by Brenda Trim
He knelt at her feet and gazed up at heaven. Ember braced her back on the white tile and her brown hair stuck to her face as the water poured over her head. Her eyes hooded and she bit her lower lip between her teeth, giving him a hint of her raging desire.
“You are exquisite,” Orlando observed as he ran his hand up the back of her leg.
He leaned in and kissed his way from her knee to the spot where his world revolved. Hovering inches above her mound, his breath left him in pants and he noticed her stomach quivering in anticipation.
Closing the distance between their bodies, he ran his tongue through her slick folds. Her flavor awakened his taste buds with a punch. Growling against her flesh with his animal close to the surface, he licked over and around her clit then devoured her sex.
Her hands grabbed the short strands of his hair as her back arched off the wall. Her nipples glistened under the water, beckoning his touch. One of his hands went north to tease her breasts while the other reached between her legs.
“Oh Goddess, yesss,” she hissed when he inserted one finger. “I’m so close.”
Sucking her clit into his mouth, he added a second finger and pinched her nipple. It didn’t take much more and she exploded above him. Screaming his name, he watched the pleasure consume her as she writhed against his mouth. He did that to her. Male pride swelled in his chest that he was the one that had caused her to cry out in ecstasy.
*****
Ember opened her eyes and shivered as the tremors traveled through her body. Orlando was grinning at her like the cat that ate the cream. His satisfaction and fulfillment over her pleasure was as evident through their bond as it was on his face.
“Come up here,” she instructed with a crook of her finger.
He stood slowly, allowing his body to rub along the front of hers. His hard chest was heaving and his eyes were twin emerald beacons. His white-blond hair was slicked to his head and he looked feral as his leopard prowled just beneath the surface.
Never in her life had she imagined being so complete. There were no words to describe the connection she shared with Orlando as his Fated Mate.
Their souls had joined and intertwined to the point where there was no differentiation between them. Where they used to be two entities, they were now one. She didn’t lose part of her identity when she met Orlando, but gained a side she had never realized was missing.
His large arms wound around her middle at the same time he claimed her lips. His kiss had an edge of need she hadn’t experienced since the night of their mating. She understood and felt the same frantic need for him.
They could have died earlier and both needed the reassurance the other was alive and well.
The moment he broke the kiss, she slid to her knees on the tile floor. The hot water dripped off his downturned head, softening his savage edge. “My turn,” she announced as she grabbed the base of his long, thick cock.
Her fingers barely fit around the base, reminding her of the delicious stretch when he entered her. Her core spasmed, needing to be filled. This was where they always got sidetracked. He smelled her arousal and allowed it to override everything else. Not this time, she vowed. She was going to taste him for once.
Before he could reach for her, she closed her mouth around the spongy head. A loud groan left his lips as his head fell back. His hand fisted in the back of her hair and held her in place while she sucked him down.
When he reached the back of her throat, she expected her gag reflex to kick in, but surprisingly it didn’t. She relaxed and set a rhythm of licking and sucking. She explored his entire length, paying extra attention to the slit on the tip. When she swiped her tongue across, sampling his slightly salty taste, he groaned and she felt him tense. Through their bond, she knew exactly what she was doing to him and felt the pleasure she provided, adding to her own desire. It made her want more.
His hips started moving and she sensed the battle he waged with his wayward body. “Let go,” she murmured and knew the vibration of her voice sent him to a higher peak. She grabbed his balls and gave them a not too gentle squeeze.
“Fuck,” he groaned as his hips picked up their pace and the head of his cock hit the back of her throat.
She reminded herself to relax and swallow him down. She’d fantasized many times about doing this to him. She hadn’t performed oral sex but a few times in her life and had doubted her performance, but she could feel his pleasure and reveled in the way his hips swiveled with her movements, as well as, the growls coming from his throat.
His cock swelled in her hand, signaling he was close. “You have to stop,” he croaked. “I’m going to cum.”
Rather than release her hold, she tightened her grip and doubled her efforts. She wanted everything he had to give her. Needed to feel his release through their bond. This was something she’d never done with anyone else, but was an intimacy she wanted to share with him.
“Ahh, Em!” he shouted right before the barb extended beneath the head of his cock.
His body stiffened above her and she closed her mouth slightly, keeping pressure on the barb. It was difficult to relax enough to swallow the hot seed that spurt into her mouth, but well worth it as he let himself go. His climax ripped through his body and she felt the same rush wash through her veins.
She understood the smug satisfaction she’d sensed from him as she watched him collapse against the tile wall, panting. She’d been created to give this male pleasure and she loved seeing his satisfaction.
“Let me wash your body while I recover. Then I’m taking you to bed,” he said, his husky voice arousing her to a fever pitch. He pulled her to her feet and she wrapped her arms around his waist.
“Deal,” she agreed. He grabbed the shampoo bottle and squirted some into his palm. He took his time washing her, paying extra attention to her breasts and between her legs.
By the time they were done washing each other, their need was as frantic as when they’d entered the bathroom. Flipping off the shower, Orlando reached out and snagged two towels from the warming bar and wrapped her in one. Doing a hasty dry on his body, he tossed the towel aside and picked her up before she was even done.
