by Myra Nour
For several days following the holding of hands, Raynor instructed her to concentrate on his being, meaning his breathing and heartbeat. She was to synchronize her body rhythms with his. It seemed an impossible order, but she tried, getting very frustrated the first day. But, by the end of the third day, it was as if his heartbeat was her own and his breath flowed into her, even though they were two different beings.
When this connection happened, it was sudden, and her whole body vibrated with little sharp tickles, as if tiny hands were running up and down on the inside of her nerves. “Oh,” she breathed out in a slight sigh.
“Open your eyes,” he ordered gently.
She did, astounded by the colors surrounding his body, and glancing down, saw the soft red, blue, purple, and yellow, also flowed gently around her. His stare pulled at her like a physical action, and when she locked with his golden orbs, it did become a physical reaction. It was a scary, disorientating sensation—like she was pulled outside her body and into his. Her mind was crawling around the fringes of his; she could see herself through his eyes, feel how soft her skin was when he touched her.
It was too much, this spiraling, out of control feeling of being blended with another person. Briana physically jerked her body backwards and the contact broke.
Chapter Eighteen
“I’m sorry.”
He smoothed the hair at her brow. “Don’t worry, you did wonderful. When we can maintain the contact, then we’ll be bonded.”
“I’m frightened. This…thing, it’s beyond anything I’ve ever known.”
“Of course it is. You told me your parents died when you were ten, so you never had anyone explain or teach your heritage to you.”
Anger shot through her when he mentioned her parents. She loved them dearly, but wished they had told her of her people. Right then, though, she couldn’t think about them, she had to keep a clear head and listen to Raynor’s words. Changing the subject, she asked, “Why are we ‘mated’?”
“Mating is difficult to understand…it’s rather mysterious. Two shapeshifters are linked psychically. No one, not even the elders understand how this process works. But, when a shifter begins to sense his mate’s essence, the male sends a call to her in her dreams.”
“Do the women feel the men as well?”
He shook his head no. “Not until the male begins to send to her.”
“What if a male doesn’t find his mate?”
“It has happened…it is a sad thing.” He pointed a finger to his chest. “I’m fifty years old, so I was without a shifter mate for a long time until I sensed your presence.”
“Fifty!”
“Remember, we live to around two hundred, so I’m still in my prime.”
Briana blushed. “I didn’t mean.” She halted her lame statement; saying it made it sound worse. Instead, she asked, “What if I hadn’t come along?”
He shrugged. “If a mate is never found, a shifter can choose a human partner, or they can choose to jump.” His expression was rock serious and she got the impression he wouldn’t have liked to consider such an alternative.
“Does that work, between a shifter and human?”
“It has, although a shifter always prefers a Reeshon mate whenever possible. If they marry a human, they must be very careful to never shift in front of them.”
“Even if the human is trustworthy?”
“The danger is too great. Such acts are highly discouraged.”
“What did you mean by a shifter jumping if they find no mate?”
“That the shifter can choose a century they really like and jump in the hope they can find a mate there. But, if they don’t, they can’t return.”
“How sad.” To think, a shifter might live several hundred years and never find their true mate. It was too horrible to contemplate. Now as she looked back, she understood her deep loneliness through the years and dissatisfaction with every human male she’d dated.
“Of course, even if they find a shifter, say in the Medieval era, they can’t jump back to the future with their mate anyway.” At her curious look, he continued, “You can only jump into the past. A mate from the past has not been born, so she or he couldn’t jump forward.”
“But they could jump into the past together?”
“No,” he shook his head. “The shifter from the future would be ‘known’ by the elders from his or her time frame. His essence would be unrecognizable to the elders of the past.” Noticing her confusion, he explained, “When we bond to gain the elders’ attention, it’s like we’re dialing up a phone number. If the elders recognize the caller, then they answer.”
“Caller ID!” She laughed.
“You could call it that.” His wry grin was hard to resist, but she wanted to understand, so chose to ignore his silly pun.
“But how does this recognition work?”
“Shifters bring their children to meet the elders; they imprint on them, so they can be recognized.”
“But I wasn’t brought to the elders?”
“No.” He smiled at her happily. “Luckily for you and me, the elders were able to pick up your essence from your presence in the cave; they drew it in immediately and it imprinted on them.”
“This is pretty hard information to absorb.” She knit her brow in thought. “So,” she mused, “if a shifter jumps into the past to look for a mate, they better be darn sure they wouldn’t mind living out their life in that time.” Staring into the fire, she said, “But what if they found a shifter from the future, who had jumped looking for a mate as well?”
“Then, they could jump back into the twenty-first century if they wished.”
Giving him a slight smile, she said, “I’ve got a lot to learn.”
“And you can, once we jump back. Of course, you’ll be in a classroom with shifter children.”
“Thanks,” she said with a wry humor. “Just what I want, to go back to school.”
