Love Unleashed

By Jess Thomas

Laced with sexual tension, romance, drama and a little comedy, Love Unleashed is the second story of Darius and his rise from a slave to one who is loved and cared for. This is a story about the man he loves, and his family who loves, protects, and cares for him. On a new planet he now calls home, a new life awaits him. He has found out that he is an interchanger, a special ability to turn into various animals and aliens. He only turns into his two basic creatures, a large black panther and a Pegasus. There has been only one other interchanger known yet Darius still sees himself as a monster. It will take love and affection to show him that all is not as it appears.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jess Thomas
• Release date: Mar 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370079865

Book preview

The Chronicles of Darius

Book 2:

Love Unleashed

A Novel By

Jess Thomas

Cover Design By

Jess Thomas

Copyright 2014

Introduction

It had been five years since I arrived on Eiravia. During that time, my need for Finnal had grown. I wished he felt the same way. Tonight, we had dinner, and I was waiting for Finnal to come into the great room. He’d gone out with Begrat to fix the protections around our planet, and I was ready for him to be back.

Darius, what are you doing? Garrick inquired with a tilt of his head. He looked at me like I’d lost my mind before shaking his head and rolling his eyes at my actions.

You’re not right, little brother, he teased, giving me a look I’d always loved.

He watched me move my hand, my fingers touching something no one else could see. It was interesting to see the white energy weave in and out of my grasp. It was almost like pulling threads to make a tapestry. However, I wasn’t going to tell anyone. In time, I’d figure out why I alone saw it. Sure, I know that I should have told the ones around me, and I’m really much better about it now, but back then… well, not so much.

Nothing, it’s nothing, I said, sitting up straighter in my chair and inspecting the energy, disappear.

I glanced over as Finnal came through the doorway and plopped down in an overstuffed armchair. His black boots were polished to perfection; they caught the light as he swung one leg over the side before grabbing a piece of fruit and winking at me. I’m glad that no one could read my mind, or they would have seen me throwing myself into the chair with him and kissing every single inch of his body.

I guess before I start this part of our story, I should elaborate on Finnal’s appearance, as I have only touched on it in my last tale. You’ve read that Finnal was teased when he was in school, carrying the nickname of Mousey Fin. When you think of a mouse, you think of something little, right? I’m still not sure why they called him that. The only explanation I’ve been able to get was from Larkspur, who said it was because of his hair, which is such a dark brown it borders on black. I’ve never seen a mouse that color; have you? She explained that he was also smaller than the rest of his classmates, though he gained a lot of muscle and height during the last part of the war. My theory is that his schoolmates were idiots. Anyway, I’m going to paint a better picture of the way Finnal actually looks.

He is considered to have been one of the best warriors on Eiravia during the war. He is six feet, three inches tall with well-defined muscles on his athletic body. He has soft amber eyes that are the color of honey. As I’ve told you before, they can turn gray when he’s pissed; an Eiravian trait that was common in their race. However, they do reveal his exceptional intelligence. His chest is broad and well-muscled. His face… how do I describe his handsome face? Well, I guess strong comes to mind. His chin is pronounced, and always has a slight five-o’clock shadow that complements his eyes. His shoulders are broad, his hands are large, and they are able to make me quiver under their touch. Every ounce of him radiates strength and can be, to an outsider, a bit intimidating, but I know better. I know what makes Finnal worry and how he thinks beneath his commanding facade. I understand that he is a combination of sensitivity, gentleness, and strength. He is a great love in the making, and I am going to make him mine. I just need to figure out how to bring him around to my way of thinking.

I know I’ve told you about how I became the Dagger of Destiny, and you would think that I’d be one hell of a warrior by now. In reality, dealing with a Cold One has made me more dependent on everyone I love. I handle it like everything else in my life, but it is harder than anything I’ve ever experienced. I think I just want Finnal’s arms around me, and someone to take care of me at this point. I am really tired of waiting for him to change his way of thinking.

Finnal is in for it because I want him, and I’m stubborn. I’ll plan out my strategy like waging war until I get the prize I want.

Chapter 1

A Tease and a Tickle

Darius! Go! Finnal’s yell filled the underground baths as he pointed toward the doors.

Sorry, I said, grabbing a towel to cover myself up. I didn’t know you were in here.

He swallowed hard. No problem, he said, watching me get out of the bath and slowly put on my clothes.

He looked at my naked body, noticing my legs and my back.

So many scars, he thought, on an otherwise perfect physique.

As I turned around, my towel fell off.

Sorry, I groaned as he got an eye-full. I didn’t mean to do that.

Sure, Finnal grumbled. I grinned slightly, beholding Finnal’s reaction.

Young, my ass. I’ll get him to come around, or maybe just cum, I thought, with a wicked grin.

I smirked at the notion, bending over to dry every single bit of my body right in his face.

Finnal slid back into his bath and out of sight.

Are you okay, Finnal?

Go, he demanded.

