by Brenda Trim
*****
Kyran had more patience than Mack would have guessed, but she saw the second it splintered as she laved his mating mark. His power and coiled tension pulsed under her palms. His muscular body left her speechless as it was revealed. She hadn’t gotten over how well-endowed he was and couldn’t help but wonder if it would hurt when they had sex. Not that she would let that stop her.
She was going to give in to all of her fantasies and desires. You only live once and she refused to allow her trepidations to get in the way. Their situation was decidedly illicit, breaching her vows. He had crossed every line she had ever drawn, and yet, she still couldn’t get enough of him.
From where she was standing, Kyran was a man, an incredibly hot and virile man. Her mouth went dry and every other place went wet as she perused his body. She stepped closer to him and felt his erection pressing to her stomach. His shaft throbbed against her womb, but it wasn’t even close to enough. She wanted him lodged so deep inside her that she couldn’t tell where she ended and he began.
“Take me, Kyran,” she ordered him.
“Och, my little Firecracker, I am trying to maintain some semblance of civility here. You are no’ making that easy,” he murmured, his voice as rough as sandpaper. She knew he was holding back, but she wanted him raw.
“Civility is over-rated,” she countered, licking his mark again, knowing it drove him crazy.
He growled low in his throat and picked her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and began rubbing her core against his cock. He slipped deliciously through her wet slit. He gripped her ass, sending wild shivers down her spine. She brought her lips to his mouth and crushed them down with bruising force. His kiss was all-consuming.
She heard him reaching into the tree and guessed that he was grabbing another vine to bind her. The thought that he’d tie her up had her core clenching with excitement. He laid her down and forced her hands above her head where he did as she suspected and knotted a vine around her wrists. For one second, Mack was riddled with doubt and questioned the wisdom in extending even the slightest amount of trust to a vampire.
He ran his hands down her arms and gently caressed her to her toes, assuaging her reservations. He prowled up her torso and covered her completely with his big body. It was refreshing that he actually made her feel small. Even if she wasn’t much shorter than he was, she liked the illusion he created by cocooning her in his strength. She wasn’t a docile woman in distress who needed to be taken care of, but it was nice to feel like she had a man who could.
With feverish need, his lips were on hers as his hands slipped between her slick folds and teased her sensitive core. He kissed a path across her cheek to tease her pulse with a sexy slide of his tongue and enticing scrape of his fangs.
“You make me lose all sight of reason.” His hot breath fanned against her ear while he brought his erection to her entrance.
“That’s my job,” she cried out as he thrust into her in one stroke. The bite of pain while her body adjusted to his size was forgotten as he moved and pleasure washed through her. Mack marveled at the feel of Kyran inside her. He was a fierce and commanding male as he pounded into her. She felt the brush of his chest against her nipples with every heaving breath. He angled his hips, adjusted his arms and used his entire body to play hers like a well-oiled machine.
Her core clenched as her climax neared. She tried to hold it back, not wanting this to be over so soon. “Cum for me, Mackendra,” he demanded. Not one to be denied, he slid his finger between their bodies and pinched her clitoris. She detonated into a million pieces and cried out his name. She had never been taken to such a high peak so fast, but to her relief, he wasn’t done with her. He was just getting started.
He withdrew from her and flipped her over onto her stomach. With a snap of his fingers, he freed her wrists and was pulling her to her knees. She complied without hesitation, anxiously awaiting his next moves despite the fact that she didn’t like this position. Their tryst in the jungle felt forbidden, especially in the wanton position of her bare ass pointed in his direction.
He was starting to pant and draw hard breaths. He wasn’t as in control as he’d have her believe. “Kyran, I can’t…this position…” she trailed off not sure how to voice her reservations.
“Quit resisting this. I know you, Mackendra, and can tell you it’s not the position you object to. It’s the vulnerability, with being fully exposed and at my mercy. Let me teach you that exposure and vulnerability can be freeing. I willna do anything that hurts you,” he promised. She marveled that this seemingly uncaring warrior could be so insightful. That he would put his lust on hold to reassure her had her nodding readily.
He trailed his fingers over her curves and into the cleft of her backside. She wanted to crawl away from his touch, at the same time, she wanted to push back into him and increase their contact. She held still and enjoyed the sensations he elicited. One hand reached under her abdomen and played with her breasts while the other fingered her core. She gazed down and was struck by the bronzed skin of his hand over the pale skin of her breast.
He leaned over her back which brought his shaft in contact with her backside. He pushed in, teasing her. She yelped and brought her head around to look at him. “Kyran?” she asked, worried about his intentions.
“I told you I willna do anything to hurt you,” he reminded her as his fingers sunk into her core and his thumb pressed into her clit. “Doona doubt me, mate,” he chided then spanked her ass with one hand as he curled the fingers of his other deep inside her, robbing her ability to speak.
He removed his finger and she found herself pushing back, wanting more. A thick, blunt head replaced his fingers and without hesitation, Kyran was filling her. She had never felt so full in her life. He gripped her hips and held her while he pounded into her tight sheath. He adjusted his hips, hitting her in a new angle. She cried out as another climax struck fast and hard. She was a wild woman as she met him thrust for thrust, urging him to give her more.
