Resurrection (7 page)

“Apology accepted, but unnecessary. You were right; I should have had a better handle on everything. I was very lax in my duties. Lesson learned.”

As he turned to leave, Maddie interjected, “Wait, Therron.”

“What is it?”

“Can you come here please?”

Therron ambled to the bed, and Maddie reached for his hand. “Therron, I owe you my life. I owe you and Rykerian my life. Well,” she glanced lovingly at Rayn, “and Rayn too. I wanted to tell you that there are no words that adequately can express my gratitude. You and Rykerian were so kind to me, from what I can remember of you coming in to rescue me. I don’t honestly know what to say or how to thank you.” She was gripping his hand with strength and pulled him toward her. She reached out and hugged him as best she could, considering her injuries. Then she placed a kiss upon his cheek. “I am humbled by your actions, and I will always be in your debt.”

Therron stood up tall and smiled at her. Swallowing the huge lump that had formed in his throat, he was finally able to say, “Maddie, you are an integral part of our family. You will always have my protection, if and whenever you need it. As Rayn’s...how do you say on Earth? ‘Main squeeze?’ You also have my sworn oath of honor.”

Maddie smiled her thanks at him.

When Therron had departed, Maddie turned to Rayn and said, “I hope you thank the Lord every day for your wonderful family.”

Maddie’s recovery progressed, although now it became bittersweet for the two of them. Neither of them wanted to be apart again, and Rayn hated the thought of going back to his forced imprisonment. They would do their best to avoid thinking of and discussing it, but in the end, it was always on their minds.

Julian had Maddie on a therapy program to increase the strength in her leg. The arrow had created a gaping hole in her muscle, since it had pierced through her entire leg. As a result, she had experienced some muscle weakness. Julian wanted to ensure that the repair and subsequent healing didn’t result in a permanent weakness, so he had her on a daily regimen of therapy. She had returned to her room when Rayn entered and announced she would be leaving Vesturon in three days time.

“My parents have decided, after consulting with Julian, that it is time for you to return to Earth. Rykerian will be taking you back.”

The pain of his having to tell her this was written on his face and in his voice. His eyes had become an icy green. Maddie hated to see him so distressed, so she thought to distract him somehow. She turned and walked toward him, thinking to give him a hug. Instead, when he automatically opened his arms to her, she leaped into them. She took his face in her hands, and what began as an intended peck on the cheek, suddenly turned into a deeply heated electrifying kiss.

Rayn placed his arms around her, lifting her up, and she threw her legs around his waist. When he put his lips on hers, their passion exploded and they became completely absorbed in each other, unaware of their surroundings. A tangible electric current flowed through them, making it impossible to stop. They were frenzied in their movements, desperate, their kiss deepening. They hadn’t kissed in what seemed like forever. Somehow, this time they let their guard down, and all of their emotions tumbled forward.

They became lost in the rich taste of each other, the honeyed sweetness, the heady scents stimulating them, drunk on the sensations of passion and desire they were experiencing.

Rayn’s hands started touching Maddie, sending pulsating waves throughout her body, and she couldn’t seem to get enough of him. Their ragged breaths were mingled, while Rayn backed them up against the bed. He pulled Maddie down on top of him then rolled onto his side. His hand lightly sprinted down her leg then pulled her thigh over his hip and began to massage her lower back. He cradled her face with his other hand and moved to entwine his fingers in her coppery tresses. He dragged his mouth away from hers, and buried his face in her neck, running his tongue down the length of it. The sensations she was experiencing quickly unnerved her.

“Your heart is pounding. I can feel your blood running through your veins. Your scent is driving me wild, Maddie. I cannot get enough of you,” he said hoarsely, as he wrapped his hand around her neck, feeling her pulse throb beneath his thumb.

“I’ve wanted this for so long. I want to feel all of you, Rayn, every bit of you. I am on fire for you.” She dragged her hands through his hair and brought his lips back to hers. She gently nibbled his lower lip, and he, in turn, explored hers and then invaded her mouth, savoring the taste. She had never felt this bold with him. She could feel his passion rising up to meet hers.

“Ah, Maddie...I love you and live for the day when we will be able to truly be together. You are my heart and soul, my love.”

