Stranded.
Mated.
Trapped.
She sniffed, trying to regain control of her frazzled thoughts. “I tried to leave but I couldn’t. My body shut down. The pain in my chest became so bad I couldn’t stand on my own. Because of you.”
“I know.” Caring laced his words.
Cimmaron snapped her eyes closed on hearing his sympathetic tone. Why couldn’t he yell so she could shout back? A suspicious moistness built behind her closed lids. The truth—he really did know. The funny thing was that if she’d been looking for a mate, she would have loved to find Tamaki. He was a good male. Strong. Handsome. Demanding yet fair. The customers liked him, which was why the club was becoming so successful. He was a male worthy of love. Cimmaron’s mind repeated the thought and stuttered over the concept. Was that the new emotion closing up her throat and pulsing through her veins? This burning in her heart? The need to throw herself at him and never leave his side? Was this love? A tinge of fear snapped at her. Phrull.
Stranded.
A tear leaked past her closed lids and she scrubbed it away with the back of her hand.
“I’ve transmitted a report to my head office.” Tamaki closed the gap between them and stroked his fingers across her cheek.
Cimmaron shivered and bit her lip to stop a purr of contentment erupting. Kissing would feel so much better. He coughed, and she realized she’d drifted into daydreams again. She couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything but Tamaki.
“Did you hear me?”
“Yeah, a report. But what about the fraternization rules Rico was spewing about?”
“I decided honesty was best. I told them everything. About the sabotage. About our mating.”
Alarm made her heart pump. She cared about Tamaki. He loved his job just as much as she adored flying. “What…what happened?” They couldn’t both lose the things they loved.
“Rico takes over management of the club.”
“They’re firing you! But you built that club up from nothing. Rico said your club is the top earner in this part of the universe.” Cimmaron grabbed his shoulders and shook him vigorously. “You can’t let them do this. You must fight them!”
“And I take over the management of the club on Vegamont.”
“Fight this!” She paused and frowned. “Vegamont? Did you say Vegamont?”
“Yep.” A tiny smile played around his lips.
Cimmaron sighed, a pang of acute envy piercing her heart. “You’re so lucky. That’s the home base for Vegamont Shipping. And the training school for pilots is there. I’d give anything to move to Vegamont and undertake advanced pilot training.”
The tiny smile bloomed to a full-out grin. “You’re my mate. I thought you’d come with me.”
“With you? You’d really take me with you to Vegamont?” A blip of excitement struck her as she searched his face for truth. His expression displayed not a shred of deception. Tamaki meant it. He really meant it. “You would?”
“Of course I would. You’re my mate. You know those pains you had in the chest?”
Cimmaron nodded, unable to squeeze words past the lump of emotion twisting her gut.
“I had chest pains as well, although they didn’t sound as acute as the ones you experienced.” Tamaki frowned. “Maybe it’s something to do with your Dlog genes.”
“The pills aren’t working as well as they should either. Ever since I…we…had sex.”
“Made love, my mate. Made love.” Tamaki cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Their lips clung together, their breath mingling as they tasted each other. His hands slipped beneath the hem of her brown tunic and slid upward until he cupped her breasts. His thumbs rubbed back and forward over her nipples, and a series of pleasant shockwaves traveled straight to her clit. She purred, a rumbling sound deep in her throat, and her skin took on the familiar sparkle of arousal.
Slowly, Tamaki pulled back. He stared down at her, his blue eyes full of emotion. “You’re my mate. I love you. Where I go, you go.” His fingers played across her breasts until she shuddered helplessly.
“Lo…love.” Phrull, she couldn’t seem to string her words together. He grasped her nipple and twisted. “Phrull.”
“Yeah, scary, huh?” Tamaki gave her nipple a final tweak before removing his hands from beneath her tunic.
“I…” Cimmaron trailed off and looked him straight in the eye. “I never thought I’d say this to any male, but I feel the same way about you. It sort of crept up on me.”
Tamaki’s hands tightened on her shoulders, his fingers digging into her flesh. His face held an air of urgency. “Say it. Give me the words.”
“I love you.” Cimmaron felt a moment’s uncertainty until a brilliant smile lit his face.
“I knew it,” he murmured, stroking her face again.
Cimmaron lifted her hand, finally giving in to the need to return his touch. “Um, it’s good that we’re going to Vegamont and you have a new job, but what about me? I’m not cut out to be a full-time bartender. I’m at the stage where if one more male hits on me, I’ll run amuck. That won’t create a good first impression, and I can’t be a stay-at-home mate.”
Tamaki laughed, his eyes dancing and twinkling. “We can’t have that. Did I happen to mention I have a friend at Vegamont Shipping? He hires the pilots. I could put a good word in for you. And we can stop off on Bezant to clear your name with Coalition Shipping.”
“I could fly again?” Please don’t let him be teasing. She stared at her mate, hope in her heart. “You’d let me fly?”
“You’re my mate, Cimmaron, not a possession. I want your happiness. Flying makes you happy. From what I’ve learned about the mating process, once you stop fighting the bonds, the cramps and chest pains will disappear. We’ll be able to spend some time apart as long as we intend to get back together again.”
