The Playful Prince (21 page)

“Siren, please tell me where I can find the matching carrier to this DNA.” Tori held the paper up.

“Match sequence found in harem, Dr. Elliot,” Siren purred. “Identifying subject as ... I’m sorry Dr. Elliot.

That information is restricted to level one security.”

“That’s perfectly all right,” Tori answered. She felt like her heart was ripped out of her chest. Quinn was in the harem? Her head felt faint, dizzy. The suite spun around.

“Dr. Elliot, would you like to have that talk now?” Siren inquired.

Tori nodded, turned around, and fell into a crumpled heap on the floor.

* * * *

Quinn pushed the harem girl off his arm as he studied Reid. His bother, lying naked on this stomach, was enjoying the administering hands of three very pretty, very naked women. Quinn glanced over the women. They didn’t do anything for him. All he could think about was Tori.

“Mm, Quinn, you should really try this,” Reid groaned. His lips curled into a sheepish grin. “Mm, a little lower ... ah, that’s it. Right there.”

Two women massaged Reid’s backside. Quinn turned away. It wasn’t a particular memory he wanted to keep.

“Dr. Elliot wake up?” Reid asked, before groaning. “Ah, easy, ea-sy. I’m delicate merchandise, you know.”

“Sorry, my lord,” a harem girl pouted. “Is this better?”

“Ah! Why you naughty little...” Reid stopped talking amidst the women’s giggling.

“You’re busy. I’ll go.” Quinn stepped away from him, not daring to turn back around and see. Truth be told, he’d only come to the harem to see Reid because he had no other place to go. Falke was unconscious. Kirill was sleeping with his wife. Dr. Vitto was with Tori and Dr. Grant was being attended by Linzi. Thinking of Vitto’s words, he paused. He’d heard it for himself. Vitto loved Tori.

“My lord, are you injured as well?”

Quinn blinked. It took a moment for him to realize two women were at his side. One boldly grabbed his shaft, as the other pressed her body firmly along his back. Reid chuckled knowingly behind him.

Quinn let them touch him for a moment, wondering if he should try to sleep with them. However, as they continued to fondle him, his body didn’t stir. He felt nothing for them--not even the slightest hint of arousal. He frowned, swinging around to his brother.

“Sacred Cats!” Quinn growled, his eyes flashing with fire.

Reid jerked up in surprise. “Quinn? What is it? What’s wrong?”

Quinn roared and stomped out of the harem, not bothering to answer.

* * * *

Tori tried to concentrate. Her backside was sore and she swore Siren must have jolted her with a laser beam when she passed out. When she pulled herself off the floor, Siren was claiming innocence, but her door was unlocked. Her heart broke, thinking of Quinn in the harem, but she had more important matters to take care of first.

Turning to Vitto, she smiled weakly and handed him the metal ring. “From what I remember, if we melt this and inject it into the ground near the caves it should work in killing off the moss. It should at least buy us enough time to analyze the properties and make sure it’s all gone. The moss is supposed to be completely connected. I’m guessing the moss under the rock is where it’s been seeping up from the ground.”

“Tori,” Vitto began. “We--”

Tori shook her head. “No, I don’t want to discuss it. I just want to get this taken care of. I’m just ready for this assignment to be over.”

* * * *

“Tori? Can I come in?”

Tori turned around in her chair, pushing back from the table. She wore a robe. It was held shut by a belt, but fell open to reveal her legs. Her heart skipped to hear Quinn’s voice and she didn’t bother to cover herself. Pushing her wet hair back from her face, she looked up at him. He stood in the door to her suite.

“I knocked, you didn’t answer,” he said, stepping in. He hesitated by the door, staring at her, letting his eyes roam down over her body.

Tori wanted to memorize every detail of him. She never wanted to forget a single moment of their time together. They’d finished the antidote and were leaving in the morning to try it out. The preliminary tests in the lab were remarkable. Within an hour, the contaminated soil samples were restored to prime topsoil. If everything worked out, the three scientists could be going home by the end of the week.

The HIA work was finished, all except the final report. Tori could write that from her notes on the ship that would come to pick them up. Qurilixen, hopefully, would survive the black moss. And, if the moss ever came back, King Kirill could hire a new team to monitor the situation. She would be leaving him complete documentation for just such a case.

