Sorry this took so long to get out. I've been stressed with a million and
one midterms all within the same week. Terrible college! This chapter was
extremely difficult to write because of what happens between Mr. Jed and
Ms. Rei ::wipes sweat from brow:: but it's done and it is a mighty fine
piece of work if I do say so myself! I know that a lot of questions will
arise when you read this chapter, but have faith that I will explain them
all in the next chapter. So please don't review with questions like "Why
did blah blah happen" and "Blah Blah doesn't make sense" I promise you all
that things will work out in the end. Let me know what you think!!! I'll
try and work on getting the next chapter out faster. I was actually on a
writing frenzy while I was writing this chapter and when I wrote the last
word, I ran out of ideas! Oh no! But I do know what I want to write
about, so have no worries! ^_^ Please read and review! Thank you for
reading!! ~Lady Hino
"Land, cap," a man whispered to Jadeite as they stood on deck. "Dere she be, mi lord, and a fine piece o' land it is. Why, Lord Nephrite must make a fortune off o' this place!"
Jadeite nodded subtly then turned his attention to the opposite side of the deck where Reina stood staring back at the ocean. How in the name of the gods did her mind work? He had been the epitome of a gentleman the last three days on the ship and she had not bothered to say a single word to him. That stubborn. . .well now. . .what exactly was he to call her? He knew she was no peasant whore, for her innocence was evident in every move she made. A lady she could not be for her attitude toward some aspects of life were very much those of a princess.
Princess. . .why did that word stick itself in his mind whenever he thought of it? Why, for that matter, did the moon hold a chord to his heart? It was all too strange. He felt as though he was suffering from memory loss and now he was regaining his memory back. And why was that moon maiden of his entering his dreams more and more? And why was it now she decided to speak to him? Just the other night he thought he heard her whisper to him, yet he knew her mouth did not move for whenever he was with her, his eyes never left her. She had looked at him with sorrowful eyes and whispered, "The truth is being revealed. Yet you do not believe what you do not wish. . ." It was a damn riddle!
Jadeite put a hand to his brow and massaged the thoughts into action. "The truth is being revealed," he whispered to himself, "Yet you do not believe what you do not wish. . .Well. . .what is it I don't wish?"
"Sire?"
He turned abruptly at the voice. 'Reina, you've come back. . .' his mind cried. He shook the thought away and gave her his best glare. "Can I be of assistance, Reina?"
'You could reassure me that people do still care for me,' she wanted to say, 'you could tell me that I worry for naught.' Instead she glared back at him and stuck her chin up. "You have not forgotten my request, have you?" she asked.
Jadeite clenched the fist that lay at his thigh, "No, of course not, my lady."
She didn't even blink. "I would like it done before we reach our destination."
He could feel her neck between his hands. He wanted to shake some sense into his divine creature. "I'm afraid, my dear, that that part of your request cannot be granted."
"Well I suggest you discover some way for it to be granted."
"With all possible haste, your majesty."
Rei blinked then. He had called her "my lady" before, but never majesty. She looked stunned and she felt it. Was he merely teasing her?
Jadeite turned away from her and braced his legs apart. "You may go," he said haughtily. He heard her spin on her heel and head below deck before he allowed himself to massage his brow again. What the hell was wrong with him? He had called her majesty? And why did it seem to fit? He needed to see Nephrite. He needed to see his children.
"We've docked, captain.shall I have your trunks sent ahead?"
Jadeite turned and gave weak smile to the man. "Please," he said softly, then made his way to the passageway leading below deck. He would break the hostility between Reina and he for a few moments so that he could escort her down the gangplank and onto shore.
"Jadeite!"
Jadeite turned toward the voice and laughed aloud. "Nephrite! What are you doing here?" he called as he raced to the railing. "I didn't believe you would get my missive until after I arrived!"
"You idiot! If you send Ares to do a job for you, do you not believe it will get done as fast as lightening?"
Jadeite smiled again and then closed his eyes. He would be well now. Nephrite and he were as close as the prince and Kunzite. "I'll be down in a thrice, Neph," he called down to the man.
But there was no need to. Before Jadeite could blink, Nephrite was standing on deck beside Jadeite and clapping him on the shoulder. "You were always the slow one," he said lightly.
Jadeite smiled ruefully and then turned to look along the coast. "I'm very pleased that you have allowed me to come and stay with you, Neph."
Nephrite nodded and then looked hard at Jadeite. "I hope you realize that there is a good chance we will be asked to attend the search. Endymion is frantic with worry over her disappearance and so is Serenity. I'm not sure how long they will be able to keep all rumors at bay."
Jadeite looked to his friend as if he were crazed. "What in the universe are you talking about, Neph?" he asked his friend with a slight grin.
There was surprise and confusion showing in Nephrite's eyes as he responded. "The missing princess, Jadeite. . ." he said slowly.
"What missing princess?"
"The princess of Mars was reported missing over a month ago, Jadeite! Did you not get the missive Endymion sent? Did Endymion not visit you and tell you to be on the look out for the girl?"
"Nephrite, is this some kind of game you play with me?" Jadeite asked looking off into the distance. Princess of Mars. What was that girl's name? He had not met her, but he had seen the other princesses. Or had he seen her before? His mind worked frantically, and yet he still could not place the name with a face. "I'm sorry, Neph, it's just that I don't remember receiving anything about the missing princess."
Nephrite stroked his smooth chin in thought and looked intently at his friend. "Jadeite. . .you don't make much sense. Endymion sent out a missive the day after the girl disappeared and was very specific of what we were to do."
Shaking his head, Jadeite looked out toward the sea and breathed deep. He didn't believe he received any missive from his prince. But then again, he seemed to be forgetting things as of late. Wasn't it just these past few days that he'd been having strange dreams of his maiden? "The truth is being revealed. . .yet you do not believe what you do not wish. . ."
"I beg your pardon?"
"What do you make of that, Neph?" Jadeite asked softly.
"I would believe that it means exactly what is means. There is truth erasing falsehoods and yet, you do not wish to believe the truth that presents itself."
Jadeite pressed a finger to his temple and then shook his head. "I have some business to take care of, Neph. . .would you mind terribly if I went on to your palace alone?"
Nephrite looked closely at his friend and heaved a sigh. "I hope you know what you're doing, old man. Your brain is working in the most peculiar way at the moment. Just know that when you get to my palace, we set out for Endymion's to help him solve this riddle."
Jadeite nodded and then strode away quickly. There was too much flowing through his head. "You do not believe what you do not wish. . ." he repeated over and over to himself. What did it mean?
* * *
"Why did you decide to leave after the crew, sire?" Rei asked as she rode beside Jadeite. He hadn't been in the best of moods since that man had come on deck. She wasn't sure who he was, because she could only see his back and she was looking from a distance, but she thought she caught sight of a long wave of hair flowing over his shoulder.
He refused to answer her. His mind was pounding with thoughts. It seemed as though he started remembering things he wasn't even sure happened. He looked to his side at Reina and frowned. She seemed more familiar than usual.
"Sire?" she called softly.
