He stroked her velvety cheek with the backs of his finger. This night would test his control as never before. Could he arouse her, feel her tremble and hear her moan without succumbing to his instinctual need to claim his mate? He knew she desired him physically. Still, he wanted her to be comfortable with her true self before she considered becoming his life mate.
He disintegrated his linen pants with an impatient thought then focused entirely on her. She wore a filmy gown that drooped off one shoulder and exposed the upper swell of her breasts. He smiled as her indignant expression replayed through his mind. She’d demanded something less revealing until the gossamer material settled against her skin.
With a small tug, he drew the material down and revealed one of her nipples. Even in the moonlight the soft peak appeared red. He lowered his head and caught the bud between his lips. Curving his fingers around the fullness of her breast, he breathed in her scent and felt her nipple harden against his tongue. Her skin was soft, her nipple warm and delightfully responsive. She stirred at his gentle sucking, threading his hair through her fingers and whispering his name.
“Is it finally time?” she murmured sleepily.
“I think you’ll like this exercise.” He released her nipple long enough to blow warm breath over her moist skin. “Let’s see how much your control has improved.”
She shivered and unfastened the straps, freeing the top of her gown. “Just don’t stop touching me.”
He lowered the material to her waist and paused, mesmerized by her beauty. She arched into his touch, her nipples hard little points. He cupped one breast and bent to taste the other. The savage stirred, hardening his shaft and urging him onward. He suckled one nipple then the other. Her skin flushed and her nipples grew hot against his tongue.
“Kiss me, Drakkin,” she whispered.
The thought of kissing her had haunted him ever since Indric planted the suggestion in his brain. He knelt beside her and took the bunched material in both hands. “Lift your hips, love. I want you naked tonight.”
Her breath hitched and her eyes widened, still she obediently lifted her ass. He swept the gown down her legs and pulled it free. Tension banded his chest and tenderness clogged his throat. He wanted everything all at once, yet he wanted to please her most of all. For years she’d been treated like an object and then a novelty. He wanted to make her feel special, cherished and safe.
After thoroughly exploring her lips, he kissed his way down her throat, between her breasts and onto her silken belly. She quivered and gasped, her hands balled at her sides. Realization unfurled and anger stabbed into his heart. That bastard Faujer had never done this for her, had never seen to her pleasure before he selfishly sought his own. Drakkin shouldn’t be surprised. She’d warned him that sex with Faujer had been an obligation.
He eased her legs apart and moved between them. She watched him, uncertainty shining in her eyes. I know you’re not ready for a full joining. We’re going to try something new. A stilted nod was her only reply.
Lifting one leg and then the other, he positioned her feet against the furs and parted her thighs. Her eyes grew wider and wider as he pushed her legs apart. Her faint musk sent desire slamming into his gut. How was he going to keep his savage nature leashed? He’d never wanted anyone this badly.
His fingers trembled as he stroked her inner thighs. Softer than the gown she’d been wearing, her pearlescent skin begged to be touched and tasted. He pressed his lips against the inside of one knee. She licked her lips, her breasts heaving.
Do you ache, sweetheart? Do you feel empty inside?
Her laugh shuddered into a sigh. I’ve felt empty since the last time you touched me. No, since the first time.
A pang of confusion followed her words. He’d only touched her intimately once before. Unwilling to sacrifice the sensual momentum, he tucked the question away in the back of his mind.
Kissing his way down her thigh, he hovered over her smooth mound before working his way up the other side. He would never tire of her warm softness or the urgent little sounds escaping her throat. By the time he started down again, her legs were trembling. He pressed his hands against her inner thighs and parted her folds with his thumbs. He watched her face as he lowered his mouth to her slit. She gasped. He licked. She covered her face with her hands and he delved deeper.
Do you want to do that? She sounded breathless and uncertain even in his mind.
Stars, yes. I could live on your cream. Relax. Let me play.
