A Mating of Convenience

by Elyce de Reefe

  “You’re not still frightened?”

  “No. A little nervous, maybe.”

  “Don’t be. We will take it very slow.”

  And they did. They sat on the bed sharing the wine and a light dinner as the sky lit in a wash of watercolor pastels. She smiled. Boaz and his picnics. From here they couldn’t see the valley below, just the open sky over the ridgeline and the rocks and trees that surrounded the glen. As the sun sank lower, the tiny tea lights came out of hiding, twinkling against the blue-grey gloaming.

  “Is it close to what you imagined?” Boaz asked, glancing around the clearing.

  “Close?”

  “Elizabeth said all human women imagine their wedding for pretty much their whole lives, which is why it’s so important to get the decorations right.” He shrugged, looking adorably self-conscious. “I know it’s not really a wedding night. But Elizabeth had a white arbor covered in ferns and flowers for her wedding. So I thought…” He trailed off, shrugging again.

  Nina’s heart squeezed. She glanced around at the magical, romantic fairyland he had created. For her. She bit her lip. “Yes. It’s very much like what I imagined,” she lied. “Maybe even nicer.” That was no lie at all.

  Somehow he had gotten an air mattress—that was just as tall as a regular bed—up here and inflated so that it was just as firm as a regular mattress, and covered it in fluffy white down. Draped in the gauzy mosquito netting, it was beyond lovely. It was probably the most romantic thing she had ever seen, surrounded by the green outdoors and the twinkling lights.

  “It’s beautiful, Boaz. You did a wonderful job.”

  He smiled at her, that new soft smile that touched both sides of his mouth and showed just a hint of teeth. Her heart turned over. He set his wine glass down on the table and pulled hers from her hand. And then he kissed her. Really kissed her. Leaned her back on the bed, came down beside her and pulled her into his body. His tongue slipped into her mouth and made contact with hers, light gliding touches that ignited her senses. Yes, Boaz was a really good kisser.

  He slipped one hand under her shirt and touched the bare skin of her ribcage— and she nearly moaned. His fingers traced up and down her side and back, lightly brushing, gently tickling— and making her tremble all over. When he finally moved up to cover her breast with his hand, she was so ready for it that she did moan. But it was mostly swallowed by his soft, sensual kiss which never paused.

  Her breasts were heavy and tingling with desire, and she could feel the heat of his hand right through the fabric of her bra. And still he kissed her. His hands traveled over her body, slowly exploring, brushing over her slacks, down her hips and thighs, awakening shivers of desire everywhere they traveled until she thought she would go mad with it. He cupped her—right over her pants—and she groaned deeply, arching up into his touch.

  Boaz grunted softly in what sounded very much like satisfaction. She was already aching with desire for him—drenched—and he hadn’t removed a single article of clothing.

  Gone were her nerves, her uncertainties, her worries. She needed him. Now. Nothing had ever felt so right her life. She needed to move this along. She ran her hands down his back, his skin warm and silky to the touch, down to the towel still more or less wrapped around his hips. She slipped one hand under the fabric and got a brief feel of the solid, well-developed muscle of his hip before he leaned back, breaking their kiss and trapping her hand in his.

  He raised it to his lips and kissed the underside of her wrist. Sensation flooded through her.

  “I’m going to undress you now, Nina.” He released her hand and ripped her shirt right down the middle.

  “Boaz!” She half sat up in shock, but he pressed her back down with one big hand to her middle.

  “Shhh. It’s okay. I’ll buy you a new one.” He gazed down at her black lace bra. “This, I think we’ll keep.” He traced a finger along the top edge of one lacy cup, making her shiver.

  Then he knelt and undid the button and zipper of her pants in one smooth motion, pulling them down her legs and tossing them off the bed.

  She was still blinking in surprise when his hands went to the filmy scarf still wrapped incongruously around his neck. He held her gaze as he untied it, the blue of his eyes so intense she would swear they were glowing.

