Steam Guardians 01 - A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious (16 page)

He withdrew, granting her relief, and she sucked in a deep breath before he sent it racing out of her lungs when he thrust back into her. She moaned, the sound low and primitive. The pain wasn’t as intense. Her cry faded, and so did the overwhelming hurt.

“I should have realized you were a virgin…”

His body shook as he tried to rise. With a soft curse, he lowered himself again and began thrusting slowly.

She wanted to know why he’d thought she wasn’t a virgin, but it suddenly didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except the growing sense of satisfaction building beneath the friction his thrusting produced. She moaned again, but for a different reason. This time, the cry was forced out because there was too much pleasure to contain. She lifted her hips, meeting the next plunge, and gasped when the pleasure tightened.

“That’s the way. Meet me, Janette. Take a hand in your own pleasure…”

His voice was dark and dangerous. Each word was spoken through clenched teeth, and she found his tone suited her perfectly. She wanted to arch and take his length. There was nothing controlled about the moment; it was a storm of yearning that saw her straining upward for each thrust while she grabbed his shoulders and held him in place. Her fingernails cut into his skin, and he growled with satisfaction. Deep inside her passage, every muscle clenched tighter and tighter until the passion burst like a bubble, sending shards of white-hot delight out in every direction. She was swept away by the shock wave, held in place by the hard motions of Darius driving his length into her a few final times. He tensed, snarling something unintelligible before his cock delivered a hot spurt of seed.

They were locked together for a moment, currents of pleasure hitting them from within until they both collapsed into a warm puddle of satisfaction. Janette sank straight into it, never protesting when it took her away into oblivion.

***

The room was dark.

Janette opened her eyes, confusion sweeping through her.

Had she been dreaming of Darius again?

The certainty that she hadn’t imagined him was hot against her back. One hard arm was draped across her waist while he gently cupped a breast. A dull ache made itself known between her thighs, driving away any remnants of confusion. Her mind cleared completely, bringing details back with a rush. Her cheeks burned with a blush while her temper flickered to life.

“Why didn’t you trust I was a virgin?” She moved, gently trying to dislodge his arm, but he only pulled her closer until he was curved around her back and his feet caught hers.

“We are not holding a discussion tonight, Janette.” His voice was full of authority, and it chafed.

“I didn’t invite Guardian Lawley into my bed, so stop issuing orders,” she insisted while trying to squirm out of his hold.

He held her tight. “As you like,
sweetheart
. I’d suggest discussing this topic in the morning.”

She wiggled, but he kept her secure. “Why? Oh yes, you like to be the one handing out the accusations. Well, Darius Lawley, I have as much right to be suspicious of your Order’s plans for me as you do of my desire to be here.”

He sighed, sounding exasperated. “A well-founded point, which we can debate in the morning.”

“Because that is when you shall withdraw behind your duty? Put your suit back on like armor?”

She meant to sound stronger; instead, hints of insecurity edged her words. Doubts began to undermine the confidence that had seen her so boldly losing her virginity to a man who was not her husband.

Who
would
never
be
her
husband.

“Because lovers only allow pleasure between them in bed.”

He kissed her head, gently stroking her body and lulling her back toward slumber. She wanted to ask him questions, but it was far more satisfying to heed his words.

“I’d much rather be only your lover for the moment, Janette. The harder edges of life will be waiting for us at dawn. There is no need to rush into contact with them. Indulge me, at least for as long as the sun is down. Neither of us can change the fact that life is hard, but we can enjoy the moments when it decides to leave us alone.”

Now his tone was soft and tender, tempting her to just follow his lead. He was her lover. By her choice. A desire that was natural, supported by scientific fact, and nothing to be labeled immoral. At least among the Illuminists, it was. She smiled and surrendered to sleep.

She was an Illuminist, even if Darius didn’t trust her.

But
do
you
trust
him?

She realized she wasn’t sure.

“Janette?”

She sighed. “Why are you always in my dreams, Darius?”