Jadeite shook his thoughts away and smiled at her. "We left after the crew because I did not feel like being with them on my journey. I wanted to be alone," he said sweetly.
"Then why am I with you?" she asked him with one of those delectable eyebrows raised.
Jadeite shrugged his broad shoulders and looked ahead. "It would not sit well with me knowing that I put an innocent lady in the care of sea- ruffians."
Rei raised the eyebrow slightly higher and turned to look ahead of her as well. What was wrong with him? He was acting as though he did not care a whit about her. She clamped down on her growing anger and turned to smile gently at him. "Why is it you did not bring any others to protect you? You are a prince, are you not?" she teased.
Jadeite smiled and then shrugged his shoulders again. "I do not need protection."
Rei snorted softly then turned to look at his profile. He was still grinning slightly and his eyes were closed, he looked to be at peace. She smiled warmly at the thought. It was almost as if they were-
"Who are you?"
She spun her head around quickly and looked at him with wide eyes. "I beg your pardon?"
Jadeite opened his eyes and turned his head slowly toward her. "Who are you?" he asked lazily.
Rei bit her lip and looked down at his hands that were gracefully holding the reins of his great black stallion. Why did he look so relaxed about everything all the time? She opened her mouth to reply, then shut it quickly. She wanted to badly to tell him who she was that her heart pounded with every step her mare took and her head spun with worry at what he would say. She hated to admit it, but he was becoming a great friend and she didn't know what she would when things began to be revealed. "Sire. . ."
He waved his hand in the direction of the sky and turned his head away. "There is a crisp wind heading our way and I can see the gray clouds swarming over the hills in front of us.I think it wise that we find somewhere to wait out the storm," he turned to her then and gave her a very sad smile that made her heart twist in knots, "What do you think, Reina?"
She turned away from that sad smile and nodded, "It would most likely be for the best."
Jadeite nodded and then looked into the dense forest that lined the road. "The good thing is that in Spain, the rains are never as cold as England so there's no reason for worrying about dying from cold chills."
She nodded again and followed him when he steered his horse into the forest. "I remember coming here a lot when I first met my friend. We used to run through the forests, training to our best ability, trying to escape the rigors of palace life. Spain is a wonderful place to be," he said as he led her through the foliage. "I remember that we once ran so far into the forest that we stumbled upon a cave of sorts. . .if I recall where it is, we should be safe from this oncoming storm."
Rei stared at the back of his neck and then looked up at the sky. It was getting darker. If her senses had not become idle since she'd been with the prince, then this was no ordinary storm that was going to hit them. "Sire. . ." she whispered.
He turned slowly in his saddle and smiled at her, "Yes, Reina?"
"This storm feels-looks like it's going to get bad. . ." she said softly.
Jadeite smiled gently at her and nodded. "I agree," he said before turning back around and then frowning. How did she figure that one out? He closed his eyes and reached out with as much energy as he dared. This was going to be a terrible tempest, he could feel the chill in his bones and he could smell the metallic lightening, no. . .this was not just some passing shower. "This way, Reina," he said, steering his stallion to the right.
It was a small clearing with a cave at one end. The trees provided an ample amount of protection from the rain and, from what her senses picked up on the dark hole in the side of that hill, the cave would hold the two of them comfortable.
Jadeite dismounted before his horse even stopped and tethered him to a tree close to the cave. He turned to her quickly and pulled her mare to a halt. "How do you fare, Reina?" he whispered as he held out his hands for her.
She gently placed her hands on his broad shoulders and let him grasp her waist. "I'm well, sire," she said softly as he lifted her off of the saddle. She was aware of the way he let her slip down his body before he let her go. Just feeling the hardness of his muscle made her heart speed up, yet she ignored it and helped in tie her mare to the same tree he had tied his stallion to. She then lifted the saddlebags off of her mare's back while he did the same.
"Come," he said as he made his way into the dark cavern. "It is dry, at least," he said dropping the bags down near the front entrance. "You unpack these and see what you can find and I will go in search of dry wood before this storm hits."
Rei nodded and knelt down beside the four bags. She found another set of clothing for the two of them as he made his way outside and she found three loaves of bread and dried meat, enough to last them at least three days, and a few thick blankets.
When Jadeite came back a few minutes later, his arms laden with wood, Rei couldn't help but smile at him. She didn't know where the smile came from, but she found that it was easy enough to give. "Do you need help, sire?" she asked pleasantly as he came striding into the cave.
Jadeite smiled slightly and then dropped the wood onto the cave floor beside her. "If you wouldn't mind too much, Reina, I would appreciate it if you could start the fire while I went out to get more wood."
Rei smiled at him and nodded her head as he made his way to the mouth of the cave again and left. "You want me to start a fire?" she asked herself as she looked toward the pile of wood. She laughed softly and stood. "You want me to start a fire?" more laughter escaped from her delicate mouth as she waved a hand over the wood. Somewhere in her mind she knew she shouldn't be doing this, that there was a possibility that Jadeite would walk back into the cave and see her doing this magic and then he's know, but she couldn't help herself. She hadn't used her powers in so long. Sure she did this and that, moved a book from the table to her bed, opened a door without using her hand, but she hadn't been allowed to truly use her powers without feeling as though people were watching.
She smiled gently as she waved her hand over the firewood. It built itself together to form the perfect bed and the fire that sparked from her hands and landed on the wood was as beautiful as a swarm of butterflies drifting from one flower to the next. Her hands moved so swiftly, so gracefully, it was hard to concentrate on what she was doing until it was done. The fire was brilliant, bright and hot and so many different shades of orange and red that it almost blinded the eyes.
And Jadeite's eyes were blinded. His eyes were ringed with fire, but not the fire that blazed before him.
"Fire. . ." he whispered, "Fire from her fingertips jumping onto the woods as if that was its life ambition."
He leaned back against the outer cave wall and breathed deeply. She hadn't seen him. He had come back to give her his flint and he had found her standing before the pile of wood with a gleam in her eyes that he could not name. Then her hands, her lovely dainty hands, moved over that pile of rough wood and the wood began to float. Nay, it flew! It was flying through the air, arranging itself neatly and stones flew from corners of the cave to encircle the wood. It reminded him of his mother when he was a young boy. She had waved her hands over his wooden blocks and they piled themselves into a pyramid as quickly as lightening. And now this exotic creature he housed moved her hands over the wood.and then the stones. . .and the fire!
The fire.it was unlike any fire he had ever seen before. It was so incredibly brilliant, so breathtaking. It was. . .it was simply and purely magic and she had done it without even being aware that he was there. He couldn't comprehend. His brain couldn't place the image with her. His mouth couldn't form the words. She was a magical being.her fire was amazing! Her psychic abilities astounding! She reminded him of the Queen of Mars.
No. . .no, it couldn't be. He shook his head and pressed a palm to his forehead.
The Queen of Mars. She was a beautiful woman. He had met her once a long time ago. He hadn't given her his full attention when she was introduced, he hadn't given any of the planetary queens his attention, he was too busy starting out the window behind the Queen Serenity's shoulder. There was a beautiful silver landscape spread out behind her and his fingers itched to paint it. He hadn't thought of anything else. But now he was thinking of something else. That queen. . .what was her name?
