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Refusing to be rushed, Xorran ignored Sara’s urging to hurry and undressed her slowly. “Wenny has monopolized your attention for the past three days. Right now you’re mine, and I will not share you with anyone. Even your ‘baby’.”
She stilled, her expressive gaze searching his. “Have I been that bad?”
He framed her face with his hands and kissed the tip of her nose. “Your tender heart is one of the reasons I love you so much. But I’ve earned a little selfishness.”
“I agree. You’ve been faultlessly supportive through all of it.”
So she slowed down, undressing him with the same caressing care that he used to rid her of her clothing. When they were both naked, she turned and prepared to crawl into bed. He encircled her waist with one arm and drew her back against his front.
“I want to touch you first,” he whispered into her hair.
“You can’t touch me in bed?” But she didn’t pull away. Instead, she wiggled her bottom against his thighs and pressed more firmly against his aching cock.
She was so tiny he could tuck her head under his chin. It made kissing challenging, but she didn’t seem to mind. He ran his free hand over her breasts, loving the weighty feel of her soft flesh. Her nipples pebbled beneath his lightest touch and she was always wet when he eased his hand between her thighs. The pull was heightening their attraction, he knew. Still, he suspected she would always be a highly responsive mate.
He lingered over her nipples, rolling them between his fingers and thumbs and gently pulling on the sensitive peaks.
“I like it better when you use your mouth.” She arched her back, pushing against his fingers
“I know, but you’re going to stand there and let me touch you.”
She chuckled. It was a familiar game. “Why would I do that when what I really want is your hard cock deep inside me?”
“Because you’re not getting my cock until you come for my fingers.”
She shivered, then moaned. “How do you do that?” she whispered. “I don’t even like dirty talk and yet with you I can almost come just talking about coming.”
He laughed. “We’ll have to put that to the test some time.”
“But not tonight?” she asked hopefully.
“Definitely not tonight.” He kicked her feet apart, making more room for his hand between her silky thighs. Thrilled by the wetness already gathered on her folds, he pushed two fingers up inside her.
She sagged against him with a moan. “That feels so good.”
“Glad to hear it.” He moved his fingers in and out, savoring her heat and the slick slide of her obvious arousal. “Now come for me.” He found her clit with his thumb and ensured that she obeyed. It took about two seconds and her inner walls were rippling around his fingers. “Good girl.”
She laughed and caught his wrist. “I say that to Wenny when she obeys me. You need to find another phrase.”
He picked her up and placed her on the bed, not bothering to pull down the covers. He crawled onto the bed and stretched out on his side facing her. “Now you’re going to do it all over again because I want to watch your face when you come.”
“Oh you’re in one of those moods.” She even managed to sound annoyed, but mischief and anticipation lit her gaze. “Go on,” she teased, “Get it over with. Give me orgasm after orgasm until I pass out from the pleasure.”
He laughed. “Such a sacrifice.”
He slipped one arm under her neck and cupped her breast as his mouth covered hers. Her taste was addictive and he intended to fully indulge his habit tonight. He explored her soft lips and the velvety interior of her mouth before curving his tongue around hers. As always, she returned the kiss with equal fervor, one of her hands combing through his hair.
I love you, Xorran. Never doubt it. She emphasized the thought with tingling affection.
And I love you. He pushed his devotion into her mind.
Once they were bonded the exchange would be effortless. Sharing thoughts and feelings would be as natural as breathing. Once they were bonded. The phrase echoed in his mind and a pang of frustration disturbed his arousal. He hadn’t asked her about accepting his claim in over a week. There had been too much conflict in their lives, and he’d been content to support and comfort her. She was his only match, but she had many more matches to choose from. Was she considering anyone else?
“Where’d you go?” she asked when he pulled away. “Suddenly I couldn’t sense you anymore.”
“The transfer link is starting to deteriorate.” It was, but he’d also withdrawn from the link, not wanting her to sense his frustration. “It will need to be reestablished if we want to continue sharing emotions.”
“Ooor,” she drew out the word, then smiled. “You could just create the real link. I know I’m ready. Aren’t you?”
He tensed. Had she heard his mental grumbling? He did not want to pressure her in any way. This had to be something she wanted desperately. “There’s no rush, Sara. I know you’re still—”
She pressed her fingers over his lips, stemming his words. “As long as I can still interact with my family, there is nothing more to decide. I know exactly what I want, and I’m looking at him.”
This was what he’d wanted, what he’d literally ached for ever since he met her. So why the hell wasn’t he claiming her? “The past few days have been extremely stressful. Are you sure you’re not just...”
