Chapter 16: No Going Back Now

Once they arrived at the room, the lights were dim and it was hard to see. Basileus tossed his jacket onto the bed and walked over to the fireplace. Varya took her shoes off at the door and followed the prince curiously, moving slowly so her eyes could adjust to the darkness. She found herself standing next to the couch.

With one quick movement, a flame was thrown from his hand and the fireplace lit up, causing a warm glow to light up the surroundings.

Settling into the couch, Varya watched as he popped the cork off the champagne, which made her jump, and he filled up the glasses.

"You seemed like you were getting cold," he said, finally, offering her a glass which she took gratefully.

Varya had a small smile on her face, appreciating his gesture. She still felt unnerved from before and sipped the champagne slowly.

Basileus tossed his shoes behind the couch and sat next to her, but not too closely. There was still a small feeling that he had ruined this evening and he wanted to give her space. He had his own glass of champagne to drink.

"How do you do that, anyway?" she asked, her blue eyes were observing him intently.

"Do what?"

"Where I come from, there aren't just people walking around with flames coming from their hands."

The idea that beings from her planet had no aura abilities felt ridiculous to him. His dark eyebrows lowered as he contemplated her words.

"Even those of the lowest rank have mastered some kind of aura control," he explained. "On Planet Basileus, most are born with fire aura abilities. It takes strict training to be able to master it."

"Is that why your hands are always so warm?" Varya blurted out then blushed. She had noticed his higher than average body temperature many times in the past, but it felt strange to mention it now.

Without thinking, he grabbed one of her hands to feel the temperature of it.

"I think you're just naturally cold," he said.

Varya's heart was beating quickly again and she took another sip of her champagne. Their hands were still touching, but she didn't feel like pulling away.

"You can ask me something, too." Varya mumbled, looking down. She wanted them to get to know each other equally.

"Okay," the prince started. He looked down at her hand in his, trying to figure out what he wanted to know.

He had noticed the ring with the blue stone on her middle finger many times before now. On a lot of planets, jewelry was exchanged between lovers or given to royalty.

"What does this ring signify?" As soon as he asked the question, he regretted it. It might turn out badly for him.

Varya took her hand from his and he expected the worst. She lifted her hand to her face and smiled as she touched the ring.

"When I turned 18, my dad gave it to me. My mom had a matching one. He always said aquamarine looked just like our eyes," she explained and her smile turned sad.

At her expression, he felt bad at the relief he felt. If he had control of his own wealth, he wanted to buy her any piece of jewelry she desired to try and get rid of the sadness in her heart. She drank more champagne and he did, too.

Next, she asked him something unexpected.

"Are you a prisoner too?" She asked quietly, not wanting to upset him. "You're always being watched and given orders."

"It's more complicated than that," he responded vaguely.

Her eyebrows raised and he decided to elaborate.

"When the tyrant destroyed Planet Basileus, he only kept those with high rank and strong fire aura. We either had to follow him or die ourselves. Now I can't leave or I'll be considered a deserter and stripped of my rank." Basileus hesitated for a while before saying the last part. "This castle… this is my family's castle. Emperor Kruos found a way to bring it to this damned planet. I only want to regain control of it and take back what's mine."

Basileus glanced over the couch at the room around them.

"This was always my room, but he stripped everything inside of it that represented Basilian culture. That was all I could recover," he added bitterly and looked up at the tattered tapestry with the royal crest above the fire. The hand resting in his lap clenched into a fist and he looked down, not wanting her to see the anger inside of him.

Varya pulled her legs onto the couch and scooted closer to him. With the hand not holding her drink, she lifted his chin and made him look at her.

"You'll get it back," her words were confident. The confidence faltered when her eyes drifted down to his lips and she took her hand away.

The alcohol was making his head feel heavy and he felt he was going to misread the situation again if he wasn't careful. As he studied her, he saw the cut coming out from between her breasts and was reminded of what happened to her because he wasn't there. He reached out and his fingers touched her collarbone then traced down until they were above the cut.

"I'm sorry I failed to protect you. Does it still hurt?"