“As you are mine.”

Their clothing was completely crumpled by now, and Maddie’s hair was a tangled mass of waves. They were still entwined in each other’s arms when suddenly they heard someone clearing his throat.

They both jerked their heads around to find Rayn’s parents standing in the room. Rayn gave them both a searing look and said irreverently, “Bloody hell, do you not know how to knock or announce your presence?”

Maddie’s face burned with embarrassment, but Rayn clamped his arm around her, refusing to let her up. He put his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Do not be embarrassed, love. I want them to witness how much I love you, and I am reluctant to let you out of my arms. Our time together is limited, so please stay with me here.”

Wide-eyed, shocked and breathless, she could only nod back at him and then glanced surreptitiously at his parents. Their eyes were locked on the couple while Rayn said, “Can I assist you with something?” His control amazed Maddie.

“Well, son, excuse us for interrupting you, but we have come to discuss some things,” said Rayn’s mother.

Maddie stole another peek at her under her lashes and realized where Sharra’s beauty came from. With the exception of the differences in their hair color, Sharra had inherited her loveliness directly from her mother. Sharra’s eyes were exactly like Annalise’s, and where Rayn looked identical to his father, Sharra was a mirror image of her mother.

“Yes, what is it?” Rayn made no move to disengage himself or rise up from the bed. Instead, he cupped Maddie’s cheek and brushed his thumb back and forth across it. He dipped his head and placed a lingering kiss in the hollow of her throat when his mother interrupted him.

“Rayn, can you please unhand her for a minute and pay attention to us? This is important,” Annalise said dryly.

Maddie again struggled to rise, but Rayn wouldn’t let her. Now she figured out he was doing this for the shock value of it. She found it comical, and a little bubble of laughter escaped from her. Rayn’s mother, Annalise, gave her an odd look, one that made Maddie think she recognized what was taking place here.

“If I must, Mother, but make no mistake, there is nothing here on Vesturon or on Earth that is more important to me than Maddie.” Rayn, with his arm still around her pulled Maddie to him and gave her one long hug, kissed the top of her head and released her. In one lithe movement, he was on his feet, and helping Maddie to hers. Maddie’s face was still flushed from both Rayn’s kisses and her embarrassment at being interrupted by his parents.

Rayn helped her rearrange her clothing, and then draped his arm over her shoulders, leaned toward her and whispered, “You look absolutely luscious, my love.”

Maddie could have sworn she heard a purring sound come from him. She giggled again and felt roses blooming in her cheeks.

“Now, Mother, what is so important that you pulled me away from this?”

“Your father and I have news for you. The Council is finally allowing audiences. We have procured one for you. It is to take place two weeks from now.

“Oh, Rayn, that is good news,” Maddie exclaimed. “Hopefully, we can finally move forward.”

Rowan added drolly, “It looks as though you already have.”

“Father,” Rayn snapped. “Behave yourself.”

“Son, I believe I should say the same for you,” Rowan retorted with a lifted brow. “Mind you, I can’t say that I blame you. Your mother and I would have done the same thing, wouldn’t we, Annalise?”

“Oh, to be sure,” she replied wryly. “But this is much more important than your banter, you two. We must plan this. Rayn, you know we cannot publicly proclaim in favor of this. You do understand this do you not?”

“Yes, my lady, I do. I wish you both would be willing to come forth for me, though. You have connections that could help my cause, but for some reason that I cannot fathom, you are both unwilling to do so. What is it about this, about us, that you do not want to succeed?”

“My son, you know we are duty bound. I only hope you do not have to face this one day with one of your offspring. Anyway, Maddie will depart Vesturon in three days, and after that, we will make our plans for your audience with the Council. They may decide they want to move forward to a trial though. You must be prepared for that.”

Maddie was engrossed in her thoughts about what Rayn was going to face in the next week or so that she barely paid attention to when his parents left.

“Maddie, are you still here?” Rayn asked, waving his hand in front of her face.

“Sorry. I was just thinking that I wish I could be here to support you during your audience. And Rayn, I was totally mortified in front of your parents,” she admonished. “I didn’t want to cause a scene, but I looked like a hussy, laying in bed with you while you continued to hold and kiss me in front of them. How could you?” Maddie asked indignantly.

