by Nini Church
Rock Hard was weeping for Aili again, smearing the waist of his favorite low riders. Reno almost smirked – males don’t weep – no matter which member.
She ran her hands through his hair, across both massive shoulders and down the front of his chest, intending to drop lower, but Reno captured her wrists once again.
“What gives?” Aili squinted at him, her expression suddenly serious. “Secrets I should know about?”
His inner self grinned. “Nah, it’s all good down there.”
“OK, then. You won’t scare me off. I’m a doctor and I know male anatomy.” Aili quirked a brow high. Was he hiding something? Why was he steering her away from the one thing she wanted desperately to get both hands on?
“Getting to know one another isn’t about medical anatomy. It’s about being skin to skin.” Reno gave in to his urges and had her t–shirt over her head before she knew it – and his disappeared soon after.
Aili’s hands continued to play over his broad chest, fingertips edging in around hard muscles, then stroking – lost in her own world – the world of his body.
He never let any female touch him like this – he’d always shied away from intimacy or any kind of real connection, but now he wanted all that and more with Aili. He’d never realized what he’d been missing.
Huh. You can’t know what you don’t know.
Reno let her play.
No one had ever admired him the way she did with her chocolate eyes lit from within as if she’d waited for this one moment in time. It blew his mind that this gorgeous female wanted him as much as he wanted her. Only in his world, he wanted all of her.
No sharing.
Forever.
Reno was a big male – her hands only cupped the rim of his massive arms as her fingers slid down his powerful forearms, over his hands, noting his scarred knuckles and square cut nails. How many fights and battles had he been in? Thousands? Reno was a warrior, no question, and she admired that about him, but for now she didn’t want to think about details. None. Not one. And no family either.
She had craved this, the getting to know him, the smooth sheen of his skin over hard muscle, his scent – sea fresh and smoky. Campfire smoky.
Aili tried to ignore his hard erection pressing and twisting against her belly, but it didn’t curb her interest in getting her hands where she wanted them. Why go slow now? There was nothing wrong with a little rushing now and then. Her hormones were taking over and she let them.
Unaware it might be forbidden, she nuzzled her nose into his neck, scenting him. Her tongue rimmed her bottom lip, wanting just one, single lick. Just one. With sheer will power, she refrained from licking him just to get a taste and instead bit her tongue and continued to explore.
Reno held his breath. For an unmated Jinn warrior – it was the action of a mate, one to another, providing the most pleasurable oasis that only those bonded could know. No one else would ever dare such intimacy with an unmated male.
Did she know that?
Either way, Aili’s actions were speaking louder than any words ever fucking could.
Ever so slightly, he leaned in, her dreamy scent swarming him – he didn’t want her to stop touching him or discovering. It was the most intimate and biggest turn on Reno had ever experienced.
His only wish – that he measured up – Aili was part of the McFeerson Clan and for her that counted a lot.
In an instant, he filtered memories, taking in the highs, lows and all the in–betweens of his life. Hell, yeah – in the world he worked and lived with Jericho and the team – he measured up – real fucking well.
Aili’s wandering hands smoothing over his body slammed him back to reality as he let a little air enter his starved lungs. This was fucking pivotal. What was she doing to him? Hell, he never wanted it – her – to stop.
Never. Ever. Stop.
Every fucking cell in his body was on fire and his mind was crystal clear. Only then did he begin to smile and it widened.
He’d fucking pose for hours as she went on her mission, getting to know his body with sweet fucking appreciation and capturing the whole of him in the bargain too. When a female of truth worth went for her male, watch out! She owned him – the whole fucking vault.
Her soft hands drove his to action and he snapped her bra open to free her magnificent creamy globes, sweeping them into his warm palms, he feathered his thumbs over her large, rosy nipples. He’d dreamed about her breasts many times and they were living up to his fantasies.
