April 13, 9547 AR

Valetta, Biston

Radiant beauty. Dirt and grime in Eleanor's hair didn't distract from her smiles. He'd never seen her so happy, even when they were kids.

Erick's own mouth curled up, watching her from the outer door of the parlor. Infectious joy. At this distance, he could feel more than the raging erection that normally stole his every thought.

The southern wing nearly matched the rest of the palace, under her direction. Renewed, clean and whole.

Artisans reproduced faded and worn interiors to splendor he'd never seen. The palace seemed more like the fantasies she'd projected on him in his darker hours. But it was real. Odors of dyes, fresh lacquers and sawdust lingered throughout the palace. She'd even sent tradesmen to learn new technologies from Gildon and the Onyx Empire to retrofit for plumbing and crystal-powered lights.

Trade agreements had already opened up with a few western countries. In the past two years she'd accomplished more than the last three reigns. She'd turned everything upside down, yet he'd never seen more clearly. With Ellie and his remaining oath-brothers, the future seemed brighter, hopeful.

Henry patted his shoulder. Pride swelled the older man's chest at sight of his daughter.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Erick asked. So much loss could have been avoided if he'd known earlier who Eleanor was to him.

"You had to open your eyes before you could see. You hadn't wanted to." Anre answered for her husband. She did that frequently, as if she was Henry's voice.

Before Erick could retort, Henry muttered something about grandchildren and wandered out of the room.

They'd brought that up at least twenty times since the wedding. "When she's ready," Anre snapped and followed after Henry.

Ellie needed convincing. A task Erick enjoyed nightly and daily. At her approach, his cock hardened, anticipating such a moment. He backed in to make way.

Scents from the flowering garden wafted in with her perfume when she entered. Spring had never brought so many flowers. A few glowing varieties shipped from Gildon even took root as if they'd always been there. But nothing smelled better than the pheromones from Ellie's neck. Earth, she made him throb.

Head tilted, eyebrows lifted, she shook her head slightly. A sign that meant she needed a little more convincing than usual.

"I'm too tired," she sighed and plopped down in his favorite re-upholstered chair. Her raven hair fluttered back over the fresh velvet.

"A massage then." He sat on the arm of the chair and pushed her shoulders forward.

"Your massages are never just massages." But she let him knead her tense flesh, relaxing to his touch. She knew what he wanted. Minds linked, secrets no longer existed between them.

Her breath lengthened like it did when he fondled her breasts and he couldn't help but dip his touch beneath the collar of her blouse. Her soft moan rewarded him.

When he dipped deeper to soft flesh, her chest lifted up. Her desire for more nibbled at him, like her mouth on his neck.

He pulled away and tried to block one thought, to surprise her. "Erick?" She rose, frustration on her face, eyes aglow.

He tore her blouse open, startling her. That tiny gasp he loved, so rare, caressed his ears.

Her petite breasts perked up, nipples hardening. So responsive.

If not for his greedy cock's demands, he'd spend hours worshipping her breasts. Just a little longer. He grazed her swells with the back of his fingers, the way she liked and watched her lips part with breath when he caught on her nipples. He cupped her and teased the tight buds between his fingers. The delicate weight pushed against his palms. Perfect.

When she moaned, he filled her mouth with his tongue, tasting her. Earth, she electrified him. The sparks spilled down his throat with his eager swallow.

Her tiny hands fumbled with his belt and shoved his pants down. She wet her fingertips with his pre-cum and swirled it down his length.

Breath stopped in his chest. Abs hard, buttocks clenched, he wanted to grind forcefully against her.

Her touch slipped away to crawl up his abs.

"Tease," he rumbled.

"I like it when your muscles do this." She palmed his quivering ripples.

He always won this game. "I like when you do this," he breathed in her ear and pressed his palm flat against the front of her thin skirt. Finger nestled in the cleft of her mound, he waited, thrilling in the current that gathered there. Her hardened pearl twitched and her hips bucked, in need of his touch.

But he spun her about and shoved her over the arm of the couch, plump buttocks raised to him, raven hair fanned out on rich velvet. "I've wanted to do this for so long." He lifted her skirt and tore down her silk panties.

Her back arched to lift her supple cheeks. The sweet cleft glistened with her honey. Just the sight sent shivers of pleasure through his cock.

He palmed her rump and dipped his fingers in her dripping pussy. Smooth and firm inside. Her rich perfume rose up thick and full with her moans.

She rose up on her tiptoes, hinting that she wanted his cock. With a grin, he asked, "Enough foreplay?"

"Yes," she huffed, breathless.

Though he wanted nothing more than to cram his cock hard into her tight hole, he rubbed her pearl with his slicked fingers.

She cried out with frustration that pouted her lips. "Please."

Mmm, he loved that word. It always made his cock twitch. "I'm not sure that's enough." His painfully rigid cock argued otherwise but he ribbed her. "I wouldn't want you to think I'm a whore who doesn't need foreplay."

"Erick, I..."

He plunged into her, bare. Her trembling tunnel electrified him. Her cry rang out just as the door opened.

In its wake, stood Phil, grimacing. His head turned away, eyes squeezed shut. "Again, what's wrong with your quarters?" he growled and yanked the door shut.

About the Author.

Indulge your secret desires with romance as dark as the richest chocolate. Dip into realms filled with mouthwatering vampires, tempting elves, and delightful shivers. Vanessa's wounded characters struggle to fill needs that torture all of us. Let them draw you into their charged journeys.

Writing began as Vanessa's escape from an unpleasant past. Now it's her passion, along with many cups of coffee. Ideas for her stories come from nightmares, daydreams, and occasionally real life. Science tidbits sneak into her novels due to her B.A. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She taught high school biology for several years, but now focuses on only one pupil while she writes.

Vanessa lives in beautiful California with her loving family. Feel free to send her an email. She'd like to hear from you.

Vanessa welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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