Illam didn't bother to even explore outside. He parked the hovercraft outside, and as soon as he and Tera walked into the cottage, he sought out the bedroom. The bed had been made with fresh linens, and the cottage was clean and aired out, all thanks to the fast work of Tenia and Connie, the Reeka wives of two of the Daamens.
The cooler and cupboards were stocked with enough food to last a week at least. His and Tera's small supply of clothes had been put in the wardrobes.
"You did all this?” Tera looked around in awe.
"Yep.” He swung her up into his arms.
"You organized everything?"
"Yep.” He strode out of the kitchen, through the small living area and into the bedroom.
"You're amazing."
"Yep.” He dropped her unceremoniously onto the bed. “You're about to find out what's even more amazing."
"Hungry?” She grinned.
"I need a quick snack before settling into something a little more nourishing."
"Oh, well, can't let the feral get too hungry.” Standing up, she slid the thin straps of her gown off her shoulders and let it drop to the floor.
With a low growl, Illam ripped his shirt off.
She slid her panties down her legs and flicked them into the corner.
He toed his boots off and yanked his pants down, throwing them in the same corner.
With a wicked glint in her eyes, she turned, placed one sandaled foot on the bed, bent over slightly and seductively untied the ribbons holding her sandals up.
The warmth inside Illam exploded into full heat.
Giving him a wink over one shapely shoulder, she placed her bare foot onto the floor and lifted the other foot to the bed. Bending over again, she slid the ribbons free with a slithering sound of satin on satin, then tossed the other sandal to the floor.
By the time she turned and sat on the bed, leaning back on her elbows and crossing her legs to lazily swing one foot, giving him a totally hedonistic look over, he was as hard as a post.
"My, my,” she breathed huskily. “Are you sure the snack will be enough?"
"No,” he rasped. “It's now turned into the appetizer."
Those lush lips curved into a come hither smile. “Want a taste?"
Illam needed no second invitation. Within seconds he had his knees on the bed, his arm around her back, dragging her up the bed as he moved with hurried but determined moves.
Dropping her back onto the pillows, he framed her face with his hands, his fingertips brushing the little scar that showed at her hairline. A reminder of all he'd nearly lost.
The memory of Tera lying in the dust, bloodied and bruised, all for him, made the tenderness well up, his love for her quieting from his usual fierce, carnal need to a much gentler desire.
"I love you,” he whispered. “I know I've said it so many times, but I mean it. I've never loved anyone like I do you."
All teasing fled from her, and her face softened. “I'll never get tired of hearing you tell me, Illam."
"Good.” He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Because you're going to hear it often, makit."
Gently he rubbed the corner of his mouth across her jaw line before moving up to kiss her softly on the lips. Keeping his kisses butterfly soft, he moved down to her throat, flicking her pulse with the tip of his tongue as he went.
The hollow at the base of her throat he laved gently. Bracing his arms on either side of her, he moved lower still trailing his lips and the tip of his tongue across her skin.
Her breathing was coming faster, and she shifted slightly, her knees bending a little.
Nuzzling one pink nipple, he breathed in the heady scent of Tera—sweetly spice. The scent that was solely hers. The scent that drew him like a magnet to wherever she was at the time.
Normally he wanted to make love urgently, hard, glorying in the heat and sweat, the straining of their bodies and the uninhibitedness of their mutual joy.
For the first time ever, he wanted to take Tera gently, to worship her body and handle her as carefully as he would fragile china. And to Illam, she was almost fragile.
Life was fragile. Lying in the dust at the feet of the Canys, she'd been fragile. The thought of how close he'd to losing her...
Illam did the only thing he could to show Tera how precious she was to him.
Every lick, every stroke of his tongue, every caress of his fingers was light. Every slow suck was calculated to make her moan, every tender nibbling of her silky skin aimed at making her gasp his name.
