derian

Shhh, Eena, it__ going to be okay. I promise, you__l get through this._ She didn__ fight him, but grabbed onto his shirt, weeping softly into it as before. He began to hum faintly, a familiar Earth tune. Soon he was singing the words in that deep, consoling voice of his. The song itself was meant to be comforting, and his tender manner made it that much more effectual. Eena recognized the song. She fell asleep to the soothing l

Stop tormenting Derian.___e?_ Edgar gaped at her with a clearly fake look of innocence.__es, you.___nd what about you? When will you stop tormenting him?_ Edgar moved past the young queen to approach the unmoving captain. He circled the man as though he were checking out a statue on display ____ not tormenting him; why would you say that?___ou have the poor guy believing you actually intend to marry him._ Edgar stopped to fix the captain__ collar, raising it up high and stiff around his

Eena turned aside, breathing shallowly as her mind raced with questions. She was glad he couldn__ read the confusion that swooped her up like a passing tornado. Was it even possible to genuinely love more than one man? Yes. Oh, yes.She knew it because her heart irrefutably felt it. She loved Derian; it was true. She wasn__ trying to convince herself of it, no matter what Edgar said. She yearned deeply for her captain. But she loved Ian too. She always had. Only she purposefully, appropriately, had set those feelings aside when he made the decision to pursue Angelle. But Angelle was gone now. No, Eena thought to herself, this changes nothing. She scolded her heart for longing for something spent and ended, for even considering the possibility. Her with Ian? No, no, it had to remain in the past.

Yes, he knew he was falling in love, her way. And the worst part was, as disabling as he found the emotion to be he craved it all the more. To feel this way about a woman was amazing even if it was __emporary and fleeting_, as he__ put it. It was a natural high like he__ never felt before. One he couldn__ get enough of.

True love is a developed and intense appreciation for someone. It__ that perfect awareness that you are finally whole when she__ with you, and that hollow incompleteness you suffer when she__ gone.

Love is knowing someone so deeply, understanding her so completely, that you can finish her thoughts without hesitation, confident in reading her face, her body, even her slightest gesture means something to you.

Love is years of devotion, sacrifice, commitment, loyalty, trust, faith, and friendship all wrapped up in one. True love does more than cause your heart to flutter. It upholds your heart when the infatuation no longer makes it flutter.

I__l tell you what,_ she said, prepared to make a deal. __et__ see how your __iplomacy_ would profit us. If you can give me a decent solution to a pretend situation, I__l agree to have you accompany me instead of Shanks. Although, I don__ know how wise it is to leave a Viidun captain on the Kemeniroc in your absence._ Derian agreed to the test. __kay, what__ your question?_ She thought hard for a moment; her eyes scrunching in concentration, lips pulled down to one side. Then, as a crooked grin spread across her lips, she set up an imagined scenario. __retend we__e down on the planet with this King Wennergren when he graciously offers to walk us through his cherished garden. While we__e there he begs me to touch his favorite, award-winning flower, hoping my powers will make it thrive and blossom. But for some strange reason it doesn__ respond to me the way plants do on our world. Instead of thriving, the flower withers and dies right before his shocked and furious eyes. Now pretend he__ easily offended and has a horrible temper_ Derian cut it. __ou have no idea what his temperament is li

And what about your brother, Agus? Will he be entertaining us with his pipes?_ __hgg,_ Shanks rasped, wrinkling his nose. __ didn__ tell you? He ain__ with us no more._ A heavy fist slammed on the arm of the Viidun__ chair as he growled, __he idiot went off and got himself killed!_ __hat?_ Derian and Eena replied in unison, both horrified by the news. __ou heard me,_ Shanks bellowed. __he crazy fool should__e known when to duck. He died in a bloody challenge with some brainless Deramptium! A downright disgraceful way to die! I__ ashamed to say he was my brother!_ __hat__ a little harsh, isn__ it?_ Eena muttered, mostly speaking to Derian. __hat was that?_ the Viidun dem

When you do fall in love with me, Eena, I don__ want it to be because I gave into your demands, but because your heart gave into its desire to truly be loved._ With an injured frown he uttered goodnight and left the room. She stood alone, chastised and bruised. It seemed right to apologize for her insensitive words, but not now. Not while a room full of people remained out there.