“Oh, it was easy. I enjoyed holding you too much to release you, and I also love how it discomfited them. I am not sure who was more uncomfortable, you or them?” he laughed.

Maddie, intending to make a point, held him at arm’s length. “Seriously, Rayn, please don’t do that again. I don’t want them to think I’m a, um, a person of loose morals, and I was so embarrassed. Promise me, okay?”

Rayn, realizing how it must have made her feel, said, “I am sorry, Maddie. But please understand, no one thinks you are…what did you call it? A ‘hussy?’ Everyone that knows me knows and understands that I would not be in love with someone of loose morals, such as that. They know you must be pure.”

Exasperated, she retorted, “Oh, well that’s just great too! Now my virginity is public knowledge—something every girl wants.”

“No, no! I didn’t mean it that way. I seem to be sticking my hand in my mouth a lot right now.”

Maddie, her mouth twitching, said, “Rayn, it’s you ‘put your foot in your mouth,’ not hand. You are sounding more and more like Sharra!”

Rayn’s sister Sharra had a unique way of destroying American jargon. Maddie called it Shargon or Sharbabble.

“Great! I have that going for me now. So, where did we leave off?” he asked as he went to kiss her again.

“You know, things were pretty heated here before we were interrupted. Do you think it’s wise to head back there?”

“What do you mean?”

“Rayn, I was nearly about to…we were about to…well, you know…combust or something! Should we start that up again?” Her face flamed with her bashfulness.

“Yes, things were extremely heated, as you say, so maybe it would be a good idea to back down a bit. But, Maddie, it is unnecessary for you to be shy about this. I would like to think you are comfortable discussing these things with me. Although you do look quite fetching with your cheeks all pink and flushed!”

“Honestly, Rayn, this is going to take some getting used to, I guess.”

Maddie had been thinking about Rayn’s reaction and what he had said earlier regarding her attack.

“But I would like to discuss something with you, about our disagreement the other day.”

“Yes, but first, I owe you an explanation. Maddie, there are huge differences between Vesturion males and their human counterparts. When we connect with females, Vesturions are much more protective and possessive with them.”

“Uh, that is going to be a big problem for us. I don’t want anyone dictating what I can or cannot do, including you.”

“It is not exactly that. We do not look at females as property to order around, but as something of great value to us—priceless and irreplaceable. We…hmm, what is the correct word? Yes, we revere our females. We honor them above all else. It may have a negative connotation in your realm, but please do not take it that way. I value you above all and would willingly sacrifice anything, including my life for you. Everything is secondary to you, Maddie.”

Maddie was beginning to understand Rayn’s reaction to things involving her. She had lots to learn about him and his ways.

“I guess your reactions to things make more sense when you put it like that. I didn’t understand the complexities here.”

“It is my fault for not explaining this to you sooner. When I thought I had lost you, my mind nearly snapped. I cannot explain it any better than that. Forgive me for acting that way, but you must be warned. When your safety or well-being is at stake, I will not be able to control my reactions, and I will stop at nothing to see to your safety. That, I can guarantee.”

They spent most of Maddie’s days on Vesturon together. They knew their time was limited and Rayn was restricted to either her room at the medical facility, or his own quarters. He was not allowed to show her Vesturon, his home or any of his favorite places.

He was lamenting this one afternoon. “Maddie, I wish there was some way I could give you the grand tour of Vesturon. It is quite magnificent. It has been described by many as the most beautiful place in the universe, and I would have to agree. Of course, I am prejudiced since it is my home.” His eyes suddenly lit up as a thought came to him.

“Maddie, would you close your eyes for me?”

When she gave him an inquiring look, he responded, “Please. This will only take a moment.”

When her eyes were closed, he slowly began, “I want you to close your mind to all else. Erase any thoughts so your mind is a clean slate. Now, imagine the snowcapped peaks of the Rocky Mountain range, the white sands and turquoise waters of the Caribbean, the azure skies of spring over the Smoky Mountains, coupled with the breathtaking rich tapestry of the fall foliage. Put them all together and the painted picture in your mind cannot begin to touch the beauty of Vesturon.”