“I’m sorry, Meghan, but I’ve already made my decision. If you don’t wish to see Cynz again after today, you don’t have to. He’s already on his way, should be arriving any moment.”
A chime sounded, just as the Prime’s words faded in the room. Meghan looked panicked and Zayne didn’t feel much better. He hoped, after everything they’d shared, that she would still want to be with him. But what if Cynz convinced her he would be the better warrior for her? Zayne didn’t think he’d want to go on living without Meghan in his home and in his heart. His life would be empty without her.
“He’s here now, Prime,” Zayne said.
“Meet with Cynz, Meghan. Give him a chance. He’s one of my best warriors,” the Prime said.
“Yes, sir.” Meghan looked dejected and all Zayne wanted to do was pull her into his arms and assure her everything would be all right.
He disconnected the call and went to answer the door. A smiling Cynz greeted him.
“A fine day, isn’t it?” Cynz said as he entered the home.
“Yes.” Zayne sighed. “A fine day.” A day in which he might lose his mate.
Meghan appeared in the office doorway, watching Cynz warily. The warrior didn’t seem bothered by her hesitance and rushed forward to greet her. Zayne couldn’t watch them together; he just couldn’t, and yet… he wasn’t sure he could tear himself away.
He followed them through the house into what Meghan called the living room. Once everyone was seated, Cynz cast him a curious glance.
“She doesn’t need a guard,” the warrior said. “I promise I won’t harm her.”
“I want Zayne here,” Meghan said quickly.
The warrior nodded. “Then he’ll stay. I want you to be comfortable around me, Meghan. I look forward to getting to know you.”
“Why are you here?” she asked, her hands fidgeting in her lap.
Zayne wanted to move to Meghan’s side and wrap his arm around her, pull her tight against his body and give her comfort. But he knew his actions would not be seen as favorable by the warrior, who would report it directly to the Prime. He had to sit back and let Meghan make her decision on her own.
“To see if we would suit,” Cynz said. “I find you quite beautiful and would like to claim you as my mate.”
“But you don’t know me. Just because you like the way I look doesn’t mean we should be mates.”
Cynz frowned. “But you are a single woman on our world. You need a mate.”
Meghan cast Zayne a glance before looking at Cynz again; a look the warrior did not miss.
Cynz scowled. “Have you already claimed a mate?”
“I wish to mate with Zayne, but the Prime has not given his approval.”
Cynz growled at Zayne. “You knew I wanted her! Did you act behind my back and try to claim her for your own?”
“It’s possible she’s carrying my child,” Zayne admitted. “I thought the Prime informed you of this.”
“He said the two of you had become close, but he left that part out. Are you sure he knew?”
“I’m positive. I informed him myself, when I asked if I could claim Meghan as my own. For some reason, he really wants you to claim her.”
“Cynz,” Meghan said. “I’m sure you’re a really nice guy, but I’m not in love with you.”
“What does love have to do with it? I would be a good provider, would keep you safe. I have experience and could bring you great pleasure.”
“There’s more to a relationship than pleasure. There’s trust. Commonality. And love.”
“Commonality?”
“Yes. Things we should share and have in common with one another. I enjoy helping Zayne in his office, even if I don’t understand any of what he does. I’m able to help him and it has made our bond stronger. There is passion between us, but there’s more to it than just touching.”
“I don’t understand,” Cynz said.
Her gaze darted toward Zayne before returning to Cynz again.
“I love him,” she admitted. “My heart fills with joy when he’s around. I look forward to sharing my days and nights with him, to the discussions we’ll have, and the things we’ll discover together.”
“And you can’t have that with me?” Cynz asked, looking truly curious.
“No, I can’t. I believe there is only one person designed for each of us, to be our perfect match, the other half of our soul. And I believe that Zayne is mine.”
Zayne’s heart swelled with love and pride in his mate, even if he wasn’t allowed to claim her as such. Regardless of what the Prime said, she belonged to him, just as he belonged to her.
“Then there’s no point in remaining here,” Cynz said, rising to his feet. “I wish you both the best.”
Zayne stood. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out the way you’d hoped. I’m sure the Lynten will return with more women soon enough. Maybe your mate will be in the next group.”
“Maybe,” Cynz said with a nod of his head. “I’ll take my leave of you.”
Zayne watched the warrior leave before walking toward Meghan. He stopped in front of her, kneeling at her feet.
“Did you mean what you told him?” he asked.
“That I love you?”
Zayne nodded.
“Yes. I didn’t realize it at first, not until I thought of having to mate to Cynz and never being able to be with you again. It made me realize how much I would miss you, how important you’ve become to me. And then I realized that I didn’t just like you, just care about you, I loved you.”
“I love you too, sweet Meghan.”
“The Prime is going to be angry, isn’t he?”
“Possibly, but I believe he will allow us to be together now.”
“What happens now?”
“We’ll go before the Prime and he’ll perform the mating ceremony, tying us together for all time.”
She smiled. “Kind of like a wedding on my world.”
“I’m not familiar with that term.”
“It’s a ceremony where two people are joined together until death. Well, it’s supposed to be until death, but now there are laws that will allow one party or the other to dissolve the marriage and the couple can go their separate ways.”