“Tamaki!” Cimmaron threw herself into his arms and squeezed him tight. She was going to fly again. Captain. She might even manage to gain captain status. She rained kisses on his face and pressed her body to her mate.
Tamaki laughed, the sound rich and full of amusement. “I’m glad you approve. What say we adjourn this meeting to the bedroom? We could make love without coercion.” He paused to press a lingering kiss on her smiling lips before taking her hand and leading her to the closed door. He opened it and halted to steal another kiss.
Cimmaron led him up the stairs to her room. They stepped inside, closing the door after them for privacy. “Were the serviceman able to fix the green room?”
“Yeah. Rico and I have decided to press charges. I don’t care how rich the kid’s parents are, he needs to take responsibility for his actions.”
“Good.” Cimmaron unfastened the toggles on his shirt and pushed the fabric aside to display his muscled chest. Her fingers danced across his skin. Hers. Her mate. The passion bubbled up inside and her eyes moistened again. Phrull, tears were not a good look for a pilot. Leaning closer, she nibbled and teased a flat nipple to prominence. An unknown emotion flooded her body, her mind. Phrull, she was smiling. Actually smiling. And it was a toothy grin.
Tamaki grinned back as he toed off his boots and removed his boot linings.
Cimmaron shoved the shirt down his arms and it fluttered to the floor. She unfastened his trews and pushed them and his undergarments down his legs until he stood in naked splendor in front of her. Unable to resist, she ran a finger the length of his erection, tracing the bulbous head.
Tamaki groaned. “I can’t wait any longer.” He yanked sharply on her tunic, the sound of the ripping fabric loud in the silence of her room. “I’ll buy you a new one.”
“I didn’t like that tunic anyway.”
He dealt swiftly with her boots, trews and undergarments until they were both naked. They fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs, skin on skin. The start of an erotic assault. One of his hands cupped a breast while he parted her legs with his thigh. A moan fell from her lips when he guided his cock between h
er legs. A rush of moisture trickled from her pussy, easing his way. With one seamless thrust, he filled her aching pussy.
“Tamaki,” she whispered, raising her hips to meet his next thrust. That this male would change his life to make her happy… The emotion welled even more, threatening to make her cry. She would fly again, and once she’d completed her journey, she had a home and welcoming arms. A mate. Tamaki filled a gap she’d never realized she had in her life. Her hands wrapped around his shoulders and she clung to him.
He invaded her mouth, exploring the inner surfaces of her mouth, timing his flickering tongue with each deep thrust of his cock. Cimmaron gasped, the heat swirling through her veins. She drew his scent deep into her lungs. Intoxicating. Addictive.
Tamaki lifted his head and brushed a kiss across her pursed lips before withdrawing to the tip of his cock and driving deep again. “God, you feel so good.” He withdrew again and thrust, hitting her clit at just the right angle. A tiny ripple started slow and gathered momentum until the sensation filled her, filled her heart, her very soul. And in that moment, it felt as if something clicked into place.
The Dlog mating! A gasp of surprise escaped her along with a sense of wonderment. Now she’d willingly accepted Tamaki, the Dlog mating chains had cemented them together exactly the way her mother and the Dlog elders had told her.
They were doubly mated. Cimmaron smiled. No longer was she alone, drifting without purpose. No longer stranded or resisting Tamaki, she’d come a full circle.
Cimmaron Zhaan was home.
About the Author
Shelley lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with her husband and a small, bossy dog named Scotty.
Typical New Zealanders, Shelley and her husband left home for their big OE soon after they married (translation of New Zealand-speak: big overseas experience), a year-long adventure lengthened to six years of roaming the world. Enduring memories include being almost sat on by a mountain gorilla in Rwanda, lazing on white sandy beaches in India, whale watching in Alaska, searching for leprechauns in Ireland and dealing with ghosts in an English pub.
While travel is still a big attraction, these days Shelley is most likely found in front of her computer following another love—that of writing stories of romance and adventure. Other interests include watching rugby and rugby league (strictly for research purposes *grin*), being walked by the dog and curling up with a good book.
Shelley welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Shelley Munro
Best Man
Currents Run Deep
Curse of Brandon Lupinus
Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis III anthology
Fallen Idol
Fancy Free
Fringe Benefits
House of the Cat
Issy’s Infatuation
Last Wish
Lovers at Last
Lynx to the Pharaoh
Make That Man Mine
Middlemarch Mates 1: Stray Cat Strut
Middlemarch Mates 2: Peeping Tom
Middlemarch Mates 3: Scarlet Woman
Middlemarch Mates 4: Assassin
Middlemarch Mates 5: Cat and Mouse
Middlemarch Mates 6: Cat Burglar
Middlemarch Mates 7: Leticia’s Lover
Middlemarch Mates 8: CatNap
Middlemarch Mates 9: Tiger by the Tail
Middlemarch Mates 10: Blue Lady
Price of Love
Sex Idol
Sex, Spies and Sapphires
Soldier of Fortune
Summer in the City of Sails
Talking Dog 1: Talking Dogs, Aliens and Purple People Eaters
Talking Dog 2: Never Send a Dog to Do a Woman’s Job
Talking Dog 3: Romantic Interlude
Unforgettable
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com
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