Forbidden Craving(57)

Someone had to tell the world the truth.

The heroine could be disgusted by all the lovesick fools around her-while fighting her attraction to the sexiest man on the planet.

If I go that route, I might as well name her Eyahs. Shaye spelled backward. The hero would be Nairelav-Valerian spelled backward-and he would be king of the sohpmyn. Nymphos spelled backward.

Well. Why not? Write what you know.

So, Shaye wrote: Chapter One. Nairelav, king of the sohpmyn, who considered himself the greatest leader of the greatest army and the greatest lover ever to live, untangled his glorious body from the naked, slumbering woman beside him...only to discover his legs were entwined with two other naked, slumbering women. Because he was a manwhore with no self-control. He'd say he needed to be spanked-but he'd like it, so, punishment was a no-go.

Well. Not bad, but it definitely needed tweaking.

As the hours passed, different warriors straggled into the room, collecting their women. They were covered in sweat and sand, even blood. Each time the door opened, she found herself tensing with dread...and anticipation.

Dang it! Where was Valerian?

Soon only Shaye and the girl with curly black hair and sad brown eyes remained. The one who'd ended up with Shivawn.

She sat on the couch, staring at nothing. For the first time, she appeared unafraid.

Shaye gathered her supplies, stood and closed the distance. "Hi. I'm, uh, Shaye." So awkward. Not waiting for the invite she might not receive, she sat.

Curls flicked her a nervous glance. "Hi. I'm Brenna." Her voice was deep and extremely rough. Her vocal cords must have been damaged at some point.

"I've noticed you're the only other person who isn't ecstatic to be here."

Brenna tapped her temple. "Sane."

"So how's life with Shivawn?"

The girl shrugged. "He hasn't touched me."

"Good." Shaye leaned forward and swiped a piece of bread from the snack table. She tore the piece in two and handed one to Brenna. "Are you still in charge of Joachim's care?"

A hesitant nod.

"How's he doing?"

A gleam of something...hot and dark entered her brown eyes. Oh, oh, oh. What was this? Did Brenna have a crush on her patient? 

"He's well."

"You like him?" Shaye asked.

"What? No!" Brenna gave a violent shake of her head. "Scared of him," she admitted.

Shaye tensed. "Has he hurt you?"

Delicate shoulders drooped, but her lips pressed into a defiant frown. "No."

So...she wasn't scared of him physically but...emotionally?

That, Shaye understood. If she desired Valerian so intensely now, what would happen if she actually fell in love with him?

"I wonder why all the women are slaves to the mighty nympho pheromone but we aren't," she mused aloud.

"Insane," Brenna said, tapping her temple, and they both laughed.

The door opened, and Shivawn entered. Disappointment-

No, excitement!

Valerian entered on his heels. He stopped, his gaze finding her. A cut marred his lip, but he was still the most beautiful sight she'd ever beheld. He'd cleaned up, the sand and blood washed away. Once again he wore a shirt-Boo hiss!

He was right. She preferred him bare-chested.

A shiver of awareness swept through her. Grip tightening on the papers, she stood. Brenna stood beside her.

"You're hurt," Shaye said. Should she offer to patch him up?

"I couldn't stop thinking about our kiss," Valerian said, his tone wry. "My men took advantage of my distraction."

Guilt flared.

"I missed you," he added, and a pang lanced through her.

Tell him how much you missed him. He deserved the truth.

The words died in her throat, however. Shouldn't give him hope. Shouldn't start a relationship doomed to fail.

Disappointment glowed in his eyes, but he extended his hand. "Come. Let me show you our home."



VALERIAN ESCORTED SHAYE to the stables. Overhead, the crystal dome shone brightly and cast the perfect amount of heat. Birds whistled playfully as they flew past.

He motioned to the pink pony of her dreams. "This enchanting beauty is yours."

She gasped. "She can't be...she's... My Little Pony is real!"

"Yes. She's very real."

Rich brown eyes peered up at him. "You bought her for me?"

"I spent our money, yes." He would use the word "our" every chance he got. A reminder they belonged together. Hopefully she would cease her escape attempts.

But then, why would she want to stay? He'd treated her poorly all week, his days spent in battle, his nights plagued by nightmares of losing her.

She trembled as she combed her fingers through the pony's mane. "You have to stop buying me gifts, Valerian. You have to stop being so..." She grimaced. "Nice."