ROMULUS (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 1) (22 page)

Aster could not believe it was possible to feel so sated one minute and yet be starving the next. She could not remember ever wanting anything so badly in her whole life.

Rom had pushed himself to the limit of his restraint when he saw Aster's eyes cloud with desire for a third time. He was certain there would be no gripping fear now. Once more he dragged her under his trance-like spell. Supporting himself on his arms above her, he shifted his hips until the tip of his shaft touched her.

"Aster?" was all he could whisper.

"Yes, Rom,
please
," she cried as her hips moved to welcome him. She was so moist she took in the full length of him with one thrust.

Rom shook from the relief of being within her body. No woman had ever accommodated him completely. When he was sure he had not hurt her, he slowly began the age-old rhythm, wanting to make it last. But he had waited too long, wanted her too desperately. When she locked her legs around him to bury him deeper, his self-imposed control was ripped away. The urgency of the raging inferno inside him carried her along with him every inch of the way, until simultaneous orgasms rocked them both.

Aster felt as if she were soaring through space, diving to the ground and flying up again as she clung to Rom, fearing this ecstasy would never end, then fearing it would.

Rom rolled over, pulling her with him, so that she was now on top. He had his release but he was still hard and throbbing inside her. For the first time in weeks, the incessant boiling of his blood was reduced to a simmer.

But it did not disappear completely and that discovery was so shocking his desire ebbed. It meant he could keep the fever under control by possessing her body, but only joining with her would put the fire out permanently. And
that
was out of the question. It was forbidden. He would be ruined, probably exiled. He also had to consider what joining might do to her. If she survived it at all, she could be driven insane.

Aster had never known such happiness existed and she wanted to run and laugh and play. She squeezed her muscles tightly around him. "What's next, teach?"

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. Such a radical personality change was beyond his understanding. Yes, this was wrong, it couldn't go on, but he decided her smile made him feel too good not to enjoy every minute he had with her. "Do you swim?" he asked as he disengaged himself from her body.

"Of course, why—"

Aster's question turned into a shriek as he jerked her to her feet and yanked her over the ledge with him, plummeting down the twenty feet into the chilly water.

Aster emerged, choking and sputtering. "You rat! I could have had a heart attack." She tried to sound angry but couldn't stop laughing.

He dove back under the dark water and disappeared. Aster tread water while trying to figure out where he had gone. Abruptly, she felt his hands at her ankles and barely had a chance to hold her breath before he pulled her under with him. He kissed her hard on the mouth and held her snugly against him as they bobbed to the surface again.

In spite of the cold water, the satiny texture of her body rekindled the fire in his blood. One look at her smoldering dark blue eyes told him she had not yet had enough either.

With frantic urgency put at bay, they were able to spend the rest of the afternoon in paradise, exploring the tropical area as well as discovering the secret sensitive spots of each other's bodies.

When they returned to the house where dinner had been kept waiting for them. Aster felt as though she were hearing everything from inside a tunnel and she couldn't taste anything but Rom's kisses.

Before they left, Marya called Rom aside. "Young man, since your mother isn't here, I believe it's my place to have a word with you." Rom looked at her quizzically. "You said that woman is an Outerworlder and you know better than most people what that means. She seems like a sweet person and I wouldn't want to see her heart broken."

Rom snorted and kissed her cheek. "Marya, if you only knew what that lady is doing to my heart, you'd take pity on me. Even so, I honestly don't know what I'm going to do about it. What she makes me feel isn't supposed to be happening. But I can't seem to stay away from her."

"Ohhh," Marya said with understanding and sighed. "I'm sorry, son. I know you'll do whatever's best for both of you. Good luck." She stood on her toes to give him one last hug and said goodbye to the handsome couple.

As soon as they settled in the car, Aster snuggled close to Rom.

"Happy?" he asked, lifting her chin to see her face. In answer, she coaxed him into a long wanton kiss. "I think I'll show you another function of this vehicle." He programmed the vehicle's computer to return them to Aster's apartment on automatic. With the touch of another button, the seats reclined. He gave her a mischievous grin and pulled her back into his arms.

"And here I thought my Prius was a smart car. By the way, what was that word you called me before?
Shalla
?"

Rom didn't even realize he had said the word. It literally meant
soul's mate
, but he doubted she was ready to hear that explanation. Instead, he gave her the looser translation. "It's an old Noronian word meaning special one. For a man, the word is shallar."

"I like that. Thank you." What he had actually called her was "my shalla". It warmed her to have him think of her as his anything, even if it was in the heat of the moment.

Rom was shocked at the ferocity at which the burning had returned, in spite of the countless times they had coupled throughout the day. It seemed to be getting worse instead of better. No one had warned him that it could be this bad—and this good. He had to have her again, immediately.

"Good heavens." Aster sighed when she could breathe again. "I'm afraid you've created a monster! What's going to happen when I'm away from you for more than a few hours?"

Rom groaned. She didn't know the half of it. "Let's not find out yet. We have two days before you go back to work and Tarla can handle the office without me for a day." He saw Aster's sudden crestfallen expression. "What's the matter? What did I say?"

