Beyond the Sapphire Gate: Epic Fantasy-Some Magic Should Remain Untouched (The Flow of Power Book 1) by R.V. Johnson Page B
Authors: R.V. Johnson
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twisting to look at him. A frown creased her forehead as her dark eyes penetrated his. Unabl e— or unwillin g— to look away, he stared deep into them. The world froze. High intellect, mixed with a fierce passion, and…and something else, drew him in, making him wonder. What could a much younger, beautiful, and supremely wealthy woman want with a dying older man?
How many moments passed, he couldn’t say. Her face smoothed. She turned and led the way deeper within the warehouse, her weight balanced elegantly on her spiked heels.
Stopping at a door, Ruena raised an eyebrow, binding him with her stare. “Your daughter told you she asked permission to bring her sister along? I’m afraid Crystalyn told you…wrong. Her indenture is for her alone, and I never require her to work any Seventh Credit day.”
“I asked her about that! I wonder why she insisted you had requested her service.”
“I do not know. I dislike having anyone here, save for a small security crew, on the Seventh day. I do not agree with service on that day; everyone should have time away. After all, I may need some…time alone. Or I might wish to spend it with someone who intrigues me, as you do, Mr. Creek.”
Garn swallowed hard. So there it was, tossed into the open.
“Ever since our previous interactions ended, I’ve searched for an excuse to spend some time becoming…acquainted,” Ruena went on. “When you sent the message, I got the impression you wanted to meet in an intimate atmosphere. Was I wrong? Did you not want to see me in private, Garnet?”
Garn’s lungs refused to draw breath as he gazed at her fine raised eyebrows and the question hanging there. Beautiful wasn’t a strong enough word for her elegant, aristocratic features. Her sharp cheekbones curved down to a full, pouty mouth. Parting her lips slightly, Ruena leaned closer.
His body stirred.
Garn squashed the feeling, pulling back; he still hadn’t found his daughters. When had he leaned close to her?
Lips curling playfully petulant, Ruena leaned on the doors exit bar, presenting a side profile.
He noted the dress she wore left no room for underneath apparel. His mouth dried.
“Come now, Mister Garnet, quit toying with me. Shall we go to my office? We can discuss anything you want there. I am certain you’re parched by now.”
He stood immobile, not trusting himself to move, unable to look away. She was a rare beauty, though he hadn’t thought so in the past, she’d been too hard a taskmaster during the secure setup, demanding to know the precise details for each feature. He’d never met any woman matching his six-foot frame, until back then. His wife, Sureen, barely reached his chin, yet it hadn’t mattered. Sureen was the perfect size. They fit together like his best suit, manufactured from precise, robotic specifications. They’d been soul mates from the moment they’d met, and every moment after. He could still picture her smile as if she stood beside him.
The sharp pain in his chest he’d lived with for six seasons hit him again. Everything within him ached to see her, to talk to her, to hold her. Sureen was the only woman he’d ever loved, or ever would.
The exotic beauty before him intruded into his thoughts, transposed for an instant with an image of his lovely wife. His chest constricted again. Head tilted back against the open door jamb, her firm, full chest pushed forward, Ruena stared at him, expectation mirrored in her almond eyes, lips pursed. When had she opened the door?
As tempting as Ruena was, he knew he would decline her offer. He loved Sureen still, missing or not. As the One was his witness, he truly missed her. Not knowing if she was alive or dead was destroying him. He’d never given up on her, though it’d been many a long season since she’d vanished from their home without a trace. He would find out what happened to her. He was here for his children and nothing else mattered. He’d made a pact early on in his union with
How many moments passed, he couldn’t say. Her face smoothed. She turned and led the way deeper within the warehouse, her weight balanced elegantly on her spiked heels.
Stopping at a door, Ruena raised an eyebrow, binding him with her stare. “Your daughter told you she asked permission to bring her sister along? I’m afraid Crystalyn told you…wrong. Her indenture is for her alone, and I never require her to work any Seventh Credit day.”
“I asked her about that! I wonder why she insisted you had requested her service.”
“I do not know. I dislike having anyone here, save for a small security crew, on the Seventh day. I do not agree with service on that day; everyone should have time away. After all, I may need some…time alone. Or I might wish to spend it with someone who intrigues me, as you do, Mr. Creek.”
Garn swallowed hard. So there it was, tossed into the open.
“Ever since our previous interactions ended, I’ve searched for an excuse to spend some time becoming…acquainted,” Ruena went on. “When you sent the message, I got the impression you wanted to meet in an intimate atmosphere. Was I wrong? Did you not want to see me in private, Garnet?”
Garn’s lungs refused to draw breath as he gazed at her fine raised eyebrows and the question hanging there. Beautiful wasn’t a strong enough word for her elegant, aristocratic features. Her sharp cheekbones curved down to a full, pouty mouth. Parting her lips slightly, Ruena leaned closer.
His body stirred.
Garn squashed the feeling, pulling back; he still hadn’t found his daughters. When had he leaned close to her?
Lips curling playfully petulant, Ruena leaned on the doors exit bar, presenting a side profile.
He noted the dress she wore left no room for underneath apparel. His mouth dried.
“Come now, Mister Garnet, quit toying with me. Shall we go to my office? We can discuss anything you want there. I am certain you’re parched by now.”
He stood immobile, not trusting himself to move, unable to look away. She was a rare beauty, though he hadn’t thought so in the past, she’d been too hard a taskmaster during the secure setup, demanding to know the precise details for each feature. He’d never met any woman matching his six-foot frame, until back then. His wife, Sureen, barely reached his chin, yet it hadn’t mattered. Sureen was the perfect size. They fit together like his best suit, manufactured from precise, robotic specifications. They’d been soul mates from the moment they’d met, and every moment after. He could still picture her smile as if she stood beside him.
The sharp pain in his chest he’d lived with for six seasons hit him again. Everything within him ached to see her, to talk to her, to hold her. Sureen was the only woman he’d ever loved, or ever would.
The exotic beauty before him intruded into his thoughts, transposed for an instant with an image of his lovely wife. His chest constricted again. Head tilted back against the open door jamb, her firm, full chest pushed forward, Ruena stared at him, expectation mirrored in her almond eyes, lips pursed. When had she opened the door?
As tempting as Ruena was, he knew he would decline her offer. He loved Sureen still, missing or not. As the One was his witness, he truly missed her. Not knowing if she was alive or dead was destroying him. He’d never given up on her, though it’d been many a long season since she’d vanished from their home without a trace. He would find out what happened to her. He was here for his children and nothing else mattered. He’d made a pact early on in his union with
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