The Pirate Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Mei made a weak sound, gasping for breath, but she didn’t pull off as she moved with his thrusts. Jarek pushed his heels into the floor, bending his knees slightly as he moved his hips in little circles.

  Mei pressed into his chest. Caught off guard, he fell back onto the bed. She landed on him, his shaft embedding deeply into her with the impact of the fall.

  Jarek liked the new position. Mei clawed his skin, wiggling on top of him in deep circles. He felt her muscles contracting along him, squeezing him tight. Taking her hips, he drew his hands along her silk covered waist, using the disheveled gown to caress her skin. He found her breasts, one with flesh, the other with silk, and massaged them, budding the tight nipples even more.

  Mei moved gracefully as she kept her own rhythm. Jarek just let her have her way, shifting his eyes so he could watch the erotic show. The woman rode him, her lips parted, her lids heavy. She groaned passionately as she worked faster and faster. The silk of her gown entranced him, the way it wrapped and clung to her body as she practically danced above him.

  He slid his thighs open, forcing her legs wider apart. Mei groaned, a low, throaty sound of pleasure and approval. The noise she made enthralled him. Her body continued to move gracefully as she leaned back and reached behind her.

  The visual was too much. Jarek felt himself close to coming. He gripped her narrow hips tightly and tried to control her movements. Her small hand slipped onto his balls, massaging them. He tensed, seconds away from spilling his seed. The feeling of eruption was almost painful as it tightened his gut and swelled his balls. His body shook, he got ready, and then she pulled firmly down on his balls. The gesture stopped the flow of his seed as he orgasmed. Jarek grunted, his arousal still hard as a rock as he shook with a partial release.

  “Too soon,” she whispered, still holding his balls as she wiggled more. It was divine torture. “I will show you how to go longer, to take more, to conserve your energies.”

  Numbly, completely captivated, he nodded his head in agreement. In that moment, he’d agree to anything she commanded. Mei seemed to understand this because a small catlike smile curled the side of her mouth. She lifted above him, raising her hands up as she used her thighs to push up and down.

  A low throaty laugh left her and she grinned down at him, proud of what she had done. “I like it when your eyes glow like that, qin ài de. You’re trying to hide yourself from me, your shifter self.”

  Jarek grunted, caught between the need to claim her with his seed and the hold she had on him, controlling him with the subtle shifting of her muscles.

  “What kind?” Mei demanded, not moving.

  “Cat,” he gasped, unable to lie in that moment. At the word, he felt her body wetting him more. She liked it. The knowledge made it difficult to concentrate. She had him right where she wanted him, and they both knew it.

  The cat-shifters were sexual creatures, but to play with the beast, to encourage the very nature of the predator could lead to uncontrollable passion. He’d be mindless, unable to stop once he started. Jarek tried to regain control, but Mei seemed to have something else in mind.

  “Do you want to see?” he whispered. He would never take her in his completely shifted form, but he could let parts of the creature out—fangs, claws, voice, and eyes. By the way her thighs tensed against him, he knew he had his answer. “Are you sure? The beast inside of me is not to be toyed with. Once loose, it’s hard to draw back inside.”

  Mei nodded, a half smile on her beautiful mouth. “Please, qin ài de, I want to see.”

  Instantly, he let his eyes shift, let fangs grow, let claws extend from his fingertips. She only got wetter. Their bodies were hot and slick where they were joined. There was no fear in her when it came to his shifted form. He took his claw and ran it down her slender throat, across the thready pulse that pounded in excitement with the danger. Her jaw dropped, and she tensed. The smell of her pleasure thrilled him, spurring the beast on. Running a sharp claw between her breasts, he circled them slowly, drawing closer to the hard nipples with each dangerous pass. She moaned as if the act only made her all the more desperate in her arousal. Lightly he traced down her sides, letting the sound of his shifted form enter his harsh breathing.

  Then, Jarek reached for the sensitive bud between her thighs. Tweaking it with his sharpened thumb, just enough to make her climax, he grinned. Her body gripped him tightly and cried out in pleasure, still holding his balls. The way she tightened around his massive size was almost painful, but it was a glorious pain. As soon as it was over, she crawled off him.

