All For One [Nuworld 3] (33 page)

He stroked his fingers up and down her exposed arm until a chill racked her body.

He chuckled and she fell into him again, feeling somewhat embarrassed at how easily

he affected her. He tangled his fingers in her hair and let out an almost guttural groan.

“There are several places we could go and be comfortable for the night.” He paused

and this time pulled her away from him and lifted her chin.

She didn’t fight but met his gaze and let him study her, relishing the knowledge of

the thoughts he pulled. She smiled seductively as she lost herself in the greenness of his

eyes.

He pursed his lips as if she’d just told a good joke but then his expression turned

serious. “I doubt however, there is anywhere we can go and be safe from your mama.”

“I know. I don’t want to think about that right now. Take me to one of your places.”

“Okay. I know where we’ll go.” He released her and started the glider. He

maneuvered his way through the trees until once again she could see the star-filled sky.

The air grew chilly without the insulation of the trees. Ana scooted closer to Roth and

he put his arm around her and steered the glider easily with his other hand. “If it were

daylight you would be looking at the ocean right now. It spreads out to the horizon.”

He gestured with the hand that was around her neck. “It’s out there in front of us.”

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“I wish I could see it.” Ana strained her eyes but to no avail, all she saw was

blackness and huge stars.

In no time they landed and Roth got out first.

“What’s that sound?” Ana stepped out, but then quickly looked at the ground.

“And are we standing on—”

“Sand. It’s the beach. You’re hearing the waves of the ocean. Come on.” He took her

hand and guided her through blackness. They came to a cottage before she realized it

was there. It took her a moment to realize it was the trunk of a gigantic tree and the

door and windows were carved. This land was so different from anything she’d ever

experienced that her usual keen senses were distracted.

“We use this cabin when we vacation here. Usually we have the servants prepare it

before we arrive but for one night I guess we can rough it.” He pressed a button on the

wall panel and Ana blinked from the sudden light. He guided her through a spacious

living room with several cushioned benches and large pillows scattered on the floor.

There was a kitchen as well but she saw it only in passing as he guided her down a

hallway.

Roth opened the last door and they walked into a bedroom with an oversized bed

in front of them. There were long pillows tossed at the head of the bed and a solid black

quilt fell to the floor on either side. He didn’t bother to turn on the light but simply

pulled her onto the bed pulling back the covers at the same time.

She fell onto the soft pillows willingly and pulled up her legs to take off her shoes.

Roth emptied his pockets and then slid under the blankets pulling Ana so she was

underneath him. She reached for him but he grabbed her hand.

“Ana.” His whisper was hoarse. “I want to make love to you so badly it hurts. But

my dear, I want it to be just that. You mean a lot to me and we may not have another

opportunity to enjoy each other like we have right now. But tonight, beautiful lady, we

shall sleep.”

“I don’t want to sleep.” She whispered the words as she brushed his cheek with her

lips.

When had she turned into such a deadly seductress? Roth felt his self-control drain

out of him. An animalistic desire to pin her to the bed and ravish her violently

consumed him. It took every bit of energy he had to quench his desires. He groaned as

her hands wandered across his chest. He wanted her virginity…needed her virginity.

She was willing to give it to him and she had no idea how great of a gift it would be. He

wanted her to be a willing partner, though. And not in just the giving of her virginity,

but in everything that her virginity would give him. He sensed doubt…fear might be a

more accurate description. And the thought of an unwilling mate didn’t appeal to him.

He needed just a little more time.

“Ana, be a good girl and go to sleep.” He wrapped his arms around her tightly,

more to prevent her hands from wandering than to show affection.

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Ana cuddled into him, sighed, and closed her eyes. How could she feel this way

about him after knowing him for only a week? And what was it exactly that she felt for

him? He was so incredibly beautiful, every bit of his body so perfect. Maybe she didn’t

love him. Maybe it was just lust. If only she could talk to someone about this.

Ana fell asleep slowly and then what she swore was just minutes later, woke up

with a jolt. Had she heard something? Roth lay next to her, his breathing soft and deep.

The room was very dark… There it was again. She sat up in the bed and listened.

Silence. Roth moved under the covers and then was still again. But she definitely heard

something.

Her instincts on full alert, she got out of bed and found her shoes. She’d made it to

the front door when she heard it again. There was someone outside. In fact there were

many people outside. Muffled voices broke the deathly silence. She could hear her heart

pounding as she realized she had no laser, no protection whatsoever.