The pillow was warm and comfortable beneath her cheek. She snuggled against it but frowned when the bedding slid off her shoulders to allow the morning air to nip her.

“As much as I find your confession charming, I cannot remain to enjoy it. I must return to my post.”

He was real.

She rubbed her eyes and stared at the undeniable evidence that the night had not been some elaborate dream. Darius was dressed and sitting on the edge of her bed. In the morning light, the man looked too large for the modest room. She must have slept half on top of him because the bed wasn’t wide enough for them both. But his hair lacked formality, the dark strands curling just a bit around his temples. The top button of his shirt was still open, betraying the fact that he didn’t care for being confined. Little hints of who he truly was, and she wasn’t the only one noticing them. His eyes narrowed in a lazy manner while he studied her and stroked the side of her face gently. His gaze settled on her lips for a long moment as enjoyment flickered in his eyes.

“I did not want to leave without saying good-bye.”

There was a tenderness in his tone she didn’t know how to deal with. He stroked her cheek once more, and she wiggled away, uncertain of everything in that moment. His expression became guarded.

“And Decima hit you too hard.” His attention had shifted to the side of her head.

“It is only a bruise, and not the worst one I have ever had.” She sat up and had to grab the sheet before it slithered down to expose her bare breasts. “I was quite the energetic child. Much to my father’s disdain. Yet my mother encouraged me. I suppose I understand why now.”

“Sitting about in a nursery is unhealthy.” He stood, and his vest gaped open where three of the buttons were missing. He pulled the edges wide in response to her attention on it. “The motivation for my early departure. I would rather not give the rumormongers a feast. They’ll have enough to discuss as it is, since the Guardians at the gate will log my exit time.”

The earpiece was back in place. “We’ll talk tonight.”

“That isn’t necessary,” she insisted. “I understand the way it is here. You made no promises to me last night.”

One dark eyebrow rose in response. He came back toward the bed and planted one hand on either side of her. She was trapped, unless she wanted to release the sheet to push him away. It wasn’t the first time he’d insisted on making her see his point, but this time it felt intensely personal. This wasn’t the Guardian imposing his will on her; it was Darius, even if it was impossible to separate the two completely.

“I disagree, Janette. You don’t understand me as well as you think you do.” He pressed a hard kiss against her mouth. “Which is my fault. We will talk, and I will be back. That is a promise.”

He was on his way out of the door before she sputtered a retort.

“You certainly do enjoy telling me what to do.”

His gaze slipped over her, and his lips curved roguishly. “That is not the thing I enjoy doing most with you.”

She blushed scarlet and heard him chuckle on his way out of the entry room.

“Knave…” she said as she rose from the bed.

“Rogue…”

Her next thought got stuck in her throat when she looked at the bed. It was marked with her blood.

Had
he
used
her?

Guilt chewed on her as she began to dress for the day. If the man had only been interested in satisfying his lust, there would have been no reason for him to wake her and promise to return.

Had
she
used
him?

Was she just trying to prove she was no longer her father’s obedient child? If so, she should be ashamed. Darius might be an arrogant rogue, but he deserved better than to be used.

***

“Why hasn’t she been put into service?”

Darius fought to maintain his control. His office was full of Illuminists from different branches of the Order. Grainger was a Guardian of the highest rank like himself, but there was also a Marshal and a Cultivator. Lykos had ushered them all in with a frown darkening his face.

“Miss Aston is installed the same as any novice. She has taken well to her regimen of classes,” Darius answered.

“Yes, yes, indeed she has,” Professor Yulric agreed. “Quite the bright and very inquisitive young student.”

“She should be in the field,” the Cultivator insisted.

Darius felt his temper straining. “Without proper training? Are we so desperate we would forget the foundation of our Order and leave her ignorant while utilizing her natural abilities like a beast of burden?”

“I think of it as more of an acceleration of her training,” Grainger said, “and a recognition of just how important it is to be ahead of the Helikeians in the hunt for Deep Earth Crystals. The recent eruptions in the Hawaiian Islands have produced perfect conditions for crystal growth. Now is the time to ensure we harvest the new crystals.”

