Stardust (46 page)

Darton gave in to the burning need to brand Aurora for his own. Holding her hips, he drove deep inside her, his hard male rod butting the still sensitive nub of her womanhood with each thrust. Stroke after stroke, their passion rose together. Within minutes Aurora cried out his name. Seconds later, Darton tensed and pushed forward one last time.

* * *

Darton sat up on the edge of the pallet, trying not to awaken Aurora as she slept peacefully by his side. They had both fallen asleep, succumbing to the need for rest after the last few days. He stretched languidly, feeling a slight soreness in his muscles, a result of the confinement of Slamock
’
s chains.

“
Darton
,
”
Aurora murmurmed
sleepily.

“
I did not mean to disturb you,
”
Darton said, tenderly reaching down and brushing the hair from her eyes.
“
I am truly sorry.
”

Aurora sat up, unmindful of her nakedness or the passion blazing in Darton
’
s eyes as they raked her unclad form. She took his arm, cradling it upon her lap.
“
I did not know you had suffered such injury,
”
she cried, caressing the raw wounds left by the bonds.
“
Why did you not tell me?
”

“
It is nothing,
”
Darton shrugged off her concern, turning his hand to caress her leg. His hand inched upward until his finger raked through the black nest of curls at the juncture of her thighs.
“
Besides, I seem to recall you were in no state to notice such things.
”
He remembered their fast and hard coupling as he tried to ease the effects of the passion juice. His love had been much more concerned with having his body than tending to his wounds, as such a lover should be.

“
Stop that,
”
she said, batting his hand away.
“
We must see to this at once. You were grievously ill the last time you were injured.
”
She slipped the seka over her shoulders, hastily fastening the buttons.

Darton dressed and followed her through the ship. He had told Siara to guard the Sybortron but would not put it past Aurora to soften toward the thing once she viewed its true demeanor. The Sybortron had the ability to present itself as a man or machine. Many a fair maiden had fallen prey to the mesmerizing tale of man trapped within a metal shell.

But Darton, as well as other seasoned warriors, knew the fate of a Sybortron was chosen. He himself could never forsake his mortality for such power.

Aurora stood at the console, a medical kit laid out before her.
“
Come,
”
she said.
“
This will not take long. The royal guard equipped this ship well.
”

Darton held out his arms, enjoying the feel of her small hands against him as she moved a healing beam across his wounds.
“
This is not nearly as enjoyable as the waters,
”
he said, moving closer. He thrust his body between her thighs, savoring her gasp of surprise.

“
Darton,
”
she warned, trying desperately to ignore the firm feel of him between her legs. Her body throbbed where they joined, and she felt herself becoming moist and ready as he increased the pressure.

When he did not stop his advance, her hands fell limply to her sides, the healing beam forgotten.

Darton lifted her, setting her upon the console.
“
You
seemed to have missed a button.
”
He trailed
his fingers between her breasts.

Aurora looked down and saw he was correct. In her haste to dress, she had misguided the fasteners, leaving the seka askew. Automatically her hands reached to redo them.

“
That is not necessary, love,
”
Darton said, removing her hands and placing them on his shoulders.
“
It would be wiser if you put those lovely hands to a more practical use.
”

“
And what might that be?
”
Aurora asked.

“
Holding onto me,
”
he growled, pressing his bulging karta against her body.

“
Darton!
”

Darton
’
s body sagged as the turin
’
s voice screeched from the darkness of the holding bay.
“
Do not bother us now, wretched creature,
”
he shouted before nibbling on Aurora
’
s throat.

“
I think you should listen to me,
”
Talena said.

“
I have no wish to listen to any words a blasted turin may say,
”
Darton growled, thrusting against Aurora
’
s willing body. His hand lowered to remove his clothing.

“
I really think you should,
”
Talena insisted.

Darton leaned his forehead against Aurora
’
s, his desire fading at the turin
’
s constant interruption.
“
Look at what that wretched creature has done,
”
Darton sighed in resignation.

“
I can
feel
what she has done.
”
Aurora struggled to suppress a giggle at Darton
’
s crestfallen expression and the obvious deflation of his desire.

“
What is it?
”
Darton yelled over his shoulder, glad to see the happiness in Aurora
’
s violet eyes. He helped her from the console, refastening the seka himself.

Aurora turned around, intent on returning the medical kit to its proper place. Her heart rose to her throat as she saw the viewing screen had activated.
“
I think I know what Talena wanted,
”
she said softly, unable to believe what she was actually seeing.