Pressure encapsulated him – something was off, but what? Always in control, Reno felt his slipping away. He knew he and Aili were on a bit of a knife edge and he might just throw caution to the winds here if he didn’t stay in control. Fuck! – that was gonna prove impossible – Rock Hard had been dancing around for days and never laid it the fuck down anymore.
Reno attempted to seize control of himself and started with a mantra – This is going nowhere, we’re just exploring – as he held her glorious breasts in his hands while she continued to explore his chest, neck, face and hair, reaching up to brush her lips against his, her hot, sweet tongue breaking the crease of his mouth.
It was as if her tongue was on the tip of his cock and Rock Hard jumped, trying to claw his way to paradise. That mantra – This is going nowhere, we’re just exploring, didn’t slow his loss of control one whit. A Jinn warrior never allowed a female to provide them oral sex – too risky and too trusting which was freaky, and a sure buzz kill. To think that Aili would take him, could…
He turned his mind towards trying harder. This is going nowhere, we’re just exploring This is going nowhere… Hell, he wasn’t going to be able to stop or pull back from Aili when he had to.
Events were gonna quickly get right to the point here.
He felt that pressure again and Reno winced. Nothing could happen between them except a little exploring. Yet, he needed her so badly he could taste her. Hell! Fuck!
Her soft sweet tongue ran along the crease of his lips again and releasing her amazing breasts, he held her head with both hands as he captured her mouth, getting lost in the kiss.
Almost.
Skin to skin – her breasts crushing into his chest – and he was losing control even faster. In his mind, Reno was playing out each step he was gonna take with her to get what he wanted, what he needed.
That niggled at him. What he wanted? Was this all about him? His cock was harder than ever and ready to roll, but Aili came first, not him. It was what she needed now.
Added to everything else, he suddenly couldn’t lose the idea of Sean or Trevor – here to protect Aili and keep her safe. They’d fucking take him down if they knew what he was up to right now and have a great excuse for doing it. It killed the mood, but not his sex drive.
Rock Hard didn’t give a fuck about the whys, whens or hows. He wanted her wet hot sheath fisting him, sweet juices spilling across his hard length… He and Aili were gonna have sex – make love – unless he moved with lightening speed into the whole mating her scenario.
His intuition screamed – Way too soon! Fuck, no, that’s not the way he wanted this to happen – he wanted it slow and good for her, not rushed in a one and done manner without thinking about consequences – or her clan.
In truth, Reno didn’t mind mating Aili instantly, like right now – but wondered if that’s what she would choose? He didn’t want her decide under pressure from him. This was complicated, confusing shit and he wasn’t used to that and didn’t like not knowing what his next fucking move was. It had to be the right move, no matter what it was.
Then a simple thought occurred to him. Was she happy just exploring? Reno looked down at her, asking, “You good with this, mo leannan?”
Aili stared into his eyes, “Mmhmm. Yes.”
Sweeeet! Exactly what he wanted to hear, but Reno had already guessed it was way too soon for a female of Aili's calibre to talk about mating. Especially when they were on the verge of no return and gonna have sex – tal
k about leverage to get what he wanted!
To really cut the edge for him, Reno needed hard, hot sex with Aili – at least a few times.
Again, with what he wanted? Little self–absorbed? Reno strangely sensed a steep learning curve ahead of him when it came to his Aili.
Warm breasts dancing against his chest, hard nipples grazing his muscles, tempting him to tweak them between thumb and forefinger, then nibble on her rosy nipples. Yeah, like that wasn’t gonna happen. No way in hell was he gonna be able to back off if he took this one step farther.
No nipples in his mouth for him.
With two brothers and a couple of warriors onsite just to make sure she remained a virgin left him feeling hollow. He’d always lived by a code of honor, bringing his best to the table, never shirking his duty or the more unpleasant tasks. Now, here, he realized if they played this wrong, he would be forced to mate Aili and she’d be shamed as would her family.
It is the twenty–first century, Reno reminded himself, where everyone makes their own choices about everything, but obviously the McFeerson Clan moved at its own pace and to hell with what the rest of the world was doing.