Zayne frowned. “There is nothing like that here. Once we’re bonded together, you will be stuck with me for all time. So be sure this is what you want.”
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I can’t think of anything I want more.”
“Then let me contact the Prime about setting up a time for the ceremony. The sooner I can claim you as my mate, the happier I’ll be.”
Zayne reluctantly pulled away from her to go make his call. He didn’t know how much time would be required before they could bind themselves to one another, but today wouldn’t be soon enough. He only hoped the Prime wasn’t so angry that he made them wait indefinitely.
* * *
Three days later, Meghan and Zayne faced the Prime in his office. A large dagger was held in the Prime’s hand, as he faced them. It made Meghan nervous, but with Zayne by her side, she could face anything.
“The Tarnan mating ceremony is a blood bond,” the Prime explained to her, lifting the blade. “Are you ready to begin?”
She nodded. Her heart raced in anticipation of being able to call Zayne her own.
“Meghan, you won’t be able to understand the words of the ceremony. It’s in our ancient language and your translator is not equipped to handle the dialect,” the Prime said.
“Degi rama sorientay. Exi sisri amoria.”
He took Zayne’s arm and made a cut over his wrist, then took Meghan’s and did the same.
“Kepa noste amoria. Leepri sarnum gretu orlea.”
The Prime pressed their wrists together and bound them with a silken rope. Meghan had no idea where he’d gotten the rope as she hadn’t seen him pick it up. It was a pretty, vibrant red though, the color of passion.
“Initra gae raiy koro frietze.”
> The Prime smiled. “You may kiss your bride, Zayne. You’re officially mated.”
Zayne gathered Meghan close, with his free hand, and bent his head to claim her lips in a kiss. She’d thought he meant to give her a chaste kiss, something appropriate for a ceremony, but it seemed Zayne had other ideas. His lips were demanding, but he gave as much passion as he took. When he pulled away, she smiled up at him. They were mated. She’d never thought to marry, not on her world and certainly not on this one, but she couldn’t be happier.
“Remove the binding when you’re ready to cement the claim,” the Prime told Zayne. “You must remain bound until your bodies are joined together. Understood?”
“Yes, Prime,” Zayne said.
Meghan felt exhilarated. Zayne and she had shared several passionate moments since their first time together, but this would be different. Now they were a bonded pair, mates, husband and wife. She couldn’t think of anything more exciting, anything more perfect, than showing him how much she loved him on this most wonderful day, even if the Prime didn’t look too thrilled. The man had grudgingly agreed to bond them together, but from what she’d overheard, he’d still held out hope that Meghan would change her mind and choose Cynz.
When they were alone, she asked the question that had been burning in her mind.
“Why did the Prime want to me to choose Cynz? Why him over anyone else?” she asked.
Zayne smiled. “Cynz is not only the Prime’s most favored warrior, he is also the man’s nephew. He truly wishes for his nephew to find happiness, and he knows the warrior desires to be mated more than anything else. It wasn’t that he was opposed to our union, so much as wanting his blood relation to be happy. And since Cynz thought he wanted you, the Prime wanted you to want his nephew in return.”
“I hope Cynz is able to find someone soon. But we truly would have been miserable together. There is only one man for me and he’s standing beside me.”
Zayne stopped walking long enough to kiss her. “I’m truly grateful to hear that.”
She hurried back to their home. She couldn’t help but smile as Zayne rushed them inside, locked the door, and chased her up the stairs. Of course, with their hands being tied together, he had the advantage.
When they reached the bedroom, Meghan stared at their clothes in frustration. “How are we supposed to get naked with our hands tied together?”
“Only half of us have to be naked to complete the claiming,” he said with a smile. “I promise to make it good for you next time.”
She gripped his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss. “Anytime we’re together it’s good. Doesn’t matter if it’s brief or not.”
“Oh, it’s going to be brief. I want you too much right now.”
Meghan began stripping out of her pants, and then watched as Zayne did the same. Already she was wet and aching for him, needing to be filled by him. She tugged him toward the bed but he stopped her.
“Does it always have to be on the bed?” he asked.
“No.” Just what did her alien inventor have in mind?
He pushed her toward the wall, then lifted her so that her legs wrapped around his waist. With her body supported, he teased her pussy with his cock before pushing inside of her. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he stretched her. She didn’t know what had given him this idea, but she was all for it. Maybe they would try some new positions later. There was a lot she could still teach him.
Zayne began pistoning in and out of her, each stroke longer and harder than the last. His arm banded around her waist as he held her impossibly close. Her breasts rubbed against his chest with each plunge of his cock.
Megan kissed him, wanting his taste on her tongue, as he fucked her relentlessly. He’d never been so wild before, and she loved every minute of it. With every drive of his cock, she dug her nails into his skin, holding on as tight as she could. Pleasure zinged through her; her body shuddered. She could feel him coming inside of her, as he groaned against her neck, and it was all she needed to push her over the edge.
“Zayne!” she cried, as her pussy squeezed his cock. Stars burst behind her eyelids and she trembled from head to toe. Every time with him was absolutely amazing. She was starting to wonder which of them was the student.