“Just what?” She sat up and crossed her arms over her breasts. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“Gods no! I just want this to be perfect. I don’t want you to feel pressured or rushed.”
She smiled and pressed her hand against the side of his face. “Sweetheart, you won my heart when you took off your shirt and used it like a blanket on Wenny, but you earned my loyalty and unconditional trust when you promised to sneak back into the Underground to steal another cub. You are the most selfless person I’ve ever met and I’d be a fool not to hold on to you with both arms.” She bent down and kissed him before adding, “I want to bond with you, Xorran Entor, and someday—in the not too distant future—I want to have a bunch of babies that look just like you.”
His heart was beating so fast it stole his breath. He sat up and wrapped both arms around her. Their mouths found each other and fused while their tongues sensually danced from mouth to mouth.
I will spend the rest of my life making you happy, he vowed. I will protect you with my life and love you in this life and the next.
Without separating their mouths, she crawled onto his lap and wrapped her legs around his waist. I accept your claim, my love. Form the soul bond. I am and will always be your mate.
Say please, he ordered playfully and her joyful laughter sounded in his mind.
He lifted her slightly and found her wet core with the tip of his cock. She quickly folded her legs beneath her and brought her body into better alignment with his. Slowly, oh so slowly, her snug heat enveloped his rock-hard shaft. It felt so good, so right, as if a missing piece of his soul had been finally snapped into place. She paused with his entire length inside her, savoring the fullness, the completeness. Her pleasure heightened his, but the link was definitely fading.
Ride me, love. I need to concentrate.
My pleasure, she assured and began to move, rolling her hips while flexing her knees.
He focused on her mind, on what was left of the transfer link. He needed to dissolve it completely before he formed the soul bond. One cleansing pulse was all it took to eradicate the connection, and suddenly he was alone.
She tore her mouth away with a gasp. “I didn’t realize how isolated I was without you in my mind. I don’t ever want to feel like this again.”
“My thoughts exactly,” he whispered and began to form the much more complex link.
Apparently sensing his distraction, she braced her hands on his shoulders and went back to pleasuring him with her amazing body. Her breasts rubbed against his chest and her inner muscles hugged him firmly with each slow stroke. His arousal generated the extra energy he needed to form the bond, but it was damn distracting. He wanted to lay her back across the bed and regain control of their joining. He wanted to take her fast and hard, proving once and for all that she was his.
But first he had to finish the link. He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes. Weaving the strands of energy into an intricate pattern that would help them locate each other at even great distances, he gradually linked his soul with hers.
So much better, she whispered as their emotions began to flow again. She was curious about how much different this would feel from the transfer link, and more than a little frustrated by his distraction.
Almost done, he assured her as he secured the final few strands. Now all he had to do was anchor each side. Should he warn her or just do it?
Just do it.
He chuckled. Apparently, the link was fully functional. She’d heard his thought without his assistance.
Here we go. Without pause, he blasted the connection with a massive pulse of energy.
She cried out and shuddered, clutching his back as her body shook. “You could have mentioned that it would hurt like hell.”
Rather than point out that she’d asked for it, he grabbed her hips and flipped her onto her back. “So much better,” he echoed her words as he started to move in earnest.
She raised her legs high against his sides and arched into each of his downward thrusts. Their joining grew almost frantic after that. He filled her completely with each demanding stroke and she clawed at his back. His gaze bore into hers as emotions flowed freely across their soul bond.
Not only could he feel her emotions now, he could feel her physical sensations. He was filling and being filled. And pleasure passed between them in a continuous loop. Her sensations heightened his as his strengthened hers. Faster and faster he pumped, desperate for completion, yet never wanting it to end.
She suddenly arched and cried out sharply, her strong inner muscles massaging him as distinctly as any hand. Lost to everything but the pleasure, he threw back his head and closed his eyes. He drove into her one final time and released his seed in pulsing spurts.
Aftershocks caused her to shudder and moan, or maybe she came again. He couldn’t tell which and didn’t really care, as long as she was satisfied.
Carefully rolling them to their sides, he gave in to the creeping lethargy.
“And I have to put up with this for the rest of my life?”
His eyes flew open and she laughed.
“Your sense of humor can be exhausting,” he grumbled.
“Sorry, love. It’s a package deal.”
“We all have our burdens to bear.” Despite his desire to savor the moment, his eyelids drooped.
“Hey. I’m the one who’s supposed to be sleepy, and I’m ready to go again.”
