Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ > Books: pn-romance‎ (1317)

“What is he like?”
“Logan?”
“He is the kind of man you pray to be able to serve—he’s like a great king from olden times.”
“Who always does what’s right,” Andrian chimed in.
“Yes,” Artem agreed. “He can always be counted on to make the best choice.”
“And he normally does it, except where you’re concerned.” Crane cackled. “With you, he has no idea what the hell he’s doing.”

“What is he like?”
“Logan?”
“He is the kind of man you pray to be able to serve—he’s like a great king from olden times.”
“Who always does what’s right,” Andrian chimed in.
“Yes,” Artem agreed. “He can always be counted on to make the best choice.”
“And he normally does it, except where you’re concerned.” Crane cackled. “With you, he has no idea what the hell he’s doing.”

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Might Contain Spoilers*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Might Contain Spoilers*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*What's wrong with me?*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“Sometimes the choices others make take ours from us. Do you understand?”

[image]

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Might Contain Spoilers*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*What's wrong with me?*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“Sometimes the choices others make take ours from us. Do you understand?”

[image]

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*It Was Alright*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*It Was Alright*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

Every other member of the army knew to leave me alone, especially when I was injured, so I was rather baffled by Sadan's actions. Again the thought flitted by that the Finnarian had a death wish or was at least flirting with the possibility, because he was always in my face, disrespecting me in every way and completely disregarding my formidable reputation.
It drove me to the edge of sheer violence, but always the knowledge that Sadan was one of the king‟s favorites and now had technically become my fucking commander, restrained the actions I longed to inflict upon the bastard and his smirk.

How blind and weak were humans that they had not sought to break the barriers around such a treasure long before this?
I would not make the same mistake.
For eight years I had been maneuvering and planning, and now, with the king‟s blessing, I was finally beginning to make headway, even if only because I was now Graitaan's commander. A position of great respect in Draconian culture apparently, and it went against his nature for Graitaan to openly disrespect me, though at times he could not help himself.
So tonight it led to this, the first time I would be able to actually touch him more than a hand up or a brush of shoulders.
I almost shuddered with anticipation.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*It Was Alright*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

Every other member of the army knew to leave me alone, especially when I was injured, so I was rather baffled by Sadan's actions. Again the thought flitted by that the Finnarian had a death wish or was at least flirting with the possibility, because he was always in my face, disrespecting me in every way and completely disregarding my formidable reputation.
It drove me to the edge of sheer violence, but always the knowledge that Sadan was one of the king‟s favorites and now had technically become my fucking commander, restrained the actions I longed to inflict upon the bastard and his smirk.

How blind and weak were humans that they had not sought to break the barriers around such a treasure long before this?
I would not make the same mistake.
For eight years I had been maneuvering and planning, and now, with the king‟s blessing, I was finally beginning to make headway, even if only because I was now Graitaan's commander. A position of great respect in Draconian culture apparently, and it went against his nature for Graitaan to openly disrespect me, though at times he could not help himself.
So tonight it led to this, the first time I would be able to actually touch him more than a hand up or a brush of shoulders.
I almost shuddered with anticipation.

“Silence heals nothing, fixes nothing, and unlocks nothing. Just because you don’t say something doesn’t make it any less true.”

[image]

“Silence heals nothing, fixes nothing, and unlocks nothing. Just because you don’t say something doesn’t make it any less true.”

[image]

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*At least there was more romance*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*At least there was more romance*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“I never want you to forget that I love you.”
Darren frowned as a shiver of guilt ran along their bond. “I will always love you,” he said. He forced his mind to focus even though most of his brain cells had leaked out. “I loved you back when you were still trying to protect me by pushing me away.”
“And when I get overprotective by holding you too close?” Kavon asked.
The worry was all there in the bond, staining it with ugly fears. “I’ll tell you to knock it off and still love you. And when I fuck up, I trust you to tell me to get my head out of my ass so your cock can fit up there. No matter what stupidity either of us does, we’re good. We’ll always be good,” Darren promised. He sent his own surety along the bond.

Kavon knew how lucky he was to find a partner that would forgive all his overprotective and negative impulses, and tonight he wanted to show Darren how much he appreciated him as a lover.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*At least there was more romance*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“I never want you to forget that I love you.”
Darren frowned as a shiver of guilt ran along their bond. “I will always love you,” he said. He forced his mind to focus even though most of his brain cells had leaked out. “I loved you back when you were still trying to protect me by pushing me away.”
“And when I get overprotective by holding you too close?” Kavon asked.
The worry was all there in the bond, staining it with ugly fears. “I’ll tell you to knock it off and still love you. And when I fuck up, I trust you to tell me to get my head out of my ass so your cock can fit up there. No matter what stupidity either of us does, we’re good. We’ll always be good,” Darren promised. He sent his own surety along the bond.