She lifted one leg to his shoulder and arched into the kiss. He grinned then demonstrated his approval with ruthless enthusiasm. Licking and sucking, he worked his way from her opening to her clit and back. His lips tingled and heat spread through his chest, sinking into his belly and lower. Indric had warned him that her cream would be different, more potent. Drakkin stroked her slowly, savoring her taste and delighting in her uninhibited response.
His head spun and light danced before his eyes. He flicked his tongue against her swollen clit. Each of her breathless cries launched a tingle through his abdomen. He circled the tiny knot of nerves then caught it between his teeth and rubbed the ultrasensitive tip. She tossed her head and rocked her hips, lost in the sensual spell.
He slipped his hands beneath her ass and held her against his mouth. His tongue thrust into her core over and over. She gasped and arched, her inner muscles rippling.
Yes, love. Let me feel you come.
She whimpered, unable to hold back her orgasm. Sizzling power swirled around his tongue, filled his mouth and flowed into him. He groaned, his cock bucking against the furs. Reaching for her mind, he tried to calm her, but his heart felt as if it would burst from his chest.
More! He needed more of her. He needed all of her.
Dragging his mouth away with a throaty moan, he surged up along her body and positioned himself at her entrance. “Aria, look at me.”
She opened her eyes and he gasped. The mauve rings had expanded, consuming the lavender. The highlights in her hair blazed, emitting heat as well as color. “Now,” she demanded, her lips taking on the same ruby red as her nipples.
His fire pearl was burning. It had to be now. He entered her slowly, trembling as her body opened for him, stretching around his thick length. Tight, hot, perfect, she gripped him with strong rhythmic pulses. “Better?”
“No. Move.” She bent her knees, her passion-drugged gaze consuming his.
Pulling back just as slowly as he’d pushed in, he concentrated on the snug heat of her body wrapped around his. Nothing had felt this good in his entire life. Her vibrant energy pulsed into him, triggering tingles and random bursts of pleasure.
He thrust to the hilt, capturing her gasp with his open mouth. His inner savage writhed and clawed, demanding his mate. Drakkin stubbornly drove him back. Tension built with each firm thrust. He needed more than this physical connection. He wanted to blend with her body, mind and spirit. No! She wasn’t ready for a permanent bonding. She deserved more time.
Her knees pressed against his ribs, her hips lifting into each downward thrust. She squeezed him and sucked his tongue into her mouth, easily matching his aggression. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed her tight to his chest. Then he rolled, taking her with him. He arranged her on top of him, straddling his hips.
“Ride me.” He showed her how to move. “Take all you need.”
She braced herself against his chest and threw her head back, her hair brushing his thighs with each rocking motion. “More,” she panted. “I need more.”
He covered her breasts with his hands and arched up into her. Harder, faster, she dragged her body up, then slammed down, impaling herself with almost violent force. Her features contorted with pleasure-pain and her cries tore through him. He pushed into her mind as her body shook. Fire. Her intensity rushed through him, searing his senses and inundating his mind.
Teetering on the brink of madness, he swept her beneath him and held her close. He pushed his arms under her ba
ck and grasped her shoulders from behind. She stared into his eyes, her gaze still smoldering. Over and over she tightened her inner muscles, daring him to lose control.
“Chae Tra, my love.”
Master. She’d called him Master! His inner savage lunged past Drakkin’s defenses and drove into her mind. Drakkin cried out, terrified of her reaction. He waited for her scream, her struggle, her fear. He felt only heat and acceptance.
I’m not afraid.
Amazed and a bit wary, he began to move. His hips found a steady rhythm, firm and fast. She dragged his face down to hers and kissed him with utter abandon. Her tongue thrust into his mouth as he thrust into her core.
Wild.
Consuming.
Bonded!
He groaned as his seed burst forth deep inside her pulsing body. They clung to each other, lost in their kisses as the world spun away. He moved one arm to the nape of her neck and stroked her face with his other hand.