True love takes time. It__ an earned comfort that tells you she__l be right there beside you no matter what you do, not necessarily happy with your every action, but faithful to you just the same.

The captain put his fingers to his temples as if he had a headache. __o, let me get this straight. Edgar, an immortal, who I assume is as unscrupulous as his sisters, tried to take that bracelet from you

That was the coolest thing ever._ Eena smiled at the fact that she__ been lucky enough to touch the wings of a real crioness. __hat was highly unusual. I can__ believe they came right up to us__o you._ __hey were hungry, I__ sure._ __till, crioness are cautious. They always avoid people. To let you touch him like it did_.._ She grinned with pure satisfaction. __ild huh? Derian__ not going to believe me when I tell him._ Eena cocked her head when Ian laughed out loud. __hat?_ she asked, a note of offense in her

Despair is not for the living but for those unable to rise and continue; they are the only souls with a right to it. It is an end where breath and strength and will have vanished, leaving no way to persevere. To sink into the abyss that is despair is to suffer an existence far worse than death; therefore, cling to its enemy, our ally__ope. For life goes on, and we must not live in despair. We must not.

Derian pulled the blanket snug around himself. __his is my added assurance._ Eena__ nose wrinkled. __t__ your what?_ __f you recall the last time we were here standing in this very spot, you pelted me with neumberries._ He held up a single berry before popping it into his mouth. __ doubt you would risk soiling your blanket, so I figure wrapping it around me this way I__ pretty much assured safety from any potential attack._ He winked playfully, and she laughed out loud. ____ afraid you don__ know me half as well as you think,_ she announced. Aiming low, she flung a sizable berry at his calve. It hit its mark.__hoa, whoa!_ He lowered the blanket to cover his legs. __ou can__ hide yourself entirely, Derian,_ she said, aiming for his face. He ducked, raising the blanket like a shield in the process.Another round of ammunition pelted his ankles before he decided it was time to fight back. Eena found herself bound up in her own blanket, arms wrapped securely at her sides. She laughed nonstop, unable to move within his strong hold. Derian leaned forward until their noses touched, and then he kissed her giggles silent. He kept her in the blanket, snug and close to him, but Eena managed to wriggle an arm free and drape it around his neck, holding his lips in reach. She uttered a quick count in between kisses.__even,_ she breathed.Derian paused, his mouth a whisper away from hers. It tickled when he spoke. __o, no, Eena.___o what?___o counting. Not today. No ground rules.__he barely uttered a partial ___ay_ before his mouth covered hers again. His hot breath tasted like breakfast. He fixed his hands on each side of her face, and the blanket fell to the ground. As the intensity of their kisses grew hungry, he gripped her cheeks more securely. Eena could feel the air electrifying around them. Her heartbeat drummed__xcited and anxious. __erian_ she breathed. But he didn__ stop. She felt his hand move to support her neck while the other slid down her back, urging her closer. She brought her arms together and pressed against his chest, somewhat objecting to the intimacy.__erian_ she tried again. But he covered her mouth with his own.She pushed more firmly against him without success. Her protest weakened as his kisses softened. The fervor subsided, and she could feel her wild pulse even out. Amidst a string of supple kisses, Derian__ breathing slowed. He planted his lips on her forehead for a moment before squeezing her tenderly. She snuggled up against his warm chest. __ne ground rule,_ he whispered in her ear. __e stop when you say __hen.____hen,_ she uttered.__kay,_ he agreed.Then, as if the thought had just occurred to her, she stepped back to look up questioningly at the captain. __asn__ there a leftover sandwich in that basket from last night?__is lips formed a guilty smile as he confessed, __es__nd it was delicious.

I don't have the time, skill level, or experience to date one guy, let alone two. Fortunately, there's more to life than boys. How about we focus on something other than me finding a mate?