She barely had enough time to jump against the wall as someone kicked open the

front door. She crossed her arms over her chest as the door hit her square on.

“Find the bedroom.” The voices were no longer muffled. Tara entered the living

room and walked right past her with several Runner guards accompanying her.

Beams shot through the darkness and Ana didn’t dare breathe. They passed by her

and it was all she could do not to scream a warning to Roth. She slid out behind the

door as the last Runner guard entered the house. Five gliders were parked outside. She

ran to her mama’s and quickly found the extra laser she knew was kept under the seat.

“What do you plan to do with that?”

Ana spun to face her mama. Tara walked around Ana, studying her red hair

through her Runner headgear. Just then, two of the guards came out with Roth between

them. They pushed him toward one of the gliders and bound his hands behind his back

before forcing him on the glider.

“Don’t hurt him. He hasn’t done anything wrong.” Ana tried to get past her mama,

but Tara grabbed her arm.

“Take him to the Runner jail. Kill anyone who tries to stop you.” Tara shot out the

order and Ana broke into tears.

Roth looked up at her and she saw the bravery in his face. Quickly, she wiped her

tears and forced her only thought to say, Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of this. He smiled a

small, sad smile before the guards forced him onto the glider and took off into the

blackness.

* * * * *

“What’s going on here?” Andru asked as he hurried into the living room.

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“Oh Andru.” Ana jumped from the couch and ran into her brother’s arms. Her face

was puffy from crying and her hair was…red. He wrapped his arms around her and

held her as she broke out into tears again. Andru looked up as Darius paced angrily

back and forth across the room. Tara leaned against one of the tables, her arms crossed,

and a scowl on her face.

“They don’t believe me,” she sobbed into his neck.

“Look at how you’re dressed.” Darius’ loud accusation reverberated through the

room. Ana jumped in Andru’s arms and cried harder.

He pushed his sister away to arm’s length and studied the sultry dress that clung to

her, hugging every curve. Instinctively, Ana pulled the skimpy cape-like jacket around

her and stared up at Andru, not daring to turn and face her papa.

“I told you already,” she said to her papa, although her back remained to him. “We

disguised me so I wouldn’t stand out among their people. I went there willingly so I

could be with Roth. He didn’t kidnap me.”

“That just shows us how naïve you are, my dear.” Tara’s voice sounded sad. She

fixed her gaze on the floor, but the tone in her voice commanded their attention. “The

picture is larger than you realize.”

Darius stopped pacing and gave Tara a wary look. He walked over and placed his

hand on her back but looked at the twins. “Fulga!”

Darius yelled and Ana visibly jumped although Andru and Tara didn’t move a

muscle. Andru held his sister close and watched Darius. Tara turned but her expression

wasn’t readable. Andru could tell she was telling him something nonverbally—he just

didn’t know what.

The servant appeared quickly.

“I want her hair changed back to its normal color immediately, I do.” He pointed a

finger at his daughter. “And get her into her own clothes…now!”

Fulga held her hand out to Ana. Ana hurried from the room but held onto Andru’s

arm, pulling him out the door with her.

“What did you mean when you said the picture is larger than you realize?” Darius

prevented Tara from moving with one hand on her shoulder.

“I’ve met this Roth.” Tara looked up at him, and he saw emotions run deep in her

blue eyes. “I can’t see why she’d be interested in that man. He’s nothing. He has no

skills, no inheritance, his looks are all right, but nothing compared to what she could

have here. She sees an adventure and he’s easily seduced her.” She paused and turned

so she faced the large man towering over her. “He has ulterior motives. She thinks he

loves her—after one week.” She threw her hands up in the air in disbelief.

Darius crossed his arms over his chest. He smiled at the glare she offered him. “I

fell in love with you in less than a week, I did.”

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“Fell in lust maybe, but I doubt love.” She put her hands on her hips with a sigh of

frustration. “He knows it would be an advantage to have her at his side. It would give

him power over the Runners. Ana comes with a mighty big purse attached.”

“So did you.” Darius closed the distance between them and combed her silky

brown hair with his fingers. “But it was you I wanted in the end.” He tightened his

grasp on her hair and pulled her head back until she looked up at him.

“Yes, I remember how you proved it was me you wanted…I believe a bastard child