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Bad idea, very bad idea his inner voice said to him but Benet decided to ignore the call of good sense.

Placing his lips over hers, he started the kiss gently, not sure what exactly she had in mind but Marushka licked the seam with her tongue and then parted her lips in an invitation he couldn’t resist. He let his tongue explore the warmth of her mouth, savoring the taste of her, while holding her close.

As the kiss continued, he stroked the side of her breast until she squirmed and adjusted herself to give him better access.

Running his hand under her top, over her warm, silken skin, he cupped her breast and teased the nipple.

Breathing hard, they ended the kiss and by mutual consent lay stretched out on the couch on their sides. Marushka ran her hand over the hard length of him, trapped in his pants and then ground her hips against him.

“I have a bedroom,” he said, squeezing the luscious globes of her derriere and trying not to think too hard about sinking his aching cock into her silken heat. “We could take this there and be more comfortable.”

“Dmitri would hear us,” she said with a frown.

“And he would not approve. I’d be on my way back to the house in a heartbeat and he might kill you.

” Taking his hand, Marushka guided him to the place where her legs met in a vee.

He slid his hand past the hem of her short skirt discovering with satisfaction how ready she was for him.

“Please,” she said, clenching around him as he inserted one finger into her folds. “I want you tonight.”

Abandoning his last shreds of caution, Benet rearranged them so he was on top of her and then removed her skirt and the lacy red thong she wore.

He moved awkwardly to where he could bring his tongue to bear and dedicated himself to bringing her to orgasm.

Marushka ran her fingers through his hair and clutched at his shoulders while whispering encouragement until she was so aroused all she could utter were moans and pleas for release.

When she came he watched her face and thought he’d never seen anything so beautiful in his life.

“That was amazing,” she said, breathing hard and limp in his arms. “But I want you inside me. I want us to come together.”

He helped her sit up and rid herself of her top and bra and then stripped to the skin himself as quickly as possible. When he came over her, he brushed her hair away from her face and said, “Are you sure this is what you want? I can stop?—”

“Don’t you dare.” Marushka shifted so the weeping head of his shaft was poised at the entrance to her body and he slipped inside ever so slightly.

With a groan he captured her lips and thrust slowly, savoring the way her muscles clenched around him and how hot and wet she was for him.

He was so turned on by what they were doing he had a hard time controlling himself but he wanted to make it as good as possible for her so he forced himself to set a deliberate pace.

His fears he might be bedding a virgin, which had him proceeding with extra caution in the beginning were allayed and he was able to go deep and hard.

Marushka clung to him, obviously sharing his passion and relishing their mutual passion.

When she came this time her entire body held him in an unbreakable embrace and her inner muscles milked his cock of every last drop of hot seed as he followed her over the edge.

Benet had never felt so well loved and satisfied before in his entire life and he held her tight in his arms as the aftershocks of pleasure rippled through them both.

“I’m not leaving you,” he vowed in a fierce whisper, kissing her throat and then her lips. “We were meant to be together.”

“We can’t be,” she said, her eyes clouded with tears. “I have to marry Vasili and you have to escape to your life in the Five Systems.”

“There has to be a way,” Benet said. “Kyden, my boss, says his people believe they’re fated to love only one woman for this lifetime and into the afterlife and I may not be a true Badari but now I know what he means.

That’s how I feel about you, sweetheart.

You’re it for me. Don’t ask me to walk away and leave you married to that bastard. ”

Now she was crying and he held her close to his heart while she was wracked by the emotional storm.

“I could never be sorry we had this night,” he said, “But now we know the truth of who we are to each other which changes everything. I love you.” This was the first and only time those words had crossed his lips in his entire life but the sentiment came easily from his heart tonight and he meant it.

Marushka wiped away her tears as best she could and kissed him.

“I’ve loved you ever since the first day, when you took the field against father’s goons and fought so bravely.

I’d never seen anything like it or anyone like you.

The memory of us together here will have to sustain me for all the years ahead. ”

Benet folded her into his arms and hung on tight.

He couldn’t say anything more right now because he had no solution to offer.

His own escape was mostly a pipedream at the moment, let alone any chance he had of taking a Grand Duchess with him for a life together.

As they lay together on the couch she drifted off to sleep and he tried to keep the dark thoughts at bay.

He wanted to savor what he’d shared with Marushka and the love blossoming between them but reality was a cold, dark intruder.

He didn’t sleep at all but spent the remaining hours of the night holding her and memorizing all the tiny expressions which flitted across her face as she dreamed.

As the sky above lightened, getting ready for dawn, he woke her gently with a kiss.

“Dmitri will be up soon,” he said. “If you don’t want him to catch us here, then you’ll have to get back to the house. I’ll walk you.”

