by DJ Michaels
He pushed up into her, four hard flexes before he came in a shuddering rush. Sparks of pleasure shot through his body, his burning need for her only increasing as he spilled himself inside her. It took him a moment to reclaim his breath, and when he regained his senses, he got back to business.
He continued as if he hadn't been completely distracted. "The ritual is conducted by a priestess, in the presence of family and friends. It is permanent and binding." He caught her blue-green gaze and held it. "No divorce, no changing your mind. This is a big step, Jaz, so you need to think about it."
Releasing her hips he pushed into her, forcing her to grip his shoulders to keep her balance. "But if you say yes, you will become clan. You will have me and every rhe'hashan on Earth to protect you. You will live with me, be with me, and I will do everything in my power to make you happy."
She hissed as she undulated on him. "You already make me happy. You feel so good."
"I want this all the time. I want to wake up with you, I want to provide for you, I want to be inside you as often as you'll let me."
"Yes, I want that, too."
She was glorious in her sensuality, and she was also a drug. The more he had of her, the more he wanted. "Lean back. Put your hands on my thighs."
Jaz complied, arching back so her hands rested on the hard muscle of his upper legs. The position was perfect, opening her to deeper penetration and thrusting her breasts out high and proud. Not even trying to resist the temptation, Tallis sat up and cupped her breasts, squeezing and pinching as she writhed on him. Then he stroked one hand down, coming to rest between her legs. Using the flat of his thumb, he circled her clit.
She shuddered and he knew by the way her internal muscles squeezed him she was close to her own release. His lips found her nipple and he sucked and bit, using his free hand to play with her other breast. And all the while his thumb circled faster and harder, driving her so fast towards orgasm she had no choice but to fly over the edge.
Clutching him around the shoulders she screamed, her body shuddering against him, the pleasure in her body so acute it seemed almost violent. And he drove her on, milking her pleasure for every moan, tremble and pulse she would give him.
Panting for breath, she eventually grasped his wrist and eased his hand away. Then she wrapped her arms and legs around him and rested her face in the crook of his neck.
Locking his arms around her, Tallis held her as close as he dared. "Will you bind yourself to me, Jaz?" he whispered. "Will you become my am'chai?"
"Yes." Her voice was little more than a breath against his skin. "I know there are a lot of details to sort out, but yes, I'd be honored to bind myself to you."
The depth of his satisfaction at those words was shocking. As was his need to mark her as his before she changed her mind. Gripping a handful of her colorful hair, he eased her head back so he could look at her face.
Happy. Satiated. Unbearably sexy.
"I want to claim you now, in a way that will satisfy both man and beast."
She gave him a siren's smile. "All right."
By the Goddess he loved her. "On all fours, facing the headboard."
There was nothing elegant or refined about the way they disentangled. It was a mash of arms, legs, gasps and laughter. But when she was on her hands and knees before him, all the humor drained from Tallis's body. The sight of her bowed head, smooth back and perfectly curved ass drove everything from him but the need to be inside her.
Kneeling between her legs he circled his hands over her skin. "Your trust humbles me." He leaned down and kissed the dimples at the base of her spine. "You are precious to me." He nibbled his way to her waist, nice and slow. "You fill me with desire, for both your body and your mind."
Easing upright, he ran his fingers through her hair, draping it so it fell over one shoulder—leaving the other exposed. Then he fitted his cock against her entrance. "Are you ready to be mine?"
"Yes."
Jaz canted her hips in offering, and he filled her in one fast stroke. Clutching her hips, Tallis thrust in and out, glorying in the feel of her feminine heat, slick and needy. As her pleasure built again he fucked her harder, his hips pounding against the back of her thighs. Wanting to cage her, to surround her with his strength, Tallis bracketed her body with his arms and lowered his chest to her back.
He was in her and around her. She flooded his senses and filled his soul. He pulled her even tighter and she arched into him, her hands wrapping around his wrists to help her hold position. Closing his eyes, he fucked her blindly and prayed that he could hold on.
