Victoria's Challenge (21 page)

As the music
continues, they move closer and closer until Victoria has the slow, close valsa she asked for in Emans. Pulling her closer still, Lucas lowers his head to capture her mouth in a deep promising kiss.

Wrapping her arms around his waist
, Victoria returns the kiss. She’d never known there could be so much love, so much joy, in something so simple but soon it isn’t enough. The desire, she thought was satisfied last night, comes roaring back. She
needs
him. Moving her hands down his backside, she slides them around to stroke him.

The quick movement
of her hands, capturing him, takes Lucas by surprise. He’s trying to go slow. To show her how much he loves her, but she’s shredding his control.

“Victoria!
” He rips his mouth from hers.

“I need you
, Lucas.” Her eyes blaze into his, as her talented fingers go to work on his pants. Lucas barely captures them before she has them off.

“Victoria, we need to slow down
. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I
need
you.” The urgency in her tone, the fire in her eyes, tells him she’s fully aroused by
him
.

Growling
, he grips her thighs, lifting to wrap them around his waist. She immediately presses closer, sliding down his shaft as her mouth nips and sucks at his neck. All day, he’s carefully plotted and planned what he is going to do to her. How he is going to do it. He wants to worship every inch of her beautiful body, to show her just how much he loves her by taking his time, giving her the words, but she’s destroyed all those plans. Striding across the room to his bed, he presses her into it.

“Yes!
” She rips her mouth from his, pulling at his shirt. She has to get to his skin! Has to have it against hers!

Lucas can’t be as restrained
, he’s waited too long. With one pull, he tears her shirt off, his mouth attacking a lace-covered breast while his hands tug at her pants. Standing, he rips them off, following with his clothes. Ready to slide between her legs and take her, his brain finally registers what he’s left on her.

Eadai, little pieces of
violet
lace that barely cover her. Somewhere deep inside him, the primal beast that wants to conquer and claim backs down, allowing him to
see
her.

She
is like a goddess of old, lying on his bed, flame red hair framing a desire flushed face, with blazing green eyes firing into his. He puts his hands to her neck, feeling her thundering pulse before trailing them down to capture her heaving breasts. When she moves to wrap her legs around him, he captures them between his, silently shaking his head. She’ll not rush him.

Watching her, he slowly slides his thumbs under the lace to caress
taunt nipples. The sound she emits is from deep inside, causing him to tear the lace to free her breasts. She arches as his mouth descends to ravage.

Hands try to pull him closer
, but he won’t be denied, moving his mouth down the quivering flesh of her stomach until he reaches the other scrap of lace. Rising to her elbows, she watches as he uses his teeth to pull it down, arching her hips inviting him to take more.

With her fully
revealed, he finally slides between her legs, running his hands along her flushed pale skin, continuing his assault on her senses. Pressed the head of his cock against her entrance, he pauses. Watching.

She’s lost, lost in the light that is his l
ove. She thought she’d known, understood what it would be like, to be with Lucas, her life mate but she hadn’t. This is so much more. This is life. She would always run to it, to him.

“Please Lucas…
” Green looks to violet, seeing the love, the commitment, the desire and passion each holds.

Thrusting down as she thrusts up
, he feels her innocence give way, hears her startled cry. Lacing his fingers with hers, he freezes, his arms trembling as they support his weight. She’s tight, tighter than he ever imagined but with a wet hot heat, drawing him closer to the flame, wanting to be burned.

“Lucas…
” He can tell she’s uncomfortable.

“
Shh… take your time.” His eyes blaze into hers, barely controlled. “We have time Victoria. Relax, feel me.” His lips move gently across her cheek, along her jaw, to tease her lips with his breath. He teasingly pulls out of reach as her lips stretch to his.

The gleam that enters her eyes
, tells him she’s ready, and as she captures his lips, he slides deeper into her heat. This time, her cry of pleasure is caught by his mouth. Withdrawing, her legs wrap around him, bringing him back, bringing him home.

