturb
the still sleeping Trent, who suddenly tried to kick off the sheet
covering his modesty.

“How far is the transport tube station?” she
held the sheet taut. “Everything is a little hazy this morning,”
Vickie turned away as Tiana's grin widened.

“My Princess,” she danced in place, “it's at
least 20 meters! Honestly, I couldn't believe my ears until we
crept closer and asked Sir Seb'Losh what was going on. But he
wouldn’t speak, just stood before the door, blushing,” Sasha buried
her face in her hands, total embarrassment taking hold.

“Now,
miss
ever so
scared of Trent! I want to hear everything before Gil'Da arrives
and ruins the mood!” Sasha glanced to Vickie, then Tiana, and
sighed...it was her fate to share everything with her ladies.

“Very well. It all started after I drank that
spiked beverage you gave Trent, Vickie, my body started warming
and...”

The shuttle approached the SJS Gate hub
outside the Don’Alutia star system, slowly passing through the
fleet of Tidelia starships that had taken over protection of the
Alutia Duchy while the ABF recovered from the Battle of Earth.
Daniel felt nothing but disdain at the sight....everything had gone
wrong...every plan...everything!

Two days prior, Daniel sat in the dark
bedchamber and greeted who he thought was Grand Duchess Sasha. The
experience was even better then he could have ever imagined. She
was good...too good. So when they finished and he turned on the
light, he realized his mistake. Lying in bed beside him was Lady
Vickie, Grand Duchess Sasha's lady-in-waiting. It was the worst
possible scenario and he still couldn't believe he trusted this
witch of a woman.
I need to learn to stop being so trusting,
he scolded himself.

She had then explained his options. The first
was that she would tell everything to the grand duchess and allow
her to decide his fate, or he could book travel on one of the
shuttles for all the TSB personnel who did not want to join the
Alutia Battle Fleet...and never return to Alutia.