Intergalactic Love Read online

  “Everything looks really bad, I know,” I said. “But you must know that I meant everything I said over the weekend. I love you. I don’t know how many times I have to say it, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t! I had a golden opportunity to go back to Earth and I didn't take it, because I wanted to stay here with you!”

  Chapter 8

  Darion

  “THE PEOPLE I SURROUND myself with don’t make mistakes Rea. What you did...to me, it meant I was wrong in choosing you, that I made the mistake. I don’t make mistakes...” I told her. She visibly deflated, her chest moved with one deep breath.

  “Darion, not everything can be perfect. If you expected me to be...then maybe you did choose wrong. But you fell in love with me for a reason. You took me here to be with you and you married me for a reason. I need you to look past the mess we’re in and focus on what’s important. Do you really want me to go back to Earth and end our marriage?” she asked.

  “No...” my answer was immediate. It jumped out of the pain I felt at the center of my chest. She sighed in relief and her expression brightened just a fraction. I realized the truth as I continued to speak. “I’ll have nothing if you leave,” I said. “I’ll be just as lonely as I was before you,” I added.

  “This mess...”

  “It’s more my fault than yours Rea. I abducted you, I forced you here and caused the stress you were under. It’s my fault and I...I blamed you.” I forced myself to realize the truth of things. I’d behaved arrogantly when I took her from Mars against her will, and I behaved arrogantly when I assumed she’d accept her new life on Radon with little trouble. I pressed my palm to my forehead. “You’re far more patient than you should be,” I mumbled. “You should hate me still.”

  “Well, I realized how patient I’d have to be with you after you abducted me. You come around though and that’s what counts. So? Are we okay? Do you forgive me?” Rea asked, anxious.

  “Do you forgive me?” I asked. I moved closer to her and studied her green eyes.

  “You need to figure out how to handle your emotions Darion. You crumpling our marriage contract? That hurt,” she said, sincerely. “No more with these rash and sudden actions. I won’t put up with something like you abducting me, or telling me to leave. You can be very hurtful, you know?” She paused and shook her head slowly. “I won’t go through this again,” she warned.

  “I’ll do everything in my power not to hurt you again Rea. I swear it,” I told her.

  “Married couples talk things out. They communicate. They don’t just shut down and say, to hell with everything. We’re partners,” she added.

  “Partners,” I said and nodded. “I’m sorry Rea. I’m sorry.” I took her face in my hands and she nodded once. Her gaze was still guarded; I saw that the wounds were still there. But she wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tight. I tilted her head up and pressed my lips to hers. Her hands tightened on me and I deepened the kiss; I licked into her mouth and slid my tongue against hers. Her hands slid up underneath my shirt where she caressed my back and stomach.

  “I want you,” she whispered after breaking the kiss briefly. I picked her up to sit her down at the edge of my desk. Her lips met mine almost immediately after. I unfastened her pants and she quickly shimmied out of them. I grazed my fingers over her cleft and realized she wasn’t wearing underwear. I groaned, then knelt down to kiss her there. She moaned impatiently, then cried out when I slid my tongue in against her folds.

  “Darion I just want to—” her words were cut off when I nibbled on her clitoris. She cried out and asked me to do it again and I did. I teased her entrance with my thumb and she climaxed abruptly. Quickly, I stood up and freed my erection. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I slid into her. Rea’s head lolled back as another moan escaped her chest. As I slowly thrust into her, I undid the buttons of her blouse and freed her breasts. I took both in my hands to suck and nibble on them. I ran my tongue around her nipples and grazed them between my teeth. She groaned loudly before she murmured for me to pump into her harder. I let go of her breasts and wrapped my arms around her legs, to hold her to me more securely.

  I pushed in deep and gave her exactly what she wanted. Her cries grew more reckless as she was lost to the pleasure. Her sex was like a warm silky vise around mine. My release powered through me powerfully enough to make all my joints feel loose and molten. I groaned as I eased into her until the last of my release was spent. I reached in between us to rub Rea’s clitoris until she climaxed as well. The hoarse way she called my name made me feel as if only I could satisfy her as such.

  Rea slumped against my chest and we took a deep breath in tandem. Even though there was a mounting storm against us, I felt that as long as Rea and I were good, things would be fine.

  Chapter 9

  Rea

  “SO WHAT ARE WE GOING to do?” I asked him. Darion was putting his hair up and I’d just stepped out of the shower stall.

  “Run far away and never look back,” he mumbled sarcastically.

  “Or, we could maybe get Saphia to fess up the truth. She can say I spoke to her in confidence and insisted that everything was fine and that she went and told Burton anyways. Burton, who was willing to drop it when I was,” I said.

  “Saphia would never do it. It’s clear she wants to see me out of power for how I handled the blight. She’ll see that it happens no matter who she implicates,” he said.

  “I don’t know...maybe I can still talk to her, it’s not like she’s completely unreachable,” I said. Darion studied me for a moment before he nodded with a sigh.

  “If you think speaking with her will help, then by all means, do so. It’s best not to leave any option untested,” he said.

