unspoiled

Hot stuff was less than enthused with her driving skills, the fast car, or the wind blowing in his hair, but he did seem to enjoy watching her enjoying all of these things.

"Julian would kill me if he knew I was going to take his car back here."

The dirt road was full of holes and huge ruts. Anytime her and her friends had come out here it had been in trucks and jeeps.

She was more than a little pissed when the damn little sports car got stuck.

"Dazrick, run another scan."

"Still clear, future King."

It was only last minute she had decided to bring Kellum on an outing. He might wish they were already on their way back, but she knew what that would mean. Him back to work.

He had wanted the whole day with her, and she could admit she wanted it too.

With Dezrick as quiet as he was ever going to get, this was as alone as they were ever going to get.

Miles away from another living thing. No cameras. As far in the woods as they could get. Hiking wasn't her cup of tea but some alone time with her beau would be well worth the trouble.

She had to hand it to Kell. He had to be wondering if she'd lost her mind, but he never questioned her. He trudged on, checking every now and again to make sure they were safe.

What was there to not love about this guy? If he said they could do whatever she wanted, then they are damn sure going to do whatever she wanted.

Of course, after today he may never say those words to her again.

He was hot. And not just fine. His shirt was sticking to him. His face flushed. Her babe was in the best shape ever, but he wasn't used to this heat.

"This is where all the local kids came to party and to make out." There wasn't much else to do in a small town. They'd been lucky to have this place. It was this or hanging out at their one diner.

Finally, they came upon the creek. Small sandy banks. Fast moving water so that it was always cold, but it wasn't deep enough that you had to worry about drowning.

This was Louisiana though, so the water was brown. It wasn't unusual to come across a snake or two. Despite those few things this place really was beautiful. Trees and shade with only a few lucky spots where sun shined down.

Kellum was looking around in awe. "Your world is full of places like this. That is why we cannot understand why you would destroy it for buildings and roads."

"Well, I don't disagree with you. That does sound nice but, in our defense, we needed the roads and buildings. And we still have places like these. Even better places. You can get rid of somethings; you just can't get rid of everything. Find out what is important to us. Us humans are very sentimental about certain things. I have a yellow bed spread on my bed, could you fetch it for me? And the pillows."

When it appeared, she spread it out in a nice sunny spot. "Now the picnic basket, please."

Once that appeared, she went to him and patted his chest. "You might find some of this disturbing. Just remember you promised we could do whatever I want. You're safe with me. Your virtue that is. I make no promises with your sanity."

Her lips touched his softly. "Do you trust me?"

"Always."

"Good answer. Now if you don't want to see me in my undies, you might want to look away."

He groaned.

"It's no different than a bikini."

He groaned again.

Last minute she remembered the birthmark and left her t shirt on. "You'll thank me once you're cooled off."

"Highly doubtful." Confused, he looked at her. "What do you mean... "

He moaned. "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, Jessalynn."

The way he was looking at her, she could almost believe it. She finished taking down her hair. "If you're right about all of this then you're probably wired to think that way."

"You are everything I have ever wanted. Could want. Will ever want. Every dream I never knew I had. Like fate knew what I needed before I did."

"So round, plump, pale chicks, huh? Seems my type is big strong, king types. Who knew?"

Smiling, she turned away from him. She knew every deep hole in this place so with a running start she dived in. She was laughing when she came up for air. "That felt so good. What are you waiting for?"
Jess was pleased when he took his shirt off. He really was into keeping his promises otherwise she knew she would have never gotten him down to his underwear. And Good lord what a sight that was.

For the first time in her life, she could understand why you might not want others to see what is just yours. If Hayden was here right now, she'd probably scratch her eyes out.

"Don't think about it. Just jump in."

She chuckled, imagining all the things Dez would be dying to say right now.

"I have never been swimming before. We do not even bathe in real water."

"You'll be fine. You'll be able to stand up, so no skill needed."

He did as he was told and came up out of the water smiling. "Cold!"