He closed his eyes and let his mind wander. He took another deep breath and let his mind fall back years and years until he saw the Queen of Mars standing regally in front of the hundreds of people gathered in the throne room of the Moon. He turned his past self to the right and forced himself to stare hard at the woman.
Time froze.
Hair as dark as midnight. Eyes as pure a black as a hole with no end and though they were not the eyes of his goddess in the cave, they held the same temper, the same fire. Her hair was pulled back into a long braid and her hands were folded in front of her. She was beautiful. . .and then he forced himself to search the room.
This had been his first time venturing to the moon. He had completely forgotten, but then he remembered that he had been all of thirteen years of age. His father had been invited by the Queen Serenity because he had been an essential part of a peace treaty between two of the stars that he owned. There had been a disagreement and plans for war.
The thirteen-year-old Jadeite shook his head and turned to his left to seek out the other people in the crowd. He needed to be certain, he needed to know. True it was twelve years earlier, but he knew that what he saw would give him his answers.
Seven-year-old Princess of Mars stood silently next to her nanny, a big woman with gentle eyes. The little girl was the spitting image of her mother, but had her father's sparkling violet eyes.
The image faded too quickly and Jadeite was flung from the past into the future so fast he fell to his knees. "No," he breathed. It wasn't possible. How had he forgotten?
His head ached and his body was shaking. He shouldn't have tried that spell. It was so dangerous to attempt. He had only done it once before and that was because the information that had been obtained by doing it had saved a friend. But the spell was dangerous. He had heard tales of men and women who performed the spell and had traveled into the past in the minds, but had never returned. Their minds had been stuck in the past and they could not return. Jadeite gave a prayer of thanks to the Gods that he had come out of the spell when he did. The repercussions were not to be looked forward. He knew that his head would hurt severely for several hours and his body would continue shaking for the rest of the night, but what had he learned?
Reina was the princess of Mars. She had to be! There was no one in the universe who looked like the Queen of Mars. There were only two women who had hair that color and eyes that sparked with that same fire.
He had been holding the Martian Princess captive!
He was beyond shocked now, he was worried and angry and frustrated. How could she? How could she lie to him like that? He had been the epitome of kind to her and she lied to him! He wanted to strangle her and kiss her at the same time he was so frustrated. What would he do when he reached Nephrite's palace? And why was he only now remembering that he had been to the moon when he was thirteen?
'The truth is being revealed. . .yet you do not believe what you do not wish. . .'
Jadeite closed his eyes. It all made sense.
He shook his head slightly and grimaced at the pain. He would have to face her. He needed to return her to her home and end the guilt that was beginning to wash over him.
He slowly got up from his position on the ground and made his way to the front of the cave. She was sitting on her knees beside the fire; a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and another folded neatly beside her. She was lovely; so incredibly lovely.
She turned just as he set a foot into the cave. "Sire! I was beginning to worry, you've been gone for almost an hour and look, you haven't returned with one stick of wood!"
He stared at her hard. How had he missed it? Just looking at her now, he saw the regal bearing in her shoulders, the arrogance in her eyes, the stubborn jaw, the fiery eyes; there was no doubt to him now that she was a princess. His princess.
He reeled back from that thought and shook his head only to wince once again at the pain. "I'm sorry to have worried you," he said harshly.
Rei stood and made her way to him. "Are you all right?" she asked softly.
Jadeite moved away from her and sat himself beside the fire. "I am well."
Rei cocked her head at him and then followed him. "Sire?"
"Leave me be, woman!" he ground out. He didn't miss the fire that sparked to life in her eyes; fire that resembled the one before him.
"Have it your way," she said and moved away from him to the other side of the cave. She folded her hands across her chest and looked straight at the fire.
Jadeite pressed a finger to his temple and closed his eyes. How was he going to do this? He needed her to admit to it. He had to hear her say it. He knew that deep down he hoped that she would laugh at him and tell him that he was insane, that she couldn't possibly be this princess he spoke of.
He opened his eyes and looked directly at her, his hands folded in front of him. "Reina. . ." he whispered.
She didn't bother looking at him. What was making him so moody? "Sire?" she replied tartly.
He visibly winced at her tone. "I'd like to apologize for my behavior. I'm not feeling as well as I would have you and myself believe."
She just nodded at him.
He took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I thank you for starting the fire, Reina," he said gently, "I am curious though. . .how did you manage to start the fire? I realized after I left that I had the only flint with me."
Rei finally looked at him. She hadn't thought about how she was going to respond to that question. It was time to come up with some sort of fabulous lie. "I was taught how to start a fire using only wood. Rubbing sticks together does create fire, believe it or not."
"Oh, I believe you. It's just that every fire I have seen that was made with just wood was also made with a touch of magic. But perhaps I jump to conclusions too quickly. You cannot be of a magical family, can you?"
Rei mentally tied a strip of fabric around his mouth. "No, I'm not magic."
"Then I'm curious to know where your phoenix came from. Usually magical birds reside only with magical humans."
"Not in this case."
"You lie terribly."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said you lie terribly. Do you actually believe that I would believe you?"
Rei stood up and marched to the front of the cave. "I don't know what you're talking about," she spat at him.
"Do not let anger over take you, child, it is not becoming on you," he said softly. Though he knew he lied himself. She was a sight when she was riled.
Rei spun around on her heel and pointed a finger at him. "You must have hit your head, that's why you wince whenever you move it. You must have hit your head and gone completely daft."
Jadeite stood quickly then wavered a bit. "I did no such thing."
"You must have if you can stand there and tell me that I come from a magical house! You are crazy!"
Jadeite marched over to her and grabbed her shoulders. "Just tell me the truth!" he ground out.
"Why?"
Jadeite glared at her. "Because. . ." he began, but he didn't finish, he had hauled her up against him and was kissing her.
Rei didn't know whether to be angry at his insolence or to bask in his kiss. She chose the latter and leaned heavily into him. He was so incredibly amazing.
Jadeite gentled his hold on her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her back. He shouldn't be doing this. He should be yelling, demanding that she confess to who she was, but it was so hard to concentrate when those beautiful red lips were yelling at him in anger and that lovely pale skin was flushed with ire. He wanted her lips to be flushed with desire for him and he wanted her skin to be glowing with hunger for him. . .only and always for him.
He stopped thinking, because the thoughts made him angry, and pressed his tongue to her closed lips. "Open for me, firebird," he breathed. She did and he plunged his tongue into her sweet mouth. She tasted like honey and strawberries. . .it was intoxicating. He pulled her closer to him and felt her body pressed against his and a surge of desire unlike any he had ever felt before flowed through him like the fire beside behind them.
His tongue swept in and out of her mouth, imitating the mating ritual so well that she nearly fell to her knees. She grasped his forearms and kissed him back with as much passion as he was kissing her.
He thought he would burst right there. She was beginning to take initiative and it made him hot with longing. "You're perfect," he groaned into her mouth.
"So are you," she sighed.