She reached for him, but he took her wrists in one careful grip, holding her prisoner as he moved further down, dipping his tongue into her bellybutton, scraping his teeth lightly across her abdomen.
Feeling her muscles jerk beneath his touch, he smiled to himself. No matter how tender he was with her, she was naturally sensual, reacting to every touch and caress with pure pleasure. His Argon female was every bit as epicurean as any Felys female.
Rubbing the corner of his mouth across her abdomen, he moved lower, the width of his shoulders making her involuntarily spread her thighs wider. He felt her legs shift, and knew by her sudden openness that she'd bent her knees right up.
Her utterly decadent of you, Tera. Mrowr!
Glancing up the length of her body he saw that she had her head titled back in the pillows, her lush lips slightly parted as she panted lightly, trying to control her breathing.
Smiling to himself, he dragged his chin through the curls atop her mound, then slid his tongue right from the very top of her opening, straight between her sensitive labia folds and unerringly rasped across her clitoris.
Stiffening Tera let out a soft moan.
Her pleasure was the only thing Illam wanted right then. To give her pleasure, and watch her come apart.
Gently he sucked on the little bud, feeling it harden, knowing he was driving her higher toward that pinnacle. When she started to tremble beneath his hands, he slid his tongue down lower, skimming over her moist opening, stopping only to lightly trace around the entrance to her body before pressing the tip of his tongue firmly against her perineum.
"Illam,” his name was panted out, and when he placed his palm on her stomach, he felt her heaving breaths.
She was writhing on the bed, his arm across one of her thighs, and his hand on her stomach, the only thing holding her in place for his exquisite torture.
Pushing her higher, he trailed the tip of his tongue back and forth over her perineum.
"Illam,” she cried out. “I can't ... I can't ... please!"
Licking her slowly, applying pressure, Illam glanced up to see her fingers twisted into the sheet ether side of her. Her throat was arched, her head pressed back into the pillow, and little tremors shivered through her.
She was close.
In one deliberate move, he stabbed his tongue into her.
She shattered, and he had to hold her hips to the bed as she climaxed. She cried his name out, and it was music to his ears.
He'd done this. His loving had made her shatter, and even as she flew apart in a mindless explosion of intense emotion and feeling, part of her knew he was with her, that he'd done it. That he'd sent her out into that almost violent but totally carnally charged space.
Several times he stroked her vagina with his tongue before pulling out and allowing her to ride through the waves on her own.
Slowly he crawled back up the length of her body, taking pleasure in the way she writhed against him, her hips pushing up into him as though recognizing him as the male to her female.
Balancing on his elbows, he cupped her cheeks and covered her mouth with his, swallowing her cries and moans, purring loudly as her orgasmic shudders made her rub against him.
Her skin was hot, silky, but her mouth was a sweet honeyed cavern, and even as he swallowed her moans, he tasted her.
Sweet spice. Tera.
His staff was aching now, the writhing of her abdomen against the head of his penis making it throb. Sliding into
her made him growl with pleasure, and he kept kissing her, rocking his hips against her.
Her sheath was tight, still quivering from her climax, and the muscles clenched at him. Lifting his head, he growled softly, feeling the lust building inside him.
The feel of her arms sliding around his neck brought him back to his first determination to see to her pleasure. Looking down, he met her dreamy eyes.
"Illam,” was all she said, but it held such a wealth of meaning, he could have wept.
He wanted this moment to last forever, joined with her, the clarity of her gaze as it locked with his own, the love that was between them. He kept his strokes smooth, his caresses gentle, showing her just how much he cherished her.
The heat built between them, but it was a sweet heat. She lifted her hips in time to his thrusts, falling into a perfect rhythm with him.
Tangling her fingers into his hair, she pulled him back down for a kiss, and this time it was she who entered his mouth, who tasted him, leaving her flavor in his mouth.
His heart was starting to pound, his staff so engorged and stiff, and his sac pulled up tight. He knew he couldn't last much longer, he could feel the pure carnal pleasure rising, making him want to thrust harder. To push her higher with him. To bring them over the top together.
