For all of you who wanted a little bit 'more', I hope you enjoy this Alternate Reality/Bonus chapter. These events were very close to being a part of the book, but in the end, I decided not to so these chapters (this one as well as the next one) are not canon to the story. 

The song is sultry and sexy and VERY Marku. I highly recommend you listen!

Marku/Raine Bonus Chapter—Part 1

Marku

Bath time lasted longer than normal. Flickering flame of nearly fifty candles danced in the darkness around us like stars on a moonlit night. Their luminescence cast an ethereal glow on Raine's creamy white skin, reflecting off of the water droplets trailing down her bare shoulders.

The healer's latest suggestion—aromatic therapy, worked toward total curative immersion, bath salts for the outside of her body, and soothing cedar wood, citrus and lotus blossom, perfuming the air, for the inside.

Raine's nostrils flared as she inhaled the heady scents. The potent concoction seemed to be working. She was more relaxed and resisted getting out of the marble tub at our normal time. Fine with me. I was all for anything that took her mind away from her pain.

She twisted slightly in my arms so she could look up at me. I smoothed a stray lock of hair away from her cheek, tucking it behind her ear. Holding my gaze, she asked quietly, "Where is your mate?"

Her question caught me off guard. She never asked about Adorna. I studied her expression, not quite sure what she was looking for. After a moment, I replied, "She has her own living quarters. As you already know, we have an open arrangement. I don't ask who she spends nights with and she doesn't ask me."

She considered my answer. "Was it always that way? You said you never loved her. Did you mean that?"

I trailed my fingers along her jaw. "Why do you ask?"

Her face fell. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." She began to turn back around.

I wanted to kick myself. I stopped her movement. "No, wait. Of course, I don't mind telling you. I was just curious what caused your questions."

For some reason, a slight blush rose on her cheeks. She looked away. Now I was really confused. I shifted her in my arms so she wouldn't have to twist her body so far and lifted her chin with my finger. She looked up at me through her lashes.

"No. I never loved her," I answered honestly.

"Never?" Her liquid blue eyes bore into mine. I still didn't know what motivated her line of questioning, but I held her gaze openly, hoping she would find whatever she was searching for. The moment lingered. Attempting to break the tension, I reminded her wryly, "I've already told you I wasn't capable of romantic notions such as love."

She rolled her eyes and relaxed her head against my chest again. "Does...she know I'm here?"

"Yes, she knows."

Several more minutes went by. I wondered if she'd fallen asleep, but no.

"Does she know..." she hesitated, "you offered me her title?"

The whole conversation made me nervous, but I wouldn't give her anything other than the truth. "No."

She nodded her head against my chest. Silence lingered. I wished I could see her face.

"What does she think...about me being here?"

"I don't know, exactly," I replied carefully. "It isn't a conversation I would allow. She knows that."

Tension rolled through her body, putting me on high alert.

"So she isn't allowed to speak her mind?"

Even without seeing her face, I clearly heard the disapproval in her tone. Fuck. I had a feeling she wasn't going to like my answer.

"Not when it comes to this—to you. No, I won't entertain her thoughts on the matter. She agreed to a union with me to gain political advantage. There has never been a misunderstanding in that regard."

Again, she contemplated quietly.

Finally, I couldn't take the silence anymore. "What has brought on all of these questions? Did something happen?" As soon as the words came out of my mouth, fire went through my stomach. Adorna knew better than to approach Raine, especially in her weakened state. If she caused Raine additional suffering, there would be hell to pay...

"No," Raine interrupted, unaware of my internal fuming. "I just wanted to...understand the dynamic between you."

Okay. I could accept that. I just hoped we hadn't taken a step backward. I asked tentatively, "Are you angry?"

She shook her head, her wet hair smoothing against my chest.

I exhaled slowly, relief running through me to have successfully navigated whatever minefield that was.

She fidgeted in my arms and I realized the water had gone cool. I gathered her in my arms and stood, water splashing down around us. Stepping out of the tub, I placed her on her feet. Goosebumps rose up on her arms. I quickly opened the newly installed towel warmer and wrapped a hot towel around her.