His hands began to frantically work the laces of her bodice. "You don't know. . ." he whispered as he pulled the laces loose and slipped his hands inside to stroke her back. "You have no idea. . ."
"About what?" she asked trailing a hand down his chest and leaning her head against his shoulder.
He shook the thought from his brain and raised her chin up with his hand. "I make no sense," he said as his mouth descended on hears again. He slanted his mouth first one way and then another and his tongue dipped in and out faster and faster. Slowly he brought his hands up to her shoulders and pushed the gown down to her waist. He ripped her chemise in his haste to get her undressed and when he finally felt bare skin against his fingertips he groaned harshly and began backing her against the cave wall.
He tore his mouth away from hers to gaze down at her. "Gods have mercy. . ." he said as he raised a hand to touch one of her pale breasts. "You are more beautiful than any goddess. . ."
He mesmerized her and her stare followed his hand as he stroked a finger over the top of her breast, skimming her nipple as he passed. She closed her eyes when she saw his big, golden hand wrap fully around her and she let out a breathy sigh when he began to knead and massage. "Jadeite. . ." she groaned, her hands gripping the sleeves of his tunic.
He sought out her mouth again and kissed her hard. "Yes. . ." he said softly. He moved his other hand to her thigh and lazily drew circles around and around until he was inches away from her heat. The fabric caught in his hand, yet he ignored it as he pressed a finger inward. "What do you want, firebird?"
"Jed. . ." she sighed deeply.
He felt his body respond powerfully to her voice then, he was harder than he had ever been in his very experienced life. He looked deeply into her eyes and gave her a small grin. "You've never called me that before." he said gently.
Rei's glazed eyes met his and her breath caught when she felt his finger press upward. She had never been touched there before and to have a man- nay not just any man, this was Jed-touch the very center of her being made her crazy with longing. She felt even more heat sink low in her belly and though she didn't comprehend, she knew it would lead to something incredible. Unconsciously she arched her back and moved her hips closer to his searching hand. "Please. . ." she whispered.
"What do you need, firebird?" Jadeite asked as he nuzzled her neck. He felt her shudder anew with the sensation and he found himself smiling. He nipped her collarbone and then pulled her dress high up on her legs and thrust one of his hard thighs between her soft ones. He felt her press against him and he groaned in response to her innocent movements.
She pressed her forehead against his shoulder and panted deeply. "Jed. . .I. . ."
"Yes, sweetheart, I'm here for you," he said to her.
Her response was to raise both her hands to the laces of his tunic. She was shaking and she hated herself for it, but she wanted to see him again. She wanted to feel his skin as she did that one night on the ship. It had been pure bliss and she wanted to feel that same bliss now.
He watched her intently as she raised the hem of his tunic over his head and let it fall behind him. She stared at him for a brief instant before she slowly slipped her arms around his back and pulled him to her. He had to close his eyes and grit his teeth against the pleasure he felt. They were pressed against each other, skin to skin, and it felt so unbelievably good that he almost lost himself then and there.
He wanted to taste her. He wanted to come deeply inside her and bring her to heights he knew she had never been to before. He wanted to hold her while she slept. He wanted to stroke her hair when she cried or when she became angry with him. Instead, he lowered his head and took one of her lovely, rosy nipples into his mouth. He could feel his control beginning to dissolve, but he held onto it with all that he had. The thought didn't even cross his mind that he should go quickly with her, only the best for his firebird.
She almost came apart when his mouth took her nipple. She could feel his tongue running across the hard bud and her mind blanked completely. She raised her hands to his head and treaded her fingers through his hair. "Jed. . ." she groaned again.
He raised his head long enough to see that she was completely gone with her passion. She was beautiful. Her skin glowed with her ardor and he wanted nothing more than to make love to her. He had never felt such a powerful lust before and it nearly scared him.
It was that thought that made him pause. He knew he couldn't continue, as much as he wanted to. He knelt on the hard cave ground and pulled her with him. "You are so amazingly beautiful," he whispered as he stroked her cheek. "You don't understand how much I want you, Reina. . ." he said gently. He kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly to him. "I can't do this. . ." he said. He let her go and moved away from her.
Rei knelt there, staring after him with passion glazed eyes and he felt his body responding so strongly that he had to grab onto the thread that held his control in check. "Don't look at me so, Reina.I will jump on you and not even an attack from a phoenix would stop me from taking your virginity and making you completely and utterly mine. I just can't do that to you, firebird."
She lowered her head and took several deep breaths before she realized that the cold air that was gliding into the cave was also gliding over her bare skin. She gasped softly and pulled the bodice of her gown back on then turned away from him, the laces still flapping on her back.
Jadeite knew he shouldn't touch her, he knew that it would only cause problems if he did, but he couldn't help it. She was kneeling on a hard cave floor; her arms wrapped around her and her shoulders slumped. He moved back behind her and grasped her to him. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm so sorry. . ." he chanted over and over as he rocked her back and forth. "I had to. You don't know what would have happened. I'm sorry, sweetheart, so damned sorry. . ."
Rei closed her eyes and felt a warmth flood through her when he said the endearment. It came to him without thinking. Did he call all of his mistresses sweetheart? The thought made her come out of her daze of passion and move away from him. "Don't call me that," she said as she grabbed one of the blankets and pulled it around her.
She chanced a glance at the man kneeling on the floor, his beautiful bronzed bare chest gleaming in the fire light. She turned away and stared blankly at the walls of the cave.
Jadeite felt a small spurt of anger at her tone, but shook off the thought and stood up to get his tunic. "It was a mistake and I won't let it happen again," he said with more anger than he felt.
"I hope not. I may just have to take this up with the King," she said then mentally kicked herself for even uttering the idiotic response.
All the memories of the past few hours came flooding back to Jadeite and he ground his teeth in frustration. He had to act now. He spun around quickly and stalked over to her without pausing at the apprehension in her eyes. He grasped her shoulders harshly and then hauled her up until he was nose to nose with her. "Tell me who the hell you are," he said with deadly calm.
Rei had never seen him this angry and she didn't want to have to confront it, but it was the only way to keep her identity secret. She knew that if she didn't then all hellfire would break loose. If her father and mother heard that an Earth prince had taken liberties with her and was holding her captive, they would wage war without even consulting Queen Serenity. Why didn't she just tell him sooner? Why hadn't she told him when she first stumbled upon him?
'Because you didn't want to.' The realization hit her hard and she felt tears spring to her eyes. No, she hadn't wanted to tell him. She found him to be one of the most interesting men she had ever met and she unconsciously wanted to become close to him.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" she shouted back at him. She could feel herself breaking inside. She could feel her control shattering.
He gave her a little shake then let pushed her away from him. He visibly winced when he heard her gasp as she hit the cave wall. "Why must you lie always?" he asked with pain laced through his words.
Rei turned her head away and was silent.
"Why can't you just say it?"
Because as soon as I say it. . .things will change, she said to herself.
"Just say it. . .please. . ."
She closed her eyes and hated the tear that slipped down her cheek.
"You're the Princess of Mars. . .aren't you?" he asked.
