by Honor James
“And since these vines wrap around your biceps several times…” She winced. “That had to have hurt,” she whispered and stroked her fingers over the vines. “There are thorns as well, how interesting,” she murmured and leaned in, her lips brushed over the vines on his arms as she did so.
“Careful,” he said, watching her. “The thorns hold it all onto my arm, locking it in place. The more thorns and more times around it goes the higher the ranking of the person,” he told her as she continued to touch the vines. “They are also incredibly sensitive.” It felt like they were attached directly to his groin.
“Then you are very high ranking, aren’t you?” she asked and licked around one of the thorns and vines as she did so, grinning when his cock twitched. “I know you are one of Kat’s personal guards, right?” she asked and continued to tease his arm. “So that means you are very protective. I like that about you.”
“I am one of the Royal High Guards, the elite rank,” he murmured, fisting a hand in the sheets as she toyed with his rank markings. It was like she had a string attached to his cock. It was twitching in time with her licks and nibbles. “There is no rank higher in any of the Guards,” he moaned.
“And you are mine,” Rimi said with a smile. “Do you know how much that turns me on? Knowing that you are mine. I don’t care about rank or any of that. I care about you Lee and only you. God I love you, Lee, so very much.”
He tightened his grip on the sheets. “And if you don’t want me coming right now you really need to stop toying with the markings. They are bloody sensitive, female,” he growled out, fighting for some sort of control. He used to have it by the gallon, and yet she touched him once and it was gone like the wind.
She pulled away to look down at him with a huge grin. “You are amazing, Lee.” Lying down at his side, she reached out and touched his chest again. “I want to make love with you. How about you come over here and kiss me again? I promise I will leave the markings alone, darling.”
Rolling up onto an arm, he leaned over her to kiss her, knowing she wouldn’t leave the markings be. She would touch them again and get them both into serious trouble. Sucking on her lip, he slid his fingers along her wet pussy and pressed a finger into her. “So wet,” he murmured, slipping a second finger in to stroke and stretch her.
“Because I’m here with you. I’m so wet because I have you,” she whispered and moved against his hand. “God you feel so good,” she murmured. “I really and truly do believe that you should give me more.” She wanted him inside of her, not just his finger.
Sliding his hand away, he teased her clitoris as he shifted over her. Gripping his cock, he rubbed the head through her silky wetness before pressing it into her body. Moving her legs, he spread her wide and slowly pushed into her body. She was tight, tiny even, her muscles clenching, releasing and sucking him in deeper before clenching again. The sensations were killing him as he pushed his cock into her sweet, silky pussy.
Looking up and into his eyes, Rimi accepted him. She accepted not just his body, but every part of him. Soft hands moved over his shoulders. Nails raked skin. “Lee.” His name came as a whispered plea when she arched up and into him. It was a desperate desire to become one with him, not just of body but of mind and soul as well. “Please.” It was a plea that she gave him, one of want and of need. One of hope for their future.
“I am right here,” he promised. Every muscle was tense as he slowly pushed deeper into her tight, hot sheath. Every ounce of concentration was equally divided between ensuring he didn’t hurt her and not coming like a fuzz-faced youth his first time. Lifting one of her legs over his arm to his shoulder, he spread her wider and slipped in deeper as her body relaxed, her mind shocked and distracted for a moment. One more push and he was seated deep inside, her sheath a hot wrap around his throbbing cock and her ass a lush place for his tight balls to rest against.
Rimi cried out at the invasion and shuddered. It was perfect. It felt so right to have him there inside of her like it was. She felt something odd, something she had never felt before. It felt as if there was a silvery rope wrapping around her heart and soul to tug her closer to him. Whimpering, she turned her head to the side and watched the vines in his arms in amazement. They had unwrapped from him and were wrapping around her. Sobbing out, she heard herself screaming in blinding orgasm.