  “Great! I’ll call Nye,” I said.

  “I hope you’ll put on clothes first. I’d hate to have to kill Nye if he saw you naked,” Darion said with a smirk. A small part of me wasn’t sure if he was entirely joking or not. I walked over and gave him a chaste peck on the lips.

  “I’m going to get dressed now,” I said and left him for the closet. After I got ready, I went in search for Darion. I’d left all my stuff at the embassy and he had Nye’s number on speed dial I was sure.

  “Nye is on his way here, I called him for you,” Darion said when I stepped into the bedroom.

  “Great...” I looked Darion up and down. He was fully dressed and showered and I wanted in his pants all over again.

  “Rea, don’t look at me that way...” he warned, his grin was salacious. There was a swift rap on the door and I couldn’t help but wonder if Nye had super speed. He was always right there at Darion’s beck and call.

  “Hey Nye!” I greeted him, his eyes widened on me and a big smile stretched out on his lips. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever seen him smile past a polite grin.

  “Oh blessed be, the two of you have reconciled. That will greatly improve our odds in this mess,” he said.

  “I hope so, but also I need you to do me a favor?” I asked.

  “Anything,” Nye waited for me to continue expectantly.

  “I need you to arrange a private meeting between Saphia and me. I want to talk to her,” I said. Nye’s smile quickly disappeared and worry replaced his expression.

  “Are we sure that is...wise?” he asked.

  “I just have to try Nye, I told him. He nodded once and gave me a slight bow.

  “Consider it done then Madame Rea. Would you be needing anything else?” he asked.

  “Yeah actually, just a small thing...” I mused. “I need something that records sound,” I said. I followed Nye out to the big office in the public wing of the palace. It was more like a library. He got me the device I needed and then ten minutes later he arranged for me to meet up with Saphia. It was definitely eerie how quickly he got things done.

  During the fifteen minute ride over to the quiet park, I went over what I’d say in my head. I’d give her a chance, offer to let her come clean and help end the madness. Otherwise, I’d
draw out as much of that stuff she told me before, about her wanting to see Darion hurt for a decision he had to make as leader of an entire planet. The driver stopped on the outskirts of the park. It was full of tall trees and winding paths. I followed the one that led to the cherry blossom trees, Radon’s equivalent of them anyway. They looked exactly like the ones on Earth.

  I found Saphia sitting on one of the benches flanked by two cherry trees. She was dressed casually and I almost didn’t recognize her with her hair out. The strawberry blonde curls hung down her back and she looked as much a regular attractive woman as any.

  “Miss...Madame Rea...I never expected to hear from you. Not by the assistance of Chief Darion’s Chief Clerk anyhow,” she said. I sat down next to her with a sigh.

  “Well...Darion and I are married. So, of course I’d be with him and he gives me whatever I need.” I told her, as evenly as I could, but with an unavoidable hint of snark.

  “Why did you want to meet with me?” she asked.

  “To try and reason with you. You’re ruining lives. Not just Darion’s,” I told her. No doubt it was a matter of time before someone got to Moody and Tars for being associated with my abduction from Mars Colony.

  “Whoever was involved deserves to be faced with their crimes of collusion,” she said simply.

  “I only want you to set the record straight. In your interview, you neglected to say how you acted out of turn. You also didn't mention that I told you repeatedly Darion and I were fine. You knew I want to be here with him but didn't say so in the interview,” I said.

  “All of that is inconsequential to what he actually did. He still committed the crimes. The public should know what their leader truly is,” she said adamantly. “I showed them by going forward with what I knew. It’s my civic duty. You have similar customs on Earth. I’m glad they finally see Darion’s hidden truth. Perhaps people will finally see that he has a dark nature. This will give them a more realistic understanding of his decision to stop the blight by fire without considering other options,” she said vehemently.

  “What’s more, you should be glad Madame Rea. You will be getting everything you want on Earth. The embassy will take good care of you and you’ll live the life you dream,” she said.

  “That’s not what I want anymore. I want my life here with Darion and I’d still choose it no matter what the circumstances are,” I said.

  “You are foolish if that is what you truly think. You must know that he has vast capability for evil and he will never change. What’s best is what’s happening now. Once he is out of office and answers for the crimes done against you and loses you. Then he will begin to pay for all the wrong he’s done,” she said.

  “Can you separate your heart from this for just a second? Your family has nothing to do with the issue at hand,” I told her.

  “They have everything to with this!” she shouted. She caught herself and took a deep breath. “Excuse me, but I believe we are finished here,” she said, then got up and left.

  I waited five minutes before moving. I quickly took out the recording device and stopped it. After that I headed back to the cruiser.

  “Take me to Earth’s embassy,” I told the driver.

  Chapter 10

  Rea

  AMBASSADOR BURTON STOOD up as I re-entered the conference room. “Rea! There you are, where did you go?”

  “I had to take care of some things. I want you guys to listen to this,” I said and revealed the recorder.

  “Wow, this is old school,” Alicia said as she picked the thing up. It was a standard five function recorder. Play, pause, stop, record, and erase.