“
Oh, what?
”
Darton bit out sarcastically, bending over to retrieve the healing beam.
“
A drink of Palermonian swamp water is all she...
”
his voice trailed off slowly as he too saw the screen.

“
Greetings and salutations,
”
the cheerful voice boomed out them with the velocity of hyper speed. The cherubic, balding face on the screen simply chuckled at their stunned expressions.

“
By the Sacred Mountain, who are you?
”
Darton asked when he was finally able to speak.

“
You are very close.
”
Again came a slight chuckle.

Aurora looked at Darton then back to the stranger, her brow drawn in perplexity.
“
What do you mean? Where did you come from? Do you wish to harm us?
”
The questions tumbled out, giving no time for response.

“
Whoa, wait a minute.
”
The rotund figure on the viewing screen held up a chubby hand.
“
She certainly is talkative when she
’
s not otherwise occupied.
”
He looked at Darton and wiggled his bushy white brows suggestively.

“
How dare you?
”
Aurora bristled, an embarrassed flush spreading swiftly across her cheeks when she realized this man had seen everything that had happened at the console.

“
Oh, tsk, tsk.
”
Their caller
’
s attention was once again focused on Aurora.
“
I used to be young once myself, you know.
”

He looked so affronted
Aurora found herself apologizing.
“
I
’
m sorry?
”
she stammered, looking to Darton for assistance.

“
Again I must ask –
who are you and what do you want with us?
”
Darton was now fully in command of the situation, having lost his initial surprise.

“
Well, young fellow, if you
’
ll allow me to transfer aboard, I
’
d be happy to explain everything to you.
”
He looked away from the screen before resuming contact.
“
It gets pretty lonely when you
’
ve been by yourself for as long as I have.
”

“
Oh, you poor thing.
”
Aurora said with feminine concern.
“
You just come aboard and we
’
ll have a nice dinner and a long chat.
”

“
What?
”
Darton could not believe his ears.
“
Aurora, have you lost your senses? We don
’
t even know his name and you give him permission to board our ship?
”

“
Chantar.
”

Both heads turned simultaneously to the voice coming from behind them.

Aurora could not control her start of surprise as her eyes traveled swiftly over their guest. He stood only as high as her shoulder and seemed to be as wide as he was tall.

“
I know, I know,
”
he waived a hand dismissively.
“
It
’
s a terrible name for a man but mother wanted a daughter. She got me instead.
”
He plopped his considerable girth onto Aurora
’
s vacant chair.

Darton stepped quickly in front of Aurora, his hand automatically reaching for the hilt of a sword that was not here. He cursed his lack of foresight.

Chantar drew a deep breath, releasing it with a sharp clicking sound.
“
Son, you
’
re awfully slow on the uptake, aren
’
t you?
”
He rolled his protruding eyes and gestured wildly with one hand.Darton advanced on the jolly man.

“
Oh, stop that already. If I had meant you harm, I could have terminated you a thousand times over.
”
He shifted his bulk to a more comfortable position and directed a bug-eyed stare toward Aurora.
“
Would you be a dear and get me something sweet to drink. I
’
m terribly thirsty. All that traveling, you know. Gives me the heaves. I
’
d rather stay home but sometimes you
’
ve just gotta go out there and do things you don
’
t want to do. Are you still standing here?
”

Aurora broke away from his mesmerizing litany and went quickly to fetch refreshments. She returned carrying three frosty mugs, placing one before Darton and giving one to Chantar.

He took a deep drink of the cool liquid, smacking his lips loudly before wiping the excess from his thick lips with the back of his hand.

“
Please sit down.
”
He indicated the remaining seat and both Darton and Aurora found themselves obeying. Darton pulled Aurora into his lap.

“
We have much to discuss, the three of us. And very little time.
”
Chantar shook his head sadly.
“
If we do not hurry, it will all be over.
”

“
What are you babbling about?
”
Darton questioned.

Chantar
’
s brows lifted.
“
Babble? I do not babble.
”
Dismissing Darton, he turned to Aurora.
“
You
’
re very beautiful, you know.
”

Aurora blushed prettily and bowed her head with a murmured thank you.

“
F
or stardust
’
s sake.
”
Darton knew it was ridiculous to feel jealous but, he did.
“
Why don
’
t you just tell us why you
’
re here.
”
Darton saw Aurora
’
s shocked look at his rudeness and amended hastily,
“
I mean, since you said time was running out.
”