Every kind of distraction seemed to be clawing at him, turning his attention away from where it should be – devouring Aili. She was in his arms right now and more than ready, more than willing as he was and still Reno couldn’t deny it was on him to ensure they did the right thing. Un–fucking–believable!
That pressure around him and all the distractions were reminders that this situation could get real fucking messy if not handled well. Too many folks were already involved when it came to anything Aili and he might choose.
Maybe he should bring up the mate issue? Gut instincts again shouted, No! He didn’t want to scare her off either. Might be too much with everything else going on for Aili to have him launch into lifetime commitments and vows that could never be broken.
A Jinn’s mate was everything, their moon and stars, their life and heart. Hell, a bit heavy to be bringing up during a little skin to skin.
Fuck! Sean and Trevor haunted him as did her Da and Esme, a wonderful and resourceful female. Why was he so worried about everyone else? Why couldn’t he focus on Aili?
They’d waited all day to get a word or two, snatch a hello, but nada. Now, it was overwhelming that she was here, ready, and as willing as he was.
This wasn’t all about sex – it was so much more.
This was him claiming her.
For eternity.
Aili’s big brown eyes peered at him as her heart fell to her feet. “Second thoughts?”
Reno shook his head, blonde mane swishing over her forehead. “Never with you, mo leannan. Don’t ever doubt it.”
“Ahgggh.” In one word Aili’s Scottish lilt erupted. “Must be me family then. They’re good at scaring males off.” She pushed away from him, not bothering with her bra as she bent and pulled on her t–shirt.
It broke her heart he didn’t stop her. A vision of her sitting on the plane, thinking it best to go home rather than be a one–night stand forgotten the next day – anchored in her mind.
Reno, always an ass and leg male from birth – shifted sides fast – watching Aili trying to pull the small t–shirt over her breasts as they escaped, hard nipples tantalizing him in the worst way. He imagined those hard nipples between his teeth, creamy soft breasts in his….
Aili wanted to grin, but didn’t – Reno’s eyes were all dreamy as if he were in a trance. She liked the effect she had on him, but it pissed her off too. “Try to focus if you can.”
Reno’s attention slid to her face – his solemn by the grace of every god that ever existed – and hopefully not exposing how much he wanted to take her right now and fuck the consequences.
All of ‘em.
Against the wall, on the floor, in the bed, beside the bed, in the shower…
Aili snapped her fingers. “Earth to Reno.”
He smirked, but felt the tension building. Aili was pissed off. “Need to keep our clothes on till we figure out what we’re up to.”
“Or down.” Aili’s eyes sat square on Rock Hard. He preened, arcing up, enticing her to touch him, just reach out and run her fingers along his hard length and he’d come. Just for her.
“Mo leannan, I’m yours every time.”
“So why are you manufacturing problems? I wanted to see you, all of you and have…”
Reno quirked a brow and let a smile slip over his lips. “I’m fighting the same fires you are, sweetheart. Lot at stake here.” Reno flattened his lips, pressing the words back, they weren’t true. There was nothing greater than Aili and him together. “It’s bigger than just you and me. How we feel about each other.”
“Reno? Did you just say feel?” A wide smile swept over her incredible mouth, cheeks pinking as big chocolate eyes met his.
Fondue all the way, Reno melted.
Aili laughed and ran for his walk–in closet, grabbing the flashlight and pulling the secret door closed behind her.
He scooped her lilac bra off the floor, smelling it like it was a lifeline. Magnolia and strawberry soothing him only a little. Reno groaned long and loud as he palmed Rock Hard. He was never gonna make it. With only her t–shirt off, incredible breasts in his hands – any control he might have slipped further and further away.
Definitely, they’d have to mate before they went all the way. If he couldn’t stop himself, nothing would. He’d have her flat in seconds, taking her virginity and giving her the first ride of sheer bliss and satisfaction in their long life together.