There was so much pain and confusion in his voice that she couldn't look at him. Yet she knew she had to answer him; she owed him that much. It was all over now. "Yes," she said so softly that he had to strain to hear her. But he didn't have to strain, he already knew it to be the truth. "I am the Princess of Mars," she said, her voice wavered.
And as Jadeite stood there staring at her, anger, agony, and bewilderment writ clearly on his face, they heard shouts and they felt the song of the phoenix slip over them.
"Land, cap," a man whispered to Jadeite as they stood on deck. "Dere she be, mi lord, and a fine piece o' land it is. Why, Lord Nephrite must make a fortune off o' this place!"
Jadeite nodded subtly then turned his attention to the opposite side of the deck where Reina stood staring back at the ocean. How in the name of the gods did her mind work? He had been the epitome of a gentleman the last three days on the ship and she had not bothered to say a single word to him. That stubborn. . .well now. . .what exactly was he to call her? He knew she was no peasant whore, for her innocence was evident in every move she made. A lady she could not be for her attitude toward some aspects of life were very much those of a princess.
Princess. . .why did that word stick itself in his mind whenever he thought of it? Why, for that matter, did the moon hold a chord to his heart? It was all too strange. He felt as though he was suffering from memory loss and now he was regaining his memory back. And why was that moon maiden of his entering his dreams more and more? And why was it now she decided to speak to him? Just the other night he thought he heard her whisper to him, yet he knew her mouth did not move for whenever he was with her, his eyes never left her. She had looked at him with sorrowful eyes and whispered, "The truth is being revealed. Yet you do not believe what you do not wish. . ." It was a damn riddle!
Jadeite put a hand to his brow and massaged the thoughts into action. "The truth is being revealed," he whispered to himself, "Yet you do not believe what you do not wish. . .Well. . .what is it I don't wish?"
"Sire?"
He turned abruptly at the voice. 'Reina, you've come back. . .' his mind cried. He shook the thought away and gave her his best glare. "Can I be of assistance, Reina?"
'You could reassure me that people do still care for me,' she wanted to say, 'you could tell me that I worry for naught.' Instead she glared back at him and stuck her chin up. "You have not forgotten my request, have you?" she asked.
Jadeite clenched the fist that lay at his thigh, "No, of course not, my lady."
She didn't even blink. "I would like it done before we reach our destination."
He could feel her neck between his hands. He wanted to shake some sense into his divine creature. "I'm afraid, my dear, that that part of your request cannot be granted."
"Well I suggest you discover some way for it to be granted."
"With all possible haste, your majesty."
Rei blinked then. He had called her "my lady" before, but never majesty. She looked stunned and she felt it. Was he merely teasing her?
Jadeite turned away from her and braced his legs apart. "You may go," he said haughtily. He heard her spin on her heel and head below deck before he allowed himself to massage his brow again. What the hell was wrong with him? He had called her majesty? And why did it seem to fit? He needed to see Nephrite. He needed to see his children.
"We've docked, captain.shall I have your trunks sent ahead?"
Jadeite turned and gave weak smile to the man. "Please," he said softly, then made his way to the passageway leading below deck. He would break the hostility between Reina and he for a few moments so that he could escort her down the gangplank and onto shore.
"Jadeite!"
Jadeite turned toward the voice and laughed aloud. "Nephrite! What are you doing here?" he called as he raced to the railing. "I didn't believe you would get my missive until after I arrived!"
"You idiot! If you send Ares to do a job for you, do you not believe it will get done as fast as lightening?"
Jadeite smiled again and then closed his eyes. He would be well now. Nephrite and he were as close as the prince and Kunzite. "I'll be down in a thrice, Neph," he called down to the man.
But there was no need to. Before Jadeite could blink, Nephrite was standing on deck beside Jadeite and clapping him on the shoulder. "You were always the slow one," he said lightly.
Jadeite smiled ruefully and then turned to look along the coast. "I'm very pleased that you have allowed me to come and stay with you, Neph."
Nephrite nodded and then looked hard at Jadeite. "I hope you realize that there is a good chance we will be asked to attend the search. Endymion is frantic with worry over her disappearance and so is Serenity. I'm not sure how long they will be able to keep all rumors at bay."
Jadeite looked to his friend as if he were crazed. "What in the universe are you talking about, Neph?" he asked his friend with a slight grin.
There was surprise and confusion showing in Nephrite's eyes as he responded. "The missing princess, Jadeite. . ." he said slowly.
"What missing princess?"
"The princess of Mars was reported missing over a month ago, Jadeite! Did you not get the missive Endymion sent? Did Endymion not visit you and tell you to be on the look out for the girl?"
"Nephrite, is this some kind of game you play with me?" Jadeite asked looking off into the distance. Princess of Mars. What was that girl's name? He had not met her, but he had seen the other princesses. Or had he seen her before? His mind worked frantically, and yet he still could not place the name with a face. "I'm sorry, Neph, it's just that I don't remember receiving anything about the missing princess."
Nephrite stroked his smooth chin in thought and looked intently at his friend. "Jadeite. . .you don't make much sense. Endymion sent out a missive the day after the girl disappeared and was very specific of what we were to do."
Shaking his head, Jadeite looked out toward the sea and breathed deep. He didn't believe he received any missive from his prince. But then again, he seemed to be forgetting things as of late. Wasn't it just these past few days that he'd been having strange dreams of his maiden? "The truth is being revealed. . .yet you do not believe what you do not wish. . ."
"I beg your pardon?"
"What do you make of that, Neph?" Jadeite asked softly.
"I would believe that it means exactly what is means. There is truth erasing falsehoods and yet, you do not wish to believe the truth that presents itself."
Jadeite pressed a finger to his temple and then shook his head. "I have some business to take care of, Neph. . .would you mind terribly if I went on to your palace alone?"
Nephrite looked closely at his friend and heaved a sigh. "I hope you know what you're doing, old man. Your brain is working in the most peculiar way at the moment. Just know that when you get to my palace, we set out for Endymion's to help him solve this riddle."
Jadeite nodded and then strode away quickly. There was too much flowing through his head. "You do not believe what you do not wish. . ." he repeated over and over to himself. What did it mean?
* * *
"Why did you decide to leave after the crew, sire?" Rei asked as she rode beside Jadeite. He hadn't been in the best of moods since that man had come on deck. She wasn't sure who he was, because she could only see his back and she was looking from a distance, but she thought she caught sight of a long wave of hair flowing over his shoulder.
He refused to answer her. His mind was pounding with thoughts. It seemed as though he started remembering things he wasn't even sure happened. He looked to his side at Reina and frowned. She seemed more familiar than usual.
"Sire?" she called softly.
Jadeite shook his thoughts away and smiled at her. "We left after the crew because I did not feel like being with them on my journey. I wanted to be alone," he said sweetly.
"Then why am I with you?" she asked him with one of those delectable eyebrows raised.
Jadeite shrugged his broad shoulders and looked ahead. "It would not sit well with me knowing that I put an innocent lady in the care of sea- ruffians."