Shuddering in orgasm as he felt their souls binding together, a reaction to her own, Laighean collapsed over her, careful not to move. The vines from his arm were returning to him but had left a seed of something with her. Watching, he could see the first formation of a vine, softer, less harsh, and much more delicate and feminine forming around her arm. It matched his own but was all hers, interesting. Sucking air, he brushed a kiss to her cheek and closed his eyes. She was his for all time.
Chapter Seven
Waking up some time later, Rimi felt completely at peace, relaxed fully, and happier than she could ever recall being. Rubbing her cheek along Lee’s shoulder, she breathed in the earthy scents that were all his. “Good morning.” Evening, night, whatever it was. “Goodness gravy, that was the single most amazing thing ever, what we shared,” she whispered sleepily, happily.
Lifting his head, he felt the tug of her hair catching on his stubble and made a mental note to shave later. “You are amazing,” he murmured quietly, stroking her arm lightly, the one that bore the fine vines with little flowers sprouting. “Does this hurt?” he asked, running his finger along the vine gently. He couldn’t see any thorns, like his, but it didn’t mean she didn’t feel pain from however it was holding onto her flesh.
“No, not really,” she admitted but felt her whole body go into flames when he ran his finger along the vine that had begun on her arm. She was panting when she whispered, “Oh God, that feels so amazing.” It was as if he were stroking her clit with his fingers instead of her arm. “Please, do it again,” she begged. She wasn’t too proud to beg, and that was for darn sure, not where her Lee was concerned.
Lifting his head, Laighean watched her as he lightly ran his finger over the vine again. Her entire body flushed, her hips moved restlessly and…Smiling slightly, he understood. Hers affected her just as his had him. Interesting little piece of information. Scraping his nail carefully to the vine, he chuckled at her choked moan.
Rimi’s leg lifted and wrapped around his hip, pulling him closer as she did so. “Laighean.” She breathed his name out in a reverent sigh, a moan of need actually. “That feels so very, very good. Please, I need you,” she begged. “Especially when you do that. God, you are killing me here, my love.”
Rolling over her, Laighean slid into her slick body and thrust, his fingers still lightly brushing over the vines. Thrusting, he leaned his head down to nip at her arm and the vine with his teeth carefully.
She screamed. She couldn’t have helped it if she had tried. Her hands closed over his arms, her fingers lightly and lovingly tracing over the vine on his arms in return for the teasing that he was doing to her with his mouth.
Thrusting harder and faster, he nipped again and growled softly when her body clenched around him, her nails digging deeper into his arms. Lifting his head, Laighean kissed her hard and fast, his body slamming into hers with sheer desperation driving him. He had to have her, had to feel her come, and needed to spill into her over and over.
Rimi wasn’t going to last, not with the way that he was pounding into her body. She cried out, tugged him tighter with her legs and arms, and held him close. “Now.” It was a demand. She had to come, needed to come, and she needed him to be right there with her. “Please. Come with me.” She begged and stroked the vines on his arms, her mouth brushing against his collarbone as she did so.
Burying his face in her neck, he gave her what she wanted and let loose. Coming hard, he pressed her down into the bedding and held her tight as he yelled her name. Shaking, he collapsed over her and panted for air, holy mother of the Gods.
She was sure that there was a short circuit
in her brain from the orgasm that she had. Gasping for air, she simply held onto Laighean and smiled. That was utterly and completely amazing. I have never, ever before had such pleasure. Their bonding had been pleasurable beyond measure but so too had this. “Goodness,” the word panted out, breathed more than anything really.
Nuzzling at her throat, he smiled slightly. You are an extraordinary surprise and pleasure, my little bond-mate. So special and unique, all mine, he whispered in her mind. Eventually they would have to get up. You need food and Katherine is likely getting impatient to have time with her friend. Not good pissing off a Queen. They tend to be rather spiteful and vindictive.
