Volarn Book I: Love's Captive

LOVE’S CAPTIVE

By

Myra Nour

© copyright Myra Nour

Reissued March 2004

Cover art by Eliza Black © copyright 2001

New Concepts Publishing printing May 2001

www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

Sensual scene between Rhamus & Serena in Love’s Captive.

The dress plastered itself to her like a second skin and he noted with rising pleasure the dark pink nubs, which showed clearly through the now transparent cloth. His cini reacted, becoming stiff with the need for her. Lazily, feeling anything but such emotion, Rhamus answered, "Most of the time we don't run into our enemies. Usually we only find the damage they've left behind. The infrequent periods when we do run into each other always end in a skirmish." He threw the sponge the short distance into his wife's hands and watched as she approached thoughtfully and fully unaware of the danger zone she entered.

Rhamus turned slightly and presented his broad back for her ministrations. Serena scrubbed his back thoroughly, knowing how good that must feel to tired and aching flesh. She couldn't resist writing her name on his back and giggled at her own childishness.

"What are you doing back there?" He tried to peer over one shoulder, then turned around to face her completely. "Since I can't see what you were up to and you don't seem inclined to tell me, I insist you do the same for my chest."

"You insist!" Serena tried to sound appalled, but fell far short when his playful tone and boyish grin pulled a responding smile from her.

"Yes, I think I am still King and as such, I can order my subjects to do as I wish." He looked down his nose at her in a thoroughly haughty manner.

Rhamus' attempt to stare her down went against everything that she had learned of this man so far. She covered up another giggle that threatened to escape. "But I am the Queen." Serena threw her nose up in imitation of his haughty pose.

"Ah," he reached and grasped her nearer hand, "but even the Queen must be subject to the King's ... desires."

Suddenly their game took on a more serious quality and Serena found that she wanted the play to continue, no matter what direction it took. She stepped close to Rhamus and sponged water over his wide chest, and then traced her name on his front. She found that breathing seemed harder standing within the circle of his arms, that she'd dropped the sponge, but her hands continued to rub his firm chest in large circular strokes.

"Is this how Earth women mark their mates?" He asked archly.

"Hmm," she almost purred. "No, but maybe it's not such a bad idea."

He ran one callused hand up and down her left arm, as if washing her in return. Shivers of pure pleasure ran up Serena's arm at his caressing. She extended her strokes to include his large biceps and felt them bunch in reaction to her touch. She looked in Rhamus' eyes and saw the unveiled heat of his gaze and knew that a similar longing was reflected in her own eyes. He ran his hands up both her arms, pressing and kneading gently. Then his hands slid down her back and began a circular massage to the small of her back. Serena felt herself relaxing completely.

It seemed only natural that both their arms went up in synchrony and encircled one another’s necks, both rubbing each other's napes in a continued assault on their sense of touch. Their kiss was slow and befitted the languorous feeling that seemed to surround their coming together. Rhamus slowly slipped Serena's dress down, exposing her lush breasts to the strong rhythmic pressure of his hands.

Her senses were invaded with the soft swish of the warm water as they moved, the feel of his steely body beneath her exploring fingers, the wonderful taste of the soft flesh of his mouth, and the texture of his tongue as it played havoc with her own. And then there were the hot stabs of pleasure he caused to shoot throughout her body, wherever his experienced hands rubbed and stroked.

A few deft caresses of his hands around her hips and her dress slid down.  Serena kicked the last barrier between their bodies off in one quick movement. Rhamus' hands regained their purchase on her slick body and began a further stroking of her hips and upper thighs. She sucked in her breath at the heated contact of their lower bodies, her soft mound against his hard male member making her feel utterly feminine.

 Xarath kidnaps Serena

"Glad to see you up and about." Xarath's gleeful voice came from behind her.

Serena spun around quickly, facing her enemy cautiously. "What do you hope to gain from this kidnapping?" she asked angrily.

The ruler of west Volarn approached her slowly.  "I already told you my plans yesterday. What else is there to explain?" He spread his hands as if puzzled by her attitude.

"You will most certainly cause an escalation in the warring. But you cannot keep me a prisoner."

He shook his head slowly. "It's true, I hope to push Rhamus into a final confrontation so I can win back Volarn under one ruler. But, as I said before, you will now become my Queen. I will rule Volarn and have Rhamus' woman. Just rewards I believe for all the years of waiting."

"You are crazy! You may end up with this confrontation you desire, but I would never consent to become your Queen."

"You will." His eyes burned with fanatic enthusiasm as he approached closer.

Serena didn't understand what he spoke of, but she backed away slowly from his approach. She was uneasy, like an animal that senses the nearness of the hunter.  Finally, positioning herself in the center of the room, where she would have more room to maneuver, she stopped and awaited Xarath.

He paused just out of arm's reach and simply stared at her. She didn't know what game he sought to use on her, but she was ready whenever he made a move toward her. She looked forward to grinding his face into the floorboards.

Suddenly, her nervous feelings turned to trembly ones of longing. Her body flushed with sexual urgings, her breathing became faster. She stared at Xarath in alarm. He was standing stone rigid, nothing looking alive but his eyes. Her own eyes opened in dawning panic as a blue light emitted from the area surrounding his evil orbs. He was using the crystal's power on her!

She tried to move her body, to struggle against the encroaching thread of throbbing sexual desire that didn't stem from within herself. It did no good--Xarath's power overtook her feeble efforts. He came closer, to within touching distance, but just stood staring at her. Serena tried to pull her gaze from his, but felt lethargic and couldn't gather the energy it would take to accomplish such a feat.

Her eyes half-closed with the aching that overtook her limbs. Her heart set up an erratic fast pace all its own and her breathing became labored. The rivulets of dark power coursed through her veins, making her a creature that ached for Xarath's touch. When he finally reached out and stroked slowly down one arm, she groaned aloud at the feeling it evoked.

His eyes glittered with triumph as he began to touch her body wherever he desired, causing her to tremble. Serena desperately tried to fight the feelings washing over her. Evil satisfaction flashed in her enemy's eyes as a voice deep within her cried out in anguish. She pictured Rhamus' face and that voice within cried out for her beloved to help her. Her body jerked abruptly, as if a puppeteer had pulled invisible strings, and Serena realized that for a second she'd broken Xarath's control.