“The male cock is ugly,” she said.
Manu grinned. He couldn’t help it since she kept surprising him. “Perhaps, but it gives great pleasure.”
“Perhaps,” she parroted.
Although most of her expression remained hidden, her gaze on his dick, he imagined her amusement.
With gentle fingers, she handled his balls, rolling them.
“Fascinating,” she murmured and used her tongue to taste and stroke one. She trailed a finger from the base of his cock to the tip before measuring his girth with her hand.
Manu breathed carefully, every instinct screaming at him to pounce, but he refrained, the visual of her on her knees, one he’d pull out many times in the future.
Once she’d explored and observed his cock at close quarters, she glanced up at him. “Should I use my mouth next, oh master?”
“Not yet. We’ll move this to the bed.” He offered his hand to help her stand and drew her close to press a soft kiss on her parted lips. Before he gave in to the instinct roaring through him, he stripped off his black T-shirt and remaining clothes, and naked, planted himself on the mattress.
“Strip,” he ordered. “We’ll do the rest naked. Better visuals for me,” he added.
Jess wasted no time in following his instructions. God, she did it for him. In the past, her peers might have teased her about her size, but she was in proportion. Sleek muscle and golden skin stretched over big bones. Perfect for him. Just perfect.
“What next? When do I get to taste?”
“Touching is important,” he countered. “The tease arouses your partner.”
“You sound like a talking sex manual,” she grumbled.
Manu laughed. “I’m imparting wisdom. You asked for instruction. I’m merely giving you information to use in the future. If you learn one thing, it’s this. A woman skilled at oral sex will have her man eating out of her hand.”
“Okay. Okay. What’s next?”
“After lots of touching with your hands and kissing, plus, you can use your mouth to lick and tease. Touch the perineum. Give me your finger.” He grasped her finger and guided it along the patch of flesh, barely holding back his groan. “This will get a man off faster. A few firm strokes together with your mouth.”
“Ah, massaging the prostate,” she said and suited action to words.
“Use your mouth now. Tease me with your tongue. Explore the head of my cock. Flick your tongue. Pay attention to the underside.”
Jess was a quick student, and Manu ceased his avid watching, instead closing his eyes and letting himself settle into sensation.
She kissed. She stroked. She sucked.
“Perfect,” Manu whispered. “Take me inside your mouth.”
The wet heat of her hot mouth had him trembling like a virgin getting his first bout of oral. His pulse raced. His heart hammered. His taniwha’s purrs of blissful enjoyment almost deafened him.
“Control the amount of cock in your mouth with your hands. Yes, that’s it.”
She did a sexy swirl of her tongue, catching the sensitive underside of his shaft, and his balls lifted.
“I’m close now, sweetheart. If you don’t wish to swallow, finish me with your hands.” Either way, he was fine. So thrilled with this half-dragon woman he’d discovered in his backyard.
Her mouth tightened around his shaft while her finger stroked. Helpless under her ministrations, his hips lifted, driving him deeper into her mouth. A tingle started in his balls and surged up his dick with a force that left him dizzy. His groan of pleasure echoed in his bedroom as Jess swallowed around his shaft.
Without being told, she gentled her touch, using her hands and mouth, her tongue to soothe him down from his climax. When she released his cock, his eyes popped open, and he met her gaze. A slow cat-got-the-cream smile curled his lips as he spotted a drop of his semen on the corner of her mouth.
His woman.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice husky. “Let me kiss you. Please.”
She entered his arms willingly, her breasts flattening against his chest. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her eyelids, her nose. Tiny flutters of his lips against her cheek before he pressed his mouth against hers and sucked on her top lip. He repeated the action on her bottom lip, then used his tongue to widen her mouth. He tasted himself on her, a hint of wildness that was completely her. Content, he pressed against her and sipped deeply, intent of returning the pleasure she’d given him. He gloried in her sighs, her moans as he mapped her body.
And later, as he slid his cock deep, he reveled in the way she gripped him tight, the tiny strands of pleasure and enjoyment tying them together and strengthening the bonds of mating.
For him, she was the one. He’d have to tell her soon, sensed she would fight, and he understood. This world was new to her, and she was still finding her feet. Jess was learning of her abilities. Some in his tribe might disparage his mate. Her tainted blood. He cared little for their objections.
With Jess in his arms, he sampled the future, and it had never seemed sweeter.
14 – Time For Further Investigation
Manu settled his sweaty body on hers, and Jessalyn sighed, not with discomfort but with enjoyment. He stole a kiss before rolling out of bed.
“What should we do today?” he asked, his eyes bright with the same contentment that filled her.
She stretched, enjoying his gaze on her breasts, her power over him. “Are you going to the warehouse?”
“Yeah, I thought I’d work on adding some of your suggestions to my units and also make a smaller one for you.”
“I get one?” Excitement and a warm sensation settled in the region of her heart.
“I think it’s best for you to keep a low profile when you’re outdoors. We don’t know if Nelson Waaka has other members of his tribe down here.”
Some of her exhilaration faded. “Good point. I want to do a closer stocktake of the boxes and maybe work with the wood we found stored in the shed. I might research the different markets around as well since I never went with Dad. Now I understand why he never wanted me to come to Auckland with him.” Huh! Not that she was bitter or anything.