His mate.
She just didn’t know it yet.
Chapter 8
Esme did not miss a trick. She raised six children – five of them boys. Sean, her eldest, was after goading Aili's sweetheart, Reno. A shit disturber like his father, Sean always gunned for a fight and was now poking at the big male until it was obvious her son would get his way. Arms crossed, she tapped her toe.
Jericho noticed how pensive Esme was as he entered the kitchen. Reno just appeared fucking pissed off. A glance to Sean along with the tension overlaying the room, it wasn’t difficult to tell when a storm was brewing. All he’d wanted was a mid–afternoon cup of coffee to help him stay alert. Twins teething made for long nights. He and Abe were definitely tired all the time even with all the added help.
Jericho rolled his shoulders. No way in hell was he going to let Reno take Sean on. It was obvious, Reno was full of pent up sexual angst with his mate so close. He had already warned Sean to step clear. Now the Scot needed a good reminder that what Jericho said he meant. With his fists. Just the way Jericho liked it.
Reno eyed Jericho and shook his head. Jericho meant to take Sean on, but it wasn’t going to happen. This was his fight, Sean had been pushing him for days. And – Aili had no part of it. Sean, so full of himself, was used to being top dog and giving it to others. Besides, a good fucking fight was an outlet for some of his pent–up energies.
Aili came in with a gurgling Deos in the crook of her arm. Her cell phone beeped and she passed the babe to Jericho.
Reno smiled coyly. Now Jericho couldn’t do anything, but hold his son. He winked at Aili as she answered her cell and a deep male voice cursed and screamed. “Ye fecking bitch! Whore! Yer mine, ye hear. I’m coming and I’ll bring ye back to me.”
Dread and fear lay over Aili as she froze at the sound of the one voice she never, ever wanted to hear again. Not in this lifetime. To hear him, struck terror in her heart. Stunned at what just happened, Aili gaped.
Esme’s face went white as she wrung her hands together, her frightened eyes jumping around.
Sean swiped Aili’s cell and roared into it. “You fecking cocksucker threatening me sister. Come to me you fucking animal... Fecker hung up.” Sean glared at the cell and thrust it at Aili who took it with a trembling hand.
“How could he be loose?” Esme wailed.
“Who the fuck is he?” Reno thundered to the room at large.
Esme nodded. “I’ll ring him.” She talked to her mate, explaining Stryker and his threats.
Jericho barked out, “Cal, get everyone in the great room stat.”
Over the house speakers came Cal’s, “Roger that.”
Esme said to Sean, “Yer Da’s going to find out what he can and call back.”
Sean nodded as his cell phone rang. It was Da.
Jericho eyed Reno, his hands twitching to take Aili into his arms and soothe her. He hustled Sean and Esme into the great room, giving Reno some time with his female.
Reno held her hard to his chest, she was trembling and it drove him crazy. In a sure, steady voice, he spoke softly. “Mo leannan, I won’t let him hurt you. You’re safe here with me.”
Aili nodded against his chest, pressing her lips in for a kiss to his warm skin. Reno shuddered, telling she had hit home.
Cal waited at the top of the back stairs, eyes on the ceiling affording the two secret lovebirds a smidgen of privacy. “Reno, hang back. I’ll walk with Aili.”
In the great room, everyone settled into the long couches and chairs. Deos and Daisy were in their bouncy chairs on the floor, both doing the 20–minute baby workout, their smiles wide and gummy.
Sean took the floor. “Da’s checking on Stryker. He’s ordering Frank and Forst to guard Aili’s door during the night. They’ll sleep during the day as Aili won’t be allowed outside the house. Stryker gets crazy ideas, but he’s a formidable opponent. They say his Fither was a demon of Hades and his Mither a gifted human. He has just spent nigh on twelve years in the worst race prison. He’s powerful, wily, and sneaky. More importantly, Stryker doesn’t see the world the way we do.”