"Feels good, doesn't it? You can see why we spend all our summers here."

He might be able to touch bottom, but she couldn't, so she treaded water while she watched him run water through his hands and studied everything around him. He was so intent on it, soon she started floating on her back and left him to it.

The very air around her changed when everything around them was no longer what he was interested in. Her whole body hummed as he started making his way towards her. And as much as she would love to meet him halfway, she was trying to be a good girl.

She swam away until she came to a shallow rocky area. Tip toeing, she came to a much smaller pool that she sank into.

But his studying only became more intense. The poor babe was right. He was strong and honorable, but he was a man too. And his will power was wavering. Guess the whole cold shower thing wasn't working for him.

Leaving him behind, she headed for her jeans. She might like to tease him, but she cared too much about him to push him into something that he would regret. When they got close, and they would, then they needed more than a skimpy pair of lace panties between them.

After dragging her pants up her wet legs, she gave him a saucy grin and started laying out their picnic.

He was able to play a little bit longer before he got dressed and joined her. "Peach?"

"No." He motioned her closer.

Smiling, she motioned him to come to her. "Lay your head in my lap and you can take a nap."

He did half of what she suggested then he cupped her face so he could bring her lips down to meet his. "I'm trying to be good."

"So am I." He promised.

"Kissing usually ends up with me in your lap wanting more."

"That is not a bad thing."

"That is not what the Kellum this morning was thinking."

"He came to his senses."

Laughter poured from her. "Nice try, bucko."

"I am okay right now. This morning I was still feeling the effects of last night."

"Why don't you tell me more about last night. I know what happen to you but what happen to everyone else?"

"Not sure. Your singing, your song, did things to me. To us. Fray and Pensley were a mess. They are hypersensitive to you. You should have seen some of the images you put in their heads."

She paled. "Of us?"

"At first. And I should not say they were sensitive towards you; I was not helping things either. Maybe it was all me, but it did not stay about us. Soon their images were their own. They are two royals and believe me when I say that they do not feel the way you make me feel. At least, they never have till last night."

"Oh. So, what you're saying is that they were hot for each other? Aren't they both eighteen?"

"Yes. For going on about six months now but it was still quite a shock to them."

"How long have they been mated?"

"Since they were fourteen."

"Then good for them. I hope they went to their room and had the whole spaceship rocking."

"That was my vote, but I was out voted. They were ordered to remain apart until they were back in control of their emotions."

"Why?" She asked, outraged.

"The advisors and most of the royals still have not decided how they feel about all of this."

"That's a crock. They're mated. They're of age. It shouldn't have been anybody's business but theirs."

"I agree. No one can come between mates, not for any reason but since Fray and Pensley feared all of it, they chose to honor the request made of them."

"So, once we are mated and I'm eighteen, we can do what we want regardless if they like it or not?"

"Yes, but it is more than that. Once you are eighteen then I am king, and you are my queen. They can advise me, but the real choice is mine. I will not need their votes any longer."

She ran her fingers through his hair as she watched him. "Doesn't that scare you? Having that much power? That much responsibility?"

"Once it did. I worried that I was never meant to be king. Nine had to die, including my own father before I was next in line to be king. I never imagine that happening so when it did, I was not sure that I could handle it."

"What changed for you?"

"My people needed me. You heard my advisors. They do not want to rule, they were never meant to rule. The years after the sickness were very hard. Facing extinction. There is a very deep overpowering sense of loss when you know you might not have a mate and if you do, they are out of your reach. And over eighty percent of my people felt this loss. Something had to be done, there was no time to sit around and worry about how I came to be the future king. Even now with all the insecurities and doubts my people face, once I am king, I will be able to free them of that."

"You're only eighteen. Why should all these burdens fall on you? Why can't someone older do it?"

"Fate, Jessalynn. Just as you are fated to rule at my side."

"And this mark that makes you king, can I see it?"

He turned his head and brushed his hair back. There just below his hair line was a small solid circle with a pale line through it and just below that was three small circles.

