The Stone Prince (29 page)

They simply watched each other.

Finally, she said, “Don’t ever do that again. You nearly scared me to death,” nearly choking with the force of her relief.

“Then I must make amends.” Never taking his eyes from her, he stretched out his arms. “Come to me.”

She didn’t even hesitate. He was alive, and that was all that mattered. Dropping her cup, she threw herself into his embrace. “Don’t ever, ever go to sleep again.” Unnoticed, water pooled around them.

“I will not, if you will not ever fall again.”

“Deal.” Then, “God, I need you.” She breathed the words into his neck. “Do you have the strength?” She needed to reaffirm that they both lived, that they were together.

“Aye. Tell me what you need. Tell me and it is yours.”

She captured his face in her hands. “I want you inside me, a part of me all day. I want to fall asleep with you deep within me and wake up with the taste of you in my mouth.”

“Then take me,” he rasped.

Katie did just that. She removed her clothing, then his, until they were both gloriously naked. Inch by inch she moved down the length of him, stopping at the object of her fascination. “Jorlan?”

“Hmm?” His breath emerged unsteadily.

“I meant what I said. I plan to taste you.”

He gave a little chuckle. “I will stop you not,
katya.
”

She took him in her mouth, took the bulbous head all the way to the back of her throat. Up and down, she stroked the length of him, savoring the thickness, the heat. He tasted of male and warmth, and Katie couldn’t get enough. She didn’t know the way of it at first, but she soon caught on.

“Katie,” he called hoarsely. “Katie.”

When he could take no more of her sweet torment, he grabbed her by the shoulders and wrenched her up. He kissed her then, and oh, sweet God above, then he entered her in one long, swift thrust.

Breathless, Katie closed her eyes. Because she was on top, she controlled the depth of his penetration and she arched her back, sending him deeper inside. Softness met hardness in one glorious burst of sensation. At first, she rode him slowly, deliciously, and not quite taking the full length of him.

“Take me deeper,” he commanded. Sweat beaded his brow.

“No, I want—” Oh, right there, she thought, finding a place that made her shake with an intense torrent of pleasure. She wanted to prolong this moment, make it last forever. So she continued to take only part of him, riding the waves of sensation.

Jorlan took her by the hips, urging her on. “Faster. Please,
katya.
Please. Deeper.” He made a low sound in the back of his throat. She’d never heard a sound so full of need and promise and desperation, and she realized she wanted to fill her ears with that sound all
night long. “Aye, just like that. By
Elliea,
you are mine. My woman.”

She bent down and sucked his nipples. She soon heard that moan again.

“Say it,” he commanded. “Say the words.”

Through heavy-lidded eyes, she watched him; her body continued to arch against his. The only sounds she made were gasps of pleasure. In the next instant, he rolled her over, pinning her against the cold hardness of the wood. She gave a light intake of breath, an exclamation of wonder really, that somehow they managed to stay connected. But now, he was no longer moving. He remained still, gazing down at her, his expression hard and unflinching.

“What are you doing?” She tried to move, to finish what they had begun, but he kept her immobile.

“I want to hear you say the words that bind you to me. You are mine. No exceptions. Say it.”

No exceptions? If she were one hundred percent sure of his feelings for her, she’d tell him anything and everything he wanted to hear. But trust didn’t come easy for her. She was a creature who demanded proof in all things. So far, he’d only managed to prove he needed her, not that he loved her. “I can’t say what you want to hear.”

“You can.”

“No!”

“You will say the words, Katie, and thus you will cease acting as if you will not be my life-mate. Think you I would let another have you? We belong together. I almost lost you, and I never wish to experience such a fright again.”

We belong together.
Oh how she wanted to believe him, wanted to give him everything he desired. A part of her still held back, unsure. “I’m sorry,” she found herself saying. “My answer is no.”

“Curse it!” He pumped into her once, twice, harder each time. “Say you are mine.”

“I won’t commit myself to you like that.” She arched her back, taking all of him that he would give. A gasp pushed past her lips. Oh, he felt so good. “I won’t,” she said again, more for her benefit than for his.

He slipped his hand between their bodies and pressed against the core of her desire. She groaned in pleasure, in exquisite pain. “So you are refusing me yet again?”

No, I just want to survive emotionally.
“Yes.”

“Then perhaps, my little witch, I will have to convince you otherwise.” His voice was a husky ripple purring against her skin. The wicked gleam in his eyes did not bode well for her sanity.

“What—what do you mean to do?” she asked.

He flexed and surged inside her at the same moment his fingers circled her.

“Oh, Jorlan.” Her breath grew ragged as he moved within her again, and again, harder and harder. So hard, in fact, she leaned up and bit his collarbone.

His ragged moan echoed in her ears. “Again. Bite me again.”

She did.

He roared his approval, gave her more of his cock. Her head thrashed from side to side with the intensity of her pleasure.

“That’s right, Katie. Your body needs mine. Can you feel yourself tighten around me? Can you feel how your body cries out for me?”

“Yes.” She gasped. “Oh, yes.”