  “They were good for clarity of voice though...who did you record, Rea?” Burton asked.

  “Saphia. I just came from talking to her,” I said.

  “Why Saphia?” Alicia asked, skeptical.

  “Because, it’s like I told you all before...” I glanced around the room. It was full of largely who was present at that meeting before I went on vacation with Darion. “I don’t want to go back to Earth. I’m fine here. I want to stay here, with Darion. If his intentions were nefarious, if he wanted to keep me hostage, then he would have never let me leave the palace to work here. He’s my husband, and I willingly agreed to be his wife. I love him. I want to stand by him while we figure out a way to get through all this.” I hadn’t expected to make such a speech, but there it was. I pressed play on the recording and everyone listened quietly while it played my entire conversation with Saphia.

  “The last thing she said, that it has everything to do with her family, is just another way of her saying she’s doing what she's doing for them. As some sort of revenge. Yes, Darion forged documents and abducted me. But I don’t want to punish him for it,” I shrugged. “I want to go public with the tape,” I said.

  Burton took a deep breath, then he wiped his hand over his face. He glanced at Alicia, who glanced at him and nodded once. His eyes met mine again and he said, “Rea it’s been revealed that Chief Darion had committed an honor killing while on Mars Colony. He hired an assassin, which is recognized as a form of weapon on Radon. He used that assassin to orchestrate the Radonian’s death.”

  Alicia said, “The news just broke Rea. There’s nothing we can do. The investigations are out on both the Mars Colony and here. The High Council is calling for a trial...If found guilty, he could be impeached.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I felt like the biggest idiot in the galaxy. Darion had had someone murdered? It was shocking, impossible. What Radonian could he have killed on the Mars Colony? I was pretty sure Moody and Tars came back in one piece. I bit my lip, trying to think of any other Radonian associated with me or him while we were on the Mars Colony. Then it dawned on me all at once. Gavin! All he did was go on one semi-awkward date with me. He didn’t deserve to die for it!

  “Why don’t you have a seat Rea,” Burton said.

  I plopped down into the conference chair that was rolled up behind me. All that stuff Saphia said about Darion’s ‘dark side’. Could it be that she wasn’t just spewing venom? All that time he’d kept what he’d done from me. Even after we’d made up earlier he still hadn’t come clean about it. I didn’t want them to see me go through the motions of shock and disbelief. Frankly, I wanted to throw up. In all honesty, I hadn’t known Darion the proper amount of time someone is supposed to know their spouse. I didn’t know him. Even after he’d kidnapped me I wouldn’t have fathomed him capable of killing someone for such a petty reason. Gavin was a nice guy, he had a life, he no doubt had a family. But he was dead...because of me.

  “So he’s going to be tried for murder?” I asked after the moment of quiet.

  “Yes, as well as forgery and abduction,” said Alicia. “Another prosecutor from Earth will be coming to help out. This is all going to happen whether you stay here or not. The option to go to Earth is still available to you. I highly recommend you take up on it. If you stay here, you’ll be hounded in the investigations. Your life is going to be very difficult.”

  “Right...” I sighed, as the implications of what Burton and Alicia had told me played out in my head. I pinched the bridge of my nose and looked down. I needed a drink.

  To be continued...

  Book 4: Enduring

  The biggest strain on their relationship yet threatens to separate Darion and Rea for good. But through everything they’ve overcome already, Rea knows she can’t give Darion up. Darion relies on Rea through the uncertainty of his upcoming trial. His love for her only strengthens as she continues to stay by his side until the very end.

  Chapter 1

  Darion

  THE INCESSANT DRILLING into the base of my skull was the product of strain, tension, and more stress than I’d ever been faced with in my lifetime. Not even when I had to deal with the blight had I felt such a way.

  Rea had come back. She looked pale. When she saw me waiting for her in the living area, she barely said a word to me.

  “Rea, what happened at the
embassy?” I asked again.

  “You killed someone?” she asked me hoarsely. Her eyes pierced right through me. She already knew.

  “I did...” I admitted to her. I tried taking a step towards her, but she held up her hand to stop me.

  “You killed that man on Mars Colony?” she asked. “Gavin, the one I went out with once.”

  “I had him killed, yes. I...at the time I didn’t want anyone else to have you and reacted rashly—”

  “Is that all you do? Act rashly? Darion that’s someone’s life! Gavin...he and I didn’t even hit it off. He was innocent and he died because of me. Because I was associated with you and whatever poison inside of you that infected everything!” she shouted.

  “Rea...” I took another step towards her and she held up her hand again to stop me.

  “I’d just finished defending you to the entire embassy and they tell me you murdered someone on purpose. You put a hit out on an innocent man for nothing! His death is now on my conscience! if he’d never met me, he would still be alive!” She took a deep breath and wiped at her eyes. I’d seen Rea in a number of emotions. She’d been hurt, angry, sad...but I'd never seen her cry before. Impossibly, she’d forgiven me for all that I’d done thus far, but I’d never made her cry before.