  “But...” Jarek began, glancing down to his still hard member jutting out from his hips. It was covered with her cream, glistening with the evidence of her release. His turgid flesh ached with the need to be released.

  “Shh, qin ài de,” Mei ordered. “Patience. We’re just getting started.”

  Mei was a little weak from her climax. It wasn’t supposed to have happened so fast, as she’d resisted its pull. But, when the pirate captain touched her clit she couldn’t help coming. The man certainly knew how to move. She grinned, very pleased with him. As a lover, he was the perfect choice. She would have to remember to offer the fates special thanks for the gift of him.

  Her heart beat heavily in her chest. This wasn’t her plan at all. After exploring the ship, she couldn’t find the women anywhere. The crew was either sleeping or working and they not once mentioned anything that led her to believe the pu ren were onboard. Was it possible they’d left them behind? Mei highly doubted it. Pirates kidnaped and stole. It was their way of life.

  Somehow, when she looked down at Jarek, he didn’t seem all that bad. His eyes were kind, almost giving. When he touched her, he was passionate yet gentle.

  She’d been shocked to see he was naked under the covers. The plan had been to subdue him into telling her where the pu ren were. But, as she looked at his sleeping face, all will to fight had drained from her body and she was left feeling nothing but desire. And when he had moved, pulling his covers down, so she saw the tip of his serpent peeking out at her, she had nearly fallen from the ceiling on top of him.

  Unfastening the belt at her waist, she stood over him on the bed and let the material slide completely off her body. His eyes narrowed. She saw them easily in the dim light. They were predator’s eyes, shifted and golden. His rod was still thick and straight, standing tall in offering. Licking her lips, she knew it had been mean to deny him release, but she wanted to make sure she got her fill. Not only did she need to seduce him to find the pu ren and to get back home, she wanted to have these nights of desire before she was forced to marry Prince Lok.

  There was freedom in knowing she’d never see Jarek again after they parted. Mei pushed her hair back over her shoulders and gracefully drew her arms down along her body. Her hands glided but didn’t caress her own skin, as she gave Jarek’s eyes a feast of visual delights.

  Mei slowly stroked herself, heating her body anew, purposefully holding back from touching Jarek as he was already in a state of heavy arousal. Her body was a little sore from his deep penetration, but she didn’t mind. Out of all her lovers, he was definitely the most endowed.

  Her body swayed, and she kicked her foot to the side, turning around so that she stood beside him on the bed, facing away. Jarek moved behind her, and she laughed as his hands eagerly slid along her hips. He kissed her outer thigh, licking a hot trail over her side and butt. Firmly, he turned her around to face him. He licked at her navel, as he touched her everywhere.

  Mei stared into his passionate eyes as he looked up at her through the valley of her breasts. When he touched her, his hands were confident, firm, commanding and worshiping at the same time.

  Low animalistic sounds came from both of them, as he dipped his head between her thighs. He took his time touching her, nuzzling his face against her short curls. Light kisses sprinkled along her intimate hairline. His hot mouth closed over her folds, parting them wickedly with his tongue as he kissed her deep
ly. Jarek lifted her leg up onto his shoulder. Mei gasped. Fingers dug into her hips, holding her to his mouth, as he sucked her clit forcefully. She arched into him, still standing as he knelt before her. Jarek slipped a finger inside her. Cream flooded out of her like never before.

  “Jarek,” she cried softly. “Qin ài de!”

  Oh, darling, don’t stop, don’t stop!

  With a very bestial growl, he flipped her onto her back, cradling her body with his arms as he came above her. He kissed her deeply, maneuvering himself between her thighs. He watched her face, taking in every one of her reactions. His long, dark hair fell over her, tickling her. He was gorgeous.

  Mei giggled at his forcefulness, feeling giddy and protected by his great strength. She’d never had a lover move her about as if she were as light as a qizajian. Slow and sure, Jarek brought his erection to her, and the first probe found her tense and waiting. His eyes burned into hers, and his parted lips hovered just above her mouth. Their breaths mingled until they were taking each other in.