He pulled back long enough to kiss her. “I love you, Meghan, and I claim you for my own.”
“I love you, too, Zayne. And I claim you for my own.”
He kissed her hungrily, his passion leaving her dizzy. Then he untied their hands and carried her to the bed, where he spread her out before him.
“I’ll give you a moment to rest,” he said. “Then we’re going to celebrate our newly mated status.”
She smiled. “I thought we just did celebrate.”
“Oh, we’re going to celebrate all night long. Rest while you can.” He grinned. “I plan to learn every way there is to make love to you. And when you think you’ve had enough, when you think you can’t take me one more time, I’ll take you again.”
She gazed at him with love and affection, thankful for her brother’s betrayal. If it hadn’t been for him, and what she had determined must have been his greed over their inheritance, then she never would have found Zayne, and she never would have been this happy. Surrendering to her Tarnan warrior was the best thing she ever could have done.
Fated
Jessica Coulter Smith
There is but one thing a Tourmalane prince wants above all else -- his mate. When Lyros finds Roux on a floating brothel, he knows he must rescue the small human. She’s alluring, and yet her shyness intrigues him far more than any bold beauty could have. Lyros finds he wants to shelter her, protect her, and make her his in every way. But what if all he’s feeling is lust and not the true mating pull?
When a bit of trouble on his world requires him to make a trip to Earth, he asks Roux to go with him. Once he comes to terms with the fact that she’s truly his, he will stop at nothing to claim her. As they explore her world, and one another, Lyros can’t help but fall in love with the enchanting woman he can call his own.
With a baby on the way and the fate of his world at stake, Lyros knows he must return to Tourmalane, even though Roux has fallen in love with Paris. Just when Lyros thinks he has everything figured out, Roux gives him yet another surprise.
Happily-Ever-After has never felt so good.
Prologue
Lyros studied the sex bot and wondered if he was getting too old to be playing with lifelike toys. Ever since his brother Drexyl had found his mate, all Lyros wanted was a female -- a female of his own. Despite his travels over the last few years, he had yet to meet the woman destined to be his, and he was starting to wonder if he ever would. Until that time came, he would have to be satisfied with finding his release with these… things.
Oh, they looked real enough. This particular model simulated a human female, although she was taller than his brother’s mate. The bot had long, brown hair, wide-set eyes, and a tall, willowy figure. Her breasts were ample and pert, and there was even a bit of hair on her pussy. His cock was mildly interested, but in his mind, he knew she wasn’t real.
Lyros reached out and stroked the strands of her hair, then her soft, tanned skin. If it weren’t for the vacant look in her eyes, and her mechanical sounding voice, she could pass for the real thing. He urged her to spread her legs and he dipped a finger inside. Wet, just like an aroused human female would be.
“What’s your pleasure for this evening?” the bot asked. “How may I be of service?”
Lyros unfastened his pants and let them fall to his ankles. “I want you to suck my cock. I want to come down your throat, and I want you to take it all.”
The bot smiled and fell to her knees at his feet. Opening her mouth, she took him inside, her tongue feeling every bit as real as the rest of her. She sucked as her tongue swirled around his shaft, making his balls draw up. Her mouth was warm and wet, and after another moment, he came down her throat, thrusting hard and deep. Unlike a real female,
she didn’t choke as he forced her to take all of him. When he was finished, he urged her to her feet and over to the bed.
“Lie down and spread your legs.”
The bot walked over to the bed, then lay down on her back and braced her feet on the bed, her knees falling wide to expose herself to him. His cock stirred again as he took in the dewy lips of her pussy. Her nipples were even hard, just like an aroused female’s would be. The difference was that a living being would be begging him to fuck her, would know just what to say to turn him on even more.
A bit of pre-cum dribbled from the tip of his cock as he gripped her hips. He lined up the head of his cock with her slit and then plunged inside of her, going balls deep. It felt incredible and he couldn’t have stopped if he’d wanted to. Thrusting hard and fast, he took her like the sex starved male that he was. She was so lifelike her pussy clenched his cock and simulated an orgasm. The bot got wetter and Lyros knew he wouldn’t last. His hips slapped against the rounded globes of her ass as he fucked her with a frenzy he hadn’t felt in a while.
As he came inside of her, he couldn’t help but wish that she were real, that she was his destined mate. Lyros cleaned himself up in the adjoining bathroom and fastened his pants. Without a word to the bot, he let himself out and headed toward the docking station, but something froze him in his tracks. Amidst the various alien females who had chosen to service males for a living, and the bots who stood out, were three petite humans.
He knew he must be mistaken. They couldn’t really be human.
He stopped in front of the smallest of the three, her hair reminding him of a sunset. Green eyes fastened on his and he would have sworn she trembled.
“May I service you?” she asked in a soft voice.
“You’re human.”
“Yes.”
Lyros cursed. “Then you aren’t here of your own free will, are you?”
She glanced at the other two humans and then looked back at him, shaking her head. “We were captured and forced to work here. This is our first official night, but we’ve been trained well.”
Intergalactic Loyalties Page 21