“Katherine would never be either spiteful or vindictive. Besides”—Rimi shrugged—“I’m sure that she likely knows that we are bonding, and since she did it with three men she understands just how demanding that bond-mates can be.” She teased Lee, “Or she’s not made it out of her bed yet because of her bond-mates. Either way I’m perfectly happy to be here with you.”
“I’m sure she’s up already. She tends to get up early to ensure the guests are all looked after and comfortable. She has three here at the moment, and I know her males had a meeting for an upcoming mission to get to early this morning,” he murmured. Stroking his fingers over her arm, he avoided the vines just because he didn’t want her thinking he was insatiable. Even though he was.
“Shoot, I forgot all about her having guests.” This was Katherine’s baby, having this place open to cancer survivors and their families. This was a place to heal. This was a place to say good-bye as well. “All right, love, let’s get up and moving then.” She reached up and touched his cheek as she spoke softly.
“Are you all right?” he asked in concern, now frowning slightly at her. She had been so happy and now she seemed saddened. “What’s wrong, Rimi?” he murmured, catching her hand to press a kiss to her palm.
“Nothing, just thinking of how weird this is. I feel like I have known you all my life. We have shared dreams for as long as I can remember, but I’ve truly only just met you. I honestly normally don’t sleep with men when I first meet them, believe it or not.” Yet she had with him, and she had given him her heart, told him she loved him, and truly did love him.
“We’re bond-mates, little one. It makes things a little different,” he said, watching her carefully. “Are you regretting it?” He had to know the answer to that. He really was hoping that she didn’t, but if she did, they would deal with it however they had to. She was his. He was hers. They were bonded, and mates always took care of each other.
“No, oh God no, I don’t regret anything with you, Lee,” Rimi assured him quickly. “God, I love you so very much that it truly does scare the bejesus out of me. I want you in my life, need you in my life, and never want to give you up,” she admitted to him. “We are meant to be forever, my love, I know that. It’s just so strange to know that we did this with just barely having met.”
“Some are lucky and find each other quickly,” he murmured softly. “Others are not so lucky and meet, but the recognition doesn’t occur instantly, so they end up walking away. Then they meet again later, or not at all. I’m all for instant recognition”—or a kick in the ass—“instead of living without you for the rest of my life.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Rimi sighed happily. “I dreamed of you for so long that meeting you finally was like lightning,” she admitted. “Now then, we just need to make sure that Katherine knows about the two of us so that she won’t be too bitchy about me moving out of that room and here with you. If you want me, that is.”
“Of course I want you.” He frowned at her. “Not just because you are my bond-mate either, Rimi,” he murmured, stroking a finger over her cheek. “But because you are you.” Laighean smiled slightly. “You are amazing, love, perfect, and more than even I could have dreamed of.” Their shared dreams had been one thing, but having her there in person was a million times better.
Leaning into him, she sighed happily. “Good. I’m glad that you are happy with me, because I’m happy with you.” She winked at him and pulled back. “All right. Let’s go and find us some food and find Katherine so that she knows that I’m moving in here with you.”
Pressing a kiss to her lips, he threw the blankets back and rolled from the bed. Stretching slowly, he eased the sore muscles. Too much training along with an active night of sex had him aching a little. Turning, he looked at her. “Coming?” he asked, holding out his hand to her.
Rimi slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze. Goodness gracious, her whole body ached, but it was such a wonderful ache. “Lord, I don’t recall lovemaking ever feeling so good.” It was such a delicious soreness that she had that she wanted to wake that way often.
“We may have gotten a little carried away,” he murmured with a smug grin. He couldn’t help it. He liked the fact she was feeling their session of loving. That she didn’t hurt was a plus and made him want to run around crowing. That wouldn’t go well, so he didn’t, but he still wanted to. “Come on, love, we need to clean up, get dressed, and then go and find Katherine.”