Determined to give her pleasure first
, he rips his mouth away watching her as he moves. Her eyes, normally so clear, are losing focus as her body instinctively responds to his. She’s trembling, her body searching for relief.

“Trust me
, Victoria. I’ve got you. I’m hanging on. Let go. Let me watch you soar.”

She can’t stop
. She can’t control it. Her body knows what it wants, how to get it. Somewhere deep inside her, there’s something fighting to get out, to connect. It’s attacking her last wall, from the inside, one she didn’t even know she had, it had been built so long ago. That last wall that protected her soul, from men, large men, men who hurt two year olds. She willingly lets it fall for Lucas, a large man that her soul recognizes as her soul mate.

Lucas can feel it as her nails dig into his back, something breaking loose
. His eyes never leave hers as he increases the pace, thrusting deeper, harder. There she is, he hears his soul sigh, the one he’s waited so long for, the one that completes him. Together, they move as one, as if they always have, together, their bodies explode and their souls meld.

Cycles, days, hours, minutes, Victoria doesn’t know or care how much time has passed. She’s where she’s always wanted to be. Was meant to be, with Lucas. Everything she’s lost, everything she’s had to endure, is made up for in this moment. She doesn’t realize tears are streaming down her face, lost in blazing hair that they will never extinguish.

Lucas
raises his head from her chest to try to express what he’s feeling and sees her tears. What has he done? He’s hurt her. She is so tiny. He should have realized. Carefully, he reaches for a leg that is still wrapped around him.

Feeling the
change, Victoria opens her eyes and what she sees shocks her. Regret.

“Lucas?”

“Shh… it’s okay. I know you’re hurting. I’ll…” He finds he can’t meet her eyes.

“What are you talking about?”

“I should have had more control, I should have been gentler”

“Lucas, what are you talking about?
” She grabs his face, forcing him to look at her. What he sees is confusion.

“You’re hurt
. I hurt you. You’re crying.”

“No I’m not.
” To prove it, she swipes a hand across a cheek, when she finds it wet she frowns. “I… Lucas, you didn’t hurt me. Not the way you mean. Please…” She feels him pulling away “Don’t go...”

“I’m not, God
, I never will. Shhh.” Rolling to his side, he pulls her close. She immediately throws a leg across him, bringing him closer.

“It isn’t what you think
. The tears.” Raising her head, her eyes plead with him.

“Victoria,
it was your first time, I should have taken more care.”

“You did
! Lucas, what we did, it didn’t hurt me it… freed me.” She watches him as he frowns at her. “I didn’t know, never realized…”

“What
? Tell me Victoria, no secrets,” he pleads.

“That Audric had scared me that badly.
” She watches Lucas’ eyes flare at the name. “I thought I’d come to terms with it. That having him exposed, convicted, in-prisoned, was the end of it. I’d dealt with it. It was settled. He no longer had any power over me.” Rising, she sits up, facing him, not worried about her nakedness. “I was wrong.” Reaching down, she touches his lips. “I hadn’t realized there was still this terrified two year old in me. Terrified of huge men and how they could hurt me.” She watches as shock, fear and finally dread, enter her soul mate's eyes. “Not like that! He
NEVER
touched me like that! Don’t think that, Lucas. It was impersonal, swift and cold, but he was so large, maybe not by Carinian standards, but to a two year old….”

“Tell me.”

“I don’t know what to tell. I didn’t even realize it to just now. I remember how shocked everyone was after Aunt Cassie brought you to the cabin and I didn’t run away screaming. Dad and Grandpa were the only men I’d get close too, even then.”

“That’s wh
y Cassie knew you wouldn’t let dad grab you...in the meadow.”

“I woul
d have willingly run into the flames if it wasn’t for her.” Lucas shutters at the thought.

“Go on.”

“I let
you
hold me in the Raptor, sat by
you
on the stretcher going to medical. I let Uncle William carry me after a nightmare. I thought I’d gotten over it. That I’d come to terms with what had happened, put it behind me. I told myself that, made myself believe it because I’d be damn if I’d let Audric control my life.”