Then she quickened for him, her orgasm building even as he tried to stave off his own release. Just as she was on the edge, just before she broke, Tallis turned his head and bit her on the shoulder. Hard enough to leave a mark, just enough to draw blood, and the perfect amount to trigger her orgasm.
He couldn't savor it, he was too close. The moment she cried out he let go, shoving himself deep as he came in wave after wave of ecstasy. In an agony of pleasure he emptied himself inside her, growling his satisfaction around the delicate flesh he still held between his teeth.
Wrapping one arm around Jaz's waist, he tipped them to the side. Holding her close, he licked her wound, singing softly to eased the pain and to heal the broken skin. There was no song to erase the silvery scar that would be left behind, and he was thrilled that she would wear his mark.
"Are you okay, shamira?"
"Mmm. Good."
He nuzzled the nape of her neck. "Hungry?"
"Soon. Can we just rest a while?"
"Of course."
As long as Jaz was naked and in his arms, she could rest forever if she wished.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jaz spent the rest of the day in a blissful haze. Tallis was sweet, attentive and funny, and Jaz laughed more in that single day than she had for the past four weeks.
They ate, talked and kissed. They bathed together and Tallis took shower-sex to heights she had never imagined possible. Then he dried her off and settled her into bed, lying face-to-face and pulling her tight against his hard body.
Jaz snuggled in and tried to wrap her mind around her new reality. She adored Tallis, no question, but the most miraculous thing—for her—was that she felt safe. She wasn't frightened about dropping her defenses, and rather than feeling exposed by her emotional vulnerability, she felt strong and empowered. And the more she opened her heart, the more sure of herself she became.
Tallis leaned back a little, stroking her hair away from her face. "Now that you’re satiated, fed, clean and relaxed, I want to revisit our conversation about the binding ceremony."
Quirking an eyebrow at him, she gave him a cheeky smile. "Changed your mind already?" Because she knew he hadn't.
"Of course not. I just want to make sure you're clear about what the commitment entails, what it means to be am'chai."
It seemed he was worried her mind had been so fogged by desire that she didn't understand what she had agreed to. Reaching up she cupped his jaw and smoothed her thumb over his cheek. "Being am'chai means that when we commit to each other we do so for life, no divorce, no separation. It means we are bound together by your Goddess, and that binding makes me part of your clan. I'll have your personal protection and the protection of the rhe'hashan as a whole."
"There's one more thing we need to talk about."
"Oh?"
"We don't know for sure if a human-Jendari union can produce a child. Our healers think it's possible, but there are no guarantees."
Reaching up she cupped his face, firming her touch when he pressed his cheek into her hand. "I've had a lot of time to think over the last four weeks. And that subject is one I've considered long and hard."
"And what did you decide?" His face was carefully blank, but his black eyes were full of emotion.
"I decided that if I ever got the chance, I would choose you, with or without any future children."
"Are you sure, shamira? Once the cerem
ony is done, it cannot be undone."
"I'm sure." During their separation she'd discovered that she'd take Tallis on any terms he'd care to offer.
She leaned closer and kissed him, slow and thorough. By the time she pulled away he was aroused again and she ran a teasing hand down his ribs and hip. "And I also suspect that in gaining you as my am'chai, I'll also be gaining Itohan as my me'hendra."
Tallis snorted as he dropped his hand to her ass and pulled her closer. "I wouldn't look forward to that too much if I was you. Besides, Itohan already considers you mine, which means you're automatically his. You won't have to wait for the ceremony to be subject to his particular brand of ownership."
She flexed her hips against his erection and his gaze locked to hers, hot and intense. Claiming another kiss she whispered against his lips. "I want you inside me again." She wrapped her arms around him and rubbed her hands up and down the muscles of his back. "Will you sing to me this time?"
"Yes. I'll always have a song for you, shamira." He slid down the bed until his mouth was level with her nipples. When his warm breath ghosted over her skin she arched forward, not willing to wait.
Just before he made contact, Tallis jerked away from her. Sitting up he pulled the bedclothes up to her neck and tucked the excess around her body.
"What is it?"
