The Commander entered and Kiara thought she glimpsed a glimmer of pride in his eyes as he watched his sons.
Suddenly, without reason, Nykyrian dropped his weapon and fell to his knees. His breathing labored, he clutched at his head as if som e intolerable pain tore through his skull.
Seeing the Commander, Aksel dropped his weapon, laughed, then clapped Arast on his back and the two of them left the room.
Huwin moved to stand before Nykyrian, legs braced wide apart. He tapped his silver-handled cane on the floor in a short staccato rhythm. Nykyrian dropped his hands from his head and lifted his face to stare a bitter hatred at his father.
"Does your injury still pain you?" Huwin asked in an almost caring voice. Nykyrian remained silent.
Huwin tapped the cane nearer to Nykyrian. The sound stopped. He grabbed Nykyrian's hair and pulled him to his feet. Nykyrian didn't even grimace. "I have received some distressing information about you," Huwin said, his grip tightening its hold. "Something about you and Am bassador Krila's daughter." Nykyrian just stared at him.
Huwin lifted his cane and angled the sharp handle toward Nykyrian's eyes. "Is it true?"
"No," Nykyrian spat.
Huwin released him. "Good. Your blood is tainted. The only thing you're fit for is killing. I want no more rumors about any women. The only thing a wom an could possibly want with you is my money and I won't have any bastard, half-bred offspring of yours enjoying what I've spent my life building!"
Nykyrian opened his mouth to speak and received a vicious backhand.
"Rem em ber my words."
"What are you doing!"
Kiara jumped at Nykyrian's snarl. Heat stung her cheeks at being caught in her snooping.
Rushing forward, Nykyrian cut the power to the viewer. His sharp glare pierced her.
She averted her eyes in guilt. "I just wanted to see what you were like," she whispered.
He ran his hand over his biceps, his gaze still locked on her. Kiara could swear his hand trembled.
"I don't ever want you to watch any of my personal files again." he said in a ragged whisper. In anger, he stormed from the room.
Despondency, guilt and pain claimed her as she sat holding the control in her hand. She hadn't meant to hurt him, she had only wanted to see what his childhood was like. Now she understood only too well why he kept it hidden. Drawing a ragged sigh, she went to find him and apologize for everything.
Kiara hesitated in the hallway just before entering the main room. Nykyrian sat at the desk, holding his head in his hands, looking more miserable than anything she had ever seen. Kiara looked about for Rachol, but he must have left. She moved forward, knelt beside his chair and placed her hand on his thigh. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
Nykyrian looked at her apologetic face. He couldn't believe she had found his files.
Bitter, agonizing memories tore through him. All the times in his life he had needed someone to talk to, to hold him, flashed before his mind and he felt like crying. But what was the use?
He glanced at the pain on Kiara's face as she watched him. There he saw the sincere caring he had always craved. A desire burned inside him to take her in his arms and find the solace he needed. He was sure she would give him the peace his soul cried out for.
How easy it would be to trust just this one person. Kiara seemed so loving the way she looked up at him as if she wanted to soothe his agony. He needed her warmth, her touch, her love. His mind screamed out a brutal denial. He couldn't trust her, he couldn't trust anyone.
For once, he didn't listen to the voice inside him and all the warnings it shouted. He reached out his hand, shaking with the force of his emotions, to her.
Eight
Nykyrian's hand stopped inches from her face. Smiling at the gesture, Kiara clasped his hand in both of hers and kissed his icy fingertips. His hand trembled as she held onto it.
Indecision darkened his light green eyes.
Kiara waited, stroking the strong tendons of his hand, praying he would hold her.
He buried his other hand under her hair, his fingers lightly stroking her scalp, causing chills to form all the way down her body. Desire erupted inside her, and she knew tonight she wouldn't, couldn't, let him go. Tomorrow would probably separate them, but she would have tonight no matter what.
His arms tightened and he pulled her up to him. His lips claimed hers with a passion born of desperate need. Kiara moaned with the pleasure of it. She heard his ragged breathing as he nipped her lips with his teeth. Opening her mouth, she welcomed his warmth, his touch.
He slid from his chair, his hands working magic on her body. Everywhere he touched, she burned, aching for more. Her heart thundered as she ran her hands down the soft silk of his shirt, delighting in the way his hard muscles flexed beneath her fingertips.
She wanted him m ore than she had ever wanted anything.