“
Sounds like you.”

“But I was wrong and I didn’t even know it until we made love
. I’d blocked something, something from myself, fear. Fear, that I couldn’t be intimate with a Carinian man...with you. You are a bit larger than me Lucas,” Lovingly she caresses his cheek. “But
you
don’t frighten me. You never have, not even that first day. I knew you were my soul mate and that’s what happened tonight. You freed my soul, from fear, to love without fear, to love
you
.” Tears start to flow again.

Wiping her
tears, Lucas is humbled. Had he ever truly understood what she’d gone through? On Earth and after. He’d cut himself off, refusing to listen to communications, all in the name of self-sacrifice and
she
suffered for it. Now she offers him the ultimate gift. Herself.

At
first, his silence doesn’t bother her, she can tell he’s thinking, but to see tears well up in his eyes… that scares her. “Lucas?”

“You are my life mate
, Victoria, my soul mate, I will
never
give you reason to fear me, and I
swear
to you I will never use my size against you.” Pulling her close, he kisses her until they’re both breathless.

“Unless…”

“What?” Lucas tenses.

“I figure you want to amend that last part
. You’ll never use your size against me
unless
you think it’s for my own good.” While her eyes are still wet, they sparkle at him. “I’ve learned a few things about Zafar men living in the Palace.” Lucas relaxes, pulling her against him. She’s okay and understands him better then he sometimes understands himself.

“I’ll take that amendment
.

The flight deck is buzzing about
Emans, rumors flying. Had the Major really been out with Chamberlain? What was going on? They were related, weren’t they? She’s the Queen’s niece. He’s the High Admiral’s son. Had Reymont really tried to attack them?

“What’s the status on that Blade
, Tank?” Zafar walks up behind the deck hand.

“Sir?
” Tank jumps.

“The Blade.”

“Oh, sorry sir, still working on the fuel line, a couple more hours,” Tank reports.

“No more than that, I want
that Blade fully operational by 1200.”

“Sir, yes sir.
” Tank just stands there, looking at him.

Lucas raises an eyebrow.

“Problem, Tank?”

“No sir, it’ll be ready by 1200.
” Tank turns getting back to work.

Lucas looks around the deck as he walks back to his office
. It’d been like that all day, people jumping, giving him strange looks. Something’s up.

“Dodge!”

“Yo!”

“My office!”

“What’s up?” Dodge asks, finding him leaning against his desk.

“That’s what I want to know
. Everyone’s jumpy.”

“They heard about
Emans last night. You and Victoria. Reymont. Rumors are flying.”

Lucas frowns
.

“Reymont I get
, but what about Victoria and me?”

“Lucas, it just caught some off guard
, that’s all.”

“Why should it?”

“Well…”

“Spit it out
, Dodge.” Lucas is starting to get pissed.

“Part of
its Victoria, the ‘legend’ of Victoria, standing before the Assembly demanding her right to decide Audric’s punishment. Shit Lucas, she was nine!”

“I know how old she was, I was there.”

“It intimidates some.”

“What’s the rest?
” He can tell by Dodge’s hesitation that he’s not going to like it.

“Some think you’re related
. Like brother and sister.”

“Fuck
! How stupid are some people! She’s
not
my sister!”

“I know.
” Dodge puts a hand on his shoulder. “Some just haven’t thought it through. Look, it’ll pass. Give it time.”

“I shouldn’t have too
. What happens between Victoria and me, is
our
business, no one else’s.”

“
Do you
really
believe that? That you two can be like everyone else?” Dodge gives him a disbelieving look.

“What the fuck are you talking about
? We are!”