  It was almost full dark now, but the white of the bedclothes and mosquito netting stood out clearly. The soft glow of the tea lights flickering through the netting seemed to enclose them within a white veil. Nina felt almost dreamy watching the flex of Boaz’s half-naked body in the dimness.

  “I’m going to tie you up now, Nina.”

  That snapped her out of it. “What?”

  She pushed up on her elbows. “What do you mean you’re going to tie me up?”

  He captured her hands, pulling them off the bed so that she flopped back down on her back. “It’s symbolic of your acceptance of the bond.” He smoothly and efficiently wrapped the scarf around her wrists.

  Her eyes narrowed and she felt her brows pinch together. It was as if he’d been practicing that move. “Maybe we can skip the symbolism this time, Boaz.”

  “Nope. It’s traditional. And important.” He stretched her arms above her head and tied them to a short post that she hadn’t noticed until just now.

  “Boaz, I really don’t—” she started, feeling suddenly exposed and vulnerable.

  “Easy,” he said, like he was soothing an animal. He placed one large palm on her ribcage, stroking down toward her belly in a very distracting way. Her stomach muscles rippled.

  “I promise I won’t hurt you.”

  He traced one finger along the edge of her panties. The black lacy fabric stood out starkly against her white skin and the bedding. “Nice.”

  He bent down and kissed her belly and then her ribs, working his way up towards her bra.

  “Boaz… what are you…” She’d sort of lost her train of thought, with his hot mouth tracing over her cool skin, but she was pretty sure she’d been protesting something.

  “Now, I’m going to kiss you, Nina. All over.”

  And he did. Kissing all along the underside of her breasts and down to her belly again, making it ripple and quiver. Popping the front clasp of her bra, he kissed her breasts, sending waves of sensation through her— sucking and nipping until she was squirming uncontrollably, and ineffectually since he was half lying across her thighs, anchoring her to the bed.

  The towel had given up the ghost by then, but it was too dark for her to make out more than his outline against the white of the duvet. Still, in the few times she managed to keep her eyes open, she was able to determine that yes, indeed, Boaz was big all over.

  Finally, he stripped her panties down her legs and spread her knees apart with his hands, settling his large shoulders down between them. He licked along the inside of her inner thigh, making her groan and squirm in frustration. And then he repeated it on the other side.

  “Boaz—”

  “Easy.” His voice was soft, soothing, and he used his thumbs to part her, opening her like a flower, and holding her like that for one long moment. She had the feeling that he was examining her, but she couldn’t see well enough to be sure. Just when she was ready to squirm in embarrassment, he inhaled deeply and bent his head to kiss her, softly, right between her legs.

  Electric currents went off like firecrackers and shot through her body. She groaned loudly and arched up to him, but he slipped away, licking gently, lightly nibbling and tickling, leaving her in helpless anticipation. With his elbows planted in the bed, his strong forearms firmly pinned her legs, holding them still. His thumbs still parted her, but that clever tongue danced over and around her, tickling, teasing, never quite giving her the pressure she needed, no matter how much she squirmed or whimpered.

  “Bo-az,” she finally wailed. She was beyond caring about the whine in her voice. She just couldn’t take it anymore. “Okay. Okay! I give up. Just mate me already.”

  He chuckled. “Ma
te you?”

  “Isn’t that what it’s called?”

  “I’m going to make love to you, Nina. Very, very slowly.”

  “Nooo,” she groaned. “Not slowly.”

  He just chuckled.

  “You just wait until I get you tied up,” she muttered.

  Boaz’s head popped up, and she could just make out the startled look on his face. It was priceless. She felt a tiny bit better.

  “Don’t think I won’t,” she grumbled.

  She thought she caught a thoughtful expression flash across his face, but then he went back to what he was doing. Torturing her with his tongue, an inch at a time, getting oh, so close, but never quite giving her what she needed to push her over the edge.

  Finally, finally, he raised himself up and settled between her legs.

  “Are you ready, Nina?”

  “Yes!” She was pretty sure she was going to explode at the slightest touch.