Unwilling to lose the sweet intimacy of their kiss, he sent his thoughts to her mind. I’m sorry. I wanted to give you more time.
She eased her mouth away from his and blinked dazedly. “Why are you sorry?”
“I didn’t mean for it to happen like this.”
She pushed him away, separating their bodies then wiggled out from under him. “You didn’t mean for what to happen? I wasn’t sure I could tolerate the intensity until you entered my mind. Whatever you did seemed to stabilize the heat. Why did you seem so different toward the end?”
“I’ve lived a very long time. My nature has evolved and matured, but the essence of who I was remains within me. I call that part of me my inner savage. He can be brutal and ruthless when not tempered by centuries of training.”
Her delicate brows drew together, confusion clear in her expression. “There was nothing brutal in the way he felt about me or the way he made me feel. I sensed only ravenous desire. It was exhilarating.”
Emotion clogged his throat. How could he tell her what his inner savage had done? She would never trust him again. “I will never hurt you, my love. Never.”
“I know.” She sat and framed his face with her hands, her gaze softly glowing. “He was protecting us. If it hadn’t been for your inner savage absorbing the heat, we would have been consumed by my fire.”
He grasped her wrists and pulled her hands away. She still didn’t understand. “He is also possessive and focused. He recognized you as our mate the moment I touched you.”
She lowered her hands to the bed, confusion rapidly turning to fear. “What are you saying? What did he do?”
“He claimed you.”
“How?”
“He anchored a mating bond.”
She scrambled to the edge of the furs and knelt there, looking angry and terrified. “You said Bilarrians mate for life. Is the bond… Un-anchor it!”
“I didn’t establish the link, so I can’t dissolve it.”
“Then make him do it.”
Drakkin shook his head. “It’s not that simple.”
Her expression turned fierce as anger burned through her fear. “I don’t believe you.” She found her dress and struggled into it before she spoke again. “You learned that I possess some rare magical gift and suddenly I’m linked to you forever. Am I really supposed to believe that was an accident?”
She had every right to be suspicious. He’d promised to protect her and he’d failed. He conjured pants then stood, knowing better than to try to touch her. “I did not mean for this to happen.”
“Bullshit. I sensed the difference when he entered my mind, but I sensed something else too. He’s not some symbiotic parasite. Your inner savage is still you.” She crossed to the table and poured herself a glass of water, hands shaking so badly she could barely finish the task. “I will not escape one captor only to be enslaved by another. Figure out how to sever this link or find me another mentor!”
* * * * *
Noll stared at Faujer’s naked body, hating him and wanting him still. He sprawled on his back on the rumpled bed, forearm thrown over his eyes, sound asleep. Four days of hell and frustration had passed since their passionate encounter in the dressing room downstairs. Sex had triggered her vision, and Faujer took full advantage of the coincidence. He had taken her so many times, in so many inappropriate places, that hotel security must have hours of their antics on record.
She rubbed her eyes and rolled her shoulders. How had she let it come to this? There was no tenderness in Faujer. His aggressive passion had thrilled her for a time. Well, passion was no longer enough. She would not subject herself to any more of his selfishness.
Shifting into her Mystic robes, she turned back to the bed. Faujer’s primary purpose had been to identify their target. She now knew what Aria looked like, so Faujer was expendable. The Stirate had given her Faujer to do with as she liked. What if she liked to teach the arrogant bastard a lesson?
She took a moment to anticipate the Stirate’s objections then carefully approached the bed. Any information regarding this mission must be stripped from his memory. A cruel smile curved the corners of her mouth as she imagined Faujer’s horror. He would awaken naked, with no possessions, and only fragmented memories of who he was or from where he had come. He would be utterly vulnerable.
Perhaps she should end his miserable existence. No, this was better. This was worse than death. With her hands hovering over his brutally handsome face, she extracted every fact, every memory that could incriminate Rodymia or the House of Joon. Humans would either think he was a lunatic or examine his physiology and realize his bizarre claims were true.