“Lucas, we’ve been frie
nds since the Academy. You
know
there are times you’ve been treated differently because of your father. Wait!” Dodge raises a hand, cutting him off. “Let me finish.” He waits until Lucas nods. “You’ve never asked for special treatment. You’ve
earned
your position and every decoration. I know that, so do you. If anything, you work twice as hard to make up for it. That said, you also know there are those that will
never
believe that. They can’t do what you do, so they try to discredit you by saying it’s just because of your father. You’ve always known that, you’ve just ignored them.”

Lucas knows Dodge is right
. There have been times in his career where comments were made, questions asked, even in the Academy, when his father was just a Captain.

“Victoria is the niece of the Queen, the lost princess
. They were rescued from a distant planet by
you
and your father. They helped reveal a traitor that threatened the entire Coalition. Victoria stood in front of a full Assembly, seen by the entire Coalition, and
demanded
her rights. She speaks Regulian, graduates from Montreux Medical School at
eighteen
. She calls the High Admiral,
your
father, Uncle. You can see how some people are going to be confused and intimidated.”

“Crap.” Lucas rubs his neck. He thought he understood what Victoria had been telling him. It appears he hadn’t.

“Starting to understand
, are you? You’ll never be
just
another couple, like everyone else. There will always be those that try to tear you apart.”

“They won’t have any luck.
” Lucas’ eyes are hard as they meet Dodge’s. “She’s mine.”

“Kind of
got that last night. I’m happy for you man, she stands.”

“She does but not alone, not anymore
. Not while there’s a breath in my body.”

“She’s okay
? After last night? Lorre wanted me to make sure. She was worried.”

“What?
” Lucas frowns. Why would Lorre be worried about how Victoria was after spending the night with him?

“She was worried she upset
her earlier in the night. Lorre made some comments about Earth. When she’s nervous, she tends to babble.”

“She never said anything, I’m sure it’s fine.
” That explained the tension early on. “I have a meeting with Tar at 1400.”

“Reymont?”

“Yeah, he’s a threat to Victoria. Something needs done.”

“She thinks she can get away with anything!” Tank looks desperately over his shoulder, hoping Reymont’s voice isn’t carrying.

“Look Reymont, this isn’t the best time man
, I’ve got work to do. If the Major hears you…”

“Fuck the
Great Major Zafar
!” This time he’s easily heard across the deck, heads turn. “He’s slamming his fucking
sister
and does anyone saying anything? No! She fucking leads Jager on, getting him killed, but because she helped the
Great Zafar,
she’s congratulated! Fucking bitch!”

“Problem Tank?
” The frigid voice makes Tank turn.

“Fuck off
, Zafar! I’m having a conversation with Tank,” he slurs.

“Tank’s working
. Go take care of your son, Reymont.” Reymont eyes rage as he storms towards Lucas.

“Your fucking bitch
killed
my son. Just like she killed Jager.” He swings. Lucas easily sees it coming, is glad for it, ducking, he lets Reymont’s momentum propel him to the deck.

“Victoria tried to save Cade, which is more
than you did, you miserable excuse for a father!” Lucas spits out in disgust. “You’re drunk, Reymont. Dodge, get security.”

“Fuck you!
“ Deckhands restrain Reymont as he tries to charge Lucas again.

“Dodge, get him off my flight deck.
” Lucas turns to leave.

“That
’s right, you piece of shit. Call security. Let someone else solve your problems. You’re slamming your own sister, and I’m going to make sure everyone knows it!”

Lucas freezes in mid-stride
. Slowly he turns to face Reymont. The controlled rage on his face silences the entire deck. Purposefully, he strides back to Reymont.

“I don’t have a
sister
, Reymont.”

“That bitch Chamberlain!
” Reymont refuses to back down. “She’s going down!”

“Is that a
threat,
Reymont?” Lucas moves until they are nose to nose. “Did you just threaten my
life mate
? Because if you did, there is no place in this universe I won’t find you.” Receiving no reply, he looks to Dodge. “Get him out of here!”

“You wanted to see me?” Victoria walks into Magnes office.

“Sit
. How are you?”

“Fine
and while I appreciate you contacting Lucas, I don’t need to be watched over like a child.”

