Immortal Essence Box Set: Aligned, Exiled, Beguiled (20 page)

“I’ve been trying to stay out of your mind, be respectful, but I can’t take any more of this wallowing. You want to give up and die
?!
Ridiculous. The past couple of days I’ve watched you move from one bad decision to another, waiting for you to come and talk to me, wondering when you’d ask me for direction. I’ve been your Formytian nearly all your life. I’ve kept you safe. Yet I’ve felt honor bound to wait and watch in silence. No more.”

He ground his teeth as though he were holding back more. The whole time he paced in front of her in only a pair of green and white striped pajama pants.

As he walked he’d squeeze and then stretch out his hands, causing his sleek biceps, triceps and peck muscles to flex. Venus couldn’t help but be captivated by him. Magnificent. He was right though. She hadn’t gone to him. She’d done what she wanted, when she felt like it.

“I’m s—”

He came over to the bed and sat next to her, placing a finger to her lips.
Fresh lemons and honey—the fragrance on his fingers.
Venus imagined tasting those flavors on his lips. He loved tea, like an old man. How old was he in kelarian years? One hundred?
Maybe not that old.

He chortled. “I’m seventy-eight. Hardly an old man.”   

His intense green eyes locked on hers. Once again a stirring tugged at her. Zaren was hers!
All mine!
Her body sang with the physical desires of a human. She’d never understood, before coming to Earth, what humans went through. Now, with all of the physical needs she experienced, she’d begun to appreciate, to some degree, why they did the crazy things they did. Problem was, she knew most of the time it wasn’t love, though obviously humans used that as an excuse. Everything she’d felt in the past two days appeared to be purely physical.

What is true love?
Venus had no idea. Perhaps she should find out. See what it looked like. At least read up on it. 

Zaren shook his head.

“Were you following that?” She laughed, nervous, hoping he’d read her mind this time.

He nodded. “Yes. Sorry, I’ll try harder not too.”

Venus shook her head. It didn’t matter. 

“I want to show you something that I think—hope—will help. May I?” He appeared to be anxious, but determined to demonstrate.

Venus kept her eyes on his face. “Yes.” The word came out a throaty whisper. She had on only a light blue cotton tank and matching boy shorts, but she wasn’t cold. Quite the contrary, she felt warm.

“Lie down and close your eyes.” Venus did as he commanded. Excitement raced through her veins. 

The bed squeaked with the pressure of his body. He drew near causing her heart to beat hard, fast—it drowned out everything else . . . until his lips touched her wrist.  

It was as though he’d struck a match. Zaren placed a hand under her arm and moved his lips, gently grazing his teeth against her skin. Slowly, he moved up her inner arm until he reached the crease at her elbow. Her body shuddered. As he moved, with each touch, like kindling, the fire in her body grew stronger with need. Venus wanted to sit up and touch him, but he had his other arm across her body, holding her in place, stroking her face, her hair. Finally she couldn’t take it anymore, thought she’d burst with pleasure.

“Zaren.”

He stopped, his eyes raking hers.

Venus sat
up,
grasping his shoulders and then moved her hands down his arms.

“Princess.” The word came out ragged with hunger, need.

Venus shifted to her knees so her face was above his, her long hair a curtain surrounding them. His eyes kept shifting back and forth, searching hers,
looking
for what, she wasn’t sure. All she could think about was his lips on hers, her body touching his and his arms around her.

She stroked his full lips with her fingers, felt his breath against them. Venus lowered her mouth over his . . . and he slid away.

“Zaren,” she whispered, feeling her heart wrench in pain. He held her at arm’s length, as though she were poisonous. Her heart wrenched again.

“Why?”

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to toy with you. I . . . need you to understand the difference between physical attraction and emotional connection.” He rubbed a hand over his face. When he moved it away, he appeared calmer.

She sank back onto the bed, her body still throbbing. Aching. But she was also annoyed. “I see. So what you’re saying is that any guy can make me feel this way given the right circumstances? And, that I don’t feel anything but physically attracted to you?”

He gazed at her, steady. Strong. A reminder of the Formytian she’d come to rely upon over the years. Unwavering. It angered her further. Slapping his perfect face crossed her mind.
How’s that for strong?
Before she could, he turned and picked up a t-shirt from the floor and put it on. The shamrock green shirt appeared worn and was probably dirty. Venus stared openmouthed. That was so not Zaren.

“Are you feeling okay?”

He turned back to her. The shirt he’d put on said Lucky across the chest. She resisted the temptation to snicker and searched his face, waiting.

His features softened. “I’ve been better.” He gave her a half grin, which she found irresistible and continued, “To answer your questions, I don’t think any guy could make you feel that way. Take, for instance, Dervinias. Would he be able to come in here and do what I did to you and have the same results?”

No way. If he ever tried to touch me that way, I’d kill him
. To Zaren, she snapped, “I don’t know, you tell me.”

He chuckled.

Meddling mind reader.
“This is ridiculous. Tell me what you’re getting at.” Venus sat back on the bed, her shoulders slumping.

He sat next to her. The closeness of his body increased her need to touch him. She reached over to grab his hands, but he moved them. With one hand he slowly pushed a piece of her hair out of her face. Embers of longing seemed to chase his fingers. Each place he touched—her forehead, down her cheek—waited for the fire to re-start. Venus felt her pulse quicken, her breathing jagged gasps again. She touched his face. “I feel more—”

He seized her hand and set them back in her lap.

“
Cret
,” she cursed, watching her hands tremble. She knew her face had bloomed red.

