Garden of Serenity by Nina Pierce

she let his lips brush softly against hers. She opened to him. Though they had kissed only a handful of times, he tasted as familiar as her Dame’s cooking, and Jahara feasted like she hadn’t eaten in months. This was not betrayal. It was simply the physical reaction to her body’s desire to procreate. She hadn’t realized it would feel so natural.
    Her hands worked their way under his tunic, kneading the firm muscles of his back while his tangled in her braid. He took possession of her mouth, taking control of the tempo. He swallowed her moans of desire, giving them right back to her.
    She wanted him. She needed what he had given her when Ishawny was here. She didn’t fear their coupling as she had a few days ago. This man was gentle and Jahara craved what only he could do for her. “Brenimyn, please mate with me.” She gasped out the words, wanting everything his touch promised, but his hands froze on her shoulders and he jerked his head back.
    “What did you say?”
    The spark of desire that had flared so quickly in his eyes faded. His jaw knotted and his brow furrowed. Perhaps men needed more time to prepare for copulation. Smiling, Jahara leaned into him, trying to capture his mouth and bring back the pleasure they’d shared only a moment ago.
    “I said ‘mate with me’.” She spoke in a sultry tone.
    “Mate with you?” Shoving away from her, Brenimyn plowed his fingers through the thick waves of his hair and stared down at her. “ Mate with you?” The question echoed off the tiled walls. Surely the audio magnifiers in the other room had picked that up.
    “Didn’t you say you missed me?” She reached for him, but he stepped away before she made contact.
    “Please, Jahara, don’t touch me.” He paced the floor and Jahara had no idea what she’d done. He mumbled at the floor, his fingers scrubbing at his face. “This is wonderful. I had sex with Kylie nonstop for the last two days, knowing there was something so much more intimate waiting for me. I’ve been counting the moments until I could see you again. I thought finally I’d found the one I’ve been seeking.” He stopped moving long enough to look at her.
    She knew pain when she saw it and the lines on his face spoke of anguish and misery.
    “You.” He shook his finger at her. “ You were supposed to be different. I feel it every time we’re together. I thought it was real. I thought …” He released a breath of frustration. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter what I thought. Yeah, Jahara, I’ll mate with you if that’s what you want from me. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to have the evening meal before we do it.” He left the bathroom and slammed the door, leaving her confused and very much alone.
    Because she wasn’t sure what she’d done to cause such a sudden change of attitude, Jahara couldn’t bring herself to run after him and apologize. She’d spent hours preparing for his arrival, but she stripped and stepped into the cold water of the shower, hoping it might wash away her transgression. Rubbing at her body with vicious strokes that left her skin painfully raw, she tried to cleanse the feeling of betrayal she’d unknowingly heaped on Brenimyn.
    Thirty minutes later, dressed in a flowing floral frock she’d picked up in one of the little shops yesterday, Jahara swallowed her pride and walked into the great room with her head held high. The table was set with candles and flowers, the smell of food making her stomach grumble in protest. Her nerves hadn’t allowed her to eat today.
    She peeked into the kitchen but didn’t find Brenimyn. Jahara turned when she sensed him moving up the hall from the other bedroom. He’d found the clothing that had been delivered earlier and had changed into a long-sleeved shirt and a dark pair of trousers, his bare feet carrying him into the dining area in a few long strides.
    “Most honorable Jahara, you look lovely.” Stopping a few feet from her, he bowed at the waist.