Cradled in his arms, she kissed and nipped his neck while he carried her to the bed. He pulled the towel from her body as he tossed her to the mattress. She was still bouncing as he prowled the mattress to drape his body over hers.
A soft sigh escaped her lips the second his flesh touched hers. She loved the electrical current that came with physical contact and was glad its effect on her had not diminished in the slightest. It still had every nerve-ending begging for more.
“I love you, Wildcat. I know I’m difficult and a pain in the ass most days, but I’m the luckiest male alive to have you.” His confession brought tears to her eyes and reminded her how much he had done and sacrificed for her without asking for anything in return.
“I love you, too, and I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret mating with me,” she admitted.
Before he could respond, she pressed her lips to his. She reached between their bodies and palmed his erection while she licked and teased his mouth. Their tongues tangled wetly and his shaft jerked against her hand.
Guiding him to her core, she rubbed the head through her sensitive folds. She broke her mouth away, unable to hold back her moan of pleasure.
His hips shifted and he took over torturing her as he coated himself in the process. His mouth continued a path down her neck to her collarbone and stopped at her breast. Teasing one turgid peak, he sucked it into his mouth while pinching the other.
A fine sheet of sweat coated their bodies and the rub of his flesh over hers brought her to the edge and had her growling. He twined their fingers together above her head and looked down to capture her gaze as he aligned his cock at her entrance.
Pushing in, Orlando stretched her to that point of pleasure-pain as he filled her. Sliding through her heat, she saw the threads of control snap and he surged for
ward, going balls deep inside her.
Orlando grunted and thrust his hips, surging in and out of her. His pace increased, creating a delicious friction. His fingers tightened and his body moved with a frenzy that spoke to the animal within. He’d made love to her countless times since they’d mated and she loved it when he was raw and out of control. He was more a wild animal than anything soft and gentle. He was huge and strong, and all hers.
Ember was lost in the maelstrom, couldn’t move or breathe and didn’t want to. She felt him swelling inside her and the barb extending. Clenching her eyes tight, she gave herself over to the mounting pleasure and burst apart, stars exploding behind her eyelids.
Orlando slammed into her one last time and held still. As her core spasmed with the aftershocks of her orgasm, she felt his hot seed jetting deep inside her womb. Panting, he collapsed on top of her.
“You’ve drained every ounce of energy I have,” he admitted. “I can’t move.”
“That’s okay, I can’t either. Besides, I like your weight on me.”
“I’m too heavy,” he protested and with a surge of energy she couldn’t muster, he switched their positions so she was on top and he was on bottom while his shaft remained locked inside.
She shifted until she found a position that was comfortable for their bodies then relaxed against his warm chest, listening to the rapid beat of his heart.
“Do you think it will always be this great between us?” she asked as she thought about the intense pleasure he’d given her. She didn’t want it to ever end.
“Mmmm, I think it will get even better,” he responded and she felt his hardness pulse inside her. As always, her body responded and arousal shot through her system. She would never tire of this male.
“We can rest for just a little bit then we can head back to your, I mean, our place,” he murmured without opening his eyes.
He still saw the cabin as hers. In his mind, it wasn’t their home, but he was trying because he wanted her happy. The Goddess’s words echoed through her head solidifying her decision.
“I can have my mom bring Brantley home to us. We don’t have to go anywhere,” she offered.
His eyes flew open and he watched her closely. “What? What are you saying?” he asked.
Letting out the breath she’d been holding she decided to go for broke. “I’ve been a selfish mate. You have spent weeks giving me everything while all I have done is ask for more. I didn’t listen to the Goddess and that changes right now,” she admitted.
“That’s not true. It’s my job to ensure your happiness,” he replied as he sat up and kissed her lips.
Holding herself up by her elbows on his chest, she smiled at him. “There isn’t a better mate alive, but we both need to compromise to make this work. I see how much Zeum and everyone here means to you, as well as, how much they need you. It’s my turn to sacrifice and move in with you.”
He sat up and scooted them so he was leaning against the headboard. Running his hands up and down her back, he rubbed circles against her flesh. “You don’t have to do that. I know what the pack means to you and being close to your family and Faith.”
“This is something I must do and it’s not up for debate. Besides, I imagine Brantley misses everyone here, too.”
Hugging her close, he whispered in her ear, “I really am the luckiest male alive. But, we can have both places. You don’t have to give up the pack.”
“I won’t. I have no intention of giving up my position as a C.L.A.W. and I’ll drive there to fulfill my shifts and then drive back.”
“Of course, you’re going to stay a C.L.A.W., but what I meant was that we can stay at the cabin part of the week and be there for the hunts and other pack gatherings,” Orlando said.
“That’s perfect. I know Hayden has enjoyed having you around. But, you’ll still need to build onto the cabin. Brantley is getting older and having him sleep in our room won’t work much longer,” she said as she gestured to the crib along the opposite wall.