“Kirill wanted me to tell you that he’s keeping everyone away from the caves until they’ve been treated.”

Quinn took a step forward and again hesitated. He turned, shutting the door softly behind him. “He’d also like to extend his gratitude to you and your colleagues for all that you’ve done for us.”

Tori pushed to her feet, taking a step toward him and then another. Her robe closed around her legs.

“What about you? What are you thinking?”

“I wish to thank you as well,” he whispered. He looked like he wanted to say more, but didn’t.

Tori nodded. She was suddenly drawn forward into his arms, as she rushed over the distance to be near him. Tears entered her eyes as threw her arms around his neck. She wasn’t sure why she was crying, she just was.

“I killed him,” she whispered, forlorn and so very lost. A dam broke within her and only in Quinn’s arms did she feel safe. “I killed him. I only meant to stop him and I killed him instead.”

“He deserved it. I would have done the same,” Quinn whispered, stroking the wet hair down her back.

Her shoulders trembled violently.

“It’s not my decision to make,” Tori sniffed. “I can’t play God. I can’t! I-I killed him.”

“Shhh,” Quinn hushed. “You did what you had to do. You saved a lot of people.”

“No, you don’t understand, Quinn,” she tried to pull away but he didn’t let her. His arms held her tighter and she let him, needing his comfort more than anything. “I’m a scientist. I’m supposed to save lives, make them better. I-I need you to kiss me. Just kiss me, Quinn, please.”

The fight drained out of her limbs. She pressed her mouth to his, searing him with her passionate kiss.

Everything she’d been through since coming to Qurilixen rushed over her, overwhelming her. The only thing good she could find in the whole mess of emotions was Quinn.

“Ah,” she gasped, pulling her mouth away, panting for breath. Her hands skimmed over his body, tearing at his shirt as she pushed him across the suite to the bed. “I need you to make me feel. I need to feel anything but sadness. I just want to forget.”

Quinn didn’t resist. His hand dove into her hair, bringing her lips once more to his. She moaned as his long tongue rolled into her mouth, making her knees weak. Her robe fell aside at his gentle insistence, baring her body to him. His fingers explored everywhere at once, her breasts, her stomach, the small of her back.

As they finally reached the bed, Tori pulled her lips away and continued tearing at his clothes until she’d stripped him completely. His erection stood tall, exciting her, making her forget everything but him. She walked around him slowly, dodging his hands as he tried to grab for her.

She loved the look of him--the strong curve of his spine, hidden between gloriously smooth muscles. His hips were slender, showcasing his incredible butt. Tori reached forward, touching him, squeezing his cheek lightly. Her stomach tightened. Moisture pooled between her thighs, readying her body for him.

She wanted him, always wanted him.

Letting the robe glide off her arms, she shivered as it fell to the floor. She explored his back, his legs, his hips, touching him everywhere. By the time she made her way around, he was panting wildly. His eyes shifted to green in his passion.

Tori placed her finger on his chin and slowly drew it down over his throat. To her surprise, his eyes darkened and his body lurched, tensing as she continued to slide her hand down the middle of his chest.

Tilting her head to the side, she watched her finger circle his navel. Heat radiated off his body, stirring her blood. She felt him as if he was already inside of her, part of her.

Quinn’s hands lifted as if he would touch her, but he drew them back, letting her take the lead. Tori grinned, moved her hands to his hips, and sank to her knees before him. She flicked her tongue over his hard shaft, playing with the tip until he groaned and begged mindlessly for more.

Her lips wrapped around him, her tongue rolled, her mouth sucked, her teeth grazed. He was too big to fit in her mouth so her hands lifted to help, stroking him, playing with the soft globes she found underneath. Suddenly, he tensed, groaning loud and long, as he held himself back from the edge.

Quinn grabbed her by the arms and lifted her up. A throaty laugh came from her throat as he tossed her easily on the bed. She bounced on the soft mattress.

“You’re too much,” he growled, crawling over her with a streamlined grace. “You drive me to distraction.”

Tori shivered, her body worked up with anticipation. Quinn looked every inch the stalking beast as he came over her. His knees brushed her thighs open and she didn’t resist. His strong arms bent slightly at the elbows. He lowered his mouth to take hers, kissing her with a savage heat that consumed her.