He glared at the doorway that led to the walk-in closet. "Fucking dead cat walking. Or he will be in about thirty seconds."
She assumed Tallis meant Itohan. "What the hell is he doing in your walk-in?"
"Cock blocking."
Jaz snorted a laugh. Tallis was so disgruntled, he looked more like a kid without a toy than a kick-ass warrior. He glared at her, and that only made her laugh harder. Pulling the pillow from under her head, he pushed up onto his knees and pretended he was going to smother her. Then, when she was distracted, he tickled her so efficiently she could only gasp her plea for him to stop.
Of course, that's when Itohan entered the room. Jaz didn't see him come in—between her messy hair and the pillow, her field of vision was narrow. But one minute Tallis was leaning over her, and the next he was hit by six hundred pounds of fur. The impetus of Itohan's body-check took them both to the floor and the thud was loud enough to have Jaz scrambling to the side of the bed to see what was happening.
Tallis stayed in his two-legged form, so he was outweighed and outsized by the me'hendra. The wrestling match seemed pretty serious, though Jaz noticed Itohan kept his claws and teeth to himself. Not that he needed anything more than size and speed to out-fight Tallis. It wasn't long before Itohan had Tallis pinned beneath his enormous body. She couldn't see much of her man, but Jaz could hear him gasping for breath. "Get off me you fucking lump. I wasn't hurting her. I would never hurt her."
Itohan turned his head and peered at Jaz, his green eyes hard. She sat up and pulled the bedclothes a little higher. "He's telling the truth. We were just fooling around." Itohan cocked his head and she didn't know if he understood what she was saying or not.
"I told you." Tallis's words came out on a wheeze, making it obvious just how much body weight Itohan was exerting. "It was just play between mates."
Itohan leaned down so his forehead touched Tallis's, then he let out a menacing growl.
"Oh, for the love of the Goddess." Tallis's arms flung out in defeat. "He wants to hear it from you, Jaz. He needs to make sure you're not hurt or frightened before he lets me up."
Deciding physical evidence would be better than verbal, Jaz scrambled to the other side of the bed, pulling on her blouse and skirt in record time. She hurried around the end of the mattress and dropped to her knees next to Itohan's shoulder. With a sure touch, she reached out and stroked his silvery fur.
"I'm fine, Itohan. Truly. Tallis would never hurt me." She scratched behind Itohan's ears. "He wouldn't be that stupid, because he knows you would always come to defend me."
"No," Tallis said. "I would never hurt you because I love you. Not to mention I took an oath as rhe'hashan."
Itohan glared down at Tallis and then sneezed in his face. It was so rude, Jaz sat back in shock but Tallis seemed to take it in his stride. Itohan took his time relieving Tallis of his weight, then the me'hendra dropped to the floor and placed his huge head in Jaz's lap.
Tallis stayed where he was, sprawled on his back. "He wants you to pet him." Catching Jaz's eye, Tallis offered her a mean smile. "Welcome to my world."
Jaz put her hand under Itohan's chin and lifted his head so he could see her face. "I'm happy to pet you, but we need to get off on the right foot." She gave him a little shake. "If you ever sneeze in my face like that, I will never touch you again. Clear?"
Itohan chuffed then moved closer, batting her with his head. Jaz looked at Tallis. "Is that a yes?"
"It's as close to one as you're going to get."
"Well, that's … equivocal."
Tallis rolled onto his side. "For future reference, he's also arbitrary and annoying."
Jaz sighed, but she was nowhere near as put-upon as she pretended. Having a me'hendra in her corner was very cool, even if he was demanding.
Though they would need to talk about his appalling timing and his penchant for just dropping in whenever he felt like it.
****
The next morning, while it was still dark, Tallis whisked Jaz back to her apartment. In record time she packed her bags and offered a hasty, garbled explanation to Winter. As soon as they returned to the penthouse he helped her settle in and then he cooked her breakfast. Jaz phoned into work and took some accrued leave, explaining that a personal emergency had arisen. She didn't like the lie, but Tallis didn't want her out of his sight until their relationship was officially sanctioned.