They spent the rest of the evening getting to know each other better. Raynor shared details about his job, friends, and hobbies. Phoenix was his hometown and she loved hearing about its highpoints, while he enjoyed her stories of living in a big southern city. Now she understood why she’d perceived his call as very distant—they lived so far apart, and why she heard him clearer when she came on vacation.
Later, in bed, Briana thought about their conversations that day and realized several important facts. She really liked Raynor. They seemed to have many things in common, more than she had shared with Mark. Even their views on politics, the environment, and child-rearing were similar. It seemed like she’d known him for years; his newfound friendship was comfortable.
The mating call could be responsible for that she guessed. He’d been “talking” to her in her dreams for years. But then again, maybe it was a mixture of dream calling and the psychic mating. She didn’t know exactly what it was, but Raynor seemed more suited to her needs and desires as a potential husband then anyone she’d ever dated. In the physical realm, he had no equal in looks in her eyes. And his sexual experience was superior, while the sizzle between them was explosive. Maybe, she wondered to herself, her feelings could be summed up as love? But since she’d never been in love before, she just wasn’t sure.
* * * * *
The next day, he suggested they try making love while tuning in to each other and see if they could maintain the special bonding during the excitement phase.
Raynor was a tender lover, stroking her body with circular caresses that drove her crazy with their erotic intensity. His calloused hands grazing down her sensitive flesh evoked quivers of anticipation. He didn’t concentrate just on her breasts, as some of her lovers in the past had done, but gave every inch of her skin attention.
Long strokes passed down her side, over her hips and down her legs. A massage to her feet relaxed her even further, and then his caresses slowly traveled up her legs, gently circling her upper thighs, until she thought the fur throw would be soaked with her response. Each ti
me her excitement reached a fevered pitch, he would pause and gaze hypnotically into her eyes, reconnecting with her.
Next, his hands were replaced with his warm, wet tongue, laving her flesh from neck to belly button in a snail pace that made her want to grab his hair and shove him to the place that ached for his attention. When his head finally traveled down to her curls and his tongue dipped several times into her lips, flicking her clit into a wet, aching maelstrom, she discerned the snakewoman emerging. She could almost smell her excitement, and groaned in frustration. Briana tried mightily to reconnect with Raynor, to no avail. Her limbs trembled violently while she slipped into a fugue state. Their session ended in a wild frenzy, as usual once that creature appeared.
* * * * *
“I’m sorry,” she said later, when she lay snuggled in his arms.
Kissing the top of her head, Raynor said, “You did very well, actually. It takes time.”
“How much time?”
“You’re asking me something I don’t know, my love. I’ve never had a shifter mate before.”
Turning to peer up at him, she smiled into his handsome face. “I’m glad.”
The rest of the day they spent exploring the woods around the cottage, something they both enjoyed immensely.
Later, Raynor grabbed his homemade fishing pole and they tried their luck in the stream. Briana had never fished before and found it more fun than she would have guessed, except for putting the bait on. Her partner laughingly slid the fat grubs they’d dug from beneath a log, onto the hook with teasing protests.
* * * * *
The following day, they were ready to try making love again. This time though, Raynor suggested they meditate first, which they did. By the time they got ready to try, she was fully relaxed. They faced each other across the fur throw while a bright fire kept them warm.
Raynor’s hands stroked up one arm, all the way up to her face. She knew without opening her eyes that his were still closed, that he caressed her by touch only. She also knew he wanted her to follow his lead, which she did, letting her hands find the planes of his face. Exploring gently, she memorized its features with her fingertips. When she reached his lips, she lingered over his lower lip.
The next instant he sucked in softly, drawing one finger into his warm, wet mouth. She shivered. The experience was delicious, sinful. While he worked on her finger, his hand came up and stroked her lips. Reciprocating, she drew his wandering forefinger into her mouth. She both felt his responding shiver and sensed it in her own body. They were connecting again, except this time the sensations were far more intense.
Briana lost track of time, but it seemed they explored each other’s bodies, fully-clothed, for hours. She knew the texture of his ridged muscles beneath the wool, the curliness of his leg hairs underneath his hose, and the rock-hard penis which met her curious hand when she rubbed the tunic that covered it.
Raynor had tracked his hands over her whole body as well, touching her curves beneath the silk. By the time he gently turned her so he could unlace the dress, she was breathing heavy, as was he. They made the ritual of undressing as slow and erotic as the mutual exploration of each other’s bodies. Raynor’s hands grazed her flesh in every part that was exposed, as he slid the sleeves down her arms. Following his lead, she did the same as she helped him with the tunic. Adding her own playfulness, she smoothed her hands in gentle strokes over his hard chest and tweaked each nipple. The muscles that tightened in his abs told her the caresses were turning him on.
She stood briefly so he could slide the dress down. This time he kissed each piece of skin that was exposed by the fabric’s earthward journey. Her nipples had pebbled and her pussy had become quite wet by the time he finished.
She knelt as he stood and helped him off with his leggings. His penis kept nudging her head as she worked the hose. Rubbing one cheek, then her lips against his cock’s silken strength, she was gratified with the groan that escaped him.