Rei raised the eyebrow slightly higher and turned to look ahead of her as well. What was wrong with him? He was acting as though he did not care a whit about her. She clamped down on her growing anger and turned to smile gently at him. "Why is it you did not bring any others to protect you? You are a prince, are you not?" she teased.
Jadeite smiled and then shrugged his shoulders again. "I do not need protection."
Rei snorted softly then turned to look at his profile. He was still grinning slightly and his eyes were closed, he looked to be at peace. She smiled warmly at the thought. It was almost as if they were-
"Who are you?"
She spun her head around quickly and looked at him with wide eyes. "I beg your pardon?"
Jadeite opened his eyes and turned his head slowly toward her. "Who are you?" he asked lazily.
Rei bit her lip and looked down at his hands that were gracefully holding the reins of his great black stallion. Why did he look so relaxed about everything all the time? She opened her mouth to reply, then shut it quickly. She wanted to badly to tell him who she was that her heart pounded with every step her mare took and her head spun with worry at what he would say. She hated to admit it, but he was becoming a great friend and she didn't know what she would when things began to be revealed. "Sire. . ."
He waved his hand in the direction of the sky and turned his head away. "There is a crisp wind heading our way and I can see the gray clouds swarming over the hills in front of us.I think it wise that we find somewhere to wait out the storm," he turned to her then and gave her a very sad smile that made her heart twist in knots, "What do you think, Reina?"
She turned away from that sad smile and nodded, "It would most likely be for the best."
Jadeite nodded and then looked into the dense forest that lined the road. "The good thing is that in Spain, the rains are never as cold as England so there's no reason for worrying about dying from cold chills."
She nodded again and followed him when he steered his horse into the forest. "I remember coming here a lot when I first met my friend. We used to run through the forests, training to our best ability, trying to escape the rigors of palace life. Spain is a wonderful place to be," he said as he led her through the foliage. "I remember that we once ran so far into the forest that we stumbled upon a cave of sorts. . .if I recall where it is, we should be safe from this oncoming storm."
Rei stared at the back of his neck and then looked up at the sky. It was getting darker. If her senses had not become idle since she'd been with the prince, then this was no ordinary storm that was going to hit them. "Sire. . ." she whispered.
He turned slowly in his saddle and smiled at her, "Yes, Reina?"
"This storm feels-looks like it's going to get bad. . ." she said softly.
Jadeite smiled gently at her and nodded. "I agree," he said before turning back around and then frowning. How did she figure that one out? He closed his eyes and reached out with as much energy as he dared. This was going to be a terrible tempest, he could feel the chill in his bones and he could smell the metallic lightening, no. . .this was not just some passing shower. "This way, Reina," he said, steering his stallion to the right.
It was a small clearing with a cave at one end. The trees provided an ample amount of protection from the rain and, from what her senses picked up on the dark hole in the side of that hill, the cave would hold the two of them comfortable.
Jadeite dismounted before his horse even stopped and tethered him to a tree close to the cave. He turned to her quickly and pulled her mare to a halt. "How do you fare, Reina?" he whispered as he held out his hands for her.
She gently placed her hands on his broad shoulders and let him grasp her waist. "I'm well, sire," she said softly as he lifted her off of the saddle. She was aware of the way he let her slip down his body before he let her go. Just feeling the hardness of his muscle made her heart speed up, yet she ignored it and helped in tie her mare to the same tree he had tied his stallion to. She then lifted the saddlebags off of her mare's back while he did the same.
"Come," he said as he made his way into the dark cavern. "It is dry, at least," he said dropping the bags down near the front entrance. "You unpack these and see what you can find and I will go in search of dry wood before this storm hits."
Rei nodded and knelt down beside the four bags. She found another set of clothing for the two of them as he made his way outside and she found three loaves of bread and dried meat, enough to last them at least three days, and a few thick blankets.
When Jadeite came back a few minutes later, his arms laden with wood, Rei couldn't help but smile at him. She didn't know where the smile came from, but she found that it was easy enough to give. "Do you need help, sire?" she asked pleasantly as he came striding into the cave.
Jadeite smiled slightly and then dropped the wood onto the cave floor beside her. "If you wouldn't mind too much, Reina, I would appreciate it if you could start the fire while I went out to get more wood."
Rei smiled at him and nodded her head as he made his way to the mouth of the cave again and left. "You want me to start a fire?" she asked herself as she looked toward the pile of wood. She laughed softly and stood. "You want me to start a fire?" more laughter escaped from her delicate mouth as she waved a hand over the wood. Somewhere in her mind she knew she shouldn't be doing this, that there was a possibility that Jadeite would walk back into the cave and see her doing this magic and then he's know, but she couldn't help herself. She hadn't used her powers in so long. Sure she did this and that, moved a book from the table to her bed, opened a door without using her hand, but she hadn't been allowed to truly use her powers without feeling as though people were watching.
She smiled gently as she waved her hand over the firewood. It built itself together to form the perfect bed and the fire that sparked from her hands and landed on the wood was as beautiful as a swarm of butterflies drifting from one flower to the next. Her hands moved so swiftly, so gracefully, it was hard to concentrate on what she was doing until it was done. The fire was brilliant, bright and hot and so many different shades of orange and red that it almost blinded the eyes.
And Jadeite's eyes were blinded. His eyes were ringed with fire, but not the fire that blazed before him.
"Fire. . ." he whispered, "Fire from her fingertips jumping onto the woods as if that was its life ambition."
He leaned back against the outer cave wall and breathed deeply. She hadn't seen him. He had come back to give her his flint and he had found her standing before the pile of wood with a gleam in her eyes that he could not name. Then her hands, her lovely dainty hands, moved over that pile of rough wood and the wood began to float. Nay, it flew! It was flying through the air, arranging itself neatly and stones flew from corners of the cave to encircle the wood. It reminded him of his mother when he was a young boy. She had waved her hands over his wooden blocks and they piled themselves into a pyramid as quickly as lightening. And now this exotic creature he housed moved her hands over the wood.and then the stones. . .and the fire!
The fire.it was unlike any fire he had ever seen before. It was so incredibly brilliant, so breathtaking. It was. . .it was simply and purely magic and she had done it without even being aware that he was there. He couldn't comprehend. His brain couldn't place the image with her. His mouth couldn't form the words. She was a magical being.her fire was amazing! Her psychic abilities astounding! She reminded him of the Queen of Mars.
No. . .no, it couldn't be. He shook his head and pressed a palm to his forehead.
The Queen of Mars. She was a beautiful woman. He had met her once a long time ago. He hadn't given her his full attention when she was introduced, he hadn't given any of the planetary queens his attention, he was too busy starting out the window behind the Queen Serenity's shoulder. There was a beautiful silver landscape spread out behind her and his fingers itched to paint it. He hadn't thought of anything else. But now he was thinking of something else. That queen. . .what was her name?
He closed his eyes and let his mind wander. He took another deep breath and let his mind fall back years and years until he saw the Queen of Mars standing regally in front of the hundreds of people gathered in the throne room of the Moon. He turned his past self to the right and forced himself to stare hard at the woman.
Time froze.