“Nay, you doona like this position at all,” he husked. His hands caressed her body and he began a hard and fast rhythm. She felt the brace of his powerful thighs against the backs of hers. The smack of flesh on flesh filled the tranquil cove and she panted for breath as a wave of incredible pleasure washed over her.
She twisted her neck and watched his face ignite. He was feral and his fangs gleamed in the faint light. He was a splendid sight and seeing him lose control had another orgasm building with alarming speed. It promised to be more potent than any that had come previously. He increased his pace to a frenetic speed before he thrust one last time and froze in place, throwing his head back. As he roared his release, spilling himself inside of her, he triggered her orgasm.
She panted as she pushed back her hips, riding out her orgasm. She smiled broadly and met his astonished grey gaze. “Oh hell, yeah. You were right, I love this position,” she admitted, making him laugh.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Kyran gazed out at the cove from a safe distance in the small cavern they had found. He had made love to his mate several more times throughout the rest of the evening and she astounded him each time. Mackendra was eager and adventurous and welcomed him with open arms. He had initially bound her hands, but quickly changed that. He wanted to see her tied up and at his mercy, but he also enjoyed her engaging with him. He could have easily fashioned a whip of sorts, but he didn’t once have the urge to use one of his canes or whips on her. He never thought he’d have sex without needing his toys, but she was right. They were a way for him to keep the world at bay, to ensure nothing touched him.
He had come a long way in the short time since they’d traveled through the portal, making him believe that the Goddess had a hand in their arrival in Khoth.
He reflected on their time together and surmised that had they not been forced together, chances are they might not have come together. In Seattle, there were countless distractions that would have kept them apart. Not
the least of which was the fact that she hunted skirm and hated vampires. His little firecracker wouldn’t have lowered her defenses enough to explore her feelings. She would’ve fought it tooth and nail and he wouldn’t have been able to reach her. He didn’t know how. Here, they had been forced to rely on each other which led to them opening up and sharing. They had become a team, neither able to survive without the other.
He wasn’t the romantic like Zander, but having made love to a female for the first time, he realized he wasn’t on the opposite side of the spectrum like he’d always thought. He sighed and gathered Mackendra close, her silky skin sliding over his when she stretched her legs.
“Is it time to go?” she asked sleepily.
“Aye, the sun will set soon and we need to get moving in a bit. I know you must be hungry, but there is nothing near here, so we will have to look for food as we travel.” He ran his hand over her bare shoulder, knowing their time in the cove was at an end.
She yawned loudly and patted his cheek. “That’s ok. I didn’t expect anything. I know you can’t go out in the sun. Where are we heading tonight?” She scratched Pip’s head as he snuggled next to her. Keeping the animal with them was ridiculous, but Kyran couldn’t deny her, the small creature made her smile. Hell, he better get used to having Pip around because he’d bet she would want to take him back to the Tehrex Realm.
“We are aboot halfway up the mountain so we will continue to the top.”
“What exactly are you looking for?” She retrieved her clothes and he watched her get dressed.
“After you fell asleep, I felt a buzz of familiar magic somewhere on the mountain, so I am going to see if I can find its origin.”
Her head snapped up and her short hair fell into her eyes which brimmed with anticipation. “Really? What kind of magic?”
“Doona get too excited. ‘Tis Fae magic and it feels like a portal, but I doona know it we can get through it. The Fae are a fickle bunch and no’ known to be helpful unless they benefit somehow and I have nothing to offer them. If we manage to obtain passage then we will have to maneuver the Fae realm to get to their portal to Seattle. Basically, ‘tis a long shot. I doubt that this will amount to anything.”
She shoved her small feet into her boots and sat with her hands on her knees. “Why can’t we catch a break, dammit? Oh well, at least it’s an option. Alright, let’s scale this mountain.” He loved how positive and determined this female remained. He couldn’t handle a weepy female.
The crawled out of the small cavern and he crossed to the hanging ivy, pulling it apart to check the position of the sun. It wasn’t fully dark, but was safe enough for him to travel. He turned around and glanced at Mackendra who was bent over brushing off her pants. She picked up her backpack and caught him undressing her with his eyes. He let his desire for her show in his eyes.
“If you keep looking at me like that we won’t be leaving this little cove of ours,” she assured him.
“You make it difficult to think of anything but fucking you. Next time I take you, you willna be able to walk afterwards,” he countered.
“Promises, promises,” she sang as she sauntered through the curtain of leaves. He swatted her ass as she walked past him and he followed behind, watching the subtle sway of her hips. She didn’t have a clue how sexy and alluring she was. They were in the middle of a jungle, she had no make-up on and her hair was a mess, but he’d never seen anything more beautiful. Most females clung to their superficial beauty and wouldn’t stand up to a stiff wind if you stripped it from them. And, then there was Mackendra. She had a spine of steel and a natural allure that was undeniable.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to his body. He didn’t dare kiss her or they really wouldn’t be leaving. He buried his nose in her hair and wrapped his arms around her waist before sifting twenty feet up the mountain.