Varya tried to get over the fact that he made her shiver. The hand holding a flame only a short while before was so gentle against her skin. Her resolve to leave him alone was coming undone again. She wanted to know what his hand felt like on other parts of her body.

Hesitantly, she put her hand over his, causing his hand to flatten against her chest. She took a deep breath.

"I need to stop drinking or I'm going to start begging," she whispered.

For what? He wanted to ask, but didn't have the confidence to. He felt he knew the answer but he was dying to get her to say it first.

She turned her body away and he took his hand back. Despite her words, she finished the last of her drink and put it on the floor.

They sat in the warmth of the fire for a long time. Varya gave Basileus a side glance and noticed that he was looking at her as well.

"I think I'm going to go to sleep," Varya stood up and turned to her company. "Are you coming, Basileus?"

"I will," he said, resting his elbows on his legs and staring deeply into the fire. The flames matched his eyes.

Varya walked away and changed into a silk nightgown in the bathroom. She looked into the mirror as a good measurement of how drunk she was. She laughed at herself and shook her head. Her face was flushed. How much she wanted the man beyond the door was shameful. She was going to blame the alcohol for these feelings and go to sleep.

She exited the bathroom and ran straight into a bare chest as the door shut behind her. Basileus was in his normal sleeping attire - a pair of shorts.

The prince didn't care if he was a bastard for this. Maybe she would think he was more of a monster than she already did. He trapped her against the bathroom door. His hands were not touching her, but they were planted on either side of her so she couldn't get away.

"I have one more question," he said in a low voice, practically whispering.

Varya swallowed hard and her heart was beating quickly again.

"Yes?" She looked into his captivating eyes.

"Did you want to kiss me before - when we were dancing?" He had to know. No sleep would come to him if he didn't get rid of this sick curiosity once and for all.

Butterflies rose in her stomach. She had to look away. The childish urge to run and hide struck her. The way he was looking at her made her feel like the prey and he was the hunter.

"I did," she whispered.

Varya felt a positive response to her answer would be too good to be true. That's why when she felt his hands grab her waist and his body and lips come crashing into hers, her breath was completely taken away.

One hand went into his hair and the other pulled at his muscular back, feeling she couldn't get him close enough. His taut skin under her fingertips felt like heaven.

The kissing was far from innocent with both their bodies pressed so hard against each other. As she felt his tongue run along her bottom lip, she deepened the kiss, their tongues dancing where their mouths met.

Despite the alcohol in his system, he felt his senses were heightened and he could feel each detail of her body pressed against him. Her nipples covered in silk poked him in his chest and one hand went lower, exploring the curve of her backside and lifting her leg. The hand feeling his back and her generous breasts pressing against his chest were eating away at any self control he had left.

Basileus knew if they didn't stop now, they would go too far and he would become a problem that she didn't need. As much as he told himself he would never be obsessed over a woman after she took his virginity, his resolve was shaky. It was in his DNA to bond with someone who had that power over him and never let them go. She wouldn't be able to stop him if they went any further.

He had to break away from her and catch his breath. His hands didn't leave her body and his head fell back as he shut his eyes.

She leaned her head against the door behind her and watched the muscles in his neck and chest flex while he tried to calm himself down. Everything about him was alluring, but it felt like he was trying to hold back. Strangely, as much as her body was calling to him, she found comfort in his self-control.

Her hand that was once in his hair now rested on his chest and she could feel his heart beating quickly.

"Let's go to bed," she said.

As his grip loosened on her she took his hand and led him to the bed. As they climbed in, she almost pulled the pillow between them, but instead she crawled forward and settled into his arms, her back against him and her head on his shoulder. His arm rested over her waist. As they got comfortable, her eyes widened when she felt something hard poking her backside. She wasn't too innocent to know what that was, but she had never shared a bed with a man who didn't expect her to deal with his problem.

He nuzzled into her neck, offering one last kiss before he settled into his pillow.

"Goodnight, Varya," he said.

"Goodnight," she responded.

Somehow, they both drifted off to sleep despite what had just occurred.