“Say the words. You know what your body is telling you, now listen to your heart.”

“No.”

“I accept not your answer,
katya.
You belong to me. Soon you will realize just how much.”

God help her, he was a man of his word.

J
ORLAN STOOD OUTSIDE
under the darkening sky. A storm was brewing, the scent of coming rain thick in the air. The garden where he had spent so many spans loomed in front of him, but he did not enter. ’Twas a place he would as soon forget. A phantom breeze swirled around him, there one second, gone the next. He could not sleep. He could feel the magic inside him, growing and deepening, churning for release, as if he’d at last unlocked the door to his true abilities.

He possessed the power to open a vortex. He knew that as surely as he knew he loved Katie. At last, he could go home. And yet…

Katie was sleeping soundly on the pallet they had made on the floor.

He could not leave her here alone.

He would not take her away from all she knew.

Neither of which had anything to do with at last breaking the curse, but everything to do with the woman herself. Aye, the curse was readying itself, preparing to strike. For some reason, he was no longer panicked by that thought. Nay, he was more concerned
with Katie. If he was to become stone again, he wanted her to be protected by his name and his powers. The only way to do that was to at last make her his woman.

In her stubbornness, she continued to refuse him.

’Tis past time I took the decision from her,
he thought suddenly.
Irrevocably.

Determined, he strode inside the house. Murky light bathed her sleeping form, like fairy dust illuminating a magic circle. Gently, he shook her awake. He positioned himself just above her, his elbows on either side of her shoulders. “This is very important, Katie. Awaken.”

Her eyes fluttered open. “What is it? Are you okay?”

“I need you to repeat after me,” he told her.

“Not now,” she yawned and closed her eyes again. “I’m too sleepy.”

“Katie.” He shook her a bit harder. “This is very important.”

“Why?”

“Please, Katie.”

She uttered a sigh and faced him. “Okay. I’m awake.”

“Repeat after me.” He uttered a string of words in a language she didn’t understand. But something inside her demanded she do as he said and repeat every word exactly.

So she did.

He said the words again.

She repeated them again.

Then he nodded. “It is done.” With that, he removed his clothing and surged so deeply inside her she wasn’t
sure where she ended and he began. Lost in passion, she forgot to ask him just what she’d said.

T
HE EVENING CAME
upon them with a vengeance. Rain pounded against the windows. Wind whistled like demons of the night coming to take their chosen to hell.

Only a few hours remained. Jorlan knew it. Felt it.

Katie stirred beside him and yawned. “Good morning.” Her eyes were heavy-lidded, slumberous. She gave him a sweet smile, the yawn clinging to the edges.

“We must talk.” His expression grave, almost desperate, he helped her to a sitting position.

She frowned and furrowed her brows. “Let me wake up first. I need a protein shake or something.”

“Nay. You will listen to what I have to say.”

Her arms raised over her head as she stretched. She winced at her body’s soreness. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Hours ago—” his heart drummed erratically “—I made you my life-mate.”

She froze. All traces of sleep abandoned her features. “You did what?”

“I made you my wife. I spoke the words of binding, as did you.”

“You’re joking, right?” But Katie knew he wasn’t. His eyes were a dark slate, no longer light and twinkling. Her stomach knotted together, and dread clamped around her like shackles, making her breath burn in her lungs. “I told you no.”

“I told you aye, and I meant it.”

“Did you think I’d fall to my feet and vow to love you forever?”

“Nay, I am prepared for the fate that will soon befall me. What I did, I did for you.”

She’d heard that rationale her entire life.
I know what’s best for you, Katie. You’re a girl. I’m a man.
She’d expected better from Jorlan. “This changes nothing. I won’t love a man who doesn’t truly love me in return.”

“How can you say that? I love you with all of my heart.”

“Oh, really? How can I believe that when you ignored my wishes and enforced your will over mine?” The last escaped as little more than a whisper. Hurt was pulsing through her with a consuming, racking force.

“You are mine,
katya.
’Twas past time you realized that.” He gave a sharp shake of her shoulders. “Do you understand? Mine. You belong to me and I belong to you. There is no choice in this matter. It is done. Meant to be.”

Fighting through her hurt, Katie thought back to the day she first stumbled upon his statue. She had already decided not to buy the house. There had simply been too many renovations needed, and she had been searching for a smaller summer project. Yet she had seen Jorlan’s statue and had known,
known
the house belonged to her.

They did belong together. That didn’t mean he had the right to marry her without her consent, however.

“I did not mean to hurt you, Katie, or take away your decision, but I did what I thought was right. You said the words. That is all that matters. You bound yourself to me of your own free will.”

K
ATIE STOOD
in the kitchen, drinking from a glass of water.
I’m married,
she thought.
Married.
Already prongs of delight were disabling her anger. By noon, she realized she
liked
the thought that Jorlan was her husband. She
liked
the thought that she was his wife.

Lord, what was she going to do?

Since Jorlan had confessed what he’d done, he had followed her like a lost little puppy, never ceasing his talk of love and commitment and his need to see her protected.