“Every one of us have situation that hit close to home
. Yesterday was one for you, you needed someone who understands.” He hands her a screen. “This is the final report on Cade Reymont’s death.” Steady eyes meet his as Victoria takes the screen and begins to read.

Lucas enters the command center, eyes immediately finding Tar. Walking over, he waits while the Admiral finishes talking to Paxton, his second in command.

“Major
. I said 1400.” Tar assesses Lucas and sees the barely controlled anger.

“Yes
sir, but there has been a new development.”

“Alright.
” Quinn walks to sit behind his desk, Lucas follows.

“Admiral
, the privacy screen?”

Tar raises an eyebrow.

“You consider that necessary?”

“Sir, yes sir.
” After a moment, Tar engages the screen.

“What the fuck
’s up, Lucas.” Tar demands.

“Reymont needs removed from the Retribution.”

“Excuse me!”

“He’s a threat to Victoria
. He blames her for Jager’s death and his son’s. Last night in Emans, he tried to assault her. Today, he was on my flight deck, drunk and verbally threatened to ‘take her down’. He’s out of control. I turned him over to security.”

“He’s lost
his wife, brother-in-law and son.”

“And
none of that’s Victoria’s fault.”

“No
. What else?”

“Sir?”

“What else is he saying? You’re pissed Lucas. What he’s done is enough to concern you, make you mad but it’s more than that.”

Lucas runs a hand threw his hair.

“He’s saying I’m slamming my sister. To whoever will listen.”

“She’s not your sister.”

“No, she’s my life mate Quinn, always has been. He’s not going to slander her this way, not while I’m around. She’s had to put up with enough crap. Not this.”

“You don’t think she can handle it?”

“She
handles
everything, but she’s not alone anymore.”

“No she’s not
. Reymont will be handled.” Rising, Tar leans against the front of his desk, crossing his arms. “When are you taking the Captain’s test?”

“What?”

“It’s time for you to move on, Lucas. Up.”

“I like it where I am
. I’m a damn good pilot.”

“You are
. You’re also a good leader. You’ll make a good Captain. We need them.”

“Fuck Quinn
. Can you really see me commanding a battleship?”

“Yes
. It’s just like a Blade, Lucas, only bigger.” Then Quinn plays his trump card. “It would make things easier on Victoria. Less chance of you ending up on one of her beds.”

“She said something?
” Lucas can’t hide his shock.

“Fuck no
. I’ve never heard that girl complain. Not once, not even when she had the right to.”

“Look Quinn I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t wait too long.” Quinn turns to his comm as it rings.

“Tar.”

“Admiral, we have a situation in Medical.”

“You’ve verified this?” Victoria’s hard, cold eyes meet Magnes.

“Yes
. I thought you’d like to know.”

“That son of a bitch!
” Surging from her chair, she’s about to say more when there’s a sudden commotion in medical.

“Stay here.
” Magnes orders as he heads for the door.

“Where is she
? Get that bitch in here!” Entering the treatment area, Magnes finds chaos. A security guard is down. Another has his weapon pointed where Gabo is being held by Reymont, a stunner at her throat.

“Let her go
, Reymont!” The guard orders.

“Fuck off
! Where is she?” he shouts.

“What the fuck is going on!
” Magnes demands.

“Where’s Chamberlain!
” Reymont turns but keeps Gabor between him and the guard.

“Chamberlain isn’t here
. Let Gabor go,” Magnes tells him.

“Then get her here!”

“The Retribution is a big ship. It’ll take some time to locate her.” He tries to calm Reymont.

“Don’t
you fucking patronize me! Get that bitch here or this one dies!” Reymont turns as the doors to medical burst open. Security surges in, followed by Lucas and the Admiral.

“
You fucking
liar
!” His eyes swing back to Magnes. “If
he’s
here so is she!” Reymont’s nods at Lucas. “She’s got five seconds or she’s responsible for killing someone else!” Gabor cries out as he presses the stunner deeper into her neck.