You know, at home, we had communal baths, so nudity has never been a problem for me.

Go, he ordered again, one finger showing me to the exit. I chuckled, he’d sunk so low in his underground pool that all I could see was his finger stiffly pointing in the direction he wanted me to leave.

You know, I brought a book with me; I think I’ll finish this chapter. He mumbled a few curse words in my direction as I snickered at his reaction.

Finnal, such swear words. I gave a little laugh, watching his finger continue to point at the entrance.

What do you want, Finnal? Is it something near the door? I said good-naturedly.

I’m not telling you again. Go, right now, Darius. If I’d wanted someone to share my bath, I would have asked you.

Sorry, Finnal. I picked up his towel, throwing it up in the air a time or two. I’ll just take this, I think.

Darius, leave it, he ordered.

I knew I was on his last nerve, which wasn’t what I was trying to achieve.

Go away, he stressed again, quickly adding, and leave my towel alone.

I sighed as I dressed quickly and left the baths. I guess I needed to quit offering myself to Finnal; he wasn’t interested, but I hadn’t even made it to the entrance before I had dismissed that thought and was thinking of new ways to make him want me.

Maybe if I kept trying, he might come around to my way of thinking. Maybe I could change his mind.

My next chance came at dinnertime. He’d eaten a piece of fruit that caused a mess. Before he could grab a towel, I used my thumb to wipe the juice off his lips. The rough pad of my thumb gently brushed across his mouth in a soft caress.

Better than a napkin any time, I pronounced as I sucked the remaining juice from my thumb.

He looked at me in shock before shaking his head in frustration. Finnal turned away in an effort to get himself in control again.

That’s what napkins are for, Finnal fussed. I don’t need help. I’m a big boy.

Or not, I thought to myself sadly.

Damn it, I needed to quit trying, I was getting more forward by the day, and he wasn’t showing any signs that he wanted me in return.

If I were you, boy, I’d keep trying, Tasar whispered. He winked at me, motioning to Chin-Me, who nodded his head in approval, before gesturing toward Finnal once more.

Alright then, if I had a cheering section, what could it hurt? I was stubborn, and Finnal was in for it.

I waited to pick my next advance carefully. I got my chance a few days later.

Hello. I smiled at Finnal when he came into his bedroom. I thought you might like a back rub.

A back rub?

You look tense. I give amazing back rubs, so…. I patted his bed beside me, waiting for him to sit down. Why not give it a try? I winked at him, hoping he would get the idea.

No, thanks. He examined the wounded look cross my face, trying to figure out what to say next.

Finnal wasn’t sure if it was because he’d had an abusive relationship before, or if he was just scared of getting involved with me, but he always shot me down.

Well, I guess I’ll go back to my room, then.

He didn’t want me; I was a fool to keep tempting him. So why did I feel drawn to him so strongly? Were the fates so cruel that they’d put me on a planet with very few people and make me look daily at the man I loved but couldn’t have?

Stupid fates, I muttered disgustedly as I strode to my own bedroom.

A few minutes later, Finnal was standing in my doorway with a soft smile on his handsome face. He came over and sat beside me, looking around my room. He gave me a quick kiss.

You’re trouble, he declared, flashing me a broad smile. Let’s take a walk.

And, so it went, like a chess game on Earth. We played an extended game of do-you-want-me-or-not. Sometimes I went to my room at the end of the day, thinking he did. Other days I flung myself on my bed, thinking I didn’t want to lose him as a friend and that he didn’t want me any other way.

That night I was studying Finnal eat at dinner. He gave me a silly look, blowing up his cheeks and making me laugh. He could always make me happy. It was one of the things I loved about him. He could make me feel loved with a simple look. Sure, everyone on this planet cared about me, and I was better for it, but he was my warmth on a cold day. I’d had too many sorrows in my past to not want his kindness constantly.

I am happy here, I thought.

Home, I repeated to myself so many times that I’d forgotten I was even human. This planet seemed so right.

Siena was singing a song they had all known before the wars. I hummed along, quietly singing the words to myself. I wondered why it sounded familiar, yet it did. I closed my eyes and questioned if the visions I was seeing had really happened, but decided it would be better to not bring it up. War was war, and nothing good came from it. I understood there were times you had to fight, and that at times battle was noble and honorable. I looked away from my family, lost in thought. I’d walked across too many battlefields to be blinded by the harsh truth of what remained after the fighting ended. I’d seen too many atrocities and too much strife. There were so many times when everyone was celebrating their victory, but I drank not in festivity, but to forget the slaughters in front of me. I wanted to forget the soldier who cradled another in death. I wanted to forget the expressions that were were frozen in time or if they were fighting each other or good friends.

Hey, where are you? Finnal said, flashing his hands in front of me.

I jumped as my eyes became focused. I was just listening to the song, Finnal. I looked down at my napkin and a pen on the table before dismissing them.

It seemed like you were a million miles away, he declared quietly, like you were in a trance.

"I was just enjoying the music,