Kavon knew how lucky he was to find a partner that would forgive all his overprotective and negative impulses, and tonight he wanted to show Darren how much he appreciated him as a lover.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*There's so much missing*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*There's so much missing*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“I’ll tell Les, and then I’ll pack both our bags.”
“Don’t forget my underwear,” Kavon said.
“Seriously, why would I forget your underwear?” Darren asked. That was an odd thing to worry about.
“Because when we went to Oklahoma, you forgot yours,” Kavon reminded him.
Bad memories. The worst part was that Darren had fallen in a muddy creek chasing their suspect, and his only clean clothes had been dress pants, which he’d been forced to wear commando. He’d spent most of the afternoon looking for a counter to stand behind. “I was young and foolish then.”
Kavon raised an eyebrow. “It was last year.”
Darren walked backward out the door. “Young and foolish. I’m much older and wiser now.”

In the low light from the closet, Kavon studied his face. They were well matched, and whatever challenges appeared, Kavon had faith they could handle them. If that meant they had to face a returning evil, they would do that together. But Kavon was done giving up one second of happiness with his lover. So tonight he planned to sleep and hold Darren close.

“If trouble is coming, we’re the sort to deal with it head-on.”
Darren nodded. “It’s who we are.”
“And that won’t change,” Kavon said. He draped his arm over Darren’s shoulder. He had a twinge of discomfort at the public display, and Darren tried to step to the side so there would be more space between them. Kavon tightened his grip and kept Darren close as he walked toward the lobby.

“This is good,” Darren muttered before he grabbed a pillow and pulled it under his head. They were still on top of the hotel bedspread, but he couldn’t have cared less. His body radiated heat, and everywhere Kavon touched him, Darren still sweated. He didn’t need to be covered. And yes, he knew he would be cold in five minutes, but for the next five minutes, he planned to lie still and try to put his scattered thoughts back in order.
“This is perfect,” Kavon corrected him.
It occurred to Darren that if aliens could just get rid of the rest of the world, it might stay perfect.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*There's so much missing*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“I’ll tell Les, and then I’ll pack both our bags.”
“Don’t forget my underwear,” Kavon said.
“Seriously, why would I forget your underwear?” Darren asked. That was an odd thing to worry about.
“Because when we went to Oklahoma, you forgot yours,” Kavon reminded him.
Bad memories. The worst part was that Darren had fallen in a muddy creek chasing their suspect, and his only clean clothes had been dress pants, which he’d been forced to wear commando. He’d spent most of the afternoon looking for a counter to stand behind. “I was young and foolish then.”
Kavon raised an eyebrow. “It was last year.”
Darren walked backward out the door. “Young and foolish. I’m much older and wiser now.”

In the low light from the closet, Kavon studied his face. They were well matched, and whatever challenges appeared, Kavon had faith they could handle them. If that meant they had to face a returning evil, they would do that together. But Kavon was done giving up one second of happiness with his lover. So tonight he planned to sleep and hold Darren close.

“If trouble is coming, we’re the sort to deal with it head-on.”
Darren nodded. “It’s who we are.”
“And that won’t change,” Kavon said. He draped his arm over Darren’s shoulder. He had a twinge of discomfort at the public display, and Darren tried to step to the side so there would be more space between them. Kavon tightened his grip and kept Darren close as he walked toward the lobby.

“This is good,” Darren muttered before he grabbed a pillow and pulled it under his head. They were still on top of the hotel bedspread, but he couldn’t have cared less. His body radiated heat, and everywhere Kavon touched him, Darren still sweated. He didn’t need to be covered. And yes, he knew he would be cold in five minutes, but for the next five minutes, he planned to lie still and try to put his scattered thoughts back in order.
“This is perfect,” Kavon corrected him.
It occurred to Darren that if aliens could just get rid of the rest of the world, it might stay perfect.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Raphael. Enough said.*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

And, just as she’d known his earlier thoughts, she understood what he was saying now. He needed her by his side. Even in war.

He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a quick, passionate kiss, satisfying the deep need to touch her, to know she was alive and well and with him.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Raphael. Enough said.*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

And, just as she’d known his earlier thoughts, she understood what he was saying now. He needed her by his side. Even in war.

He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her in for a quick, passionate kiss, satisfying the deep need to touch her, to know she was alive and well and with him.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Meh, meh and meh*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Meh, meh and meh*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“This isn’t a dream.”
Ben’s smile froze. “No. It’s not a dream.”

“I’m sorry, baby. I couldn’t let myself become my mother.”