  He smiled, a deep, satisfied smile that spread across his whole face, and slowly, very slowly, began pushing himself inside her. He was big and it was a little bit of a stretch, with just a tiny pinch of pain, but then he pulled back gently and pressed into her again, and any hint of pain was gone. It was pure pleasure. It was so good, so unbelievably good, her whole body quivered, straining to get closer, to increase the contact, but he held her hips still and maintained that excruciatingly slow push. He didn’t quite press all the way home before pulling back, agonizingly slowly.

  And then again, pressing into her while all her nerve endings shivered and danced with the exquisite delicacy of the sensation. And then he was pulling back again, his teeth gritted, his hands biting into the flesh at her hips, his arms beginning to shake. He repeated the process and Nina thought she might just spontaneously combust. She was trembling all over so hard she was almost shuddering. And then slowly, so slowly, he pressed all the way home, his body finally making contact with that bundle of nerves that had been crying out for pressure.

  Like an explosive clap of thunder her body catapulted into orgasm, the pleasure rolling through her in waves while her body clenched and shuddered, and he finally, finally started moving inside her with a deep rhythmic power. The sensations seemed to go on and on, building even as he moved within her, and somehow she went from one rolling climax right into another as he shifted slightly and he began stroking over the sweet spot deep inside her.

  “Nina,” he groaned. “Maiden’s own. Nina. I can’t—”

  He broke off with a grunt and collapsed over her, pressing his face down between her cheek and her raised arm until his mouth found her throat. Just as she was starting to come down, searing pain shot through her neck as he bit down hard. The pain and the pleasure seemed to collide, sending showers of color and light cascading through her mind, with the pain trumping everything. And still Boaz didn’t release the pressure on her neck. He was moving inside her more urgently now, pressing home with every stroke, soft guttural noises punctuating each push.

  He bit down harder, pressing on a spot along the tendon at the back of her neck. Suddenly the pleasure hit again—with the sharp slap of an unexpected wave—rolling over her with the inexorable power of the sea. It washed over her from head to toe, leaving her wrung out and breathless in its wake. Boaz released her neck and let out a guttural shout, shoving up on his elbows and arching his back. She could feel him pulsing inside her as he froze there for one long, drawn-out moment. And then he collapsed, boneless, atop her.

  She lay still in the aftermath under Boaz’s warm weight and struggled to breathe. Her thoughts were fuzzy when her sluggish brain finally came back on line.

  That was— different.

  She felt like she had run a marathon, every muscle in her body completely powerless, and slightly achy. Especially her arms, which were still tied over her head. Her skin twitched, as if tiny, almost imperceptible electrodes were attached all up and down her body.

  She lay there for a moment trying to collect her thoughts. Then she gave it up and just tried to breathe. His scent washed over her, warm, delicious male with just a hint of pine. She wanted to enjoy warmth of his body, the feel of his skin against hers, but she really couldn’t breathe.

  “Boaz,” she managed, wriggling slightly under him, her voice muffled from lack of air.

  He grunted, then levered himself up on an elbow and released the knot on her wrists. Rolling onto his back, he took her with him so that she was lying half across his body, tucked up close to his side. After a moment, he levered himself up enough to wrestle the comforter out from underneath first himself, and then her, before pulling it over them.

  She shouldn’t have been surprised when he failed to say anything, but she was. Never mind the fact that a girl deserved a little pillow talk after something like that—

  “Boaz?”

  “Mmmm?” One hand stroked down her flank, idly tracing over her hip and thigh. He sounded sleepy.

  She poked him, hard, in the chest. He jerked.

  “I thought you promised you weren’t going to hurt me.”

  His eyes popped open, and this time she was certain they were glowing, ever so slightly, in the dim light. “I hurt you?” He sounded aghast. He levered himself out from under her, coming up on his knees.

  “Where?” His hands traced over her with a gentle urgency that silenced her for a moment.

  “Nina?” Was there just the slightest edge of panic to his voice?

  “Um… Boaz. You bit me.”

  “Oh.” His hands stilled. “That?”

  “Yes that! What do you mean, that?”