With a pleased chuckle, she moved to the center of the room. As soon as she Summoned the Storm, hotel security would rush to the room. Imagine their surprise when they found a naked man babbling in an alien language.
* * * * *
The past three days for Aria had been like a dream, surreal and confusing. Parts had left her breathless with pleasure, while others made her want to run and hide. Each time Drakkin touched her, she allowed herself to believe he was honest, brave and heroic. But he was just as manipulative as all the other men in her life.
He’d bound her with chains that could never be broken. Another wave of sorrow crashed upon her soul. He knew her life had been fear and degradation. How could he do this to her?
After hearing her ultimatum, he’d looked as if he would argue. Then he conjured a tunic and fled.
She didn’t care if he was angry. There was no way his anger could match hers. He’d used her, seduced her and…awakened her power, protected her from dangers she was only starting to understand and taught her control.
His initial nobility was eclipsed by his “inner savage”. She shook her head and meandered around the tent, far too agitated to sit still. He hadn’t been making it up. His inner savage was real. She’d felt his consuming hunger, the sudden demand of his need. But why hadn’t Drakkin warned her? Maybe together they could have prevented the bond from forming.
It didn’t matter. He would find a way to undo it or she would find a way to escape. She winced at the melodramatic thought. Escape to where? She had nowhere to run and no one who would help her. Or did she? According to Drakkin, her half-sister was High Queen of Ontariese. But did Charlotte even know about her, and did Aria want to show up at the palace—or wherever Charlotte lived—with Faujer and Noll dar Joon still hunting her?
By the time Drakkin returned her anger had basically burned itself out, leaving her feeling sad and lonely.
His features were expressionless, his posture stiff as he approached. “If there are no further intimacies between us, the bond can be jarred loose. It will be painful for both of us, and I apologize for that, but surely it’s better than being ‘enslaved’ to me for the rest of your life.”
Guilt pelted her composure. Maybe he hadn’t been angry. He’d been hurt. “I didn’t mean—”
“Yes you did and you were right. I understand why this sort of bond is intolerable after all you�
��ve been through. It needs to be severed.” He clasped his hands behind his back, all cold formality and pride. “I’ve made arrangements with Indric. You will stay with your half-sister until I can arrange for a different mentor.”
The idea of meeting one of her half-sisters was thrilling, but she didn’t want another mentor. “I’ll never see you again?”
He closed his eyes for a moment then released a ragged sigh. “Do you want the bond destroyed or not?” He opened his eyes and stared at her as he waited for her answer.
“I was shocked and angry. I’m not sure what I want now. Would this new mentor need to touch me…intimately?”
“Likely.” His tone was so tight it sounded as if he forced the word out between clenched teeth.
“And that wouldn’t bother you?”
He lunged for her then suddenly turned aside, presenting her with his tense profile. “Of course it would bother me. I am tortured by the possibility, but there is no other way. If you want to dislodge the bond, there can be nothing more between us.”
“You’re not just saying this because I gave you an ultimatum?” The thought of never touching him again, never kissing him, never feeling his vibrant presence inside her mind was too upsetting to contemplate. There had to be another way.
Turning slowly, he placed his hands on her upper arms and gazed into her eyes. “I have never lied to you, nor shall I start now. I honestly believe you are my mate, but I will do nothing that causes you pain. I will take you to Krystabel and allow you some time so you can figure out what you want.”
She lowered her gaze, unable to stand the burning frustration in his stare. “You make me sound so petty.”
“I don’t think you’re petty.” He gently raised her chin until she looked at him again. Regret tempered his expression. “Your life was turned upside down by my arrival. I literally redefined who you are. It’s natural that you feel conflicted and confused. Krystabel lives nearby. Her home is both shielded and guarded. You will be safe there.”
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