He thrust forward, lifting up as he delved inside her. Their shared moans filled the suite. He felt so good, so right. Tori never wanted it to stop. She met his body as he moved within her, confident and sure, gliding in and out of her moistened depths.

His body fell forward so he was lying on top of her, bracing his weight with his elbows. Tori met his kiss.

Fingers glided down her body, moving her leg over his shoulder so he could go deeper still.

“Tori,” Quinn groaned into her mouth, over and over again.

The tension built. He pumped faster. Her leg looped behind his back, driving him deeper, harder. Tori’s back arched off the bed, her body so close to finding fulfillment. She tried to fight it, not wanting the pleasure to stop. With a sudden force that stole her breath and numbed her mind, she climaxed. Her whole being trembled so violently that she was sure the whole planet surely moved with the intensity of it.

“Quinn,” she cried, over and over. “Quinn! Quinn! Yes, Quinn!”

Quinn’s body couldn’t resist the call, as he joined her with his heavy release. His mouth opened, soundless, stretching wide as he drained completely into her body. He was stunned, surprised, frightened--stunned by the force of their joining, surprised by the depth of his feelings, and frightened that he was soon going to lose her.

“Tori,” he groaned, wanting to hold onto her forever.

“No,” she whispered. “No words. Not tonight. Tonight I can’t think. I don’t want to feel anything but this, but us. All right, Quinn? Please.”

“Yes, nothing but us,” he promised, content to pull her tight into his arms as he held her.

“I can’t face it,” she whispered, her heart aching as she nestled into his strong, protective embrace. She didn’t want to leave him, but he hadn’t begged her to stay. He hadn’t even asked her. And, if he did, she wasn’t sure what she would say anyway. “Make love to me again, please, Quinn.”

He chuckled softly. “Just try and stop me.”

Tori smiled, hiding the sadness under the pleasure he gave her. He made love to her three more times, each release better than the last, until they were too exhausted to move. Sighing in contentment, she fell asleep in his arms.

* * * *

You are mine ... forever.
The words were a whisper, spoken from Tori’s parted lips. Quinn opened his eyes, waking from a dream. He’d been kissing Tori, making love to her. She was his, completely his. Her dark eyes were staring up at him and she promised to never leave him.

You are mine....

The thought echoed in his brain, a bittersweet torment. Reaching for Tori, he found the bed was empty.

He frowned, though he was hardly surprised. She had a habit of sneaking away while he slept. Sitting up, he ran his hand through his hair. Then, slowly, he crawled out of bed, found his clothes, and got dressed.

“Siren,” he ordered. “Find Dr. Elliot.”

“Good morning, my lord. Dr. Elliot is not in the palace.”

“I’m not surprised,” he whispered, letting loose a humorless chuckle. Anger built inside him. How dare she go back into the forest without telling him? Quinn surged to his feet and stormed out of the suite.

Her scent was still on his skin. Her voice was in his brain. Quinn growled, feeling his heart like a lead weight in his stomach and he knew he’d never be free of her.

You are mine ... forever.

* * * *

“There is something wrong with me,” Quinn announced, walking into the king’s office. Kirill looked up from his desk, his dark eye narrowing at the comment. Quinn swallowed, took a deep breath, and uttered, “I’m ... broken.”

Kirill frowned, standing. His eyes roamed down over his brother looking for injury. “How do you mean, broken?”

“It will be easier to show you.” Quinn’s face turned a dark shade of red and for a long moment, he stood, not moving. Kirill waited patiently. Finally Quinn sighed and called over his shoulder, “Come in!”

Kirill’s features flooded with confusion, as he watched a harem woman come into the office. She was very pretty--young, with dark hair and exotic eyes that could easily tempt any unmated man. When the woman sighed and came to stand next to Quinn, a quizzical smile twitched the corner of the king’s mouth.

As he watched them, Kirill moved to lean on the corner of his desk. He didn’t say a word.

“Do it,” Quinn ordered the woman, not looking at all pleased. He didn’t care what he looked like. He wasn’t pleased. Tori had ruined him somehow and he wasn’t happy about it. His first impulse had been to run after her when he discovered she was again missing from his bed, but pride kept him from going.

That was two days ago and he refused to go crawling back to her. He had to retain some dignity. He had to forget her. When the woman didn’t move, he said, “Go on. Do it.”