  She could just make out his shrug in the dark. “I forgot.”

  “You forgot? That you bit me?” Her voice rose in both pitch and volume, but she didn’t care.

  “No, I—” He broke off and traced a finger along the edge of the wound, making her shiver— sending tingles racing along her skin, like a tiny tsunami with his finger as the epicenter.

  “Did it hurt a lot?”

  “Yes, it hurt a lot. You broke the skin.”

  “I know. I had to.” He sounded resigned. Or maybe defeated. “It’s the bite that unites.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “The bite forms the bond. It worked.” He traced a finger along her neck again, and once again rippling tingles rolled down her skin. “See?”

  “That’s the bond?” That tingly sensation? It couldn’t be.

  “No. That’s just evidence that it took.” He sighed. “I’m sorry, Nina. I forgot that you wouldn’t know about that. The bite.” He paused for a moment. “You didn’t know I was going to bite you?” He sounded like he was hoping against hope that she would deny it.

  “I didn’t know, Boaz.” She was trying for patience, but— really? “How could I know?”

  “Right. Sorry. I should have thought of that.” This time he definitely sounded defeated.

  She didn’t like it. At all. Reaching out, she ran a hand down one well-developed shoulder to his bicep. “Boaz?”

  “Umm?”

  “You’re not going to go all emo on me, are you?”

  He smiled. She could just make out the curve of his lips. “Maybe.”

  “Well don’t, okay? I don’t have the energy.” She tried to tug him down next to her, but he resisted. “I guess it was just sort of a misunderstanding. I mean, if you had to bite me?”

  “I did.”

  It was her turn to shrug. “Well, next time warn a girl, would you? Any other little surprises up your sleeve?”

  “Not tonight,” he said, flopping back down next to her. “Are you— okay?”

  She’d never heard him sound so tentative. He was really worried. It made her feel all swishy inside.

  “I’m fine, Boaz.”

  She lifted his arm and settled into the crook of his shoulder, draping an arm across his abdomen. She stroked the soft skin just above his hip. It felt wonderful to be in his arms, skin to skin. Her achy muscles began to relax, and she felt exhaustion sink o
ver her like a lead blanket.

  “What about you, Boaz?” she managed after a moment. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, Nina.” She could hear the smile in his voice, so it had to be a pretty big one. If she had more energy, she might have levered herself up to get a peek. “I’m mated to the smartest, most beautiful woman in the world.” He stroked her hair. “I couldn’t be better.”

  “Okay. Now that’s the kind of pillow talk I’m talking about.”

  His chuckle rumbled in his chest under her ear. “What?”

  “Never mind,” she mumbled. “So sleepy. Is it always like this? The mating thing?”

  “No idea.”

  That made her smile. He stroked her hair again, which felt really nice.

  “Tomorrow we go see Eva?” Her jaw cracked in a huge yawn.

  “Tomorrow we go see Eva,” he confirmed, finally sounding more like himself. Tired, but no longer defeated.

  She sighed and snuggled closer, smiling to herself. It was going to be nice to get a good look at Boaz by the light of day. To explore the whole of him with careful attention. There were going to be a lot of perks to this mating thing.

  “Goodnight, Boaz.”

  “Night, Nina.”

  Nina let herself slip down into sleep feeling warm and contented.

  Boaz stared up at the white mosquito netting for a long time after Nina’s breaths evened into sleep. He’d almost fucked it up. All that waiting, all that patience and in the end, he’d almost failed. Nina smelled fantastic on a normal day, but Nina aroused? That was enough to make him crazy. He’d tried to take it slow, had intended to make the whole thing last most of the night, but the moment he’d entered her, she’d practically gone off like a rocket. It had been less than a minute and he’d been completely unprepared.

  She’d felt so good, so amazingly good, especially when she started to shudder and clench around him like that—his mind had just blanked. And he almost hadn’t bitten her in time. Almost let her stop coming—almost came himself—without biting her. That would have been a disaster. And then to realize that he’d never even warned her about the bite?