"Thanks," her teeth chattered a little as she held the towel close; shifting her body to run the edges of the towel along her arms and legs.

I dried myself off, and then carried her, along with the towel to the bed. Pulling the covers back, I placed her down gently, and turned toward the closet to get a pair of the dreaded boxer-briefs. I hated the constriction, but it was better than the alternative—constant blue balls. It wasn't much, but it helped tamp down my arousal a little.

Raine told me to seek relief wherever I needed too. I'd considered it. I had an unlimited selection to choose from.

But, fuck, I couldn't, not when she was so close to me. Not when she slept in my bed, cradled in my arms every night. I didn't know what that said about me, what profound insight it revealed about how I felt about her, but I'd given up trying to work it out in my head.

"No," her voice was soft from behind me.

I stopped in my tracks and turned to face her. "What?"

She bit her lip. "No...I, I don't want anything between us."

I swallowed down a growl. Did she have any idea what she did to me?

Unable to control the lust coursing through my body, my cock responded as I contemplated what do. It stood proud and tall between my thighs. Her eyes flickered down and widened. I assumed she would rethink her whole nothing-between-us plan.

She didn't.

She just waited for me to join her.

Fuck. I inhaled and let the breath out slowly. Okay. I could do that.

It might kill me, but, hell, there were worse ways to die.

Stepping around to the other side of the bed, I climbed in next to her. I pulled her close, but was careful not to press my swollen and aching cock anywhere against her decadent body. I was holding on by a thread as it was.

She winced at the movement. Her eyes fluttered shut. She breathed through the pain. I hated myself in that moment. All I could think about was how much I wanted to be inside of her more than I wanted my next heartbeat, and there she was, in more pain than I could imagine. I whispered softly, "I'm sorry."

She shook her head, still not opening her eyes, her jaw clenched. I held my breath.

When she finally opened her crystal blue eyes, a solitary tear fell, leaving a wet glistening trail down her cheek. Her voice broke, "The pain...please make the pain go away."

I groaned on the inside. Her pain was my pain. I'd never felt this ache, this empty churning pit in my stomach. And yet, I felt her slightest hitch of breath. Her softest flinch radiated through my gut. I caught the droplet with the pad of my thumb. "I would do anything, love. Anything. I'd move heaven and earth if only I could."

She slid her arm over my chest and grasped my shoulder, carefully pulling herself closer. I tightened my hold, my fingers caressing the lower arch in her back, and brushing softly over the curves of her ass.

"Why don't we try the new oil again?" I suggested. It seemed to provide some relief.

"Okay," she agreed softly.

I slowly disentangled myself and reached into the side table. Small bottle in hand, I pulled the covers down to reveal her naked body. "Let's start with your back. Are you okay with me rolling you onto your belly?"

Her eyes were tight, but she nodded.

I lifted to my knees and as gently as I could, I eased her onto her belly. I straddled her thighs, careful to keep my weight off of her. "Pillow or no pillow?"

"No pillow," she answered.

I slid the pillow out from beneath her, allowing her to lay flat without arching her spine. She rested her head on the cushioned mattress, her arms relaxed over her head and closed her eyes.

Taking my time, I poured oil in my palms and began to work it in to her skin, methodically traveling from her shoulders down her back and up again, running my hands along her arms.

When my fingers twined with hers, she held tight to my hands, not letting me go. "Please...I want to feel something...other than pain."

I'd heard those words so many times. "I know you do, love," I said, comforting her, wishing I could do more.

"Marku..." She clenched my fingers tighter, still not letting me move from my position draped over her back, my name of plea on her tongue. The sudden scent of her arousal caused my head to swim. Oh fuck.

My voice dropped an octave. I leaned close to her neck, rocking my hard cock against her ass gently, and whispered in her ear, "What do you want to feel, love?"

.

Soooo thoughts?

Part 2 will come soon. No pun intended, well, maybe a little. hehe