“Catnap,” he promised, and she gradually relaxed in his arms. Soon they were both sound asleep.
* * *
SARA STOOD JUST OUTSIDE Wenny’s habitat three days later watching the cubs frolic through the grass. They ran and wrestled, growling playfully. Luppa was fully recovered from the brutality of General Alonov, and Wenny was thrilled with the company.
While Sara and Xorran had been out in the forest searching for Luppa, Merella contacted Arrista. Only the news wasn’t good. Merella explained that Isolaund finally buckled to the Guiding Council’s pressure and sent Luppa to the labor pool. Merella had been tasked with delivering the cub, but she never made it to her destination. Alonov ambushed her in the corridor and snatched Luppa right out of her arms. Then he knocked Merella unconscious. The bastard was good at beating up females. When Merella woke up someone had carried her to her room and it was too late to inform Isolaund of Alonov’s bizarre behavior. Arrista told her sister what had happened on their end, and Merella agreed to allow Isolaund to believe the cub was dead. The bitch deserved that much at least for her callous behavior.
“They both look wonderful,” Xorran said as he walked up beside her. “Why are you scowling?”
“I was just thinking about Isolaund and all the other cubs she’s tossed away like garbage because they weren’t vicious enough to be useful.”
He placed his hand on the small of her back, a gentle reminder that she wasn’t alone anymore. “Arrista insists that she had no choice, but I’m with you. Isolaund only cares about Isolaund.”
Truer words were never spoken. “She might have saved Wenny, but Luppa is proof of her ruthlessness.” That bitch needed to die. Sara sighed at the blood-thirsty thought. Dwelling on the elf was a waste of energy. Sara had too much to be grateful for to let Isolaund taint her happiness.
Xorran slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her to his side. “This was supposed to help with your preoccupation, not give you someone else to worry about. You’re turning into a helicopter parent.”
She laughed at the human phrase. “Where did you learn about helicopter parents?”
“We uploaded Earth’s entire internet to our database.”
She’d known they had a lot of information on humans, but that was surprising. “You guys are thorough, aren’t you?”
“Among other things.” He smoothly guided her away from the fence and deeper into the surrounding forest. “Did you enjoy talking with your brother?”
“Brothers,” she corrected. “Jose was with Tim when Kage arranged the call. And yes, it was wonderful to talk to them.”
“Are they horribly upset that you’re on another planet, in another star system?”
She shrugged. “It’s a longer commute than Lunar Nine, but going off-world was unavoidable as soon as I volunteered for the battle born program.” They strolled through the trees for a moment in silence, content to be together. “Where are we going?”
“Nowhere in particular. I just wanted to change your view.”
She deserved that. She had been a little obsessed about the cubs.
“Have you seen Arrista at all in the last few days?” His tone was casual, but an odd combination of emotions surged into her mind as he asked the question.
“Once or twice in passing. Is there a problem?”
“She’s latched onto Torrin, insists on ‘serving’ him.”
She stopped walking and faced him. “That’s not good. Is Torrin taking advantage of her?”
“Just the opposite,” he assured her. “Torrin has been avoiding her, but she’s persistent. It’s almost as if she’s...compelled to serve someone and Torrin just happens to be there.”
“The Sarronti use a strict caste system, and Arrista is on the bottom rung. This is likely just culture shock.”
He nodded, but still looked concerned about their new friend. “Can you spend time with her? See if you can help her accept her new reality.”
Sara smiled. “Of course. I’ve had some experience with that sort of transition. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“Good.” He took her hand and started walking again.
Soon they came to a bend in the river. The clear green water flowed swiftly here, the rushing sound soothing. Turquoise grass lined both banks and tall, leafy trees created a tranquil, secluded feeling for the small clearing. Sara drew him over to a waist-high rock formation.
If her mate was feeling neglected, she needed to give him some attention. “Give me your shirt.” His gaze narrowed, so she added, “Please.”
Watching her closely, he removed his uniform top and handed it to her. “Now, do I get yours?”
“Nope.” Instead she pulled off her shoes, and took off her pants. He followed every move she made, but said nothing else. She spread his shirt across the relatively flat bolder, then hopped up onto the rock. “Come here.” She crooked her finger and he quickly stepped between her thighs.
“I like where this is going.” He caught her hips and slid her forward, but waited for her next directive.
“I’m here for you, love, now and forever.” She accented the promise with a tingling wave of affection. “Do anything you want. I’m yours and yours alone.”
THE END – For Now...