Marushka kissed him with intensity and then rose from the couch, gathering her clothing hastily and dressing. The dogs lifted their heads expectantly, waiting to see if they were leaving. Benet shrugged into his pants and tee shirt and caught her for another long hug.

“I’ll go by myself, with the dogs,” she said. “If I run into anyone I’ll simply say I was out walking them early.” Smoothing his hair off his forehead, she added, “Take care of yourself, for me, all right? And promise me the first real chance you get to escape, you’ll take it and won’t back.”

“Sounds a lot like a final goodbye,” he said, shifting his stance a bit. “Is there something I need to know that you aren’t telling me?”

Marushka waved off his concern with a laugh that sounded forced. “No, this has all been so dramatic tonight I’m just in a mood. I’ll see you later.”

“Promise?” He refused to let go of her hand.

“Benet, I have to hurry.” She kissed him again and then ran from the garden, the dogs bounding at her heels.

He stared after her, tempted to follow but then went inside to the kitchen, where he found Dmitri sitting at the table, placidly drinking his morning beverage. “She left safely?” he asked. “Was she here all night?”

Benet knew Badari could scent lies and he didn’t see any point in hiding the truth from Dmitri anyway.

If he’d known all along Marushka was in the garden with Benet, he could have ended the evening at any time.

The fact he didn’t was telling. “We spent the night together, yes. Your couch outside is quite comfortable.” He went on a quest for eggs and bacon in the stasis keeper. “You want breakfast?”

Dmitri rose from the table and came to stand in front of Benet. “I’m guessing she didn’t tell you we’re leaving today, she and I.”

Cold gripped Benet’s heart and he couldn’t move. “What do you mean?”

“We’ve been ordered to report to the capital city today and we won’t be returning.

You’re to stay here for the next week and then the Grand Duke will have you transferred to his compound at the capital as well.

The Games open in two weeks.” Dmitri gestured at the kitchen around them.

“I welcome you to stay in my house and consider it as if it were your own. Keep up your training. To slack off now would be a mistake.”

“Will I see you—either of you—in the capital?”

“I will come and supervise your training again, yes. Marushka will be kept busy with social events and waiting on the Empress.” Dmitri grinned but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“Knowing my devochka, she’ll try to sneak away and come to you but it’ll be much more difficult to be discreet than it was here, you understand? ”

“Is Vasili going to be there?” Benet voiced his primary concern.

“Undoubtedly but for now they are to remain apart, except for the big, mandatory events. I’ll be there as well—she’ll be fine.

” Dmitri frowned and his eyes glowed, as Benet had seen Kyden’s do on occasion when he was experiencing a strong emotion.

“She’s going to have to marry him—we must both accept the hard reality, my friend.

Life with Vasili is her future and much as we both love her, there’s nothing we can do. ”

“I’ll find a way.” Benet made the vow with every fiber of his being. “If I can figure out an escape from here, do you think she’d come with me?”

“The sense of duty is strong in her and she knows her father is in deep trouble. She might not agree to run away and you must give me your word you won’t attempt to kidnap her against her will.

That would be a disaster. The Empress would probably authorize Vasili’s family to hunt you in the Five Systems. You’d be dead and she’d be punished severely,”

“I have friends and allies there,” Benet said. “I could keep her safe.”

Shaking his head, Dmitri reiterated his opinion.

“If you take her against her will, the act will kill whatever chance the two of you might have had at happiness. This is an Outlier romantic tragedy, which is a thing their culture specializes in. Take the gift she gave you last night and derive what comfort you can from knowing her heart is yours. There’s no future with Marushka for you.

” He laid one huge hand on Benet’s shoulder.

“It pains me to see you and her in such a strait. If I could fix this somehow, I would. But even if I killed Vasili, you and Marushka would not be allowed to be together.”

“I appreciate you being so direct, even if we must agree to disagree,” Benet said. “When do you go?”

“I have to pack now and be at the house in an hour. You should eat and go start your training for the day.” The Badari left the kitchen and Benet heard him ascending the stairs.

He stared at the frying pan and the eggs without seeing them.

I’ve been an idiot, wasting my time here falling in line with this plan to compete in the Games.

I should have been actively planning my escape and figuring out how to take her with me.

There was no making up for the lost time now but he vowed to do better once he reached the capital.

He didn’t know how much freedom he’d have to move around but surely in the crowds of fans and spectators for the multiday event he could manage to do cautious reconnaissance.

There’d have to be innumerable ships coming and going from the spaceport right now as well, which meant more opportunities for stealing a ship.

No longer hungry, he put away the food and drank two survival drinks and ate a ration bar before going out to do what Dmitri had recommended and hit the training course.

He didn’t allow himself to try for a last glimpse of Marushka as she departed, although he was watching from a small hill as her groundcar left.

We’re going to be together he vowed silently.

You’re the best thing that ever happened to me and I’m not giving you up to a monster.