Hair as dark as midnight. Eyes as pure a black as a hole with no end and though they were not the eyes of his goddess in the cave, they held the same temper, the same fire. Her hair was pulled back into a long braid and her hands were folded in front of her. She was beautiful. . .and then he forced himself to search the room.
This had been his first time venturing to the moon. He had completely forgotten, but then he remembered that he had been all of thirteen years of age. His father had been invited by the Queen Serenity because he had been an essential part of a peace treaty between two of the stars that he owned. There had been a disagreement and plans for war.
The thirteen-year-old Jadeite shook his head and turned to his left to seek out the other people in the crowd. He needed to be certain, he needed to know. True it was twelve years earlier, but he knew that what he saw would give him his answers.
Seven-year-old Princess of Mars stood silently next to her nanny, a big woman with gentle eyes. The little girl was the spitting image of her mother, but had her father's sparkling violet eyes.
The image faded too quickly and Jadeite was flung from the past into the future so fast he fell to his knees. "No," he breathed. It wasn't possible. How had he forgotten?
His head ached and his body was shaking. He shouldn't have tried that spell. It was so dangerous to attempt. He had only done it once before and that was because the information that had been obtained by doing it had saved a friend. But the spell was dangerous. He had heard tales of men and women who performed the spell and had traveled into the past in the minds, but had never returned. Their minds had been stuck in the past and they could not return. Jadeite gave a prayer of thanks to the Gods that he had come out of the spell when he did. The repercussions were not to be looked forward. He knew that his head would hurt severely for several hours and his body would continue shaking for the rest of the night, but what had he learned?
Reina was the princess of Mars. She had to be! There was no one in the universe who looked like the Queen of Mars. There were only two women who had hair that color and eyes that sparked with that same fire.
He had been holding the Martian Princess captive!
He was beyond shocked now, he was worried and angry and frustrated. How could she? How could she lie to him like that? He had been the epitome of kind to her and she lied to him! He wanted to strangle her and kiss her at the same time he was so frustrated. What would he do when he reached Nephrite's palace? And why was he only now remembering that he had been to the moon when he was thirteen?
'The truth is being revealed. . .yet you do not believe what you do not wish. . .'
Jadeite closed his eyes. It all made sense.
He shook his head slightly and grimaced at the pain. He would have to face her. He needed to return her to her home and end the guilt that was beginning to wash over him.
He slowly got up from his position on the ground and made his way to the front of the cave. She was sitting on her knees beside the fire; a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and another folded neatly beside her. She was lovely; so incredibly lovely.
She turned just as he set a foot into the cave. "Sire! I was beginning to worry, you've been gone for almost an hour and look, you haven't returned with one stick of wood!"
He stared at her hard. How had he missed it? Just looking at her now, he saw the regal bearing in her shoulders, the arrogance in her eyes, the stubborn jaw, the fiery eyes; there was no doubt to him now that she was a princess. His princess.
He reeled back from that thought and shook his head only to wince once again at the pain. "I'm sorry to have worried you," he said harshly.
Rei stood and made her way to him. "Are you all right?" she asked softly.
Jadeite moved away from her and sat himself beside the fire. "I am well."
Rei cocked her head at him and then followed him. "Sire?"
"Leave me be, woman!" he ground out. He didn't miss the fire that sparked to life in her eyes; fire that resembled the one before him.
"Have it your way," she said and moved away from him to the other side of the cave. She folded her hands across her chest and looked straight at the fire.
Jadeite pressed a finger to his temple and closed his eyes. How was he going to do this? He needed her to admit to it. He had to hear her say it. He knew that deep down he hoped that she would laugh at him and tell him that he was insane, that she couldn't possibly be this princess he spoke of.
He opened his eyes and looked directly at her, his hands folded in front of him. "Reina. . ." he whispered.
She didn't bother looking at him. What was making him so moody? "Sire?" she replied tartly.
He visibly winced at her tone. "I'd like to apologize for my behavior. I'm not feeling as well as I would have you and myself believe."
She just nodded at him.
He took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I thank you for starting the fire, Reina," he said gently, "I am curious though. . .how did you manage to start the fire? I realized after I left that I had the only flint with me."
Rei finally looked at him. She hadn't thought about how she was going to respond to that question. It was time to come up with some sort of fabulous lie. "I was taught how to start a fire using only wood. Rubbing sticks together does create fire, believe it or not."
"Oh, I believe you. It's just that every fire I have seen that was made with just wood was also made with a touch of magic. But perhaps I jump to conclusions too quickly. You cannot be of a magical family, can you?"
Rei mentally tied a strip of fabric around his mouth. "No, I'm not magic."
"Then I'm curious to know where your phoenix came from. Usually magical birds reside only with magical humans."
"Not in this case."
"You lie terribly."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said you lie terribly. Do you actually believe that I would believe you?"
Rei stood up and marched to the front of the cave. "I don't know what you're talking about," she spat at him.
"Do not let anger over take you, child, it is not becoming on you," he said softly. Though he knew he lied himself. She was a sight when she was riled.
Rei spun around on her heel and pointed a finger at him. "You must have hit your head, that's why you wince whenever you move it. You must have hit your head and gone completely daft."
Jadeite stood quickly then wavered a bit. "I did no such thing."
"You must have if you can stand there and tell me that I come from a magical house! You are crazy!"
Jadeite marched over to her and grabbed her shoulders. "Just tell me the truth!" he ground out.
"Why?"
Jadeite glared at her. "Because. . ." he began, but he didn't finish, he had hauled her up against him and was kissing her.
Rei didn't know whether to be angry at his insolence or to bask in his kiss. She chose the latter and leaned heavily into him. He was so incredibly amazing.
Jadeite gentled his hold on her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her back. He shouldn't be doing this. He should be yelling, demanding that she confess to who she was, but it was so hard to concentrate when those beautiful red lips were yelling at him in anger and that lovely pale skin was flushed with ire. He wanted her lips to be flushed with desire for him and he wanted her skin to be glowing with hunger for him. . .only and always for him.
He stopped thinking, because the thoughts made him angry, and pressed his tongue to her closed lips. "Open for me, firebird," he breathed. She did and he plunged his tongue into her sweet mouth. She tasted like honey and strawberries. . .it was intoxicating. He pulled her closer to him and felt her body pressed against his and a surge of desire unlike any he had ever felt before flowed through him like the fire beside behind them.
His tongue swept in and out of her mouth, imitating the mating ritual so well that she nearly fell to her knees. She grasped his forearms and kissed him back with as much passion as he was kissing her.
He thought he would burst right there. She was beginning to take initiative and it made him hot with longing. "You're perfect," he groaned into her mouth.
"So are you," she sighed.
His hands began to frantically work the laces of her bodice. "You don't know. . ." he whispered as he pulled the laces loose and slipped his hands inside to stroke her back. "You have no idea. . ."
"About what?" she asked trailing a hand down his chest and leaning her head against his shoulder.
He shook the thought from his brain and raised her chin up with his hand. "I make no sense," he said as his mouth descended on hears again. He slanted his mouth first one way and then another and his tongue dipped in and out faster and faster. Slowly he brought his hands up to her shoulders and pushed the gown down to her waist. He ripped her chemise in his haste to get her undressed and when he finally felt bare skin against his fingertips he groaned harshly and began backing her against the cave wall.