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Meh, meh and meh*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“This isn’t a dream.”
Ben’s smile froze. “No. It’s not a dream.”

“I’m sorry, baby. I couldn’t let myself become my mother.”

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Too much information, too little depth*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Too much information, too little depth*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“These aren’t street-level thugs looking to deal their way out of a conviction.”
Darren and Les looked at each other. They’d both seen Kavon go into obsessive mode before, but Traci hadn’t.
“They’ll flip,” Les said.
“And if they demand a mundane interrogator?” Traci asked. “You’re putting too much pressure on the boss to be a superman. He isn’t.”
“Yeah, he is,” Les said.
Darren went over and got his computer off the floor where he’d put it while they moved the desk. “Yep, SuperBoucher to the rescue. He won’t stop. It’s not in his nature.”

“I’m not leaving until I have some way to help, so if you go all silent, I am fully capable of sitting here until I die just to spite you.”

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Too much information, too little depth*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“These aren’t street-level thugs looking to deal their way out of a conviction.”
Darren and Les looked at each other. They’d both seen Kavon go into obsessive mode before, but Traci hadn’t.
“They’ll flip,” Les said.
“And if they demand a mundane interrogator?” Traci asked. “You’re putting too much pressure on the boss to be a superman. He isn’t.”
“Yeah, he is,” Les said.
Darren went over and got his computer off the floor where he’d put it while they moved the desk. “Yep, SuperBoucher to the rescue. He won’t stop. It’s not in his nature.”

“I’m not leaving until I have some way to help, so if you go all silent, I am fully capable of sitting here until I die just to spite you.”

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*It Wasn't Bad*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“Your name is Gaven. You are a bastard child, raised in sufferance by the grace of your lord within the fortress itself. Your mother was the laundress, who died but two years ago. You are almost eighteen, and proud of the fact that the lord actually granted you leave to train to be a guard. You have started late to the sword, but show some impressive natural skill which impressed your lord and made him take notice of you.”
I stared in shock at him, at his perfect knowledge of my life, of me.
“We have kept an eye on you, young Gaven. You are of more importance than you know. You are the son of my lord, the High Commander of the Masarian army.” His grin was tinged with malice. “You are half Masarian, Gaven, one of us.

My arm went through his, and I drew myself to him with the strength of terror.
A powerful arm wrapped around me and pulled me against his body, and I did not protest for long moments, still breathing great panicked gasps of air.
It took some time for me to become aware of the huge hardness pressing against my thigh, and when I did understand, my eyes shot to his, disbelieving.
He grinned openly, no longer hiding his show of sharp teeth. “You are mine, Gaven, given to me by your father. I will teach you what it means to be a Masarian warrior. Both in the bed and on the field and practice yard.”

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*It Wasn't Bad*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“Your name is Gaven. You are a bastard child, raised in sufferance by the grace of your lord within the fortress itself. Your mother was the laundress, who died but two years ago. You are almost eighteen, and proud of the fact that the lord actually granted you leave to train to be a guard. You have started late to the sword, but show some impressive natural skill which impressed your lord and made him take notice of you.”
I stared in shock at him, at his perfect knowledge of my life, of me.
“We have kept an eye on you, young Gaven. You are of more importance than you know. You are the son of my lord, the High Commander of the Masarian army.” His grin was tinged with malice. “You are half Masarian, Gaven, one of us.

My arm went through his, and I drew myself to him with the strength of terror.
A powerful arm wrapped around me and pulled me against his body, and I did not protest for long moments, still breathing great panicked gasps of air.
It took some time for me to become aware of the huge hardness pressing against my thigh, and when I did understand, my eyes shot to his, disbelieving.
He grinned openly, no longer hiding his show of sharp teeth. “You are mine, Gaven, given to me by your father. I will teach you what it means to be a Masarian warrior. Both in the bed and on the field and practice yard.”

As Ari watched his dark head bend over the door, silent amusement bubbled in her throat. The ever-so-cool Mr. De Luca was acting as if he didn’t trust himself. Probably a good thing, she thought. Deep inside, she was feeling very smug.

Ari brought her chin up. She hated it when someone told her what to do. Or even worse, what she couldn’t do. “You keep forgetting I can take care of myself.”
“So you’ve said before. But it would be better to stay out of situations where you might have to prove it.”

“I don’t want to get better. That’s the problem.” Ari didn’t bother to hide the confusion she felt. “I want to stay angry. Need the anger. I’m going to find them and kill them.” Ari looked at her friend’s shocked face. “Does that make me as bad as they are?”

As Ari watched his dark head bend over the door, silent amusement bubbled in her throat. The ever-so-cool Mr. De Luca was acting as if he didn’t trust himself. Probably a good thing, she thought. Deep inside, she was feeling very smug.