To have pleasure in her body.
Slipping one hand beneath her hips, he titled her up, his strokes coming harder, faster. Like molten lava, his blood felt hot and thick, the spreading heat filling him.
Her scent filled his lungs with every ragged breath he took.
When her legs suddenly lifted to wrap around his waist, opening her up so much, he slid deeper, and the flames of desire licked away the last of his control.
Pumping his hips, he strove to that same pinnacle that had beckoned to her not so long ago. Dimly he heard her moan, heard his name on her lips. Then he felt her moist mouth close over the pulse in his throat, her tongue rasping across it, the moist heat of her mouth against his skin.
This time it was he who snarled out her name. Hips pumping faster still, he felt the muscles of her sheath tighten around him, felt them quiver, and then they were clamping as she climaxed again.
The sudden pressure on his staff made him cry out hoarsely. He didn't feel the nodule come from the under the tip of his penis, but he heard her startled cry, then her moan of pure ecstasy as the nodule bumped across her erogenous zone.
By the time Illam climaxed, his seed spilling deep inside Tera, her legs were locked around his waist, her vaginal muscles milking his staff, forcing him to pour every drop of seed deep into her as they both reached the height of the orgasm and tipped over the edge together. They held each other tight as they spun into the vortex of shattering pleasure.
They were still holding each other as they finally drifted back down to reality, but it was awhile before they could even move.
That didn't bother Illam. With his head resting in the crook of Tera's neck, he was more than happy to simply breathe in her scent and drift along in the aftermath of their passionate storm.
It was Tera's gentle hand running through his hair that finally made him lift his head to look down at her.
She smiled lazily at him, her cheeks flushed faintly, her soft lips red and slightly swollen from his kisses. “Enjoy yourself, lover?"
Propping himself up on his elbows to ease some of his weight off her, Illam regarded her with satiated amusement. “You certainly look like you did."
"Mmm.” Reaching up, she traced the line of his jaw with her thumb. “It was amazing."
"I'm glad it meets with your approval.” He nipped her thumb.
"So can I ask something?"
"Certainly."
"I've never known you to be so gentle to start with...” Hesitating, it was obvious she wasn't sure how to continue.
"I cherish you, Tera. I wanted to be gentle. To let you feel how much I love you."
"Ah, Illam.” Coming up onto her own elbows, she kissed him gently on the lips. “I know you love me. You don't have to prove anything to me."
"I know.” He rubbed his nose lightly against hers then rested his forehead against hers. “It was just something I wanted to do."
"And it was amazing.” An answering tenderness shone in her eyes. “I thank you for it."
He grinned a little. “You know, makit, I can't promise to be gentle all the time."
"I'd be shocked if you did. I love the gentleness you've shown, Illam. But I love your wildness, too. Whatever you give me is a gift I cherish.” She kissed him softly. “Just as I cherish you right back."
Slipping his arms around her, Illam rolled onto his side and cradled her close. More than content to snuggle, Tera cuddled against him.
The midday sun shone outside, the day flyers went busily about their business, and for Illam, lying in bed with his mate in his arms, nothing could be more perfect.
Of course, they still had to face some irate relations of both his and Tera's. But hell, he'd managed to capture the beautiful Argon healer's heart and that was his main concern.
He grinned.
"What's so amusing?” Tera asked.
"Just thinking of the relations."
"Don't worry. I'm sure you can sort them out."
"Me?” He looked down at her. “What about you?"
"Oh no, husband. You're the man of the house."
"Since when did that happen?"
"Whenever it suits me.” Her eyes twinkled.
"You're a bossy little female,” he growled.
"Get used to it, my hot fur-ball."
"Those're fighting words, Argon."
"Ooohh, nothing I like more than proving a point to a horny Felys."
"You've yet to prove it."
"I bet I can get you to do whatever I want."
