Styxx (Dark-Hunter 22)

Styxx inclined his head to him then headed for his room. His father would really shit if he ever learned that he had yet to kiss the woman he loved. That all they'd done to date was sit and occasionally hug.

But that was more than enough for a man who'd been given so few that he remembered every one he'd ever received.

August 18, 9532 BC

Bethany smiled as Hector read his philosophy lesson to her while she reclined in the quiet circle of his warm, muscular arms. She had her hands curled around his forearm, which lay against her stomach while his chin rested on top of her head. His body was so hard and ripped, yet at the same time extremely comfortable. She loved spending afternoons with him like this. He'd read his assignments out loud and then they'd discuss the ideas for days. In all her life, she'd never met anyone more intelligent or thoughtful. Anyone more kind and humble.

Even now, his erection pressed against her back, but he didn't say a word about it. He never did. Nor did he press her for anything more than the pleasure of her company.

He was content just to hold her and talk about absolutely nothing for hours on end. She'd never known a man like him. Reaching up, she laid her fingers against his jaw so that she could feel the hard muscles there work while he spoke in that deep husky voice that soothed her better than nectar.

As she swept her hand against his lips, his erection jerked in response. Still, he read to her between gentle, playful nips to her fingers.

After a few minutes, he paused and placed his scroll to the side. He leaned back against the tree behind them and cupped her cheek in his large hand.

"Bethany?"

"Yes?"

He bit his bottom lip as he hesitated. She felt his heartbeat quicken against her shoulder blade. If she didn't know better, she'd think he was afraid of something. But her Hector was always fearless and forthright.

Hector took a deep breath before he spoke again. "Would you mind terribly if I kissed you?"

Her smile widened. "No, my sweet. I've been wanting you to for weeks now."

Still, he hesitated.

"What's wrong?"

He swallowed hard. "I've never kissed a woman before. So please, don't be offended or think badly of me if I screw it up with my ineptitude."

Her poor sweet Hector. He was so bashful at times ... but always so preciously sincere and honest. Wanting to please him, too, she pulled his lips down to hers.

Styxx growled in pleasure as her tongue swept playfully against his. Never in his life had he tasted anything better. With the most dulcet of laughs, she nipped at his lips then gave him a kiss so scorching it left him dizzy and breathless.

Bethany sank her hands into his soft curls as she explored the sweetest mouth she'd ever tasted. For a man who claimed he'd never kissed, he was exceptional at it. She could breathe him in all day.

And when he finally pulled back, he placed his thumb to her bottom lip as if savoring the feel of it.

"That was so much better than I'd imagined. Thank you." He kissed the tip of her nose then her forehead.

Closing her eyes, she snuggled back into his arms and let him hold her again. "Why are you so reserved with me, Hector?"

"What do you mean?"

"Most men wouldn't be so content with a mere kiss. Nor would they have waited so long for it. Why are you different?"

"It is not your kisses I come for, my lady. It's your tender company that means so much to me ... though now that I've had a kiss from you..." He placed a chaste one on her lips.

She laughed then gave him a much deeper kiss. Mmm ... the taste of him and the length of his long, hard body ... He was so insanely delectable. Never in her life had she wanted any man as much as she wanted this one.

Human or not.

Wanting to please him as much as he pleased her, she took his hand into hers and led it to her breast.

Styxx sucked his breath in sharply as he felt her through the soft linen and his body hardened to the point of pain. Slowly, he ran his hand over the contours of her breast then swept his thumb over the taut nipple. His body on fire, he wanted to sink himself deep inside her so badly that he could already taste it.

But he would never dishonor her like that. Never make someone cry because he'd touched them. Especially not his Bethany.

He involuntarily flinched as he remembered how he'd felt when Estes had purged the drugs from his body and he'd first realized how badly and rudely they'd used him.

Like he was nothing.

Bethany pulled back with a frown. "What's wrong, Hector?"

"What do you mean?"

"You jerked just now like something bad went through your mind. What plagues you, my lord?"

Sighing, he laid his head against hers. "I'm terribly scarred, Bethany."

"I've never felt any on you, except the one on your forearm."

Not wanting to think about the cut his father had given him, he took her hand and led it to the skin he always kept covered with his chiton and chlamys.

Bethany hesitated as she felt the puckered flesh that covered his ribs. His scars were truly deep and numerous. "What happened?"

"I was burned."

"Oh, Hector..."

"And there are more. In more private places."

Turning in his arms, she knelt between his legs. "You know I don't care."

"But I do."

She kissed his hand and offered him a bittersweet smile. "Then I will patiently wait until you trust me more. But know that I would never, ever hurt you in any way."

Styxx stared at her in awe. She was the only person in his life to say that to him, but did he dare trust her? Everyone in his life, including his twin, had betrayed him. Trust always meant profound pain....

And Bethany's would sting most of all.

Even so, he couldn't help the way he felt about her. How much she meant to him. In all the world, she was the only thing that mattered. Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her. "I love you, Bethany."

"And I love you."

"Then run away with me."

She pulled back with a frown. "What?"

"Now. Today. Let's leave this place and-"

"Hector, I can't do that. I have things I have to do here. And so do you. What would your father say?"

"I don't care."

"Yes, you do. I know you better than that. You are a man of responsibility. It's part of what I love about you. You always put the needs of others before your own."

Yes, but this one time he wanted to be completely selfish. In all his life, he'd never wanted anything the way he did this woman. For her, he'd give up everything he had and more.

"I would walk away from it all for you, Beth."

She pressed her cheek to his. "But in time you could change your mind."

"No, I won't."

"I know you mean that today. But time and circumstance have a way of mocking our best intentions, and I'm not willing to take that chance."

Sighing, he laid his head against her breasts and let her cradle him there. Her heart beat slowly against his ear while her breath fell against his skin. The scent of her warmed him more than the sun. Honestly, he never wanted to leave the circle of her arms. It was the only place he'd ever felt as if he was welcome.