Ari brought her chin up. She hated it when someone told her what to do. Or even worse, what she couldn’t do. “You keep forgetting I can take care of myself.”
“So you’ve said before. But it would be better to stay out of situations where you might have to prove it.”

“I don’t want to get better. That’s the problem.” Ari didn’t bother to hide the confusion she felt. “I want to stay angry. Need the anger. I’m going to find them and kill them.” Ari looked at her friend’s shocked face. “Does that make me as bad as they are?”

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Insta-love Is Its Downfall*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“So you’re saying no semel can afford to wait for his reah.”
“Realistically, no, they’re too rare. The chances of finding one are too small.”
“And yet,” he said with a flourish, “there you stand.”
I flipped him off.
“Oh, c’mon, Jin, all this talk about reahs and here you are, the rarest of all panthers, the one and only male reah in existence.”
“I don’t count.”
“You count, idiot; you’re a reah.”
“I’m not a real reah; I’m not a girl.”
“Who says a reah can only be female?”
“Oh, I don’t know… everyone,” I said, sounding bitter even to myself.

My smile had the desired effect; the man stepped back, shaken. He wasn’t like me; he wasn’t a reah. He didn’t have my power. He could be man or beast; he could not be pieces of either by choice. He could not take the form of a werepanther; it was the ability of only a semel or a reah.
“I… I don’t….” He trailed off, unsure of what I was. I was not a semel; he knew that. There was no mistaking the power of a semel, and that kind of raw, primal energy didn’t radiate from me. What rolled off me in waves was different, warmer and gentler because of what I was. A reah was the yin to the yang of the semel, each complimenting the other, fitting together so that the reah gave softness and compassion to the semel, the semel bringing strength and logic to the reah. Every semel exuded strength and dominance, but I did not, so the man standing before me was at a loss as to what to make of me.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*I like the beginning*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

So there's three things I definitely didn't like:
→ That damn insta-love. (view spoiler)[Took them two days for the L word to be told. (hide spoiler)]
→ Jin's father and Jin's old tribe didn't get (view spoiler)[punished for what they did to him (hide spoiler)]
→ Too little depth and action

“It was surprising to hear it from his lips, my plain, ordinary name spoken as it never had been before, with awe, lite it was sacred, like treasure. Like I was treasure.”

[image]

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Insta-love Is Its Downfall*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“So you’re saying no semel can afford to wait for his reah.”
“Realistically, no, they’re too rare. The chances of finding one are too small.”
“And yet,” he said with a flourish, “there you stand.”
I flipped him off.
“Oh, c’mon, Jin, all this talk about reahs and here you are, the rarest of all panthers, the one and only male reah in existence.”
“I don’t count.”
“You count, idiot; you’re a reah.”
“I’m not a real reah; I’m not a girl.”
“Who says a reah can only be female?”
“Oh, I don’t know… everyone,” I said, sounding bitter even to myself.

My smile had the desired effect; the man stepped back, shaken. He wasn’t like me; he wasn’t a reah. He didn’t have my power. He could be man or beast; he could not be pieces of either by choice. He could not take the form of a werepanther; it was the ability of only a semel or a reah.
“I… I don’t….” He trailed off, unsure of what I was. I was not a semel; he knew that. There was no mistaking the power of a semel, and that kind of raw, primal energy didn’t radiate from me. What rolled off me in waves was different, warmer and gentler because of what I was. A reah was the yin to the yang of the semel, each complimenting the other, fitting together so that the reah gave softness and compassion to the semel, the semel bringing strength and logic to the reah. Every semel exuded strength and dominance, but I did not, so the man standing before me was at a loss as to what to make of me.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*I like the beginning*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

So there's three things I definitely didn't like:
→ That damn insta-love. (view spoiler)[Took them two days for the L word to be told. (hide spoiler)]
→ Jin's father and Jin's old tribe didn't get (view spoiler)[punished for what they did to him (hide spoiler)]
→ Too little depth and action

“It was surprising to hear it from his lips, my plain, ordinary name spoken as it never had been before, with awe, lite it was sacred, like treasure. Like I was treasure.”

[image]

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Not so bad*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Not so bad*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“You’re mine,” I snarled. “And he can’t fucking take you away from me without a fight.”

“You getting territorial on me, Ward?”
“Yeah.” I pushed my lower jaw out a bit. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“Nope!”

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Not so bad*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

“You’re mine,” I snarled. “And he can’t fucking take you away from me without a fight.”

“You getting territorial on me, Ward?”
“Yeah.” I pushed my lower jaw out a bit. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“Nope!”