"Is that right?” Arching one brow arrogantly, he silently dared her.
Her lips curved in a smug smile. “Yeah, Felys, that's right. You see, you had the dessert way back at the Felys settlement, remember? It was supposed to be,” she licked her lips, “A snack."
He knew immediately what she meant. When he'd bent her over the kitchen table. Illam licked his own lips, feeling his manhood start to perk up.
"Ah, I see you do remember.” Wrapping her hand around his staff, Tera said conversationally, “I do recall that I promised to make you my main meal."
Hoo Delcat! Illam's breath quickened. “You know, I do recall that."
"I believe I said something along the lines of “I'm going to eat you. I'm going to suck you dry."
Illam's staff swelled in her hand, and he sucked in a breath. His voice was a low growl. “I hope you mean to keep your promise, makit."
"Well, that all depends."
"On what?"
"On me being the boss in this bed for the next hour or two."
Rolling onto his back, Illam flung his arms out to the side. “Whatever you say, boss."
"You're such a con artist, you sly Felys!"
"Only with you, makit.” He winked. “Only with you."
His howl of pure ecstasy ten minutes later made the day flyers scatter from the bushes outside the cottage. His following yowl ten minutes after that had them nervously hopping away. His snarling and growling not long after that had them simply cocking their heads at the door.
Tera's cry of surprise and then her giggling protests didn't even faze them.
When the shower of petals shook down from a nearby tree, then swirled around and finally soared into the sky, they simply stared.
Finally, when all that came from the cottage were soft murmurs and sounds of contentment, the petals drifted down from the sky, falling in a light shower to spread across the ground around the cottage.
And the clearing was filled with peace.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The story of the death of Breton and Vetna, and the capture of Sabra by pirates, is told in Soul of a Hunter. Lysie and Marten's story can be found in Love's Bewitching Thief, and Kiile and Katin
a's story is told in Love's Sweet Assassin.
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The colors of the Felys and Lypeople are true colors available in a lot of pedigree cats today. Lilacs, blues, creams, reds, different color points ... they're all there. I've just taken the liberty of mixing some of the colors that wouldn't normally be mixed.
The mating of cats can be quite fierce to watch, and a female (known as a Queen) who has just been mated with a male (a Tom) can be quite ferocious, and the male is usually quick to jump away to avoid her claws after mating.
A Tom cat has barbs on his penis and it is generally believed to cause the Queen some discomfort, as she yowls and attacks the male when he withdraws from her. It is also believed to assist the Queen to ovulate.
So saying, I didn't want my characters to have that discomfort, so I changed a few things to suit the story, such as the pleasure-giving nodule on the end of the male Felys’ penis. That's the great thing about being in charge of my worlds—I can do whatever I want *laugh*
Cats have scent glands in their mouths and when they rub their mouths against you, they are ‘scenting’ you, putting their scent on your skin. You won't smell it, but watch another cat sniff your skin!
Kittens are born in individual “sacs", which generally break at birth. The mother licking the kitten's face clears the sac from it's face, and continued licking stimulates the breathing.
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In the dog community, an Alpha is boss of a pack. There is a pecking order in a pack, and submission is shown by a dog rolling onto its back, making it vulnerable to another dog. I didn't want my Canys species to do the same, so instead I opted to have them cringe or whine, as well as lower their head and peer up out of the tops of their eyes, to show their submission to their Alpha, which is also done in the canine world.
Dogs have a pack instinct and when hunting will usually do so in a pack. When wild and even domestic dogs get loose on a farm and attack livestock, they will do so with two or more dogs. Pack instinct survives even in domesticated dogs today.
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I have tried to keep the Canys and Felys characteristics as close as possible to those of the canine and felines (that I love so much. Meow!) Much of what I know I have gained through years of having pet cats, breeding pedigree Siamese and Balinese cats, and being involved in animal welfare.
Love's Beguiling Healer Page 47