Darius directed his next comment to the Marshal standing by silently. “What about her Oath? She isn’t bound to the Order. Showing her the Crystal Fields might well see us handing our critical information over to the Helikeians.”

Everyone turned to see what Marshal Agapitos would decide. As a Marshal, he could adjust the time frame of a novice’s training, but Darius had never witnessed it in his lifetime. It was one of those laws put down for the direst of circumstances.

“I am willing to hear her Oath now. Captain Kyros is ready to depart for the islands as soon as we transport the girl to the airship port.”

“How did you know about the girl?” Darius demanded, losing control of his composure for a moment. It was suddenly very personal, their desire to rip Janette away from his authority. Lykos eyed him curiously but held his tongue for a change.

“Yes, an excellent question,” Professor Yulric said. “Rushing leads to mistakes. The girl should observe our laws. A fact made more important by her unfortunate upbringing outside the Order. She has a great deal to learn about Illuminist life, facts she needs to accept and understand fully before taking the Oath of Allegiance.”

“She is not a normal member,” Grainger insisted. “As a Pure Spirit, her posting will be in the field. Since she knows nothing of life at a Solitary Chamber, better not to risk her forming any attachments here.”

Grainger sent him a pointed look, one that made Darius suspicious. It was early afternoon, just enough time for a spy to have reported where he had been last night.

“Since the Marshal has made his decision, I will have Guardian Decima assigned to Miss Aston on the journey,” Lykos announced.

Grainger frowned and cut a look toward Agapitos. The Marshal waved his hand. “That will not be necessary.”

Darius raised an eyebrow. “It is the law and the right of any female novice Pure Spirit to have a Guardian of the same gender. Since I do not have one under my command, I am grateful to Guardian Lykos for sharing Decima.”

“Yet—”

“I am not finished,” Darius interrupted Grainger. “I am also resigning. Effective immediately.”

“You are what?” Professor Yulric demanded.

Darius grinned at him. “My apologies for the abruptness of my announcement, Professor. I hope you will forgive me, but I intend to accompany my fiancée on her journey to the Crystal Fields.”

“Your what?” Marshal Agapitos demanded.

“Miss Aston and I have discovered a strong draw to each other.”

Marshal Agapitos stepped forward. “Spending the night in her bed does not mean you have the right to accompany her. She is a Pure Spirit. It is in the best interest of the Order for her to be put to work in the Crystal Fields. As a Marshal, this is my decision, and you are out of line to dispute my dictate, Guardian Lawley.”

“Her field assignment clearly falls under your authority,” Darius countered. “Which is why I have resigned my posting. A spouse or soon-to-be spouse of a Pure Spirit has the right to accompany them to their posting. Only a Helikeian would be savage enough to deprive her of her happiness.”

The Marshal was turning red. “One visit to her bed does not make you her fiancé.”

“I beg to differ with you, Marshal,” Darius cut through the man’s sputtering. “Miss Aston was raised among high society. She never would have shared her bed with any man she did not believe would do the honorable thing. Besides, I’m curious as to where you are gaining your information about my personal relationship with Miss Aston.”

“I’m quite curious myself,” Lykos added, the tone of his voice menacing. “None of this was revealed to me when I brought you here.”

Marshal Agapitos glared at him. “Your duties as Guardian do not include being present for decisions about where Pure Spirits are deployed.”

“But it is our duty to understand just where your information on private matters is flowing from,” Darius interrupted. “Miss Aston was in the hands of the Helikeians before we rescued her. Information on her has been held secret, and yet you appear here with full knowledge of who she spent the night with. If we serve the same Order, why are you gaining information about my Solitary Chamber through any other channel than myself? I have approved no information transferred on Miss Aston.”

