Vaaden Warriors 1: Rheul Read Online Free PDF

Enid and Bastian, and from the brief time I'd taken care of Enid myself, it was that women liked gifts, no matter how small they might be.
    It was nearly bedtime when I returned to the slave quarters. I'd spent most of the day wondering what I should do about Darcy, and I had yet to come up with a solution. I did, however, have a small present for her. It wasn't much, but I hoped she would like it.
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    When I entered the apartment, I didn't see her at first. I found her in a chair across the room, curled up asleep. I approached quietly and hunkered down in front of her. With a frown, I realized she'd been crying, and I dried the tears on her cheeks. Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at me a moment.
    "You're back," she said softly. "I didn't think you were returning tonight."
    "I told you I was."
    "It got so late..."
    I cocked my head to the side and looked at her, trying to figure her out. "Were you crying because you thought I wasn't coming?"
    She flushed and looked away. I was pleased that she'd missed me and smiled. It seemed that we were on the right track at least. She might have seemed indifferent when I'd left earlier, but maybe it had been a facade. Maybe she really had cared what happened to me when I'd nearly died in the morning. Perhaps she was looking for more than just a protector after all.
    I gently cupped her cheek and made her look at me. "I told you I would return."
    "I thought you might have changed your mind."
    I shook my head. "No, I stopped to get you something."
    Her eyes brightened. "A present?"
    "Yes, a present. Would you like to see?"
    She sat up, nodding.
    I walked back to the door and picked up the forgotten gift.
    Carrying it over to her, I placed a large pot in her lap.
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    "It's called a Yentar Rose. It only blooms at night, but it blooms all year long. You only have to water it twice a week."
    She touched it reverently, her fingers caressing the soft lavender blossoms. "It's beautiful. No one's ever given me a plant before."
    "Why don't you put it in the kitchen, and we'll go to bed?"
    She tensed a moment, but nodded. I realized that even though she'd given herself to me freely earlier in the day, she still wasn't ready to be with me. It was going to cause a huge problem. I wasn't able to give her the time she needed to adjust, not like I had originally planned. I knew she was probably still sore, but there wasn't much I could do to control the needs of my body. It wasn't like it was just the need for pleasure. My body refused to cooperate with anyone but her, and without her, I would die. My attempt to see Lira had proven that. Then again, maybe if I had gone to see her sooner things might have been different. I could try to go to the harems, but I would prefer to be with Darcy.
    A moment later, she rejoined me in the living room and we retired to the bedroom for the evening. I could feel the tension rolling off her in waves, and it made me uneasy. I had told her that I would never force her, and I meant it, but something would have to give. I might be able to make it until morning, but it would be pushing it.
    I undressed and slid under the covers. But Darcy stood beside the bed, fidgeting with the edge of her tunic, looking everywhere except at me.
    "Darcy, I won't bite."
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    She blushed, and her eyes finally met mine. "I don't know what you expect of me. I mean, you said you'd be okay... are you just wanting to sleep?"
    "Right now I expect you take off that tunic and get in the bed."
    Her face turned even redder, but she nodded and removed the tunic before climbing into bed. She lay on her back, stiff as a board, as far away from me as possible. With a sigh, I reached over and wrapped an arm around her waist. She squeaked as I pulled her over until her back was flush against my chest.
    "Would you relax? You'd think you were going to the executioner," I growled.
    She flinched. "I'm sorry."
    This wasn't going the way I'd planned. It was obvious that she was still uncertain and a