  Her body wept cream as he thrust inside her. His shaft stretched her muscles to fit him. With so much control that it drove her mad, he pushed into her slick passage, filling her body by small, agonizing degrees. Her eyes rolled in her head as she waited for the moment he’d stake complete claim to her.

  Mei felt as if his essence was filling her, body and soul, as nothing ever had. Their breaths caught at the same moments and released as one. The timing of their union was precise, uncomplicatedly so. Every movement was perfect, joined, as if it was meant to be.

  Jarek’s sultry dark eyes narrowed as the climax built between them. Each tremble, each tremor was in sync. He pushed back slightly on his hands, but only to look more fully into her eyes as he kept thrusting, slow and deep. The pleasure built until she was mindlessly clawing at his arms, thrusting her body up to him, accepting.

  Release hit them explosively. Their bodies tensed, shaking as Jarek emptied himself into her. Mei moaned, the sound echoed by him. A burning need to please him in every way raged within her. In that moment, she wanted to give him everything. The depth of her emotions surprised her. Finally, as the tremors subsided, his lips met hers in a light kiss.

  Jarek rolled onto his side, keeping her trapped under his arm. Mei was apprehensive as she refused to look directly at him again. They’d connected somehow. She knew they had. In all her years, she never thought anything like that would ever happen. How could she feel him so deeply? As if his heart beat was hers? As if his soul and hers were merged and inseparable?

  I can’t trust him. He’s a pirate.

  Mei took a deep breath, willing her heart to slow. Despite her wanting it not to be so, she was comfortable in his arms. She tried to make herself leave, but she was too relaxed.

  Everything happens for a reason.

  Her great-grandmother had told her that. Was she on the pirate ship for a reason? Did this journey have something to do with her future?

  “What are you thinking about?” Jarek asked.

  “Home,” Mei answered. It wasn’t a lie. She was thinking of home. Now that she’d confirmed he was a shifter, she had to be careful. Many of his kind could sense lies. A shiver racked her as she thought of how his claws and fangs had come out to play. And his voice!

  Mmm. Delicious.

  He leaned over and kissed her neck, letting his sharper teeth glide over her skin, not hurting her but definitely showing her his power and strength. She liked the primitive, streamlined way his body moved. He was stalking, graceful, and terribly sexy.

  She chanced a fleeting look at him. The dark depths of his eyes were streaked heavily with the gold. She liked the shifting of his gaze. The danger of it excited her. It was odd, but she didn’t want to lie to him even if she could. Never after sex had she felt so connected to her partner, so fulfilled and spent.

  Jarek was everything she’d ever wanted, and he was something she couldn’t keep.

  16

  “Do you miss your home?” Jarek asked softly, as he pulled Mei into his chest. His body was sated, but his mind and soul wanted more of her. It craved her, craved knowing everything about her. There was something about the woman that captured him. And, sacred cats! He didn’t mind being lost to her. “Are you sorry you had to run away?”

  Mei shrugged, avoiding answering. “Do you have family?”

  Jarek wondered why she was refusing to discuss her family. “Mm, yes, four brothers, four sisters married to my brothers, and by now I imagine I have four nephews.”

  “You don’t know for sure?” Mei laughed, but the sound was a little sad. It was as if she felt sorry for him.

  “I…” Jarek sighed. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen them. There were two born, and the other two were carrying when I left home last time, and we’ve been too far out into space to receive transmissions. But, by my estimation, all of them should have had their sons by now.”

  “All sons?”

  “Yes, we Var can only have sons. Well, almost only. One in a million are born female, so it’s unlikely I have any nieces.”

  “Var,” she repeated softly, forming her mouth around the word, trying to mimic his gruffer accent. “Var.”

  Jarek chuckled as he rolled onto his back and thought of his family. They had been heading home to see them when Rick had been taken. The trip home had to be postponed in order to save him.

  “What are their names?” Mei traced a strange pattern over his collarbone and pectoral.