So the next two days passed in a haze of domestic bliss. Of course there were moments when Jaz thought she was crazy to throw herself into this new world, but those doubts weren't strong enough for her to change her mind. She and Tallis talked a lot about how their lives would change and what their future might look like. They'd also had long discussions about her job, her kids, her friends, and how they could keep those things in her life.
She knew she was facing some mammoth challenges. She also knew, deep down in her soul, that every obstacle was worth it. Tallis was unlike any man she'd ever met. He was strong, both emotionally and physically, and he had a bone-deep sense of honor that was as much a part of him as his skin. He understood her, he respected her, and he admired her. Quite the heady combination for a not-so-sexy curvy girl who had learned to value herself only for what she could do for others.
Happily, that girl was gone, and in her place was someone Jaz didn't recognize—but who she couldn't wait to get to know.
****
The morning of her wedding arrived and Jaz was filled with a confusing mix of joy, excitement and trepidation. She was wholly committed to Tallis and the ceremony, but she was also well aware of the enormous step she was taking. There was no guarantee she would be able to keep any aspect of her old life once she embarked on her new one. It was a significant sacrifice and one of which they were both mindful.
After breakfast Tallis "helped" her bathe, which meant she spent twice as long in the bathroom than she would have if left to her own devices. Not that she was complaining. Once he'd dried her to his satisfaction, he wrapped her in a red satin robe and sat her on the bed.
"Wait here, I have a surprise for you."
Jaz loved surprises, so she kept her ass on the bed and her eyes on the bedroom door. When she saw Winter step over the threshold she squealed with joy and launched herself across the room.
"I'm so glad you're here." She squeezed Winter, and her best friend squeezed her back.
"I'm glad to be here. Talking to you over the phone is better than nothing, but it's not as good as this." Relinquishing her hold, Winter stepped back and eyed Jaz. "You look amazing. You've always been beautiful but now … you're incandescent."
"That's because I'm so happy I could burst." And it was tr
ue. Jaz felt the joy welling up inside her until it seemed to spill from her fingertips. "And how did you get here? I know for a fact that you didn't charm your way past the super."
"Tallis invited me. He explained why I can't go to the actual ceremony, but he didn't want you to be alone on the morning of your wedding. He knows I'm the closest thing you have to a family in New York."
Jaz smiled but didn't correct her friend. The truth was, Winter was the only family she had—aside from Tallis. Jaz's parents had been gone from her life for so long, she didn't rely on them for anything. Right now they were volunteering at an orangutan sanctuary in Borneo. She hadn't contacted them to tell them of her wedding, and they wouldn't have come home if they'd known.
But Winter came, like she always did.
"I'm so glad I have you in my life."
"I'm glad to be here, soul-sister." Winter grinned and tugged her towards the bathroom. "Now let's see what we can do about your hair."
Winter's mouth dropped open when she saw the size of Tallis's bathroom and Jaz snickered. She'd had time to get used to it and the view still stopped her in her tracks.
"Holy shit. This is bigger than our apartment."
"Yep."
Winter grinned, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. "Let's get you prettied up. I want you to knock his alien socks off."
Jaz dragged a seat over to the counter and sat so she was facing the mirror. All her hair and makeup products were scattered over the bench top so she had nothing to do but sit and be pampered.
Winter had spent enough time in front of a camera to be a deft hand at applying makeup, and Jaz was thrilled when her best friend stepped away. She still looked like herself, but a better, more glamorous version. Her eyes were smoky, her lips neutral, and her hair coiled on the top of her head in soft, silky curls.
"I look awesome." Jaz grinned at their reflection in the mirror.
"Yes, you do. Now let's get this dress on."
They schlepped into the bedroom and Jaz shucked her robe. Her "wedding dress" was a silver, floor-length sheath she'd found in a thrift store. She owned a handful of ball gowns to wear to black tie fundraisers for the foundation, but she'd never been brave enough to wear this one. It clung to her curves in a way that looked good in the shop, but when she got home it seemed far too revealing.