“Plan. You take the first shower while I sort out breakfast,” Manu said.
Danny was loitering around Manu’s mailbox when they left his house.
Her friend’s black hair lay flat against his head, long due for a wash. Which said something since Danny was vain with his hair. He wore the same clothes as the previous day.
On spotting them, he ran toward Manu’s truck and thumped on the window.
Manu opened it. “Did you want something?”
Jessalyn had never heard that imperious tone before, and Danny’s reaction to it surprised her. His shoulders straightened and his eyes grew more alert. It was practically an invisible salute—an acknowledgment of a leader.
“Where is my fiancée? Jessalyn has disappeared, and I’m concerned for her safety.” His nostrils flared, and he leaned closer to Manu.
Jessalyn stared. Could he sense her? She’d showered and changed into clean clothes. A set of brand new clothes, in fact. Or was it the relic? As was her normal habit, she’d taken it out of its box and stroked the fishhook symbol on its face. This morning, she’d obeyed an instinct to wear the pendant, but she’d made certain she’d concealed it beneath her T-shirt.
“You bear the same citrus scent as Jessalyn did yesterday.”
“Jess spent two days with me. She showered and used my soap. She might’ve used my laundry powder. No matter. She has gone now.”
“She doesn’t like people shortening her name.”
True, but Manu’s husky tones thrilled her, and the short form of her name coming from his lips pleased her. Of course, the man was skilled in satisfying her and made her entire body hum with pleasure. Heck, the sex last night had made her taniwha speechless, which was a skill in itself, and her taniwha still slumbered in post-coital bliss.
“Look, I have a meeting t
o attend. What do you want?”
“Where did Jessalyn go?”
“No idea. She mentioned signing papers. I understand a couple has rented her house.”
Concern crept into Danny’s expression. “She isn’t coming back to Piha?”
Jessalyn frowned, not understanding his desperation or his assertions they were engaged. That was, of course, ludicrous. They’d never been more than friends. Never.
“Look, Danny. Jessalyn stayed two nights. That’s all. It was a favor for someone who needed help. She thanked me and left. Stop loitering around my house or I’ll call the cops the next time I see you.”
Manu closed the window and drove off. Jessalyn stared back at Danny who had pulled out his phone.
“He’s reporting back to someone,” she said. “I don’t understand his persistence. Telling everyone we’re engaged is ridiculous for a start.”
“They suspect you have the relic. Once you took it out of the box, it released energy or a form of subtle power. They didn’t find it in your house during their search and suspect you have it with you.”
“I have it,” Jessalyn said. “Will they try to steal it?”
“Yes.”
“Why haven’t you?”
“I believe the guardian should remain separate from the tribes. No one tribe should have more power or advantages than the others.”
“But my mother left the relic behind. She wanted nothing to do with it.”
Manu checked the rear-vision mirror before taking the back roads to Onehunga instead of the most direct route.
“Have you considered your mother was never meant to have the relic? That it was meant for you?”
“What?” Her voice emerged as a squawk. “Me? That’s crazy.”
“It calls to you. That’s why you’re wearing it around your neck right now.”
Jessalyn’s hand went to her chest. Manu wouldn’t see the action because she wore his stealth unit, but he was right. An urge to protect the pendant drove her and happiness—a bone-deep sense of confidence and well-being—filled her whenever she wore it next to her skin.
“How did you know?” she asked finally.
“It omits a…” He trailed off. “I guess I’d describe it as a power frequency, but that’s not right. It’s more a gut awareness.”
“You said nothing.”
“I hate the idea it makes you a target. That’s my main concern. Nelson Waaka won’t give up. He’s single-minded, and he and his tribe believe they have a right to the relic. He won’t change his mind nor give up in his efforts to claim it.”
“What is the purpose of the relic? Why is it so important?”
“Our people believe the wise old taniwha guided us to Aotearoa. He kept us safe through storms and the reward after the long journey was a land of plenty where we prospered. Some believe the taniwha held magical powers. Spiritual powers. He garnered people’s respect. His mana was great.”
“Mana?”
“His power. The respect others had for his authority. Some might say mana is almost a type of charisma. The holder of the relic gets all that by extension.”
“I’ve met Nelson Waaka face-to-face. He rules by fear. I sensed that even though I was a kid.”
“Which is the best argument for him not getting hold of the pendant,” Manu said.
“Crap, what am I going to do?”
“You could give it to him. Things might settle down after that.”
“No.” The protest was instinctive. “Maybe I could donate it to the museum. Offer it to Te Papa, the national museum so every taniwha could see it.”
“What if it was stolen?” Manu pointed out.
“Double crap.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Your decision. There is nothing stopping you from putting it back in its box and locking it in a bank safe.”
“Perhaps.” That solution didn’t sound any more ideal than the others when every part of her ached to have the relic next to her skin. The dilemma—by keeping the relic she put herself, Manu, and everyone else of her acquaintance in danger from the Waaka family.