“Members talk, Mr. Lawley, especially when a man in your position is getting involved with a novice,” Agapitos said. “You are jumping to conclusions. We have been wrestling with this decision for some time now, ever since her membership was recorded—which is common information, I would like to remind you. The news that she was forming a relationship with you only urged us to take her in hand before there were any complications. Explain to the girl that she needs to go and think over such a serious matter as marriage. It is only an emotional response to her unfortunate incident at the clinic.”

“That would be futile,” Lykos insisted smoothly. “They are quite taken with each other.”

“Nonsense,” Agapitos insisted.

Darius leaned forward. “I assure you, Marshal, I will be accompanying Miss Aston.” His tone had become deadly.

“Only if she supports your claim of an engagement,” Agapitos shot back. “Something I wish to hear from her lips before you have the opportunity to inform her of my decision. You will remain here while two of your men find her.”

***

She had a lover.

Janette found the knowledge distracting. By midafternoon, it was bordering on being irritating. She attended her classes, but her thoughts shifted to Darius more and more often.

That sinful thing matrons whispered about and preachers warned all good souls to avoid. Lust was the instrument of the devil, an occupation of the low-bred. In short, the path to damnation.

Or was it simply the truth of human nature? Many of her classes had opened up her thinking on the matter of right versus wrong. Among the Illuminists, honesty was more important, which made taking a lover acceptable…so long as both partners were honest, and a man never forgot to ensure his partner didn’t conceive without her consent.

Having a lover was such a foreign idea, and then again, she realized her mother had always answered her questions about intimacy. It was an oddity she hadn’t questioned but should have when she considered the other girls in her age group hadn’t been raised with such openness. Most of them eagerly awaited enlightenment on just what their wedding night would consist of, and they whispered during balls.

Well, she wasn’t wed, but she’d lost her virginity. Obviously her father was correct about the Illuminist teachings taking her away from the path of straight and narrow because she didn’t feel any shame. In fact, she was relieved to have finished what Darius had walked away from before.

Maybe she was wanton, but at least she was honest—an Illuminist trait. She smiled as she walked back toward her quarters, but the men stationed at the gate made her pause. They recorded her comings and goings, and today, it chafed to know she was scrutinized so closely. Yes, she was a Pure Spirit, but there were moments when she felt branded by it instead of unique.

Was
that
the
reason
Darius
resisted
her
so
strongly?

Was she a pariah? Destined to be set apart simply because of her ability? She fingered her badge, marking the lack of Deep Earth Crystals. She was different. Uncertainty chewed on her, and she turned her back on the gate. The Guardians watched her curiously, but she left them wondering where she was going.

She found herself in the library. It wasn’t the first time she’d wandered among the aisles of literature. Housed in the back of the complex, it was filled with books on every subject, not just the society-approved ones.

She often ignored her fatigue because of some engrossing book she’d discovered here, but now, she found her thoughts returning to Darius. He’d always held the superior position, always looked at her like he knew more than she did. When it came to being lovers, she wanted to change that, which sent her searching out books she wasn’t even sure the library would have—erotic books.

There had been rumors of young boys being caught with such books and in high-priced brothels that promised patrons delights found among the pages of some Eastern manuscript.

Would Darius enjoy such things?

Heat stung her cheeks. She was assuming the man would be interested in another night in her bed. In spite of his promise to return, she really needed to prepare for the night to pass without him making an appearance.

Illuminists did not place the same moral importance upon coupling.

She cringed at her own harshness. Perhaps she was not as converted as she wished because she could not label her night with Darius as coupling. It had been vexing, irritating, frustrating, and satisfying like nothing she’d ever experienced or even suspected she might. A storm of sensation she discovered herself longing for now that she had sampled it. Ignorance truly could be bliss.

She frowned, rejecting that logic. She had known there was something she craved from the moment she met Darius. Something she felt only he would be able to satisfy. It had always been between them, the urge to needle him or stand firm in the face of his arrogance to prove…to prove…well, to prove that she was worthy of his attention. Many would label her primitive, and she had to agree that their encounter had indeed been primal. A combination of urges and responses she didn’t contemplate. She had merely responded.