"I don't have such a mark."

He placed his hand over her shoulder and just above her heart. "The only mark you need is mine."

"Even if you wanted to get out of all this you couldn't?"

"There is no one else. I am the last, at least until children start being born."

"Our children?"

"Not always."

"You know all of this sounds outrageous, don't you?"

He touched her cheek. "As outrageous as a man searching the universe for you?"

He had her on that one.

"I can imagine how all of this has made the four dead ones feel about me. They are one step from wanting to string me up."

"They would have to get through me first. They wanted to put a stop to all singing and music, but I was able to hold them off with Savion's help. I fear that was mostly out of guilt because his part in the lie they kept from me. I do not know how long he will side with me. He was there last night and was more than a little bothered by the whole thing."

"They have no right to do that."

"I agree. That is just another example of why I need to be king as soon as possible."

"Those jerks don't make a lot of sense. They don't trust your judgement, yet they can't wait for you to take over. Makes not a lick of sense."

"It is the way it is."

"It's horse dung. Here's a question for you. Frey and Pensley grew up together, right? It took fourteen years for them to be mated? How do you know it won't take us that long? In fact, I say it could be a few years at least."

"Will not happen." He promised softly.

"How do you know?"

"Because there is no way in hell, I can keep my hands off you for much longer."

He could be on to something since she ended up plastered all over him and his left hand making its way up her rib cage with a very clear intent.

She moved away despite his growl of protest. "I know I didn't teach you that."

He smiled. His eyes dancing with merriment.

Freak. He must know how much she adored his cute you know you love me smile.

Every time he reached for her, she moved farther away. Funny how their roles had switched.

On the other hand, after how unnerved he'd been this morning it was heartwarming to see him in such a playful mood. He had needed today.

He needed someone he could talk to, someone to share with. If not, all of this would be too much for him.

Today he had been ready to piss off the elders, ready to brave the unknown all just to make her happy.

Jess let him catch her. Her arms going around him as he leaned over to kiss her. "You mean something to me."

He stilled, his wow eyes telling her everything that she found so difficult to say.

"You mean everything to me."

"I don't want you to think that just because I don't have all the pretty words to say, that you don't mean something to me. Because you do."

"Do not think for one moment that you do not tell me everything I need to know. You do. Want me to tell you what your eyes are telling me right now?"

She kissed him before he could say.

Neither of them had a problem with spending the rest of the day like that. Laying together. Kissing but mostly just being near each other.

"Think Ben and Jerry and Tom and Jerry have had heart failure yet?"

"Is it sad that I know exactly who you are speaking of, and there is a good possibility. They were already having a few panic attacks before I decided to run away for the day."

"Those four need a chill pill. Are all four of them mated?"

"Three of them. Brickett has four matches. Two of which he is not even allowed to spend any time with since both are widows like your aunt."

Jess imagine she turned a little green. "But not my aunt, right? I wouldn't wish one of those four on my worst enemy."
"Not at all. Your aunt only has______."

"Don't tell me. It will make me feel unloyal to my uncle Chad. Your people might have agreed to a year of a mourning period but with my aunt I'm afraid it's going to take much longer than that. In fact, how do you know Uncle Chad wasn't her mate?"

"It is possible. It will take us years to have some of the answers. I guess that is what is so upsetting to all my people. They thought we would come here, and we would find a way to coexist."

"Isn't that what we're doing?"

"Not even close. Not two groups of people coexisting but two groups of people, two races becoming one. Think about it. Brady and Laney? That should not even be possible. The way Jetidi is with Mel? He is not a royal. He has no power, but I think you are right. It is like those two have a way of communicating that the rest of us have no clue about. Nothing is going according to plans and some of my people are not ready to face that. Your people are adjusting far better."

"Wish you had stuck with the chicken shit people?"

His arm tightened around her. "Never. We could have three headed children and I would be perfectly happy."

Jess's chuckle died away. "That's not possible, is it?"