Manu halted in front of his warehouse and opened the security gate to enter. Once it closed behind them, Jessalyn made herself visible again. She unstrapped the unit and handed it to Manu.
“I’ll make the strap for you today. How would you feel about going flying with me tonight?”
“Yes! I’d love that.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll be busy working. Call if you need anything and make sure you eat plenty of snacks.”
“I didn’t breathe any fire last night.”
“I noticed,” he said, his approval clear in the quick squeeze of her shoulder.
Manu unlocked the warehouse, and they walked inside before he closed the door and switched on the lights. He turned to her and drew her closer, wrapping his arms around her. He cupped her face and kissed her—a slow and thorough exploration of her mouth that soon had her pulse racing. Gradually, he backed away, his eyes glowing as he caressed her cheek.
“Later,” he said and, nonplussed with the emotions and reactions coursing through her, she stared after him. He fascinated her, infuriated her at times, and intrigued her. And, he was so easy on the eyes.
He might carry baggage and lingering guilt at what happened to his mother, but he was a decent man and an able leader. This man drew her like no other. Unfortunately, the relic would attract problems for both of them unless she placated Nelson Waaka and his tribe.
She drew out the pendant and clasped it with her hand. Warmth emanated from the old bone while the greenstone inlay soothed her. The Maori fishbone signified a safe journey. She’d require every bit of the power behind the relic to navigate the future that lay ahead.
Jessalyn pushed her worries aside and strode over to the corner of the warehouse that now housed her father’s woodworking tools and the boxes of things they’d removed from the storage unit. Hers now.
Working with wood had always calmed her and in a weird way connected her with her emotions. So that’s what she’d do now. Work to make special boxes to store jewelry and other precious knickknacks, and she’d mull over her possible courses of action.
Happier now, she sorted through her pieces of wood. All offcuts of native timber that were too small to make the larger items of furniture her father had favored. Rimu, totara, kauri and rewarewa. Her hand settled on a piece of rimu and she separated it from the pile, her eye drawn to the grain of the reddish wood.
The process was instinctive, her mind’s eye clear on what she wished to achieve. She found protective eyewear, connected the saw to the power and made her first cut. With the wood cut into four equal pieces, she commenced the next step, her mind full of the relic.
Karen Baker.
Jessalyn pulled a face. Her mother was the obvious source of information. If she could speak to her and get answers to a few questions, it might set her on the right path to make decisions.
That was one idea.
Another—she could research the myths and legends of the Maori people and try to find information within them. Possibly helpful.
Jessalyn worked and sanded the wood until the sides and the lid of her emerging box was smooth to the touch and pleasing to her eye. Once she finished the first, she moved onto the next and continued with her sanding until her belly gave a protesting rumble. A glance at her watch surprised her. Four hours had passed.
Jessalyn set down the fourth box and went to investigate the fridge. She ended up making two plates of sandwiches and a pot of tea.
At Manu’s lab, she knocked on the door before entering. “I’ve made a snack and tea if you’re interested. I didn’t think I should bring them in here in case something spilled.”
“Perfect timing.” Manu plucked something off his workbench and stood. “I’ve finished a unit for you.” He fastened it on her left wrist. “Perfect fit.” He unfastened the unit and set it on his workbench. “Now lead me to that food.”
While they
ate, Jessalyn told Manu she needed to go to the library to research the taniwha species and associated myths and legends.
“I might make one last effort to talk to Karen Baker.”
“I’ll take you,” Manu said.
“No, I’d prefer to go on my own this time. I’m hoping she might speak more frankly if I’m alone.”
“All right. When do you want to go?”
“This afternoon,” Jessalyn said. “I’ll visit the library after I go to see her.”
“You can use a stealth unit.”
Jessalyn froze, her breath catching in her throat. She coughed. “You’d trust me with one of your units? You haven’t known me for long. What if I do a runner?”
Manu winked at her. “You like my sexy black beast. You won’t flee.”
Five minutes later, Jessalyn was on her way to the railway station, invisible to everyone. Luckily, it wasn’t rush hour, but even so, an elderly lady almost sat on her lap during the train journey to Manukau. The bus to Botany Town Center challenged her even more, and she ended up standing near the door midway in the bus to avoid someone sitting on her.
She walked the final bit to Karen’s house and came to an abrupt halt. A for-sale sign sat on the grass verge. A car was parked in the driveway. Someone was home.
Jessalyn ran up the front path and knocked on the door. Footsteps heralded an arrival, and the door opened. It wasn’t Karen.
Jessalyn slid inside before the woman—a real estate agent, judging by her badge—closed the door again. The house was empty with not a sign of the previous occupants. Karen Baker truly had uprooted her family and disappeared as she’d threatened.
The real estate agent’s phone rang. “Bettina Whiting,” she said.
Jessalyn overheard the woman phoning inquire about the house.
“I’m here at the moment if you’d like to do a walk-through,” the real estate agent said. “The owner has moved to Australia.”
Jessalyn didn’t wait to hear more. Karen had left, taking Jessalyn’s siblings with her. That she’d never get a chance to know her family hurt as much as the rejection. She didn’t understand her birth mother. If she ever had children, she’d never treat them as disposable commodities.
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