"Nothing. It's okay. Forget it." The mention of Tarla put an instant damper one her warm thoughts.

"It's not okay. Listen, you're an Innerworlder now. It's time you started adhering to our code of honesty. Now, tell me the truth. What upset you?"

Aster paused. He was right. It was best that she face the truth right away before she depended on him to be there and he wasn't. One wonderful day certainly did not constitute a commitment.

"It's about Tarla." She stumbled through the events that led up to Cherry's investigation.

Rom admired Cherry's ingenuity but felt ill when he saw Aster try to blink away a tear.

"I'm sorry, Rom. I've been trying to understand your freer attitude toward sex. Only, after today, I don't think I could stand knowing you were with other women in the same way. Damn! I sound like a possessive shrew. I'm sorry." She turned her face away but he turned it back to him again.

"First of all, stop apologizing for everything. Second, you've drawn all the wrong conclusions from a little information. I have had exactly two physical releases with Tarla, on two separate occasions, and both were highly forgettable. You are all I've thought about since the moment I saw you. The real reason I want to stay with you tonight is to get some sleep. I figure the only way that's possible is if you're in my arms."

Aster sniffed and laughed with him. "I know what you mean. This hasn't exactly been a restful week for me either. Every time I closed my eyes, you were there in my dreams. Anyway, I'll try to be more understanding."

"Aster Mackenzie!" Rom shook her shoulders. "Aren't you listening to me? There's nothing for you to be understanding about. Maybe I do think of sex differently than you but I have never had to deal with a strong sexual urge. What happened today was because of us, you and me together, not some animal instinct. I have never craved any woman the way I do you, and as long as I have you, I have no need to search for satisfaction elsewhere."

Aster felt her cheeks flush again, only this time it was due to pure happiness. It was ridiculous she knew. He was talking as though they had a long-term future together... after one day. Ridiculous. And yet... "But then, how, umm..." She wasn't sure she had the nerve to ask her question when he guessed what was on her mind.

"How did I know how to please you?"

She nodded.

"The mechanics are taught to every maturing young Noronian adult, but I never had much use for all those lessons. I guess you could say you inspired me." He kissed the tip of her nose.

"There's definitely no doubt you've inspired me," she admitted.

They both chuckled and kissed again.

Later, when they were nestled in her bed, Aster ventured a quiet question. "Will you teach me how to please you as well?"

"Aah, my shalla," he said softly into her hair as he stroked her back. "I can't imagine you pleasing me any more than you do."

"All right then, I'll go to the Indulgence Center and pay for some lessons," she replied saucily.

Rom held her away from him and surveyed her face until he was convinced that she meant it as a joke. The thought of any other man touching her made him sick. He felt...
jealous
. He didn't know he was capable of such an emotion, yet there it was.

"You do and you won't sit down for a week." He playfully patted her backside. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know, only not tonight, okay? I wasn't kidding about being tired."

"Josephine, dim the lights please," Aster called out. "Mmmm, much better," she said, curling herself spoon-fashion against Rom's stomach. "Rom?"

"Yes?"

"I don't usually sleep naked."

"You do now." His fingers tiptoed up her arm and across her breast.

"Rom?"

"Hmm?" His voice was beginning to fade.

"May I get one more thing off my chest?"

"You mean besides my hand?"

"No, I want that right where it is. I just wanted to thank you for helping me find out there was nothing wrong with me."

"That's nice," he said through a muffled yawn.

Minutes later as his steady breathing softened in slumber, Aster realized two astonishing things. First, she hadn't thought of returning to her world all day and second, she knew she would never dream of Dennis again.

Chapter 12

The next morning Aster discovered how satisfying a shower could be when shared. She was just beginning to appreciate the sensual art of being towel-dried when she was distracted by someone pounding on her door.

"They'll go away. There's not enough room in here for anybody else." Rom returned to planting urgent kisses all over her face, as his body demanded relief...
again
.

"Well, I can't stand it." She gently pushed him away and donned a robe.

Rom stared dumbfounded after her. Obviously, Aster had a way to go before she learned to relax completely. Suddenly he realized that the visitor could be Victor and he hurriedly wrapped a towel around his waist.

As he entered the main room, Aster opened the front door.

"Hey, kid! Where's the coffee? What took you so—" Cherry stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Romulus, wet, half-naked and casually leaning against the kitchen wall. She swiftly looked back at her damp friend, to the unmade bed and the mess of clothes on the floor. "Well, I'll be damned! Now I know what caused that earthquake I felt last night."

Aster knew there was no stopping her, so she patiently folded her arms and let Cherry have her fun. The little brunette inspected Rom like a piece of merchandise, running her long fingernails up his arm and down his back.

"Ooh, Aster. He's perfect! Promise you'll let me have him when you get bored. Better yet, let me borrow him for a night."

Cherry sneaked her hand beneath his towel and pinched his buttock. Rom choked. "Oh, yes, this is definitely prime beef y'all got here, gal!"

Rom grasped her wrists and firmly moved her away from him. "Sorry, Cherry. I'm afraid Aster's more than I can handle at the moment." He attempted to look regretful and shrugged his shoulders then gave Aster a wink.