  Jarek took a deep breath, nervous to be discussing his family with her. It seemed silly after what they had done together. Part of him wanted her to be impressed. Part of him wanted to hide who he was, wanting to make sure she liked him for being him and not a title of birth. He wasn’t Prince Jarek, not here, not in space.

  “You don’t want to tell me?” Mei sounded hurt. He kissed her temple to reassure her.

  “There is Kirill,” he began, only to pause. Jarek felt homesick for his family. Kirill was now king of the Var, taking over where their father had ruled. King Attor was killed in battle not long ago. He was a good king, one who worked hard for his people, but he encouraged men to have too much control in the bedroom by drinking nef, a drink that calmed the cat-shifters sexually and gave them restraint.

  Long ago things had been different for the Var people. It was a wild time, a time when the cat-shifters let emotions rule their heads and their hearts. They acted rashly and purely by instinct. Jarek was inclined to think like his ancestors. Life was too short to hold back from sexual pleasures, from any worldly pleasures. Thankfully, his brothers agreed, and they’d stopped the practice of drinking the stuff.

  The old king had been a hard man, who withheld his affection from all of them, including his many wives. Attor had urged the cat-shifters to prove their worth and dependability with emotionless detachment. He taught by example that to prove great prowess in the bedroom showed the promise of prowess in the field of battle, until strength in one meant strength in the other.

  Jarek’s grandfather had mated with one woman. She had died when Attor was born, and his father had never recovered enough to breed with more women and produce more sons. Although he took women to his bed, he left Attor without any brothers to help lead the Var nation. So, when Attor took over the throne, he became reliant on a few noble houses. One of those house nobles had actually tried to kill his sons, proving that it was wiser to have many children by half mates than risk having a few children by a full life mate.

  Quinn was his youngest brother and ambassador for the people. Reid was Commander of the Outlands, and Falke was Commander of the Guards. Officially, Jarek was practicing diplomacy by learning about other cultures. True, it was important for the Var people to know the way of the galaxies, so they were equipped to deal with situations, like when Samantha had kidnaped Falke. But most days, he was just free to do as he wanted when he wanted to do it.

  He didn’t tell her as much. Instead, he said, “Kirill is the oldest married to Uly
ssa. Before she married my brother, she worked as an agent with the Human Intelligence Agency. She was very good at her job.”

  Kirill, right after his coronation, was the first to fall for a woman. It hadn’t surprised them much when he found a life mate. Ulyssa, the new Var queen, was a good woman and made a wonderful match for the cat-shifter leader. She was smart, cunning, and knew how to use a weapon. To her credit, she loved Kirill very much.

  “And she gave up her career to be with him?” Mei asked.

  “Yes,” Jarek answered, not really thinking about it too much. Mei’s sweet smell was around him. He liked holding her delicate body to his.

  Again, he kept his answers simple. “Tori was a scientist with Exploratory Science Commission. She came to my home planet of Qurilixen to rid it of a biohazardous contaminate. After she had finished, she married my brother Quinn.”

  Prince Quinn was the Var ambassador. In truth, it wasn’t just a biohazardous contaminate that had brought Tori to their planet. She had gone to Qurilixen to rid it of something much worse, bioweaponry. Doctor Tori Elliot was highly intelligent, if not a little overly serious, also a good choice for the royal family.

  Jarek’s father had brought the bioweaponry to the planet in hopes of killing Lochlann’s dragon-shifting kind, the Draig people. Jarek didn’t believe in the annihilation of a whole race, no matter how old the quarrel. Luckily, Kirill felt the same way and was working toward peace. The war really was unwarranted, just old prejudices rearing their ugly heads.

  “And she gave up her job to be with him?” Mei asked.

  “Yes, she did.” Jarek glanced down, wondering at the single-mindedness of her questions. “Falke married Samantha after that. We call her Sam.”

  “And, let me guess, she was something great, and she now gave it up to be with him?”

  “Actually, Sam was captain to this very crew, except for Jackson, Loch and myself. She kidnaped my brother and fell in love with him. She decided to stay with him after she brought him home.” As an afterthought, he added, “She is very happy with her decision.”