He placed a finger on her chin and lifted her face. Without a doubt, he reciprocated what she felt. But, determination rested in his serious eyes as well. There was a point to all of this. He’d said so. Impatience coursed through her.

Get to it already.
She huffed irritably
.
 

After a moment, he cleared his throat. “We can be attracted to someone for many different reasons. Humans are more sensitive than most. They have good reason, which is this; they don’t have the luxury of immortality. Physical attraction helps continue their species. This is a guess, but with you, I think part of the reason you’re feeling physical attraction with such force, is because you haven’t become immortal yet.”

That was probably true. She hadn’t experienced anything like this before. “Okay. So how do humans sift through all of the physical attraction and get to the emotional connection?”

“The attraction is a very small part of the big picture. Again, take
Dervinius
. Before you got to know him—his charming personality—you found him physically good looking. Now that some time has passed and you’ve spent time in his company, he makes you crazy. You tolerate him.”

A snort came from the other room.

Loudly, to make sure Dervinias heard her with his ears, and not just his perverted mind, she said, “You can say that again.”

“You also hold an attraction for the human, Michael.”

He knew what’d happened at Michael’s house. Ah
helker
,
mind-reading
was annoying. “I guess. Maybe. I don’t know. It was strange. Out of my control.” Venus had been trying to avoid all recollection of what’d happened. At the mention of Michael’s name, though, a bud of hunger for him entered her belly.
More dancing butterflies.
Great, I really am an emotional wreck.

“Many humans claim the same reasoning all of the time.” He studied her until she looked away.

After a few minutes, he went on. “A human can also become attracted to a person for who they are. Their likes and dislikes.
Their
personalities and views, the way they treat others. That connection is usually much bigger and lasts longer. It sustains the physical attraction, compliments it.”

That made sense, she supposed.

“Can I share one more thing with you?” He appeared unsure, but resolute. Evidently it was important.

“Yes, as long as you aren’t going to kiss my skin again and then back away.” She’d said the words in mock severity, but they both knew she meant it. Her body still vibrated with longing.

He tenderly pulled her around to face him. “Venus, if or when that happens, it’ll be because you instigate it. And be prepared, because I won’t be able to hold back again.” His beautiful eyes bore into hers with such intensity she wished the next time was right this minute.

Did that mean Zaren felt attracted to her? Could physical attraction be as strong, as pleasurable, on Kelari once she’d become a kelvieri? Did Zaren have those types of feelings even though he was immortal? What about an emotional connection? Obviously he did. She knew he read her mind. Venus watched his face, trying to gauge his answers without asking the questions aloud. Truthfully, deep down she didn’t know if she was ready for the answers.

Venus nodded. “Go ahead.”

Zaren had been in love with Venus since she’d turned fifteen. He’d cared for her much longer . . . as a friend, a Formytian and his queen-to-be. Given his station in life, there’d never been any hope for more. He’d accepted his lot and loved her from a distance. Now they were on Earth. Everything had changed.

Venus had released him from his vow, as her eternal guardian, which meant he could pursue her as a potential suitor. There was still the issue of Palmo. Joining the countries had been a desire of his king and queen for many years. Zaren knew Venus would abide her duty and marry him. On their planet, love hadn’t meant anything to her. Of paramount importance to her were the needs of the people. They mattered most. Her honor ranked highly as one of many traits he loved about Venus. 

On this foreign planet, she’d been experiencing real feelings. Sure they were over the top, more than normal, but that she
felt
at all, filled him with happiness. He’d wanted her to understand what she’d been missing. Zaren wished to give her all of the love, pleasure and joy she deserved.

He knew there was affection between them. Zaren also knew she wasn’t sure what that meant, especially since she harbored feelings for the human, too. He wanted her to realize the beauty of love and everything the word meant. 

Turning her on, but resisting the urge to kiss her lips, as she so clearly craved, had taken all of his effort. It was possible, though, because he wanted their first kiss to be when she had control over her physical desires, when she really wanted only him. He’d wait for that day.

Venus watched his face, intently.

Right now his greatest desire was to share the most beautiful love story—ever. The account of the Gods, Ith and Aetha, and how they came to be together. Allowing her to experience the way their love began, and grew even now, would help her understand the exquisiteness of finding and loving your soul mate. And someday, perhaps he and Venus could find that same splendor with each other.  

“Lie back down and close your eyes.”

“Okay.”

When she’d situated herself, he lay next to her.

“Clear away your thoughts. Relax.” 

He expanded his mind, pouring his thoughts into hers, like spilling grape juice over a clear countertop. Once it’d covered hers, he felt a ripple and knew their minds were synched. Then he released the story into her mind. A breaking dam, he felt the memories of the Gods rush through her. And, as though a movie turned on, the images began to flow.
Except they weren’t
viewing
the memories.
They were living them,
as
the Gods.

Zaren breathed in, smelling death and decay.  He peered down at his body—the body of Ith. Then he searched the smoking countryside. He let the air in his lungs rush out. Next to him stood his eternal lover—Venus, in the body of Aetha. 

“C’mon,” he said with a smile, grasping her hand and pulling her forward. “We’ve a world to save.”

Cheverly lived on one of the largest cattle ranches in Cheyenne. That’s what Dervinias had told them on the ride over. Suitably named after their family, it was called The Hartford Ranch. It’d taken almost an hour to get out there, but once they arrived, Venus saw it’d been worth the wait. Vast was the one word that described the ranch.

It spread out over hundreds of acres. Two training corrals were out in front, each enclosed by a wooden three-rail fence. Behind those sat a gigantic south-looking mansion. Made of wood, it’d been painted yellow. White columns stood grandly on either side of the front steps.