He tore his mouth away from hers to gaze down at her. "Gods have mercy. . ." he said as he raised a hand to touch one of her pale breasts. "You are more beautiful than any goddess. . ."
He mesmerized her and her stare followed his hand as he stroked a finger over the top of her breast, skimming her nipple as he passed. She closed her eyes when she saw his big, golden hand wrap fully around her and she let out a breathy sigh when he began to knead and massage. "Jadeite. . ." she groaned, her hands gripping the sleeves of his tunic.
He sought out her mouth again and kissed her hard. "Yes. . ." he said softly. He moved his other hand to her thigh and lazily drew circles around and around until he was inches away from her heat. The fabric caught in his hand, yet he ignored it as he pressed a finger inward. "What do you want, firebird?"
"Jed. . ." she sighed deeply.
He felt his body respond powerfully to her voice then, he was harder than he had ever been in his very experienced life. He looked deeply into her eyes and gave her a small grin. "You've never called me that before." he said gently.
Rei's glazed eyes met his and her breath caught when she felt his finger press upward. She had never been touched there before and to have a man- nay not just any man, this was Jed-touch the very center of her being made her crazy with longing. She felt even more heat sink low in her belly and though she didn't comprehend, she knew it would lead to something incredible. Unconsciously she arched her back and moved her hips closer to his searching hand. "Please. . ." she whispered.
"What do you need, firebird?" Jadeite asked as he nuzzled her neck. He felt her shudder anew with the sensation and he found himself smiling. He nipped her collarbone and then pulled her dress high up on her legs and thrust one of his hard thighs between her soft ones. He felt her press against him and he groaned in response to her innocent movements.
She pressed her forehead against his shoulder and panted deeply. "Jed. . .I. . ."
"Yes, sweetheart, I'm here for you," he said to her.
Her response was to raise both her hands to the laces of his tunic. She was shaking and she hated herself for it, but she wanted to see him again. She wanted to feel his skin as she did that one night on the ship. It had been pure bliss and she wanted to feel that same bliss now.
He watched her intently as she raised the hem of his tunic over his head and let it fall behind him. She stared at him for a brief instant before she slowly slipped her arms around his back and pulled him to her. He had to close his eyes and grit his teeth against the pleasure he felt. They were pressed against each other, skin to skin, and it felt so unbelievably good that he almost lost himself then and there.
He wanted to taste her. He wanted to come deeply inside her and bring her to heights he knew she had never been to before. He wanted to hold her while she slept. He wanted to stroke her hair when she cried or when she became angry with him. Instead, he lowered his head and took one of her lovely, rosy nipples into his mouth. He could feel his control beginning to dissolve, but he held onto it with all that he had. The thought didn't even cross his mind that he should go quickly with her, only the best for his firebird.
She almost came apart when his mouth took her nipple. She could feel his tongue running across the hard bud and her mind blanked completely. She raised her hands to his head and treaded her fingers through his hair. "Jed. . ." she groaned again.
He raised his head long enough to see that she was completely gone with her passion. She was beautiful. Her skin glowed with her ardor and he wanted nothing more than to make love to her. He had never felt such a powerful lust before and it nearly scared him.
It was that thought that made him pause. He knew he couldn't continue, as much as he wanted to. He knelt on the hard cave ground and pulled her with him. "You are so amazingly beautiful," he whispered as he stroked her cheek. "You don't understand how much I want you, Reina. . ." he said gently. He kissed her forehead and hugged her tightly to him. "I can't do this. . ." he said. He let her go and moved away from her.
Rei knelt there, staring after him with passion glazed eyes and he felt his body responding so strongly that he had to grab onto the thread that held his control in check. "Don't look at me so, Reina.I will jump on you and not even an attack from a phoenix would stop me from taking your virginity and making you completely and utterly mine. I just can't do that to you, firebird."
She lowered her head and took several deep breaths before she realized that the cold air that was gliding into the cave was also gliding over her bare skin. She gasped softly and pulled the bodice of her gown back on then turned away from him, the laces still flapping on her back.
Jadeite knew he shouldn't touch her, he knew that it would only cause problems if he did, but he couldn't help it. She was kneeling on a hard cave floor; her arms wrapped around her and her shoulders slumped. He moved back behind her and grasped her to him. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm so sorry. . ." he chanted over and over as he rocked her back and forth. "I had to. You don't know what would have happened. I'm sorry, sweetheart, so damned sorry. . ."
Rei closed her eyes and felt a warmth flood through her when he said the endearment. It came to him without thinking. Did he call all of his mistresses sweetheart? The thought made her come out of her daze of passion and move away from him. "Don't call me that," she said as she grabbed one of the blankets and pulled it around her.
She chanced a glance at the man kneeling on the floor, his beautiful bronzed bare chest gleaming in the fire light. She turned away and stared blankly at the walls of the cave.
Jadeite felt a small spurt of anger at her tone, but shook off the thought and stood up to get his tunic. "It was a mistake and I won't let it happen again," he said with more anger than he felt.
"I hope not. I may just have to take this up with the King," she said then mentally kicked herself for even uttering the idiotic response.
All the memories of the past few hours came flooding back to Jadeite and he ground his teeth in frustration. He had to act now. He spun around quickly and stalked over to her without pausing at the apprehension in her eyes. He grasped her shoulders harshly and then hauled her up until he was nose to nose with her. "Tell me who the hell you are," he said with deadly calm.
Rei had never seen him this angry and she didn't want to have to confront it, but it was the only way to keep her identity secret. She knew that if she didn't then all hellfire would break loose. If her father and mother heard that an Earth prince had taken liberties with her and was holding her captive, they would wage war without even consulting Queen Serenity. Why didn't she just tell him sooner? Why hadn't she told him when she first stumbled upon him?
'Because you didn't want to.' The realization hit her hard and she felt tears spring to her eyes. No, she hadn't wanted to tell him. She found him to be one of the most interesting men she had ever met and she unconsciously wanted to become close to him.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" she shouted back at him. She could feel herself breaking inside. She could feel her control shattering.
He gave her a little shake then let pushed her away from him. He visibly winced when he heard her gasp as she hit the cave wall. "Why must you lie always?" he asked with pain laced through his words.
Rei turned her head away and was silent.
"Why can't you just say it?"
Because as soon as I say it. . .things will change, she said to herself.
"Just say it. . .please. . ."
She closed her eyes and hated the tear that slipped down her cheek.
"You're the Princess of Mars. . .aren't you?" he asked.
There was so much pain and confusion in his voice that she couldn't look at him. Yet she knew she had to answer him; she owed him that much. It was all over now. "Yes," she said so softly that he had to strain to hear her. But he didn't have to strain, he already knew it to be the truth. "I am the Princess of Mars," she said, her voice wavered.
And as Jadeite stood there staring at her, anger, agony, and bewilderment writ clearly on his face, they heard shouts and they felt the song of the phoenix slip over them.