His eyes crinkled. "I would not think so."

"What are the advisors hoping for, anyway?"

"Wish I knew. At this point I am doing everything I can to make them want to stay. Last week I only had one against me and after last night there is now two against me. I feel like I am losing Savion, but it is nothing he has said. Brickett remains a vocal supporter but how do I know that will not change if he finds his mate?"

He hadn't known the effect his words would have on her till he looked at her face. Quickly, he rolled her beneath him and took her face in his hands. "It will never come to that. I would never allow it."

"You don't know that. If they out vote you then_____."

"Jessalynn, look at me. I would never allow that to happen."

"If you believed that then you wouldn't be so worried about it."

"Look at me."

She finally did. The whole time wishing she wasn't so close to feeling like she had four years ago, when her dad walked out the door.

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"No." She whispered.

"And I never will. Trust me when I say that there is not a force in this world or any world that could ever make me walk away from you. I am not worried about having to leave you. I am worried about the damage those four are going to do before I can take my place as leader."

"What about Savion? I thought you said he couldn't leave Macie even if he wanted to."

"He cannot."

"Let me up." She ordered, her panic finally finding a voice.

Instantly, he moved away but not far. "I would never do that either."

"But he would? Hayley has been worried about this from day one."

"I do not know if he would or not. So far, he remains on my side. It does not even matter. In less than three months you will be eighteen and none of this will matter."

"A lot can happen in three months."

"I need you to trust me."

On her feet now, she didn't know rather to walk away or run away. She took a deep breath knowing neither options would get her anywhere. "This is what you wanted me to swear not to tell anyone?"

"No."

"There's more?"

"All I was doing is venting some frustrations. I hate how everything is a fight with them. They are terrified of what they do not know. I will find a way around them. As for you, you are my mate, and you will always come first with me. I would never leave you. I would never take you from your family. Never."

"You would stay?"

"I would."

"You would let everyone, your friends, your family leave you? Everything you know? I don't believe you."

"I think you do. Come here, Jessalynn."

Crap. "Don't say my name like that. I don't want to come over there and I don't want to feel better. I want to be upset."

"The last thing I wanted was to upset you. We were having a nice day and I hate that I have taken that away from you."

Dear lord, it was impossible to stay upset with this guy. She found herself back in his arms. "I'm not upset with you. Just with this situation."

"The situation is not so bad. I found my mate and I am getting to learn everything about her. In the process, I am even learning things about myself. The only thing I am upset about at this moment is that there is no wall I can push you back against."

"That is becoming one of your signature moves."

He grinned. "I know that you like it."

"Yeah? What else do I like?"

His arm hooked around her waist and brought her flush against him. Her lips now only a breath away from his. She stared at his mouth wanting it to be on hers. His free hand moved slowly up her back until he caught her hair and tug until her head was tilted back.

Now she wanted his lips on her skin so bad that she shook. Groaning, she tilted her head farther back. It took him so blasted long she thought she'd die. When he finally did move closer all, she felt on her was his breath.

Growling, she wrapped her legs around his hips and gripped his hair in both her hands.

When he looked at her, he was looking entirely too smug. The sexy, dirty little rat. Two could play at this game.

Their lips met in a frenzy. She pushed his shirt up over his head. He trembled as she left a trail of hot little kisses across his chest but that was nothing compared to how shaken he became when she nibbled on his neck and breathed his name in his ear.

Kell looked lost and confused when she squirmed to be put down. Seeing her, reach for the snap of her jeans, he stilled. His eyes on fire.

"You have no right to be so beautiful, Kellum." She pushed her jeans down her legs then grip the hem of her shirt and eased it up just shy of showing off her bra. "But I told you that I would be a good girl today."

Laughing, she ran for the deep part of the creek. She only laughed harder when he was already there and threw herself at him.

"That's totally not fair." She pouted.

Smiling, he took them both under. He was still smiling when they came back up. "You were not playing fair yourself."

"I forgot about that. Okay then, we're even."