She was beginning to believe him.

She had only to speak words of love…and yet something always held her back. A sense of dread, fear even, that everything he claimed to feel for her was merely a delusion, and that he would lose interest once he got what he wanted.

“Katie,” he began.

Just then, the front door swung open, spraying a fine mist of rain into the living room.

Heather and Frances raced inside and closed the door with a snap. Startled, Katie remained in front of the kitchen sink, mouth agape, water glass positioned midair, and watched them. Frances approached her
side, careful to avoid Jorlan, who stood in the corner, observing them all. “Heather convinced me to come. I don’t know what happened here, and I don’t want you to tell me. I’m just going to do my job, and I don’t ever want to talk about what happened.”

Katie nodded and set her glass aside.

With that settled, Frances disappeared out the front door.

Heather remained in place, wringing her hands together. “Katie, I—Well, how are you doing?”

Katie blinked. “I’m fine, thank you. How are you?”

“Better.” The girl gave a half smile, hesitant but authentic. “I’m better. I’ve spent the last few days thinking about my life, and I—” Again she halted whatever words she wanted to say.

Something had changed about Heather. Something for the better. “Would you like something to drink?” Katie asked her.

She shook her head. “No, thanks. I’ve got a lot of work to do out back. If you still want me to work for you.”

“I do.”

“Well, then, I should probably get started.” Heather took a few steps away, before pausing and glancing over her shoulder. “I meant to ask—when did you get the new statue?”

Katie’s brows slanted over her eyes. “What new statue?”

“The one that’s standing on the platform that used to be empty.”

“Used to be…” Oh. When Jorlan had come to life, he’d left an empty dais, the only empty dais in the
pleasure garden. Even Nick had commented on it. Still, Katie hadn’t had time to replace the statue. “Are you sure there’s a statue there?”

“Yeah. It’s kinda hard to miss because it’s different than all the others. It’s not meant for pleasure.”

Dread churned in her stomach because she didn’t exactly know what this new development meant. She knew it wasn’t Jorlan; he still stood a few feet away from her. “Will you meet me there in five minutes?” she whispered.

Though she wore an expression of puzzlement, Heather nodded.

Until she knew what was going on, Katie didn’t want Jorlan knowing anything about the new statue. She marched to him, told him she had to use the bathroom and she’d break his fingers if he tried to follow her.

“Then we must talk, Katie,” he said. “I do not have much time.”

She nodded slowly. Yes, they definitely needed to talk. There was a lot they needed to work out, something she needed to tell him, her fear be damned. With every step she took away from him, she felt his gaze bore deeper into her back. In the bathroom, she locked the door and, like a teenager, sneaked out the window. Rain pelted her body the entire time.

Thunder boomed as she strode to the center of the garden. Heather was there already, waiting quietly. Neither of them had bothered with an umbrella, and they were both soaked to the skin in mere seconds.

“This is it,” Heather said.

Katie drew in a breath. Dark clouds hovered over
white stone that formed the rounded curves of a woman. She wore an opulent robe, and a large, circular locket hung at her neck. She was beautiful, as beautiful as Jorlan, yet her beauty was breathtakingly feminine.

Katie’s heart raced with a staccato beat, and she wiped the rain from her eyes. “When did this arrive?”

“I’m not exactly sure. I noticed it from the road as we were pulling in the driveway.”

Shielding her gaze, she stared up at the statue, wondering what to do. This stone woman seemed eerily similar and had the same vibration of power Jorlan had had. Should she kiss the blasted thing? Before she could place her foot on the ledge to climb up, Heather gasped, drawing her attention. “What’s wrong?” she asked, even as she realized a strange man stood only a whisper away.

“Percen,” Heather said, conveying all sorts of emotions with that one name. Dread. Happiness. Fear.

The man ignored her; the storm swirled around him, and his pale, unsmiling gaze swept over Katie. Katie knew she should run, should grab Jorlan and demand he protect her, yet she also knew she couldn’t have run if her life depended on it. And it may have. Something cold and hard gleamed in the stranger’s eyes.

“Come to me,” he said, his hand outstretched.

“Percen, don’t do this.” Heather barked the order with a fierce determination she’d never before displayed. “You promised not to do this.”

“I vowed I would not kill her. I said nothing of hurting her. And after I make this concession for you, what do you do to me?” he ground out bitterly. “You
choose Jorlan, but then, I knew you would. What woman would help me when she could help Jorlan?” He faced Katie and beckoned her with his fingers. “Come.”

Yes, she thought. Yes. Heedless of anything except his summons, she did as instructed. She was vaguely aware of Heather pulling on her clothes, trying to stop her.

“Katie, listen to me. He’s doing this to destroy Jorlan.”

Katie couldn’t make herself care.

“You will lose me if you do this,” Heather cried to the man. “You will lose me.”

For one second of time, he wavered, and a look of pure torture etched the lines of his mouth. His features hardened. “Did I ever really have you? Go get my brother,” he said, his voice cruel.