“Briana.” His words caught, and he rubbed his hand through her hair.
Moving down his muscular thighs, she placed kisses and tiny nibbles along his skin as she uncovered it. His breathing was heavy.
When completely nude, Briana stretched on the fur throw, rubbing her whole body back and forth, pushing into the luxurious pile. Their eyes were opened by now and she saw Raynor’s golden eyes latch onto her thrusting breasts when her back arched. For once, shyness stayed at bay and she gave him back a bold look, going over his magnificent body with eyes as hot as his own.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered softly, running one hand down her side.
“And you.” His grin told her he didn’t think men were beautiful, but he didn’t refute her statement.
Raynor leaned over her, gave her tiny kisses all over her face, finally settling on her mouth. By this time she was aching to suckle his lips and tongue. They were so delicious, these shifter kisses and the instruments that delivered them.
His free hand came into play, caressing her body up and down, while she ran hers along his muscular torso. She was overcome with excitement so deep she could barely stand it. She wanted him inside her right this minute, pounding her brains out, but at the same time, she wanted this special time to last. So, instead, she concentrated on the kissing and tried to ignore her erotically pumping senses. She groaned into his mouth and soft sighs of “oh” escaped her every few seconds.
When he moved to her breasts, she trembled in reaction and pushed his head down into her soft flesh. Suddenly, she wanted even more intensity. In response, Raynor squeezed her tender flesh with firmer strokes, and his tongue and teeth applied more pressure. Arching her back, she encouraged this hard assault.
When he moved down her body, he stopped just above her mons and looked up at her. “Do I dare?”
“Yes,” she answered breathlessly. She still had control, still felt as one with him.
His face dipped into her cleft, his tongue following, and Briana did think for a few seconds she was going to lose control of her human side. But biting her lower lip while her lower body went mad with sensation, she was determined to hold on this time. His tongue was so soft, so wet and warm. It was a deliciously sinful feeling. Her clit throbbed, but as yet, he slipped around it, wetting her folds and even dipping his tongue into her vagina. He was driving her crazy.
“Mmm, your tongue feels so good,” she panted.
Swirling, long strokes, licks, and sucking motions erupted from his tongue and lips, centered this time on her clit. She ground her head against the soft fur in reaction. Her legs trembled and her belly clenched. Abruptly, a huge orgasm gripped her and Raynor held onto her hips while she bucked wildly, riding it out for long seconds of endless, ecstatic pleasure. Briana screamed at the peak, and then flopped weakly onto the fur throw, her body totally spent.
“What did you do to me?” she asked in a panting voice.
Raynor positioned himself above her, leaned down and placed a tender kiss to her lips. “Gave you pleasure…human pleasure.”
She watched while he settled between her thighs, his penis poised at her entrance. Then he barely pushed it inside, withdrew, and repeated this action for at least a full minute. She wouldn’t have believed such a small movement could drive her up the wall, but it did. He was teasing her and she was loving it.
Firmly, he shoved into her with one long stroke and she moaned aloud at the swift switch in tactic. She ran her hands through his hair and tightened her grip against his scalp. He descended, catching her in a steamy kiss and she latched onto his lips as if for sustenance. And he was food for her…she needed him right now, more than she’d ever craved food.
He filled her with his large penis, her body with his shifter essence, and her mind with the bonding that connected them. Glimmers of his feelings shot through her own sensual haze at times, causing their lovemaking to be confusing sometimes, but nothing short of mind-blowing in eroticism. His hardness pumped into her, and her own wet softness invaded her sen
ses, as if she were in Raynor’s mind. She felt the downy delicateness of her flesh when he stroked it, while her own hands stroked the ridged muscles of his frame.
It was too much and it was not enough at the same time. Her whole body clenched when her vagina gripped his penis with her second big climax. She frantically sucked on his tongue, seeking to draw every drop of sensation she could from contact with him. When her orgasm ripped through her body, colors swirled in her mind, danced through her brain cells and along her nerve endings at the same time. Her breath merged with Raynor’s and his orgasm became her own. She screamed loudly when her mate threw back his head and let loose with a manly bellow of his own.
* * * * *
Afterwards, Raynor cuddled her in his arms. “We did it,” she said softly.
Kissing the top of her head, he said. “Yes, we did.”
“When can we go back home?”
“Anytime you wish.”
Briana sighed happily. “Just not today.” She covered a yawn.
“How about tomorrow?”
“Sounds perfect.” Her voice petered out as she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Nineteen
“Are you ready to jump?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she answered nervously.
It had taken more than a few minutes to locate the large boulder Briana had sat on after she first walked through the portal. But it took less time to find the area between the two large oaks, where the portal opening was situated.
“Hold my hand.” He stuck out his and she grasped it firmly, sweating nervously. “Remember what I taught you.”
She closed her eyes and concentrated on Raynor’s essence: his heartbeat, breathing, and the chemical connection she perceived with every particle of her being. Their breathing and heart rate synchronized until she was aware of the barest brush of his thoughts against her mind.