Orlando chuckled and palmed her ass, giving it a squeeze. “You’re right about that, love. We can move his crib to the living room until better accommodations can be made at both homes. Maybe we could even convince Santi and Tori to join us at the Grove,” Orlando suggested.
“Hayden would bust a nut if both of you were there for hunts. He is so proud of his Dark Warriors and enjoys showing you off,” she agreed.
Orlando’s face suddenly sobered and he pulled her closer. “The fact that you would do this means everything. You are the key to every hope and dream I’ve ever had. You own me body, heart, and soul forever.”
“And, I vow to spend the rest of my days being your best friend, lover, and mate. All I’ve ever wanted is you,” she professed as emotion overwhelmed her. Snuggling closer, she laid her head in his neck, and for the first time, Ember had hope for their future.
EXCERPT FROM KING OF KHOTH BOOK #9
PROLOGUE
Six months earlier…
Moving was difficult and breathing was next to impossible. But that wasn’t what had her heart racing in her chest and sweat slicking her palms. Blinking rapidly and taking in the odd pointy ceiling, she grappled to not only determine where she was, but who she was. All that met her considerable efforts to jog her memory was a big, fat blank. Nothing at all came to mind when she attempted to pull up her name.
Tears burned her eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks. What had happened to her that she couldn’t remember anything?
To make matters worse, she had no idea where she was or how she got there. How she came to be in her current predicament seemed like a pretty important issue given she could still be in danger.
And, she was exhausted. Her body felt as if it had been asleep forever, yet gotten no rest whatsoever. Lethargy pulled at her limbs, making them heavy and cumbersome, but thankfully it was passing. Much more rapidly than she would have expected if she were ill or injured. This was all kinds of screwed up and had her mind whirling even more while her body went rigid.
Chastising herself for wallowing on her predicament, she forced herself to focus on the last thing she could remember. Faceted green eyes flashed in her mind only to be washed away, followed by utter terror.
She may not know who she was or where she was, but she understood that someone had meant her harm. A sudden gratitude at being alive replaced her fear and panic. Her situation could be so much worse. She could be dead.
Unfortunately, feelings of being lost, alone and frustrated returned, making her fists clench as she fought back tears.
Not wanting adversity to immobilize her, she tried to grab hold of memories that were just out of reach. Details hovered at the edge of awareness, but she couldn’t touch any of them.
A sudden, intense pain wracked her middle and she clutched her stomach. The pain spread from her abdomen to her limbs and her whole body throbbed.
Water. She needed water.
Her mouth was dry and she was parched as a desert, but it wasn’t just thirst she needed to assuage. What she desperately craved was being submerged in water and she had no idea why that need was so urgent.
Shaking her head at the absurd thoughts racing a million miles per hour, she sat up slowly and glanced around. She was lying on a surprisingly comfortable surface, given the stone and rock that surrounded her. Further inspection told her she was lying on a bed of some kind. Feathers, her mind automatically supplied. How the hell could she know that fact and not her own name?
Frustrated tears bloomed again and her heart sped up. It was difficult to concentrate with the roar of blood rushing through her veins and the waterworks that blurred her vision.
With a swipe of her arm, she cleared her eyes and noticed she was in a dimly lit cavern. Ok, she told herself. Focus on what you can make sense of and leave the rest for later. It was easier when she pushed aside the fear and annoyance.
The pointy stones she had noticed upon waking were stalactites growing from the cave roof. Again,
her mind provided more useless details, but held the most important ones at bay.
What had happened to her, she asked for the hundredth time. Chastising herself for getting stuck on minute details when she could be in danger, she finally managed to calm down. Dripping water was the only sound that could be heard, telling her she was probably alone.
Swinging her legs over the side of the platform, she looked down and saw that the feather bed rested on a natural stone platform, keeping her off the hard, damp floor and the illumination came from floating balls of light.
Magic, her mind whispered.
Ignoring the mounting irritation, she felt a pulse of foreign power surrounding her in the cave. It grated against her skin like sandpaper, highly irritating and uncomfortable.
There was a long, low table with various objects spread out across it, and, wanting to get a closer look, she lowered herself to the ground. Testing her legs, she faltered and nearly fell to the ground. Weakness had her gripping the platform to keep her from a bad tumble.
Taking a minute to steady herself, she laid her head down on the plush feather-bed. The sheets were so soft compared to the rougher material of the blue dress she was wearing. Looking down, her eyes landed on the plaid pattern of the navy skirt of the dress. The sight brought a lump to her throat and had her heart skipping a beat, but she had no idea why. To her knowledge she’d never seen the dress before.
Refusing to get bogged down by the confusion, she lifted her head and noticed the soft pillow she’d been laying on appeared clean, as well as, the sheets. Her mind told her she’d been asleep for a long time and unless there was someone taking care of her, the items should be filthy.
For that matter, she should have been soaked to the bone given the damp atmosphere. The stone was slick and shiny from the water dripping down. The stalactites above her were the same. Dirt covered the floor and there were bugs everywhere…but none near her. Another glance at the magical balls of light told her there was more at play.