“Yes, I think that’s a good idea.” She frowned then and asked, “Should we maybe shower separately? I don’t know about you, but I’m finding it hard even now to keep my hands off of you. And if we both are naked in a shower…” She nibbled her lower lip. “God, I need you.” Blunt, to the point.
“Good enough for me,” he said, lifting her into his arms, and kissed her as he carried her to the bathroom. Stepping into the shower, he eased her down, never leaving her lips. Fiddling with the knobs, he got the water going so he could run his hands over her body gently.
“This is not nearly as fun as the waterfalls in our dreams, but it’s close.” The showers were huge. The claw tubs in the bathrooms a throwback, but the showers were huge and very, very modern. “I totally have to remember to thank Kat for this room that she has you set up in,” she told him happily, grinning as she looked up at him. “Because I’m so very happy to have room to have you with me in the shower, darling.”
“We have plenty of room to do a great many things,” he murmured. “And waterfalls usually aren’t as fun as they were in our dreams. They are usually cold, there’s always that lungful of water you inhale, and the ever-present danger of sharp rocks. Sorry to disillusion you, but unless we have one custom built, they just aren’t as wonderful.”
“Well, I am sure that we will figure it all out, honey. Somehow and someway we will find ourselves a place like in our dreams so that we can make love outdoors as well.” She had never really thought of herself as one for nature, but she was finding that with her bond-mate, that’s just what she wanted.
Sighing, he nuzzled at her cheek and breathed her in. “That’s the hardest part,” he murmured softly to her. “I was put to sleep and the world was green, lush, and there were so many places you could go and just be in nature. Now everything is owned by someone or something, there are rules about even looking at trees, and to find something truly natural you either have to freeze your bits off or risk some horrific and unnamed disease that will kill you by slow degrees. It’s all so different,” Laighean muttered quietly. “You’re the only reason it’s even bearable for me to try and take it in. Thank you for being here with me, love,” he whispered.
Rimi nodded and hugged him back. “I can’t even imagine the shock that all of you had to go through when you woke. How in the world have you even managed to get this far in such a short amount of time? For someone who’s slept in stasis for so long as you did, you are actually doing remarkably well.”
“Gaia held us contained for a couple of months while we got caught up on history and happenings,” he murmured, lifting his head enough to rest his forehead to hers. Stroking his fingers up and down her arm, Laighean peered down at her. “It gave us all the knowledge and the time to integrate it. But it was still quite shocking to go to where my former home had been, the one I’d shared with my parents when I was young, and
find what you call condos.”
“Oh my,” she whispered, “I’m so sorry Laighean.” She felt his hurt and it broke her heart. “I couldn’t even begin to imagine how hard this is for you. For all of you. I can’t help the others, but I will do whatever I possibly can in order to help you, to give you something more to look forward to so that you don’t regret being woken up.”
“I don’t regret waking, Rimi,” he whispered quietly to her. “I have you, and that’s more important to me than anything else.” Brushing his lips over her cheek, he breathed her in slowly. “I love you, my little bond-mate. The house was just a thing, but it still hurts. All the memories I had were around there, part of there.” He let out a slow breath.
“I’m glad that you love me. I want this life with you,” she assured him softly. “And we will create new memories. They won’t replace the ones that you had, but they will instead give you something more to look forward to, darling. This is good, right?”
“Very good,” he agreed quietly with a smile. Kissing her gently, he closed his eyes and breathed her in. “I love you, Rimi. Never think I don’t, little one. I don’t think I could keep moving forward without you in my life.”
“Well the good thing is that you will never have to find out. I plan on being a part of your life for the rest of forever so we will be able to always share each other, laughter and joy, happiness and pain. We will be each other’s rocks, darling.”
Smiling, he nodded. “I like the sound of that.” Leaning back, he stroked his fingers down her arm to catch her hand. Lifting it, Laighean kissed her fingers one at a time before sucking lightly on her thumb. “I think I should thank you for being so wise and gracious and for loving me.”