Chapter 12

The primal fever was killing her.

It started at ten that evening as a mild discomfort—a little cramping and restlessness that’s all—but now it was full-blown agony. She twisted in the sheets, running her fingers through her hair and trying in vain to will the hurt away. When she left her mother’s office that afternoon she’d dismissed Krull’s instructions as pure shit. She wasn’t some throwback to AEssyrian prehistory! She had no intention of crawling off to Kharon and begging him to fuck her.

But now things were different. Now she’d give anything just to be able to get up off the bed.

The fever was more than just an urge—it was a need—as essential as the breath she drew into her lungs. Her hunger plagued her, filling her mind with images of Kharon’s striking body and intoxicating scent. She was no longer the woman she knew; she was something feral and aggressive, a beast in her own skin.

A sickening wave of nausea rolled through her and Gypsy twisted to one side of the bed and reached out, grabbing the trash can next to her small work desk. She leaned over the side of the bed digging her nails into the mattress edge and wretched violently. Then her stomach convulsed again and she dry heaved into the empty can a few times. Finally her stomach relaxed a bit. But close on the heels of one misery was the other. Sharp, stabbing cramps twisted her uterus until she thought it was going to tear itself loose and leave her body entirely. By the Gods, this nightmare is going to kill me. She hated when Krull was right.

She had to get out of here and get to Kharon. If she didn’t satisfy this tonight, she would be too sick to attend class.

With both feet Gypsy pushed on the adjacent wall, rolling herself over and off the bed, landing on her hands and knees with a painful thump. Luckily the occupants of the room below her consisted of mops, brooms and cleaning supplies. Clawing her way to her feet via her bedside table, she caught sight of her clock.

Now it’s midnight.

She sure hoped he hadn’t gone out drinking with the boys or she’d be screwed. Gypsy grabbed her uniform and, pausing several times to adjust to the pain, got dressed. She popped her head out her dorm room and scanned the dark hallway. Empty. What a relief. At least something is going my way. She slipped down the back stairwell and into the cool night air. A wayward breeze stroked her damp skin but did little to alleviate the internal heat that was making her sweat. Gypsy knew she was going to have to walk to the villa where he was staying. She couldn’t risk anyone seeing her hyperia there. Thankfully it wasn’t too far and she could save some time by crossing through the hunting trails.

The three moons were high and provided enough light to contrast the stones and thick tree roots that littered the trail. Without the celestial illuminations this journey would be quite treacherous. Gypsy hiked the half-mile up the hill and over the top stopping every few minutes to listen for company. The occasional screech of night raptors and rustling bushes was unnerving but at least their noisy activities meant that there were no larger predators nearby. As she trotted to the bottom of the trail she was struck by a debilitating cramp that brought her to her knees. She doubled over and hugged her waist waiting for the pain to pass.

Kharon’s villa was just in sight and she began catching traces of his faded scent. Dragging herself to her feet she stumbled forward. The closer she got, the stronger the scent, the better she felt. Please be home. Please, please be home, Kharon. I need you.

* * * *

Kharon sat in the courtyard of his villa watching the three moons illuminate the inky sky. He should be preparing his lesson notes for tomorrow but he was much too distracted, all he could think about was her. Gypsy—his first real love. Lighting up a short cigar, he puffed hard on it and closed his eyes, catching the fading scent of her sweat on his skin. What he wouldn’t give to have her here with him. The thought brought on another fierce erection and he absently reached into his pants, pulled out his cock and stroked it. In his mind she was licking the swollen tip and teasing his balls with her lips.

He thought too about his three wives back home in his own kingdom. Like most men, he’d married for status but not love. All of his wives were the most beautiful he could find with good families and solid bloodlines. There was only one problem; he didn’t love them nor did they care for him much. It was a mutually beneficial relationship. He had the money and power, and they were his trophies and bore his children.

Everyone was happy, right?

But today was the first time he’d known true happiness with a woman and there was no turning back. He wanted Gypsy like he’d never wanted anything else, and someday he would have her.

Memories of her lusty whines filled him with unbearable hunger. His cock ached in his hand, and he pumped it harder remembering how much enjoyment she’d given him. But he knew he had to allow her as much freedom as he could stand or risk losing her. Like him, she was a warrior, and her first love would always be the military. He understood that, even if his more primal urges wanted him to kidnap her and keep her his captive forever.

As his need consumed him, his thoughts were torn from everything but his rising passion. Focusing on her rugged beauty, he let his mind remember how blissful her sweet pussy was wrapped around his throbbing cock. Grabbing a nearby cloth, Kharon covered the head of his penis with the fabric as the orgasm exploded out of him. He caught his seed, shuddering out his need with a deep, hardy growl. Why hadn’t she come to him this evening? Did she think what had happened between them was a mistake?

When his cock had softened again, he stuffed it back into his pants. Then he heard a knock on the front door. Tossing the soiled fabric into the trash, he straightened himself and quickly washed his hands. He walked to the door certain it was Gavin coming to ask him out to the bar for a late-night drink.

Instead Gypsy stood on the doorstep.

She was achingly beautiful but she looked as miserable as he felt. “I am so completely screwed up and I hate you for doing this to me,” she said.

Kharon hid his delight and stepped back to let her in. He was hot and hungry, desperate to be with her again. “I know,” he said.

Gypsy came in but stood in the foyer. “I can’t stay long.”

Kharon pushed the door closed and it hit with a thunderous bang. Gypsy turned around and stared at him with those stunning golden eyes.

“You’ll stay as long as I need you to,” he said.

She grinned slightly. “No. I’ll stay as long as I need to because my early morning class is taught by this big asshole who will humiliate me if I’m late,” she whispered.

With that statement his desire boiled over and he pulled her into his arms. His lips claimed hers in an impassioned, frenzied kiss. Picking her up, he carried her toward his bedroom determined to make this the best night of their lives.

But Gypsy was in full estrus now and fought wildly to be put down. He lowered her to the ground confused at her struggle and she was all over him. Her mouth claimed his, kissing him with such passion he was overcome with desire. Reason and tenderness escaped him as she undressed him as fast as her hands could work. Then she stripped and pushed him down to the floor right there in the hallway. He’d never seen a woman so possessed and it was changing him, making him more aggressive than he was comfortable with. He was losing control and he didn’t want to hurt her. Kharon snarled at her, trying to warn her off but it only seemed to make her lustier.

Then she was on him, straddling his hips and grabbing his cock to work it into her tight channel. To his surprise, she was much wetter than before and he slipped right in. He orgasmed immediately as did she, while he filled her up with his seed. She froze for a moment, her body stiff and her eyes closed. Then she grinned and—knowing he could stay erect through several more—began rotating her hips from side to side.

He could no longer hold back his untamed longing. Grabbing her, he rolled on top of her and thrust into her like a wild brute. She was moaning now, pumping her hips to meet his punishing thrusts, and he confirmed in his heart what he’d suspected all along. This was much more than just sex and desire. This was a mating. She was his. Now all he had to do was find a way to hold onto her.