“Warn a girl next time, would ya?”
“Where would the fun be in that? I love to see your face flushed.” He yanked on her hair and she snapped her teeth at him. He laughed as he scoped the area for his next jump. His heart felt lighter than he could remember. After Mackendra had fallen asleep, he had done as she’d suggested and forced himself to remember what life had been like before his parents had been killed.
His mamai was an upbeat happy person who would go about their castle singing. His favorite moments had been when he would pop into the twins’ room and lay next to his mamai while she sang them to sleep. It would have looked ridiculous to most humans at his age, but he was a young vampire who still needed his mamai. For the first time in centuries, there was a smile when he thought of her. Sure, the pain of her death was still there, but it helped to think about what she gave him.
His mamai gave him endless love and affection, something he hadn’t appreciated until he heard how his mate hadn’t ever received what he had taken for granted. Simple activities like cooking a meal or playing games together had been common occurrences in his house, but he would guess they were foreign to Mackendra. Joy and laughter had filled the halls of their castle.
His da had adored his mamai and they were often found in a passionate embrace. Never had he heard his da raise his voice at his mamai, not that she would have tolerated such behavior. He had forgotten all of the lessons his da had given him on mating and being a good mate, but all he needed to do was look to Zander to be reminded. Thankfully, his brother was a perfect example and Kyran was determined to also honor his parent’s memory.
He had allowed the demons to taint his memories and dictate his emotions and behavior. He was determined to reclaim his true heritage and forge a new path.
“Okay, you ready?” he asked her with a smile. Becoming part of the family at Zeum would give her everything she had missed out on in life. He just needed to get her home.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she smirked. He grabbed her ass and sifted before she could reprimand him.
He took them to the face of a cliff next, landing on a narrow strip of rock that was nearly free of trees and shrubs. His fearless firecracker yelped and clung to him. “Why the hell didn’t you take us to a bigger ledge?”
“You are no’ afraid of heights, are you?” he teased, keeping her close. The magic was stronger here. They were close.
“No,” she denied, peering over the edge while she clung to him for dear life.
“We are close. Be prepared that there will be a guardian for the portal. I feel the magic is within the mountain. Likely hidden in a cave.” He turned around and gazed at the mountain. He could feel the tremble in the earth and the heat of the volcano. He had never been so close to a volcano and he marveled at the power trapped beneath the earth. It was humbling to a creature such as him with his superior strength.
“Look, there. I think that’s a cave,” Mackendra said excitedly, pointing to their left. Thirty feet away from where they stood, there was a small opening, about six feet high and ten feet wide. He wasn’t able to tell if it was an entrance to a large cave system or if it ended one hundred yards in. A large leafy bush grew near one side of the entrance. Overall, it was unremarkable, but it was the best option they had at this point.
“Aye, ‘tis worth taking a closer look,” he responded, opening his senses further, searching for other beings near them. He wasn’t able to sense anything and proceeded with caution. He tried to take her hand and walk to the opening, but she refused to move. “Doona fash, Mackendra. I willna let anything happen to you,” he promised. Nothing would ever hurt her again.
“Easy for you to say. You’re a super-vamp and would survive a fall down a mountain,” she grumbled, scrunching her face as she looked over the ledge. Pip didn’t seem to like the heights either as he clung to Mackendra’s neck.
“Wow, I’ve gone from leech to super-vamp, you must really like me,” he winked at her. “And, you will survive a fall doon the mountain, too, lass. You continue to think as a human. Remember, you’re immortal now.” He picked her up and swung her up into his arms.
“Don’t get too cocky, you’ve only moved up a rung. It’s a long way to the top of the ladder. And, I can walk, you know,” she informed him with a tilt to her chin. He knew that look. She was pulling her bravery around her like a shroud. She didn’t want him to put her down, but she couldn’t admit her fear of heights.
“I know you can. You are the most capable warrior I’ve ever met,” he told her honestly. He carried her easily in his arms, loving the feel of her next to him. He didn’t even mind when her furry friend scampered to his shoulder.
“You bet your ass I am.” She looked at him and tried to keep a straight face, but burst out laughing. “Seriously though, what do you think we will face?” She had her weapon gripped in her hand and was ready to fight.
They had reached the entrance and he placed her to her feet, leaning in to whisper in her ear. He was pretty sure they were in the right place when the magic intensified. He was suddenly nervous about what they may encounter. “I doona know what we will face. It may or may not be Fae, but you saw how vicious they are. Be on guard,” he warned. He didn’t want to take her into a potentially dangerous situation and could be walking his mate into the path of an army, for all he knew. Loathe as he was to proceed, they had to go forward so they could get home.
He palmed his srads and ducked into the darkness. They entered what had appeared to be a small cave, but it suddenly opened up then sloped further down into the mountain. The heat intensified at they walked, reminding him they were inside a volcano. The moment they lost the little illumination the purple moon had provided, he felt Mackendra’s hand settle in his waist band.
Several tubes branched off from the main trail they followed, likely from previous eruptions. Darkness surrounded them while the scent of sulfur overwhelmed him.